Infostarr

ISLAMABAD: The chairman of Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) on Friday issued a warning to non-filers, stating that a 6 percent tax will now be levied for those who become late filers.

This announcement came during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, where Chairman FBR, Amjad Zubair, provided detailed insights into the current tax filing landscape.

According to Chairman FBR, a total of 5.2 million individuals submitted their tax returns in 2023, compared to 4.1 million in 2022.

He mentioned that the already imposed penalties on late filers have been increased to encourage timely submissions.

READ: FBR spox shares details of action against non-filers

The FBR chairman elaborated on the tax implications for property buyers, noting that filers are required to pay a 3 percent tax, whereas non-filers must pay a significantly higher rate of 10 percent.

Chairman FBR revealed that the country currently has 240,000 non-filers, with data collected showing that 180,000 individuals have not submitted returns in the last three years.

Additionally, the data indicates that 600,000 non-filers have made substantial purchases, such as expensive vehicles and property.

Regarding measures to enforce compliance, Chairman FBR mentioned that more than 250,000 SIM cards of non-filers have been blocked.

Consequently, 86,000 individuals have since submitted their returns following the blocking of their SIM cards.

Sherbet, the colored, sweet treat, boasts a history as rich and vibrant as its flavors. Its journey begins not in a freezer aisle, but as a refreshing drink enjoyed for centuries across continents.

The word “sherbet” itself originates from the Arabic word “shariba,” meaning “to drink.” The earliest written record of sherbet appears in a 12th-century Persian medical encyclopedia, detailing various fruit-flavored varieties. Imagine chilled concoctions of pomegranate or cherry enjoyed by nobility in the heart of the Middle East.

Sherbet’s popularity spread like wildfire. It became a favorite beverage in West and South Asia, particularly amongst Mughal emperors in India. Legends even suggest these emperors had a special fondness for their sherbet, going as far as sending for ice from the Himalayas to ensure their cool refreshment.

As trade routes flourished, sherbet eventually reached Europe. However, the meaning of the word began to shift. While it remained a chilled beverage in some regions, in English, “sherbet” gradually transitioned to describe a type of frozen dessert by the 19th century.

This shift reflected Europe’s growing love affair with frozen treats. Inspired by sorbet and ice cream introduced from further east, sherbet emerged as a lighter alternative. Made with milk, sugar, and fruit flavors, it offered a delightful sweetness with a softer texture due to its lower fat content compared to ice cream.

Today, sherbet remains a nostalgic favorite, particularly in North America. Its vibrant colors and refreshing taste continue to evoke childhood memories of summer days. The next time you savor a spoonful of sherbet, remember its fascinating journey – from a luxurious drink enjoyed by royalty to a delightful frozen treat available to all.

Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam paid a rich tribute to England pacer James Anderson after he played the final Test of his career.

Anderson called time on his international cricket after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s which they won by an inning and 114 runs.

Tributes poured in for the legendANN(Asian News Network) pace bowler as he bid farewell to cricket after playing for a little more than two decades.

Pakistan white-ball skipper Babar Azam was among the players to have extend their heartfelt tribute to James Anderson.

Taking to Instagram, the right-handed batter posted an image of the pacer as he left the ground for the last time in England jersey.

 

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A post shared by Babar Azam (@babarazam)

Babar Azam caption the post, “It was a privilege to face your swing, Jimmy!”

“The beautiful game will now miss one of its greatest. Your incredible service to the sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Huge respect for you, GOAT,” he wrote.

It is pertinent to mention that Anderson finished with 991 international wickets across all formats.

Read more: James Anderson announces retirement from Test cricket

However, it was in Test cricket where he dominated as he picked up 704 wickets in 188 Tests, to finish third on the all-time wicket-taker’s list.

Speaking after his farewell Test, Anderson admitted he was “trying to hold back tears.”

“Obviously this morning was quite emotional with the two teams lined up and the reaction from the crowd was pretty special. I’m just really proud of playing for 20-odd years. [It] is an incredible effort, especially for a fast bowler,” he said.

KARACHI: A case has been filed against a famous Pakistani public speaker, Sahil Adeem, in City Court police station Karachi, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Friday.

