Author: newsdesk

  • World Cup 2023: England defeats Pakistan by 93 runs

    World Cup 2023: England defeats Pakistan by 93 runs

    England defeated Pakistan by 93 runs in the 44th match of the World Cup 2023 played at Eden Garden, Kolkata.

    England’s inning:

    England won the toss and decided to bat against Pakistan. The English team scored 337 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

    England’s first wicket fell on 82 runs, Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed David Mullan for 31 runs, and then Haris Rauf sent Jonny Bairstow back to the pavilion for 59 runs.

    Ben Stokes played an inning of 84 runs, but he was bowled by Shaheen Afridi, Jurot got out after scoring 60 runs, Harry Brook scored 30 runs, Jos Buttler scored 27 runs and Moeen Ali scored eight runs.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Muhammad Wasim got three wickets, Shaheen Afridi got two wickets and Iftikhar Ahmed got one wicket.

    Pakistan’s inning:

    In pursuit of England’s 338 runs, the Pakistan team was bowled out for 244 runs in 43.3 overs.

    Opener Abdullah Shafiq was dismissed on zero on the second ball of the inning by David Willy while Fakhar Zaman was for 1 run. Captain Babar Azam scored 36, Muhammad Rizwan 38, Salman Ali Agha 51, Shaheen Afridi 25, Wasim Jr. 16, and Haris Rauf scored 35 runs.

    On behalf of England, David Wily took 3 while Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali, and Gus Atkinson took two wickets each.

    The national cricket team will leave for home from India tomorrow:

    Pakistan team will fly out of India in two groups.

    First batch of 11 members of the team will depart from Kolkota at 8:55 am tomorrow November 12 via Emirates flight EK571. Remaining members will fly from Kolkota at 08:20 pm tomorrow November 12 via Emirates flight EK573

    Players from Sialkot will be landing to their respective city from Emirates flight EK618 on November 13.

    Player and members from team management from KPK, Islamabad and Rawalpindi will be landing in Islamabad via EK612 on November 13

    Players from Lahore and team management will be landing from two different flights. EK622 and EK624 on November 13

    Hasan Ali will stay back in India. He will return back to Pakistan on November 22.

    Team director Mickey Arthur will stay in Dubai from November 13 to 16 before departing for Lahore on November 16.

  • Al-Shifa under attack; several at risk of dying: What we know about day 36

    On Saturday, Palestinian Health Ministry reported that 39 children, including babies in incubators in the ICU of Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza are at risk of dying at any moment as there is no oxygen to keep them alive. Simultaneously, hospital premises has been targeted with heavy air and artillery bombardment by Israeli forces.

    Al Jazeera spoke to Gaza Deputy Health Minister Dr. Youssef Abu Alreesh who was inside al-Shifa Hospital while Israeli forces surrounded the facility.

    “No one is able to move around the compound, snipers are stationed all over the place in addition to the drones that target and kill any moving person.

    Part of the hospital was shelled and part of the building caught fire, we fear it will engulf the whole compound,” he said.

    He also said that when some families tried to leave, they were targeted by Israeli forces, resulting in their bodies lying outside the hospital that staff have not been able to retrieve.

    Israeli army used white phosphorus on al-Shifa: Palestine health minister

    Palestinian health minister, Mai al-Kaila, claims that Israel used white phosphorus shelling on Al -Shifa.

    “This is an internationally banned weapon. We are wondering who is responsible for holding Israel to account for shelling al-Shifa Hospital with white phosphorus,” she told a news conference in Ramallah, adding that Israeli forces were committing a “genocide” in Gaza.

    “Inevitable death has become the fate of patients in Gaza hospitals – and we hold Israel, the United Nations and the international community responsible for that.”

    Internally displaced Gazans

    In conversation with Al Jazeera, the communications director of the UN’s Palestine relief agency UNRWA, Juliette Touma, said between 50,000 and 80,000 have left their homes since November 4, fleeing from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip.

  • Pakistani polio survivor wins medal in Mr. Olympia competition

    Pakistani polio survivor wins medal in Mr. Olympia competition

    Naveed Butt, a young Pakistani survivor of polio, has won the gold medal in the Mr. Olympia competition held in America.

    The Mr. Olympia competition, taking place in Las Vegas, USA, saw Naveed Butt of Pakistan win the gold medal in the physical challenge category.

