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  • First time in history: Afghanistan qualifies for the semi-finals of T20 World Cup

    First time in history: Afghanistan qualifies for the semi-finals of T20 World Cup

    Afghanistan has defeated Bangladesh by 8 runs under Duckworth Lewis Stern (DLS) method to qualify for for the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

    Afghanistan won the toss and decided to bat first against Bangladesh.

    Afghanistan, batting first, scored 115 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

    First inning:

    Captain Rashid Khan scored 19 runs, Ibrahim Zardan scored 18 runs and Azmatullah Umarzai scored 10 runs.

    For Bangladesh, Rashad Hussain took 3 wickets, Mustafizur Rahman and Tasin Ahmed took one wicket each.

    Second inning:

    Bangladesh could socre 105 runs in 17.5 overs.

    For Bangladesh, Towhid Hirdoy scored 14, Somya Sarkar 10 while Liton Das scored 54 runs.

    Rashid Khan and Naveen ul Haq took four wickets for Afghanistan.

    This is first time that Afghanistan has qualified for the semi-finals of T20 World Cup.

  • T20 World Cup: India defeats Australia by 24 runs

    T20 World Cup: India defeats Australia by 24 runs

    India has defeated Australia by 24 runs in the second last match of group stage of ICC T20 World Cup. They also qualified for the Semi-finals of the ongoing event.

    Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and invited India to bat first.

    India’s innings

    India didn’t get off to a good start against Australia, veteran batsman Virat Kohli was dismissed for a wicket.

    After the fall of one wicket, the captain Rohit Sharma took the brunt of the Australian bowlers and used charming strokes from all sides of the field. He played a smoky innings of 92 runs off 41 balls which included 8 sixes and 7 fours.

    Apart from this, Rishabh Pant 15, Surya Kumar Yadav 31 and Shiv Dubey got out by scoring 28 runs while Hardik Pandya scored 27 runs and Jadeja remained not out by scoring 9 runs.

    India scored 205 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

    For Australia, Marcus Stoins and Mitchell Starc took 2 wickets each.

    Australia’s inning:

    Chasing India’s 205, Australia could only score 181 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in alloted overs.

    Travis Head sored 76, Mitchel Marsh 37, Glen Maxwell 20, and Tim David scored 15 runs for Australia.

    Arshdeep Sigh took three while Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets for India.

  • 24 karat gold price increases by Rs500 to Rs242,000 per tola in local market

    24 karat gold price increases by Rs500 to Rs242,000 per tola in local market

    The price of gold surged in the local market on Monday, with the rate for per tola (11.66 grammes) of 24 karat gold increasing by Rs500 to reach Rs242,000, as reported by the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association. This marks a rise from its previous closing price of Rs241,500.

    Similarly, the price of 10 grammes of 24 karat gold rose by Rs429 to Rs207,476 from Rs207,047. Meanwhile, 10 grammes of 22 karat gold also saw an uptick, climbing to Rs190,186 from Rs189,793.

    According to the association, the prices of per tola and 10 grammes of silver remained unchanged at Rs2,850 and Rs2,443.41 respectively.

    Internationally, the price of gold saw a modest increase of $8 to $2,328 per ounce from $2,320, reflecting a positive trend in global markets.

    Over the weekend, gold prices in Pakistan had dipped, aligning with a downturn in the international market. The All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association reported that on Saturday, the price per tola had decreased to Rs241,500, following a single-day decline of Rs1,400.

    Earlier this year in April, gold prices had reached an all-time high of Rs252,200 per tola in the local market, underscoring the volatility influenced by global market dynamics.

    The fluctuations in gold prices are predominantly driven by shifts in the international market, which are influenced by changes in global demand and supply for the precious metal.

  • Pakistan’s IT exports poised to surpass $3 billion this year

    Pakistan’s IT exports poised to surpass $3 billion this year

    Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, expressed optimism on Monday that Pakistan’s IT exports will exceed the $3 billion mark this year.

    Addressing the National Assembly, she outlined ambitious targets, projecting IT exports to reach $25 billion within the next five years, aligning with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s vision.

