Author: newsdesk

  • Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian track ‘Hind’s Hall’ rules the music charts

    Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian track ‘Hind’s Hall’ rules the music charts

    Joining the many celebrities speaking up for Palestinians, American rapper Macklemore has found success with his latest song, ‘Hind’s Hall.’ The track openly condemns Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

    According to The Guardian, ‘Hind’s Hall’ is named after a Columbia University building that student protesters renamed from Hamilton Hall, to honour Hind Rajab, a five-year-old child killed by Israeli military in Gaza.

    “If students in tents posted on the lawn / Occupying the quad is really against the law / And a reason to call in the police and their squad / Where does genocide land in your definition, huh?” Macklemore raps, pointing out the police crackdown on student protests in the US. Students across college campuses made headlines for standing in solidarity with people suffering in Gaza.

    Making a splash on several Billboard charts, Forbes reported that in its first week, ‘Hind’s Hall’ sold 6,773 copies. The song achieved high positions on several charts thanks to strong sales, marking a notable win for the Grammy-winning rapper.

    ‘Hind’s Hall’debuted at number 7 on the all-genre Digital Song Sales chart. This is only the second time Macklemore has reached the top 10 on this list without his former collaborator, Ryan Lewis.

    The track also topped the Rap Digital Song Sales chart, which ranks the best-selling rap-only tracks in the country. Although it didn’t hit number 1, it came close behind Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

    ‘Hind’s Hall’ also performed well on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart, debuting at number 3. True to his values, Macklemore announced that proceeds from the song will go towards helping Palestinian refugees.

  • After iCUBE-Q, another Pakistani Satellite to be launched into space

    After iCUBE-Q, another Pakistani Satellite to be launched into space

    After the successful launch of iCUBE Qamar, Pakistan’s newest Communication Satellite, MM1, is to be launched into space today (May 30).

    The satellite which is officially names as PAKSAT MM1will be launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC), China.

    The satellite will help bring in Pakistan into the digital era as it will provide internet to remote areas, according to SUPARCO officials.

    “Our team is very excited for the upcoming launch of PakSat MM1 on May 30,” Project Director PakSat MM1 said.

    The launch ceremony will be shown live for media from the Islamabad and Karachi establishments of SUPARCO.

    The satellite is expected to contribute to the establishment of a sophisticated communication network and help meet the growing demands of the telecom sector and its advanced capabilities will address the increasing demand for high-speed internet and seamless connectivity.

    “It will prove to be a stepping stone in the transformation of the country into Digital Pakistan. It will provide various communication services like broadband internet, TV broadcasting, Mobile bank –hauling and VSAT connectivity.”

    Project Manager MM-1 Usman Iftikhar said that the primary objective behind the PAKSAT MM-1 satellite is to strengthen Pakistan’s communication infrastructure and pave the way for broadening the horizons for connectivity.

    This satellite is a communication satellite that will be sent in a Geostationary Orbit.

    Earlier, Pakistan’s historic lunar mission (iCUBE-Q) was launched on May 3 on board China’s Chang’E6 from Hainan, China.

    The satellite iCube-Qamar mission marked Pakistan’s first lunar exploration effort.

  • No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    No stability until May 9 Perpetrators brought to justice: Pak Army

    The Pakistan Army on Thursday reiterated the call for bringing to justice the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 riots for the “collective good of the country”.

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s resolve was communicated during the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) presided by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir.

    “Digital terrorism unleashed against state institutions, especially Pakistan’s armed forces, is being carried out with the help of external facilitators to achieve nefarious political objectives,” said the presser.

    Furthermore, the military leadership believed that there are efforts to sow discord between the state institutions and the Pakistani nation.

    The conference concluded with the determination that, “All threats to the security and stability of the country will be thwarted with the full support of a proud nation.”

  • Supreme Court rejects petition for live coverage of NAB amendment case

    Supreme Court rejects petition for live coverage of NAB amendment case

    The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s request for live streaming of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) amendment case hearing on Thursday, Geo News reported.

    The top court rejected the plea filed by the KP advocate general, with Justice Athar Minallah being in favour of live broadcasting of the case.

    “The [hearing of] case should be broadcast live since this was the case before as well,” the judge said.

    The development comes as the SC is hearing intra-court appeals filed by the federal and provincial governments against the NAB amendments struck down by the top court.

    Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Minallah, and Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi are part of the larger SC bench hearing the case.

  • First acknowledge past mistakes, SC writes to British HC

    First acknowledge past mistakes, SC writes to British HC

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan penned a letter to the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Pakistan Jane Marriott, defending the top court rulings including stripping the PTI of its symbol while reminding her of past British injustices.

    “The matter was resolved in just 12 days by the Supreme Court, and general elections were held throughout Pakistan on 8 February 2024; a copy of the decision is attached as ‘A’,” read the letter by SC.

