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  • Australia sets 148 runs target for Pakistan in second T20

    Australia sets 148 runs target for Pakistan in second T20

    Australia has set a target of 148 runs for Pakistan in the second T20 match being played in Sydney.

    Australia captain Josh Inglis won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia opened the innings with Matthew Short and Jack Fraser-McGurk.

    Pakistan suffered costly losses in the first two overs of the innings, but Haris Rauf dismissed first Jack Fraser and then Kangaroos captain Josh Inglis for a total of 52. Abbas Afridi dismissed Matthew Short for an individual score of 32. Aaron Hardy fell victim to Abbas Afridi for 28.

    In the stipulated 20 overs, the Australian team scored 147 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi took four wickets for Pakistan, while Safyan Muqim took three wickets.

    There was no change in the Australian team for the second T20 match, while one change was made in the Pakistani team, and Safyan Muqim was included in the team in place of Hasibullah.

    The Pakistani team includes captain Muhammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah, and Haris Rauf. In addition, Naseem Shah and Sufyan Muqim are also among the 11 players.

    It should be remembered that Australia defeated Pakistan by 31 runs in the rain-affected first T20 match. Australia has a one-nil lead in the three-match T20 series.

  • Icecream giant Ben and Jerry’s sues Unilever for silencing pro-Palestine stance

    Icecream giant Ben and Jerry’s sues Unilever for silencing pro-Palestine stance

    Internationally renowned ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s has filed a lawsuit against their parent company, Unilever, for silencing its attempts to show support for Palestinians suffering in Gaza, alleging that Unilever threatened to dismantle its board and sue its members over the issue.


    Reuters has reported that the latest case is another “sign of the long-simmering tensions between Ben & Jerry’s and consumer products maker Unilever.”


    The clash started between the ice cream brand and Unilever 2021 when the former said it would stop selling its products in Israeli regions and occupied West Bank because it doesn’t align with its values. 


    This led some investors to divest from Unilever shares.


    Subsequently, the ice cream-making brand sued Unilever for selling its business in Israel to its licensee there, which in turn allowed marketing in the West Bank and Israel to continue.


    The latest legal action also claimed that Unilever has breached the terms of a confidential settlement agreed two years ago in 2022.


    The ice cream brand argued in the lawsuit that as part of the agreement, Unilever is required to “respect and acknowledge the Ben & Jerry’s independent board’s primary responsibility over Ben & Jerry’s social mission.” 


    It further claimed that “Ben & Jerry’s has on four occasions attempted to publicly speak out in support of peace and human rights.”


    It outrightly blamed that “Unilever has silenced each of these efforts.”


    Ben & Jerry’s firstly tried to call for a ceasefire, secondly attempted to express support for the safe passage of Palestinian refugees to Britain, thirdly back students protesting at US colleges against civilian deaths in Gaza, and last but not least, advocate for a halt in US military aid to Israel, but has been blocked by Unilever for this.


    The lawsuit acknowledged that the independent board separately spoke out on some of the matters, but the company was largely silent.


    Ben & Jerry’s categorically stated that Peter ter Kulve, Unilever’s head of ice cream, said he was more concerned about the “continued perception of anti-Semitism” regarding the ice cream brand voicing its opinions on Palestinian refugees.


    Additionally the legal action is being taken because Unilever was also required under the confidential 2022 agreement to make a total of $5 million in payments to Ben & Jerry’s for the brand to make donations to human rights groups of its choosing but Unilever objected to the groups selected by Ben and Jerry’s by saying that they are “too critical of the Israeli government.”


    Notably, the ice cream makers selected the left-leaning, pro-Palestinian Jewish Voice for Peace and the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, among others.


    In March, earlier this year, Unilever also decided to spin off its ice cream business, which includes Ben & Jerry’s, to simplify its holdings by the end of 2025.


