Former Pakistan Cricket Team Director Muhammad Hafeez has alleged that national players were not fully focused on the game during the tour of Australia and New Zealand, as they were worried about different leagues.
According to Geo News sources, Muhammad Hafeez, who was the team director of Pakistan on the tour of Australia and New Zealand, met with the Acting Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shah Khawar, to whom he explained the reasons for the defeat and also discussed the improvement of cricket.
Sources say that Hafeez has told the head of the board that the national players in Australia and New Zealand were not fully focused on the game, there too they were worried about different leagues.
According to sources, Hafeez also met PCB COO Salman Naseer separately. It should be noted that Hafeez’s contract as team director has expired.
Hafeez also expressed his desire to renew the agreement, on which he was told that the decision is possible only after the consultation of inter-provincial coordination of ministries.
It should be remembered that Pakistan faced a whitewash in the Test series during Australia’s tour, while the national team lost 1-4 in the T20 series against New Zealand
Singer and songwriter Bilal Saeed has stirred up a hornet’s nest on the internet. He was performing live at a college when something went very very wrong.
Bilal suddenly stopped singing, got angry, and then threw his microphone into the crowd. He left the stage right after.
The unexpected moment was recorded on video and shared widely on social media. People had different reactions to it, and funny memes about the incident started spreading online.
Here are some reactions from Twitter:
Bilal Saeed has to be one of the rudest celebs in Pakistan.
A video of actor and host Imran Ashraf attending a show is getting a lot of attention on social media and for all the right reasons.
In the video, Ashraf invites a young child from the audience to come on stage. Before touching the little girl, he asked for permission from the child’s parents.
He said, “Can I touch her? Is it allowed?” The girl’s mother gave him permission, and then he had a conversation with the girl.
The child, Mantsha, recited a poem for Imran Ashraf, and the audience applauded. Many people on social media praised Imran for asking permission before touching the girl.
Actress Nadia Hussain said it was the best act she had seen from any Pakistani celebrity and sent prayers.
Actor Muneeb Butt shared a heart emoji, and others also appreciated Imran’s respectful gesture.
The United Nations has said that heavy fighting has “encircled” two hospitals in Khan Younis – Nasser and Al-Amal – leaving thousands of “terrified staff, patients and displaced people trapped inside”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that seven out of 24 hospitals are “partially functioning” in northern Gaza and suffering a shortage of personnel and supplies.
Journalist Bisan shared a recent post detailing an attack on the Khan Yones camp by the Israeli occupation forces. Consequently, the last functioning hospital in Gaza- Al Nasser Medical Hospital- was under attack as well. Videos of gunfire surfaced on various social media platforms as well.
According to the WHO, only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially functional – nine in the south and six in the north. The hospitals in the south are operating at three times their capacity while facing critical shortages of basic supplies and fuel.
The facilities are “without enough specialized medical staff to manage the volume and range of injuries, nor sufficient medicines and medical supplies, fuel, clean water, or food for patients or staff”, the WHO said in a statement.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza says occupancy rates are reaching 206 percent in inpatient departments and 250 percent in intensive care units.
From October 7 to November 24, there were 74 Israeli assaults on health facilities with 30 hospitals attacked in Gaza, according to Insecurity Insight, a humanitarian association that collates data on threats facing people in dangerous environments. It delivered 19,000 litres (5,000 gallons) of fuel to al-Shifa Hospital on Tuesday after facing delays at a checkpoint and on damaged roads.
The hospitals that have been attacked most often include:
1. al-Shifa Hospital – attacked 12 times 2. al-Quds Hospital – attacked nine times 3. Indonesian Hospital – attacked nine times 4. Nasser Hospital – attacked three times
Insecurity Insight documented at least 26 other hospitals from across the Gaza Strip that were attacked by Israeli forces over the same period.
How Gaza’s healthcare system has been destroyed?
Mohamed S Ziara, a Palestinian doctor, talked to Al Jazeera and explained in a tone that is soft and unaffected by the rumbling explosions and pop of gunfire that can be heard in the background.
