ISLAMABAD: Amid public outcry and potential political backlash, the government has decided to step back from about 51pc increase in electricity rates it had approved last week for so-called protected consumers by meeting a ‘prior action’ required by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On the instructions of the prime minister, a revised summary would be urgently run through the federal cabinet that only last week cleared the massive tariff hike, including for ‘protected consumers’ whose consumption remains below 200 units per month. Against this backdrop, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) also revised the date of a public hearing from July…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
Hurricane Beryl unleashed its fury on Texas with heavy rain and escalating winds starting Sunday, prompting coastal residents to take precautions such as boarding up windows and adhering to evacuation orders. The storm, which had already caused fatalities in Mexico and the Caribbean, intensified to a category 1 hurricane upon making landfall around 4 a.m. Monday near Matagorda. State officials expressed concern over residents not heeding evacuation warnings, noting that roads leading away from the coast remained largely clear. Despite typical storm preparations in places like Port Lavaca, where businesses secured windows with plywood, there was uncertainty about the storm’s…
Princeton police announced on Monday that they uncovered a significant labor trafficking operation earlier this spring in Collin County, following a welfare check at a residence on the 1000 block of Ginsburg Lane on March 13. Responding to a report of suspicious circumstances, officers obtained a search warrant for Santhosh Katkoori’s home, where they discovered 15 adult women allegedly compelled to work for multiple shell companies owned by Katkoori and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda. The victims, both women and men, were reportedly engaged in programming work. During the search, police seized several laptops, phones, printers, and fraudulent documents. Subsequently, investigators…
Parker County is gearing up to celebrate its renowned peaches with the upcoming Parker County Peach Festival, a tradition that highlights the area’s agricultural heritage. For 39 years, local farms and businesses have gathered to showcase Parker County’s rich history, culture, and the delightful taste of its peaches. The legacy of Parker County peaches dates back to 1938 when J.K. Johnson Sr. planted the first peach tree. Since then, the Johnson family expanded their orchard to 3,000 trees on 65 acres of land. In 1980, the farm was sold to the Hutton family, who have since grown the orchard to…
A man from Parker County remains hospitalized following a dramatic rescue captured on video, where firefighters pulled him from a blazing mobile home. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Saturday near 14000 Briar Road in Azle. The victim, identified by neighbors as Tim Nicholson, suffered burns covering more than 50 percent of his body. By Sunday, Nicholson’s Azle mobile home showed clear signs of devastation: the front porch and siding were charred, and the interior bore visible fire damage. Neighbor Tommy Johnson recounted the initial moments of the fire, describing hearing crackling sounds before discovering the blaze. He promptly…
The National Juneteenth Museum and the University of North Texas libraries have collaborated to preserve African American history through a special initiative called a History Harvest. At the Ella Mae Shamblee Library in Fort Worth, a large community gathered for the first community harvest event. Participants, like Dorothea Barbee, shared personal artifacts and stories, such as an old photo of her father who was a barber in Fort Worth’s southside and later opened a barber college. Barbee emphasized the significance of preserving her family’s history: “It’s important to know the history and to have proof of the history of the…
Recent allegations have surfaced against a Tarrant County caretaker, already facing charges of neglect and murder. According to an affidavit obtained by NBC 5, Arlington police began investigating Regla Suyu Becquer, aged 50, and her unlicensed assisted living company, Love and Caring for People LLC, following reports of neglect, theft, and fraud. During the investigation, police identified 20 individuals who passed away while residing in multiple properties operated by Becquer across Tarrant County. Authorities are collaborating with the medical examiner’s office to determine if any of these deaths are suspicious. One victim, 61-year-old Steven Pankratz, was found to have died…
Hurricane Beryl has severely disrupted travel plans across the state, particularly as many people were wrapping up their July Fourth holiday weekend. Hundreds of flights have been canceled in and out of Houston and along the Texas coast. As Beryl continues northward through East Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas, airports in its path are preparing for more delays and cancellations. The impact of the storm and the holiday rush is already evident in North Texas, where travelers returning to Houston find themselves stranded at airports like Dallas-Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field. “I was at a wedding, and now everyone…
Reservations are now open for the 28th Annual DFW Restaurant Week, a popular event where approximately 150 local restaurants throughout North Texas offer fixed-price meals at discounted rates. This event benefits the North Texas Food Bank and the Lena Pope Home. DFW Restaurant Week kicks off on August 5 and continues through September 1, with select restaurants offering a preview weekend from August 1 to August 4. You can make reservations starting today, July 8, by visiting this link. During the event, diners can enjoy three-course dinners priced at $49 (with $10 donated) or $59 (with $12 donated). A Signature…
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in collaboration with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Dallas County, is expanding its support by opening additional Disaster Recovery Centers in Dallas County. These centers aim to offer personalized assistance to individuals impacted by the severe storms, high winds, and power outages that occurred in May. One such center began operating this past Saturday in the hospitality room of the West Dallas Multipurpose Center located at 2828 Fish Trap Road. The center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Residents affected by the storms are not…
