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  • LPL Final: Shoaib Malik dedicates win to ‘little champs’ of APS

    LPL Final: Shoaib Malik dedicates win to ‘little champs’ of APS

    Veteran Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has dedicated his win at the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to the “little champs who lost their lives in the Peshawar tragedy”.

    “Another WIN, another TROPHY, another Man Of The Match in the Finals,” wrote Malik on social media. “I dedicate today’s win to the little champs who lost their lives in the Peshawar tragedy.”

    It has been six years since a gruesome terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) left 149 people dead which included 132 children, one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s history.

    Meanwhile, Malik’s wife Sania Mirza and his father-in-law Imran Mirza, were over the moon with Shoaib’s performance and took to Twitter to express their joy.

    Malik shone with both the bat and the ball as Jaffna Stallions beat Galle Gladiators to win the LPL 2020 title in its inaugural season and received the Man of the Match award.

    Malik top-scored for Jaffna with 46 off 35 balls to help Jaffna near the 190-run mark after they won the toss and elected to bat first. He also bagged two wickets for 13 runs only in 3 overs to restrict Galle under 140 runs.

    Read more – Shahid Afridi leaves LPL midway due to a ‘personal emergency’

    The inaugural season of the T20 Lanka Premier League 2020 came to a thrilling end on Wednesday night with Stallions lifting the trophy after beating Gladiators by 53 runs in the final in Hambantota.

  • Vawda claims Musadik Malik, a PhD, served as ‘doctor to royal family’ in Dubai

    In another spat on live TV, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Faisal Vawda accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Dr Musadik Malik (a PhD) of being a “doctor to a royal family in Dubai” before he supposedly joined hands with military dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf.

    This took Malik by surprise, who retorted he has a PhD in Healthcare Administration and Policy that has nothing to do with an MBBS degree. “How can you say I was a doctor to a royal family when I don’t have the required qualification,” he questioned Vawda, who appeared alongside him on a Dunya News show.

    But this did not stop Vawda from speaking further.

    The PTI lawmaker then accused Malik of serving as a caretaker minister during Musharraf era. “I didn’t ask why you were made a caretaker minister by Musharraf,” Vawda said, adding that this helped Musadiq Malik “manipulate pharmaceutical sector for personal gains”.

    Vawda reiterated that the PML-N leader was introduced as a doctor to the royal family during Musharraf’s time. “Which royal family,” asked Malik.

    “You were a doctor to the royal family in Dubai,” Vawda said. Dr Malik responded: “I’ve never even lived in Dubai.”

    The PML-N leader asked Vawda does he live in the same world as the rest of us. “Where are you getting your information from,” Malik hit back at Vawda, saying his “lies cannot go on”.

    At this, Vawda said: “I don’t know, I haven’t joined politics to study your personal history.”

    It may be noted here that Musadiq Malik didn’t serve as a caretaker minister during Musharraf era.

    According to a Dawn article, “Dr Malik first appeared on the national scene when he joined Gen Musharraf’s signature programme, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD)” as a “volunteer”.

    He was later appointed as a caretaker minister in 2013 by then president Asif Ali Zardari.

  • Pakistani space scientist Dr Yarjan wins Young Leaders Award 2020

    Pakistan’s first-ever space scientist, who hails from Buleda, Balochistan, Dr Yarjan Abdul Samad has been awarded the prestigious Young Leaders Award 2020 for his exceptional research work in the field of space science.

    Read more – Pakistani doctor Asifa Akhtar to receive Germany’s highest scientific award

    “Dr Yarjan was in the team of scientists who launched Graphene in extreme environment of Space via the MASER14 Rocket of Europe Space Agency launched from Kiruna based in Sweden. He has developed sustainable methods of creating e-textiles and flexible and stretchable conductors and composites based on three-dimensional (3D) porous architectures of two-dimensional (2D) and layered materials, typically graphene, that scientists and engineers are benchmarking for aerospace composite manufacturing, biosensing, water purification and energy storage,” said the Young Professionals Society (YPS) about the winner.

    “Dr Yarjan is currently working on a research project on loop heat pipes for use in space applications and he was part of European Space Agency zero-gravity flight campaign held in Nov-Dec 2017.”

    Dr Yarjan Abdul Samad is a Senior Research Associate and a Teaching Fellow in the Cambridge Graphene Centre and the Engineering Department of Cambridge University. He is in the Nanomaterials and Spectroscopy Group in the Electrical Engineering Division.

    According to YPS’ official website, the criteria used for the award was: achievements, impact and sustainability.

    Young Professionals society recognises ‘excellence’ and honours outstanding young professionals who have shown, during the early years of their professional careers outstanding achievement

  • Vehicle prices to finally come down in Pakistan?

    Vehicle prices to finally come down in Pakistan?

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said that car prices in Pakistan will be reduced in the coming days.

