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Author: News Desk

  • ‘Shouted slogans, threw stones, and set fire’: Muslim ex-FM home attacked in India

    ‘Shouted slogans, threw stones, and set fire’: Muslim ex-FM home attacked in India

    Hindu extremists have attacked and set fire to the home of a former Indian foreign minister (FM), police say, in the latest incident of religious violence. Critics say religious violence has increased under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, reports Al-Jazeera.

    Salman Khurshid, a Muslim from the Opposition Congress party, published a book in which he compared the kind of Hindu nationalism that has grown under Modi to “extremist groups” such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS).

    A mob of about 20 people from an extremist local Hindu group massed outside Khurshid’s house near the northern city of Nainital on Monday.

    “They shouted slogans, threw stones, broke several windows, ransacked [the entry] and set fire [to a door],” said a local police chief Jagdish Chandra.

    Khurshid posted images of the aftermath of the attack on social media, and wrote, “Shame is too ineffective a word.”

    “I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism?” he added.

    Activists say that religious minorities in Hindu-majority India have faced increased levels of discrimination and violence since Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014.

  • ‘Don’t like him at all, lacks tameez and acting skills’: Hira Tareen blasts Yasir Hussain

    ‘Don’t like him at all, lacks tameez and acting skills’: Hira Tareen blasts Yasir Hussain

    Celebrity couple Ali Safina and Hira Tareen, who tied the knot back in 2013, made an appearance on Time Out on Ahsan Khan.

    Ali Safina Biography – Age – Education – Wife in 2021 | Biography, Education, Wife

    The Khaas star declared her dislikeness for actor and writer Yasir Hussain.

    On being asked about a celebrity who’s acting skills she doesn’t like, Ali answered for his wife and took Mahira Khan’s name. However Hira was quick to add that no, its actually a male celebrity whom she dislikes.

    She mentioned that she doesn’t like Yasir’s acting skills at all, adding that he lacks basic manners (tameez), “Its about how you talk to people”.

    The Jhooti actor recently shared a post and added a note that he will leak the movies on cable if they are not released in cinemas anytime soon. 

    Speaking of the digital era, the duo strongly believe that social media is starting to have a strong impact on the industry. “There will come a time when our actors will be girls who’ve risen on TikTok or other social media apps,” Safina said.

    Tareen thought that time is already here and Hania Aamir is a strong example of this.”

    Hania Amir Joins The #RasodeMeKaunTha Meme Bandwagon With A Hilarious Post - HNH Style

    The Qaraar star shared, “There was that shooting that happened at the production house in which a security guard opened fire on our engineer and seven others were injured as well. That was all over the news. A lack of security, late payments and dishonesty. No target oriented work which would mean that if you reach a certain target, this is the level you’ll achieve or be promoted. Actors or artists are investing their own money into social media. They’re getting their own pictures taken, putting in their own efforts to get them published and posted. If I put in this much effort in any other industry, I’d reach such heights in my career.”

  • ‘The problem I have with Shahid [Afridi]…’, Shoaib Akhtar tells all

    ‘The problem I have with Shahid [Afridi]…’, Shoaib Akhtar tells all

    In a video posted by Shoaib Akhtar on Twitter, he revealed the problems he has with Boom Boom Shahid Afridi.

    Narrating his lists of problems, Akhtar said, “The only problem I have with Shahid is, he is way better looking than I am.”

    https://twitter.com/shoaib100mph/status/1460570177213550592?s=21

    “He hits the ball far better than I can, the problem is he is more famous than I am,” added Akhtar.

    Akhtar further said, “Another biggest problem I have with him [Shahid], is his hair. He has more hair than I have.”

    On Tuesday, Shahid Afridi thanked Shoaib Akhtar and said that he liked the “lot of truth” that Shoaib had spoken about in one of their recent meet-ups.

    Afridi said he was pleased to see Akhtar and complimented him for looking “fit” as he retweeted a tweet by Akhtar.

    “Buhut Shukria Shoaibi! Aapke moun se itna sara sach buhut acha laga. And great to see you, my friend, you look fit hope your knees continue to support you,” wrote Afridi.

    Akhtar’s post, retweeted by Afridi, was a video that the fast bowler had shared earlier on Tuesday.

  • Video: Ranbir Kapoor reveals his favourite songs of Mahira Khan and Farhan Saeed

    Video: Ranbir Kapoor reveals his favourite songs of Mahira Khan and Farhan Saeed

    Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor opened up about his favourite songs of two Pakistani stars. The Sanju star stated that he likes Farhan Saeed’s Thori Dair Aur from the film Half Girlfriend.

    For Mahira, the Raajneeti actor mentioned that he loves Zaalima from Raees.

    Earlier while promoting Jagga Jasoos with Katrina Kaif he praised Mahira Khan’s beauty.

    Mahira Khan Finally Opens Up About Her Controversial Pictures with Ranbir Kapoor - WOW 360

    Ranbir also appreciated Fawad Khan after working with him, “He’s someone who I admire and I also connected to him as a friend. I would love to do a film with him where we can share screen space for a longer time.” 

    Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' co-stars Ranbir, Fawad sport identical beards

    The Brahmastra hero was interviewed by Shaista Lodhi in 2010, in which he praised Pakistan and its entertainment industry.

  • Pakistan to host 2025 Champions Trophy as ICC announces 8 tournaments, Ramiz cheers

    Pakistan to host 2025 Champions Trophy as ICC announces 8 tournaments, Ramiz cheers

    Pakistan will host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, which means that the Pakistan cricket team will defend its title in its own home ground. Pakistan won the last Champions Trophy in 2017.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday confirmed the 14 host countries of the ICC men’s white ball events from 2024-2031. Eleven Full Members and three Associate Members have been selected to host two ICC Men’s Cricket World Cups, four ICC Men’s T20 World Cups and two ICC Men’s Champions Trophy events.

    The USA and Namibia will host an ICC World Cup event for the first time. While Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe have previously staged major events and will do so again over the next decade.

    The hosts were selected via a competitive bidding process overseen by a Board sub-committee chaired by Martin Snedden along with Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Skerritt. The ICC Board accepted the recommendations of the committee who conducted a thorough review of each bid along with the ICC management. A similar process to identify the hosts for ICC Women’s and U19s events for the next cycle will be undertaken early next year.

    Reacting to the development, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja said, “It’s a matter of great pride and delight that Pakistan will be hosting ICC Champions Trophy 2025.”

    ICC Chair Greg Barclay said: “We are delighted to have concluded this competitive bidding process for the first time for ICC events. To have 14 Members hosting 8 events is a reflection of the truly global nature of our sport and I’d like to thank every Member that submitted a bid and offer our congratulations to the successful bidders.”

    “It is fantastic to be returning to so many previous hosts, but what is really exciting about this process is the countries who will stage ICC events for the first time including the USA which is a strategic growth market for us. This gives us the opportunity to deepen our connection with fans in traditional cricket nations and also reach new fans around the world.”

    2024 T20 World Cup: USA and West Indies

    2025 Champions Trophy: Pakistan

    2026 T20 World Cup: India and Sri Lanka

    2027 ODI World Cup: Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa

    2028 T20 World Cup: Australia and New Zealand

    2029 Champions Trophy: India

    2030 T20 World Cup: England, Ireland and Scotland

    2031 ODI World Cup: India and Bangladesh

    It should be noted that Pakistan is set to host Australia in 2022 and England will be visiting Pakistan next year with additional two T20Is that will be played in Pakistan after England’s chief Tom Harrison visited Pakistan.

  • ‘The word ‘Paki’ was used constantly’: Azeem Rafiq tells MPs of racism at Yorkshire

    ‘The word ‘Paki’ was used constantly’: Azeem Rafiq tells MPs of racism at Yorkshire

    English cricketer Azeem Rafiq has told MPs that racist terms were “used constantly” across his two spells at Yorkshire and no one in the leadership challenged them.

    Rafiq first alleged racial harassment and bullying against the county and accused them of institutional racism in September last year, with the club launching an investigation soon afterwards. However, their handling of it has been heavily criticised. They finally published summary findings of the investigation in September this year and, while the investigation found there was “no question” Rafiq had been subjected to racial harassment and bullying, no individuals faced disciplinary action.

    Rafiq told the digital, culture, media and sport committee on Tuesday: “Pretty early on at the club, I joined a dressing room full of my heroes, Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, part of the 2005 Ashes team. And it was just the most surreal moment for me.

    “Pretty early on, me and other people from an Asian background … there were comments such as ‘you’ll sit over there near the toilets’, ‘elephant washers’. The word ‘Paki’ was used constantly. And there just seemed to be an acceptance in the institution from the leaders and no one ever stamped it out.”

    Rafiq added: “All I wanted to do is play cricket and play for England and live my dream and live my family’s dream. In my first spell, I don’t really think I quite realised what it was. I think I was in denial.”

    While talking in a presser, he said: “I should never ever get treated the way I was treated. When I spoke, I should have been listened to. The game as a whole has a problem, with listening to the victim. There is no yeah buts to racism and there is no two-sides when it comes to racism.”

    Rafiq said the problem at Yorkshire was replicated “up and down the country”.

    Former England batter Ballance admitted using a “racial slur” towards Rafiq in a lengthy statement issued earlier this month, apologising but framing it as part of a long and deep friendship.

    Rafiq also alleged former England batter Alex Hales was involved.

    He said: “Gary and Alex Hales got really close to each other when they played for England together. I wasn’t present in that dressing room, but what I understand (is) that Alex went on to name his dog ‘Kevin’ because it was black. It’s disgusting how much of a joke it was.”

  • ‘Who was insulted?’: Opposition questions Asad Qaiser on postponing of joint Parliament session

    National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaiser has reportedly met with the United Opposition on Tuesday, reports Geo Urdu.

    Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz’s (PML-N) Rana Sanaullah, Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) senior leaders Khursheed Shah and Sherry Rehman were present in the meeting with Speaker.