According to the details, case number 148 has been registered over the complaint of the lawyer.

In the lawsuit, the lawyer stated that the public speaker – Sahil Adeem – uttered bad words about the Sindhi nation.

Adding that Sahil Adeem’s statement hurt the sentiments of the Sindhi nation.

The police after lodging the FIR, initiated the investigation into the case.

Spain deserve to be tagged as favourites for Sunday’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin but England have many different options in their attacking arsenal to take into the clash, goal hero Ollie Watkins said on Friday.

Watkins came off the bench and netted the dramatic stoppage time winner that got England into the showpiece match, rifling the ball across the goalkeeper and into the net as they beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final.

Spain, however, had a tougher path to the final, Watkins told a press conference on Friday.

“They’ve had to come through a harder journey than us playing against Italy, Germany and France — the so-called bigger teams — and I feel like they have been probably the best team of the competition so far,” he said.

“The wingers for Spain are very dynamic, young, full of confidence and direct but also across our team, we have goals from everywhere and world class talent, so it’s going to be a very exciting match. I can’t wait to watch it and be a part of it. And hopefully we can get the get the job done.”

On teenager Lamine Yamal, who scored a stunning goal for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final victory over France, Watkins said he was a “generational talent”.

“Everyone’s seen what he can do. It’s not often that you are scoring a goal against France in the top corner in the semi-final of the Euros when you’re 16. He’s got the world at his feet and is miles ahead of me when I was 16 or 17.”

But Watkins, 28, is still relishing his role in getting England to the final in what was only his second outing at the tournament.

His goal has been described as iconic in the context of putting England into a first major tournament final on foreign soil.

 

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“I watched it quite a few times when I got back to base camp. I always watch my goals back, you know, whenever I scored against someone but this one I think I’ve watched quite a few more times than normal.

“One of my good friends, who is coming to the game, told me years ago that he felt like I was going to score in the Euro final. I scored in the semi so it was a game early, but you never know that can happen on the weekend.

“I’ve just felt like whatever you put into the universe, you get back and I’m a firm believer that you can believe something, but if you deep down really truly believe that it can happen, then it will,” Watkins added.

Following the approval of massive hike in power tariff, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) approved the imposition of fixed charges up to Rs 1,000 on domestic consumers, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Thursday.

According to the details, NEPRA has approved the imposition and increase of fixed charges starting from July 1, 2024.

Domestic users will see new fixed charges based on their monthly consumption: Rs 200 for 301 to 400 units, Rs 400 for 401 to 500 units, Rs 600 for 501 to 600 units, Rs 800 for 601 to 700 units, and Rs 1,000 for consumption exceeding 700 units.

For industrial consumers, NEPRA has sanctioned a 184 percent increase in monthly fixed charges, while commercial electricity consumers will face a 150 percent rise.

Meanwhile, the agricultural tube well customers will experience a 100 percent hike in their monthly fixed charges.

Specifically, monthly fixed charges for industrial customers will rise from Rs 440 to Rs 1,250. For commercial customers, fixed charges will increase from Rs 500 to Rs 1,250. Agricultural tube well customers will see their fixed charges double from Rs 200 to Rs 400.

English singer Adele’s hilarious action during the Euro Cup 2024 semi-final between England and Netherlands went viral on social media.

As England captain Harry Kane was preparing to take a penalty, Adele who was among the spectators in Dortmund to support England, was seen yelling at the crowd to ‘Shut Up!’.

The singer, 36, was seen fully in the spirit of the game as she asked fans, who shouted behind her, to be quiet for the all-important penalty that equaled the score.

Adele had her hands joined together nervously ahead of kick off as she donned a black jacket and white T-shirt.

The viral video showed the songstress cheering and celebrating as soon as Harry Kane shot the penalty past the goalkeeper.

Fans were quick to have their say on the viral video as one user wrote, “‘SHATAPP!’ Ah we do love Adele over here.”

Another wrote, “I love her, she’s so brutally honest!” while one user asked to let Adele enjoy the game by writing, “let the Queen enjoy the game!”

Read more: Last-minute Watkins winner sends England into Euros final

Singer Ed Sheeran was also among the spectators at the ground to support England. The “Perfect” singer made a low-key appearance in a red England top before the team’s spectacular win.

