Current Final

Blog

  • Captain America clarifies he was not involved with Israeli forces; receives flak for not mentioning Palestine

    Captain America clarifies he was not involved with Israeli forces; receives flak for not mentioning Palestine

    Chris Evans, famous for playing Captain America, took to his Instagram to issue a clarification for a photo floating on the internet. The picture, which showed him signing ammunition with a soldier, was being shared with misleading information that the soldier was from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).


    As Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues unabated, people across the world slammed Evans for the photo.

    This clarification came amid heightened speculations of Evans having gone to Israel to meet IDF soldiers and signing a missile for them like other American dignitaries including Nikki Haley.


    While Reuters did a fact-check story on this picture earlier in February, Evans posted a story earlier in the day (May 31). In his Instagram story, he wrote, “This image was taken during a USO tour in 2016. I went with a group of actors, athletes and musicians to show appreciation for our service members.” He went on to add that, “The object he was asked to sign is not a bomb, or a missile, or a weapon of any kind. It is an inert object used for training or display purposes only.”


    It’s been close to nine months since the genocide in Gaza started but the actor neither condemned it nor uttered a word of support for the oppressed Gazans. His clarification is thus receiving flak for still not mentioning Palestine.

    A netizen wrote, “Chris Evans can say all this to defend himself and still not use his platform spread awareness about Palestine is truly so evil.”


    A supporter of Free Palestine lambasted Captain America for signing something that merely represents the bomb but no information or donation link about Palestine.


    Nicole on X (formerly Twitter) called him out for not shedding light on the genocide and said, “Anyway, don’t be like Chris, call for a free Palestine.”


    A proponent of Ceasefire Now posted, “The thing that bothers me about this post, even though it should be reassuring he’s not gross is the fact he said nothing about Palestine whatsoever in conjunction with this picture.”


    While a passionate user called him “cold-hearted” another said that, “this speaks a lot about his character.”

  • USA rejects Sandeep Lamichhane’s visa after rape allegations

    USA rejects Sandeep Lamichhane’s visa after rape allegations

    Nepal cricket team spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is out of the T20 World Cup after his visa was rejected by America.

    The Nepali Cricket Board made several attempts to get an American visa for Sandeep but they proved futile.

    Nepal included him in the squad for the World Cup after his eight-year sentence in the rape case ended this month.

    On Thursday, the Nepal Cricket Board said, “The US embassy again refused to grant them a visa, after which the possibility of participation in the event is extremely reduced or eliminated.”

    On the other hand, Nepali fans protested against the American authorities for not issuing the visa to the cricketer.

  • Pakistan farmers pin poor mango crop on climate change

    Pakistan farmers pin poor mango crop on climate change

    Pakistan’s mangoes are normally a source of national pride and much-needed income, but farmers are blaming climate change for the parasites and extreme weather ruining much of this season’s crop.

    A white and orange scarf wrapped around his head in the scorching heat, farmer Muhammad Yusuf lamented the erratic weather.

    An abnormally long winter was followed by the wettest April in decades, while the country is now experiencing a heatwave with temperatures hitting up to 52 degrees Celsius (126 degrees Fahrenheit).

    “Buds didn’t flower on time, many buds just died. Those that started growing were infected with (parasite) black hopper,” said Yusuf, who has worked half his life growing mangoes.

    Now over 60 years old, Yusuf said “climate change has wreaked havoc” in his village of Tando Allahyar, around 200 kilometres (124 miles) northeast of economic hub Karachi.

    Pakistan is the world’s fourth-largest mango producer and agriculture accounts for almost a quarter of its GDP.

    Further south in Tando Ghulam Ali, Arsalan, who manages a 900-acre mango orchard, noticed the damage as soon as the harvest started this week.

    “We have production losses of 15 to 20 percent, and the picking has only just started so this figure will surely increase,” said the 32-year-old.

    Exports will be slashed as a result warned Arsalan, who goes by one name.

    “The mangoes turn yellow from the outside but remain underripe or overripe inside,” he explained.

    Ziaul Haq, a mango grower and exporter from Tando Ghulam Ali, said the “many attacks on fruit” by pests were unprecedented.

    “This, in our history, has never happened before,” he told AFP.

    ‘Feed our families’

    The proliferation of parasites has led to an explosion in spending on pesticides.

    This uptick was confirmed by several farmers in Sindh province, where Tando Allahyar and Tando Ghulam Ali are located, as well as those in the leading agricultural province of Punjab further north.

    They told AFP that chemicals are now used six to seven times per year, compared to just twice three years ago.

    Farmers in Sindh said they have been struggling since 2022 when a series of severe heatwaves were followed by unprecedented flooding, while those in Punjab said the declining crops yields date back several years more.

    “The losses in Punjab reached 35 to 50 percent and in Sindh, 15 to 20 percent” compared to last year, said Waheed Ahmed, head of the Pakistan Federation of Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association (PFVA).

    Speaking to local media, he said that last year Pakistan had only managed to export 100,000 of the 125,000 tonnes of mangoes it planned to sell abroad.

