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Author: News Desk

  • Cricket Australia to lose $100,000 due to THIS reason in India Test

    Cricket Australia to lose $100,000 due to THIS reason in India Test

    Cricket Australia will be facing a huge financial loss in the ongoing third Test against India, reports said Saturday.

    The first day of the third Test at the Gabba was rained out with only 13.2 overs played. Australia had scored 28 runs off 80 balls when rain stopped play 60 minutes into the game.

    With the match not resuming due to torrential downpour, Australia fell 10 balls short of completing 15 overs, which is the minimum requirement for the board to not be liable for ticket refunds.

    Cricket Australia will now have to refund all tickets worth a whopping $1 million, reports said.

    First Test Summary (Perth, November 22-26, 2024)

    India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a strong win in Perth. Batting first, India put up a massive total of 566 runs, thanks to brilliant centuries by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Australia’s bowlers, including Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, struggled to take regular wickets.

    When Australia batted, their lineup collapsed under the pressure of India’s bowlers. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja were exceptional, picking up most of the wickets. Australia was bowled out for just 207 runs in their first innings, giving India a huge lead.

    In the second innings, India decided to bat again and added another 185 runs before declaring. Australia was left with an impossible target of 545 runs. Despite some resistance from Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, Australia crumbled for 249. Mohammed Shami took crucial wickets in the second innings, leading India to a commanding victory by 295 runs.

    Second Test Summary (Adelaide, December 6-8, 2024)

    Australia bounced back strongly in the second Test, a day-night match in Adelaide. India batted first, but their innings fell apart quickly. Australia’s pacers, especially Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, were on fire, and India was bowled out for just 156 runs. Only Shubman Gill put up a fight with a half-century.

    Australia responded with a solid batting performance, scoring 325 runs in their first innings. Travis Head played a crucial knock, and Alex Carey provided support with a quick fifty. India’s bowlers tried hard, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Siraj picking up wickets, but they couldn’t stop Australia from taking a big lead.

    India’s second innings was worse than the first. The Australian bowlers, led by Starc, tore through the lineup. India managed only 113 runs, leaving Australia with a tiny target of 10 runs. Australia chased it down easily, winning the match by 10 wickets and leveling the series 1-1.

  • Pushpa 2’s Allu Arjun granted bail in deadly stampede case

    Pushpa 2’s Allu Arjun granted bail in deadly stampede case

    South Indian actor Allu Arjun of Pushpa fame has been released from prison after the Telangana High Court granted him four-week interim bail in the stampede case against him.

    Allu had been arrested after a woman died in a stampede during the premiere of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ earlier this month.

    The actor had on December 4 arrived at Sandhya Theatre around 9:30 PM. As he and his security team entered the theatre, a large crowd tried to follow him inside, leading to chaos. Things got worse when his security team started pushing the crowd back.

    Amid the chaos, 35-year-old Revathi lost her life while her son Sritej, 9, sustained injuries.

    With Allu being arrested Friday, a local court in Hyderabad sent him on a 14-day judicial remand. However, with the victim’s husband pulling out of the case, the Telangana High Court on Saturday granted the actor temporary relief.

    The court will revisit the case on January 21, 2025, reports said.

    Earlier, South Indian actor Allu Arjun was arrested after his appearance at a movie screening allegedly caused a stampede that resulted in the death of a woman on Friday, police and local media reported.

    A huge crowd had gathered at a theatre in Hyderabad to catch a glimpse of Allu Arjun as he arrived for the screening of his film “Pushpa 2: The Rule.”

    Arjun, 42, was arrested on suspicion of three offences, including causing hurt by dangerous means, a police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

    The victim of the December 4 stampede was a woman in her 30s attending the screening with her son, who was also seriously injured. The woman’s family later filed a complaint against Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management, media outlet India Today reported.

    Arjun said he was “deeply heartbroken” two days after the accident. “While respecting their need for space to grieve, I stand committed to extend every possible assistance to help them navigate through this challenging journey,” he wrote on X.

    Arjun is hugely popular in southern India, and the Pushpa film franchise has made millions at the box office.

    On Thursday12 December, A violent altercation during the screening of Pushpa 2 at Kajal Talkies in Phalka Bazar, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, resulted in a man’s ear being bitten off by a canteen staff member.

