ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday while taking a dig at the government said that the economic meltdown shows Sharifs never had any expertise in running economy or administration. Venting out his anger on the incumbent rulers in his latest tweet, the former prime minister wrote that the nation will hold …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PMLN) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday while reviewing post Punjab by-elections results said that it was a big improvement for the party to fight hard despite not having candidates in several constituencies in 2018, and we have snatched seats from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Taking to Twitter, Maryam penned that PML-N has …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb on Tuesday calling out to all those demanding early elections in the country said that elections will be held when the government decides. Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the Federal Information Minister while criticizing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership said that they are targeting the Election …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day is reflection of Kashmiris’ pledge to continue their struggle till the idea of accession become a reality. In a tweet on Tuesday, he said the Indian oppressive state apparatus has failed to stop this journey of resistance, sacrifice and defiance. He said we salute the courage …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique Tuesday announced that the federal government will complete its tenure, dismissing all speculation regarding the possible dissolution of the government following PTI’s victory in the recently-concluded Punjab by-election. The decision came after the PML-N faced defeat in the Punjab by-elections on 20 constituencies on July 17 against the PTI. The PTI won 15 …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): The Foreign Office spokesperson Tuesday termed PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill’s claims that the cypher — containing the alleged threat to Pakistan —  was hidden from the then foreign minister and prime minister, as “baseless” “Such a question simply does not arise. The Foreign Office operates on professional basis and it would be detrimental …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said Tuesday it was his opinion that the matter of revisiting the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) law will be returned to the Parliament, as there is no alternative to the forum. “In my opinion, this matter will be referred back to Parliament. There is no substitute to Parliament […] and we cannot …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): After PTI’s chances have grown to get its candidate elected as the Punjab chief minister after the triumph in the by-polls, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah says that the PML-N will not let the PML-Q’s Chaudhry Pervez Elahi become the provincial chief executive easily on July 22. “These 20 seats were of PTI, five of which have been …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry said Tuesday that the PTI — once it forms its government in Punjab — may impose a ban on Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Home Minister Attaullah Tarar’s entry into the province next week. The PTI leader’s comments came during a press conference in the federal capital after the interior …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Former federal minister for human rights Shireen Mazari has claimed that a voice recorder was found in her bedroom under a coffee table, highlighting that it violates her rights and the Constitution. Speaking at a press conference shared by the PTI on Twitter, Mazari, flanked by former minister for information technology Shibli Faraz, revealed that the “listening device” …

WEB DESK, July 19(ABC): On July 6, a doctor threaded an implant consisting of “wires and electrodes into a blood vessel” in the brain of an ALS patient at Mount Sinai West medical centre in New York, according to Bloomberg. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, creates muscle stiffness or weakness which eventually impacts all muscles, making it difficult to eat, …

WEB DESK, July 19(ABC): Google on Tuesday announced that it was launching its Android Earthquake Alerts System in Pakistan. In a statement, the search giant said the Android Earthquake Alerts System is a “no-cost, helpful Android feature that detects earthquakes around the world and alerts people”. So how does it work? According to Google, it uses the sensors in Android …

ISLAMABAD, Jul 19(ABC): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Miftah Ismail said that investment by Barrick Gold in the Reko Diq copper-gold project would prove to be transformational for Pakistan and the province of Balochistan. “We are looking forward to Barrick Gold’s investment in the copper and gold mine in Pakistan. Mark Bristow has a very enlightened vision for this …

NEW YORK, July 19(ABC): Fitch Ratings on Tuesday revised Pakistan’s Outlook to Negative from Stable while affirming its Long-Term Foreign-Currency (LTFC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B-’. The revision of the outlook to Negative reflects a significant deterioration in Pakistan’s external liquidity position and financing conditions since early 2022. Fitch assumes IMF board approval of Pakistan’s new staff-level agreement with …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called upon the Election Commission of Pakistan to announce the “long-delayed” judgment on the PTI “foreign funding” case. “For long has Imran Niazi been given a free pass despite his repeated and shameless attacks on state institutions. Impunity given to him has hurt the country,” said the premier. His message comes …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): The Pakistani rupee continued its downward spiral on Tuesday, falling to a new low of 216.75 against the dollar in early morning interbank trade. The local currency fell by Rs1.55 after yesterday’s close of Rs215.20, at the time a record low. Data released by State Bank of Pakistan yesterday showed that the rupee lost Rs4.25, or 1.97%, …

ISLAMABAD, July 19(ABC): The country recorded a slight rise in COVID-19 positivity ratio as 459 fresh cases of the virus were registered in the last 24 hours, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad’s stats showed Tuesday morning. According to the latest NIH statistics, during the last 24 hours, 16,419 diagnostic tests were conducted, out of which 459 came back positive. …

LAHORE, July 19(ABC): Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Monday said that for the PML-N, the idea of early elections is on the cards but the final decision in this regard will be mutually made by the coalition parties. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the interior minister said the PML-N is, was, and will be bound by the coalition …

KARACHI, 18 July (ABC): Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided to support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and rejected once again the demand of snap election. Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sharjeel Memon told on Monday in Press conference after PPP central executive committee meeting. They said Parliament will complete the tenure and the allies will decide together the future plan. Yousaf Raza …

LAHORE, July 18(ABC): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice-President Maryam Nawaz on Monday said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should announce quick verdict on the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) foreign funding case. On social networking site Twitter, she lambasted the PTI leadership and wrote that there is no need to be too excited after losing 5 out of 20 …

