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Author: News Desk

  • Pakistan’s Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship in thrilling final

    Pakistan’s Hamza Khan wins World Junior Squash Championship in thrilling final

    In a nail-biting final at the World Junior Squash Championship, Pakistan’s rising star, Hamza Khan, secured a sensational victory against Egypt’s Mohamed Zakaria in Melbourne on Sunday.

    The epic battle witnessed Hamza’s remarkable tenacity as he staged a sensational comeback after losing the first game. The scoreboard read 10-12, 14-12, 11-3, and 11-6 in favor of Hamza, making him the first player from Pakistan to achieve this triumph since Jansher Khan’s victory 37 years ago.

    Throughout the tournament, Hamza’s skills shone brightly, conquering formidable opponents to reach the pinnacle of the event. His semi-final clash against French player Melvil Scianimanico left spectators in awe, as Hamza defied the odds to secure a thrilling win.

    With this historic triumph, Hamza Khan’s name is now etched in the illustrious history of the World Junior Squash Championship.

  • Major corruption exposed: Helicopter parts worth Rs7 billion illegally cleared under investigation

    Major corruption exposed: Helicopter parts worth Rs7 billion illegally cleared under investigation

    In a significant corruption case, helicopter spare parts worth Rs7 billion were illegally cleared from the air freight units (AFUs) through a nexus involving Customs officials and clearing agents.

    The Customs Collector Islamabad has responded to the exposure of the nexus by forming a new two-member committee to investigate the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts. The committee includes an additional collector headquarters and a deputy controller preventive, who will initiate a thorough investigation into the matter.

    Prior to this, a previous probe committee had already exonerated the Customs officials, including a superintendent who had admitted to being on duty at the Royal Shade during the time of the alleged illegal clearance. However, with the emergence of new evidence, a fresh inquiry has become necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.

    Separately, a Customs officer named Imran was suspended after a video of him demanding a bribe from a passenger at the Lahore airport went viral. In the video, the officer can be seen soliciting $100 from a Canada-bound passenger who was carrying $9,500, and he threatened to seize all the money if the passenger did not comply. According to Customs law, passengers are not allowed to carry $9,500 in currency abroad to prevent illicit transactions and money laundering.

    Following the circulation of the video, the deputy collector customs took swift action by suspending the officer and directing him to report to headquarters, demonstrating the commitment to address misconduct and uphold integrity within the Customs department.

    The exposure of the helicopter spare parts corruption case and the subsequent investigation by the newly-formed committee signify a strong stance against corruption and malpractices within the Customs department. As the inquiry progresses, it is expected that appropriate measures will be taken to hold those involved in the illegal clearance of the helicopter spare parts accountable.

    The disciplinary actions taken against the Customs officer involved in bribery further emphasise the department’s dedication to ethical conduct in its operations.

  • Oppenheimer slammed for including sacred Bhagavad Gita text during sex scene

    Oppenheimer slammed for including sacred Bhagavad Gita text during sex scene

    Warning: Spoilers

    Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ opened in theatres across the world this weekend, with Cillian Murphy putting in a critically acclaimed performance as the American scientist J Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb.

    One of the most pivotal moments about the film was Oppenheimer’s deep respect and admiration of the Hindu text ‘Bhagavad Gita’ which is part of the ‘Mahabharata’. The epic contains a dialogue between Prince Arjun and the divine Krishna as the former struggles with a moral dilemna. Oppenheimer famously quoted the lines ‘Now I am become death. Destroyer of the worlds’ after the first detonation of the atomic bomb on July 16, 1945.

    https://twitter.com/pun_fact/status/1680803902524989440?s=20

    Murphy said in an interview that he consulted the text while preparing to perform in the film, and described it as “beautiful and inspiring”.

    However, a controversy arose from a sex scene between Jean Tatlock (played by Florence Pugh) and Oppenheimer, when she searches his book shelf, finds the Bhagavad Gita and holds it to her bare chest and asks Oppenheimer to recite the text while continuing intercourse.

    Hindus on Twitter have slammed the scene as insulting and insensitive towards their religion, with many calling for the government to ban ‘Oppenheimer’ in the country.

    https://twitter.com/HinduAmericans/status/1682153028961304577?s=20
  • Punjab govt set to spend Rs2.3 billion on new cars for officials

    Punjab govt set to spend Rs2.3 billion on new cars for officials

    In a recent development, the caretaker government of Punjab has taken a decision to acquire 200 new vehicles at a total cost of Rs2.3 billion, raising concerns about the use of taxpayer money on luxury vehicles for bureaucrats.

    According to reliable sources, the financing for this purchase will be drawn from the tax revenue contributed by the public, prompting scrutiny over the allocation of such a substantial amount for the benefit of government officials.

