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  • Babar Azam is Pakistan’s new Test captain

    Babar Azam is Pakistan’s new Test captain

    Babar Azam has been appointed as Pakistan Test captain, which now makes him the captain across all three formats. He replaces Azhar Ali, who last captained Pakistan against England this summer.

    Babar’s first assignment will be to captain Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship fixtures against New Zealand, which will be played in Mount Maunganui and Christchurch from December 26-30 and January 3-7, respectively.

    PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani confirmed the appointment following a meeting with Azhar on Tuesday evening in which he also thanked him for his contributions as a captain. The PCB Chairman subsequently spoke with Babar following his side’s eight wickets in the third T20I against Zimbabwe and congratulated him on his appointment.

    PCB Chairman said, “I want to thank Azhar for stepping up last year by captaining the side in what was a historic first home Test series in over a decade. I believe Azhar still has a lot of cricket left in him and Pakistan cricket can continue to make the best use of his experience and knowledge as specialist top-order batsman moving forward.”

    Mani further said, “Babar was identified at a very young age as a future leader and as part of his progression and development, he was appointed white-ball captain last year. With his consistent performance and leadership skills, he has demonstrated that he is ready to take on the additional responsibilities of a captain.”

    The chairman concluded by saying, “As we are looking into the future, it is appropriate that we appoint him the captain now so that he continues to grow stronger with every match.”

    Meanwhile, Babar while sharing his thoughts on his appointment said, “I feel truly honoured to have been appointed Test captain and join some of the most iconic players who have captained Pakistan in the purest format of the game. I can now say with conviction that dreams can come true only if you chase them with honesty, dedication and commitment.”

    “I am ready and prepared to take up the additional responsibility and the fact which gives me additional confidence is that I can do the job is the experience that is available to me in the changing room in the shape of the players and support staff,” he added.

    Babar also thanked Azhar for the way he captained the team in the last season, which according to him was a challenging task.

  • ‘You’re only one bike ride away from a good mood,’ says Sana Javed

    Newlyweds Sana Javed and Umair Jaswal were spotted enjoying the winter sun and bike rides on Jaswal’s prized Harley Davidson in Islamabad.

    Sharing videos of them enjoying their ride, Sana said: “You’re only one bike ride away from a good mood.”

    Meanwhile, earlier, Umair had shared a picture of them dressed up and looking cool in their biking gear, ready to take on the streets.

    Umair, who recently travelled across Pakistan on his bike, has been very open about his love for the machines. In fact, the musician was even riding his bike on his engagement day and got into a lot of trouble for it.

    View this post on Instagram

    Time to hit the road again. @easypaisa Raahi ?

    A post shared by Umair Jaswal (@umairjaswalofficial) on

    Sana and Umair tied the knot on October 21 in an intimate nikkah ceremony in Karachi.

  • ‘TikToker’ is now a real word

    ‘TikToker’ is now a real word

    Collins Dictionary has officially recognised TikToker as a real-world, describing it as “someone who shares content on the social media platform TikTok”. TikTok is an app that can be used for creating and sharing short videos. It was initially launched as Douyin in September 2016 in China. The following year, the app was launched by ByteDance for markets outside of China.

    TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps in Pakistan. According to some estimates, the app has been installed 43 million times in Pakistan, with 14.7 million of those coming in the year 2020 alone.

    Other words which have been taken from social media and introduced in the dictionary include ‘BLM’, ‘Mukbang’ and ‘Megixt.

    BLM, short for ‘Black Lives Matter’ was widely used on the internet during the recent black lives matter protests, while the term ‘Mukbang’ originating in South Korea refers to people who broadcast videos of themselves eating large quantities of food.

    ‘Megixt’, which refers to the withdrawal of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from royal duties, has also been given the status of a real word.

    Meanwhile, Collins has announced ‘lockdown’ as its Word of The Year in 2020 following a dramatic increase in its usage during the spread of COVID-19.

    Lexicographers (a person who compiles dictionaries) said they picked the word because it had become synonymous with the experience of populations across the world as governments look to curb the coronavirus pandemic.

    Because of the way the pandemic has affected the daily use of language, six of Collins’ 10 words of the year in 2020 are related to the global health crisis.

    ‘Coronavirus’, ‘social distancing’, ‘self-isolate’ and ‘furlough’ as well as ‘lockdown’ and ‘key worker’ were included in the longer list of 10 words of the year.

