LONDON: Aid efforts funded by the United States to tackle diseases such as malaria, prevent newborn deaths, and treat severe malnutrition should resume, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters. Upon taking office last month, President Trump moved to freeze international aid after a 90-day review. A week later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver clarifying that “lifesaving” efforts were exempt during this period, but organizations on the ground remained confused over what was included. The memo aims to clarify what can now restart. “These lifesaving activities must resume or continue in the next 30 days of the…
Author: Web Desk
Pakistan has taken steps to reduce the burden on the salaried class by expanding the tax net. On Sunday, Khurram Schehzad stated that a reasonable tax would be collected from wholesalers, retailers, and traders in the near future. He made these comments while appearing on Aaj News’ program “Dus” via video link. He added, “We had good meetings with retailers. You will hear new things and new taxes.” “Our plan is to collect a reasonable tax from wholesalers, retailers, and traders so that everyone comes under the tax net, helping create an equitable economy.” The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and…
The federal government has made a significant decision concerning government employees who pass away during their service. According to the new directive, families of employees who die in service would no longer be eligible for government jobs. The Establishment Division has issued a memorandum regarding the decision. This benefit was previously available under the Prime Minister’s Assistants Package. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the summary in light of the Supreme Court’s decision and following its approval. However, the facility will remain in place for the families of employees who are martyred in acts of terrorism. Job opportunities will also be…
The finance ministry has denied that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation would be visiting Pakistan next week regarding judicial matters. “The focus of the mission will be to examine the severity of corruption vulnerabilities across six core state functions,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The nation, supported by a $7 billion IMF facility provided in September, is working towards economic recovery. The IMF plans to assess the country’s progress by March, with both the government and central bank optimistic about achieving their goals. Earlier, a section of media reported that a “special” IMF team would arrive…
The federal excise duty (FED) imposed through the Finance Act of 2024 on the transfer of plots and commercial properties is anticipated to be repealed as part of a strategy to support the real estate sector, according to Business Recorder. Sources indicated that this taxation measure did not yield the expected results during the first half of the fiscal year 2024-25, with minimal revenue generated. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is reportedly set to recommend the elimination of the FED on the allotment or transfer of commercial properties, as well as on the first allotment or transfer of open…
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a bullish trend on Monday, with the KSE-100 Index rising by more than 1,055 points during intra-day trading. By the end of the session, the index stood at 111,377, marking an increase of 1,055 points or 0.96%. Buying activity was strong in key sectors such as power generation, oil marketing companies (OMCs), fertilizers, and automobile manufacturers. Major index stocks, including INDU, HBL, EFERT, PSO, SHELL, NRL, PRL, and HUBCO, were all trading in positive territory. Intermarket Securities stated in a report on Monday, “Many stocks have reached attractive levels, and fresh buying could occur…
Billionaire Elon Musk said he was not interested in purchasing TikTok, the popular short-video app that the United States has been trying to ban over national security concerns with its Chinese owner ByteDance. Musk’s comments, made in late January, were released online Saturday by The WELT Group, a part of the German media company Axel Springer SE, which hosted a summit, where the Tesla chief joined the conference via video. “I have not put in a bid for TikTok,” Musk said a week after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was open to Musk buying the ByteDance-owned app if he…
As we spend more time online, it’s crucial to know who can see our conversations and searches. This is especially important in today’s digital age. To stay private, consider using secure tools like Signal, a messaging app that keeps chats confidential. This can be helpful for sharing sensitive information with reporters, discussing non-work topics with colleagues, and even chatting with friends and family. Using secure platforms like Signal can help protect your online privacy. By taking this simple step, you can keep your conversations and searches safe from prying eyes. “You want to think about who has access to the…
T-Mobile’s collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink has finally taken off, with the aim of eliminating mobile dead zones and extending connectivity to remote areas. According to Reuters, the US wireless carrier has started large-scale testing of its satellite-to-cell service, which will be free until July 2025. After the free trial, the plan will be included in T-Mobile’s premium Go5G Next plan at no extra cost, and the service can be added to all existing plans for $15 a month. This move could mark a significant shift in mobile connectivity, bridging the gap between traditional cell networks and satellite technology to ensure…
WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature to improve accessibility to status creation tools! According to WABetaInfo, the new feature is designed to make sharing status updates easier and more accessible. With this update, when users tap the floating action button in the Updates tab, they will see two new shortcuts inside the gallery sheet. These shortcuts allow users to quickly share text-based updates or voice messages as status updates. WhatsApp also added a separate shortcut for recording voice messages when creating status updates. Earlier, the option for voice updates was combined with the text status feature. Now by separating…
