News Buzz

December 2023

US calls for safe resettlement of Afghan refugees

The US State Department has urged Pakistan to prioritise the safety and efficient resettlement of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.

The call comes amid concerns that hasty or unscrupulous deportations could pose a significant risk to the lives of these vulnerable individuals.

“Our key concern is the safety of vulnerable and at-risk individuals,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said at a Tuesday afternoon news briefing.

Highlighting the shared responsibility in addressing the plight of refugees, he emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to navigate the complexities of resettlement.

“We believe it is in both our countries’ interest to ensure the safe and efficient resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers.”

Miller said, “We join all of our partners in urging all countries, including Pakistan, to uphold their respective obligations in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. We strongly encourage all of Afghanistan’s neighbours to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and coordinate with international humanitarian organisations to provide assistance.”

As the situation evolves, the diplomatic engagement between the US and Pakistan takes centre stage in addressing the challenges associated with the resettlement process.

Collaboration between CxO Global Forum and Magnus Technologies

Pakistan-based CxO Global Forum has launched its UAE Chapter in partnership with Magnus Technologies, paving the way for a fruitful collaboration between the two organizations. The CxO delegation had a productive and positive meeting with Serene Shalan, Director of Investment Attraction, and Tarek Mahmoud of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, discussing business expansion, networking opportunities, ease of doing business, and exclusive introductions to government entities.

TECOM Group’s Dubai Internet City powered the launch of the UAE Chapter. It reinforced the organization’s commitment to technology, media, and design, creating a platform for companies to expand their reach within the UAE.

The CxO Global Forum is a community of over 10,000 global CEOs and CxOs who come together to share ideas, discuss solutions, and unlock value for organizations. With a focus on technology, innovation, and transformation, the forum provides a platform for diverse perspectives, cross-cultural exchange, and global problem-solving.

Bangladesh convicts 98 more opposition activists

Bangladeshi courts have convicted at least 98 officials and activists of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, mostly in absentia, taking the number sentenced since last month to over 400.

The BNP said the cases were politically motivated, aimed at crushing the only opposition party in the country that can offer a realistic challenge to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.

Bangladesh holds a general election on January 7, with Hasina eyeing her fourth consecutive term in power.

Many were convicted on historic charges over protest violence, with c

Monir uz Zaman, a prosecutor, said 75 BNP activists were sentenced in a Dhaka court to two-and-a-half years on charges of violence and arson during political turmoil in 2013. Zaman said 72 of the 75 were “absconding” and were now wanted fugitives.

Taposh Kumar Paul, another prosecutor, said another Dhaka court sentenced 12 BNP activists to seven years in jail for violence in 2015.

Nazrul Islam, a defence lawyer, said 11 more BNP members were sentenced to seven years in jail for violence during political clashes in 2013.

Several of those convicts were also sentenced in absentia. Islam said cases had been “conducted in a hurry”.

Kayser Kamal, BNP’s legal chief, said at least 400 BNP senior officials and activists have been sentenced in recent days.

Kabul to be Engaged Diplomatically

Authorities have decided to engage Kabul and other foreign missions diplomatically to stress the importance of seamless repatriation of illegal foreigners, according to documents.

The documents showed that participants of a meeting decided to assure the Afghan embassy in the federal capital and other foreign missions about Pakistan’s all-out support for the repatriation of illegal foreigners with dignity and respect.

“It was also decided that the complaints and allegations of maltreatment or deportation of legal foreigners may be scrutinised to determine the facts on a case-to-case basis, and the outcome should be shared with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for briefing international community whenever required,” said the documents.

Nestlé Pakistan Wins Sustainability Awards

Nestlé Pakistan won two top awards in the categories of Gender Equity and Agri Tech and Food Security at the Sustainability Awards hosted by the Sustainable Policy Development Institute (SDPI).

Nestlé Pakistan’s recognition in the two categories were for its Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives, the Nestlé-BISP Rural Women Sales Program that has supported 2800 rural women to achieve financial empowerment with the ambition to reach 5000 women by 2025, and Smart Soil Moisture Sensors on 548 acres, which assist farmers detect the sub-soil moisture level, helping Nestlé achieve its Waters Pledge of regenerating the water used by its Waters Business to have a net positive impact by 2025.

The awards were aimed at honouring exemplary efforts and achievements in the corporate sector and civil society organizations, “recognizing and celebrating sustainability achievements vital in fostering positive change and inspiring a collective commitment towards a sustainable future.” The winners were selected by an independent panel of esteemed experts and thought leaders who evaluated the nominated case studies.

