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Author: News Desk

  • PCB to award cash incentives to 15 cricket players

    PCB to award cash incentives to 15 cricket players

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will be giving cash incentives to 15 Pakistani cricket players in recognition of their outstanding performance throughout 2021.

    Chairman PCB Ramiz Raja is expected to present the cash prize of Rs1.5 million to each of the top 15 players who remained an integral part of the unit in all three formats of the game.

    Two Test specialists Abid Ali and Sajjid Khan have also been invited apart from 18 players (three reserves) for their exceptional show in the longer version of the game.

    “The reception to honour the top cricketers is meant to recognise the services of all those cricketers who have helped the team stand tall in almost all the formats of the game,” a PCB official said in a statement.

    “Barring some brief hiccups, the team members have given exceptional performance throughout the year. Be it T20 World Cup performance, Test matches performance at home and abroad, the team has shown exceptional courage in all the departments of the game.”

    “Beating South Africa at their own soil and later sweeping through Bangladesh in their own backyard were exceptional achievements that needed to be recognised,” the PCB official said.

    Pakistan won 20 of 29 T20Is during the year which also saw them putting up some resolute show in the T20 World Cup. The team that was unbeaten eventually lost to Australia in the semi-finals but not before winning many hearts for the competitive element that was on display.

    The reception which will only be attended by the PCB high-ups is supposed to improve morale of the team members in front of the hectic season that also incorporates some important series and T20 World Cup to be held in Australia in October/November.

    Pakistan may also host leading international outfits including Australia, England, New Zealand, and West Indies through the coming season.

    Every player in the 15-man squad would receive Rs1.5 million each as cash incentive while the rest of the five including three reserves and two Test specialists will also be awarded.

  • Aima Baig signals person in crowd to f*** off, shows middle finger

    Aima Baig signals person in crowd to f*** off, shows middle finger

    Singer Aima Baig showed her middle finger to a person in the crowd at a concert where she was performing. The singer showed the middle finger in response to a person who showed her the middle finger. Aima clarified the reason for her act, saying she did it because someone in the crowd did it first.

    Earlier in December, Aima, during a concert schooled a man for misbehaving with her, and the video went viral on social media. A front-row concert attendee misbehaved with the Sajna Door crooner. The singer did not shy away from expressing her anger.

    On the other hand, the singer has been issued a notice by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for non-payment of worth Rs 85 million.

  • Asteroid size of Burj Khalifa to make closest pass by Earth

    Asteroid size of Burj Khalifa to make closest pass by Earth

    A large asteroid the size of the Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building is heading for Earth. The flyby is expected to take place on Tuesday, January 18.

    The massive asteroid has a diameter of approximately 791 meters. Its estimated size is about 3,280 feet, which is approximately the size of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and twice the height of New York City’s Empire State Building.

    For comparison, the distance between the earth and the moon is far less than that around 385,00 km. As such, despite being classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid(PHA) due to its size and close proximity to Earth, it seems unlikely to pose a threat to the planet. In fact, NASA has declared the Earth safe from asteroid impacts for the next 100 years.

    The asteroid’s size also isn’t a cause for concern. Hasan Al Hariri, the CEO of Dubai Astronomy Group, said it will pass Earth safely.

    “The asteroid will fly past and go even beyond the moon. It’s not going to collide with our planet,” he said. “There are more than 500 such asteroids. These are also called NEOs or Nearth-Earth Objects or Hazardous Bodies.”

    “There are different types of asteroids, and we have to create different methods to defend Earth against potential asteroids or comet hazards,” Al Hariri said.

    The speeding asteroid will pass 1.93 million kilometres from earth, or about five times the distance between earth and moon.

    “Nasa’s programmes of planetary defence systems monitor all such bodies that can cause a threat to Earth, either in the short or long-term,” Al Hariri said. “Different space agencies also monitor the sky and there are many surveys held around the year and around the world to identify such objects that could pose a threat to us. Additionally, advanced telescopes are being manufactured that can capture up to even one million objects coming from space.”

  • Arooj Aftab first Pakistani artist to perform at Coachella with mega stars

    Arooj Aftab first Pakistani artist to perform at Coachella with mega stars

    Grammy-nominated Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab has announced that she will be performing on April 15 at the music festival Coachella in California.