    Speaking to Geo News on Wednesday, Fawad said that the prices of cars in Pakistan have increased immensely over the past few years. However, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the Electric Vehicle Policy — which will end the monopoly of car manufacturers in the country.

    The minister maintained that the Electric Vehicle Policy is crucial for urban cities like Lahore and Karachi, as over 35% of air pollution in these cities is caused by emission of smoke from vehicles.

    Speaking about other initiatives taken by the government, the minister said that three major mobile phone companies would soon start operations in Pakistan and that the ECC has also approved the mobile manufacturing policy, he added.

    He said that these are great achievements accomplished during the “Made in Pakistan campaign”, and in near future, the country will be manufacturing its own vehicles and mobile phones.

  • Pakistanis prefer China’s COVID-19 vaccine over US, UK and Russia: Survey

    Pakistanis prefer China’s COVID-19 vaccine over US, UK and Russia: Survey

    A survey done by the Institute for Public Opinion Research (IPOR) has revealed that majority of the respondents would prefer a China-made coronavirus vaccine over Pakistan, United States, Russia and others. 

    According to details, 1,500 participated in the survey between December 2 and 14 this year. It found that 35% of the respondents preferred China’s vaccine while 14% backed Pakistan and 9% chose the US. A government-approved vaccine got the green-stamp of 15% of the respondents while 16% did not give any answer.

    The majority of respondents in the survey believe the virus to be a reality, while 25% said it doesn’t exist and termed it a global conspiracy.

    Most of the participants said they would take the vaccine. Five in 10 said they would be willing to be administered the vaccine. Most of the respondents mentioned different conspiracy theories about the corona vaccine behind the reason for not going for the vaccine. In a previous survey, 67 percent of respondents were willing to administer the vaccine.

  • Peshawar Zoo loses its fourth giraffe

    Peshawar Zoo loses its fourth giraffe

    Peshawar Zoo lost its fourth giraffe in 2020 on Monday, just a few days after a black bear’s alleged death.

    According to details, the male giraffe had been suffering from an intestinal infection for one week and was under treatment in the zoo. Zoo officials said that samples were collected from the dead body and sent to the National Veterinary Laboratory, Islamabad, and Veterinary Research Institute, Peshawar, for examination and to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

    A three-year-old giraffe was earlier found dead in June, while the other two died in April and May.

    “The earlier three died of shooting diarrhoea while this one now had a somewhat different cause of death,” stated Project Director of the Peshawar Zoo, Ishtiaq Wazir. “We had provided antibiotics to the giraffe but it did not recover,” added the official.

    He further said that giraffes are fragile animals and the symptom of their disease appears at the time when preventive intervention cannot succeed in treating them.

    Officials said the zoo was left with two female giraffes only.

    Animal rights activists have been campaigning for the condition of animals kept in Peshawar zoo. A petition about issues of the Peshawar zoo, including animal deaths and qualification of staff members, especially veterinarians, is also pending with the Peshawar High Court.

    Islamabad zoo shuts down after last animals moved

    Meanwhile, Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo — which drew international condemnation for its treatment of lonely elephant Kaavan — shut down on Wednesday after its final occupants Babloo and Suzie were relocated to Jordan.

    Babloo

    The two Himalayan bears were the last to leave the Islamabad facility, almost three weeks after the country’s only Asian elephant was flown to a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia.

    “The Islamabad zoo is now completely closed for both public and officials,” said Saleem Shaikh, a spokesman for Pakistan’s ministry of climate change.

  • Newsletter – 16th December 2020, Wednesday

    Newsletter – 16th December 2020, Wednesday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Aaj bohat thund hai. Today is Wednesday the 16th of December and the weather will be breezy and cold in major cities except warm Karachi. Research shows that Wednesdays are the best days to ask your boss for a raise so go for it! But what we would love for you to do is hit reply and tell us what you think about our newsletter! – Marium

    Morning Meme

    ‘Ertugrul’ got cheated by Pakistani host

    Do you know about the Tiktoker who used to wear alot of gold chains around his neck? Well, he tricked our all time favourite Turkish actor Engin Altan aka Ertugrul. Reports kay mutabiq tiktoker Kashif Zameer hosted Engin Altan during his Lahore visit and finalized a deal of one million dollars with him. Later he paid only half of it. Iskay ellawa he is allegedly facing at least eight cases, including those of fraud, robberies, betrayal of trust and car theft.

    Read on

    Did Bilawal just refer to PTI ministers as Imran’s dogs?

    Billawal Bhutto Zardari takes a dig at the ministers of PM Imran Khan, comparing them to the pet dogs of IK. On Sunday, when the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was busy holding a massive gathering in Lahore, the PM chose to spend his day with his dogs, the photo of which went viral on social media. Many considered it as an attempt to give the impression the PM was not intimidated by the PDM power show.