    Naveed Butt suffered from polio as a child, but he did not let his disability stop him, earning a name by working hard in bodybuilding.

    Naveed said “I have won a medal in Mr. Olympia for the fifth time,” Butt said, adding that he worked hard as an individual to bring honour to his country. “I am very happy about, I will continue to make the name of the country bright in the future.”

  • France’s Macron calls for ceasefire

    France’s Macron calls for ceasefire

    French President Emmanuel Macron has become the first Western leader to call on Israel to cease attacks on Gaza and killing civilians.

    In an interview with the BBC, Macron said, “These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed,” he said. “So there is no reason for that,” he added. “So we do urge Israel to stop,” he added

    He stressed that France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas and recognises Israel’s right to protect itself, however, “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza.

    “I hope they will,” the French president said when asked if he wanted other leaders – including in the United States and Britain – to join his calls for a ceasefire.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Macron’s comments with a swift rebuke, asserting that world leaders should condemn Hamas, not Israel.

    “These crimes that Hamas [is] committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,” Netanyahu said.

    Referring to the humanitarian conference on Gaza held in Paris, Macron said that all governments and agencies present at that summit had a clear conclusion that, “there is no other solution than first a humanitarian pause, going to a ceasefire to protect all civilians having nothing to do with terrorists”.

    Macron also remarked that “De facto – today, civilians are bombed – de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop,” he said.

  • TikTok influencer Megan Rice converts to Islam after starting Quran Book Club during Gaza genocide

    TikTok influencer Megan Rice converts to Islam after starting Quran Book Club during Gaza genocide

    TikTok influencer and writer Megan Rice went viral on social media when she began a World Religon book club to read the Holy Quran in light of the ongoing genocide of Gaza. In a video, the activist explained the purpose of the club was to combat Islamophobia, racism and understand the significance behind why Palestinian people hold the Quran and its teachings so close to them. This book club included celebrities like rapper Kehlani.

    @megan_b_rice Replying to @Sabrina #quran #discord #theworldreligionbookclub #islam ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

    Now Megan Rice uploaded a video announcing she had converted to Islam after a viral video showed her taking the Shahada.

    In a recent video uploaded on her TikTok account, Megan slammed the users telling her to be mindful about her decision because embracing Islam would mean more conservatives would come after her. In her video, Megan criticised such users and shared the purpose of her club was to educate everyone about Islam as well as other religions. She only chose to convert to Islam after she found its teachings resonating with her own personal beliefs.

    @megan_b_rice

    Y’all I’m just trying to get everyone to love eachother! DASSIT!!!

    ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

  • ‘For every Hamas member killed, how many have you created’: Elon Musk’s take on Gaza has left Twitter dumbfounded

    ‘For every Hamas member killed, how many have you created’: Elon Musk’s take on Gaza has left Twitter dumbfounded

    If Elon Musk has understood it, no one has any excuse to ‘both sides’ what is happening in Gaza.

    It seems the glitch in the matrix finally happened when an interview clip of Elon Musk went viral where he was seen discussing the situation in Gaza. The CEO of X (formerly Twitter) started by saying that Hamas committed the atrocities of October 7 to initiate an aggressive response from the Israeli military, and also rally the cause of Muslims worldwide. He further goes on to say Israel shouldn’t fuel hatred by citing that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, stressing that Israeli forces should provide facilities to the people in Gaza like medical aid, food, water to ensure that the violence ends.

    “For every Hamas member you killed how many did you create?” Elon questioned”…And it’s safe to say that if you killed somebody’s child in Gaza, you’ve made at least a few Hamas members.”

    We’re not going to applaud Elon, who has a history of problematic behavior, over a small statement, but we have to say that the crisis in Gaza isn’t so complex or confusing that even someone like Elon can understand. Never did we think there would come a day when social media users would agree with Elon Musk.

  • Bilawal believes, PML-N, MQM alliance will benefit PPP

    Bilawal believes, PML-N, MQM alliance will benefit PPP

    Commenting on the electoral alliance recently formed between Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), asserted on Friday that the coalition would prove advantageous for his party in the upcoming general election.

    Earlier this week, PML-N and MQM-P, former allies of the PPP in the Centre, declared their intention to collaborate in the upcoming general elections. This alliance has the potential to influence election outcome in urban areas of Sindh.