    In an emailed statement to Reuters, Unilever has said, “Our heart goes out to all victims of the tragic events in the Middle East. We reject the claims made by the B&J social mission board, and we will defend our case very strongly.”


    Additionally, the parent company declined to comment on the matter.


    Ben & Jerry’s has positioned itself as a very socially conscious brand since its establishment. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield founded the company in a renovated gas station in 1978. It continued working according to its mission until after Unilever acquired it in 2000.

  • Young Stunner makes history as first Pakistani duo to perform at a Billboard event

    Young Stunner makes history as first Pakistani duo to perform at a Billboard event

    In a thrilling development for the Pakistan music industry, Young Stunner, a duo featuring Talha Anjum and Talha Yonus, has made history by becoming the first Pakistani artist to perform at the prestigious Billboard event in Melbourne, Australia.

    The two artists are rising stars in the Urdu hip-hop scene, and this monumental achievement marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s growing influence on the global music stage. 

    Billboard is an American music magazine widely recognized as a global authority on music rankings, trends, and industry news. 

    Known for its iconic charts, including the Billboard Top 100 songs, the platform has been a driving force in the music world for over a century.   

    Artists worldwide aspire to see their songs top these rankings, which are based on a combination of factors like chart performance, streaming numbers, and sales.

    Young Stunner’s performance in Melbourne will, therefore, be not only a personal triumph but also a significant milestone for the entire Pakistani music industry. 

    Known for their unique style and blend of Urdu hip-hop, Stunner’s music is now gaining global recognition.

    Though the country’s music scene has not yet reached the same level of global recognition as some other countries, the rise of artists like Young Stunner is changing that. 

    Earlier, Young Stunners’ upcoming performances was in Delhi on December 25, Bengaluru on December 21, and Mumbai on December 13. Skill Box is in charge of organizing the tour and has started accepting pre-registrations for concert tickets, giving priority to those who purchase them early.

    However, the rappers have not announced the tour on their social media and have only updated it with updates about their tours in Australia and Canada. 

    And some Indian social media users are criticizing the event by reposting previous tweets from Talha Anjum’s accounts, which allegedly made fun of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan, attacked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and called for the independence of Kashmir from Indian rule.
     
     In an Instagram post, Yunus not only revealed the album cover but also shared the tracklist, featuring exciting collaborations. 

    Among the ten tracks, one standout is his reunion with Young Stunners partner Talha Anjum on the track ‘Don’t Care.’ He also collaborates with Shareh and JJ47 on tracks ‘Bol’ and ‘Take Your Time,’ promising a mix of sounds and styles.

    Yunus’s latest solo comes after previous collaborations, including his recent work with singer Asim Azhar in the album ‘Bematlab’. Yunus and Azhar were featured on the track ‘Karma. ‘ 

    The singer took to Instagram to show appreciation for Yunus’s new album.


    In 2023, the Karachi-based duo marked a milestone by going on to perform at the same festival as famous American rapper Travis Scott.

    “This is some next-level achievement for us. We desi boys are coming back on March 11, 2023. Show your maximum love, blessings, and support to us by getting tickets!” wrote the ‘Maan Meri Jaan’ rapper, expressing happiness for South Asian artists gaining global recognition.

  • Army has ruled out possiblity of deal with Imran Khan: report

    Army has ruled out possiblity of deal with Imran Khan: report

    Amid claims of yet another major political development, this time in favour of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the military has dismissed the possibility of negotiating with incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, a foreign media outlet has claimed.

    As per the details, London-based The Guardian has quoted senior military sources as ruling out the possibility of striking a deal or negotiating with Khan days after the former prime minister expressed willingness to engage in talks with the military leadership from his jail cell at Rawalpindi’s Adiala.

    According to reports, the British newspaper had sent a questionnaire to Imran via his legal team, and in his responses, the incarcerated PTI founder confirmed that he had not had any direct interaction with the military since after he was arrested and locked up in August 2023.

