The International Cricket Council (ICC) immediately lifted the suspension of Sri Lankan cricket. The ICC had suspended Sri Lanka cricket as a member in November last year due to government interference.
It should be noted that due to the poor performance of the Sri Lankan cricket team in the ICC One Day World Cup, Sri Lankan Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe dismissed the Cricket Board.
Sri Lanka Cricket has assured the ICC of no government interference.
Later, 1996 World Cup-winning team captain Arjuna Rana Tunga was handed over and was also appointed as the interim chairman.
However, the former president of the Cricket Board, Shami Silva, approached the court against the decision of the Sports Ministry, after which the Appellate Court stopped the implementation of the interim committee after dismissing the Sri Lankan Cricket Board.
West Indies defeated Australia after 27 years in a Test match on their soil and achieved a historic victory. West Indies have beaten Australia on their soil since 1997.
West Indies beat the Kangaroos by 8 runs on the fourth day of the Test at the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane. In response to West Indies’ 311, Australia declared their first innings 289 for 9.
Australia had a target of 216 runs to win this match in the second innings, while West Indian bowlers outclassed the entire team by scoring 207 runs.
West Indies’s Shamar Joseph dismissed 7 players on behalf of West Indies.
It should be noted that the two-match Test series was tied 1-1, now the three-match ODI series will begin on February 2 in Melbourne.
A pair of twin girls, taken from their mother right after birth and sold to different families, have been reunited dramatically thanks to TikTok.
Years after they were stolen at birth, Amy and Ano from Georgia have met again after watching a TikTok video, BBC reported.
As the two delved into their past, they realised they were among thousands of babies in Georgia stolen from hospitals and sold, some as recently as 2005.
The twins discovered each other when they were 12 years of age. This was when Amy was watching her favorite TV show Georgia’s Got Talent where Ano was performing as a young artist. She even got calls from acquaintances asking if she was the one performing with another name but the family brushed it off, thinking everyone has a doppelganger.
Amy (L) aged 12 and Ano (R) also aged 12 during her performance on Georgia’s Got Talent
Seven years later Ano was sent a TikTok video by a friend of Amy’s in a fresh haircut and eye-brows piercing. She thought the resemblance “cool” and the two got connected on Facebook.
Amy instantly knew Ano was the girl she had seen all those years ago on Georgia’s Got Talent.
“I have been looking for you for so long!” she messaged. “Me too,” replied Ano.
Over time, they discovered several commonalities between them but not all of it made sense. The biggest of all was that they had the same genetic disease, a bone disorder called dysplasia. Both were born in the same hospital but according to their birth certificates, they were born a few weeks apart.
It felt like they were unraveling a mystery together. “Every time I learned something new about Ano, things got stranger,” Amy relates.
They decided to meet and when they did it was like “looking in a mirror”.
Ano (L) and Amy (R) met for the first time at Rustaveli metro station – they have often chosen similar hairstyles
They confronted their families and found out they were adopted in 2002.
Unable to have children, Amy’s mother says a friend told her there was an unwanted baby at the local hospital. She would need to pay the doctors but she could take her home and raise her as her own.
Neither of the adoptive families knew the girls were twins and despite paying a lot of money to adopt their daughters, they say they hadn’t realised it was illegal. Georgia was going through a period of turmoil and as hospital staff were involved, they thought it was legitimate.
The two went online and posted their story in a Facebook group called Vedzeb, which means “I’m searching” in Georgian.
A girl from Germany replied to them stating her mother had given birth to twin girls in Kirtskhi Maternity Hospital in 2002 and that despite being told they had died, she now had some doubts.
DNA tests revealed that the girl from the Facebook group was their sister, and was living with their birth mother, Aza, in Germany. Sceptical, they met their birth mother in Leipzig, Germany. She explained to them how she went into a coma after giving birth and upon waking she was told that her children had died.
Ano (L), Aza (C) and Amy (R) meet for the first time in Leipzig, Germany where Aza now live
The group was made by journalist Tamuna Museridze in 2021 after she discovered she was adopted. She has helped to reunite hundreds of families, but has not yet tracked down her own.
Tamuna discovered a black market in adoption that stretched across Georgia and went on from the early 1950s to 2005. “The scale is unimaginable, up to 100,000 babies were stolen. It was systemic,” she says.