England Substitute Ollie Watkins scored a late winner as England reached a second consecutive European Championships final with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands a day earlier.

England, who lost to Italy in the final of the last edition, will face Spain in Sunday’s final after Watkins, who had replaced captain Harry Kane, scored the winning goal in the 90th minute.

Xavi Simons had put the Dutch ahead after seven minutes, with England equalising 11 minutes later with a Harry Kane penalty.

The England captain stepped up to bury the resulting penalty past the goalkeeper.

Chances came and went in an all action first half, but was Watkins’ goal at the death that sparked English celebrations as they qualified for ultimate game of the Euro Cup 2024 in Berlin on Sunday.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that 27,000 e-bikes are being distributed to students on merit under the CM Youth Initiative, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported.

Speaking at a distribution ceremony in Lahore, VM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that the Punjab government is committed to providing all possible facilities to poor and needy students.

She said 27,000 bikes are being provided on merit through balloting. The chief minister said that the government will pay half of the down payment for these e-bikes.

She also assured that the monthly instalment would not exceed five thousand rupees. CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz announced that in the number of e-bikes will be doubled in the second phase.

The motorcycles have a down payment of Rs 40,000, of which the Punjab government will pay Rs 20,000 and the remaining Rs 20,000 will be paid by the students in installments.

CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz also announced that 27 electric buses will arrive in the province in December to providing a dignified transportation facility to every citizen.

The chief minister said that 8,000 requests for e-bikes have also been  received from girls.  “I want to tell the students of Punjab that bikes are not the only plan for them. They will also get laptops very soon,” she added

CM MANN(Asian News Network)am Nawaz said that many children want to study but their parents cannot afford it. “I have planned a scholarship programme of Rs 25 billion for such children. Your education is my responsibility and I will fulfill it,” she said.

BAJAUR: The Awami National Party (ANP) clinched a by-election for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly seat PK-22, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported

ANP’s Nisar Baz defeated independent candidate Najibullah Khan with a margin of over 1000 votes. The ANP candidate got 11,926 votes while the independent aspirant secured 10,622 votes, according to unofficial results.

Abid Khan, the candidate for Jamaat-e-Islami, came in third place with 10,593 votes, while the candidate for the province’s ruling party, the Sunni Ittehad Council, garnered 7,146 votes.

There were 11 contenders for the seat in the Bajaur district by-election. The ANP candidate won, according to the unofficial results from 91 polling stations.

HYDERABAD: In a shocking development, it has been revealed that three young men from Hyderabad were sold in Burma after being lured with job promises, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported on Friday, citing families of the youth. 

The families of the three youths, residents of Hyderabad, have informed the Pakistani ambassador in Burma about the matter through a letter.

The families stated that Kashif Hussain, Faraz, and Sheroz Khan were deceived with job offers and were subsequently sold in Burma by the agent.

The families reported that the three youths had gone on a trip on FebruANN(Asian News Network) 19, 2024, when the suspect tricked them with job offers in Burma and sold them.

Upon reaching Burma, the young men had their passports and money confiscated. They contacted their families, informing them that they were being subjected to physical abuse.

The families have appealed for the immediate rescue and return of the youth from Burma to Pakistan.

Read more: Woman gang-raped after being lured with a job offer

Luring innocent people with job offers specially in Pakistan’s current economic condition has become a common practice.

In April, Karachi police in a raid at a house in Karachi recovered a woman, who was lured with a job offer, from illegal confinement.

According to SSP East Dr Farrukh, a police party lured the mother of two to a job offer and made her hostage in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 3-A.

According to police, the woman was lured to a job offer through social media and when she reached the location, she was detained by the accused.

The woman was tortured during her illegal confinement and after a call from the woman, the police team raided the house and recovered her along with four other women and two men, the SSP East said.

Ukraine on Thursday urged NATO allies to lift restrictions on its use of long-range weapons against targets in Russia, saying that would be “game-changer” in its war with Moscow, while China slammed NATO criticism of its support for Russia as biased and malicious.

