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Author: News Desk

  • ICC introduce five-runs penalty if bowler doesn’t bowl in 60 seconds

    ICC introduce five-runs penalty if bowler doesn’t bowl in 60 seconds

    International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a new five-run penalty to be applicable on the fielding side if a bowler doesn’t bowl the next over within 60 seconds for the third time in an inning.

    This decision was taken in an ICC meeting yesterday. This rule will be implemented on trial basis from December 2023 to April 2024.

    Previous rule:

    In previous rules, if the bowling team bowl only 48 over in given time in one day International (ODI), only four fielders will be allowed out-side the circle till 50 overs. Same rule was implemented in T20 match, if the bowling team bowl 19 overs out of 20 in given time.

    New Rules:

    According to the new rules, a five-run penalty will be imposed on the bowling side, if they do not bowl the next over within 60 seconds for third time in an inning.

    A stop watch will be used to regulate the time taken between two overs. This rule will be used for first time during the three-ODI’s series between England and West Indies starting from December 3, 2023.

    The purpose of this rule is to maintain the pace of play during the cricket match.

  • Netanyahu says “We are at war – and will continue the war” amid ceasefire deal

    Netanyahu says “We are at war – and will continue the war” amid ceasefire deal

    Israel has agreed to a temporary ceasefire deal with Hamas as prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces pressure from the Israeli public since October 7 — particularly of families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza where more than 13,000 people have been killed because of Israeli attacks.

    Netanyahu reportedly met with some of the families last night, assuring them that bringing their loved ones back was “a sacred and supreme task”.

    The Israeli prime minister, however, has asserted that he has no intention of ending Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

    “Let me make it clear,” he said earlier, “we are at war – and will continue the war”.

    He set the record straight that Israel will not stop until they succeed in their aim i.e. “eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages and assuring that … Gaza will no longer threaten Israel.”

  • MDCAT saga: Alleged test leak in Sindh, retesting in KP

    MDCAT saga: Alleged test leak in Sindh, retesting in KP

    Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2023 has been embroiled in major controversy involving cheating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh. The test is mandatory for admission in disciplines of medicine and dentistry.

    Sindh

    A retest was conducted on Sunday, November 19, across four centres in Sindh as the previous one was cancelled due to overwhelming complaints of cheating. Almost 41,000 students appeared for a total of 4,790 seats — 3,600 for MBBS and 1,190 for dental studies. As per the reports, answer sheets are circulating on social media, fueling speculation that the exam paper was leaked.

    This raised questions over the feasibility of leaking the entire paper through social media, given the ban on phones and smart watches at test centres. Additionally, students have expressed dissatisfaction with the test’s content, citing questions beyond the prescribed syllabus and errors in the answer keys, reports The News.

    In a recent statement, President PMDC Dr Rizwan Taj has acknowledged social media reports alleging the leak of MDCAT paper conducted under the supervision of DOW University of Health Sciences (DUHS). He asserted that both the managing authorities-DUHS vice-chancellor and Sindh Chief Secretary-have denied the allegations, saying the news is not correct and question papers were released by students post-test at 4pm as the test had ended at 2pm.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

    After the cancellation of the September 10 test in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the exam is to be reconducted on November 26. A plan has been devised according to which police will be deployed to provide security to the staff involved in in transportation of test material to all centres in the designated cities, including Peshawar, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Mardan, Dir Lower, Swat and Abbottabad. A total of 46,220 candidates will appear in test.
    To ensure transparency police will be also be involved during printing, packaging, transportation and scanning of examination material inside and outside Khyber Medical University Peshawar from 20 November to 30.

    Section 144 will be imposed around the centres, mobile phone will remain jammed, power supply will remain uninterrupted from 9am to 3pm on date of test are also part of the plan, says the report by Dawn.

  • Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Shehbaz Sharif candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership, says Rana Sanaullah

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah has said that former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will be the party’s next candidate for Punjab’s chief ministership.

    Shehbaz Sharif has served as a three-time chief minister of Punjab, as well as being Prime Minister for around 16 months when the Pakistan Democratic Movement came into power after ousting the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

    “In my personal opinion, given the destruction during the Buzdar regime and in the manner in which Punjab was progressing till 2018, it is Punjab’s need that Shehbaz Sharif take charge of Punjab’s affairs,” PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah told Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada.

    “Had Shehbaz Sharif got the opportunity to [serve as the chief minister] after the 2018 elections as well, then Punjab would have become an example for the rest of Pakistan,” Sanaullah, who served as the interior minister under Shehbaz in the Centre, said.

    According to the PML-N leadership, Shehbaz Sharif can work in any capacity under the leadership of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif.

    “My assessment says that Shehbaz Sharif will be ready to work with Nawaz Sharif in any capacity. He will not complain about it,” the ex-interior minister said.

  • ICC shifts men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa

    ICC shifts men’s Under-19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to shift the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2024 from Sri Lanka to South Africa, after the governing body’s Board took a unanimous decision following the recent temporary suspension of Sri Lankan cricket.

    The ICC Board agreed that the suspension would not affect all levels of cricket, including any bilateral and domestic series and tournaments, but annual funding would remain in place until the suspension ends.

    ICC has decided that Sri Lanka can participate in bilateral cricket and ICC events at the international level, while Sri Lanka as an ICC member, was suspended for the violation. The Board is required to conduct its affairs independently and without government interference.

    The mega event will start January 13, 2024 while the final will be played on February 4.

    South Africa hosted the Women’s Under-19 World Cup in 2023 as well as the inaugural edition of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup in 2020.

