In Moscow, a group of Russian women staged a small but significant protest outside the Defence Ministry in Moscow on Monday, demanding the return of mobilized soldiers from the front lines in Ukraine. For months, various groups of Russian women have organized occasional demonstrations to pressure authorities into bringing back their husbands, sons, and brothers, who were mobilized following a decree by President Vladimir Putin in September 2022. One of the participants in Monday’s protest, who identified herself as Paulina, informed Reuters that the group of 18 women had gathered to personally appeal to Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, an economist…
Author: WebDesk
Is there a looming sense of darkness over Pakistan’s education sector? It seems we’re struggling to progress, often taking steps backward. Positive news about education is rare; instead, we’re inundated with negativity and dismay. Recent discussions in educational circles are disheartening. It’s reported that the federal government has reduced the annual budget for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25 from Rs65 billion to Rs25 billion. Previously, these funds adequately supported 160 public universities nationwide. Now, these funds will be directed solely to federally administered universities. For decades, we’ve debated education budgets, always demanding more allocations.…
In Islamabad, sources close to the matter revealed that a consortium comprising six companies has been given pre-qualification status for the privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This decision was reached during a Privatisation Commission Board meeting chaired by Federal Privatization Minister Aleem Khan. The companies forming the pre-qualified consortium are now eligible to partake in the bidding process for PIA. During the meeting, Aleem Khan stressed the government’s dedication to conducting a transparent and effective privatization process for all state-owned entities incurring losses. To uphold transparency and instill trust, Khan suggested broadcasting the privatization proceedings live on media platforms,…
Sanam Saeed recently gave fans a thrilling glimpse into her upcoming film “Umro Ayyar: A New Beginning” on Instagram. She shared several images showcasing her character, Meena, dressed in warrior attire, exuding a fierce presence suitable for the battlefield. In addition, she posted a selfie with her co-star Usman Mukhtar and another photo featuring the tired but triumphant ensemble cast. Saeed’s caption hinted at the anticipation surrounding the film’s release on Eid-ul-Azha in 2024. The movie, promising action-packed storytelling, aims to enthrall audiences in Pakistan and beyond with the legendary tale of Umro Ayyar. In addition to this project, Saeed…
Chahat Fateh Ali Khan has surprised his fans with the announcement of his upcoming debut film titled ‘Sabaq’. Directed by Faraz Ahmed, the comedy film explores themes of second marriages and the influence of social media influencers. Sharing the trailer, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan revealed that ‘Sabaq’ is set to release on Eid Mubarak day, expressing excitement for his first venture into filmmaking. In the trailer, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan portrays himself, capturing his iconic moments on his phone and delivering his trademark catchphrase, “King of hearts, Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, all the way from London.” The film promises to…
In Islamabad, a heatwave persists as the maximum temperature in Turbat and Sibi, Balochistan, may reach 48 and 47 degrees Celsius, respectively. The Met Office anticipates temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius in Lahore, 41 in Peshawar, 40 in Islamabad, and 37 in Karachi. However, temperatures in Nawabshah, Sukkur, Mohenjo-daro, and Dadu districts are expected to be four to five degrees Celsius lower than during the ongoing heatwave, which reached up to 50 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha, and Faisalabad could experience temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius today. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted wind and dust storms in…
The ninth edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to offer the highest prize money in its history. Winners of the 20-team tournament, to be held at Kensington Oval in Barbados on June 29, will earn at least $2.45 million along with the coveted trophy. Runners-up will receive a minimum of $1.28 million, while losing semi-finalists will each take home $787,500 from the total prize pot of $11.25 million, as stated in a press release. Teams failing to advance beyond the Super 8s will still earn $382,500 each, while those placed ninth to 12th will receive $247,500…
In a significant development at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the representative of Uzbekistan has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Committee for the first time in the history of the organization. During the 40th session of the states parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) at the UN headquarters, elections were held for nine members of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) for the 2025-2028 term. Representatives from 16 states vied for these nine seats, including Uzbekistan, which saw Akmal Saidov, Director of the National Center for Human Rights and an academician,…
In May 2024, Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation dropped to 11.8 percent year-on-year, a significant decrease from the previous month’s 17.3 percent and May 2023’s 38 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). This marks the lowest inflation rate since November 2021. The average inflation for the first 11 months of fiscal year 2024 stood at 24.5 percent, compared to 29.2 percent in the same period of fiscal year 2023. On a month-on-month basis, CPI inflation decreased to -3.2 percent in May 2024, down from a decrease of 0.4 percent in the previous month and an…
On Monday, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, expressed confidence that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to China, scheduled from June 4-8, 2024, would mark a significant milestone in the strengthening of bilateral relations. In an interview with APP, the ambassador highlighted the extensive preparations underway for the visit, including discussions on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) which are in their final stages. During his visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz will meet with key Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji. These meetings will focus on…