    Khan, however, said he would not rule out striking a deal with the establishment. It merits a mention here that the incarcerated former premier had earlier launched a tirade against the establishment, accusing the country’s military leadership of ousting his government.

    The report quoted senior military leadership as saying that Khan, for the past few months, had been “applying pressure” for discussions with the military and had even offered to hold unconditional talks while seeking a deal for his release.

    However, the military leadership is resolute in refusing to enter into any negotiations with him, the report said.

    “Khan has to face the court cases against him, and can’t expect any deals from the military. Khan wants everyone to follow the rule of law, but he does not want this rule of law for himself,” it quoted military sources as saying.

    “With regards to doing a deal with the military, any engagement would be based on principles and in the interest of the people, not personal gain or compromises that undermine Pakistan’s democratic values,” Khan reportedly told the publication.

    While the PTI founder’s rhetoric towards the current military establishment has taken a more conciliatory tone in recent weeks, his jail time continues to drag on as he faces over a hundred cases that his legal team claims to be “baseless”.

    Meanwhile, the government is yet to confirm if Khan could be facing a military trial for his alleged involvement in attacks on military instalments on May 9, 2023. The report quoted Khan as saying that a civilian could not be tried in a military court, let alone a former premier.

    “It’s ludicrous. The only reason to try a civilian in military court is because no other court of justice would convict me. The very idea of it is alarming,” Khan reportedly told the publication.

  • ‘People with limited knowledge taking decisions’; Sana Mir slams women team’s central contract

    ‘People with limited knowledge taking decisions’; Sana Mir slams women team’s central contract

    Pakistan’s former women’s cricketer Sana Mir has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) central contract for women’s cricket teams. Interestingly, Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz have been excluded from the central contract.

    Sana wrote on X (previously Twitter), “How can Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz not find a place in the contracts when a 50 Over qualifier is coming up in Feb and potential 50 over World Cup in Oct next year? Extremely disappointed but not surprised at all. The decisions are being taken by people with limited knowledge of the women’s game.”

    Central contracts of the Pakistan women cricketers show captain Fatima Sana and Muniba Ali promoted to A Category. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal has been promoted to Category B based on recent excellent performances.

    PCB has announced central contracts for 16 women cricketers for the international season after the annual performance review, which will be effective from July 1, 2024.

    Last year, 20 cricketers were given central contracts for two years, with the clause that their performance would be reviewed after the 2023-24 season.

    This central contract includes three new entries: Gul Feroza, Ramin Shamim and Tasmia Rabab. Tasmia has received a central contract for the first time, which is an important milestone in her career. Gul Feroza has been able to get a central contract again after 2018, and Ramin Shamim after 2022-23.

    The central contracts of Nida Dar, Aliya Riaz, Anushay Nasir, Iman Fatima, Shawal Zulfiqar and Sidra Nawaz have not been renewed. However, all these players will remain available for selection.

    The PCB has shifted its focus to developing the next generation of cricketers, keeping in mind the ICC Women’s Future Tours program.

  • State-run PTV uses VPN to post about ‘un-Islamic’ VPNs on X

    State-run PTV uses VPN to post about ‘un-Islamic’ VPNs on X

    With the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) terming the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) “un-Islamic”, state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) has reported all about it on X, formerly Twitter, which remains inaccessible in the country without VPN.

    As per the details, the CII on Friday declared the use of VPNs as “un-Islamic”, emphasising the need to block access to immoral or blasphemous content on the internet.

    CII Chairman Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi, in a statement, said the federal government had the prerogative to curb evil and prevent access to it, declaring that adopting measures to prevent or restrict access to immoral and offensive content was in accordance with the Shariah.

    The development came hours after the Ministry of Interior (MoI) penned a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to block illegal VPNs, highlighting increasing risks to national security and public morality.

    Amid criticism against the ruling by netizens and religious scholars, including Maulana Tariq Jameel, state-run PTV also reported on the CII decision.