    Highlighting the strategic importance of the IT sector during Prime Minister Shehbaz’s international engagements, Khawaja noted significant developments. She announced a pivotal agreement with Huawei of China to transform Islamabad into a smart city, with plans to expand the Safe City project nationwide.

    Under this initiative, 300,000 youths are set to undergo specialised training starting next month, in collaboration with global tech giants such as Google and Microsoft, aiming to certify 1.5 million IT professionals over the next five years.

    Khawaja also underscored the expansion of the DigiSkills program and plans to establish a Centre for Excellence for Gaming, aimed at fostering the local gaming industry and creating a conducive startup environment.

    On the legislative front, she highlighted key initiatives including Pakistan’s first Cyber Emergency Policy, draft National Artificial Intelligence policy, and the Personal Data Protection Bill. Additionally, efforts are underway towards a National Semiconductor policy, underscoring Pakistan’s commitment to digital transformation.

    The Minister further elaborated on Pakistan’s National Digitisation plan, encompassing Digital Economy, Governance, and Society. Recently, a high-level delegation from Google met with Khawaja to discuss enhancing technology’s role in education, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the digital economy.

    The delegation included Andrew Ure, Kyle Gardener, and Farhan Qureshi, reaffirming Google’s commitment to advancing Pakistan’s digital landscape.

  • Sajal Aly, Sheikh Mubashir steal the show in latest episode of ‘Zard Patton Ka Bunn’

    Sajal Aly, Sheikh Mubashir steal the show in latest episode of ‘Zard Patton Ka Bunn’

     

    Zard Patton Ka Bunn is a new drama that’s getting a lot of attention. It’s about significant issues like girls not getting educated, and needing more medical help in rural areas of Pakistan. These are issues that many people deal with and the drama is portraying reality in a beautiful way.

     
    The drama has a talented cast, including Sajal Aly, Hamza Sohail, Ali Tahir, Samiya Mumtaz, and Rehan Sheikh.

     

    They’re doing a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. Sajal Aly and Sheikh Mubashir Mehmood are outstanding as Meenu and Roshan.

    Episode 07 was particularly amazing. The performances were excellent, and the story was engaging. Hamza Sohail and Rehan Sheikh also stand out as great performers.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The drama takes a political turn with the entry of Doctor Nofil, played by Kaesar Kallan, making the story even more captivating. The upcoming episodes promise to be exciting.
    The drama, written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Saif Hassan, airs every Sunday at 8:00 PM on HUM TV and is produced by Kashf Foundation and Momina Duraid Productions.

  • Two American Air Force members to quit as US continues to back Israel

    Two American Air Force members to quit as US continues to back Israel

    Two officers currently serving in the United States Air Force are seeking to quit their military roles and declare themselves conscientious objectors in the light of their opposition to Washington’s backing of the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

    The two people in question are Larry Hebert and Juan Bettancourt who are critical of the US-backed genocide in Gaza that has killed over 37,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.

    They have formally requested to be recognized as conscientious objectors as per established military procedures — a status granted to individuals who object to engaging in military activities on moral or ethical grounds.

    Al Jazeera spoke to Hebert who is presently serving as a senior airman in the US Air Force. He pointed out that conscientious objection in the US military has historically been seen during protests against the Vietnam and Iraq wars.

    He intends to raise awareness that active-duty soldiers have the option to choose conscientious objection.

    In an earlier interview with NBC News, Hebert revealed the death of six-year-old Hind Rajab in February was a pivotal moment influencing his decision.

  • From Tharparkar to Times Square: Mai Dhai’s journey celebrated on global stage

    From Tharparkar to Times Square: Mai Dhai’s journey celebrated on global stage

    Folk singer Mai Dhai, a renowned figure from the deserts of Tharparkar, has reached a new milestone by being featured on the iconic Times Square billboard in New York City.
    Times Square is well-known for its famous digital billboards and commercials, which include pictures of notable celebrities and a variety of well-known brands. It is acknowledged as one of the world’s busiest travel destinations. 
     
    Mai Dhai belongs to the Manganhar Muslim community, known for its rich musical heritage in Pakistan’s Tharparkar district and India’s Rajasthan state.
     
