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Author: News Desk

  • Lionel Messi will auction jerseys worn in World Cup 2022

    Lionel Messi will auction jerseys worn in World Cup 2022

    Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi has announced that the jerseys he wore in the FIFA World Cup 2022 will be auctioned.

    Messi took to Instagram to say, “These 6 jerseys, including the one I wore in the World Cup final.”Bids for the auction can be submitted online from November 30 to December 14.

    According to reports, Messi’s jerseys can fetch over $10 million, making it one of the most expensive auctions in the history of the game. Messi announced that a portion of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Children’s Hospital in Barcelona.

    It should be noted that the record for the most expensive jersey auction of any sportsman is held by former American basketball player Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan’s jersey, worn in the 1998 National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, was auctioned for $10.1 million last year.

    The most expensive footballer’s jersey record is held by the late Argentinian footballer Diego Maradona, whose jersey worn in the World Cup quarter-final against England in 1986 was auctioned for $9.3 million last year.

    Argentina won the World Cup under Messi for the third time after defeating France in the final of the 2022 tournament.

  • ‘Officers from diverse departments’ may serve as DROs, ROs: ECP

    ‘Officers from diverse departments’ may serve as DROs, ROs: ECP

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is considering the appointment of “officers from diverse departments,” including judiciary, federal, and provincial governments, and officers from ECP as district returning officers (DROs) and returning officers (ROs) in the upcoming election on February 8, The News has reported on Thursday.

    According to the report, it is highly likely that ECP will use a mix of officers, but no official decision has been taken in this matter.

    “The Election Commission is left with no option but to engage officers from diverse departments. Already, the provincial election commissioners are in the process of finalising lists of officers for the poll job, besides Central Secretariat,” a senior official of the ECP told The News.

    The source from ECP also said that judiciary had rejected the request to appoint officers for election duty because of multiple reasons, including several pending cases. However, one of the smaller provincial high courts expressed a willingness to provide officers for election duty.

    To a question, he said around 1,000 DROs and ROs would be involved in the nationwide election duty.

    In 2009, the National Judicial Policy Making Committee (NJPMC) decided not to appoint judicial officers for election duty, as this had dragged the “judiciary into political controversies”.

  • Noor Mukadam’s family expresses faith in judicial system after US officials visit Zahir Jaffer

    Noor Mukadam’s family expresses faith in judicial system after US officials visit Zahir Jaffer

    Update: In light of the rumors of US intervention in Noor Mukadam’s case by facilitating the death row inmate Zahir Jaffer, Noor’s family has expressed full faith in the judicial system.

    In addition to that, an elaboration of the recent meeting in Adiala Jail has been released on the JusticeforNoor page on Twitter. It emphasised that the spread of fake news regarding his impending escape should be stopped because this was a routine visit.

    Officials of the US Embassy in Islamabad met with death row prisoner Zahir Jaffer, convicted for killing Noor Mukadam, at the Adiala Central Jail on Tuesday.

    As per the report of The Express Tribune, the convict demanded access to lawyers and vegetarian food during the meeting with the officials while the head of the US delegation, Mitchell P Murphy, gifted him two books.


    The meeting went on for about half an hour where the consul inquired about Zahir’s health, accomodation and facilities in the jail. The three-member American delegation approached Zahir Jaffer through the consular office of the American Embassy.

    Islamabad High Court has upheld Zahir’s death sentence by a trial court but also turned his life imprisonment into a death sentence in a case relating to the rape and murder of Noor. The pleas of his domestic help-Mohammad Iftikhar and Mohammad Jan — both co-accused in the case —have also been dismissed by IHC. He earlier received a 25-year imprisonment sentence with hard labour and a fine of Rs0.2 million after the rape was proven.

    Noor Mukadam was beheaded at Zahir’s residence in Islamabad’s upscale Sector F-7/4 on July 20, 2021. Her death sparked national outrage, including protests and candlelight vigils across the country.

  • Father strangles son for turning off TV during World Cup final in India

    A father in Kanpur, India, strangled his son to death on Sunday for turning off the TV during the cricket World Cup final between India and Australia.

    With India’s defeat in the final, there was mourning across the country, with at least two reported suicides. India walked into the final without losing a single match in the tournament, hot favourites to lift the trophy in front of a home crowd.

    India Today has reported that the murder took place in Kanpur, where a man named Ganesh Prasad was watching the final of the World Cup at home. His son Deepak requested his father to prepare food first, and when his father refused, the son turned off the TV.

    The father and son had a subsequent quarrel escalating into a physical fight. Prasad strangled his son with the wire of the mobile phone charger, killing him on the spot.