    The incident occurred on December 10 and has drawn attention because of its similarity to a scene from the film where the protagonist, Pushpa, fights back by biting his enemies.

    Indian media reported that the altercation began during the intermission when the victim, Shabbir Khan, got into an argument with canteen staff members Raju, Chandan, and MA Khan over a food bill. The disagreement escalated into a physical fight, with one of the staff members reportedly biting Shabbir Khan’s ear, causing significant bleeding.

  • Here’s why President Zardari has issues with madrassas registration bill

    Here’s why President Zardari has issues with madrassas registration bill

    President Asif Ali Zardari has raised eight objections over the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, under which religious seminaries are to be registered as societies.

    The Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, was passed by both houses of the parliament in October, but was returned to the National Assembly by the president at the time of assent.

    According to reports, President Zardari pointed out several flaws and procedural errors in the bill, which, he said, contradicted existing laws. The president also believed said laws could lead to seminaries being used for other purposes than education, reports added.

    As per the details of the objections, the law could result in the “spread of sectarianism”, and the formation of several madrassas in the same society could lead to the “deterioration of the law-and-order situation”.

    President Zardari expressed fear that if the bill was enacted into law, it could have negative consequences for Pakistan’s international standing.

    He said that bypassing the current registration process could lead to adverse reviews by international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and might also affect the European Union’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) programme.

    It merits mention that the GSP scheme allows developing countries, including Pakistan, to benefit from preferential access to the EU market by exempting certain goods from import duties. The EU cuts its import duties to zero on more than two-thirds of the tariff lines of their export to those country’s products, which implements 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, good governance, press freedom and the environment. Pakistan was awarded the GSP Plus status in 2014.

    Furthermore, President Zardari highlighted that the Societies Registration Act, 1860, was applicable within the limits of Islamabad, but the clause regarding the applicability of the new amendments only in the federal capital was not included in the bill.

    Referring to the Madrassa Education Board Ordinance 2001 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust Act, 2020, the president said that the new legislation could not be enacted in the presence of both acts.

    Additionally, he objected to the contradiction in the definition of madrassa in various provisions of the new bill. 

    It may be noted that the bill seems to be becoming the latest bone of contention between major power players, including the president, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led federal government and members of the opposition, especially Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.


    While Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has written to President Zardari, urging him to approve the amendment bill, Maulana has criticised the president over delays in the same.

  • PSL 10: Platinum category Pakistani players revealed

    PSL 10: Platinum category Pakistani players revealed

    The names of Pakistani platinum players for the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) have been announced.

    An important meeting between the Pakistan Super League management and franchises to finalise player categories concluded on Saturday, with the platinum category selections finalised.

    A report by Samaa News reveals that Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, and Haris Rauf from Lahore Qalandars have been selected for the platinum category, while Babar Azam and Saim Ayub from Peshawar Zalmi have also been included.

    From Quetta Gladiators, only Muhammad Amir has been chosen for the platinum category. Meanwhile, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, and Imad Wasim from Islamabad United are also through. From Karachi Kings, however, no player has been selected in this category.

    For Multan Sultans, Muhammad Rizwan and Usama Mir have been finalised in the platinum category. A decision between Iftikhar Ahmed and Abbas Afridi remains pending and has been referred to the review committee.

    The selection panel will review the names and groups of players apart from those in the platinum category, as voting on these names has yet to be completed. The final list is expected to be shared with all franchises by tomorrow.

    A rule change has been made for the Emerging category, allowing new players representing Pakistan to be included even if they are 23 years old.

  • Did Diljit Dosanjh gift his G-Wagon to crying fan?

    Did Diljit Dosanjh gift his G-Wagon to crying fan?

     Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh continues to win hearts worldwide not just with his music but with his deep connection to fans.

    On 16 November 2024, during his ongoing Dil- Luminati Tour 2024, a fan caught the attention of many as she was seen crying while singing along to his song ‘Dil Tenu De Dita Main Ta Sohneya.’

     Though many fans could relate to the heartfelt moment, others took to social media to troll her for showing her emotions so openly.

    The incident quickly went viral sparking baseless rumors that Diljit gifted his luxurious G- Wagon to the emotional fan (Khushi).  Speculations gathered pace quickly but Diljit and his team have not confirmed it.

