Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Zaka Ashraf has announced a reward of Rs 1 million for Fakhar Zaman.
Zaka Ashraf also spoke to Fakhar Zaman on the phone after the match against New Zealand and praised his aggressive innings. Zaka Ashraf also expressed his best wishes for the upcoming matches, he said that he hopes you will play more such innings.
It should be noted that in the 35th match of the ICC ODI World Cup today, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs under the Duckworth-Louis (DLS) method.
Fakhar Zaman played an unbeaten innings of 126 runs off 81 balls, his innings included 11 sixes and 8 fours. Fakhar Zaman also equaled Shahid Afridi’s record for most sixes in an innings.
Earlier, Shahid Afridi hit 11 sixes in his record-breaking innings against Sri Lanka in 1996.
Turkey has taken a diplomatic step against Israel on Saturday, recalling its ambassador back on the eve of US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken’s visit.
In a statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry, it was said that ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar was being recalled for consultations “In view of the unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza caused by the continuing attacks by Israel against civilians, and Israel’s refusal (to accept) a ceasefire.”
Turkish President Erdogan personally told reporters that he holds Netanyahu responsible for the huge death toll in Gaza. “Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off,” Erdogan said in a statement quoted by the media. He also suggested to Netanyahu to “take a step back and stop this”.
However he reiterated that “Completely severing ties is not possible, especially in international diplomacy,” adding that is why MIT intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin has been appointed to lead talks with both sides to mediate an end to the war.
As the War on Gaza is entering its fifth week, calls for a ceasefire and an end to genocide can be heard all around the world but the most striking is the response from the Western countries where people are principally supporting Palestine. However, their governments are either responding diplomatically or are siding with Israel.
USA
Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s testimony before the Senate committee was interrupted by protestors calling for “ceasefire now”. Blinken was there to ask for emergency funding for Israel by the administration. The demonstrators kept shouting “Save the children of Gaza, cease-fire now. Where is your pride in America. Stop the brutal massacre.” Their hands were painted red. Protesters also chanted in unison, “From Palestine to Mexico, all the walls have got to go.” They were arrested and dragged out of the hall.
This isn’t it. Hundreds of protestors have come to protest outside White House and inside the Capitol Hill building while many more are on the roads marching and protesting against Biden’s administration, questioning the aid of $14.5 billion that has been given from taxpayer money.
Our government sends Israel $10 million in American taxpayer dollars per day, but politicians want to pass hate speech laws to stop the American taxpayer from criticizing it.
If my money’s funding it, I should be able to say whatever I want about it.
The UK is seeing a very hostile political environment. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition, is under fire for siding with Israel’s destructive tactics. He said, “I understand the calls for a ceasefire, at this stage, I do not believe that is the correct position.” Protestors gathered outside his residence and got their disapproval registered.
More than 60 Labour MPs have called for a ceasefire while one of the Labour MPs Andy McDonald has been suspended because of seeming “deeply offensive” comments at a pro-Palestinian rally. Masses are protesting in huge numbers on the road and criticising the politicians who are opposing the ceasefire.
France
France has banned citizens from pro-Palestine marches but according to the leading newspaper France24, thousands of demonstrators have joined the pro-Palestinian march in Paris, calling for an urgent ceasefire even though the President of the country flew to Israel to show his solidarity with its government. They remain uninhibited by the country’s official allegiance with Israel.
https://youtu.be/18OPeZtWgX0?si=NYF1oRB1qQW36nwx
Germany
Germany sees the pleas of Palestinians as synonymous with the activities of Hamas because it has banned all activities of Hamas from the country. This is the government’s attempt to hamper all the pro-Palestinian marches and protests. Additionally, schools in Berlin have been given permission to ban the traditional Palestinian headdress, the keffiyeh. Palestinian activists however have dubbed this as coming from a place of “historic guilt”.
Italy
Italy’s Georgia Meloni also paid a visit to Israel and stated that the real purpose of the Hamas attack was to create an “Unbridgeable gap between the Israelis and Palestinians, meaning that the target is all of us and we cannot fall into this trap, which would be very stupid.” Contrary to the opinion of the PM, Rome saw a protest of thousands chanting, “From River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.”
https://youtu.be/a07wKfUm0gs?si=7a–SbnRUkHKUlPg
Spain
Spain is one major country from Europe which has gained the ire of Israel but has persisted in calling out the atrocities befallen by Israel on the Gaza strip. Spanish Minister of Social Rights, Ione Belorra, asked for bringing Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court for all the crimes he has committed.