  • EU report highlights rights issues and corruption in Pakistan

    On Tuesday, the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) jointly revealed a monitoring report on Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preference, or GSP Plus.

    The report expressed concerns about forced disappearances, torture, and limitations on media freedom in Pakistan, which are seen as violations of international treaties.

    It urged Pakistan to enforce laws protecting economic, social, and political rights and raised reservations about the misuse of anti-corruption rhetoric for political purposes.

    Despite civilian rule since 2008, the report highlighted the military’s disproportionate role in politics and the economy.

    Covering 2020–2022, it focused on the May 9 riots and subsequent trials in military courts, recognising legislative progress but emphasising the need for improved practical implementation.

    Furthermore, the report read that although initial measures have been undertaken to limit the application of the death penalty, additional steps are required to bring them in line with international standards.

    This entails introducing a comprehensive revision of the mercy petition procedure.

    “It has undeniably increased awareness of human rights at the grassroots level, of labour rights within businesses and export supply chains and of the significance of environmental considerations and good governance.

    However, the full potential of the GSP+ benefit can only be realised by diversifying Pakistan’s exports to include more value-added products”, remarked EU Ambassador to Pakistan H.E. Dr Riina Kionka about the report.

    Pakistan attained GSP Plus status in January 2014, following the ratification of 27 international conventions and a commitment to their implementation.

    The GSP Plus incentive provides Pakistan with zero-rated or preferential tariffs on nearly 66 per cent of tariff lines, thereby bolstering the country’s capacity to export to the EU market.

  • UK’s Rishi Sunak said Britain should ‘let people die’ during Covid

    UK’s Rishi Sunak said Britain should ‘let people die’ during Covid

    A recent inquiry into Britain’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed that Rishi Sunak believed that the government should “just let people die” rather than impose a second national lockdown.

    The concerning statement by Rishi Sunak was quoted in a hearing on Monday about UK’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic that shut down large sections of the economy and killed more than 220,000. The explosive claim was made by Patrick Vallance, the former chief scientific adviser to the government. He claimed that the then-finance minister Sunak said during a meeting with then-prime minister Boris Johnson, that the government should “just let people die” rather than impose a second national lockdown.


    Vallance noted this down in a meeting in his diary on October 25, 2020, which was presented to the inquiry on Monday. The incident was relayed to him by Dominic Cummings, Johnson’s most senior adviser during the pandemic, relayed to Vallance what he had heard at the meeting.
    Vallance quoted Cummings in his diary as saying: “Rishi thinks just let people die and that’s okay. This all feels like a complete lack of leadership.”
    According to a spokesperson for Sunak, the prime minister would set out his position when he gives evidence to the inquiry “rather than respond to each one in piecemeal”

  • FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Tajikistan beat Pakistan by 6-1

    FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Tajikistan beat Pakistan by 6-1

    Tajikistan defeated Pakistan by 6-1 in the Federation International Football Association (FIFA) World Cup Football Qualifier Round 2.

    Tajikistan outclassed hosts Pakistan in the Qualifier Round 2 Group G match in Islamabad. The match started at lightning speed and the visiting team scored two goals in a row.

    Less than a few minutes had passed, and Raees Nabi scored for Pakistan to make the score 1-2, but the Tajik team continued to dominate, launching successive attacks and scoring four goals to one at the end of the first half.

    Tajikistan scored two more goals in the second half as well. Pakistan could not score any goals in the second half and Tajikistan won the match by six goals.

    Pakistan lost 0-4 to Saudi Arabia in the first match of Group G.

  • ‘Deadliest month’ for journalists: CPJ on Israeli attacks in Gaza

    ‘Deadliest month’ for journalists: CPJ on Israeli attacks in Gaza

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported the month following October 7 attacks has been the deadliest for journalists and media workers since CPJ began gathering data in 1992.

    CPJ’s “preliminary investigations” reveals that as of November 21, at least 50 journalists and media workers are among the 14,000 plus people killed since October 7.

    The deadliest day for journalists was October 7 itself as six journalists were killed; followed by November 18, the second-deadliest day when five were killed.

    CPJ highlights that up until November 21:

    • 50 journalists and media workers were confirmed dead: 45 Palestinian, four Israeli, and one Lebanese.
    • 11 journalists were reported injured.
    • Three journalists were reported missing.
    • 18 journalists were reported arrested.
    • Multiple assaults, threats, cyberattacks, censorship, and killings of family members has also been recorded.

    CPJ is also probing a number of unconfirmed reports of other journalists being killed, being missing, detained, hurt, or threatened, and of damage to media offices and journalists’ homes.

    “CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” states Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

    “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heart-breaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families, and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”

  • Harbhajan Singh lashed out at fellow Indians for harassing Australian cricketers

    Harbhajan Singh lashed out at fellow Indians for harassing Australian cricketers

    Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has slammed Indian fans for harassing the families of Australian cricketers on Instagram.

    Australia defeated hot favourites India by six wickets in the ICC World Cup final, lifting the trophy for a record sixth time. Indian fans then went berserk, threatening Australian players and their families on social media.

    The wife and daughter of Travis Head, who scored a match-winning century in the final, were threatened with rape and death. The Indian wife of Glenn Maxwell was not spared either.

    Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at his fellow Indians.

    He released a statement on social media site X and wrote “The news of trolling of the families of Australian cricketers is very sad,” adding that the Indian team played well but lost in the final due to the better cricket played by Australia. “That’s it. Why are the players and their families being harassed,” he asked.

    “I request all cricket fans to stop such behavior, honor, and dignity are more important,” Harbhajan said.