    ‘Mohabbat’ singer is also going to be the first Pakistani artist to be performing at the American art and music festival. The news comes after she revealed that she will make her first Coke Studio appearance this season.

    Aftab shared a list of artists who will be performing on the first day of the festival on two weekends including Harry Styles, Lil baby, Daniel Caesar, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Sean.

    The music festival has returned after a three-year break due to Covid-19. Coachella is one of the largest, most famous, and most profitable music festivals in the world.

    After the announcement, Pakistan celebrities came forwards to congratulate the artist.

  • Australia cancels unvaccinated Tennis Star Novak Djokovic’s visa, reportedly lied on visa application

    Australia cancels unvaccinated Tennis Star Novak Djokovic’s visa, reportedly lied on visa application

    Australia has cancelled Serbian Tennis ace Novak Djokovic’s visa for a second time in a row over his right to remain in the country unvaccinated.

    The decision by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke means that the 34-year-old tennis star will be deported.

    However, Djokovic can still launch one more legal challenge to remain in the country.

    The men’s tennis number one was scheduled to play in the Australian Open, which is set to begin on Monday.

    “Today I exercised my power… to cancel the visa held by Mr Novak Djokovic on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so,” the minister said in a statement.

    The move also means Djokovic likely faces a three-year ban on obtaining a new Australian visa.

    Djokovic’s visa was first revoked shortly after his arrival in Melbourne on 6 January, after Australian border Force officials said he had “failed to provide appropriate evidence” to receive a vaccine exemption.

    After a legal battle in Australia, the star player’s visa was reinstated by a judge, who ordered his release, ruling that border officials ignored correct procedure when he arrived.

    But on Friday evening in Melbourne, Mr Hawke cancelled Djokovic’s visa under separate powers in Australia’s Migration Act.

    As per details, the act allows him to deport anyone he deems a potential risk to “the health, safety or good order of the Australian community”, however Djokovic can still appeal this.

    It comes after Djokovic addressed allegations that he had made a false declaration on his travel form which stated that he had not travelled in the 14 days prior to his arrival in Australia, when in fact he had been to Spain.

    He said the mistake was made by his agent, calling it “human error” and adding that it was “not deliberate”.

    He also admitted meeting a journalist and having a photoshoot after testing positive for Covid-19.

    Earlier, a conversation between two Australian newsreaders on Novak Djokovic’s visa saga had gone viral, after a video of it was leaked online. In the video, the newsreaders can be heard talking against the tennis star while saying that “he’s going to get away with this”.

  • Indian college bans hijab and Hindu saffron scarves over tension concerns

    Indian college bans hijab and Hindu saffron scarves over tension concerns

    A Karnataka state government college in India has banned the hijab and saffron scarves over rising tension fears.

    Last month, a section of the Hindu right-wing group appeared wearing saffron scarves and threatened their Muslim female class fellows not to wear the hijab during classes.

    The college principal said, “The officials were part of the meeting and it was decided that Hindu students will not sport saffron scarves and Muslim girl students will not wear hijabs but they can wear a shawl to cover their heads. If anyone violates the rule, they would be dismissed from the college.”

    Muslim students make a quarter of the total of 850 students enrolled in the degree college.

    The state secretary of Campus Front of India student group, Syed Sarfaraz Gangavathi appreciated the decision which took by the college authorities by saying, “The Constitution allows the wearing of hijab or saffron shawls but it should not be instigated by anyone or politically motivated.”

    According to the principal, the same issue rose up in 2018 as well when the authorities had barred Muslim female students from wearing hijab though for the past few days they started wearing the hijab again.

    In recent times, hatred has been fueling around in educational institutions over the religious freedom of the minorities under the current ruling government in India.

  • NCOC allows people over 18 to get booster shots starting tomorrow

    NCOC allows people over 18 to get booster shots starting tomorrow

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday has allowed booster shots for people over the age of 18 years as Covid-19 postivity rate increase around the country.

    “In Todays NCOC session, age limit for booster dose has been further reduced. From tomorrow onwards, citizens over 18 years will be eligible for free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after 6 months gap from complete vaccination,” NCOC said in a tweet.

    You can call on 1166 to get the details about the designated centers to get booster shots.