LAHORE, July 18(ABC): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to form government in Punjab after victory in the by-elections. The decision was taken in a meeting of the core committee was held under the chairmanship of former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan. The meeting was attended by the senior leadership of the party. During the meeting, the core committee …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to meet in the last week of August this year to decide whether to approve or disapprove its deal with Pakistan and about this sources claimed that IMF had no objection to holding negotiations with the caretaker government if it comes in Pakistan. Sources privy to …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Monday that the people of Punjab had always reposed full confidence in the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). The party would continue the journey of exemplary service to the people of Punjab in the same spirit and historical tradition, she said in a tweet. She said that the PML-N …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): Despite a landslide victory against PML-N in the by-election for 20 constituencies of Punjab, PTI Chairman Imran Khan Monday accused the coalition government of using “every tactic to ensure that we (PTI) lose the polls.” Speaking to the public in a televised speech, he said: “All of the government’s [machinery] was used against us despite the Supreme Court’s order.” …

LAHORE, July 18(ABC): Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi Monday said that the PTI’s win in the by-elections on July 17 was the success of party Chairperson Imran Khan’s narrative. Speaking during a meeting of the PTI and PML-Q, Elahi said that the former prime minister conveyed his message to the nation by running campaigns. “People gave their verdict in …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman spoke over the phone to discuss the country’s political situation after PML-N’s humiliating defeat in the Punjab by-elections held a day earlier, reported on Monday, citing sources. The three leaders have reportedly agreed that a detailed plan of …

RAWALPINDI, July 18(ABC): AML chief Sheikh Rasheed said Monday that PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari “buried” PML-N — after the party suffered a humiliating defeat in the Punjab by-elections. “The funeral of PML-N’s [politics] took place yesterday; Zardari has buried the party, and now, Maulana Fazlur Rehman should offer prayers for them,” Rasheed, who is an ally of the PTI, …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): An earthquake struck Islamabad and several cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday. According to report, aside from the federal capital, tremors were felt in several areas of North Waziristan, Malakand, Swat, and surrounding areas.  Meanwhile, some places in Punjab also experienced the quake today, including Multan and its surrounding areas. The National Seismic Monitoring Centre said the magnitude …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): A survey of 2,000 American adults reveals that the average person visits potentially harmful websites or social media accounts 6.5 times a day. At the same time, 70% of those surveyed felt knowledgeable about cybersecurity, whereas only 39% knew that suspicious website can lead to malware and viruses. “Whether browsing websites or apps, our results show …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): Apple’s new iPad multitasking system, Stage Manager, does not replace the need for a true Mac-like interface and the experience is overcomplicated and perplexing, Bloomberg reported. The Starters Today’s iPad Pro costs nearly as much as a Mac, connects to an advanced and powerful keyboard and trackpad, and is powered by the same chip as Apple Inc.’s …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): The National Information Technology Board (NITB) has issued a cyber alert, warning internet users to refrain from entering certain links. The technology board, in a statement on Twitter, said that users should “beware” of phishing sites as they might contain malicious material. “It is advised to beware from sites attracting users for giveaways and from opening …

KARACHI, July 18(ABC): The ruling PML-N’s thumping in the Punjab by-elections that has triggered political uncertainty along with import pressure took the Pakistani rupee to a new low against the US dollar in the interbank market Monday. Since the opening of the market the rupee has depreciated against the greenback by Rs4.30, as per the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan. It remains …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): The Islamabad High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on the maintainability of a plea seeking investigations into the leaked audio of a telephonic conversation between former first lady Bushra Bibi and Focal Person to PTI Chairman on Digital Media Dr Arsalan Khalid. The alleged audio of Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi had recently emerged in which she is …

KARACHI, July 18(ABC): The stocks plunged Monday during the intraday trade as the benchmark KSE-100 lost nearly 750 points after uncertainty surrounded Pakistan’s political arena. Investors reacted with panic to the depreciating Pakistani rupee against the US dollar and political uncertainty in the wake of the preliminary results of the by-polls in Punjab. At the beginning of the trade, the …

LAHORE, July 18(ABC): Following the PML-N’s thumping defeat at the hands of PTI in the Punjab by-elections, the party’s supremo, Nawaz Sharif, blamed the “difficult decisions” taken by the centre for its failure. As per the preliminary and unofficial results, PTI has swept the Punjab by-polls, remaining victorious on 15 seats out of 20, while the ruling PML-N suffered a …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): As celebrations were held among the ranks of PTI over the party’s victory in the Punjab by-polls, PTI Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry said that party chairman Imran Khan’s would decide when when they will remove Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Taking Shehbaz Sharif into pressure is not a big deal and when to fire Shehbaz Sharif depends on …

ISLAMABAD, 18 July(ABC): Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will send its on-site mission to Pakistan sometime in September, a visit anticipated by diplomatic circles in Islamabad as a “final walk-through from the FATF process” for the country. Though the date of the mission’s visit to Islamabad is being finalised through diplomatic channels, diplomatic circles believe it would take place in …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): The tech industry’s latest artificial intelligence constructs can be pretty convincing if you ask them what it feels like to be a sentient computer, or maybe just a dinosaur or squirrel. But they’re not so good — and sometimes dangerously bad — at handling other seemingly straightforward tasks. Take, for instance, GPT-3, a Microsoft-controlled system that …

WEB DESK, July 18(ABC): Researcher Dhruv Sareen’s own stem cells are now orbiting the Earth. The mission? To test whether they’ll grow better in zero gravity. Scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles are trying to find new ways to produce huge batches of a type of stem cell that can generate nearly any other type of cell in …

ISLAMABAD, July 18(ABC): Pakistan is likely to get $4 billion from friendly countries this month to bridge a gap in foreign reserves highlighted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said, two days after sealing a deal with the lender. The IMF has reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan that would pave the way for a disbursement …