    A reporter asked Bilawal to comment on the PM spending Sunday with his dogs on the day of the PDM’s much-hyped jalsa. At this, BBZ said ‘apko Wazir-e-Azam k waziroun kay liye aesay ilfaz [dog] istamaal nahin krnay chaihyah.’ 

    Watch the video

    ‘Tum Mamay lagtay ho?’

    Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has opened up about his spiritual side. In the recent interview with Mira Sethi, Shoaib nay kaha, ‘I’m not a scholar, but I’m very close to my religion. Our religion gives us freedom and advises us to give freedom to others too.’
     
    Talking about women and their choice of clothing, he said, “If you can’t help women at least give them space. Whatever they wear, it is between them and their Allah. Who are you to say anything? [Tum mamay lagtay ho? Saray thanaydar ban kay aa jatay ho].”

    Read on

    Farhan’s and Urwa’s reaction on opposition jalsas 

    Farhan Saeed and Urwa Hocane have hit out at the opposition and members of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for holding jalsas amid a pandemic. Farhan requested authorities to explain k agar PML-N can hold jalsas, then “why are there restrictions on concerts, weddings and cinemas?” Both of them are on fire, tou phir iske ilawa what else do they have to say?
     

    Read on

    Current Baba’s prediction

    Sometimes it only takes one good song to bring back good memories. Aj yehi hoga apkay sath, you will think about your good old college days when Tahir Shah’s ‘Eye to eye’ gets played on the FM Radio. 

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  • VIDEO: Ertugrul star’s Pakistani host breaks silence on fraud allegations

    Kashif Zameer, the man who hosted Dirilis Ertugrul star Engin Altan Düzyatan during his Lahore visit, has responded to allegations that he paid only half of the decided amount to the Turkish actor.

    Zameer, in a video message, has said it is very sad that media is spreading “rumours” about him.

    “There are a few things that I would like to clarify. The agreement was to pay Engin Altan half the amount ahead of his first visit to Pakistan and the rest of the amount will be paid at the time of his next visit.”

    “There are a few brands that do not want this deal to happen. If there would have been any payment problem, the actor himself would have tweeted about it. Our media is only spreading rumours. Please have some shame. It means no international star would come to Pakistan again,” he said.

    Earlier it was reported that Zameer struck a deal of one million dollars with the Turkish actor but paid only half of it.

  • Pakistani doctor Asifa Akhtar to receive Germany’s highest scientific award

    Pakistani doctor Asifa Akhtar to receive Germany’s highest scientific award

    Pakistani-born Dr Asifa Akhtar has been selected to receive Germany’s highest scientific award, the ‘Leibniz Prize’. In addition to the award, she will also receive prize money of 2.5 million euros.

    According to details, Dr Asifa Akhtar has been selected for the award on the basis of her “cell biological work on mechanisms of epigenetic gene regulation and understanding chromosome regulation (“dosage compensation”). This is a mechanism in which the genes of the X chromosome are produced in equal strength in the male and female sex.”

    German Consulate General Karachi congratulated Dr Asifa on her achievement and said that she makes “both Pakistan and Germany extremely proud with your outstanding contributions to science!”

    Dr Asifa received her PhD from the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in London in 1997. She continued her research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, where – after a stopover at the LMU Munich – she headed a research group from 2001 to 2009. Akhtar has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina since 2019.

    She is currently serving as the director at the Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg. She is also the Vice President of the Max Planck Society. Established in 1948, the Max Planck Society is Germany’s most successful research organisation with 18 Nobel laureates from the ranks of its scientists. It is on par with the best and most prestigious research institutions worldwide.

    The Leibniz Prize will be awarded digitally on 15 March 2021. The Leibniz Prize has been honouring up to ten scientists each year since 1986.

  • Maryam trolled for sharing ‘doctored’ image of Lahore jalsa

    Maryam trolled for sharing ‘doctored’ image of Lahore jalsa

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz was trolled by social media users after the PML-N vice president shared a supposedly edited picture of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally held in Lahore last Sunday.

    The PDM held a gathering in Lahore on Dec 13. The government had played down the number of people who attended the gathering, saying only 10,000 people attended the rally. The opposition, on the other hand, put the number above 100,000.

    However, the picture of the rally shared by Maryam added to the controversy and also attracted flak for being “fake”. PTI wrote: “Decisive moment in PDM; after #LahorePDMJalsa turnout, PDM has resorted to utilizing its trump card; Clone Stamp Tool in Photoshop.”

    Prime Minister’s aide Shahbaz Gill tweeted that Maryam has “such a bad luck that she always gets caught”.

    Federal minister Hammad Azhar also didn’t miss the chance to troll the PML-N de-facto president.

    A user advised the PML-N leader to “fire her graphic designer”.

    Another user used this opportunity to make a meme.