    The Opposition was invited to discuss and negotiate on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and other legislation.

    “Now the government is calling for a joint session,” questions the Opposition.

    The Opposition raised the question to Qaiser that, “Who was insulted”? [Referring to the postponing of the joint Parliament session]. Upon this, the speaker replied, “I will call the ministers right now, “adding that things would have been better if the legislation had been passed by consensus.

    Last week, Qaiser wrote to the PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif and invited the Opposition for talks after the government got seven bills passed in the absence of Opposition members from the lower house of parliament due to which the government was heavily criticised.

  • Number of smokers declining in the world, WHO report reveals

    Number of smokers declining in the world, WHO report reveals

    A report published by World Health Organisation has revealed that the number of smokers globally has declined in recent years, AFP has reported.

    According to a new WHO estimate, 1.30 billion individuals worldwide used tobacco in 2020, down from 1.32 billion two years earlier. The number is further expected to go down by 1.27 billion by the end of 2025.

    While about a third of the global population over the age of 15 used tobacco products in 2000, only about a fifth is predicted to do so by 2025, according to the report.

    Read more- Over 1,200 children start smoking every day in Pakistan

    “It is very encouraging to see fewer people using tobacco each year,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement, “we still have a long way to go, and tobacco companies will continue to use every trick in the book to defend the gigantic profits they make from peddling their deadly wares.”

  • ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    ‘Those who brought Khan now admit they made a mistake’: Asif Ali Zardari

    Former president Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday while speaking to reporters during his appearance at an accountability court said, “Those who brought Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan are now admitting that they committed a mistake,” adding that they are now figuring out how to undo that mistake.

    “Only Allah knows best how they can fix this mistake,” said Zardari.

    When asked a question relating to Maryam Nawaz’s petition which was similar to that of former PM Benazir Bhutto, Zardari said he would not talk about it as “Maryam Nawaz is like a daughter to me. What comment should I make on my daughter?”

    Replying to a question about ex-chief justice Gilgit-Baltistan Rana Shamim’s affidavit, the former president said: “We have already seen this. Justice Qayyum had a tape with Saif-ur-Rehman and some friends as well.”

    A division bench of the Islamabad High Court comprising IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Amir Farooq heard the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) appeal against Zardari’s gold reference and Ursus tractors deal.

  • ‘Was breathless’: Mohammad Rizwan talks about health, pillow he carries

    ‘Was breathless’: Mohammad Rizwan talks about health, pillow he carries

    Pakistan’s wicket keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, who was exceptionally good at the T20 World Cup and scored 281 runs off his 6 innings, has recently talked about his health during the tournament in a media interaction on Monday.

    The record holder batter reportedly developed a severe chest infection just before the T20 World Cup semi-final. He narrated his journey from the hotel to the hospital and then to the cricket ground.

    Rizwan said that though he had told his family in the hotel that he is just going to have an ECG done downstairs to keep them calm, he had lost his breath by the time he reached the hospital.

    “My condition was not good,” said Rizwan. He said that the doctors told him that both his oesophagus and respiratory tract were blocked. The cricketer added that he cannot even recall their names.

    “They were not telling me anything and saying that I will get well by the morning,” said Rizwan.

    “The next afternoon, they told me that I will get discharged [from the hospital] by the evening.”

    The cricketer said at this point, he asked a nurse about his condition and she told him that “both his oesophagus and the reparatory tube would have burst if he got 20 minutes late” in reaching the hospital.

    The nurse told Rizwan that he would have to remain hospitalised as long as the doctors would advise.

    Rizwan said that the medical team performed different kinds of tests but he kept himself convinced that “this test or that test would make him better”.

    He said that the doctor told him that he wants him [Rizwan] to play the semi-final for Pakistan.

    “This gave me a boost,” said Rizwan, adding that one encouragement from the doctors made him take two steps towards the recovery.

    Rizwan said he was a bit “dismayed when the doctor told him that his condition was not stable enough for him to play”.

    Rizwan said that he missed few sessions of practice in Dhaka for the upcoming series with Bangladesh. But he shared that he will be going to the practice sessions after the rest he was advised by the doctors.

    While talking about his pillow, the 29-year-old said that this is a medicated pillow and a wicket-keeper always has a neck issue because of the keeping and batting as well. “I was referred this medicated pillow to tackle the stiffness due to the exertion.”

    He added: “It helps me a lot. When you are recovering, sleep is very much important and that is why I carry the pillow with me. It is spotted with me because I don’t want to miss it for even one night and send it with the bags.”

    “I just carry it with myself in my hands so I recover with its help to play the matches.”

    Playing in the first ICC semi-final of his career, Rizwan became the first player in the history of the game to score 1,000 T20I runs in a calendar year.

    Rizwan scored a half-century against Australia in the second semi-final of the T20 World Cup. He was also the the third highest scorer of the tournament.

    Rizwan is included in the squad of Test matches and T20Is against Bangladesh, which is set to start from November 19.