    Police have said that as soon as the incident was reported, they reached the spot and arrested Prasad, who was drunk at the time. When the police arrived at the home after being alerted by neighbours, the body of the boy was lying on the stairs. He was immediately shifted to the hospital.

  • Former US diplomat charged with hate crime over Islamophobic comments

    Former US diplomat charged with hate crime over Islamophobic comments

    Security advisor to former president Barack Obama, Stuart Seldowitz, who was recorded on video spewing Islamophobic slurs at a halal food vendor in Manhattan, has now been arrested and is facing multiple charges.

    The New York Police Department has reportedly charged Seldowitz with “aggravated harassment in the second degree, harassment, hate crime/stalking, stalking to cause fear, and stalking at place of employment”, according to communication NYPD shared with Documented.

    The video has been circulating on social media where he can be seen calling the man “terrorist”.

    “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, you know what? It wasn’t enough”, he added while the vendor insists Seldowitz to leave.

    Seldowitz approached the food vendor twice after the first incident.

    In one of the videos, he alludes to his “friends in immigration” saying, “the Mukhabarat wants your picture,” apparently making reference to an Egyptian intelligence agency.

    “The Mukhabarat in Egypt will get your parents. Does your father like his fingernails? They’ll take them out one by one,” he continues.

    Since October 7, when Hamas allegedly attacked Israel which led to Israeli attacks on Gaza, islamophobia has reportedly increased in America.

    The New York Times reported that on Tuesday, the police said that no reports had been filed against Seldowitz, but they “confirmed that the commanding officer of the 19th Precinct was aware of the videos and that precinct personnel were monitoring the situation”.

    NYT also writes that Seldowitz gave a phone interview in which he claims to have not seen the viral videos and that it all started when he asked the vendor if he was Egyptian. According to Seldowitz, the man supported Hamas although no such claims are recorded on any of the videos circulating the internet.

    “At that point, I got rather upset and I’ve said things to him, that in retrospect, I probably regret, though — that I do regret,” Seldowitz said. “Instead of focusing in on him and what he said, I expanded into insulting his religion and so on.”

    He further said that he returned to the vendor to ask him whether he was “still a supporter of Hamas,” adding that “I was upset at the fact that he was selling food in a neighborhood in New York.”

    And while he is captured giving extremely offensive comments in relation to Islam, Seldowitz denies being Islamophobic.

    “I’ve worked with Muslims,” he said, stating that “I have many people who are Muslims and Arabs and so on, who know me very well and who know that I’m not prejudiced against them.”

  • Rahul Gandhi called Narendra Modi ‘Panoti’ after India lost World Cup final

    Rahul Gandhi called Narendra Modi ‘Panoti’ after India lost World Cup final

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘Panoti’ for the Indian cricket team.

    On Sunday, Australia became the world cricket champions for the sixth time by defeating the unbeaten host team India by six wickets in the final of the Men’s ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad.

    To watch the final between Australia and India, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Bollywood actors, specially arrived at the arena among much fanfare.

    The Indian Prime Minister hoped that India would win the World Cup and he would give the World Cup trophy to Rohit Sharma with his own hands, but this wish could not be fulfilled.

    While Indian fans are disappointed after losing the final to Australia, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called Narendra Modi a ‘Panoti’ for the Indian cricket team.

    According to Indian media, while addressing an election rally in Rajasthan on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi mocked Narendra Modi and said “Well, our boys would have won the World Cup there, but ‘Panoti’ lost.”

    On the other hand, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has strongly criticized Rahul Gandhi’s statement. Narendra Modi also went to the dressing room of the Indian cricket team and met the players after they lost.

  • Pakistan imposes hefty exit fees on Afghan refugees

    Pakistan is being widely criticised for instituting exit fees amounting to hundreds of dollars for Afghan refugees awaiting relocation to the United Kingdom and other Western nations.

    The imposition of exit fees, totalling around $830 (PKR 236,387), for Afghan refugees seeking resettlement in Western countries has drawn strong condemnation from Western diplomats and the United Nations.

    Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, stated that there are no current plans to modify the existing policy.

    Five senior Western diplomats in Pakistan while talking to The Guardian termed the hefty fee imposed by Pakistan as ‘unprecedented’.

    “I know it is very tough economically for Pakistan but really, to try to make money off refugees is unattractive,” said one diplomat.


    He continued by adding, “The issue has also been raised by the two UN agencies in the lead on this mess, the [UN refugee agency] UNHCR and [International Organization of Migration] IOM,” the diplomat added. “It has also been raised in capitals and headquarters. I suspect everyone has also passed the message to their [Pakistani contacts].”