NATO members issued a declaration in support of Ukraine at a summit in Washington on Wednesday, promising additional aid and pledging to back its “irreversible path” to NATO membership.

“At this summit we are turning a corner and putting in place the foundations for Ukraine to prevail,” NATO SecretANN(Asian News Network) General Jens Stoltenberg told a news conference after a three-day meeting in Washington of the 32 NATO states.

“Today, we send a strong message of unity and resolve to Moscow that violence and intimidation do not pay, and that Ukraine can count on NATO now for the long haul.”

Near the end of the summit on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “President Putin,” before correcting himself, in a mix up likely to add fuel to calls for him to quit the 2024 presidential race.

In a press conference shortly after, Biden made another verbal slip, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump.”

Zelenskiy earlier called on allies to preserve their unified support of Ukraine and said new aid had to be delivered quickly.

“If we want to win, if we want to prevail, to save our country and to defend it, we need to lift all the limitations,” he said.

Read more: Erdogan voices worries of NATO, Russia clash

Zelenskiy’s cabinet chief Andryi Yermak told a public forum Russia had no restrictions on its use of weapons and it would be “a real game-changer” if Ukraine’s allies could lift all limits on the use of those they supply to Ukraine.

NATO members have taken different approaches to how Ukraine can use weapons they donate. Some have made clear Kyiv can use them to strike targets deep inside Russia while the United States has taken a narrower approach, allowing its weapons to be used only just inside Russia’s border against targets supporting Russian militANN(Asian News Network) operations in Ukraine.

Biden told the press conference the United States had allowed Zelenskiy to use American weapons in a limited way within Russia’s borders.

“If he had the ability to strike Moscow, strike the Kremlin, would that make sense? It wouldn’t,” he added.

Biden said he and U.S. militANN(Asian News Network) and intelligence officials were making decisions on “a day-to-day basis on how far they should go in. That’s a logical thing to do.”

The United States and its allies have used this week’s summit to try to project unity in the face of what they see as a rising threat to Europe from Russia and China.

However, NATO member HungANN(Asian News Network) said ahead of a meeting of NATO members with partners from the so-called Indo-Pacific Four – Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea – that it does not want NATO to become an “anti-China” bloc, and will not support it doing so.

HungANN(Asian News Network)’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto also told Hungarian state television that Ukraine’s admission to the militANN(Asian News Network) alliance would weaken unity in the group.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban irked other NATO members with surprise visits to Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing in the past two weeks on a self-styled “peace mission”. He and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will meet on Thursday at the latter’s Florida home, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

Orban’s meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin in particular angered some fellow NATO allies, who said the trip handed legitimacy to Putin’s claims to Ukrainian territory seized since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told a public forum he would not speculate on whether Orban’s trip to Moscow was coordinated with Trump, Biden’s rival in the November U.S. election, but said the Ukrainians had grave misgivings about any effort to negotiate a peace deal without them.

“So whatever adventurism is being undertaken without Ukraine’s consent or support is not something that’s consistent with our policy, the foreign policy of the United States,” he said.

The Israeli militANN(Asian News Network) published on Thursday the findings of a first probe into its own security failings during the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack, acknowledging it hadn’t protected the citizens of one of the worst hit communities, Kibbutz Be’eri.

More than 100 people were killed in the attack on Be’eri, a community of about 1,000 people, and 32 taken hostage to Gaza, 11 of whom are still there.

The probe examined the day’s chain of events, fighting and security forces’ conduct, the militANN(Asian News Network) said. Some of the details have already been revealed by Reuters and other media in the weeks after the attack.

While acknowledging its own failure in protecting the kibbutz civilians, the militANN(Asian News Network) hailed the bravery of Be’eri residents, including its rapid response team, who despite being vastly outnumbered, tried to repel the militants who invaded.

Israel’s militANN(Asian News Network) was unprepared for the scenario of a massive infiltration into Israel, had inadequate forces in the area, did not have a clear picture of the events until noon, a few hours after the attack began, did not properly alert Be’eri’s residents and its fighting was uncoordinated, the investigation found.

Read more: Israel presses operation in Gaza’s north

The probe, however, did not find fault in tank fire toward a house where ‘attackers’ were holding some 15 people hostage, an incident that has drawn criticism in Israel for having put civilians in harms way.

