Author: newsdesk

  • Olympics commentator sent home after sexist comments about Australian swimmers

    Olympics commentator sent home after sexist comments about Australian swimmers

    Veteran sports commentator Bob Ballard has been fired from his Olympics job after making a sexist comment about Australian female swimmers who won a gold medal.

    During the 4x100m freestyle relay in Paris, Mollie O’Callaghan, Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, and Shayna Jack left the pool deck after their victory. Ballard commented, “You know how women are… always hanging around, doing their makeup.”

    His co-commentator, British swimming champion Lizzie Simmonds, immediately called the remark “outrageous,” making Ballard laugh.

    “Last night, commentator Bob Ballard made an inappropriate comment during our coverage. Because of this, he has been removed from our commentary team immediately,” Eurosport has reported.

    He has worked for the BBC for a long time and has not publicly stated about the incident.

    Ballard has been a well-known figure in sports coverage since the 1980s. He has commentated on many Olympic Games and World Championships, covering sports like water polo, ice hockey, and wheelchair tennis.

  • More than a dozen people injured in firing in Balochistan

    More than a dozen people injured in firing in Balochistan

    More than a dozen protestors were injured on Sunday in violence in Mastung when a group headed to a planned protest in Gawadar came under fire.

    Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) had scheduled a protest in Gawadar against alleged human rights abuses in the province.

    The BYC has accused the security forces of opening fire at their supporters, while the administration emphasised that the participants attacked a Levies checkpoint near Mastung.

    “At least 14 people were injured in the firing,” said a BYC leader, Bebarg Baloch, alleging that law enforcement agencies opened fire at their supporters.

    Meanwhile, the area’s internet, mobile phones, and broadband services have been shut down.

    Amnesty International, a global human rights watchdog, said, “Amnesty is alarmed at the use of unlawful and unnecessary force against the participants of the Baloch National Gathering by security forces yesterday.”

  • Did you know how set the stage for Salman Khan’s success

    Did you know how set the stage for Salman Khan’s success

    Bollywood superstar Salman Khan owes much of his global fame to thespian Aamir Khan’s decision to turn down a lead role.

    Indian media reports that Aamir Khan was the first choice for the character ‘Prem’ in the blockbuster film ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun,’ opposite Madhuri Dixit.

    Aamir refused the role because he didn’t like the script.

    At the time, Salman Khan was struggling in his career.

    The filmmakers then offered the role to Salman, who accepted it without knowing it would start his journey to superstardom.
    Salman’s portrayal of ‘Prem’ received widespread praise from fans.

    Made on a budget of 45 million INR, the film grossed about 1.35 billion INR worldwide.

  • Ajay Devgn shares Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s inspiring Story 

    Ajay Devgn shares Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s inspiring Story 

    The late great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is missed not just by his Pakistani fans but Indian fans too. The maestro was known for belting out hit upon hit, and for being one of the most humble men in the industry.

    The heartwarming tale of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Indian lyricist Anand Bakhshi’s first meeting reminds us that even the most unlikely of friendships is destined for something special.

    During an interview with The Lallantop, Bollywood star Ajay Devgn disclosed an interesting details of that first meeting. “Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had arrived in India for an album recording with Bakhshi. Though we’d scheduled a number of meetings, we couldn’t connect. Nusrat Sahab was so obese he couldn’t walk around, so he wanted me to come over to him, yet he chose not to take all the calls. Taking matters into his own hands, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan decided to visit Mr. Bakhshi’s apartment in Bandera, which didn’t have an elevator.”

    “After Nusrat Sahab went to his apartment by himself, Bakhshi became embarrassed and started crying when he saw Nusrat entering the apartment while four people were holding him. Later, Bakhshi Saab would come visit him, and both of them produced music together.”
    Anand Bakshi was an award-winning Indian poet and lyricist.

    Anand Bakshi and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan made superhit songs like Kinna Sohna Tenu from Sanu Ek Pal Chain Na Aave. But their biggest hit was Afreen Afreen.

    https://www.facebook.com/reel/499283045924823

  • Pakistani mother of two crosses border to marry Indian lover

    Pakistani mother of two crosses border to marry Indian lover

    A Pakistani woman has travelled to India to marry her lover, Indian Express has reported.

    The 25-year-old Pakistani woman, identified as Mehvish, crossed the border into India and arrived in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district to be with her lover, Rehman, whom she met on Facebook.

    Reports say that Mehvish was previously married to a man from Badami Bagh, Lahore. She got divorced in 2018 after 12 years of marriage and has two sons aged 12 and seven.

    Her paramour Rehman also separated from his wife, the mother of his children, in 2011. His first wife alleged that he had not legally divorced her and took the matter to the police.

    However, after the divorce, Mehvish connected with Rehman through Facebook. He works as a transporter in Kuwait. The two proposed to each other on March 13, 2022, and married via video conference three days later. They later had a marriage ceremony during Mehvish’s Umrah pilgrimage to Makkah in 2023.

    Mehvish entered India from the Wagah border with her family on July 25 on a 45-day tourist visa. Rehman’s family picked her up and brought her to their village, Pithisar.

    The stories of cross-border-romance are a common occurrence in between the warring neighbours as there have been multiple instances with the most famous being Seema who took her children to marry Sachin, an Induan she met while playing PUBG.

