Author: newsdesk

  • Mawra Hocane’s surfing adventure in Australia makes waves on social media

    Mawra Hocane’s surfing adventure in Australia makes waves on social media

    Actor Mawra Hocane has always been in the limelight for her powerful performances and commandong on-screen presence. But she is also known as one of the most fun stars out there.

    Currently, she has been spending quality time in Australia with her family, including her mother, father, brother, and sister-in-law. Mawra has been exploring the beautiful landscapes of Australia with her close friends and family, sharing glimpses of her adventures on social media.
    Hocane shared pictures on her Instagram with caption, “I’ve got WINGS to fly… // HAWAI’I // surfer girl ♀”. Mawra’s recent surfing photos showcase her daring and bold personality.
    Here are the pictures shared by Mawra:

  • Cuban wrestler creates history at Olympics with spectacular record

    Cuban wrestler creates history at Olympics with spectacular record

    Cuban wrestler Mijaín López has created new history at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first wrestler in the world to win five consecutive gold medals in the games.

    Lopez won the super heavyweight gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, after having previously winning gold medals at the 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020 Paris Olympics.

    No other athlete has won more than four consecutive gold medals in the event. America Lewis in the long jump, Michael Phelps in the 200-meter medley, Al Oerter in the discus throw, Japan’s wrestler Kaori Icho, and Denmark’s Paul Elvstrøm won four consecutive times in the Paris Olympics.

  • Sindh government will start testing for drugs in schools

    Sindh government will start testing for drugs in schools

    Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon has announced that children in educational institutions will undergo drug tests, with positive results reported only to their parents.

    Memon highlighted that President Asif Ali Zardari, upon taking office, had directed officials to combat drug abuse, reflecting his concern over the rising trend of drug abuse.

    At the inaugural meeting of the high-powered anti-narcotics committee, Memon stated that if a child tests positive, only the parents will be informed, and the child will then be questioned about the source of the drugs, including suppliers, dealers, and their accomplices.

    The primary focus will be on making arrests.

  • Islamabad’s Monal restaurant to be closed permanently

    Islamabad’s Monal restaurant to be closed permanently

    Islamabad’s Monal restaurant, built illegally in the Margalla Hills National Park, has announced in a statement posted on social media that it will end its operations on September 11 in light of the Supreme Court’s orders.

    “It’s time to say goodbye. As per Honorable SCP directions, we are closing on 11/09/2024. Dear Valued Customers, thank you for your trust and for giving us a chance to serve you to the best of our abilities, for giving us recognition, appreciation, and a place in your heart,” the official statement read.

    The post sheds light on the restaurant’s controversial journey: “Since 2006, it has been an absolute pleasure for the Monal family to serve and showcase a positive image of Pakistan and its beautiful people.”

    “This journey was full of success stories and emotions for the team affiliated with us, but now it’s time to say goodbye. Here’s to a difficult farewell,” it concluded.

    Supreme Court dismisses military’s claim on Margalla National Park commercial activity is an area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, along with a three-judge panel of the Supreme Court, had taken up an appeal against the Jan 11, 2022, judgement of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding sealing and taking over Monal’s possession.

    The top court, however, rejected the appeal against the IHC order in which the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board were ordered to seal the Monal premises to ensure the conservation of endangered and wildlife species in the region.

  • Dengue cases rise amid monsoon rains in Lahore

    Dengue cases rise amid monsoon rains in Lahore

    Authorities have destroyed dengue larvae found in 1,555 locations in Lahore during the past 24 hours.

    According to reports, monsoon rains and changing weather have accelerated the spread of dengue. During this period, dengue larvae were discovered at over 1,500 sites, leading to 1,460 notices being issued.

    Samaa News reports that according to the Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, Rafia Haider, 95 cases have been filed for violations of SOPs.

    Authorities have issued notices to 47,539 individuals and registered 2,360 cases for serious SOP violations so far this year.

  • Indian female wrestler disqualified from Olympics after reaching finals

    Indian female wrestler disqualified from Olympics after reaching finals

    Indian female wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been disqualified from the women’s 50kg wrestling finals at the Paris Olympics 2024 despite qualifying for the finals. During the weigh-in, she was 100 grams over the limit.

    The 29-year-old experienced athlete was having an incredible run after facing bullying on the streets of Delhi for months. She defeated Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba and was on track to win gold at the Paris Olympics. She even reassured her supporters with a heartfelt, “I will bring gold” promise during a video call.

    However, everything fell apart when she was found ineligible to compete on the final day. Despite her team’s best efforts throughout Tuesday night, Phogat didn’t meet the weight requirement during Wednesday’s weigh-in. The unfortunate event has ended India’s hopes of winning a gold medal in the women’s 50kg category.

    The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) released a statement saying they apologise for the disqualification.

    “It is regrettable that the Indian contingent shares news of Vinesh Phogat’s disqualification from the Women’s Wrestling 50kg class. Despite the team’s best efforts through the night, she weighed in a few grams over 50kg this morning. No further comments will be made by the contingent at this time. The Indian team requests that you respect Vinesh’s privacy. It would like to focus on the competitions on hand.”