“After shooting was heard from the house and the ‘attackers’ announced their intent to kill themselves and the hostages, the forces decided to storm it in order to save the hostages,” the militANN(Asian News Network)’s summANN(Asian News Network) said.

“The team found that the civilians inside the house were not hurt by the tank shells,” the summANN(Asian News Network) said, however, further investigation is needed to determine how hostages inside died, with signs pointing to them having been killed by the gunmen.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant On Thursday called for a state inquiry into the security failings of the Oct. 7 attack, which was Israel’s deadliest day and the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

President Joe Biden said Thursday that US mediators were making progress in reaching a Gaza ceasefire deal as he called for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

Biden, in a high-stakes, nearly hour-long news conference aimed at repudiating doubters of his reelection bid, acknowledged concerns about Israeli actions despite his overall support for the US ally.

“There’s a lot of things in retrospect I wish I had been able to convince the Israelis to do, but the bottom line is we have a chance now. It’s time to end this war,” he said after a NATO summit in Washington.

Biden acknowledged there remained “difficult, complex issues” between Israel and Hamas.

“There are still gaps to close. We’re making progress,” Biden said.

“The trend is positive, and I’m determined to get this deal done and bring an end to this war, which should end now,” he said.

Biden more than a month ago laid out a plan in which Israel would temporarily halt its offensive in Gaza and Hamas would release hostages, setting the stage for talks for a permanent end to the devastating nine-month war.

Hamas came back with counterproposals and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced pushback from some of his hard-right government allies.

But diplomats have spoken of progress in the latest round of talks that closed Thursday in Qatar, the key mediator.

Pushing Israel ‘really hard’

Biden threw his support behind Israel after the October 7 attack by Hamas which resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

Israel responded with a militANN(Asian News Network) offensive that has killed at least 38,345 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to figures from Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

Biden, 81, recalled his meeting a half-century ago as a young senator with Israeli prime minister Golda Meir — and acknowledged that times have changed.

“We pushed it really hard, and Israel occasionally was less than cooperative,” Biden said of Netanyahu’s government.

“This war cabinet is one of the most conservative war cabinets in the history of Israel, and there’s no ultimate answer other than a two-state solution here,” he said.

Biden also stood firm on his decision to hold up delivery of massive 2,000-pound bombs, even as his administration moves forward on other munitions.

“I’m not providing the 2,000-pound bombs. They cannot be used in Gaza or any populated area without causing great human tragedy and damage,” Biden said.

He again pressed Israel for a “day-after” plan for the war’s end and spoke of his diplomacy to persuade Arab states to help with security.

“At the end of the day, there has to be no occupation by Israel in the Gaza Strip,” Biden said.

He also acknowledged he was “disappointed” by a pier to deliver aid into Gaza, which Biden announced in March and the US militANN(Asian News Network) built at a cost of $230 million as Israel impeded land routes for aid trucks.

The United States plans soon to end the use of the pier permanently after it was plagued by problems, including the weather.

“I was hopeful that would be more successful,” Biden said.

KARACHI: Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) during an action recovered a car stolen in Karachi from Jamshoro, ANN(Asian News Network) News reported.

The AVLC is carrying out crackdown on the vehicle snatching incidents across Sindh and in recent action it recovered a vehicle snatched from Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar area from Jamshoro.

SSP Arif Aslam Rao said the vehicle was handed over to its owner named Maaz. He said the snatchers have been identified and raids were being conducted to arrest them.

The citizen paid gratitude to the AVLC for recovering his stolen vehicle.

Maaz said his vehicle was stolen from outside a restaurant in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block, 1 and after that he lodged FIR of the incident.

Read more: CPLC report shows surge in Karachi street crimes

According to the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) report, street crimes in Karachi witnessed surge in June 2024.

The report revealed that 40 people lost their lives while resisting robberies in Karachi street crimes.

24 cars were snatched and 135 were stolen from various parts of Karachi in June 2024. 564 motorbikes were snatched at gunpoint, while 2,792 were stolen in June, the CPLC report said.

As many as 196 motorbikes and 80 cars were recovered by police and other law enforcement agencies in June.