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  • ‘Unfair to blame Babar and Inzamam’: Mickey Arthur

    ‘Unfair to blame Babar and Inzamam’: Mickey Arthur

    Pakistan Cricket Team Director Mickey Arthur has said, “We did not play well in this tournament, but it will not be right to blame Babar Azam, Inzamam, or anyone, I know the players and staff tried their best.”

    Mickey Arthur said that he is proud of the best bowling of the tournament, proud of the way the bowlers fought back hard. “Everyone is trying but our batting is not coming into form.”

    He said “We improved our bowling today, but could not score runs in the batting, and could not play the last five overs properly, if we had made 300, could have defended it.”

    Mickey Arthur said that the team did not play the quality of cricket that is required in the World Cup. “Against Afghanistan, we were average in all three areas.”

    He said that he will try to finish the tournament in a good way by winning the remaining three matches.

  • Actress Indy Moore arrested alongside several Jewish American activists protesting Gaza genocide

    Actress Indy Moore arrested alongside several Jewish American activists protesting Gaza genocide

    As Israel cut off all communication services in Gaza before initiating the heaviest bombing the region has ever seen, Palestinian activists and human rights organisations are outraged as they cannot keep in touch with media organisations or their loved ones who are under Israeli siege.

    Yesterday, a massive sit-in was announced by anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice For Peace to protest against the on-going genocide in Gaza. More than 200 Jewish American activists were arrested by the police. Among them was ‘Pose’ actress Indya Moore, who could be seen chanting “Not in our name” along with the rest of the protesters as she was arrested by the police.

    Indya was also among the several actors who signed a letter asking Joe Biden to end the genocide of Gaza and allow humanitarian aid to enter through. Other celebrities who had signed the letter included Andrew Garfield, Florence Pugh, Oscar Isaac and Academy Award winner Joaquin Pheonix.

  • Gen Bajwa’s relative cleared in FIA investigation

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has cleared Sabir Hameed, also known as Mithu, a close relative of former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa, in a case pertaining to suspicious transactions, The News has confirmed on Saturday.

    The FIA closed an inquiry against the well-known businessman as no evidence in support of allegations leveled against him was found.
    Hameed, who works for a large real estate company, gave the FIA investigators access to all of the records he had, including tax returns through the fiscal year 2022, bank statements, information on both domestic and foreign real estate, automobiles, offshore businesses, and so forth.

    The people close to him said that the FIA initially called the close relative of the former army leader on October 23. Hameed is a hardworking Pakistani who does transparent business but his rivals levelled baseless allegation against him to vilify him, FIA said after conducting an in-depth inquiry.

    In addition, Hameed was required to bring a list of all the countries he has visited as well as an explanation of why. A list of all offshore/shell firms and business vehicles owned by the ex-army chief relative, his spouse, and family members was also instructed to be brought.

  • New York police arrest hundreds at Jewish protest urging Gaza ceasefire

    New York police arrest hundreds at Jewish protest urging Gaza ceasefire

    Hundreds of people were arrested Friday when police broke up a large demonstration of mostly Jewish New Yorkers who had taken over the main hall of Grand Central station in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, police and organizers said.

    The New York Police Department said at least 200 people had been arrested, while protest organizers put the number at more than 300.

    Photos from the scene showed long lines of young people standing in handcuffs and wearing black sweatshirts with the words “Not In Our Name” and “Cease Fire Now” printed in white.

    The massive sit-in was called by the group Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City, which said thousands of its members had attended the protest, blocking the main concourse of the city’s central rail station.

    Pictures showed the terminal packed with protesters who held up banners reading “Palestinians should be free” and “Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living.”

    Organizers called the peaceful sit-in “the largest civil disobedience New York City has seen in 20 years.”

    Rabbis launched the event by lighting Shabbat candles and reciting the Jewish prayer for the dead, known as the kaddish.

    “While Shabbat is typically a day of rest, we cannot afford to rest while genocide is unfolding in our names,” said Rabbi May Ye, in a statement released by organizers.

    “The lives of Palestinians and Israelis are intertwined, and safety can only come from justice, equality, and freedom for all,” the rabbi said.

    Israel launched its bombardment of Gaza after Hamas gunmen stormed across the border on 7 October, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 220 others, according to Israeli officials.

    The Hamas-run health ministry said Friday that Israeli strikes on Gaza had now killed 7,326 people, more than 3,000 of them children.

  • Palestinian Health Ministry provides credible casualty figures: UN

    Palestinian Health Ministry provides credible casualty figures: UN

    While US President Joe Biden has questioned the reliability of the death toll coming from Gaza, the United Nations has verified that the figures provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health have a history of being credible.

