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  • 20 year sentence for Saudi teacher over social media posts

    20 year sentence for Saudi teacher over social media posts

    Saudi Arabia has sentenced a teacher to 20 years in prison over critical social media posts, Human Rights Watch and the convicted man’s brother said Tuesday.

    Asaad al-Ghamdi, 47, was arrested in November 2022, in a nighttime raid on his home in the Saudi city of Jeddah, according to HRW.

    He was convicted on May 29 by Saudi Arabia’s Specialised Criminal Court, which was established in 2008 to try suspects accused of terrorism, the New York-based rights group said.

    He was sentenced “to 20 years in prison on charges related to his peaceful social media activity”, HRW added, calling it “yet another escalation in the country’s ever-worsening crackdown on freedom of expression”.

    Court documents reviewed by HRW showed that Ghamdi was charged with “challenging the religion and justice of the King and the Crown Prince” and “publishing false and malicious news and rumors”.

    According to HRW, the posts used as evidence against him criticised projects related to the Vision 2030 reform agenda.

    One post mourned Abdallah al-Hamed, a leading Saudi human rights figure who died in prison following his conviction on charges relating to his activism.

    Ghamdi faces the same charges as his brother Mohammad, a government critic who denounced alleged corruption and human rights abuses on social media.

    Mohammad was sentenced to death last year based on his social media activity.

    Their third brother, Saeed, an Islamic scholar and government critic living in exile in the United Kingdom, condemned the latest move by Saudi authorities.

    “The accusations are arbitrary and unjust because they are all based on tweets,” Saeed told AFP, commenting on the verdict against Asaad.

    “Maybe I am the target,” he added.

    Over the past two years, the Saudi judiciary has convicted and handed down lengthy prison terms to dozens of individuals for their social media posts, according to rights groups.

    They include Nourah al-Qahtani, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 2022, largely over social media posts criticising the government

    Salma al-Shehab, a member of the Sunni-ruled kingdom’s Shiite minority, was sentenced to 34 years behind bars in 2022 for aiding dissidents seeking to “disrupt public order” in the kingdom by relaying their tweets.

    Manahel al-Otaibi, a 29-year-old blogger and fitness instructor, was arrested in November 2022 for challenging Saudi male guardianship laws and requirements for women to wear the customary body-shrouding abaya robe.

    The Specialised Criminal Court sentenced her to 11 years in prison on January 9, but the sentence was only made public later in a Saudi submission to United Nations special rapporteurs enquiring about the case.

  • How many motorbikes were stolen in Karachi last month?

    Looting incidents continue in Karachi،, withh car and motorcycle snatching and theft.

    According to details, the Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) released the June statistics related to increasing crimes in Karachi, stating that most reported incidents were car and motorcycle snatching and theft.

    Due to the poor performance of the Anti-Vehicle Lifting System (AVLC), criminals target vehicles and motorcycles in Karachi.

    The CPLC report said that 24 vehicles were seized and 135 were stolen from different areas of Karachi in 30 hedays, in which only 80 cars could be recovered.

    A total of 564 motorcycles were taken from citizens at gunpoint and 2792 motorcycles were stolen in Karachi, out of which the police could recover only 196 motorcycles.

    Apart from this, 1433 mobile phones of citizens were taken away by the accused at gunpoint in different areas, and the police could recover only 18 mobile phones.

    In June, 6 cases of extortion were registered within Karachi, and 40 people were killed in different areas of Karachi in the same month.

  • Euro Cup semi-final: Spain reaches the finals after defeating France

    Euro Cup semi-final: Spain reaches the finals after defeating France

    In the first semi-final of the Euro Cup, Spain defeated France by two goals to one and qualified for the final. The semi-final was played in Munich, Germany.

    France took the lead against Spain by scoring in the eighth minute of the match. Randal Kolo Muani scored a goal for France.

    France’s lead against Spain didn’t last long. In the 21st minute of the match, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal of the Spanish team levelled the score at one.

    Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to score a goal in the history of the Euro Cup. The previous youngest scorer in the European Championship was the Swiss player Johan Vonlanthen, who scored against France at 18 in the 2004 Euro Cup.

    In the 21st minute, after the match was tied at one, Spain attacked again against France. In the 25th minute, Dani Olmo scored a wonderful goal to give the team the lead, which was maintained until the scheduled time of the match, and Spain qualified for the final.

    The second team to reach the final will be decided after the second semi-final between England and Holland.