Ali Zafar wins big at DIAFA


Ali Zafar has been honoured as the best Pakistani singer at DIAFA 2023. The Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA), an international award being held in Dubai since 2017, confer awards to the best artistes from the Arab world as well as international celebrities for their achievements every year.

This year, Ali Zafar is the Pakistani awarded at DIAFA, which he attended alongside his wife, Ayesha Fazli. Zafar added another feather to his cap by clinching the Pakistani Artiste of the Year title at the Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards (DIAFA) held in Dubai. On the momentous occasion, Ali Zafar highlighted the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, commending the DIAFA management for shedding light on the plight of the Palestinians during the ceremony.

Earlier, Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Sajal Aly, and Maya Ali, are a few names that have been honoured with a DIAFA.

Nepal riot police rout protesters seeking restoration of monarchy

Police in Nepal used rattan sticks, tear gas, and water cannons to scatter thousands of protesters demanding the restoration of the monarchy abolished 15 years ago.

The “Citizens’ Campaign” protesters say governments in place since the monarchy was scrapped, as part of a deal ending a Maoist insurgency, have failed to live up to commitments to develop one of the world’s poorest countries.

Protesters tried to dismantle a police barricade on the outskirts of Kathmandu and march into the center of the capital, prompting riot police to intervene and repel the crowd, witnesses said.

“Police only tried to contain a huge anarchic crowd of protesters,” said Jitendra Basnet, the top official in the city administration of Kathmandu, in whose downtown area public protests are banned. Some police officers were injured by stones thrown by protesters, said Basnet.

Durga Prasai, coordinator of the Citizens Campaign, said about 10 protesters were injured in the melee, two of them critically.

“We want the republican system abolished and the monarchy to be restored,” he said, vowing to continue agitating for that objective and calling for a general strike in Kathmandu, home to about four million people.

A specially elected assembly abolished the 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 under terms of an accord that ended a Maoist insurgency, which killed 17,000 people between 1996 and 2006, and established a federal republic.

NBP President Attends UnionPay International Meeting

Rehmat Ali Hasnie, President and CEO of the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), recently visited Saudi Arabia to attend an important corporate meeting to present the bank’s e-commerce vision.

Ali Hasnie attended the UnionPay International Regional Member Council meeting in Riyadh and presented NBP’s vision for e-commerce and online payments.

The meeting was also attended by delegates from across the financial sector from the Middle East, Türkiye, China, and Pakistan.

Pakistan applies for BRICS membership

Pakistan has applied for BRICS membership, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

In her weekly presser, FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed Pakistan’s decision, saying that the country hopes BRICS will move forward with its application.

“We have decided after having noted the BRICS-related developments in Johannesburg,” she said. Baloch added that Pakistan enjoys friendly ties with most members of the BRICS and the newly invited group of countries.

“Pakistan is an ardent supporter of multilateralism and a member of several multilateral organizations. The country has played an important role in global peace and development,” she added.

In August, BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - invited six countries - Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - to become new bloc members. At the time, Baloch had said that Pakistan did not make any formal request to join the group.

Court directs PIA, CAA to submit report

The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court (SAC) has directed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to submit a report on the operational life of ATR aircraft on the Gilgit-Islamabad route and the reasons behind technical faults in these flights.

The people of GB pleaded that the operational life of PIA’s ATR planes had expired, posing an extreme risk.

PIA’s chief technical officer told the court that ATR planes, purchased in 2006, are supposed to complete 70 thousand flight cycles, of which only half have been completed.

UNHCR raises alarm over Afghans’ exit order

The UN Refugee Agency has raised concerns over Pakisitan’s announcement for undocumented foreigners to leave, as the orders have adversely affected Afghan nationals, including registered refugees and others with valid documents.

UNHCR representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, told a press briefing at UN European headquarters in Geneva that mass arrivals back to Afghanistan were adding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis as winter temperatures in some locations dip to as low as -4°C.

Since Pakistan’s announcement of the repatriation plan on October 3, an estimated 374,000 people have returned to Afghanistan. “We are witnessing an exponential increase in arrests, detentions, and deportations of Afghans in Pakistan. Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter,” the official said.

He explained that the Afghans interviewed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan said they were leaving in a rush, fearing arrest and detention.

All registered Afghan refugees are exempt from the government’s orders, but the announcement and follow-up actions created a sense of panic.