    It went on to post about the development on X, the micro-blogging website that remains inaccessible to Pakistanis without a VPN since before the February 8 general elections due to compliance issues. 

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    “[The] Council of Islamic Ideology has declared the use of VPN in violation of Shariah,” PTV said in a post that went viral soon after.

    Earlier, CII chief Dr Naeemi had also said that VPNs, while technically a tool for security and privacy, were often misused to access forbidden content. 

    These included obscene websites, platforms spreading misinformation, or those fostering anarchy within society, he said, adding that VPNs were also used for online theft and fraud, making it difficult to trace cybercriminals.

    The CII chief said that under Islamic principles, the permissibility of any act depended on its intent and method of use. He said using VPNs for unlawful purposes directly violated both Islamic and societal laws. Furthermore, he added, Muslims were obligated to respect state laws, provided they did not contradict Islamic principles.

    He warned that bypassing restrictions on blocked websites not only violated national laws but also went against Islamic ethical principles.

    Meanwhile, the MoI stated in its letter that VPNs were “increasingly being exploited by terrorists” to facilitate violent activities and financial transactions in Pakistan. “Off late, an alarming fact has been identified, wherein VPNs are used by terrorists to obscure and conceal their communications,” it said in a statement.

    Additionally, the ministry added, unregulated VPNs were also being used for discreetly accessing pornographic and blasphemous content.

  • Rohit Sharma has become a father again

    Rohit Sharma has become a father again

    Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma and his wife Ritika Sajdeh have welcomed their first son on the intervening night of Friday, November 15 and 16.

    Following his son’s birth, Sharma could not leave for Australia with the Indian team for a Test series.

    This is the second child born to captain Rohit and Ritika. The couple are parents to six-year-old daughter Sameera.

  • THAT shirt scene in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum fans can’t get over

    THAT shirt scene in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum fans can’t get over

    Fahad Mustafa’s return to television after 10 years with Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has been a massive hit. The serial has enthralled audiences across the globe, creating a fanatic fan base. 

    One moment that fans can’t stop talking about is the iconic “shirt scene”. 

    Fahad portrayed Mustafa, a character with a funky and laid back fashion sense. A unique twist in the story delighted viewers when his on screen wife, Sharjeena, began borrowing his oversized shirts to wear at home.

     During a recent appearance on Something Haute hosted by Hassan Choudhry, Fahad Mustafa revealed the story behind the iconic shirt scene from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

    The host asked, “The idea of creating highly realistic characters and showing Hania and you switching outfits, whose idea was that?”

    Fahad replied, “You know, intimacy has its own heights, we’re quite restricted when it comes to television, and many scenes that we showcased were innocent and very cute. There wasn’t a cringe worthy moment or anything that would make you feel uncomfortable.” 

    “We thought, what could be the height of romance? If you’re truly in love with someone, what would you do, but then again, how could we show that? We can’t dance or do much else here. I think the maximum we could do was hold hands, and that’s about it,” he observed.

    The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actor shared how the beloved shirt scene came to life. 

    “There’s a scene where she comes out of the bathroom, and I ask her, ‘What are you doing?’ We decided to just play with it. What I liked most was how the audience connected. If you show them things that happen to them or things that are normal, that’s where the romance lies. Romance isn’t about descending from helicopter with flowing hair,” Fahad Mustafa laughingly said.

    In the same interview, he also talked about his favorite scene from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.

    Talking about his favorite scene from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, Fahad Mustafa said, “The scene between Sharjeena and Mustafa that I like the most is the last scene, I really love that scene, and no one could have made that last scene, no one could have thought of it, no one could have created it.”

     The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actor didn’t hold back when talking about the hurdles he faced as a producer and actor. He expressed frustration about how money often overshadows the creative process.