    During his next concert in Hyderabad, the Crew actor responded to the online backlash, using the platform to defend the girl. 

    “Music brings out emotions. It makes people smile, dance, fight, fall, and even cry. I have cried many times while listening to music. Only those who feel deeply can cry, and I know you have that in you. Don’t worry about it,” Diljit shared.

     No one can stop these girls, they are independent and capable, both men and women now earn for themselves. They work hard and enjoy life, Insulting women means insulting the daughters of the nation, he added.

    On his Instagram, he posted a video of his concert with the caption: “A woman who knows her worth doesn’t need validation, she shines bright enough to light her own way.”

     Celebrities from Pakistan, like Ushna Shah, have also supported the young woman who went viral for crying and singing at the DD concert. Ushna shared her thoughts on Instagram, explaining that the moment was deeply meaningful for the girl, and it was unfortunate that many online creators responded with trolling.

    Diljit’s Dil-Luminati Tour 2024 has been a big hit, with all concert tickets sold, and the grand finale is set for December 29 in Guwahati India.

    Earlier, during his Dil-luminati tour in Delhi, Indian Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh touched millions of hearts with kindness.

    A viral video showed a young fan enjoying the Dosanjh concert from her terrace near Diljit concert asking, “Diljit uncle thoda tez chila dou.”

    He responded on Instagram saying, “Beta, come I have tickets for you and your family.” 

    True to his word, Diljit gifted passes to the girl and her uncle for the next show.

    The girl Naina’s uncle Kunal Sharma thanked Diljit in an Instagram post. 

    “Thank You  Diljit Sir ❤ for making  our Day ❤ ,You made our day providing  us FANpit passes,” Kunal Sharma wrote.

  • Private medical colleges’ excess fees to be refunded

    Private medical colleges’ excess fees to be refunded

    A Senate Subcommittee on Health announced that it will investigate private medical colleges responsible for charging inflated fees from students. 


    Senator Palwasha Khan, convener of the committee, chaired a sub-committee meeting where she highlighted that the law clearly states that Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has the authority to control fees. She raised questions  regarding the role of the medical body, stating that due to the criminal negligence of PMDC, students of private medical colleges were “slaughtered in the name of fees.”


    The committee was told that a fee of upto three million rupees was charged from first year MBBS and BDS students.


    Committee chairman Palwasha Khan avowed that additional fees collected from students in the year 2024 will be refunded. “We will refund the excess fee charged by these institutions and cancel the registration of all the medical colleges violating the rules,” she said.


    Reports suggest that PMDC and the health ministry officials admitted that they have been charging heavy fees from students.


    Adding to the conversation, Senator Humayun Mohmand said that the drastic increase in fees from Rs0.8 million to Rs3.5 million is illegal. Moreover, he said that a 300 per cent increase is unacceptable. Among them, many of our parliament members are doing business, he remarked. 

    On this occasion, Committee Chairman Palwasha Khan emphasised while the law is very clear that PMDC can control the fees, private medical colleges are openly “looting children”.


    Khan said that PMDC gave birth to the private medical colleges which she described as a “mafia”.


    As the chairman asked the PMDC’s failure to refund the additional fee, “Why were these additional fees of up to Rs0.9 million not refunded?” The authority’s registrar stated in the meeting that private medical colleges are not categorised. Private medical colleges raise their fees independently.


    Adding to that the registrar also informed the committee that education and services are treated separately while compensation is collected for the use of services and machines.


    As an example, the committee was informed that a Rs2.9 million fee increase at Hazrat Bari Sarkar (HBS) Medical College has happened over two years.


    Upon this, the committee requested a detailed breakdown of the fees charged by the colleges. 


    The committee issued a directive to investigate the colleges that have increased their fees by 10-15 per cent.


    Parents and students who wish to voice their concerns about the fees have also been encouraged to reach out by the committee.


    PMDC President Rizwan Taj and former health secretary Iftikhar Shallwani have been summoned to the next committee meeting to delve into the matter further.

  • Junaid Khan dreams of working with these two Indian superstars

    Junaid Khan dreams of working with these two Indian superstars

    Popular actor Junaid Khan wants to work with Indian superstar Diljit Dosanjh and Bollywood playback artist Arijit Singh, calling them the best singers of the present era.

