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  • [VIDEO] IPL 2020: Umpire ‘changes decision after Dhoni’s angry stare’

    The clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw the latter winning by 20 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as Chennai kept their ‘#10YearChallenge’ of replicating their 2010 campaign alive.

    While it was a needed win for CSK, there was a moment in the match that got netizens questioning the umpire and former Indian skipper Mahinder Singh Dhoni. In the 19th over, Shardul Thakur bowled another yorker outside the tramline.

    Umpire Paul Reiffel was about to stretch his arms wide, but Dhoni was spotted getting angry and staring at him. The umpire did not give it a wide and now netizens are questioning this decision.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    https://twitter.com/Kourageous__/status/1316073486884966400

    The controversial decision might not have played a big part in the outcome of the match but it does raise questions on how MS Dhoni’s “intimidatory” tactics against the umpire have come out to the fore again in IPL.

    The result saw CSK go to the sixth spot in the points table and they will be hoping to sustain their momentum as they bid for the play-off spot. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, have suffered yet another loss and it puts them in danger of not qualifying for the knockouts as the race for the top four spots intensifies.

  • Jannat Mirza reveals why she is moving to Japan

    Jannat Mirza reveals why she is moving to Japan

    TikTok’s most-followed star Jannat Mirza, in a recent interactive session with her fans, revealed that she is moving to Japan. Mirza had recently posted a picture of herself in Tokyo, Japan on Instagram, prompting fans to ask this question.

    When a follower asked Mirza if she is moving to Japan, the TikTokers replied: “Jee“.

    Later when someone asked why she is moving, Jannat said that though Pakistan is “very nice’, the people of Pakistan and their mentality is not. Jannat also posted a story of Komal Aziz Khan in which the actor was criticised for wearing modern clothes abroad.

    While Jannat said that she is moving to Japan, she also shared that she will be coming back to Pakistan in November. According to details, Jannat will be returning to work on a film with renowned Pakistani Director Syed Noor.

    Mirza was also asked questions on TikTok and the ban on it, to which she replied that the ban will be lifted soon.

    Jannat was also asked some personal questions. When a follower commented that she should marry fellow TikTok star Umer Butt, who has been a regular feature in her videos, Jannat replied that she would “rather die” than marry him. Jannat further said that she is not in love with anyone.

  • Nasir Khan Jan engaged to a ‘very nice, well-educated’ partner, Nikah next week

    Nasir Khan Jan engaged to a ‘very nice, well-educated’ partner, Nikah next week

    Social media star Nasir Khan Jan has announced that he got engaged to a “very nice and well-educated” partner and that his Nikah ceremony would be held next week.

    “Finally, I’m engaged. Alhamdulilah. My life partner is very nice and well-educated,” he said in a tweet on Tuesday.

    “Nikah will be next week. I invite all of my fans and all media channels,” the social media star added.

    Jan , over the past few years, has severely been criticised for his cringe comedy and the stereotype he plays in his videos.

    From giving tips on bodybuilding to fitness, he leaves no stone unturned to get laughs out of his fans on YouTube, where he has more than 61,000 subscribers.

    He may not be a professional model himself, but that doesn’t stop Jan from giving tips on modeling.

  • Misbah Ul Haq steps down as chief selector

    Misbah Ul Haq steps down as chief selector

    Former captain of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Misbah Ul Haq, who was appointed to the joint position of head coach and chief selector for the men’s team in September 2019, has resigned from his role as chief selector.

    In a press conference, Haq said that he tendered his resignation so that he can concentrate and focus on the head coach’s role of the men’s national team.

    “When I was appointed last year, I was offered the coaching role first and then given the option to also head the selection committee, which I had graciously accepted. I said I would do it but we had a discussion that if I ever felt that giving time to both would be hard, I would leave,” said Misbah at the conference.

    He further said: “The most important thing is my passion for the field. My first target as coach is to bring the Pakistan team in the top three in all formats. We should at least win International Cricket Council (ICC) events and that is our target and [we are] focusing on that.”

    Misbah also clarified that his resignation was not because of any disagreements with the cricket body or his meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan last month.

    The PCB, in a press release, stated that the new chief selector will begin his tenure from 1 December and until then, Misbah will continue to carry out selection responsibilities. The decision means Misbah will announce the squads for the home series against Zimbabwe on 19 October and then for the away series against New Zealand.

    The first assignment of the new chief selector will be to select the squads for the January home series against South Africa, comprising two Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals.

  • Five science-oriented tips to deal with work stress

    Five science-oriented tips to deal with work stress

    We all have those days where almost everything is stressful and it becomes difficult to cope with even the little things happening around. It is normal to go through stress at work but it can affect your mood and performance if you don’t learn to cope up with it. Here are some extremely helpful, science-oriented tips that will help you deal with work-related stress. 