  • PCB removes Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from selection committee

    PCB removes Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from selection committee

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has removed Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the national cricket team selection committee.

    According to Geo, after their retirement, Muhammad Yusuf and Asad Shafiq are members of the selection committee, and Bilal Afzal is also a member.

    Sources say the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lost faith in both for some time, but the PCB still has faith in Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq. Their involvement in the T20 World Cup squad selection was high, and these selectors favoured the same players who did not perform.

    Four former cricketers, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq, Asad Shafiq, and Muhammad Yusuf, were included in the national cricket team’s selection committee. Wahab Riaz was also the team’s senior manager.

    The PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had an important meeting with the coaches of the Pakistan Cricket Team, Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie and Assistant Coach Azhar Mehmood.

  • Gautam Gambhir appointed head coach of Indian cricket team

    Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian team.

    Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah announced the appointment, saying, “We welcome Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian cricket team. I am confident that Gautam Gambhir is an ideal person for Indian cricket. He has vast experience in cricket, and his vision for Team India is very clear.”

    He said that the Indian Cricket Board will fully support Gautam Gambhir in his new journey.

    Rahul Dravid’s coaching career with the Indian cricket team ended with the T20 World Cup win. He announced his resignation after the T20 World Cup.

  • SBP data reveals govt borrowed Rs8.3 trillion from banks in FY24

    SBP data reveals govt borrowed Rs8.3 trillion from banks in FY24

    The Pakistani government significantly increased its domestic borrowing in the fiscal year 2023-24, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). This period saw the government borrowing Rs8.3 trillion from scheduled banks, a substantial rise from Rs3.6 trillion in FY23 and Rs3.3 trillion in FY22.

    The Federal Government accounted for the bulk of this borrowing, taking Rs8.56 trillion, while the Provincial Government retired Rs261.27 billion. The two primary sources of budgetary support financing are the SBP and scheduled banks.

    In FY24, the government repaid a net amount of Rs694.85 billion to the central bank, bringing the net borrowing figure to Rs7.49 trillion. Government sector borrowings are categorized into three main areas: budgetary support, commodity operations, and others.

    For FY24, the net borrowing for budgetary support stood at Rs7.61 trillion. In contrast, there was a net retirement of Rs107.59 billion for commodity operations and Rs6.18 billion for other categories.

    This notable increase in domestic debt highlights the government’s reliance on internal sources to manage its fiscal requirements amid challenging economic conditions.

  • Singapore’s hell theme park dead serious about afterlife

    Singapore’s hell theme park dead serious about afterlife

    Gory grottos with demons impaling sinners on stakes and people drowning in a pool of blood are not part of your average theme park experience.

    But at Hell’s Museum in Singapore, the main attraction at the Haw Par Villa Park, visitors are welcomed to a kitschy, air-conditioned hell on Earth.

    Inside the sprawling park complex, which features over 1,000 statues and dioramas showcasing Asian culture, faiths, and philosophy, Hell’s Museum exhibits various religious views on the afterlife.

    Visitors are encouraged to learn about the 10 Courts of Hell through intense depictions of punishments for earthly sins.

    At court number two, for instance, corruption gets you frozen in ice, while rapists at court Seven are thrown in boiling oil.

    The 10 Courts of Hell are “the result of the mixing of four different religions and philosophies: Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Confucianism”, said Eisen Teo, the chief curator of Hell’s Museum in the multicultural city-state.

    “The sculptures and dioramas are a visual dissection of many classics, stories and moral values that many Singaporeans have and are familiar with,” Teo said.

    Visitor Gin Goldberg told AFP she wasn’t so surprised to learn that many religions had differing opinions on the afterlife.

    “One person’s heaven would be another person’s hell,” the American said.

    Party in hell

    The odd park stands apart from gleaming Singapore’s mainstream tourist attractions such as the luxury shops of Marina Bay Sands or the towering “supertrees” of Gardens by the Bay.

    Haw Par Villa was built in 1937 by entrepreneur Aw Boon Haw, known for co-developing Asia’s much-loved Tiger Balm pain relief rub.

    While fondly remembered by older generations, the park has had trouble attracting the Gen Z crowd and younger millenials, according to Journeys, the firm that manages the park.

    To broaden appeal, it has held several rave parties and other private events — but not too near to religious exhibits.

    “After they came here (for the parties) they fell in love with the quirky, eccentric park, with these cool sculptures. Fell in love with them and they keep doing repeat visits,” said Savita Kashyap, Journeys’ executive director.