He is a plastic surgeon working 12- to 14-hour shifts, six days a week at the European Gaza Hospital (EGH) in Khan Younis, where he treats up to 15 cases a day. Ziara describes the healthcare situation as “catastrophic”.
“It doesn’t match anything I’ve seen before, even with previous escalations and war,” says Ziara, who has worked during Israel’s assaults on Gaza since 2014.
He has been posting about Israeli attacks near the EGH and the conditions inside on his Instagram account.
“No doctor wakes up in the morning and says: ‘I’m going to amputate a child’s leg without anesthesia.’”
“You don’t want to watch children suffer,” Dr Amber Alayyan with Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF, told Al Jazeera.
Chronically ill patients
In addition to immediate injuries from Israeli air strikes and artillery, patients with prior and long-term illnesses and vulnerable health conditions are faced with not being treated. According to WHO, they include:
1,100 patients in need of kidney dialysis
71,000 patients living with diabetes
225,000 patients with high blood pressure requiring medication
485,000 people with mental health disorders
cancer patients, 2,000 of whom are diagnosed each year, including 122 children
On January 7, exactly three months into the war on Gaza, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “It is inconceivable that this most essential need – the protection of healthcare – is not assured.”
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is one of the most successful singers in the industry. But how much has he made from singing? The amount will surprise you. Rahat has made more than Rs 7.5 billion during the last 12 years through concerts. According to Geo News correspondent Murtaza Ali Shah, the singer and his global concert promoter Salman Ahmed have parted ways after disagreements.
However, now Salman Ahmed claims that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has organized shows all over the world since the past 12 years, during which 22 million US dollars from foreign tours and a local business of Rs 1.2 billion were conducted with him. He says that he has worked to improve Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s image, including matters related to weddings, family, and business transactions. In the future, these matters will be overseen by his wife and other family members. He says, “I have a record of every single penny, and I am ready to submit all accounts to Pakistani tax and audit authorities.”
In a noteworthy development, gold prices in Pakistan experienced a decline on Thursday, with the tola rate of 24 karat gold decreasing by Rs1,400.
The current per-tola gold price in Pakistan now stands at Rs213,800 in local bullion market.
According to market insiders, the price for 10 grammes of 24 karat gold witnessed a reduction of Rs1,200, reaching Rs183,300 in the domestic market, as reported by the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.
Simultaneously, the prices of both per tola and 10-gramme silver saw a reduction, falling by Rs1200 to Rs183,300.
Meanwhile, in the international market, the price of gold exhibited a rise of $12, reaching $2035. Gold prices, on the whole, experienced a 0.2 per cent increase to $2,018 per ounce, hitting a session low of $2,013.
This came after a 0.75 per cent decrease on Wednesday, marking a one-week trough at $2,011, spurred by robust US economic data. The market dynamics are being closely observed for further insights into these fluctuations.
In the inter-bank market on Thursday, the Pakistani rupee maintained its stability against the US dollar, closing at Rs279.67, according to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
This follows a positive trend observed on Wednesday when the rupee gained ground, settling at the same rate of Rs279.67 against the US dollar, as reported by the SBP.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has taken a significant step by directing the Ministry of Energy to collaborate with the Finance Ministry.
The goal is to formulate and present a comprehensive and sustainable plan aimed at reducing the circular debt plaguing the power and gas sectors.
On the global front, the US dollar exhibited stability, maintaining a six-week high on Thursday. Investors are keenly awaiting key data releases, including GDP figures, to gain insights into the direction of US interest rates.
Concurrently, the euro softened in anticipation of the European Central Bank’s policy meeting later in the day.
Recent data revealed an uptick in US business activity for January, coupled with a noticeable easing of inflation.
The measure of prices charged by companies for their products recorded a decline to the lowest level in over 3-1/2 years.
The dollar index, gauging the US currency against six major rivals, experienced a marginal rise of 0.06 per cent, reaching 103.33.
This follows a 0.2 per cent drop on Tuesday as traders consolidated positions ahead of the upcoming Federal Reserve policy meeting next week.