We ask our partner that, as the Government of Spain, we bring Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court for war crimes. Here is my official statement pic.twitter.com/Wuu8nnKfVp
The Israeli government in response accused them of siding with Hamas. Unfazed, Spain’s premier Pedro Sanchez echoed public opinion by calling for a ceasefire. Thousands of people in different cities of the country also came out in support of Palestine.
Ireland
Ireland is leading the demands as always, having supported the Palestinian state since the 1980s. Irish leadership along with the Spanish heads have raised their concerns on the grander scale of the EU in favour of Palestine. Irish PM (taoiseach) Leo Varadkar has openly called out Israel for subjecting Palestinians to collective punishment. “What I’m seeing unfolding at the moment isn’t just self-defence. It looks, something more approaching revenge,” Varadkar said.
Scotland
Scottish First Minister Hamza Yousuf has repeatedly expressed his support for Palestine. His in-laws were trapped in Gaza leaving him fearful of the situation at the strip.
The major showdown that happened was at the Celtic Park arena in a match between Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid. The crowd of more than 60,000 went against the warnings of the administration and literally showed up as the “Green Brigade” holding flags of Palestine. They wanted to prove themselves to be on the “right side of history.”
The response by the West has been rather calculated and gets tweaked from time to time but the purpose here is to show that the stance of the governments is hardly a testament to public sentiment when it comes to international issues. The overwhelming response of the public manifests that better sense must prevail and that an immediate ceasefire is the need of the hour.
In the 35th match of the ICC ODI World Cup, Pakistan defeated New Zealand by 21 runs under the Duckworth-Louis (DLS) method after a high-scoring thriller.
Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bow first.
The New Zealand team scored 401 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs, with opener Richan Ravinder playing an innings of 108 runs. Captain Kane Williamson was dismissed for 95 while opener Devon Conway put up 35, Daryl Mitchell 29, Mark Chapman 39, and Glenn Phillips was dismissed for 41 runs. Mitchell Santner remained not out with 26 and Tom Latham scored 2 runs.
For Pakistan, Muhammad Wasim Jr. took three wickets, while Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf took one wicket each.
In response to New Zealand’s target of 402 runs, Pakistan lost its first wicket at 11 runs when Abdullah Shafique returned to the pavilion after scoring only four runs.
After that, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman took over the crease. Zaman scored his 11th century with the help of 9 sixes and 6 fours off 63 balls, the fastest century by a Pakistani in the World Cup. Pakistan scored 160 runs for the loss of one wicket before the match was stopped due to rain.
Before the rain stopped for the first time, Pakistan had scored 160 runs for one wicket in 21.3 overs, New Zealand had scored 133 runs for one wicket in 21 overs, and Pakistan was ahead by 10 runs on the Duckworth-Louis method. Pakistan was given the target of 342 runs in 41 overs after cut off.
But the match was stopped for the second time due to rain, under the Duckworth-Louis (DLS) method, Pakistan was leading by 21 runs. In 25.3 overs, Pakistan had to score 179 runs for one wicket. The national team scored 200 runs for the loss of one wicket in 25.3 overs. Continuous rain caused the match to be abandoned and Pakistan was declared the winner by 21 runs under the DLS method.
Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam remained unbeaten. Fakhar scored 126 on 81 balls while Babar score 66 runs off 63 balls.
Israel has bombed the entrance of Al-Nasser Children’s Hospital, resulting in several casualties, according to local media outlets.
Israeli forces targeting solar panels
While solar panels have been the only source of power for some in Gaza, Israeli air strikes have destroyed the ones on al-Wafa Hospital.
The attack led to a power outage in the facility.
2,200 people buried under debris
About 2,200 people are still buried in the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli attacks, including 1,250 children, reveals the Health Ministry’s spokesperson.
UN school attack
Dozen of people have been reportedly killed in the Israeli attack on al-Fakhoora school. The total number is yet to be confirmed. “The number [of people killed] is expected to rise,” Reuters quoted Muhammad Abu Silmeyeh as saying.
The largest facility in the north, Al-Fakhoora school had been sheltering displaced people in the Jabalia refugee camp.
Since October 7, the refugee camp has been targetted three times.
Shelters under attack
While the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has been sheltering hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, they have been under attack by Israeli targets.
They have revealed that since October 7, nearly 50 buildings and assets of the agency have been affected, some being directly hit including UNRWA buildings sheltering about 700,000 people.