    Work out

    Exercise is proven to be one of the best stress relievers. Many people claim that exercising helps them get rid of all negative energies, resulting in a better mood. It pumps up your endorphins, the chemicals produced by your body to relieve stress and pain. Not everyone likes hitting the gym every day, so it’s better to find a physical activity you can enjoy and then try sticking to it. Working out can help you improve your overall physical and mental health.

    Write it down 

    Writing down your feelings and problems is another best way to deal with the stress coming from it. When you write, you let it out. So, instead of bottling your work-related frustrations, it is best to write it out. Journaling is considered to be an effective practice to deal with the stress at your workplace. This can also help you monitor the things that cause you stress. 

    Drink tea/coffee

    Since winter is around the corner, this doesn’t seem to be a bad idea. Caffeine is what always helps you stay focused even when there are chances for you to get distracted by things going around. Consumption of your favorite cup of tea and coffee will keep you motivated and improve your performance at work. You can even set up a tea/coffee station at your workplace so all your team members can also reduce their workplace stress. 

    Take a step back

    You don’t have to force yourself when you clearly need a break. Take a break from your work, turn away from your desk, close your eyes, and take a deep breath. Remember you are a human, not a machine, you need a break to function properly. If you need a little more, step out, go for a walk, and breathe in fresh air.  

    Play music

    Music is also a great stress-buster. Pop in some headphones and listen to your favorite songs – especially the ones which make you feel light, positive, and motivated. It somehow distracts you from the present situation and takes you to another dimension where you feel relaxed. 

    Apply these five scientifically-proven tips to deal with work-related stress to pull yourself together and breathe easily. Last but not the least, it is highly recommended to leave work at work and unwind yourself at home.

  • Ahead of Maryam’s jalsa, FIRs registered in Gujranwala for violating coronavirus SOPs

    Ahead of Maryam’s jalsa, FIRs registered in Gujranwala for violating coronavirus SOPs

    Over 100 people, including internet service providers, sound system organisers and residents holding corner meetings, have been named in at least seven FIRs [First Information Reports] at different police stations across Gujranwala for violating coronavirus guidelines ahead of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz’s jalsa.

    The daughter of former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif is due to hold a public gathering in the city on October 16 as part of the joint opposition’s anti-government campaign. She is expected to be joined by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as well in what is expected to be a mammoth power show by opposition parties.

    While PM Imran Khan has reportedly given permission to the opposition’s Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) for holding its protest rallies that are expected to feature fiery speeches against the government and security establishment as it puts forward 26 demands, including the resignation of the premier, sources claim that authorities concerned are springing into action in this regard.

    “After Federal Minister Sheikh Rasheed’s warning that the next few months could be critical in terms of internal security and any prominent personal could suffer an attempt on his or her life, coronavirus is being used as a reason to bar the opposition from protesting against the government,” they alleged.

    However, according to the police, the people named in the aforementioned FIRs had not been following coronavirus SOPs, especially social distancing rules.

    “Residents have to submit a request for an NOC [no-objection certificate] before holding gatherings,” a police officer said, adding that Gujranwala’s chief police officer had instructed the police to ensure strict implementation of COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the city.

    “The government has been cracking down on restaurants and other public spaces across the country for violation of SOPs since the number of cases in Pakistan spiked again in September,” he said.

    NEW COVID-19 RULES:

    Earlier in the day, it was also reported that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has said public gatherings should preferably be avoided and those that are held, their duration should not exceed for more than three hours.

    Interestingly, the NCOC made it clear that the guidelines were not for wedding events or sports ones as separate SOPs had been issued for the former and for the latter, will be released soon.

    The NCOC defined a public gathering as an event “where people are assembled on any given space; indoor or outdoor, for some purpose such as cultural events, religious gatherings, sports events, entertainment/cultural events, parties, political gatherings or other similar events”. 

    The following public gatherings will have to follow the newly issued guidelines: 

    • Entertainment/Cultural Gatherings

    • Public gatherings of Unions/Associations or any such group

    • Religious gatherings

    • Political gatherings

    • Family gatherings

    • Civil society group gatherings

    • Sports related gatherings (SOPs to be issued separately)

    • Marriage (being a frequent & obligatory activity) has been excluded from the list and a separate list of SOPs comprising strict restrictions has already been issued for it

    A day earlier, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) had warned that a second coronavirus wave could hit the country this winter. 

    The PMC warned authorities and the general public about the foreseeable second spike of coronavirus, saying that it is likely to start from educational institutions as it happened in the United States (US), India and Iran.

