Author: newsdesk

  • 15-year-old British school girl murdered while trying to protect friend

    15-year-old British school girl murdered while trying to protect friend

    A 15-year-old school girl has been stabbed to death in South London by a 17-year-old boy on Wednesday when she was on her way to school. According to the Evening Standard, the crime took place near Croydon’s Whitgift shopping sector, when the boy arrived at a bus stop to give flowers to his former girlfriend- a friend of the victim.

    The friend rejected the flowers after which an argument rose between the two, leading to the victim intervening. The murderer then pulled out a foot-long knife and stabbed her to death.

    The Metropolitan Police arrested the murderer within 75 minutes in New Addington and placed him under custody. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called the murder “senseless” and “impossible to comprehend”, adding that officers arrived within two minutes at the scene of the crime to provide first aid to the victim.

    The BBC reported Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said that he was “absolutely heartbroken” by the murder, stressing that he would remain in touch with the Met Police commissioner.

    Friends and family members of the victim have described the school girl as a bright pupil who had a promising future ahead of her. Family friend Adama Dumbuya, told Sky News the victim was a lovely little girl.

    “It’s just really sad. She was such a lovely little girl. I’m a parent myself. She was just really lovely the few times I’ve met her. She’s just a very nice girl and very polite.”

    The victim’s aunt Marian described her as an aspiring lawyer:

    “She went to a private school paid by my sister and had a great future ahead of her. She wanted to be a lawyer. She also loved gymnastics and doing her hair. We are a big family and will support each other. We are devastated.”

    “We can’t comprehend the heartbreak of the last 24 hours. She went to school and didn’t come home. It hasn’t sunk in. My sister is not feeling good, this is a tragedy.”

  • ‘Overwhelmed with the love’: Pakistani cricket team thanks Indian fans for Hyderabad welcome

    ‘Overwhelmed with the love’: Pakistani cricket team thanks Indian fans for Hyderabad welcome

    Pakistani Twitter users were howling in delight on Wednesday when viral videos showed the glowing reception the Pakistani cricket team received in India. Tweeps were delighted with hilarious Indian paparazzi who seem to have adopted Babar Azam, calling him ‘Babar bhai’. Now, Pakistani cricketers have responded to the warm welcome they received from Indian fans, thanking all those who showed up to support them.

    Captain Babar Azam shared a picture of the reception, and wrote: “Overwhelmed with the love and support here in India.”

    Batsman Mohammad Rizwan thanked fans for the welcome, and said he was looking forward to the next month as the competition begins.

    Prodigious fast bowler Shaheen Afridi said he was happy with the welcome the cricket team had recieved

    Batsman Imam ul Haq shared a picture of his arrival in Hyderabad on Instagram, writing: “Thankyou for the warm welcome Hyderabad.”

    The ICC ODI World Cup will begin in India in October 5, with the first match to be played between defending champions England and finalists New Zealand in Ahmedabad. Pakistan’s first match will be against the Netherlands on October 6.

  • FIA cracks down on luxury car showrooms in Karachi over money laundering suspicions

    FIA cracks down on luxury car showrooms in Karachi over money laundering suspicions

    On Thursday, the Commercial Banking Circle team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) executed a seizure of four high-end vehicles at a Karachi-based car showroom.

    The owner of the establishment was unable to furnish credible documentation regarding the vehicles’ importation, raising suspicions of their involvement in a trade-based money laundering operation.

    The FIA has embarked on a comprehensive inquiry into the proprietors of car showrooms in Karachi, honing in on trade-based money laundering—an illicit stratagem that exploits international trade transactions as a conduit for unlawful financial transfers.

    In a recent enforcement operation, the FIA confiscated a quartet of opulent automobiles, including a Land Cruiser and an Audi, from a showroom situated on Khalid bin Waleed Road. Despite repeated requests, the showroom owner failed to comply with the FIA’s summons.

    The agency has further dispatched notifications to the proprietors of thirteen other car showrooms in Karachi, intensifying its scrutiny of this matter.

    Earlier in the week, the FIA conducted a search at the residence of a businessman by the name of Aziz Seekha in Karachi. This operation yielded a substantial haul of both foreign and Pakistani currency, alongside prize bonds, underscoring the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat financial irregularities.

  • Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Gen Munir urges women to take part in KP’s ‘progress, development

    Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir on Wednesday urged women to take part in the “progress and development” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and its newly-merged districts, the military’s media wing has said.

    The army chief passed the remarks during a visit to Peshawar where he held an “interactive session” at the KPK Women Symposium – 2023.

    While addressing the participants, Gen Munir highlighted that women had played “an important role in the progress of the country throughout the history of Pakistan”. He also emphasised the role of women in “Pakistan’s progress and development is quintessential and most important”.