  • Vegetable, fruit prices soar by 150 per cent amid strikes, sit-ins

    Vegetable, fruit prices soar by 150 per cent amid strikes, sit-ins

    The prices of vegetables and fruits have increased by 150 per cent as strikes by trade organisations and sit-ins by political parties in the country take hold.

    Roads in Balochistan have been closed since the past four days to impede the Baloch Yakjehti Council from holding a large gathering in Gwadar, hindering goods-carrying vehicles. Consequentially, the prices of vegetables and fruits in Quetta has risen by 100 to 150 rupees per kilogram.

    Okra, previously retailing for Rs 150 per kilogram, has risen to Rs 400, tomatoes have increased from Rs 80 per kilogram to Rs 140, pumpkin has risen from Rs 120 to Rs 200 per kilogram, while peaches have increased from Rs 100 to Rs 250 per kilogram, and apples have also seen a price increase of Rs 100 per kilogram.

    On the other hand, despite the end of the transporters’ strike across Punjab, traders have been exploiting the situation, driving up food prices even further. Shopkeepers, however, are now reportedly selling spices at more reasonable rates.

    According to citizens, rice and pulse prices have increased by 20 per cent in the market due to the strike. They are calling on the government to reduce food prices.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government faces criticism over large-scale deforestation

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government faces criticism over large-scale deforestation

    The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is reportedly associated with large-scale deforestation in the province, which has been ongoing for the past two years.

    Among the suspects is Minister Fazal Hakeem, who was removed from his position as Provincial Minister for Climate Change and Environment and reassigned to the portfolio of Livestock following condemnation on social media regarding the deforestation in the province.

    The deforestation rate in Pakistan has been recorded at 25 percent, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being more affected than other provinces.

    Swat, Shangla, and Mansehra are among the most affected regions.

    Deforestation is also one of the major contributors to increased temperatures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reportedly leading to a 26 percent rise.

    In 2015, Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, launched the Billion Tree Tsunami project to counter land erosion and the degradation of mountainous terrain.

  • The curious case of the abduction and return of Cola Next owner Zulfiqar Ahmed

    The curious case of the abduction and return of Cola Next owner Zulfiqar Ahmed

    Zulfiqar Ahmed, the owner of Paracha textiles, Meezan Oil and Cola Next, who was kidnapped from Karachi a few days ago, has returned home in Lahore under equally mysterious circumstances.

    Geo News reported that the business magnate has contacted his family and will be with them soon.

    Interestingly, there is no information about his abductors or the whereabouts of where he was during the past few days.

    On July 23, Ahmed was abducted from the Mauripur Road in Karachi as armed men took him and his friend, Qaiser, away in a double-cabin vehicle. His friend was let go shortly after.

    However, two of his company’s senior employees were also allegedly abducted in Lahore recently. They have not yet returned.

  • Quack murders two minor brothers in pursuit of ransom

    Quack murders two minor brothers in pursuit of ransom

    A horrific incident of a twin murder was reported in Karachi’s Machar Colony, where a quack killed two minor brothers in pursuit of ransom from their father.

    The alleged murderer, identified as Abdul Kareem, lured the two brothers, Ahmed, 10, and Hassan, 8, with parrots as he knew that they were fond of birds. The police investigation says that he gave them a high dose of anaesthesia mixed with food, which caused their death.

    ARY News reported that the boys had been at Kareem’s clinic since morning, and when their sister went to find them, the quack informed her that the children left already. Kareem stuffed the bodies in a cupboard and also pretended to search for them with their father.

    The police arrested him on suspicion and, upon his identification, recovered the bodies from the clinic’s cupboard. The man allegedly told the police that he kidnapped the children to ask for a ransom from their father.

    The police have arrested Abdul Kareem, and the matter is under investigation.

  • Bangladesh A defeats Pakistan Shaheens by 5 runs in second Test

    Bangladesh A defeats Pakistan Shaheens by 5 runs in second Test

    Bangladesh A defeated Pakistan Shaheens by just five runs in the second four-day match after an exciting contest.

    Pakistan Shaheens had a target of 296 runs to win, but the team was dismissed by scoring 290 runs on the last day of the match. The eighth-wicket partnership of fast bowlers Muhammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad gave hope of victory, but as soon as both were dismissed, The situation changed, and Bangladesh A took the last three wickets to achieve a dramatic victory.

    In the first Test match, Pakistan Shaheens defeated Bangladesh A by 148 runs.

    Pakistan Shaheens started their second innings on 136 for 4, needing 160 more to win with six wickets remaining.

    Haseebullah added only seven runs and got out for 51 runs. Tayyab Tahir and Umirr bin Yousuf added 65 runs in the sixth-wicket partnership. Umair scored 45 with four fours, and Tayyab scored 43 with three fours.

    Pakistan’s seventh wicket fell for 230 runs. On this occasion, Muhammad Ali and Khurram Shehzad made 57 runs in the eighth wicket partnership while batting responsibly, but both were dismissed one after another.

    Muhammad Ali scored 21 runs with four fours, and Khurram Shahzad played an innings of 28 runs with one six and three fours.

    The last player, Faisal Akram, was also bowled by Murad for one run, and Bangladesh won this match by five runs.

    Pakistan Shaheen’s white-ball side will play two ODIs against NT Strike and Bangladesh A on August 4 and 6. After that, they will participate in the top-end T20 series starting on August 9.