    Another diplomat said that when concerns were raised regarding the imposed fee, the Pakistani officials explained that the initial proposal was to charge $10,000 per person, but it had been subsequently reduced to $830.

    A different diplomat noted that the exit permit must be paid through a credit card, which poses an added difficulty for many Afghan refugees who lack access to such payment methods. This complicates the situation further, as the fee is mandated for payment by the refugees, a considerable portion of whom do not possess credit cards.

    “I think we need a cooperative approach of working together to help the refugees and we expect Pakistan would help,” he added.

    The United States government intends to relocate nearly 25,000 Afghans within the country, while the United Kingdom has announced plans to resettle 20,000 individuals.

    Separately, the United Nations Refugee Agency has expressed apprehension regarding Pakistan’s directive for undocumented foreigners to leave, citing its adverse impact on Afghan nationals. This includes registered refugees and individuals possessing valid documents, raising concerns about the potential humanitarian consequences of the orders.

  • Emirates suspends flights to Israel for an indefinite period

    Emirates suspends flights to Israel for an indefinite period

    Emirates announced the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until further notice on Wednesday, citing concerns related to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This marks the first instance of Emirates indefinitely halting operations to Tel Aviv.


    An Emirates spokesperson while talking to Gulf News stated, “We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and are in close contact with the relevant authorities. Customers with onward connections to Tel Aviv on Emirates flights will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.”


    The airline initially cancelled its Tel Aviv flights on October 12 due to safety concerns amidst the conflict, subsequently extending the suspension multiple times, with the latest extension lasting until November 30.


    In June 2022, the inaugural Emirates flight departed from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv, carrying 335 passengers. This milestone marked the initiation of a daily service connecting the two cities, a development spurred by the signing of the Abraham Accords.


    Separately, in a welcoming development, Israel and Hamas have brokered a four-day truce through the mediation of Qatar. As part of this agreement, 50 women and children held in Gaza will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children currently detained in Israeli jails.

  • Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Kya Malik Riaz ka interview Imran Khan ko muskhkil mein daal sakta hai?

    Pakistan is watching a wave of interviews and the latest twist in this unfolding drama has been disclosed by senior journalist Javed Chaudhry in a recent vlog, hinting that Malik Riaz, a property tycoon, is poised to unravel a series of explosive revelations in the days to come.

    Javed Chaudhry’s vlog, providing a sneak peek into an upcoming interview with Malik Riaz, outlined three key points that are expected to rock the political landscape.

    First and foremost, the interview is anticipated to shed light on the staggering Rs460 billion penalty imposed on Bahria Town by the Supreme Court. Riaz is expected to reveal what Saqib Nisar got in return for favors. He will also delve into the details of the 460 billion rupees fiasco.

    Furthermore, the property tycoon is predicted to make startling claims regarding the 2014 protest, alleging that influential figures orchestrated the demonstration to unseat then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

    The revelations will also cover how the sit-in was sponsored and from where and how food was provided.

    Riaz will also talk about why he advised Nawaz Sharif to leave the country for three months after his resignation.

    Riaz is also anticipated to discuss his role in preventing a collaborative effort between Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan, shedding light on the intricate dynamics that shaped Pakistan’s political landscape.

    Riaz will also openly talk about who played what role during Imran Khan’s government and how they all benefited from it.

    While specific details of the upcoming interview were not disclosed by Chaudhry, he expressed confidence that Malik Riaz’s revelations would be nothing short of bombshells, suggesting a turbulent period ahead for Pakistani politics.

  • South Africa’s parliament votes in favour of closing Israeli embassy

    South Africa’s parliament votes in favour of closing Israeli embassy

    South African Parliament has voted in favour of the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria and the suspension of diplomatic ties with the country amidst the siege of the Gaza Strip.


    The votes in favour were 248 and 91 against the motion. The action is actually symbolic because it will be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to implement it. The President has already maintained that Israel is committing war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip. In a recent statement on X, President Ramaphosa, “We urge the international community to agree on urgent and concrete actions to end the suffering in #Gaza and establish a path towards a just and peaceful resolution of his conflict.”


    Relations between Israel and South Africa have deteriorated over the years because of the former’s apartheid of Palestine. The country has not had an ambassador in Israel since 2018.


    In the BRICS summit on Tuesday, South Africa called for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.


    South Africa is the most recent country to suspend ties with Israel over the Gaza war. Others include Turkey, Bahrain, Jordan, Colombia, Chile and Honduras.