    A letter has been issued requesting the release of advance funds from the finance ministry to facilitate the acquisition process. The Assistant Commissioners throughout Punjab are slated to get Toyota Corolla Altis 1600cc vehicles, while Deputy Commissioners in each district will be given Toyota Yaris. At the Tehsil level, Assistant Commissioners will be provided with Double Cabin vehicles, as per an official notification.

    However, amidst this decision, a concerned citizen has taken legal action by filing a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking the removal of Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and his cabinet members from office. The petitioner argues that the caretaker government’s term has exceeded its constitutional mandate.

    The petitioner contends that although the Supreme Court has extended the election date in the province, it has not extended the tenure of the caretaker government. Consequently, the continued occupation of office by Caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi and his cabinet is perceived as a breach of the constitution and raises questions about its constitutional legitimacy.

    As the situation unfolds, public attention remains focused on the utilisation of public funds for bureaucratic privileges, while the legal challenge adds further complexity to the already contentious political landscape in Punjab.

  • PML-N, PPP top leaders arrive in Dubai to again discuss caretaker setup

    PML-N, PPP top leaders arrive in Dubai to again discuss caretaker setup

    Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz arrived in Dubai to meet the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) top leaders to discuss the upcoming caretaker government in the country after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

    PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari arrived Friday night at Dubai’s Al-Maktoum airport in a private plane after taking off from Karachi.

    The heads of the two parties will consult with each other on who will be the caretaker prime minister in the interim government after the dissolution of assemblies in the country.

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be consulted in the matter of the upcoming caretaker setup as well. Maulana is in Karachi now and will travel to Dubai next week.

  • Meteors, beware; NASA’s DART Mission alters asteroid’s course

    Meteors, beware; NASA’s DART Mission alters asteroid’s course

    In a groundbreaking test of Earth’s planetary defenses, NASA’s DART probe successfully knocked an asteroid off its trajectory, creating a dazzling display of boulders hurtling into space.

    The story was shared by Dawn with images of the historic experiment. Last year’s momentous collision between the fridge-sized spacecraft and the pyramid-sized, rugby ball-shaped asteroid Dimorphos, situated 11 million kilometers from Earth, yielded astonishing results, as captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The images were released on Thursday.

    Astonishing Aftermath Unveiled:

    Newly released images from the Hubble Space Telescope unveiled the extraordinary aftermath of the DART mission. A total of 37 boulders, ranging in size from one to seven meters in diameter, were sent floating into the cosmos. These boulders represent approximately two percent of the loosely-held-together asteroid’s surface, as estimated in a recent study by scientists.

    Unraveling the Secrets:

    Scientists are eager to continue tracking the trajectory of these celestial boulders, as their movement patterns hold crucial clues about how they were propelled from the asteroid’s surface. The research, detailed in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, offers invaluable insights into asteroid deflection techniques and potential strategies for planetary defense.

    Insights for Future Asteroid Defense:

    The findings hold significant implications for future missions aimed at diverting potentially life-threatening asteroids on a collision course with Earth. While the images might raise concerns about boulder dispersion towards Earth, experts reassure that these specific rocks pose no threat. The successful DART mission sets an encouraging precedent for safeguarding our planet against potential asteroid threats and lays the groundwork for future endeavors to protect Earth from space hazards.

  • Bawaal’s cringey comparison of Holocaust with relationships will give you second-hand embarrassment

    Bawaal’s cringey comparison of Holocaust with relationships will give you second-hand embarrassment

    After romanticizing predators and promoting Islamophobia, Bollywood thinks mirroring a toxic relationship with the traumas of the 1945 Nazi reign in Germany is what we have been missing all along.

    Starring Varun Dhawan and Jhanvi Kapoor, the film ‘Bawaal’ explores the troubles of a married couple who decide to visit all of the places in Europe that were deemed important to World War II, deciding that the battlefield would be the perfect backdrop to mirror the traumas of two elite people.

    A scene going viral on Twitter features Jhanvi’s character saying: ‘Every relationship goes through their own Auschwitz”.

    Twitter users slammed director Nitesh Tiwari for reducing a horrifying historical event to domestic spats.

    “Did they go to school or bother to watch any historical documentary?” one user wrote.

    https://twitter.com/MishiChoudhary/status/1682472613468073984?s=20
    https://twitter.com/priyankasacheti/status/1682623758660681730?s=20

    Another clip from the film sees the couple discussing Hitler, with Jhanvi saying:

    “We all too are a little like Hitler, aren’t we? We aren’t satisfied with what we have. We want what others have.”

    Thee trailer for the film, released two weeks ago, featured a scene where Varun Dhavan looks at Hitler’s image and in the backdrop Jhanvi is saying “We’re all a bit like Hitler.”

