Author: newsdesk

  • Sindhi journalist killed in Ghotki

    Sindhi journalist killed in Ghotki

    Unknown armed men shot and killed Bachal Ghuniyo, a local journalist working for Awaz TV, Ghotki, Sindh.

    Ghuniyo was killed in the area of Rawanti, after which the attackers fled the scene. The journalist’s body was then taken to Ubauro Hospital.

    Police are reportedly investigating the incident, suspecting it may be related to an ‘old enmity.’

    This follows a previous case in which journalist Nasrullah Gadani was also shot dead in Ghotki.

    To read more about Nasrullah Gadani case: Witnesses name PPP MNA, two sons in Nasrullah Gadani murder case

  • Mahira Khan shares VERY romantic photo on husband’s birthday

    Superstar Mahira Khan wished her husband, Salim Karim, a happy birthday by sharing a romantic picture on Instagram.

    In the caption, the actress wrote, “Happy birthday, my Jan. P.S. Please make a small dua for us. It would be lovely.”

    Mahira, who worked opposite King Shah Rukh Khan in the Bollywood film ‘Raees’, married her long-time close friend Saleem Karim last year.

  • Law Minister rejects reports of extension for CJP Qazi Faez Isa

    Law Minister rejects reports of extension for CJP Qazi Faez Isa

    Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has said that the next Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) will be appointed on seniority basis, rejecting rumors that Qazi Faez Isa might get an extension in his tenure.

    Speaking on the Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath, he said, “Seniority will be of paramount importance in appointing a new chief justice. The senior-most judge will be the chief justice.”

    He also said that ordinary legislation cannot bypass the appointment of the CJP, as enshrined in Article 175-A(3) of the constitution.

    Tarar further stated that the top judge will retire on October 25, 2024, and has “no interest” in getting an extension. Senior Justice Mansoor Ali Shah will replace Qazi Faez Isa as CJP.

  • Internet shutdown costs 65 billion rupees to Pakistan’s economy

    Internet shutdown costs 65 billion rupees to Pakistan’s economy

    Pakistan’s economy has suffered a loss of PKR 65 billion in 2023 due to internet shutdowns.

    Statista’s latest data reveals that 8.3 million Pakistanis were affected by the internet outage, which lasted 259 hours.

    Statista is a German online organization that specializes in data collection. It ranked Pakistan seventh in terms of losses in the last financial year.

    Last year, India was one of the top countries with the longest internet shutdowns in the world, with 47 crore users not having access to the internet. This resulted in India being ranked fourth for internet shutdowns.

    “In India – the country that cuts internet access the most – shutdowns have in the past clustered in Kashmir and Rajasthan, where they have been used during protests (and preemptively when protests were expected), but also during exams. In 2023, ethnic tensions in Manipur state led to most targeted shutdowns employed by the government”, states Statista’s official website.

    Internet service in India was highest in Occupied Kashmir and Rajasthan.

    The total list of 25 countries with the most internet shutdowns from top to bottom is Russia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Iran, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Algeria, Senegal, Azerbaijan, Guinea, Brazil, Mauritania, Yemen, Venezuela, Kenya, Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Gabon, Tanzania, Cuba, Chad, Zimbabwe and Suriname at last in the list respectively.

    Regionally, after 2019, Asia experienced the most disruption cases of internet connections, over 50 percent compared to the rest of the world.

  • Mohsin Naqvi shares update on surgery in cricket team

    Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has shared an update on the surgery on the Pakistan cricket team.

    While addressing a press conference in Lahore on Monday, he said, “People talk about surgery and want to cut the throats of four or five, that doesn’t happen. Let the pool be made first; then, there will be a backup, and surgery will be done. The surgery is still pending, let the instruments be completed first.”

    He said, “I will fix all cricket issues. I don’t have any magic wand to wave.”

    Talking about Bangladesh’s defeat, he said, “The defeat against Bangladesh is very disappointing. The Champions Cup will be completed at the end of September, and then performers will come forward. The selection committee has picked the boys. There are 17 players now, and it is the job of the coach and captain to make a strong lineup.”

    “Waqar Younis has helped in terms of mentors; he was supposed to take over a team, but now he will take over the team regularly. It’s been 5-7 months, and I’m trying to improve the situation.”

    Regarding the Rawalpindi Test, he further said, “We have requested the pitch report and will receive it by tomorrow, regretting the defeat. Trying to improve will take some time, but it will all get better. The players’ central contract will also be announced in the next few days.”

    Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets in Rawalpindi on August 25 in the first Test of a three-match Test series.