    While Haw Par Villa isn’t just about the afterlife, and raves — it also displays scenes from Chinese folklore such as “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” — its hellish attraction remains the top draw.

    But not for all.

    While leaving, one Filipina visitor told AFP that she won’t be returning anytime soon.

    “It’s very scary,” she said.

  • Major relief announced for power consumers using less than 200 units

    Major relief announced for power consumers using less than 200 units

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled a substantial relief package worth Rs50 billion aimed at domestic electricity consumers.

    This initiative, set to benefit those using up to 200 units per month, will be in effect for the months of July, August, and September.

    The announcement was made during a ceremony on energy sector reforms held in Islamabad this afternoon. According to the Information Ministry, the relief package is designed to assist 25 million domestic consumers, which constitutes 94 per cent of the total domestic user base.

    Under the terms of the package, the cost of electricity per unit will range between Rs4 and Rs7. This subsidy will also extend to K-Electric consumers. The PM noted that the funding for this initiative will come from the development fund.

    “This decision has been taken to provide relief to the common man in the wake of rising electricity prices,” PM Shehbaz stated

    He acknowledged that the summer months are particularly challenging due to higher electricity consumption. However, he expressed optimism that from October onwards, as the weather cools, electricity usage will naturally decrease.

    PM Shehbaz also reiterated his commitment to addressing the country’s economic challenges, emphasising that tackling corruption is essential for economic recovery. He assured the public that the coalition government is united in its efforts to overcome these difficulties.

  • Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has the most emotional wish for her father

    Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has the most emotional wish for her father

    Pakistani actor Saheefa Jabbar Khattak has always been open about her mental health struggles. In a recent Instagram post, she talked more about her ongoing battles and the emotional toll it has taken on her and her family, especially her father.

    In her latest post, Khattak said, “No father deserves to see his daughter in pain. I wish for health for myself so that my father can stop worrying about me. I don’t want this hollowness to go away because I can’t handle it; now I want it to go away because my father can’t take it. Allah, you are both the Most Merciful and the Most Compassionate. Either make me so strong that I can bear this pain myself, or take it away forever. You know what’s best for me and what tests I should go through. I leave it in Your hands. Just make it easier for my family.”

    This heartfelt message follows other posts where Khattak has shared her mental health journey, talking about the challenges and the stigma. Earlier, she said, “I don’t know about fulfillment anymore, but words matter. The right words, at the right time. I’m feeling this hollowness in my heart, exhausted by the pain and panic returning, the numbness, the fear.” She added, “I’m ashamed of this disease I have, why? Because it makes me feel shallow knowing my privileges and support system. It’s relentless, and I find myself asking Khawaja Saab, ‘Why am I like this?’ He always says the right thing: ‘You are the best the way you are. Some lows in life do not define you as a person.’”

    Khattak has been honest about her use of prescribed antidepressants and the challenges of managing her mental health. “Being on prescribed antidepressants has given me mixed feelings. Initially, I felt numb—not happy or sad, just numb to every feeling, thought, and emotion. Slowly, I decided to lower the dosage to see if I have healed, but I felt an extreme shift. Previously the numbness I mentioned started to make me feel good. Now, I feel pain, fear, and anxiety coming back. I am a little scared too. But it’s alright; I’ll get through this one too.”

  • Over 80,000 Bohras attend community leader’s sermons

    Over 80,000 Bohras attend community leader’s sermons

    Following an invitation extended by the government and the local Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the spiritual leader of the Bohra community, arrived in Karachi on July 4 to host ‘Ashara Mubaraka’ congregations this year.

    Over 80,000 Dawoodi Bohras from Pakistan and around the world are expected to attend the events. He delivered the first sermon of “Ashara Mubaraka” in Taheri Masjid, Saddar, on July 8.

    A Dawn report states that Syedna addressed a majlis of “over 80,000 attendees” with Bohra members from diverse areas and professions gathered in Karachi for a single purpose — the remembrance and commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husain.

    Syedna elaborated upon a number of hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which highlight the role of conviction and self-growth in the sermon.

    For instance, he quoted the Prophet’s statement regarding the honeybee which “consumes only that which is pure, and gives back only that which is pure”.

    Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, 77, is currently serving as the 53rd al-Dai al-Mutlaq and present leader of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community. He is currently as a Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.

    Bohra community trace themselves back to Fatimis who held the caliphate from 10th to 12th century.