    Responding to the accusations of ‘tone-deaf’ and ‘insensitive portrayal of a tragedy’, Tiwari spoke to The Hindustan Times about it.

    “While creating a character, you can go back and look at the events and incidents which can play an important role in the overall arc of that character and the relationship in general. It’s not just about Hitler. There are many more things that you may not have seen in the trailer. Every incident has been very carefully chosen that can have an impact on the overall arc.”

    Bawaal has been panned by critics with The Guardian giving it one star and saying it lacked in “fun, pep, humour and charm”. The Hindustan Times called it “the most insensitive film of the year.”

  • Police arrest couple in DIG Jamal’s death inquiry

    Police arrest couple in DIG Jamal’s death inquiry

    Lahore police have arrested a man and his wife for questioning in Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shariq Jamal’s death inquiry.  

    The police officer was found dead in mysterious circumstances at an apartment on Saturday morning. At the time, conflicting media reports said that the policeman was found dead at his residence, while others said his body was found in an apartment in DHA.

    According to media reports, a couple shifted him to a private hospital in DHA.

    However, after further investigation by the police, it came to light that DIG was at the couple’s flat.

    The husband and wife revealed that the DIG was with them, and they brought him to the hospital after his health took a turn for the worse.

    According to the details, DIG was brought to the hospital at 1:30 a.m. and declared dead on arrival.

    The police confirmed that Shariq Jamal was not at his residence but at an apartment in Lahore, and he had shifted to the hospital from there.

    The authorities have decided to investigate the matter, transferring the body of the DIG to Jinnah Hospital for a postmortem.

  • Govt set to outsource Islamabad International Airport operations for 15-20 years

    Govt set to outsource Islamabad International Airport operations for 15-20 years

    The government has taken the decision to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport before the conclusion of its current tenure. The decision comes as part of the government’s strategy to enhance efficiency and service quality at the airport.

    According to details, the concerned authorities are set to issue a tender for the outsourcing of Islamabad International Airport for a duration of 15 years, with the possibility of extending the contract to 20 years to accommodate the interests of interested companies.

    As per the outlined plan for airport outsourcing, the responsibility for passengers’ facilitation services will be transferred from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the selected private company. This company will be entrusted with the management of the airport, with a primary focus on improving passenger facilities. Furthermore, the company will be responsible for the renovation and management of the duty-free shops within the airport premises.

    A noteworthy aspect of this outsourcing plan is that the current CAA employees associated with Islamabad International Airport will be reassigned to other departments within the airport network. Additionally, several other essential services, including airport terminal services, parking, storage, cargo, and handling, will also be included in the outsourcing process.

    It is crucial to mention that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will retain control over critical functions such as airport security and air traffic control departments. This measure is taken to ensure that crucial aspects of airport operations remain under the direct supervision of the government.

    To safeguard the interests of passengers and ensure accountability, the agreement with the selected company will include provisions that allow the federal government to terminate the contract in case of failure to provide satisfactory facilities and services to travelers.

    Following the initiative at Islamabad International Airport, the federal government also plans to undertake similar outsourcing measures for the airports in Lahore, Karachi, and Skardu, aiming to streamline operations and enhance overall service delivery standards.

    In a related development, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting of the Steering Committee in Islamabad yesterday, where the progress of work pertaining to the outsourcing of airport operations was thoroughly reviewed. The committee unanimously granted approval to the Ministry of Aviation to proceed with the tendering process for outsourcing Islamabad International Airport. The move is intended to align airport services with the best industry practices and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.

    According to ARY, this strategic decision by the federal government reflects a proactive approach to leverage private sector expertise in managing critical aspects of airport operations, with the ultimate goal of providing enhanced services and facilities to travelers using Islamabad International Airport.

  • School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    School-girl tortured, gang-raped by four men in Islamabad

    A 17 year old schoolgirl in Islamabad was gang-raped by four boys who kidnapped her while she was on her way to school in Sector E-9. The police have arrested three of the four suspects: Atish, Junaid Ansar and Afad Malik while Hassan Shakeel is still at large.

    According to The News, the child’s mother told the police that the girl left for school at 8 o’ clock in the morning when she met a friend of her brother, Atish, waiting for her near the school. Atish kidnapped her by lying to her about an emergency. The boy then took her to village Matiari where three of his friends- Junaid Ansar, Afad Malik and Hassan Shakeel- tortured her. Then, they put a gun to her head, threatening to kill her if she cried or screamed while she was being raped.

    The police has registered a First information report (FIR) under Section 375-A and said that they are hunting down Hassan Shakeel, promising to trace him within 24 hours.