    The development occurred amidst the escalating war of words between the PPP and PML-N, following the announcement by the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections in the country on February 8, 2024.

    The romance between the two former allies ended after the PDM-led coalition government completed its term in August, and both the PPP and PML-N locked horns over election-related issues.

    During an interaction with journalists in Safari Park, they PPP chairman said: “We worked hard to make him [Shehbaz Sharif] prime minister. It was the need of the hour.”

    He emphasised that the decision was intended to address the ongoing political and democratic crisis in the country. The PPP leader highlighted that, during the government led by the PDM, his party contributed to the betterment of Sindh.

  • Pro-Palestinian students, protest groups suppressed in American schools, universities

    Three separate cases of suppression of pro-Palestinian students and groups have been reported in America in just one day as voices are raised higher against the genocide of Gaza. Israeli tanks have forced citizens of Northern Gaza to walk countless miles towards the South with their hands in the air, a scene that has been described as “The Second Nakba”.

    Columbia University announced that they are suspending pro-Palestine groups ‘Jewish Voice For Peace’ and ‘Students For Justice In Palestine’- both comprised majorly of Jewish students- who called for a ceasefire.

    Columnist and writer Fatima Bhutto, a Columbia alum, slammed the decision.

    Columbia University is the institute where famous academic Edward Said taught, who dedicated his life to bringing the occupation of Palestine to light.

    The current president of Columbia University, Egyptian-American economist Nemat Talaat Shafik, is drawing outrage from social media users.

    At Harvard University, a black student was evicted from campus housing for acting as a student safety marshal during the protests.

    Previously, pro-Palestinian supporters at Harvard were doxxed after an open letter by the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee condemned the genocide of Gaza.

    In California, a 13-year-old Palestinian boy was suspended for three days by Corona Del Mar School for responding ‘Free Palestine’ to racists who were bullying him. The school notice was shared on social media by journalist Amina Waheed, who said that the school admin told the boy’s aunt saying ‘Free Palestine’ was akin to calling for the death of all Jews.

    The action against students takes place while several documented cases of Islamophobia, racism towards Palestinians have come to light. On October 17, a Palestinian-American boy was stabbed to death by his neighbour. On October 30, Pakistani-American doctor Talat Jehan Khan was stabbed out side her apartment complex in Texas.

    Social media users showed outrage at Corona del Mar High School and the racism shown towards Palestinian children.

  • PM Kakar offers solidarity to Palestinian president after meeting

    PM Kakar offers solidarity to Palestinian president after meeting

    Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwaar-ul Haq Kakar, met with the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, on Friday in Riyadh. During the discussion, both leaders emphasized the importance of global cooperation to prevent the escalation of violence by Israel.

    The meeting occurred during the Extraordinary Summit of the OIC, called to address the critical circumstances in occupied Palestine arising from the Israeli occupation forces’ aggression in both Gaza and the West Bank.

    More than 11,000 people have been killed in Israeli bombings since Oct 7 when Hamas shocked Israel with unprecedented cross-border attacks.
    PM Kakar, conveying the unflinching solidarity of Pakistan with the Palestinian people, strongly denounced the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli occupation forces and the bombing of hospitals, refugee camps, schools and residential buildings, resulting in the loss of thousands of precious lives and forced displacement of Palestinian families.

    President Abbas acknowledged Pakistan’s show of solidarity during this challenging time and praised its unwavering position on the Palestinians’ right to self-determination.

  • Strong-arm tactics should be used against terrorists, not Afghans, says Bilawal

    Strong-arm tactics should be used against terrorists, not Afghans, says Bilawal

    Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Foreign Minister, has condemned the “strong-arm tactics” that are being used by the caretaker government for the repatriation of Afghan refugees. The chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party showed concern over the process of repatriation of illegal Afghans from the country. “A distinction must be made between people and terrorists while devising any policy,” said the ex-foreign minister while talking to reporters in Karachi.

    He called out the caretaker government for the “lack of clarity” in its policy about the repatriation and cautioned, “If you go against people, you will never achieve your target.”

    More than 200,000 Afghans have left the country amidst the current drive of deportation. The government is determined to deport all the refugees in a span of one year despite criticism from civil society, the Afghan government, and UNHCR.