  • Imran’s national security aide terms Chinese persecution of Muslims a ‘non-issue’

    Imran’s national security aide terms Chinese persecution of Muslims a ‘non-issue’

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on National Security aide Dr Moeed Yusuf has termed the Chinese persecution of Uyghur Muslims a “non-issue”.

    In an interview with Indian media outlet The Wire, Yusuf on Tuesday revealed that India had expressed a “desire for conversation” but said that Pakistan’s agreement to talks would be conditional.

    While his statements and Pakistan’s pre-conditions for the resumption of “meaningful dialogue” with India to resolve all outstanding issues have made headlines, the details less reported are of what he had to say about Chinese persecution of Muslim minority Uyghurs in its Xinjiang region.

    Even though China is facing growing criticism over its crimes against the said minority group, huge numbers of whom are allegedly being held in internment camps, Pakistan has been accused of turning a blind eye towards the same.

    READ: In a first since Kashmir’s 2019 siege, Imran’s national security aide gets interviewed by Indian journalist

    On Tuesday, when asked why PM Imran Khan had never raised his voice for the Uyghur community in China, the SAPM said, “China and Pakistan are friends like no other. We have a completely transparent relationship; virtually everything under the sky, we discuss.

    “Uyghurs is a non-issue […] Our delegations have visited, we’ve seen and we are a 100 per cent satisfied that it’s a non-issue. The West can say what it wants. I am telling you as a responsible official: we know everything we need to know about the Uighurs and everything else in China as they do about us.”

    Thapar quoted an interview PM Imran gave to the Financial Times last year, where the premier had said: “Frankly, I don’t know much about” the Uyghur issue. Yusuf, however, continued to insist that the matter was a non-issue and said that he had briefed the premier about it.

    YUSUF UNDER FIRE:

    Among the many prominent persons who reacted to Yusuf’s remarks was Omar Waraich, who is the South Asia deputy director of global rights group Amnesty International.

    Here’s what he had to say:

    Several others also called Imran’s aide out.

  • Komal Aziz Khan hits back at troll for moral policing her

    Komal Aziz Khan hits back at troll for moral policing her

    Komal Aziz Khan, who is currently vacationing in Turkey, had an unpleasant run-in with trolls who are busy criticising her holiday wardrobe.

    Under a picture in which Komal is posing at Bodrum in a blue dress, a social media user commented: “Pakistan se baahir jaate hee inki haya saath chor dyti hai, ye baat samajh nahi aati kyu (I don’t understand why their shame leaves them when they step out of Pakistan).”

    In response, Komal commented: “Because we feel safer abroad in wearing what we want and travelling alone. We meet less judgmental and hateful people like you, who misuse religion as an excuse to judge and spread hatred.”

    Read more – Mehwish Hayat has the perfect response to a misogynist troll

    Komal’s colleagues and peers including Mikaal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Omar and journalist Maria Memon lauded the actor for her response and agreed with her comments.

    Do you agree with Komal?

  • Motorway rapist wasn’t arrested, he surrendered: father

    After the arrest of the prime suspect in the motorway rape incident, Abid Malhi, his father claimed that the suspect had turned himself in after having escaped the Punjab police for a month.

    The father released a video Tuesday stating the above after police arrested Malhi a day ago from Faisalabad.

    Reportedly, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Branch of the police, and other agencies had tipped off Punjab police about the whereabouts of the suspect before the arrest was made, but the father’s video alleges that Malhi had called the police himself and that the arrest was made from Lahore’s Manga Mandi area in front of a person named Khalid Butt.

    Furthmore, as the arrest has been made, the father demanded that the female members of their family be released. Some of Abid’s relatives had been apprehended by police shortly after the incident took place.

    “Abid had expressed his wish to come home. At 6:30 pm, he returned,” his father said. “Abid was sent to the Crime Investigation Agency’s (CIA) [office] in Khalid Butt’s car,” he claimed.

    On the contrary, Punjab Inspector-General Police (IGP) Inam Ghani said that the suspect had been arrested by police.

  • Couple receives tiger cub after ordering kitten online

    Couple receives tiger cub after ordering kitten online

    A couple in France was shocked when they discovered that they received a tiger cub instead of the kitten they had ordered online.

    According to details, the couple had paid 6,000 euros (Rs 1,157,793) to buy a ‘Savannah cat’. The French couple said they were doubtful about the animal after taking care of it for a week. When they called the cops, the investigation resulted in a very strange revelation that the animal was a Sumatran tiger cub.

    The Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) is a protected species of big cats and is forbidden for private ownership. The Savannah, on the other hand, can be kept as a pet. According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a tiger cannot even be transported without paperwork.

    After the case came to the light, the couple and nine other suspects were arrested for trafficking the protected species. Meanwhile, others involved in this incident are facing charges of being involved in organised crime.

    The cub is in good health and was handed over to the French Biodiversity Office.