Henley & Partners‘ Passport Index has published a list portraying the world’s travel access hierarchy.
Top on the list of countries that encourage travelling are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, whose citizens can visit an astounding 194 destinations without requiring arduous visa procedures. This group of countries offer passport-to-plane experience, setting the bar high for unmatched worldwide mobility.
With access to 193 locations, Finland, South Korea, and Sweden share second place. Many visa-free or visa-on-arrival options are available to their well-travelled inhabitants, providing access to a variety of cultures and environments.
Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands take third place with access to 192 destinations. These nations serve as entry points to a wide range of travel opportunities.
The long list goes on, honouring countries that place a high priority on global connection. Among the notable entries are the United States, Canada, Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand, all of which provide their inhabitants with an abundance of travel options.
On the other hand, the Passport Index identifies states with more limited travel options. Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan are among the least accessible, offering their passport holders entry to just 34 countries that require no visa or one upon arrival.
The London-based company, which offers residency and citizenship consultancy services, teamed together with the International Air Transport Association to create a unique ranking that takes into account passport holders’ access to countries without a visa or with one upon arrival.
In a statement spoken outside the anti-corruption department office in Rawalpindi, veteran politician and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi voiced apprehensions about the upcoming general elections scheduled for February 8, asserting that the current electoral landscape could lead to chaos in the country.
“Making an election purposeful is the job of the political leadership. This election has become purposeless. The political, military, and judicial leadership of the country should sit together on the table and determine the way forward for the country,” Abbasi said while talking to media.
He showed up in the office for interrogation in a case related to alleged embezzlement in the Ghora Gali and Marri Road projects.
Abbasi highlighted that it was the responsibility of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, and caretaker Premier Anwaarul Haq Kakar to ensure that the upcoming elections were “non-controversial”.
“With each passing day, I become more satisfied that I made the right decision. Such an election, which does not give the country anything other than incitement and flaws; at least I did not play a part in this misdeed,” he said.
He stressed that politicians “should realize that the country can never make progress if its elections become controversial”.
Expressing concern over the potential controversy surrounding the elections, Abbasi stressed that elections are a sacred process and should not be made contentious. He pointed to alleged rigging in the 2018 elections, stating that the system did not function then and is unlikely to do so now.
The former Prime Minister criticized the three largest political parties in the country, asserting that they have failed to address and resolve critical issues. Abbasi predicted the emergence of multiple political parties in Pakistan shortly.
Despite leaving electoral politics, Abbasi clarified that he has not abandoned politics altogether. He mentioned that a decision regarding the formation of a new political party would be made after the upcoming elections.
Addressing concerns about the National Accountability Board (NAB) and other anti-corruption institutes, Abbasi questioned who would hold them accountable, labeling them as the country’s most corrupt organization.
Highlighting the decline in Pakistan’s development graph, Abbasi stressed on an uncontroversial election process.
“Today people ask if the world is making progress then why is Pakistan declining in development graph? Since, 1947 every election has been stolen. The masses are disappointed in the election process. You still have time to make this process uncontroversial,” he said.
Indian cricket legend Mahindra Singh Dhoni is getting hate by right-wing Indians for not attending the inauguration ceremony of Ayodhya Ram Mandir on Monday.
MS Dhoni was invited by the management of the controversial temple but he didn’t attend the ceremony. As a result, he is getting backlash on social media, with his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) being criticised for not posting anything about Ram Mandir on social media.
Hindutva extremists are pointing out that Dhoni made many public appearances including many get-togethers, birthday bashes and an engagement ceremony. But when it comes to attending the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, he was not available.
Here are a few reactions on social media:
Most famous celebrity who didn’t go to Ayodhya after receiving invitation
This is really the Worst behaviour from Ms Dhoni , Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma Shame on you all They Didn’t attend the Pran pratistha of Ram Mandir after Get invited You don’t have 5-6 hours for Ram mandir pran pratistha But you have time for doing ads Shame on You All
If Jadeja, who still has a long franchise and international career ahead of him can go to Ayodhya then what stopped Dhoni whose career was done many years ago ?
