Afghanistan pulled off another upset in the 14th match of the T20 World Cup, bowling out New Zealand for 75 runs in defense of 160 runs.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl first against Afghanistan.
First inning:
Ibrahim Zadran played an innings of 44 runs off 41 balls while Rahmanullah Garbaz scored 80 runs off 56 balls with the help of 5 sixes and 5 fours and got out in the last over of the inning.
Afghanistan’s first wicket fell for 103 runs in the 14th over when Ibrahim Zadran was bowled by Matt Henry.
The second player to get out was Azmatullah Umarzai, he scored 22 runs off 13 balls, Mohammad Nabi, who came after him, went back to the pavilion without opening his account, captain Rashid Khan was run out on the score of 6.
The Afghan team scored 159 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the alloted 20 overs.
For New Zealand, Trent Boult and Matt Henry took 2, 2 wickets while Ferguson managed to get one wicket.
Second inning:
In pursuit of Afghanistan’s target of 160 runs, New Zealand opener Finn Allen was dismissed for no runs by Fazl Haq Farooqui.
Apart from this New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips scored 18 runs, Matt Henry scored 10 runs, while none of the remaining batsmen got into double figures.
Fazal Haq took and Rashid Khan took four wickets each while Mohammad Nabi got 2 wickets.
A complaint has been filed against British Pakistani Zubair Yousaf over accusations of assaulting wife to the extent that it led to the death of their unborn child.
Dubai police are looking for Yousaf, who is currently living in Dubai, who allegedly fled his apartment after beating up his wife, Gulraz Anjam.
Yousaf assaulted his wife, Gulraz, in April 2024 when she questioned him about his relationship with another woman and the lack of financial support. This enraged Zubair, and he severely beat her for nearly 30 minutes. He strangled her, dragged her on the floor, and made her drink dirty water, as per the complaint.
“I lost our unborn child aged five months as a result of the assault. My husband Zubair Yousaf assaulted me with the intention to abort our baby,” she stated in the complaint. She asked the Dubai police to arrest him and prosecute him according to local laws.
The complaint also lays out details of Zubair’s past, which is marked by criminal activities, including allegedly having ties with terrorist groups and the underworld.
“Yousaf engaged in various fraudulent schemes, including using fake IDs to secure bank loans and purchase properties in the UK,” Gulraz shared with the UAE police, adding details of various frauds that prompted the UK police to start an investigation against him. This prompted Zubair to flee the UK, and then he stayed in Pakistan for nine years, taking advantage of the statute of limitations on civil suits in the UK.
Gulraz, in her complaint, also alleged that she has evidence that during his stay in Pakistan, Yousaf developed connections with terrorist organizations like Daesh and Taliban militants and raised funds for them. According to her, he became so involved with the extremist militant groups that an intelligence agency in Pakistan took him into custody and questioned him.
“He was involved in money-laundering, banking fraud, forgery, violence, mortgage fraud and manipulation of the then lax banking system of the UK. He literally stole millions from the UK banks,” Gulraz has shared a hefty file containing accounts of his criminal activities with the Dubai police.
Police in Rawalpindi and Islamabad have confirmed that Yousaf is on their wanted list for various crimes and that he fled to Dubai when they tried to arrest him.
The Dubai police’s initial investigation revealed that she is a British national and one of Yousaf’s many wives.
Yousaf has a history of marrying women, according to Gulraz. According to records, he has married eight women and has fathered between 10-12 children from his marriages. He abandoned all the wives and maintains marital relations with three at this time.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is scheduled to convene on Monday, June 10, to deliberate on the nation’s monetary policy. This crucial meeting will be closely watched by market participants and economic analysts.
Following the MPC meeting, the SBP is expected to release its monetary policy statement via a press release later the same day.
In the most recent MPC meeting held on April 29, the committee opted to maintain the interest rates at a historic high of 22 per cent, marking the seventh consecutive meeting where rates remained unchanged.