In 2022, the Georgian government launched an investigation into historic child trafficking, telling BBC that it has spoken to more than 40 people but the cases were “very old and historic data has been lost”. Journalist Tamuna Museridze says she has shared information but the government hasn’t said when it will release its report.
In a significant market shift, the per tola price of 24 karat gold witnessed a decline of Rs300, settling at Rs213,900 on Saturday, as opposed to its previous rate of Rs214,200 on the last trading day.
The decrease in gold prices extended to 10 grams of 24 karat gold, experiencing a Rs257 drop to Rs183,385 from Rs183,642.
Similarly, the prices for 10 grams of 22 karat gold also dipped, reaching Rs168,103 from Rs168,338, as reported by the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.
Contrastingly, both per tola and ten grams of silver remained unchanged at Rs2,600 and Rs2,229.08, respectively.
The international market also observed a decline in gold prices, with a $2 drop to $2,038 from $2,040, according to the Association’s report.
Meanwhile, the US dollar experienced a fall, following data indicating a modest increase in December’s inflation, with a downward trend.
This development is expected to keep the Federal Reserve on course to reduce interest rates by the middle of the year.
Despite this, the dollar is poised to mark gains for the fourth consecutive week, with the dollar index down 0.3 per cent at 103.25.
Data revealed that the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose by 0.2 per cent last month, following a previously unaltered 0.1 per cent drop in November.
Over the 12 months through December, the PCE price index recorded a 2.6 per cent increase, aligning with November’s unrevised gain and meeting consensus expectations.
For the third consecutive month, the annual inflation rate remained below 3 per cent, a key indicator monitored by the Fed for its 2 per cent inflation target.
This stable inflation rate suggests a cautious approach towards future monetary policy decisions.
Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana is facing criticism on social media because of the emergence of a video where he’s seen singing Pakistan’s famous song ‘Dil Dil Pakistan.’ The video was widely shared online, showing Ayushmann singing the popular anthem during a performance.
The video appeared online after Ayushmann and other famous Bollywood stars attended the opening ceremony of the contentious Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The event featured stars like Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Ayushmann Khurrana.
The clown @ayushmannk was singing “Dil Dil Pakistan” when Pakistanis were kiIIing our soldiers & innocent citizens.. No wonder he’s so upset to see #RamMandir.
The reason why I don’t trust most of these Bollywoodiyas. They can even sell their mothers for money… pic.twitter.com/pCqIgJt7r1
Right-wing extremists on social media criticized Ayushmann for singing a Pakistani song. Some users called it foolish and disrespectful.
However, Indian media investigated and found that the video is about seven years old, from a concert in Dubai in 2017. During the event, Ayushmann honored various states and regions of India before singing both ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ and ‘Chak De India,’ along with his brother Aparshakti Khurana. Even though the video is old, its reemergence on social media has caused controversy, especially in the context of the recent Ram Temple ceremony.
International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a video of Obaid Shah’s best bowling in the Under-19 World Cup, termed him and Naseem Shah as destructive to the batsmen.
Pakistan U-19 cricket team is busy playing ICC World Cup, where young Pakistani pacers are showing their skills with good bowling. The younger brother of national team fast bowler Naseem Shah also came to the attention of ICC with his excellent performance in this event.
The world body of Cricket has also shared a video of brother Naseem Shah’s wicket-taking along with Obaid Shah’s disastrous bowling against New Zealand on his official Instagram page with captions “Brothers of destruction”.
It should be noted that in the ICC U-19 World Cup, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets while completing a hat-trick of victories.
Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 10 wickets in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup to clinch their 3rd consecutive win.
In the match played in East London, Pakistan easily achieved the target of 141 runs given by New Zealand in the 26th over without any loss.
Shahzaib Khan played an unbeaten inning of 80 runs, and Shamyil Hussain also remained not out with 54 runs. None of New Zealand’s bowlers could get Pakistan’s opening pair out.
Earlier, the New Zealand team was bundled out for 140 while batting first, with Stockpole scoring 42 and Olivier 29.
On behalf of Pakistan, Ubaid Shah and Arafat Minhas took three wickets each, Naveed Ahmed took two wickets, and Muhammad Zeeshan and Ali Asfand took one wicket each.