    Helen Newstead, a language consultant at Collins, said: “Lockdown has affected the way we work, study, shop, and socialise. With many countries entering a second lockdown, it is not a word of the year to celebrate but it is, perhaps, one that sums up the year for most of the world.”

    Collins defines ‘lockdown’ as “the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interaction, and access to public spaces”.

  • Virat Kohli to take paternity leave for baby’s birth

    Virat Kohli to take paternity leave for baby’s birth

    Indian captain Virat Kohli will play the test series against Australia next month before taking paternity leave and missing the rest of the matches.

    According to details, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a statement on Monday confirming that it had granted Kohli’s request for paternity leave during the upcoming series.

    Kohli is expected to play in the limited-overs section of the tour and the day-night test match from December 17-21 before returning to India to be with his wife Anushka Sharma, who is expecting the couple’s first child in January.

    Meanwhile, Anushka shared Virat cleaning his shoes for the tour.

    Back in August, Anushka and Virat had announced on social media that they will soon be turning into a family of three. The couple had shared an adorable picture that had sent their fans and fan clubs into a frenzy.

    View this post on Instagram

    And then, we were three! Arriving Jan 2021 ❤️?

    A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on

    Virat recently celebrated his 32nd birthday in Dubai with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team and Anushka by his side. The couple’s photos as well as Anushka’s appearances at the IPL matches went viral on social media.

  • ‘National Amateur Short Film Festival’ launched with a star-studded ceremony

    ‘National Amateur Short Film Festival’ launched with a star-studded ceremony

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced the National Amateur Short Film Festival (NASFF) to give amateur filmmakers a platform to showcase their talent and skills. The purpose of NASFF is to give a chance to the creative and talented youth of the country to make high-quality short films projecting a positive image of Pakistan. Winners of the competition will be awarded prestigious scholarships in film schools across the globe.

    Read more – Did you know ‘Ehd-e-Wafa’ was shot in 16 cities?

    According to a press release, the film festival is “to proffer a chance to our enormously creative and talented youth to produce high-quality short films projecting a positive image of Pakistan.”

    The launch event of NASFF was held on Monday and was a star-studded affair with Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Zara Noor Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Farhan Saeed, Wahaj Ali, Bilal Abbas Khan, Mashal Khan, Ayub Khoso, and Qasim Khan from Alpha Bravo Charlie in attendance. All of them will serve as brand ambassadors of the festival.

    Encouraging everyone to apply, Farhan said: “If you have talent, I promise you this is the best opportunity.”

    Sharing pictures from the event, Mahira said: “There are so many young artists who come to me all the time wanting to direct, act, write stories, etc. I’m so glad that I can be part of this initiative along with all my other colleagues.”

    “NASFF is a great step forward in stimulating the youth of Pakistan, who aspire to be innovative filmmakers. With opportunities like these, there is so much creative room to explore talents beyond the traditional approaches,” she added.

    Similarly, Zara said that she was very happy to be supporting the initiative.

    Meanwhile, Humayun Saeed urged aspiring filmmakers to take the advantage of the opportunity.

    “If you have the knack for films and television and want to produce some quality content then this platform is your stepping stone,” said the actor.

    “Getting an opportunity to study your creative field with a full scholarship at one of the top filmmaking institutions in the world would be a dream come true right?” said Iqra in her social media post.

    “NASFF is the right place to be for all the budding creative minds that are ready to break the norms,” she wrote, adding that she is very happy to be part of the project.

    Bilal Abbas, who is also one of the brand ambassadors, gave a “huge shout out to NASFF for understanding and evolving the talents of ambitious potential filmmakers in Pakistan.”

    “For anyone who aims to work for the entertainment industry to yield good classic content then grab this opportunity,” said the actor.

    Wahaj said that NASFF will pave the way for all ambitious and creative filmmakers to a brighter future.

    How to apply

    Registration for the event is free and the last date to register is January 1, 2021. The last date for the submission of the project is March 10, 2021, while the festival is scheduled to take place in April. Participants can make films of all genres including fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films. However, the film must be original. Entries can be submitted in Urdu, English & Regional Languages but with English subtitles.

    Further details are given on ISPR’s official website: ispr.gov.pk/NASFF

  • Study reveals one in five COVID-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days

    Study reveals one in five COVID-19 patients develop mental illness within 90 days

    COVID-19 survivors are likely to be at greater risk of developing mental illness, psychiatrists have said after a large study found that 20% of those infected with the virus are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within 90 days.