Hasina’s daughter takes WHO top job, rejects criticism

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday selected the daughter of Bangladesh’s prime minister to be its South-East Asia director, a month after she rejected criticisms of nepotism over her application.

Saima Wazed, 49, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was accused of using her mother’s clout to get nominated to the position, allegations she has denied.

“I look forward to building a healthier South-East Asia,” Wazed posted on X, formerly Twitter, after being selected for the post heading an 11-nation region home to a quarter of the world’s population.

Concerns raised over ‘radicalisation’ of Afghan youth

Speakers at an international conference emphasised the need for building regional connectivity through social, economic, and political channels.

The two-day conference, South Asia and Regional Connectivity in the 21st Century, organised by Karachi University’s Department of International Relations, was concluded at a local hotel,

In her presentation, Dr. Ellinor Zeino highlighted concerns about the radicalisation of Afghan youth, mentioning the recruitment strategies of militant groups posing a threat across ethnicities and raising the alarm for neighbouring states.

She urged international engagement with the Taliban to address Afghan grievances, focusing on economic prospects, employment, education, and women’s rights. She also stressed the need for humanitarian aid and transforming the war economy into a trade hub to alleviate the hardships faced by Afghans.

Foreign policy expert Ahmed Rasheed said economic sustainability was important for regional connectivity, but the Taliban were funding the military and were least concerned about the growth and development of the civilians and common people.

“Moreover, the Taliban economy is more dependent on drugs and illegal trade. They have failed to address the other issues like economy, development, education, and especially women’s education,” he said while describing Pakistan’s historical support for the Taliban as its biggest mistake.

‘Animal’ trailer is out

The first full trailer of Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Animal’ is out, and it promises an exciting tale of love and filial relationships. Ranbir Kapoor features in the forthcoming Sandeep Reddy Vanga film, ‘Animal.’ The promo video offers an exciting glimpse into the film and what we can expect.

By the looks of the released footage, ‘Animal’ seems to be primarily centered on a father-son relationship, played by Anil and Ranbir Kapoor, respectively. Ranbir looks raw and intense in our released promos so far

US seeks explanation from India over plot to assassinate Sikh leader

The United States is treating an alleged plot to assassinate a Sikh leader on American soil with “utmost seriousness” and has raised the issue at the senior-most levels in New Delhi, the White House said.

The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that the Biden administration has thwarted the scheme to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and now wants India to investigate and hold plotters accountable.

US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson emphasised, “We are treating this issue with utmost seriousness, and it has been raised by the US Government with the Indian Government, including at the senior-most levels”.

On-the-record comments from a senior White House official on an ongoing investigation are rare and indicate the seriousness of the issue. It’s even rarer for a US official to make a statement during the Thanksgiving (Nov 23) holidays when all government and private offices remain closed.

Pakistani teacher wins Global Teacher Prize 2023

Sister Zeph, a Pakistani teacher who established a school for underprivileged children at the age of 13, has won the Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize 2023. The $1 million award, the largest of its kind, was presented to her in collaboration with UNESCO and Dubai Cares.

Sister Zeph, chosen from over 7,000 nominees worldwide, has dedicated 26 years to providing free education to more than 200 children.

The award ceremony, hosted by Stephen Fry, featured speakers like Nile Rodgers and highlighted the UNESCO and Teacher Taskforce Global Report on Teachers, emphasizing the need for 44 million additional teachers globally by 2030.

Sister Zeph plans to use the prize funds to build a school for underprivileged children and create a shelter for orphans.

The event also recognized the top 10 finalists for the Global Student Prize 2023. The Global Teacher Prize aims to celebrate exceptional teachers and acknowledge their critical role in society.

NAPA holds an evening with Ustad Shafqat Salamat Ali Khan


The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) and the city chapter of the All-Pakistan Music Conference organised an evening with Ustad Shafqat Salamat Ali Khan at Napa’s Zia Mohyeddin Theater.

The event began with Nadir Ali Khan’s and Faizan Ali Khan’s solo performances. Then, the two were joined by their father, Ustad Shafqat Salamat Ali, the son of the legendary maestro of Sham Chaurasi gharana, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. Towards the end, the Ustad sang some thumris and even ghazals on request.

The audience enjoyed themselves with the performance as Ustad Shafqat Salamat Ali carries the formidable legacy of his Gharana, which successfully combines the angst of dhrupad, kaafi, and khayal in its distinctive style. Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan was accompanied by Ishtiaq Hussain on harmonium, Kashif Ali Dhani on tabla, Gul Mohammad on sarangi, and Tariq Naseeb on tanpura.