A clinical performance by Pakistan to beat New Zealand by 10 wickets and top Group D
In a shocking incident of a domestic dispute, a man, accompanied by his brother, brutally murdered his wife and stepdaughter using an axe, reports The Express Tribune.
City Police Officer Captain (retd) Muhammad Ali Zia directed Superintendent Police (SP) Iqbal Town to provide a detailed report. He formed teams led by District Superintendent Police(DSP) Factory Area to apprehend the accused. Consequently, aids are being conducted actively.
The incident unfolded in Chak 133 GB Niwan of Dijkot police station, where Zulfiqar Ali found himself entangled in a land dispute with his 47-year-old wife, Rukhsana Bibi.
The dispute escalated into a violent quarrel, leading to Zulfiqar and his brother Iftikhar attacking Rukhsana and her 12-year-old stepdaughter, Iman Fatimah, with axes before fleeing the scene.
Both mother and daughter succumbed to their injuries, losing their lives on the spot. In response to the double murder, SP Iqbal Town Usman Munir Safi, DSP Factory Area Rana Attaur Rehman, SHO Dijkot Moazzam Gujjar, and other law enforcement officers reached the scene promptly. They took the bodies, transported them to the hospital, and initiated a thorough investigation.
DSP Factory Area, Rana Attaur Rahman, revealed that Rukhsana Bibi had been married to Zulfiqar for ten years, with two children from the union. Iman Fatima was the daughter of her ex-husband and fell victim to the axe attack by Zulfiqar and his brother Iftikhar. The couple had a history of frequent domestic disputes. The police are actively pursuing the accused in their efforts to bring them to justice.
Australia and Canada have suspended their funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, after Israel accused several employees of involvement in October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday she was “deeply concerned” by the allegations against the agency, UNRWA.
“We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding,” she wrote on social media platform X.
Allegations UNRWA staff were involved in the abhorrent October 7 terror attacks are deeply concerning.
Australia welcomes UNRWA’s swift response and will engage closely on investigations.
We are speaking with partners and will temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding. pic.twitter.com/Havwserjh3
“We welcome UNRWA’s immediate response, including terminating contracts and launching an investigation, as well as its recent announcement of a full investigation into allegations against the organization,” she added.
Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen on Friday announced that Ottawa had “temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations”.
“Canada is taking these reports extremely seriously and is engaging closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue,” he wrote on X.
Canada unequivocally condemns the October 7th attack on Israel. I am deeply troubled by the allegations relating to some UNRWA employees. I have instructed Global Affairs Canada to pause all additional funding to UNRWA pending the outcome of the investigation. Read my statement: pic.twitter.com/YfEbwhKvzx
“Should the allegations prove to be accurate, Canada expects UNRWA to immediately act against those determined to have been involved in Hamas’s terrorist attacks.”
The moves come after the United States halted its funding to UNRWA on Friday, saying the allegations were against 12 employees who “may have been involved” in the Hamas attack that triggered the war in Gaza.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says it has opened an investigation into some employees Israel alleges were involved in the October 7 attacks, and that it has severed ties with those staff members.
“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said on Friday.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has pledged to conduct an “urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA”.
Established in 1949 following the first Arab-Israeli war, the agency provides services including schooling, primary healthcare and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
It is important to note that since the onset of the war on Gaza, Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have accused it of fuelling anti-Israeli incitement – allegations it denies.
UNRWA says it has provided aid to desperate people in Gaza and used its facilities to shelter those fleeing Israeli attacks.
The agency’s shelters have also been repeatedly targeted by Israeli missiles during the war, despite pleas for safe passages to deliver humanitarian aid and assistance.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has suspended three women cricketers for one match for brawling during the women’s national cricket championship.
According to the ARY sources, during the national cricket championship, the players of the national women’s team got into a fight, two players beat up the third teammate in the hotel.
Both women players beat the third cricketer so much that his nose bled, however, the battered cricketer did not open her mouth for two matches.
After the matter became unbearable, the said cricketer informed the administration of the cruelty done to him, after which the board administration banned the three players for one match each instead of taking major action.
After the ban, Sadaf, Yusrah, and Ayesha could not play Friday’s match.
On the other hand, according to the board, the chairperson women’s cricket will reach Rawalpindi to investigate the matter. It should be noted that the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Championship is being played in Rawalpindi.
