Author: newsdesk

  • Tom Curran’s tussle with umpire costs him dearly

    Tom Curran’s tussle with umpire costs him dearly

    English cricketer Tom Curran’s tussle with an umpire on the field has cost him dearly. A video recently went viral in which Tom was seen misbehaving with the umpire.

    Tom Curran has now been banned for four matches in the Big Bash League (BBL) for misbehaving and disobeying the umpire’s instructions.

    The incident occurred before the match between the Sydney Sixers and the Hobart Hurricanes on December 11 when Tom Curran did not follow the umpire’s instructions not to run on the wicket in practice.

    For the first time, the fourth umpire warned him not to run on the wicket, but when Tom started to do the same for the second time, the umpire stood in the way and stopped him. However, Tom ran towards the umpire and then walked out of the pitch. The umpire expressed anger at this, at which point Tom Curran responded rudely to him.

    The incident happened on Thursday after which the cricketer was handed a four-match ban by Cricket Australia.

    Under this punishment, Curran, who represents Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash, will not be able to play the next four matches on behalf of his team.

    Curran will also play for Islamabad United in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9.

  • Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    Was Ali Safina mocking Wahaj’s famous shawl scene?

    People worldwide went wild for Murtasim, the swoon-worthy role immortalised by Wahaj Ali in Tere Bin, and his iconic shawl. Regardless of what shenanigans were going on, the shawl always remained perfectly in place, capturing fans’ hearts. Wahaj Ali’s performance added to the shawl’s allure, making it a sensation, and people couldn’t get enough of it.

    Actor Ali Safina recently donned a shawl in a play, leading to accusations of him mocking Wahaj.

    Ali Safina played the comic role of ‘AK’ in the comedy drama ‘Fairy Tale in Ramadan’, in which he performed comedy while wearing a shawl.

    In an interview, Safina clarified, “I did not make fun of anyone, a comedian makes his own jokes. The drama was shot in the cold nights of December and I was feeling cold.” He said that he asked his female co-star to bring him a shawl or something and he just wanted to put a comedic spin on the drama. At the time he had envisioned Batman as his inspiration when he walked away with a flying shawl but it later became Murtasim’s signature move.

  • JN.1: World Health Organization warns about fastest growing variant of Covid-19

    JN.1: World Health Organization warns about fastest growing variant of Covid-19

    A new sub-variant of the Omicron strain of coronavirus named JN.1 has alerted experts across the global health industry, as it has been classified as a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to its fast-growing spread.

    COVID-19 cases involving the JN.1 variant have been found in many countries across the world, including India, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Although WHO has stated that the risk to the public is currently low, it warns that COVID-19 and other infections could rise this winter.

    The virus behind COVID-19 is constantly evolving, with new variants arising, Omicron being the globally dominant one.

    Meanwhile, WHO is closely monitoring several variants linked to Omicron, including JN.1, but none are considered concerning at the moment.
    However, JN.1 is the fastest-growing variant of COVID-19, accounting for 15-29 percent of infections in the US, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

    It is also the fastest-growing in the UK, accounting for around 7 percent of positive coronavirus tests, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
    Therefore, it is important to continue monitoring all available data on this and other variants to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to control the spread of the virus.

    “It is anticipated that this variant may cause an increase in Sars-Cov-2 [coronavirus] cases amid a surge of infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter season,” the WHO’s risk assessment says.

    There is still limited evidence on how capable JN.1 is of getting around the immunity offered by vaccines, the WHO says.

    WHO reports no increased illness rates with this variant compared to previous ones, but more studies are needed to understand its health impact due to a decrease in countries reporting COVID-19 data.

    Meanwhile, WHO has advised people to take precautionary measures to prevent infections and severe disease by wearing a mask in crowded areas, covering up coughs and sneezes, cleaning their hands regularly, and staying up to date with coronavirus and flu vaccinations, especially if vulnerable.
    Additionally, WHO advises people to stay home if they are ill and get tested if they have symptoms.