    “In the past, the five, six cycles of conflict in the Gaza Strip, these figures were considered as credible and no one ever really challenged these figures,” the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) chief, Philippe Lazzarini, said while speaking to the media on Friday.

    On Thursday, the Health Ministry released a 212-page document with names and identity numbers of those killed in Israeli air raid since October 7, having collected the data from morgues and hospitals.

    The list consists of 6,747 people killed in the Israeli attacks, including 2,665 children whereas 529 bodies are yet to be identified.

    Anadolu Agency has said that 8,400 people have been killed including at least 7,028 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

  • DRS decision during Pak-Africa match slammed on social media

    DRS decision during Pak-Africa match slammed on social media

    Celebrities, cricketers and fans lashed out on social media on Friday night at the poor DRS decision and the umpire’s call during the match between Pakistan and South Africa.

    Pakistan needed one wicket to win the most crucial game and to stay alive in the World Cup, when Haris Rauf appealed for a LBW (Leg Before Wicket) that was clearly hitting the line of the wicket but the umpire gave it not out. This poor decision made by umpire almost ended all of the hopes of Pakistan to qualify for semi-finals.

    Most famous cricket celebrities like Harbhajan Singh, Graeme Smith, also Ayushmann Khurrana and other social media users are lashing out this decision.

    Here are some reactions:

  • Annual inflation increases by 29.65% in Pakistan, driven by rising gas prices 

    Annual inflation increases by 29.65% in Pakistan, driven by rising gas prices 

    According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) report released on Friday, the weekly inflation, as measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), exhibited a decline of 0.33 per cent during the week ending on October 19. 

    The Combined Index, as reported by PBS, stood at 277.11, down from 278.04 on October 19, 2023, with a notable contrast to the index of 213.74 recorded on October 27, 2022, a year ago.

    Among the 51 items monitored, the analysis indicates that the average prices of 14 items experienced an increase, 17 items saw a decrease, and 20 items remained stable. 

    Significant reductions were observed in the prices of chicken (10.19 per cent), onions (4.4 per cent), rice IRRI-6/9 (3.84 per cent), bananas (3.64 per cent), gur (3.4 per cent), pulse masoor (2.36 per cent), sugar (2.22 per cent), and mustard oil (2.17 per cent). 

    Conversely, notable price increases were recorded for tomatoes (20.81 per cent), potatoes (3.33 per cent), eggs (1.63 per cent), salt powdered (0.91 per cent), garlic (0.77 per cent), tea prepared (0.67 per cent), bread plain (0.56 per cent), and mutton (0.28 per cent).

    In a year-on-year comparison, the trend reveals an increase of 29.65 per cent in overall inflation, with substantial hikes in gas charges for Q1 (108.38 per cent), cigarettes (94.46 per cent), chilies powder (84.11 per cent), rice basmati broken (78.51 per cent), wheat flour (77.49 per cent), sugar (63.22 per cent), rice irri-6/9 (62.83 per cent), gents sponge chappal (58.05 per cent), gur (57.73 per cent), and salt powdered (54.84 per cent). 

    In contrast, price decreases are observed in tomatoes (31.90 per cent), onions (24.88 per cent), pulse gramme (5.82 per cent), mustard oil (4.16 per cent), and vegetable ghee (1 1 kg) (0.92 per cent).

  • Two lac children sexually abused by Spanish clergy, report reveals

    Two lac children sexually abused by Spanish clergy, report reveals

    In a staggering revelation, a 700-page long report released by the Spanish national ombudsman Angel Gabilondo, it has been estimated that over 200,000 minors have been abused by the Roman Catholic clergy since 1940 in the country.

    The poll conducted by the independent commission of over 8,000 people found that 0.6 percent of Spain’s adult population of around 39 million people said that they suffered sexual abuse by members of the clergy when they were still minors.

    “Unfortunately, for many years there has been a certain desire to deny abuses or a desire to conceal or protect the abusers,” said Gabilondo while addressing the press.

    Over the last two decades, the allegations against the Spanish Catholic Church have mounted to a great level often involving children. The report is also critical of the clergy as the response by them was “insufficient” thus, it recommends the state to pay reparations to victims.

    Spain’s parliament in March 2022 overwhelmingly approved the creation of an independent commission led by the ombudsman to “shed light” on allegations of sexual abuse of “defenceless boys and girls” in the Catholic church.

    The church, initially reluctant, said in June that it has discovered 927 cases of child abuse through a complaints procedure launched in 2020, and in response to that it has set up a “child protection” office.

    El Pais, a leading Spanish Newspaper, states in their investigation of 2018 dark facts dating back to 1927 about thousands of victims and alleged abusers. The recent report is dubbed as the “tip of the iceberg” by them.

