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Author: News Desk

  • Pakistan wins first Test by an innings and 116 runs

    Pakistan wins first Test by an innings and 116 runs

    Pakistan bowled Zimbabwe out for 134 to register a win in the first Test by an innings and 116 runs. They go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.

    Pakistan demolished Zimbabwe for the second time in three days just over half an hour after tea. Zimbabwe lasted all of 105.3 overs in the match while Pakistan batted 133 in their only innings.

    Zimbabwean openers went on scoring 36/0 before walking out for lunch. Kasuzu was not out for 21 whereas Tarisai Musakanda remained not out for 14.

    Returning from lunch, Zimbabwe started losing wickets with Hasan taking charge. The proceedings started with Hasan bagging Kevin Kasuza at 48. Tarisai Musakanda scored 48 before being run out.

    Brendan Taylor tried hard to rescue his team but he managed to score just 29 runs. Regis Chakabva made 14.

    Earlier, Fawad Alam got out for an unbeaten 140 that led Pakistan to gain the 250-runs lead against hosts.

    Resuming Day 3 at 374-6, Pakistan lost Hasan Ali and Nauman Ali in quick succession to suffer at 395-8. Hasan scored 30 runs off 26 balls with the help of three boundaries and two sixes.

    Sajid Khan got out after scoring 7 runs whereas Fawad ended his long run at 140 off 204 balls laced with 20 boundaries. Pakistan added 48 runs on Day 3 finishing their turn at 426-10.

    Blessing Muzarabani bagged four wickets while Donald Tiripano took three wickets for Zimbabwe. Richard Ngarava took two wickets while Tendai Chisoro managed to take a wicket.

    Meanwhile, Hassan managed to get nine wickets in the match, scores his fourth Test five-for and completed 50 Test wickets in just 12 matches. He also bagged Player of the Match award for his extraordinary performance.

  • Fact Check: Is Maulana Tariq Jamil selling nara’s for Rs 550?

    Claim: Mualana Tariq Jamil’s company MTJ is selling nara’s for 550 per piece

    Fact: MTJ is not selling any nara’s

    Just days after Maulana Tariq Jamil’s flagship store opened its doors in Karachi, news of the brand selling nara’s (drawstrings) at a price of more than Rs 500 started circulating on social media with some people criticizing the religious scholar for selling overpriced stuff.

    However, according to a press release circulating on social media, the brand has denied the news of selling drawstrings.

    “It has come to our notice that MTJ- Tariq Jamil is being accused of selling drawstrings (nara) for Rs.550 apiece,” reads the statement.

    “We would like to clarify that the news is fake.”

    “We do not manufacture drawstrings (nara) and our stores and website have never placed such article for sale,” the statement added.

    “Please beware of spreading false news and help us report those who are involved in this malpractice.”

    Maulana Tariq Jamil was criticized for starting his own clothing brand despite being a religious cleric after which he shared a video message on his social media accounts to explain the reason for launching his own brand.

    “Since 2000, I had been thinking about starting a business for my religious activities, especially to run a madrassa. During COVID-19’s lockdown, I have the opportunity to put that idea into practice.”

    “That was my intention [to make the madrassas self sufficient] and a few of my friends collaborated with me, after which we launched a brand with my name,” he added.

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • ‘Daughters are Allah’s gift,’ Rabia Anum tells live caller on Ramzan show

    Rabia Anum Obaid, who is co-hosting Pakistan Television’s (PTV) Ramzan Transmission along with Ahsan Khan, recently gave a sweet response to a man who asked for a wazeefa to have sons.

    A video from the Sehri transmission, that has gone viral on social media, shows a viewer asking for a wazeefa so that he can have a boy. The man said that he has five daughters and yearns for a son. After a religious scholar answered his question, Rabia Anum added that having daughters is a blessing.