  • If anything happens to me, army and ISI chiefs will be responsible: Imran Khan

    Imran Khan, the founder Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), while talking to journalists on August 26 in Adiala Jail, warned that if something happens to his life, the Army Chief Gen Asim Munir and ISI Chief Gen Nadeem Anjum would be held responsible.

    The former prime minister also claimed that he is being held in harsh conditions, saying, “My cell is hot as an oven, so I am sweating, yet I do not want any relief.”

    He emphasised that he has no contact with the military establishment while stating that any future communication, if it were to occur, would be for the country’s rule and law.

    Khan lashed out at the Interior Minister and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, calling him a “crony” who has destroyed the country’s sports.

    He accused Naqvi of having $5 million worth of property in Dubai registered under his wife’s name while questioning his qualifications.

    Khan also expressed concern about his wife, Bushra Bibi’s living conditions, stating that her room is infested with rats.

  • Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule announced

    Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule announced

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 schedule.

    ICC has divided 10 teams into two groups. Group A includes India, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, while Group B includes South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Scotland.

    Pakistan will start their campaign on October 3 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. They will play their second match against traditional rivals India on October 6 in Dubai. Pakistan will face Australia in the third match on October 11, while New Zealand will face it on October 14.

    The event’s semi-finals are scheduled for October 17 and 18 in Dubai and Sharjah respectively. The final match of the Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled for October 20 in Dubai.

    Before the event, warm-up matches will also be played from September 28 to October 1, and the national women’s team will play two warm-up matches against Scotland and Bangladesh.

  • Naimal Khawar and Hamza Ali Abbasi celebrate five years together

    Naimal Khawar and Hamza Ali Abbasi celebrate five years together

    Hamza Ali Abbasi and Naimal Khawar Abbasi have just recorded a milestone in their married life.

    The fan-favourite couple tied the knot exactly five years ago.
     
    On their fifth wedding anniversary, Naimal and Hamza are celebrating their love with a combined post on Instagram with the caption, “5 years today! Allahumdollilah ♥”

    The two are dressed in white in the accompanying photos.

     
    Fans and people from the entertainment industry are also wishing them on Instagram.
    Hamza Ali Abbasi tied the knot with Naimal Khawar in 2019 on 25 August.

  • Pakistan heavily penalised for slow overrate in Pindi Test

    Pakistan heavily penalised for slow overrate in Pindi Test

    Pakistan and Bangladesh have been fined for a slow overrate in the World Test Championship (WTC) in Rawalpindi.

    Pakistan bowled six overs, while Bangladesh bowled three slow overs, resulting in Pakistan losing six points and Bangladesh losing three.

    The Pakistan team has been fined 30 per cent of their match fee, while Bangladesh will pay 15 per cent. Despite the victory, Pakistan will remain in eighth place in the WTC points table, while Bangladesh has moved from sixth to seventh.

    Bangladesh made history on August 25 in Rawalpindi by winning the first Test against Pakistan by 10 wickets.

  • Study finds humans age dramatically at 44 and 60 years

    Study finds humans age dramatically at 44 and 60 years

    A new medical study suggests that rather than being a slow and steady process, aging occurs in at least two accelerated bursts at around the age of 44 and 60 years.

    The research conducted by Nature Aging tracked thousands of different molecules in people aged 25 to 75 and detected two major waves of age-related changes at around age 44 and again at 60.

    The findings could explain why specific health issues, including problems related to muscles, bones and cardiovascular disease, occur at certain ages.

    “We’re not just changing gradually over time. There are some really dramatic changes,” said senior author Prof Michael Snyder, a geneticist and director of the Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine at Stanford University.

    “It turns out the mid-40s is a time of dramatic change, as is the early 60s – and that’s true no matter what class of molecules you look at,” he added.

    The Guardian elaborates that the research was conducted over a period of seven years and tracked 108 volunteers, who submitted blood and stool samples and skin, oral and nasal swabs every few months.

    Researchers studied 135,000 molecules and microbes from participants’ guts and skin, finding significant shifts in molecular and microbial profiles at two key life stages: mid-40s and early 60s.

    For scientists, the mid-40s shift was unexpected and not solely due to menopause. The study stresses that similar changes were observed in men. The first wave of changes involved molecules related to cardiovascular health, caffeine, alcohol, and lipid metabolism, while the second wave affected immune regulation, carbohydrate metabolism, and kidney function.

    However, the molecules linked to skin and muscle ageing were believed to be affected at both stages.

    Although previous studies indicated a potential later spike in ageing around age 78, this study could not confirm it due to the age limit of participants.