    Anxiety, depression and insomnia were most common among recovered COVID-19 patients who were involved in the study and researchers also found significantly higher risks of dementia, a brain impairment condition, in them.

    “People have been worried that COVID-19 survivors will be at greater risk of mental health problems, and our findings … show this to be likely,” said Paul Harrison, a professor of psychiatry at Britain’s Oxford University.

    Doctors and scientists around the world instantly need to examine the causes and identify new treatments for mental illness after COVID-19, Harrison said.

    “(Health) services need to be ready to provide care, especially since our results are likely to be underestimates (of the number of psychiatric patients),” he added.

    Read more – Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity nears 5%. What does that mean?

    In the three months following testing positive for COVID-19, 1 in 5 survivors was recorded as having a first-time diagnosis of anxiety, depression, or insomnia. This was about twice as likely as for other groups of patients in the same period, the researchers said.

    The study also found that people with a pre-existing mental illness were 65% more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 than those without.

    Mental health specialists not directly involved with the study said its findings add to growing evidence that COVID-19 can affect the brain and mind, increasing the risk of a range of psychiatric illnesses.

  • ISI, Rangers officials removed over Sindh IG incident that PM Imran termed ‘comedy’

    Officials of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Sindh Rangers involved in the “Karachi incident” that was termed by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan as a “comedy”, have been removed pending further departmental proceedings for acting “overzealously”.

    “I believe it is a comedy. When I think about that, I laugh. What is happening? It is unfortunate that all the enemies of Pakistan, including India and Israel, are with them,” the premier had said while referring to the incident wherein Sindh Inspector General (IG) Mushtaq Mahar had allegedly been coerced to issue arrest warrants against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Capt (r) Safdar.

    The humiliating treatment meted out to the top cop, however, had led to senior officials asking the government for 60 days leave, and chairperson of Sindh’s ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) demanding Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa to hold an inquiry into the incident. The army chief had subsequently ordered Karachi corps commander to conduct an immediate probe into the incident.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the court of inquiry constituted to redress the grievances of the Sindh IG, on the orders of COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, had been completed.

    “The court of inquiry has established that on the night of Oct 18/Oct 19, officers from Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and ISI sector Headquarters Karachi were considerably seized with the fall out of the desecration of Mazare Quaid [Jinnah’s mausoleum],” read a statement issued by the military’s media wing.

    “They were under increasing public pressure to ensure prompt action as per the law. Assessing the response of police authorities against this developing yet volatile situation to be slow and wanting, in a charged environment, the concerned officers decided to act, rather overzealously,” the ISPR statement said.

    “They were indeed experienced enough to have acted more prudently and could have avoided creating an unwarranted situation that led to the misunderstanding between the two state institutions.

    “Based on the recommendations of the court of inquiry, it has been decided to remove the concerned officers from their current assignments for further departmental proceedings and disposal at GHQ,” the statement added.

    ‘KARACHI INCIDENT’:

    Last month, the ISPR had said the army chief had taken notice of and ordered an immediate inquiry into the “Karachi incident”, Dawn reported.

    At the time, the ISPR did not specify which incident it was referring to. However, the statement came minutes after PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called on Gen Bajwa and ISI Director General (DG) Faiz Hameed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the PML-N leader, who was in Karachi for an anti-government rally of the joint opposition.

    On October 19, Safdar, who was staying at a hotel with his wife, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, was arrested for “violating the sanctity of Jinnah’s mausoleum” by raising political slogans at the venue, surrounded by hundreds of party workers.

    Following Safdar’s arrest, a purported voice message by PML-N leader and former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair was shared by a journalist in which Zubair alleged that the IG was kidnapped and forced to register the FIR [First Information Report] against Maryam, her husband Safdar and 200 others for violating the sanctity of the tomb.

    In the audio clip circulating on Twitter, Zubair said that Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Murad Ali Shah confirmed to him that police were pressured into making the arrest. “When they [police] refused to do that, Rangers kidnapped [the IGP],” Zubair had said.

    Maryam had also alleged that the Sindh police chief was forcibly “taken to the sector commander’s office and asked to sign on the arrest orders”.

    The statement by the military’s media wing comes days after PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif said that the inquiry into the “alleged abduction” of the Sindh IG and additional IG, and the “storming of Maryam’s room” had not been made public despite Gen Bajwa’s “personal assurance”.