    Anum further said that Allah blesses those with daughters whom is is happy with. Addressing the live caller, Rabia said that Allah is happy with you which is why you have so many daughters. She also gave an example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who had four daughters.

    Rabia also said that apart from Shahid Afridi’s cricketing career or welfare, she respects him most because of the love he showers on his daughters.

    Rabia, herself has a daughter.

  • PM Imran asks for electoral reforms, again

    Prime Minister Imran Khan took to Twitter on Saturday to say that his government wants to “bring transparency and credibility to our elections”. The NA-249 by-election has become controversial after rigging allegations against the winning Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

    In a series of tweets, the PM said: “All parties are crying foul and claiming rigging. The same happened in Daska and in Senate elections. In fact, apart from the 1970 election, in every election claims of rigging have raised doubts over the credibility of election results.”

    He further added, “In 2013 there were 133 NA constituencies’ disputes before election tribunals. We asked for an examination of just 4 constituencies’ votes & in all 4 riggings was established. But it took us a yr & a 126-days dharna to get a Judicial Commission that found over 40 faults in the conduct of elections.” PM added that unfortunately no substantive reforms were put in place. He tweeted that the use technology Electronic Voting Machines “are the only answer to reclaim credibility of elections”.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan has now invited the Opposition to sit with the government and select from EVM [Electronic Voting Machines] models that are available to us in order to “restore our elections credibility”.

    The prime minister said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is determined. “We will put in place reforms in our electoral system through the use of technology to bring transparency and credibility to our elections and strengthen our democracy”.

    Miftah Ismail writes to ECP

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismail has written a letter to the chief election commissioner seeking a vote recount in the NA-249 by-election held on April 29 in Karachi.

    In the letter, Miftah wrote: “We did not receive results from more than 30 polling stations. We have serious concerns about the behaviour of some presiding officers.” He also added that many Form 45s were not signed and also asked for forensic audit of Form-45 with Whatsapp/RTS. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has fixed the hearing for voting recount on May 4.

  • Saboor Aly announces ‘baat pakki’ with Ali Ansari

    Saboor Aly announces ‘baat pakki’ with Ali Ansari

    Saboor Aly aur Ali Ansari ki baat paaki hogayi hai.

    VIDEO: Sajal, Saboor light up the dance floor at friend’s wedding

    Sharing a picture from their baat pakki, Aly said: “With the blessings of our families I’m ready to jump into a new life with an amazing person.”

    Ansari also shared a picture from their baat pakki and wrote: “Honestly, I’m in a mix of all kinds of emotions right now but most important of all I’m happy.”

    He also shared translation of a verse from Quran: “And of everything we created a pair, that perhaps you may remember.”

    “From this day forward you should not walk alone,” added the actor.

    While Saboor glowed in a light pink outfit, Ali looked dapper in white kurta pajama.

    Soon after they shared the news on social media, congratulatory messages poured in for the happy couple.

  • Baby starved for two days found alive

    Baby starved for two days found alive

    A less than one-year-old baby boy was found miraculously alive on Monday, hungry and lying down with his dead mother, in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Maharashtra. The mother had reportedly been dead for two days as no one reached out.

    29-year-old Sarawasti Rajesh Kumar was suspected to have died on Saturday, which means the baby had been not fed since then.

    “The baby was lying next to her silently… he was not crying,” said an official investigating the case. Due to the alarming situation of COVID-19 in India, the neighbours were hesitant to come near the body or even hold the baby.

    Police constables, Sushila Gabhale and Rekha Waze, who arrived at the scene then fed him.

    “The child had a little fever when we showed him to the doctor. He told us to feed him well, the rest is fine” said their colleague Rekha. They also took him to hospital where he tested negative for COVID-19.

    As per details, the woman was living with her husband, who had gone to their native place in Uttar Pradesh, and their child. The family lived on rent while the owners of the house lived at a distance. Since the landlords were COVID positive, they did not check on Kumar until a stench started emanating from the room. Authorities immediately alerted the husband of his wife’s demise.