    “I was a bit angry during the production of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. When I talked to anyone, all they were focused on was how much money they will make. I know that I would earn a lot of money from this drama, a lot of money, but it’s not about money. In any project, you have to be fully involved. If it doesn’t make any difference, there’s no benefit,” Fahad said

  • 10 newborns killed, 16 critical in India hospital fire

    10 newborns killed, 16 critical in India hospital fire

    A fire at the neonatal unit of an Indian hospital killed 10 newborns, authorities said on Saturday, with another 16 clinging to life after a blaze blamed on a faulty oxygen machine.

    Building fires are common in India due to shoddy construction and a routine disregard for safety regulations.

    Friday night’s fire broke out at about 10:30pm (1700 GMT) Friday at the Maharani Lakshmibai Medical College in Jhansi, around 450 kilometres (280 miles) south of the capital New Delhi.

    Footage from the scene showed charred beds and walls inside the ward as a crowd of anguished families waited outside.

    Babies rescued from the fire, all only days old, were laid side by side on a bed elsewhere in the hospital as hospital staff hooked up their arms to intravenous drips.

    “Ten infants have sadly died,” Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak told reporters.

    “Seven bodies have been identified. Three bodies haven’t been identified as yet.”

    Another 16 infants were in critical condition after the blaze, news outlet Times Now reported.

    Pathak said a safety audit of the hospital was carried out in February followed by a fire drill three months later.

    “The cause of the fire will be probed,” he added. “If any lapses are found, strict action will be taken against those responsible and no one will be spared.”

    District official Avinash Kumar said the fire had been caused by an electrical short circuit in the unit.

    “We are providing medical care to the critically injured,” he was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times newspaper.

    Local media reports quoted other officials who said the fire started in a piece of machinery used to enrich the level of oxygen in the atmosphere.

    The high concentration of the combustible gas in the unit helped the fire spread quickly and suddenly, they said.

    Broadcaster NDTV reported that 54 infants in total were in the neonatal intensive care unit when the fire broke out.

    ‘War footing’

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the deaths “heart-wrenching” in a post on social media platform X.

    “My deepest condolences to those who have lost their innocent children in this. I pray to God to give them the strength to bear this immense loss,” he wrote.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced compensation of 500,000 rupees ($5,900) to bereaved families.

    “The district administration and concerned officials have been instructed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing,” Adityanath wrote on X.

    “I pray to Lord Shri Ram to provide salvation to the departed souls and speedy recovery to the injured.”

    Friday’s fire comes six months after a similar blaze at a children’s hospital in New Delhi that killed six newborns.

  • Four-year-old crushed under metro bus in Rawalpindi

    Four-year-old crushed under metro bus in Rawalpindi

    A metro bus crushed a four-year-old child as he was getting off with his mother at Liaquat Bagh metro station in Rawalpindi.


    Various footage of the incident has emerged online. In one of them, it can be seen that the body was covered with a sheet, surrounded by people and a bus parked on the side.

     


    Journalist Shabbir Dar posted a video made from inside the bus where the parents of the child were seen shouting and crying in panic while other passengers were trying to console them.


    Geo News reported that the four-year-old child fell on the track while getting off the metro bus. He was accompanied by his mother and was crushed under the tyre of the metro bus. The child died on the spot.


    The police said that the child who died in the incident at Liaquat Bagh metro bus station was identified as Rehan, a resident of the Amrapura area of Rawalpindi.


    The police stated that the child was getting off the bus and holding his mother’s finger when the bus stopped at Liaquat Bagh station, and he instantly fell on the metro track.
     
    However, at the same time, the bus driver started the bus, and as a result, the child was crushed to death by the big bus tyre.


    The driver of the metro bus, as well as the other officials of the metro bus administration, fled the premises immediately after the incident, according to the police.


    The incident happened in the jurisdiction of Waris Khan police station of Rawalpindi. A police team reached the accident site and started an investigation.

    Previously, in 2017, a 19-year-old student was crushed to death after the bus rammed into a near side pole. Following her death, massive protests broke out in the area by fellow students.