PJ Allen’s small body was horrifyingly burned when rescuers found him amidst the wreckage. Later, in the hospital, the toddler was so completely covered in bandages that his grandmother could only identify him by his belly button. He carries the physical scars of the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in US history but holds no memory of the day that remains etched in the minds of older generations. His 73-year-old grandmother, Deloris Watson, however, can recall every single detail. She remembers dropping off then 18-month-old Allen at the daycare located within the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people dream of studying or doing research in the United States, and for them, a student visa is like a golden ticket. But now, for hundreds of students already in US colleges and universities, that ticket is turning into a one-way trip back home. The Trump administration is pushing hard to revoke visas and send academics out of the country, whether they go willingly or in handcuffs. US visa programs are complicated, with lots of rules and requirements, and the State Department says it has a lot of power to take them away. How…
Just moments before noon last Thursday, a sudden burst of gunfire erupted near Florida State University’s student union, causing students to scatter in fear, desperately seeking safety as the wail of emergency sirens grew louder. A mere two minutes after the first 911 calls reporting the shooting, university police shot and subdued the alleged assailant, authorities confirmed. Despite this swift response, the tragic incident resulted in the loss of two precious lives and left five others injured, plunging the entire university community into deep shock. “The call came in, someone reported it, and acting immediately, they arrived at the scene…
Just moments before noon last Thursday, as multiple rounds of gunfire erupted near Florida State University’s student union, students fled the campus seeking safety while the sound of emergency sirens grew louder. A mere two minutes after 911 calls reported the shooting, university police shot and apprehended the suspected assailant, authorities stated. Despite the swift response, the shooting resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to five others, sending shockwaves through the university community. “The call came in, someone reported it, and they immediately responded to the scene, promptly neutralizing the suspect and preventing what could have been…
Former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has strongly criticized the Shehbaz Sharif-led government for introducing a “mini-budget disguised as development projects for Balochistan,” by denying the general public relief in petroleum prices. Speaking on Geo News’ program “Geo Pakistan,” Miftah — a former PML-N leader — launched a scathing attack on the Shehbaz government for maintaining fuel prices and not passing on the benefits of lower international fuel prices to Pakistani citizens. “You don’t need anything else […] you can utilize the provincial government’s funds as its budget is in surplus. This is a mini-budget that you’re trying to justify in…
Pakistan has reportedly agreed to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demands to update its project selection process and increase the weighting criteria for climate change considerations by August of next year. Furthermore, a carbon fee is anticipated to be announced in the upcoming budget, according to The News. In a move to comply with the IMF, Pakistan has committed that all new infrastructure projects exceeding a cost of Rs7.5 billion will have their Planning Commission (PC-1) documentation made publicly available on the PC website. Top official sources indicated that the government will also enhance its project appraisals and climate screening…
Pakistan recorded a notable 2.72% year-on-year decrease in its weekly Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending April 17th, marking the most substantial decline since the deflationary trend began in March, The News reported on Saturday, citing official figures released on Friday. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, this continuous decline suggests weak demand and persistent pricing pressures across key consumer product categories. The SPI, which tracks the cost of essential goods in 17 cities across the country, also showed a negative growth of 0.69% compared to the previous week. Out of the 51 monitored items, prices increased…
The stock market regained its bullish momentum on Thursday, reversing the losses of the previous session as investors reacted favorably to a series of positive economic developments. These included Fitch’s credit rating upgrade for Pakistan and a significant drop in global oil prices. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE-100 Index concluded the trading day at 116,901.13, marking an increase of 881.03 points, or 0.76%, compared to the previous closing figure of 116,020.10. During the trading session, the index reached an intraday peak of 117,216.02, representing a gain of 1,195.92 points, or 1.03%. The lowest point of the session was…
The World Bank has described Pakistan’s tax system as highly “unfair and absurd,” stating that the increasing burden on the salaried class can only be alleviated by broadening the tax base and incorporating all income streams into the tax net, as reported by The News on Thursday. The international lender called for the inclusion of the property sector in the tax net, ensuring its accurate recording and taxation. It also suggested a rationalization of the tariff structure, arguing that short-term gains are currently causing losses to long-term revenue streams. During a session titled “Charting Pakistan’s Fiscal Trajectory: Enhancing Transparency &…
The messaging app has just rolled out a significant update that makes creating, managing, and sharing sticker packs simpler and more enjoyable, all without needing to leave the app. Previously, while users had the ability to create their own custom stickers, dealing with them and sending them, especially if you had a large collection, was quite a hassle. Now, with the new sticker pack feature, WhatsApp allows users to group their stickers into separate folders or packs, making them much easier to find and keep organised. A WhatsApp spokesperson commented, “Whether it’s a collection of stickers featuring your dog, or…