    While it is not clear how the woman died, Police Inspector Prakash Jadhav of Dighi told the Indian Express that they “found some pills next to her body.”

    “We suspect the woman committed suicide by consuming the pills. Her body has been sent for post-mortem to YCM Hospital. The viscera has been preserved…the cause of death is not known so far,” said the official.

  • Grammy organisers eliminate ‘secret’ nominating committees after allegations of corruption

    The organisers of music’s Grammy Awards on Friday announced an end to the so-called “secret” committees that have led to allegations that the highest honours in the industry are open to rigging.

    The Recording Academy said that nominations for the next Grammy Awards in January 2022 will be selected by all of its more than 11,000 voting members, instead of by committees of 15 to 30 industry experts whose names were not revealed.

    The Academy was slammed last year when Canadian artist The Weeknd got zero Grammy nominations, even though his critically acclaimed album After Hours was one of the biggest sellers of 2020.

    The Weeknd, in a Twitter post last November, said “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”

    The Recording Academy said in a statement on Friday that the changes were significant and were made “to ensure that the Grammy Awards rules and guidelines are transparent and equitable.”

    Allegations that the Grammy nominations process is tainted were made in a legal complaint filed in early 2019 by the former chief executive of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan.

    At the time, the Academy dismissed as “categorically false, misleading and wrong” Dugan’s claims that its members pushed artists they have relationships with. Dugan was later fired.

    American pop star Halsey, also shut out of the 2021 Grammys, last year called the nominations process “elusive” and said she was “hoping for more transparency or reform.”

    Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik called in March for an end to “secret committees.”

    “I’m keeping the pressure on and fighting for transparency and inclusion. We need to make sure we are honouring and celebrating ‘creative excellence’ of all,” Malik tweeted hours ahead of the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony.

    Malik had also lashed out the awards saying: “Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionery.”

    The Recording Academy on Friday also said it was adding two new Grammy categories — for best global music performance, and best Latin urban music album — bringing to 86 the total number of Grammy Awards each year.

  • Celebrities cheer for little Musa who refused to wear glasses because of bullies

    Celebrities cheer for little Musa who refused to wear glasses because of bullies

    A six-year-old boy Musa refused to wear glasses because bullies at his school made fun of him. Musa’s father, Zeeshan shared a picture of his little boy on Twitter and asked netizens how his son looks in glasses. In a heartwarming turn of events, Twitter, including celebrities cheered on little Musa and told him that he looks super cute in glasses.

    Musa took the words of his school bullies to heart and was “very upset” when he was targeted for his glasses. He was hesitant to wear his glasses so his father decided to “ask the world” how his son looks in them.

    Musa’s tweet soon went viral and people from across the world, including celebrities like Pooja Bhatt, Zartaj Gul, Adnan Siddiqui, Imam ul Haq, Mohammad Amir and Feroze Khan sent him words of love and encouragement.

    Some users even reminded Musa of all the superheroes who wear glasses and look incredibly cool.

    https://twitter.com/GitaSKapoor_/status/1388156784506900481?s=19

    The tweet also caught Adnan Siddiqui’s attention, who said: “Musa you not only look great in glasses, but I can see a bright future ahead of you through the sparkle in your eyes!”

    The actor also made a collage of himself and Musa and said: “Specs are the cutest thing one can wear. They show that you are an avid reader, that you love books and also up your cool quotient.”

    “Hello Musa, [I] am a fan of ur glasses. You look so adorable in them. Wear ‘em to give me company too,” added the actor.

    Feroze Khan too encouraged the little boy, saying: “Man!!! Mooossssa! You vibing so hard kid! You look so Good!!!”

    Meanwhile, Zeeshan later updated that Musa read some of the comments and is very happy.

    “I showed him some of the comments before he left for school today. Can’t explain how happy he is. Thank you very much for overwhelming response,” said the happy father.