    Since her breakthrough appearance at the 2013 Lahooti Live Sessions, her unique look and soulful voice have captured the attention of audiences worldwide. With her appearances at the prestigious SXSW Music Festival in 2015 and the City University Graduate Centre in New York, Mai Dhai’s global profile increased even further.
     
    Dhai unexpectedly rose to fame in Pakistan in 2016 after making her Coke Studio season 8 debut and receiving critical acclaim for ‘Aankhaṛli Phaṛookai’ and ‘Kadi Ao Ni,’ which featured Karam Abbas Khan and Atif Aslam.
     
    The official account of Spotify Pakistan posted a picture of Mai Dhai with the captioned, #Koyal jaisi awaaz pohanchi seedha Times Square
    Listen to @MaiDhai_Official on the #EQUALPakistan playlist
      Another singer from Pakistan, Talal Qureshi, was featured on a Spotify billboard at Times Square in October 2023. Spotify promoted his album ‘Turbo’, showcasing his blend of contemporary techno sounds and traditional Pakistani music.

  • 13 hospitalized after Korean Air plane faces defect in pressurization system

    13 hospitalized after Korean Air plane faces defect in pressurization system

    A Korean Air flight bound for Taiwan faced a malfunction with the pressurization system, leading to the hospitalization of 13 out of 125 passengers.

    The plane descended from the height of 35,000 feet to 9,000 feet within the span of ten minutes due to sudden uncontrollable decompression just 50 minutes into the flight.

    The pressurization system is responsible for regulating the internal pressure of an aircraft.

    The plane was returned to the Incheon International Airport, where it departed from.

    15 passengers suffered from eardrum pain and hyperventilation during the descent. Among them, 13 were taken to a hospital, reported Yohap News Agency.

  • A woman’s smoking habits are her own business, stresses Sadaf Kanwal

    A woman’s smoking habits are her own business, stresses Sadaf Kanwal

    Famous actor Sadaf Kanwal stirred attention with her frank talk on an Eid special interview with ‘IQE’. Known for her directness and strong opinions, Sadaf spoke openly about her industry’s reputation, thoughts on Pakistani cinema, and unwavering support for personal freedom, notably concerning smoking.

    Addressing accusations of insincerity, Sadaf clarified, “I am genuine in every way. I am true to myself. If you approach me, I will respond respectfully. Some say I’m fake, but that’s not accurate.”

    She continued, “If you show me love, I will show it back. There are people in the industry I don’t interact with or don’t get along with. They call me fake in return, and I accept that. Everyone has moments where they’re not entirely genuine, including myself.”

    The standout moment in the interview was Sadaf’s passionate remarks on personal freedom and respect, especially regarding smoking. Reflecting on her journey, she shared, “I used to smoke, but I’ve quit now. However, it’s not right to judge others.”

    “Whether a woman smokes or not is her own business. She has the right to make her own choices. She’s not your sister or daughter. It’s her life. Just because you can see someone’s Instagram, doesn’t mean you should criticize them. Stop doing that,” she asserted firmly.

    Sadaf also shared her views on the current state of Pakistani cinema, praising directors Nadeem Baig and Nabeel Qureshi for their entertaining films. “Every Eid, I eagerly await movies from two directors: Nadeem Baig and Nabeel Qureshi. Their films are lively and enjoyable.”

  • Marwat calls ex-COAS Bajwa ‘traitor’

    Marwat calls ex-COAS Bajwa ‘traitor’

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s maverick Sher Afzal Marwat called ex-Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa a “traitor” while criticising his policies in a PTI protest at 10 Downing Street, London.

    “May God never give us such a treacherous and shameless army general as General Bajwa,” said Marwat to a charged audience in the British capital.

    He then blamed the current COAS General Asim Munir for continuing the alleged oppressive policies of General Bajwa.

    “Shehbaz Sharif’s appointed COAS General Asim Munir has carried on the legacy of Bajwa’s oppressive policies in the country,” said Marwat.

    Sher Afzal also stated that the public has always supported the Pakistan Army and expected the same from its institution.