As of yet, at least 72 UNRWA staff members have been killed, some alongside their families.
Netanyahu ‘no longer someone we can talk to’: Erdogan
The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced to cut ties with the Israeli prime minister following Israel’s attacks in Gaza.
“Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off,” Turkish media quoted Erdogan as stating.
Hezbollah’s Nasrallah calls for ceasefire
While calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, on Friday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah announced to hold off any escalation with Israel.
He also asserted Hezbollah or Iran had no prior knowledge of the October 7 attack on Israel.
Fakhar Zaman has scored Pakistan’s fastest century in the World Cup in the crucial match against New Zealand on Saturday. The all-important match is being played in Bengaluru in the Indian state of Karnataka.
Chasing New Zealand’s mammoth total of 401, Pakistan lost its first wicket at 11 runs when Abdullah Shafique returned to the pavilion after scoring only four runs.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman then took over the crease. Zaman scored his 11th century with the help of 9 sixes and 6 fours off 63 balls, the fastest century by Pakistan in the World Cup.
Actress Armeena Khan slammed philanthropist and wife to former cricketer Wasim Akram, Shaniera, for remaining silent about the genocide of Palestinians.
Shaniera tweeted her sorrow at the recent tragedies around the world, writing:
“Helpless. I feel so totally and utterly helpless. Ive never been scared of saying what I want or how I feel, but right now im very emotional and actually just don’t have any words left to give and i am really sorry if that offends anyone”
Helpless. I feel so totally and utterly helpless. Ive never been scared of saying what I want or how I feel, but right now im very emotional and actually just don’t have any words left to give and i am really sorry if that offends anyone
In a now-deleted tweet, Shaniera criticised Armeena’s response by writing: “Seriously? With the state of the world and the pain we are seeing daily, you are still throwing hate at me. For what? You don’t know me or what I am dealing with. Whatever we are, we are both mothers, you should be using your voice to promote unity and sisterhood. I think it’s about time you grew up. You are really sinking pretty low for headlines now.”
Taking stern action for the prevention of smog in the city, Lahore High Court has ordered that factories that are becoming a source of contaminating the air should be sealed.
Lahore has had hazardous levels of air quality five days in a row. Hearing a petition filed by a citizen, Haroon Farooq, the court reviewed all the steps that have been taken by the local administration and the implementation of previous judgments by the court. Commissioner Lahore division Mohammad Ali Randhawa was present in front of the judge and laid out the efforts made by the administration.
He told the court that strict actions have been taken against smoke emitting vehicles. For the awareness of environment friendly transport, as advised by the court in a previous hearing, campaigns for the promotion of cycling are being run in the government sector. The court advised penalising the owners of the vehicles and including the private sector in the revival of cycling in next five to six months to protect the environment for the future.
Justice Shahid Kareem further adjudicated that factories that are contributing in the worsening of smog should be sealed, only allowed to reopen when the owners submit their word that if they do not comply with the guidelines their factories will be levelled to the ground by the authorities. The next hearing is scheduled for November 7.
The President of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Shehbaz Sharif, has appointed Senator Ishaq Dar as the leader of the party’s election cell for the upcoming polls.
On Saturday, PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal issued a notification with the approval of Shehbaz Sharif announcing Dad’s appointment. “With the approval of the President PML-N, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar is hereby appointed as Chairman, Election Cell PML-N, for General Elections 2024,” read the notification.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, the spokesperson for PML-N, said in a tweet that the party’s election-related efforts will gain more momentum following the recent appointment. “All polls related activities including the process of applications to get the party ticket will be completed soon,” said Marriyum Aurangzeb. PML-N head Nawaz Sharif will address public rallies across the country soon, once the tickets are awarded.
Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s wife, Hiba Chaudhry, and brother, Faisal Chaudhry, have claimed on Saturday that he has been arrested from his home in Islamabad by police.
In a tweet posted on X (formerly Twitter), Hiba wrote, “Fawad arrested and taken to unknown place.”
Geo News has reported in its bulletin that Fawad was arrested from home in front of his children and his wife by police and other officials in plain clothes.
Hiba Chaudhry told Geo News that she was not shown an arrest warrant by the police officials.
Hiba Fawad also said in her tweet that “Islamabad police taken Fawad. I need the Case information in which he is nominated.”
Fawad became one of the first famous names to leave Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after the events of May 9, joining Istehkaam Pakistan Party (IPP), a joining political analysts consider a reluctant decision.
This would make it the third arrest within the year for Fawad Chaudhry.