  • COVID likely to stay, will only get worse, warn experts

    COVID likely to stay, will only get worse, warn experts

    The novel coronavirus is morphing into a tougher variant over time, experts have warned. According to them, the mutations identified in the virus are worrisome, and as per the finds of the scientists, the virus will get more contagious and threatening.

    Experts are hesitant about making any predictions about when the pandemic will end and most scientists have accepted the truth that the virus will likely stay forever.

    There are some majors reasons why the virus will stay and not go anywhere. First, there are already four human coronaviruses endemic in our population. It means that they will circulate perpetually.

    “It’s safe to say we’re not going to eradicate it,” said Dr Becky Smith, an infectious disease specialist at Duke Health. “Too many people in the world have it. It’s too efficient at transmitting.”

    Secondly, the virus is zoonotic; it can jump from animal to humans or vice versa. Moreover, the SARS-CoV-2 has also emerged. So, even if we manage to eradicate SARS-CoV-2; the human and animals would likely produce a deadlier variant.

    Scientists have also predicted that the SARS-CoV-2 would turn into endemic; the intensity will reduce to the only flue and common cold. It’s a sign of hope, but it would likely happen over a period of five to ten years.

    Vaccination will not be available to everyone said Mike Osterholm, a leading infectious disease expert, adding it would be nearly impossible to make a yearly coronavirus vaccine available to every person on Earth.

    “It is going to be with us forever,” said Osterholm, who directs of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said of the virus. “It is something we can’t eradicate from humans.”

    As far as the new variants are concerned, the new South African (carrying B.1.351) virus shows resistance to Moderna’s vaccine. The new variant carries ten mutations in the virus’ spike protein, and it has forced vaccine makers to change their strategies. The P.1 variant of Brazil also have the same potency.

    Earlier, companies that produced Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, and Novavax have also raised concerns that vaccines won’t work well against B.1.351 or other variants with similar mutations.

    It is also possible that more powerful variants could drown out old versions of the virus, making the pandemic harder to combat. Virus experts in the US are already predicting that the fast-spreading B.1.1.7 variant, first discovered in the UK, will become the dominant variant in America by this May.

    But it’s impossible to predict what changes the virus might undergo next, or what they’ll mean for us because not all mutations make viruses more dangerous.

  • Biden returns billions Trump approved for US-Mexico border wall

    Biden returns billions Trump approved for US-Mexico border wall

    President of the United States (US) Joe Biden has decided to hold back funds of Pentagon that were directed by former President Donald Trump to build a wall on the US-Mexico border.

    The funds will be now used to fix the damages that were caused while the wall was under construction.

    According to reports, an official from the US government said that the Pentagon will begin cancelling all wall projects using the diverted funds, and the administration will take steps to return remaining unobligated military construction forms their appropriated purpose.

    The decision came when Joe Biden took over the office and signed a “proclamation” that directed the Pentagon to halt the flow of money to build the border wall, which was already ruled illegal by the federal court of US in June 2020.

    The Department of Homeland Security also announced plans to repair holes in flood levees at the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and fix soil erosion in San Diego created by border wall construction, neither of which will involve creating more barriers.

    The amount of money that the Trump administration allocated to build the wall was as high as $14 billion, says the official.

    According to the background details, the lawmakers of bipartisan put pressure on the government to make repairments against the damage caused due to the holes that drilled for wall construction.

    On this occasion, an influential American politician and attorney Ted Cruz commented that “I am pleased President Biden and the Department of Homeland Security are listening and now moving to shore up the levee wall system that had been unthoughtful. The repairs are necessary, crucial, and urgently needed.”

    In response, the chief critic senator Rick Scott uttered that “How can Biden possibly justify stopping wall construction?”, calling on Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to “immediately explain President Biden’s ridiculous order, how it is compliant with federal law and the awful consequences it will have on the current crisis.”