Speculation is rife among market analysts that the SBP may reduce its policy rate by 100 basis points (bps). If this anticipated reduction materialises, it would be the first rate cut in nearly four years, signalling a potential shift in the SBP’s approach after an extended period of stringent measures aimed at combating rampant inflation.
The MPC’s decision is set to precede the announcement of the federal budget for 2024-25, adding further significance to Monday’s meeting.
A potential rate cut could indicate a strategic move to stimulate economic growth and provide relief to businesses and consumers alike in the run-up to the new fiscal year.
In May, overseas workers’ remittances soared by 54.2 per cent compared to the same period last year, reaching $3.24 billion, according to the latest data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
This significant increase from $2.1 billion in May last year indicates a substantial boost in remittances.
Month-on-month, there was a notable 15.3 per cent increase in remittances, totaling $2.81 billion in the previous month.
Cumulatively, in the 11 months of the fiscal year 2023-24, total remittances amounted to $27.09 billion, showing a 7.75 per cent increase from $25.15 billion received in the same period last fiscal year.
Saudi Arabia retained its position as the leading contributor, with remittances amounting to $819.28 million, marking a 56.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The UAE followed closely, with remittances of $668.48 million, showing a staggering 99.0 per cent year-on-year increase.
Remittances from Pakistani workers in the UK surged to $473.22 million, a significant 54.4 per cent increase from the same month last year. Meanwhile, inflows from the USA amounted to $359.55 million, up by 39.8 per cent year-on-year.
Additionally, remittances from Pakistanis working in EU countries witnessed a substantial 36.4 per cent year-on-year increase, reaching $339.99 million, according to the data provided by SBP.
The Weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the Combined Group witnessed a 0.45 per cent increase week over week (WoW) during the week ending June 6, 2024.
This surge marks a significant 21.69 per cent rise YoY compared to the corresponding period last year, as per data unveiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Combined Index stood at 309.91, showcasing a slight uptick from 308.52 the previous week, and a notable increase from 254.67 recorded a year ago.
Among the 51 items monitored, the week saw prices of 19 items (37.26 per cent) soar, 14 items (27.45 per cent) witness a decline, while prices of 18 items (35.29 per cent) remained stable. Notable increases were observed in the prices of Onions (33.21 per cent), Tomatoes (15.34 per cent), Bananas (4.93 per cent), Pulse Gram (3.69 per cent), and Potatoes (2.62 per cent).
Conversely, significant decreases were noted in the prices of Bread (3.02 per cent), Garlic (2.00 per cent), Wheat (-1.99 per cent), Petrol (1.74 per cent), and Pulse Masoor (1.43 per cent).
The weekly SPI percentage change across income groups revealed a universal uptick, ranging between 0.33 per cent and 0.81 per cent. The lowest income group experienced the steepest weekly rise of 0.81 per cent, contrasting with a 0.33 per cent rise in the highest income group.
On an annual basis, analysis of SPI changes across income segments indicated a consistent increase, ranging from 15.26 per cent to 25.04 per cent. Yearly SPI for the Lowest Income Group surged by 15.26 per cent, while the highest income group recorded a 19.45 per cent increase.
In terms of specific commodities, the average price of Sona urea stood at Rs4,746 per 50 kg bag, marking a marginal 1.04 per cent decline from the previous week, yet reflecting a substantial 56.01 per cent increase compared to last year’s prices.
Meanwhile, the average Cement price reached Rs1,255 per 50 kg bag, showing a 1.40 per cent increase from the prior week and a noteworthy 9.82 per cent surge compared to last year’s prices.
Television host Fiza Ali has been open about struggles with marriage. Despite trying, her plans for a third marriage haven’t worked out as yet. In a viral clip shared on social media, she talks about her past two marriages and what she’s looking for in a partner.
Fiza said, “My ex-partners never hit me, raised their hands against me, never fought with me, and never used abusive language. However, we just couldn’t align mentally or in our way of living.” She went on to say thet she wasn’t raised in a manner that prioritized social connections. “Whereas my first husband insisted that I should be visible at every party and event, and I didn’t like being so social.”