  • The wedding of the Khans; is Bollywood actor Arbaaz set to marry Shura?

    Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan, has reportedly finally decided to get re-married, years after his long marriage to Malaika Arora ended in divorce.

    According to Indian media reports, Arbaaz Khan, the younger brother of superstar Salman Khan, is getting married on December 24 to Indian makeup artist Shura Khan.
    Shura Khan is known for working with big name clients, including actress Raveena Tandon and her daughter Rasha Thadani.The wedding ceremony will reportedly be held in Mumbai, with only close friends and relatives in attendance.

    Arbaaz and Shura first crossed paths on the set of his upcoming film, ‘Patna Shukla’, slated for possible release next year.
    Arbaaz Khan has been in a relationship with Giorgia Andriani for quite some time now, after officially separating from his wife Malaika Arora in 2017. He was married to Malaika for 19 long years.

    Giorgia Andriani broke silence on the news of breakup and officially announced that she and Arbaaz are just good friends and always will be.

  • Gold price in Pakistan dips to Rs218,000 per tola

    Gold price in Pakistan dips to Rs218,000 per tola

    In a reversal of its recent upward trend, the price of gold in Pakistan saw a decline on Thursday, with the value of 24-karat gold dropping by Rs500 per tola and settling at Rs218,000.

    According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the closing price for 10-gramme 24-karat gold in today’s session was recorded at Rs186,900, indicating a loss of Rs428.

    Additionally, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold stood at Rs171,325.

    Meanwhile, silver prices remained unchanged in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver and 10-gramme 24-karat silver concluding at Rs2,650 and Rs2,271.94, respectively.

    This decline in gold prices follows three consecutive sessions of steady increases, aligning with the continuous uptick in international gold prices.

    However, today’s downturn is attributed to a drop in global gold prices and the relative strengthening of the Pakistani rupee (PKR).

    The international spot gold market experienced a decrease of approximately $8.5 in the previous session, driven by a rebound in the U.S. dollar.

    Presently, spot gold is trading at $2,037.14, marking a 0.25% increase for the day as the dollar faces renewed pressure.

    Despite the gains observed today, they are not substantial enough to offset yesterday’s decline, resulting in an overall loss for the local bullion market.

    The market remains sensitive to fluctuations in both international gold prices and the strength of the Pakistani rupee.

  • ICC takes action against Usman Khawaja for wearing black armband

    ICC takes action against Usman Khawaja for wearing black armband

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) indicted Australian opener Usman Khawaja for wearing a black armband during the Perth Test against Pakistan.

    According to the ICC, Usman Khawaja violated the rules by his act of promoting a personal message, he did not seek permission from the Australian cricket board and the ICC before wearing the black armband.

    It should be remembered that the Australian batsman batted wore a black armband in the first Test against Pakistan and his move was to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

  • ‘Election will be held on February 8’, says General Asim Munir  

    ‘Election will be held on February 8’, says General Asim Munir  

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Asim Munir, said last week while talking to the Pakistani-American business community in the United States that elections in Pakistan “will be held on February 8 next year.”

    The army chief gave the statement a few hours before the Supreme Court’s (SC) verdict suspending the Lahore High Court (LHC) staying the appointment of Returning Officers (ROs) from bureaucracy. conduct a general election on February 8, 2024.

    A Pakistani-American businessman posted a quote from General Asim Munir. Speaking with Geo News, Tanveer Ahmed, a Texas-based Pakistani businessman, quoted the army chief as saying, “As far as I know, general elections will be held on the 8th of February.”

    The businessman also shared the army chief’s words: “If elections get delayed, it won’t be beyond the limit when Senate elections are to be held.”

    The next senate elections will be held in March 2024.

    The notification to requisition returning officers (ROs) from the bureaucracy, important for the electoral process, was temporarily halted by the LHC on December 13, raising concerns about the timely conduct of elections.