    As per NCOC, Pakistan recorded 3567 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with seven people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Positivity rate in Karachi reaches 28%, CM Sindh to impose lockdown on NCOC’s directives

    Positivity rate in Karachi reaches 28%, CM Sindh to impose lockdown on NCOC’s directives

    Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah stated on Friday that the decision to impose a lockdown and closure of educational institutions will be made in accordance with the recommendations of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The Covid positivity rate in Karachi has reached to 28.80%.

    “The health department is monitoring the cases regularly. The fifth wave is rapidly spreading, not just in Karachi, but across the country,” he said while talking to media.

    “Whatever strategy we adopt, it will be in consultation with NCOC.” he added

    As per NCOC, Pakistan recorded 3567 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with seven people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • LUMS expels student over alleged plagiarism, students demand inquiry

    LUMS expels student over alleged plagiarism, students demand inquiry

    Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has expelled a student in his final year allegedly on the basis of plagiarism and cheating.

    Students strongly protested the expulsion, demanding a fair inquiry from the administration of the university. The hashtag ‘#InvestigateLUMS’ is trending all over social media to open a fair investigation.

    Students claimed that the decision of expulsion was made because he was providing free tuition to other students.

    Another user strongly criticised the disciplinary action against the student from the university by saying, “It’s usually the students coming from non-elite/financial aid backgrounds who are on the receiving end of insanely disproportionate punishments. The consequences have been fatal in the past.“

    The Current confirmed with sources that the student was expelled on the basis of cheating and plagiarism which are serious offence under the University regulations while refuting the free tuition claims.

    In reaction, students questioned the justification of the extreme punishment and legitimacy of the findings. Many students demanded that the decision be reversed by the university’s administration.

  • Furious Kohli, unhappy Indian team hitting out at review system, broadcasters in South Africa Test

    Furious Kohli, unhappy Indian team hitting out at review system, broadcasters in South Africa Test

    A number of Indian players, Captain Virat Kohli among them, made public their displeasure and anger about the South Africa broadcaster, SuperSport, with respect to the use of technology after Dean Elgar was given not out on review on the third day of the final Test in Cape Town.

    It was in the 21st over of the final innings of the match, with South Africa on 60 for one chasing 212 to win the series, when R Ashwin hit Elgar on the pads. South Africa’s captain was given out lbw by Marais Erasmus, the on-field umpire, but the decision was overturned on review with ball-tracking showing the ball going over the stumps.

    The ball-tracking technology is authorised by HawkEye, an independent body, which relays the data to the host broadcaster, in this case SuperSport.

    A visibly irritated Kohli walked up to the stumps, and spoke into the mic, saying: “Focus on your team while they shine the ball. Not just the opposition. Trying to catch people all the time.”

    Kohli wasn’t alone. Vice-captain KL Rahul was heard saying: “It’s the whole country against 11 guys.” While Ashwin seemed to be taunting the broadcasters directly, saying: “You should find better ways to win, SuperSport.”

    The Indian players were not the only ones who didn’t agree with the decision. Erasmus could be seen shaking his head as the pictures played out on the screen at the venue, and was heard saying, “That’s impossible”.

    After the day’s play, when Lungi Ngidi was asked if he trusted DRS to do its job as expected, he said, simply, “Yes”. When asked why, he elaborated: “We’ve seen it on numerous occasions being used all around the world. It’s the system in place. That’s what we use as cricketers.”

    But the Indians were not on the same page.

    Paras Mhambrey, the bowling coach of India, said in his press conference: “We saw it, you saw it. I’ll leave that for the match referee to have a look at it. There’s nothing I can comment on it now. We’ve seen it all, just want to move on with the game now.”

    Elgar was eventually dismissed on the stroke of stumps, and DRS was in the picture again. This time, it was after India reviewed a not-out decision from the other umpire, Adrian Holstock, for a catch to the wicketkeeper off Jasprit Bumrah. It was a full delivery going down leg, and Elgar looked to flick but only managed to nick it, and Rishabh Pant took a diving catch to his right.

    India reviewed, and Kohli was heard saying, “Wonder how they’re going to show that.” As it transpired, UltraEdge showed a spike as ball passed bat and Elgar was given out.