She revealed that her family made the decision to end her marriage to ex-husband Fawad. When questioned about her third marriage, she disclosed that plans had been made multiple times, but unfortunately, they fell through. “I’m looking for a partner who will accept me along with my daughter Faral and won’t stop me from working.” Currently she is hosting ‘Morning With Fiza’ on Channel 24.
An interesting revelation popped up on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night when journalist Shama Junejo posted an old image of Federal Minister of Planning & Development Ahsan Iqbal behind bars with the caption, “Neither did he cry, nor was he afraid. Ahsan Iqbal also stayed in the same jail and cell but see the satisfaction.”
Ahsan was imprisoned by the Imran Khan-led PTI govt in cases that he was later cleared off.
A user commented under the post, “This is not a jail or a cell, it is a reference to the police station. No one in this outfit is jailed, but the politicians get ready from home and go out to protest and call the policeman to arrest them quickly so that the photo session can be done and they don’t have to endure too much heat and cold on the streets. This photo is also from that time. Get your record straight.”
However, the senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader himself quoted the reply on Friday morning and said, “This is the same cell of Adiala Jail in which the captain [Imran Khan] is currently residing.”
The cell looks very different from what it is today. While it is now equipped with an air cooler, racks and a table plus chair for Imran Khan, it looks like a dark and empty cell when Ahsan Iqbal was incarcerated there.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) has sent the names of three high court judges on Friday to a parliamentary committee for approval for promotion to the Supreme Court (SC), Geo has reported.
During the JCP meeting, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) recommended the names of three judges: Lahore High Court Chief (LHC) Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad, Sindh High Court Chief (SHC) Justice Aqeel Abbasi, and LHC Justice Shahid Bilal.
JCP was established under the 18th Constitutional Amendment to select judges for top courts.
Nine JCP members, including Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahaya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice (retd) Manzoor Ahmed Malik, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and Pakistan Bar Council representative advocate Akhtar Hussain, attended the meeting.
The total strength of judges in the SC is 17, but currently, only 14 judges are working, and three seats need to be filled.
Chahat Fateh Ali Khan, the internet star, has captured hearts worldwide with his viral track ‘Bado Badi.’ Known for his quirky singing and comedic flair, the Pakistani-British artist has garnered a massive following across the country. However, his recent hit ‘Bado Badi,’ with a whopping 28 million views, faced copyright issues and was taken down from the site.
In a recent YouTube video, Chahat expressed gratitude to his fans from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. He hinted at an exciting lineup of upcoming projects, including a film, songs, and ‘Bado Badi 2’.
Regarding “Bado Badi 2,” he stated, “I have several projects ready to go. I’m making a movie called ‘Sabaq,’ which you can watch on my YouTube channel. Alongside that, I’ll be dropping six new songs, and yes, ‘Bado Badi 2’ is in the works. You’ll spot a new and stunning model in it. I’ll also be collaborating with new talent; many people are eager to work with me now. Thanks, everyone.”
From one queen to another, Ayeza Khan and Hania Aamir have exchanged a series of compliments as the latter becomes the most-followed Pakistani female actor on Instagram.
Aamir recently dethroned Ayeza Khan as the most-followed female celebrity on Instagram, with more than 14.1 million followers compared to Ayeza Khan’s 14 million.
There is no jealousy between the two as Ayeza congratulated Hania on her achievement. In return, responded warmly, calling Ayeza her inspiration. “You deserve this babes,” Ayeza wrote with a series of emojis.
Hania responded by calling her the “Undisputed queen of absolutely everything”. and added, “Thank you for everything you’ve done and everything you’ll continue to do for this industry, and for inspiring everyone, including me, who wants to be a brilliant actress like you.”
“And a big, big thank you for being your amazing positive self,” she added, to which Khan replied, “Just stay the way you are always.”
