Govt slashes March inflation forecast
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday significantly cut the inflation forecast to 1% for March but did not provide a clear picture of the macroeconomic outlook due to uncertain conditions in the agriculture and manufacturing sectorstwo key job-creating areas of the economy. Contrary to its earlier forecast of a 3% to 4% inflation rate in […]
YouTuber Rajab Butt booked under blasphemy, Peca laws over ‘religious stir’ caused by perfume launch – Pakistan
YouTuber Rajab Butt has been booked under blasphemy and cybercrime laws due to a “religious stir” caused by the launch of his perfume brand that allegedly mocked Pakistan’s blasphemy law, it emerged on Tuesday. Butt has one of the largest online followings in the country and has been embroiled in controversy for years, including over […]
Oscar-winning Palestinian director released following arrest after Israeli settlers’ attack – World
Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was released on Tuesday following his arrest by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank after being attacked and injured by settlers. The Israeli military also confirmed it arrested three Palestinians in the Masafar Yatta area, including Ballal. It said it detained three […]
Russia says it will sign Black Sea deal if US gives ‘order’ to Zelensky – World
Russia said on Tuesday it was willing to strike a new agreement on the safety of shipping in the Black Sea — a possible stepping stone towards a ceasefire with Ukraine — but only if the United States ordered President Volodymyr Zelensky to respect it. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said only such an order would […]
India’s growing missile capabilities
Listen to article Like other leading nuclear powers, India has been modernising its conventional and nuclear forces. Recent reports from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Arms Control Today, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, International Institute for Strategic Studies and many other leading national and international think tanks reflect how and why India is growing and modernising its […]
The cost of being a woman
Listen to article Women in Pakistan are remunerated far less than men for doing the same job — not because they’re short on education, skills or experience but solely because they’re women. A new report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) affirms what women here already know: the country has one of the largest gender pay gaps in […]
BHC allows Mahrang Baloch to meet relatives in jail as Gwadar, other coastal cities observe shutter-down strike – Pakistan
The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Tuesday allowed imprisoned rights activist DR Mahrang Baloch to meet with her relatives after the Balochistan National Party-Mengal held strikes and issued a call to support the recent protests by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) against a police crackdown and arrests of its leaders. On Friday evening, the police […]
Oscar-winning Palestinian director arrested after Israeli settlers’ attack – World
Hamdan Ballal, a Palestinian co-director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, was arrested by the Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank after being attacked and injured by settlers, his fellow co-director Yuval Abraham said on Monday, according to Al Jazeera. The Israeli military also confirmed it arrested three Palestinians in the Masafar Yatta […]
YouTuber Rajab Butt issues apology from Makkah after blasphemy allegations
Listen to article YouTuber Rajab Butt, who is facing legal charges under the country’s blasphemy and cybercrime laws, issued a public apology while performing Umrah in Makkah. Standing in Masjid-e-Haram, he recorded a video in which he clarified his previous statements and sought forgiveness, invoking the sanctity of the holy site. Butt, who has one of the […]
FO responds to reports of Pakistani journalists’ visit to Israel
Listen to article Pakistan’s Foreign Office on Tuesday responded over Pakistani journalists alleged visit to Israel, Express News reported. Addressing a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said the government was gathering information on reports of Pakistanis visiting Israel. “The Government of Pakistan has noted reports regarding Pakistani journalists traveling to Israel. In this […]