    “Women of KP have continued to face multi-faceted challenges due to prolonged fight against terrorism, however, they have proven their resilience, commitment and bravery at the face of all odds,” Gen Munir was quoted by the ISPR.

    During the day-long visit, the army chief also attended a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee along with Caretaker KP Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan.

    The meeting was briefed about the “overall security situation including initiatives against smuggling, hoarding and drug trafficking”.
    The moot affirmed that the state and the people were “united for the protection of life and property of citizens”. They also paid rich tribute to the martyrs and their families.

    “We have to synergise our efforts for the peace and prosperity of our beloved country. The Pakistan Army will continue to play its role in ensuring peace and stability in KP to provide a secure environment for economic development,” Gen Munir said.

  • Hadiqa Kiani’s charity has built an astonishing number of homes in Balochistan

    Hadiqa Kiani’s charity has built an astonishing number of homes in Balochistan

    Actress and musician Hadiqa Kiani took to social media to share a monumental milestone achieved by her charity organisation ‘Vaseela-e-Raah’, revealing the organisation had surpassed their goal of building more than 200 homes in Balochistan. Taking to her Instagram account, the ‘Dobara’ actress revealed the organisation had constructed over 370 homes, and several other community facilities.

    “By the grace of Allah and your selfless help, we have surpassed our goal. The promise I made last year to the people of Balochistan, to my mother, and to my country is now complete.”

    “Our initial goal was 200 homes, but through prayer, determination, hard work, and community, we have now completed 370 homes, 2 mosques, 2 maternity centers, 1 school, and 1 grocery store in Tamboo and Kundi villages of Naseerabad, Balochistan. All funds collected over the past year have been fully utilized.”

    The actress went on to thank the love and gratitude other people had showered on her non-profit by donating medicine, water, food and other facilities to help them accomplish their goal. She said that a follow-up video will be posted with more details about their campaign.

    Hadiqa was one of the celebrities who offered support for communities effected by the devastating 2022 floods of Sindh and Balochistan, setting up her non-profit in an effort to reconstruct homes for the survivors. In March, Kiani shared that her organisation had built over a hundred homes, a maternity clinic, grocery store and primary school for children in Balochistan.

    “As many of you know, I have been in Balochistan for the past few days…by the grace of Allah + your support, we have completed the 1st phase of our project. 100 houses are complete and now occupied by flood victims, a maternity clinic, a grocery store and a primary school..”

  • Inventory challenges lead Indus Motor Company to halt Toyota car production in Pakistan

    Inventory challenges lead Indus Motor Company to halt Toyota car production in Pakistan

    Indus Motor Company Limited, the firm responsible for the assembly of Toyota vehicles in Pakistan, has recently announced a temporary suspension of its production operations until October 9. This significant decision was formally communicated through a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

    The rationale behind this temporary cessation of production is primarily linked to the company’s current vehicle inventory status. Indus Motor Company Limited has set the production plant’s closure period from September 28 through October 9 to address these concerns.

    This pause in production is the latest in a series of similar actions undertaken by the company. Previously, Indus Motor Company Limited had temporarily halted production from August 25 to September 6, attributing it to reduced demand and inventory challenges. Additionally, the company faced a production plant shutdown from July 21 to August 3, driven by complications in the importation of raw materials, logistical hurdles in clearing consignments, and disruptions in the supply chain from select international vendors.

    These issues collectively hampered the company’s supply chain, leading to insufficient inventory levels to sustain uninterrupted production. Furthermore, a similar production hiatus had occurred earlier, from June 26 to June 27, with the same underlying reasons.

  • Asian Games 2023: Pakistan defeat India by 2-1 in squash

    Asian Games 2023: Pakistan defeat India by 2-1 in squash

    Pakistan’s men’s squash team has defeated India by 2-1 to qualify for the semi-final in the Asian Games. Nasir Iqbal and Noor Zaman won their matches for Pakistan in the match against India.

    The competition between Pakistan and India was sensational, especially during the first battle in which Pakistan’s Noor Zaman and India’s Abhay Singh came face to face. The duration of the contest was 51 minutes, with Noor Zaman winning. The winning scores were 8-11, 12-10, 8-11 and 8-11.

    In the second match, Asim Khan and Saruv Ghoshal faced each other, with the latter scoring three against the former.

    Read More: Nepal’s cricket team breaks sereval T20 records

    There was a tie with the score at 1-1, after which Nasir Iqbal defeated Mahesh Mangunkar in the decider. The match between Nasir and Mahesh continued for 58 minutes in which the Pakistani player scored thrice. Nasir’s score in the decisive match was 6-11, 11-13, 11-9 and 8-11.

    Earlier today, Pakistan also beat Singapore thrice. In the final group match, Pakistan will face Kuwait today.