    In January 2024, Several female athletes returned their medals to the Indian government to protest against sexual harassment, but the police charged them and arrested several people. She left two valuable awards on the roadside after she wasn’t allowed to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Dr. Omer Adil arrested after Gharida Farooqi’s legal complaint

    Dr. Omer Adil arrested after Gharida Farooqi’s legal complaint

    Lahore police have arrested cultural analyst and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Omer Adil after a legal complaint by anchor Gharida Farooqui, who accused Dr. Adil of passing derogatory and obscene remarks against her and other female television hosts.

    In July, during an appearance on the podcast Dil Ki Baat hosted by Zohaib Butt, Dr. Adil went on a misogynistic rant: “These anchors are somehow in touch with high profile Pakistanis. Female anchors are treated in an extraordinary manner. Nobody cares about the male anchor sitting next to the female anchor.”

    Dr Umer Adil added that even their show’s producers have no guts to instruct the women or criticize them on their mistakes. In fact, in those cases, producers leave the show and run away.

    In a statement shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Gharida Farooqui wrote, “Dr. Omer Adil has been arrested after my legal request. Dr. Umar Adil made obscene, vulgar and defamatory allegations against me and all women working in the media on the digital platform; In which especially my name was taken. I gave an opportunity to Dr. Omar Adil in legal proceedings to apologize publicly, but he did not do so. Salute to all the law enforcement agencies who acted on my request for the protection of women. It is hoped that justice will be done and the perpetrators of crimes against women will be brought to an end, and women will get full protection in Pakistan.”

    Farooqui also wrote in her tweet, “This arrest has been made by FIA, and all the officials of Cybercrime Wing Lahore, including DG FIA, deserve a lot of thanks and appreciation. They are doing the legal process in the best way with full professional responsibility.”

    Social media users have shown their support for Farooqui by expressing sympathy and supporting her stance against misogyny and defamation on her X account.

  • One lawmaker opposed the resolution on Kashmir

    One lawmaker opposed the resolution on Kashmir

    The Youm-I-Istehsaal-i-Kashmir Day Resolution, presented by Safron and Kashmir Affairs minister Amir Maqam in the national assembly, was unanimously supported, demonstrating strong unity in the cause of Kashmir except for one lawmaker, Chief of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

    The Member National Assembly opposed the resolution, arguing that the draft should be amended before being passed by parliament.

    In a hard-hitting speech, he said, ‘‘We should ask the Kashmiris which country they want to join’’.

    The resolution demanded India release political prisoners, stop the ongoing violation of human rights, provide humanitarian aid, and sincerely implement the relevant resolution of the United Security Council so that Kashmiri people can determine their future through the democratic process of a fair and partial plebiscite under the define guidance of the United Nations.

    In response, after being called ‘havaldar’ by the achakzai, the speaker elaborated that he was proud of being called a havaldar as he is the country’s frontline soldier.

  • Pakistani man with strong ties to Iran charged in US with attempt to carry out assassinations

    Pakistani man with strong ties to Iran charged in US with attempt to carry out assassinations

    A United States Federal court in Brooklyn has charged a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran, Asif Merchant, also known as “Asif Raza Merchant,” 46, with murder-for-hire as part of a scheme to assassinate a politician or U.S. government officials on U.S. soil, including potentially former President Donald Trump.

    Asif travelled to New York in June to meet with people he thought he was recruiting for carrying out assassinations, including paying $5,000 advance to two men, who turned out to be undercover law enforcement officers, Associated Press reported.

    He was arrested in July after he told his would-be assassins that they would get further instruction, including the targets’ identities, in August or September after he returned to Pakistan.

    “This dangerous murder-for-hire plot exposed in today’s charges allegedly was orchestrated by a Pakistani national with close ties to Iran and is straight out of the Iranian playbook,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.

    The Associated Press also reported that Asif also indicated to his associate that he wanted a “political person” to be killed, mapping out on a napkin the different strategies on how the target could be killed.

    Journalist Iftikhar Firdous posted on X, “His case file on the U.S. Justice Department’s website shows that he has a wife and children both in Iran and Pakistan while he has been consistently travelling to Iran, Syria and Iraq. This would be the second incident this year where Pakistani nationals with ties to Iranian militias in the Middle East have been arrested by the FBI.”

  • Employees getting Rs 15 billion of free electricity: Secretary Power Division

    Employees getting Rs 15 billion of free electricity: Secretary Power Division

    The Senate’s Standing Committee on Energy has been briefed by the Secretary of Power Division that 190,000 employees are being given free electricity worth 15 billion rupees annually.

    He said, “Our electricity demand for industry is about 25 percent, decreasing over time.”

    The Secretary explained that 25 million employees of 400 units received a 592 billion subsidy, which has now increased by Rs 692 billion. “244 billion was taken from industry and given to domestic consumers,” he told the Committee.

    Senator Mohsin Aziz remarked, “IPP has become a dragon, and people are on the streets.”

    The federal minister for power and energy said, “Even if we get five rupees from IPP payments, we will help poor people.”

    The minister opined that electricity theft can be reduced with privatisation and digitisation.