    It then went on to defend the SC ruling in which a political party was stripped of its electoral symbol days before the election, “To ensure compliance with this democratic principle the law stipulates that if a political party does not hold intra-party elections, then it would not be eligible for an election symbol.”

    It further criticised the British for its complicity in “violent undemocratic mistakes” such as overthrowing the elected democratic government of Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953, to capture Iranian oil.

    The letter also mentioned the British role in the creation of a settler-colonial state Israel and urged the UK commissioner to acknowledge its past mistakes.

  • Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan makes acting debut in Netflix’s ‘Maharaj’

    Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan makes acting debut in Netflix’s ‘Maharaj’

    Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan is making his acting debut in the film ‘Maharaj’, releasing on Netflix on June 14.
    The film is directed by Siddharth Malhotra and produced by Aditya Chopra’s
    Netflix India. Jaideep Ahlawat posted the film poster with the caption, “The fight for the truth between a powerful man and a fearless journalist. Based on true events from the 1860s – ‘Maharaj’ is releasing on 14 June, only on Netflix!”

    The film ‘Maharaj’ is based on true events. In 1862, India had only three universities and was fighting for independence. A brave journalist and social reformer, Karsandas Mulji, stood up for women’s rights and social change. He was a student at Elphinstone College and worked with a prominent leader, Dadabhai Naoroji. Mulji wrote about important issues like widow remarriages and fought for the oppressed. He was involved in the Maharaj Libel Case, a historic court case that marked a turning point in Indian history.

  • Heavy monsoon spell on its way to Pakistan

    Heavy monsoon spell on its way to Pakistan

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Thursday forecast said that many areas in the country will receive extraordinary monsoon rains from June to August.

    This forecast is a relief amid the ongoing heatwave but is also concerning because of the fear of floods in the country, reports Geo.

    As per the predictions by the weather department, there is a chance of usual and above-normal rains in most places this year. However, central and northern Punjab will remain affected the most.
    While southern Sindh is expected to receive torrential rains, Balochistan might experience extraordinary rainy weather.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to experience average rainfall this year, informs the meteorological department.

    The department has predicted heavy rainfall in the first phase of the monsoon in comparison with the second phase.

    PMD has also predicted that Punjab and upper parts of the country are expected to receive rain during the ongoing week which could break the heat spell.

    Severe heatwave conditions were likely to subside in upper parts if it rained, said the Met Department.

  • Mohsin Naqvi requests fans not to criticize cricket team for a month

    Mohsin Naqvi requests fans not to criticize cricket team for a month

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has requested the nation to not to criticize the national cricket team for a month.

    While talking to the media in London, he said, “If the team loses a match, there is an autopsy. I request the nation not to criticize the team until the World Cup. Give the team one month and the national team will win.”

    Chairman PCB hoped that the team will be in the final after 4 weeks, till then he asked fans to support the team.

    The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be played from June 1 to June 29 in USA and West Indies.

  • Security heightened following terrorist threat ahead of Pak-India T20 showdown

    Security heightened following terrorist threat ahead of Pak-India T20 showdown

    Security issues for the India-Pakistan match, which will take place New York, are being taken very seriously for the International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup.

    According to Geo News, before the India-Pakistan match on June 9, news of a terrorist attack started to spread, after which the New York administration increased security despite the lack of evidence of an attack before, during or after for the India-Pakistan match.

    The New York Governor’s Office said in a statement, “There is no evidence yet regarding the threat reports, we are monitoring the situation, and according to intelligence, there is no threat to public safety at this time.”

    State Governor Kathy Hochul says the administration has been working for months to improve security and is working with law enforcement agencies, directing New York State Police to advance surveillance and thorough screening to increase security.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) also gave its position in this regard and said that security will be strengthened during the entire tournament and the security of the New York venue will also be strengthened like other venues. They also stated that the security and safety of everyone is the priority.

    During the T20 World Cup, four matches played by India and two matches of played by Pakistan are scheduled in New York. New York has to host 8 matches from June 3 to 12.

    The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India will take place on June 9 in New York.

  • Imran Khan acquitted in two more May 9 cases

    Imran Khan acquitted in two more May 9 cases

    The district and session court in Islamabad acquitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan in two more cases related to May 9 violence, ARY News reported on Thursday.

    Judicial Magistrate Omar Shahab announced the decision on two May 9 cases registered against PTI founder at Shahzad town police station.

    The court cleared the former prime minister in both cases due to insufficient evidence. The prominent lawyers Mirza Aim Beg and Naeem Panjootha were representing Khan in both cases. 

    An unofficial person registered the FIR against Imran Khan and falsely accused him under Section 109, but Khan’s lawyers pointed out that the evidence is not sufficient to support the charge.

    However, Imran Khan’s lawyer and PTI leader Naeem Panjootha told the court that Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case has been suspended, but the court has yet to announce on the illegal marriage case and the cypher case.