  • In celebration of Mawra Hocane’s birthday, here are her three performances we loved

    In celebration of Mawra Hocane’s birthday, here are her three performances we loved

    It was actress Mawra Hocane’s birthday yesterday, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than to highlight some of her best work? Within the short time we’ve seen her on screen, the actress has delivered a range of powerful performances in serials about marital rape, domestic abuse and the pressures of social media. Let’s take a jog down memory lane to highlight some of the actress’s best performances over her career.

    1 Qissa Meharbano Ka

    The drama is celebrated as a milestone in discussing marital rape. It explores the story of Meharbano, a wife stuck in an abusive marriage with her husband Muraad (Ahsan Khan). Social media users still remember how the actress took a defiant stance to ensure that the issue of marital rape is tackled in a sensitive manner, and in no way is her character’s abusive relationship is romanticised in the show. Mawra was applauded when she revealed in an interview that she requested director Iqbal Hussain and producer Momina Duraid to rewrite the script to ensure that such a toxic relationship is not justified.

     “I said that we can’t let it pass. How can a project backed by her and me – women who have voices – let a marital rape scene just pass. Because a lot of projects let it pass. And we are angry about that. So what are we doing differently?”

    2 Nauroz

    We are just twelve episodes in the drama, but audiences have already declared that this is the project that will cement Mawra Hocane as the actress no body can compete with. The drama follows the story of a sheltered girl Rishtina, who is thrust out into a new world after facing a threat, and resorts to living in slums after she is discovered by an influencer who introduces her to the world of social media. Mawra’s powerful performance has fans raving. The actress revealed in a recent interview that the shoot took a toll on her body to the point that she lost 6 kgs because of the trauma she underwent while filming some of the scenes.

    3 Sabaat

    Mawra’s ability to pick dramas with complex, powerful female characters shone through in this drama, which is still celebrated as one of the few feminist dramas made in Pakistan. She plays Anaya, a headstrong college girl who speaks out against harassment, and clashes with Hassan (placed by Ameer Gilani) after she defeats him in an engineering competition. As the two begin developing feelings for each other, their class backgrounds and opposing mindsets threaten to tear them apart.

  • Afghan Taliban capture 200 anti-Pakistan militants

    Afghan Taliban capture 200 anti-Pakistan militants

    The Afghan Taliban claim to have arrested 200 suspected militants for carrying out cross-border attacks against Pakistan.

    The news was reported as a delegation from Islamabad visited Kabul where the Afghan government hosted bilateral talks last week.

    They expounded on the crackdown against the proscribed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

    Earlier this month, heavily armed militants attacked two Pakistani security posts in Chitral. The raid of September 6th killed four soldiers and 12 assailants for which TTP claimed responsibility.

    VoA spoke with Pakistani officials who said that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has “forbidden his forces from launching cross-border attacks against Pakistan, calling them haram or un-Islamic”.

    Moreover, he has also “ordered Afghans not to collaborate with or give donations to the TTP for its so-called jihad against Pakistan and barred the militants from running donation collection campaigns in Afghanistan”.

    The Pakistani officials claimed that according to their assessment, the Taliban are “consciously distancing” themselves from groups they were previously with at the time of insurgency. These groups are now involved in criminal activities in Afghanistan — extortion, kidnapping for ransom, and terrorism.

    The officials highlighted that Taliban leaders are now in control and responsible for the country and must show the world that they do not function like an insurgent group.

  • American millionaire drives at 16 mph in attempt to live forever

    American millionaire drives at 16 mph in attempt to live forever

    Bryan Johnson is an American entrepreneur who is allegedly spending millions of dollars on an attempt to live longer than most individuals.

    The 46-year-old biotech entrepreneur has a longing for feeling 18-years-old again, and in his efforts to achieve that, he has an expensive routine tied with hopes of reversing his age.

    Credit: Business Insider

    Insider reports that Johnson spends about $2 million every year on an experimental program called Project Blueprint. His goal is to reduce his biological age and live forever.

    Johnson wakes up at 5 a.m., takes more than 100 supplements per day, his diet is calculated and he has his dinner (final and third meal of the day) at 11 a.m.

    He also goes to gym for cardio and weight training; and undergoes treatments like red light therapy and ultrasounds. He exposes himself to a laser face-shield to reduce collagen loss and wrinkles.

    Johnson works from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., spends two and half hours for ‘family time’, relaxation, skincare, and dental care and goes to sleep by 8:30 p.m.

    He has kept his routine so calculated and is so adamant in living forever that he drives as slowly as 16 mph in Los Angeles since he believes that, “Driving is the most dangerous thing we do.”

    “What would be a more beautiful irony than me getting hit by a bus and dying?” he told TIME.

    He has also pointed out that according to the data compiled by his doctors, he has the bones of a 30-year-old and the heart of a 37-year-old, but doctors remain dubious of his lifestyle and its possible outcomes since there is not enough research to support the success of his project.