    The church’s abuse crisis is rampant all across Europe-first surfaced in 2002-and these investigations stir governments to take serious steps to stop the malice. Spain has been leading the effort as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the release of the report was a “milestone” in the country’s democratic history. Child Protection Activist, Juan Cuatrecasas, commented, “This must be the start of something, not an end in itself.”

  • World Cup 2023: South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket in thriller

    World Cup 2023: South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket in thriller

    In the 26th and most important match of the ICC World Cup, South Africa defeated Pakistan by one wicket after a sensational game. South Africa achieved Pakistan’s target of 271 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 47.2 overs, with Aiden Markram scoring 91 runs.

    Abdullah Shafiq and Imamul Haq opened the innings for Pakistan but once again the Pakistani opening pair could not give the team a good start. Abdullah Shafiq returned to the pavilion after scoring only nine runs off a Marco Jansen delivery. Imamul Haq also scored 12 runs off 18 balls and became a victim of Jansen’s ball.

    Pakistan’s third wicket was Muhammad Rizwan who scored 31 runs, caught behind the wickets off Coetzee while Iftikhar Ahmed was caught on the boundary trying to hit Tabriz Shamsi for a six, after scoring 21 runs. Captain Babar Azam scored a half-century but he too was caught behind the wickets after scoring 50 runs off a blistering ball from Tabriz Shamsi.

    After five wickets fell on 141, Shadab Khan and young batsman Saud Shakeel batted responsibly and formed a brilliant partnership, taking the score to 225 runs. Shadab was dismissed for 43 runs off 36 balls. Meanwhile, Saud Shakeel scored a magnificent half-century, but he too returned to the pavilion after scoring 52 runs off 52 balls with the help of 7 fours.

    The entire Pakistan team was bowled out for 270 runs in 46.4 overs.

    On behalf of South Africa, Tabrez Shamsi took four wickets while Marko Jansen got three wickets and Coetzee got two wickets.

    Chasing Pakistan’s target of 271 runs, South Africa got off to a good start, with the two openers putting on a 34-run partnership before Quinton de Kock was dismissed for 24 runs.

    South Africa suffered its second loss in the form of captain Tamba Bavuma, who returned to the pavilion after scoring 28 runs, while van der Daussen scored 21 runs and Henrik Klaasen was caught out for 12 runs. In such a situation, a partnership of 70 runs was established between Miller and Aiden Markram, but then Miller was dismissed for 29 runs while Adam Markram scored a brilliant 91 runs.

    When the total score of South Africa reached 250 runs, Pakistan made a brilliant comeback, got two wickets, and came back into the match. However, South Africa’s tail-and-beater Maharaj and Shamsi played responsible batting and established an important partnership of 11 runs to give their team victory after a thrilling match.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets, and Haris Rauf, Wasim Junior, and Osama Amir took two wickets respectively.

    This the first time in the history of the World Cup, Pakistan lost in 4 consecutive matches

  • ‘It doesn’t matter’: Ranbir Kapoor responds to label of ‘toxic masculinity’

    Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor was the center of criticism from the public when certain moments with his wife, actress Alia Bhatt, didn’t sit well with fans. Recently, the ‘Barfi’ actor went viral after Alia’s interview with Vogue where she revealed Ranbir forbade her from wearing lipstick. This attracted severe criticism from X (formerly Twitter) users who lashed out at Ranbir by labelling him a ‘red flag’ all women should avoid.

    READ MORE: ‘While we were dating, Ranbir told me not to wear lipstick’: Alia’s Vogue interview sparks outrage

    Recently in an interview the actor, who’s the son of late star Rishi Kapoor, acknowledged the backlash, stating that he is fine with being labeled the face of toxic masculinity.

    “Recently, I was reading an article about being toxic and something relating to some statement I made, and I understand. Listen, I am on your side. Whatever you are fighting against this toxic masculinity, I am on the side of people who are fighting for it. So, if they want to use me as a face, I am fine because their fight is bigger than just me feeling bad about them having an opinion on what I said,” the actor opined according to The Indian Express.

    The ‘Tamasha’ actor said he accepted a long time ago he would become a part of “gossip blogs”, and further said it didn’t matter to him what critics said.

    Ranbir also said him not being active on social media helps in not having to deal with the negativity that comes with being an actor “which is a great thing.”

    But also, Ranbir added, his focus always remained on his work, and takes opinions about his image with a pinch of salt:

    “Sometimes a lot of things are written about you as an actor, and many opinions are made, which are not necessarily true, but you have to take it with a pinch of salt. Because this image of mine, which is being created by the movies or the characters I play or by media, is something that I don’t own. It is owned by the public, it is owned by people who like or dislike my work and they are allowed to say anything as long as they give my work a chance. My focus has always been just to act.”