    Khan, also known as a singer, appeared on the comedy program Gap Shab, where he discussed various aspects of his life and career.

    He shared that although he holds a degree in mining engineering from abroad, he has never worked in the field. 

    “I have never worked in mining and don’t desire to. I’ve been passionate about singing since childhood, which led me to pursue a career as a singer. Later, after appearing in my music videos, I developed an interest in acting,” he explained.

    Khan recalled the early years of his acting career, stating, “Jawad Bashir offered me my first acting role as a musician, which I accepted. Over time, I’ve taken on various other roles.”

    Sharing his admiration for films, he mentioned his love for action and comedy genres, and expressed his liking for actors from Bollywood: Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan. He also revealed “past” fondness for Indian actress Madhuri Dixit, and that he now likes Kiara Advani.

    When asked about his preferences between singing and acting, Junaid Khan admitted that he finds more satisfaction in singing. “In acting, I perform on the instructions of others on a story written by someone else, so I find more comfort in singing,” he said.

    Junaid Khan also expressed a desire to collaborate with Indian artists, reflecting on his past experiences with Indian projects.

    “I have worked on several Indian projects in the past and have learned a lot [from the experience]. I still wish that the relations between the two countries would improve so that artists from both countries could support each other,” he shared.

    He acknowledged the challenges posed by strained relations between India and Pakistan but also expressed a sense of hope. “Indian filmmakers want to cast Pakistani actors, and here, our artists and singers also want to work in India, but it’s impossible because of deteriorating relations between the two countries.”

    While Junaid Khan continues to hope for improved relations between the two countries, he admitted “If given the chance, I would love to work with Diljit Dosanjh and Arijit Singh. Both are exceptional artists doing outstanding work.”

  • Prime Minister directs further reduction of electricity prices

    Prime Minister directs further reduction of electricity prices

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to further reduce power tariffs and expedite the implementation of the action plan for future power generation projects, Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

    Presiding a meeting in Islamabad to evaluate and discuss the country’s future electricity and power plans, the prime minister stressed the need to prioritise low-cost power projects based on local resources.

    PM Shehbaz said that low-cost power projects produced environment-friendly and affordable electricity.

    He further directed that the current electricity generation capacity should also be shifted to solar energy.

    “Globally, electricity is being produced from environmentally friendly, low-cost solar energy,” he noted, adding that Pakistan was fortunate in this regard as the country had vast potential for solar energy.

    The prime minister was informed about the progress of ongoing hydropower projects across the country and was also briefed on the progress of phasing out inefficient power plants that consumed more fuel but produced less electricity.

    He ordered the immediate closure of such outdated power plants, adding that closing them would not only save valuable foreign exchange but also reduce electricity costs for consumers.

    The premier instructed that immediate action be taken against all officials deliberately obstructing reforms in the power sector and that reforms in the electricity transmission system be expedited.

    “The power transmission system should be upgraded according to international standards,” the prime minister ordered.

    He also directed the swift implementation of a system based on modern technology for the selection and transmission of low-cost electricity.

    The prime minister issued instructions to complete all measures for the reform of the power sector within the specified timeline.


    The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ahad Cheema, Awais Leghari, Dr Musadik Malik, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and other senior officials.

    Today’s meeting came after the federal government on Tuesday approved settlement agreements with eight independent power producers (IPPs) running on bagasse, aiming to reduce electricity tariffs and save around Rs240 billion for the national exchequer.

    The decision was made during a federal cabinet meeting. The approval followed recommendations from the Ministry of Energy’s power division.

    The power plants agreeing to revised production costs included DW Unit I, Unit II, RYK Mills, Chiniot Power, Hamza Sugar, Al-Moez Indus¬tries, Thal Indus¬tries and Chinar Industries.

    After the agreements’ approval, the Central Power Purchasing Age¬ncy will seek approval from the National Elec¬tric Power Regulatory Authority for tariff adjustments.

    The Prime Minister’s Office had said in a press release the agreements were expected to reduce electricity prices for consumers and provide an estimated Rs238bn relief to the exchequer.

  • Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s lost album ranked #1 by The Guardian

    Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s lost album ranked #1 by The Guardian


    2024 has been a groundbreaking year for Pakistan music, with two remarkable albums making waves internationally. In a stunning turn of events, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s lost album Chain of Light has claimed the top spot on the prestigious Guardian’s list of best albums, while Arooj Aftab’s Night Reign has secured the sixth position.



    Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s impact on global music is unmatched, decades after his untimely death. Chain of Light, a collection of four unreleased tracks from 1990, highlights his extraordinary talent. His qawwalis includes, Ya Allah Ya Rehman, Aaj Sik Mitran Di, Ya Gaus Ya Meeran and Khabram Raseed Imshab.     The Guardian describes the album as “a remarkable discovery,” further solidifying his legacy as one of the world’s greatest voices and a key figure in shaping music worldwide.




    Meanwhile Pakistan- American singer Arooj Aftab continues to shine on the global stage with her album ‘Night Reign which landed at number six.Aftab is known for fusing the classical South Asian music with modern minimalism.


    She explores themes of love, loss and the mysterious charm of the night in Night Reign. After her 2021 Grammy-nominated album Vulture Prince, Aftab has solidified her place as a pioneer in contemporary global music.


     
    Here is the list of all 10 people/albums in The Guardian’s 2024 ranking:

    1. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Chain of Light
    2. Milton Nascimento and Esperanza Spalding – Milton + Esperanza
    3. Fabiano do Nascimento and Sam Gendel – The Room
    4.     Lord Spikeheart – The Adept
    5. Joe Rainey – Latest Project
    6. Arooj Aftab – Night Reign
    7. Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O – True Story
    8. Ganavya – Daughter of a Temple
    9. DJ Love – Budots World (Reloaded)
    10. Enji and Simon Popp – Poeji – Nant


    Earlier, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s legendary voice returns with the release of Chain of Light, a lost album released on Friday 20 September 2024 by Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records.
    The album was recorded in 1990 at Real World Studios. There are four tracks in the 41-minute album.


    The songs, including ‘Ya Allah Ya Rehman’ and ‘Aaj Sik Mitran Di’ take listeners back to the energy of Khan’s live concerts.

     The track ‘Ya Gaus Ya Meeran’ adds intensity, while ‘Khabram Raseed Imshab’ offers a joyful tone, highlighting the range of Khan’s legendary vocals.


    In addition to Nusrat on harmonium and vocals, the album features his brother Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan, tabla player Dildar Hussain, and chorus members Mujahid Ali, Rehmat Ali, Rahat Ali, Asad Ali, Ghulam Farid, and Khalid Mahmood.


    Peter Gabriel, founder of Real World Records, shared his admiration for Nusrat when the album was first announced in June.

  • OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead in San Francisco

    OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji found dead in San Francisco

    Suchir Balaji, an Indian-American researcher and former OpenAI employee, has died in San Francisco.

    He was found dead on November 26, and according to the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, his death has been ruled a suicide. However, officials found no evidence of foul play at the scene.

    The 26-year-old had been vocal about the risks associated with artificial intelligence and accused OpenAI of violating copyright laws. He raised these concerns in an interview with The New York Times in October.

    Balaji had worked as a researcher at OpenAI but left the company earlier this year. After his resignation, he became a vocal critic, frequently accusing OpenAI of using online data in ways that breached copyright laws.

    In his last social media post, Balaji stated, “I initially didn’t know much about copyright, fair use, etc., but became curious after seeing all the lawsuits filed against GenAI companies. When I tried to understand the issue better, I eventually concluded that fair use seems like a pretty implausible defence for a lot of generative AI products, for the basic reason that they can create substitutes that compete with the data they’re trained on.” 

    Suchir Balaji graduated in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and started his career as a software engineer at Quora in August 2016. Over the years, he interned at several organizations, including OpenAI, ScaleAI, and Helia, where he focused on machine learning. He joined OpenAI in November 2020 as a member of the technical staff, working on data-related projects and research.

    Balaji decided to leave the company in August this year, after concluding that OpenAI’s practices, particularly regarding copyright, could have serious long-term consequences.

    Elon Musk has reacted to Balaji’s death, sharing a post about the news and commenting with a simple “hmm,” which sparked further discussion.