  • Nausheen Shah Hits Back at User Who Mocked Her for Being Single

    Nausheen Shah Hits Back at User Who Mocked Her for Being Single

    Famous actress and supermodel Nausheen Shah lashed back at a person who made fun of her for not being married.
    During a recent fashion show in Lahore, Nausheen Shah walked the runway for designer Ali Zeeshan.

    The video of her walking the runway became popular on social media, with many people commenting on it.
    One person expressed sadness that the actress is not married yet.
    Commenting on the viral clip, the user wrote, “I do feel sorry for these actresses, many of them don’t get married and just keep modeling bridal dresses.”

    Nausheen wrote, “When we don’t know each other, please don’t feel sorry for us.”
    Nausheen added, “Whether someone gets married or not is in the hands of Allah. He has created all of us differently.”

  • PKR records eighth consecutive gain, closes at Rs282.79 vs dollar

    PKR records eighth consecutive gain, closes at Rs282.79 vs dollar

    In a notable financial trend, the Pakistani rupee (PKR) sustained its positive trajectory against the US dollar (USD) for the eighth consecutive session, witnessing a 0.04 per cent appreciation in the interbank market on Thursday.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the rupee concluded at Rs282.79 after experiencing a rise of Re0.11.

    The preceding day saw a slight uptick in the PKR’s value, settling at Rs282.9 against the US dollar. 

    A significant development unfolded as the government successfully secured a historic amount of Rs397 billion ($1.4 billion) in Wednesday’s local currency bond auction. 

    This achievement surpassed expectations, marking the highest borrowing in years within a single auction, showcasing sustained market interest even as December draws to a close.

    The substantial participation of investors underscores their confidence in long-term bonds, fueled by the anticipation of an early 2024 rate cut. 

    The government strategically opted for long-term borrowing in response, effectively mitigating rollover risks and minimisingreliance on short-term funding in the future.

    On the global front, the US dollar regained strength on Thursday, prompted by a sudden end to a robust rally for US stocks, compelling investors to seek safety. 

    In the final hour of equities trade on Wall Street, heavy selling induced a ripple of risk aversion through markets, lifting the previously under-pressure greenback from lows.

    As of early Asia trade on Thursday, the dollar index, which is down 1 per cent for the year so far, remained steady at 102.37. 

    In a comparison with major currencies, the Pakistani currency strengthened by 69.15 paisa against the Euro, concluding at Rs309.57 as opposed to the previous rate of Rs310.26. 

    The British Pound saw a reduction in value of 79.58 paisa, settling at Rs357.41 in comparison to the previous day’s Rs358.21.

    However, PKR experienced a slight decline of 0.38 paisa against the Japanese yen, closing at Rs1.974 as compared to the previous day’s rate of Rs1.97. 

    The Saudi Riyal concluded at Rs75.38, registering a decrease of 1.15 paisa from its value of Rs75.39 a day ago. 

    Similarly, the UAE Dirham witnessed a decrease in value of 2.81 paisa, shifting from Rs77.027 the previous day to Rs76.999.

    Meanwhile, oil prices, a crucial indicator of currency parity, experienced a decline on Thursday due to concerns over low demand following an unexpected US crude inventory build, outweighing apprehensions about global trade disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. 

    Brent crude futures dropped by 3 cents to $79.67 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude stood at $74.16 a barrel, reflecting a 6-cent decrease.

  • List of all public holidays in 2024

    List of all public holidays in 2024

    In a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Wednesday, the Government of Pakistan has officially declared the public holidays for the upcoming year 2024.

    The list encompasses a range of festivals and events significant to both Muslims and minorities across the nation.

    The 2024 public holiday calendar features a total of 11 days, each representing a momentous occasion celebrated widely in Pakistan.
    The notification also includes optional holidays for minorities.

    To avail those they will have to take prior permission from the head of their department.