    “Despite Gen Bajwa’s personal assurance, result of inquiry into abduction of IG/AIG Sindh & storming of Maryam Nawaz’s room hasn’t been made public. Does this nation have the right to know the reasons for delay?,” he tweeted.

  • Islamabad police book college student over alleged blasphemy

    Islamabad police book college student over alleged blasphemy

    Islamabad police have registered a case against a college student under sections 295-A and 298-A over alleged blasphemous remarks against companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

    The case registered at Shalimar police station on the complaint of a teacher. Section 295-A pertains to deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, whereas Section 298-A concerns derogatory remarks against holy personages.

    According to the FIR, some students reported the accused after they found “derogatory remarks” written on his coursebook next to the name of a certain companion of the prophet (PBUH). The students engaged in an argument with the student possessing the book, it added.

    The owner of the book hurt the religious sentiments of thousands of people and students, the FIR claimed.

    Last week, a National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) manager was gunned down by a security guard in Punjab’s Khushab district over blasphemy allegations.

    The victim, Malik Imran Hanif, was first taken to a local hospital, however, the nature of his gunshot wounds was so severe, he was shifted to Services Hospital in Lahore, where he succumbed to his injuries.

    Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.

  • PM believes his popularity is rising, opposition is propagandising inflation

    PM believes his popularity is rising, opposition is propagandising inflation

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said the opposition was just propagandising inflation as all economic indicators were highlighting a positive trend, The News reported.

    He expressed these views while chairing a meeting to review the overall political situation in the country as well as the government’s media strategy. Imran directed his economic team to highlight the successes achieved by the government in the media.

    He said the political leaders responsible for the current economic mess were misleading the masses to save their face and politics. He maintained that it was due to the policies of the previous governments that the masses were suffering, say media reports.

    “We have overcome the effects of their economic decisions after two years of work and finally the economy is witnessing stability,” he added. The premier said the benefits of growing economy would soon be shifted to the masses.

    “The economic team should tell the masses as to how the previous governments ruined the economy,” he said.

    The premier added that the public gatherings in Swat and Hafizabad had once again proved that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) enjoyed the confidence of masses.

    “PTI will also clean sweep the Gilgit-Baltistan elections as the support of the people at the rallies prove the rise in our popularity,” he said.

  • ‘Pakistan got no reason to celebrate Pfizer vaccine’

    A day after Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, announced 90 per cent effective coronavirus vaccine, Pakistan’s anti-coronavirus task force head Dr Attaur Rahman said that it was “too early to celebrate the success” for multiple reasons.

    In a statement on Monday, Pfizer said that an early peek at the data suggested the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. “We’re in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope,” Dr Bill Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of clinical development, told The Associated Press. “We’re very encouraged.”

    Reacting to the celebrations, Dr Rahman said the vaccine would not be suitable for Pakistan owing to multiple problems, especially the storage issue.

    According to the task force chairman, the vaccine needs to be kept at a temperature of -80 °C, which was a major problem for third world countries, including Pakistan.

    “We should not think much about this vaccine, instead focus on other vaccines that are being developed and have seen similar results but haven’t been announced with fanfare. They are working quietly,” said Dr Rahman.

    It may be noted here that the number of coronavirus cases are soaring across Pakistan amid resurgence of the virus. On Monday, Pakistan registered over 1,500 infections and over a dozen deaths.

    The government, as a result, has tighten restrictions to curb the infection rate.

    PFIZER VACCINE:

    Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government’s top-infectious disease expert, said the results suggesting 90% effectiveness are “just extraordinary,” adding: “Not very many people expected it would be as high as that.”

    “It’s going to have a major impact on everything we do with respect to COVID,” Fauci said.

    Pharmaceutical companies and various countries are in a global race to develop a vaccine against the virus. Fauci said that the Pfizer vaccine and virtually all others in testing target the spike protein the coronavirus uses to infect cells, so the results validate that approach.

    Monday’s announcement doesn’t mean a vaccine is imminent: This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the US and five other countries. Some participants got the vaccine, while others got dummy shots.

    Pfizer Inc. did not provide any more details about those infections and cautioned that the initial protection rate might change by the time the study ends. Even revealing such early data is highly unusual.

    Authorities have stressed it’s unlikely any vaccine will arrive much before the end of the year, and initial supplies will be rationed.