    Pakistan’s 20 varieties of mangoes come second only to oranges as the most-produced fruit in the country.

    The income loss from a poor harvest could have a significant impact on the country, which is in talks to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Mashooq Ali, a 30-year-old labourer in Tando Ghulam Ali, wants the government to help farmers cope.

    “Landowners will earn less this year,” said Ali, whose wife has started trading clothes to earn extra cash.

    “And even if they paid us as much as last year, with inflation, we won’t be able to feed our families.”

    srq/rsc/lb

    © Agence France-Presse

  • PTI in hot waters as Khan’s controversial post invites FIA investigation

    PTI in hot waters as Khan’s controversial post invites FIA investigation

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan refused to see the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime team when it arrived at Adiala Jail late Thursday night to investigate his recent controversial social media post.

    “I will answer any question in the presence of lawyers,” said Khan, refusing to become a part of any investigation by the FIA, Geo News reported.

    Recently, Khan’s social media handle on X (formerly Twitter) posted a video regarding the breakup of East Pakistan and putting the blame on the military establishment for committing atrocities which led to the country’s separation.

    The development came after FIA’s cyber crime wing decided on Thursday to initiate action against Khan over his controversial tweet on social media.

    Interestingly, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan tried to distance his party from the post saying it should be seen “in political context” and that Khan did not know the contents of the post that was uploaded.

    Geo News reported that FIA’s cyber wing will investigate four people including Khan, Gohar, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, and Secretary-General Omar Ayub for the “propaganda videos”.

  • Usama Mir direct message to Mohsin Naqvi on being dropped from World Cup

    Usama Mir direct message to Mohsin Naqvi on being dropped from World Cup

    Leg-spinner Usama Mir has sent a direct message to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi upon not getting a place in the T20 World Cup squad, Geo has reported.

    Selectors and senior team managers are unhappy with Usama Mir, deciding not to issue the No Objections Certificate (NOC) for leagues, even after PCB promised to do so.

    Mir was not selected in the Pakistan sent a message to the Chairman PCB emphasizing that he took the most wickets in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), but he has not been selected in World Cup Squad, and has not been given NOC for T20 blast.

    When the selectors and senior manager Wahab Riaz were informed about Usama Mir’s action, a video conference was held in Ireland in which all the selectors and Usama Mir participated.

    The spinner sought permission from the selectors and Wahab Riaz to play the league in England, where he was assured that he would be given NOC for the league.

    However, now Usama Mir has gone to England, but the NOC has not been given to him yet.

    According to PCB, the bowler has not been given the NOC due to two league limit. Usama Mir has played two leagues in the cycle from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.

  • England defeats Pakistan by 7 wickets in the fourth T20

    England defeats Pakistan by 7 wickets in the fourth T20

    England defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in the 4th T20 in Oval.

    In the last match of the T20 series, England won the toss and decided to bowl against Pakistan.

    Pakistan inning:

    Pakistan team got out after scoring 157 runs on the fifth ball of the 20th over.

    On behalf of Pakistan, Usman Khan scored 38 runs, captain Babar Azam scored 36 runs and Mohammad Rizwan scored 23 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed played an innings of 21 runs, Naseem Shah scored 16 runs, Fakhar Zaman scored 9 runs, Haris Rauf scored 8 runs.

    Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Amir could not score any run.

    Livingston, Adil Rashid and Mark Wood dismissed 2 each for England. Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer took 1 wicket each.

    England inning:

    The English team achieved the target of 158 runs in the 16th over. Phil Salt scored 45, Jos Buttler 39 and Will Jacks 20 for England. Jonny Bairstow remained unbeaten on 28 runs and Brooke remained unbeaten on 17 runs.

    Haris Rauf took 3 wickets for 38 runs.

    England won the four match series by 2-0 as first and third T20 matches of the series were called off due to rain.

  • Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to complete 4,000 runs in T20 internationals

    Babar Azam becomes first Pakistani batter to complete 4,000 runs in T20 internationals

    Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam has become the first Pakistani batsman to complete 4,000 runs in T20 internationals.

    Babar achieved this milestone in the fourth match against England at the Oval. Babar has scored 4,023 runs and is just 14 runs away from breaking the record of Indian star batsman Virat Kohli who has 4,037 runs in a short format. Babar also becomes first captain to score 2,500 runs in T20 format.

    Indian captain Rohit Sharma is in second place, scoring 3,974 runs in T20 international.

  • Malala in her cowgirl era for British Vogue; internet reminded of her silence on Palestine

    Malala in her cowgirl era for British Vogue; internet reminded of her silence on Palestine

    Malala is making a special appearance in a British sitcom called ‘We Are Lady Parts’ based on a punk band consisting of Muslim women.


    For a photoshoot with British Vogue, Malala donned a look similar to that of a cowgirl with a shimmery blue outfit and a large hat while sitting on horseback.

    Other cast members were seen standing in front of the horse.


    Netizens were reacting in all ways possible to her pictures but the dominant element is her muffled response and lack of condemnation of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.


    Social media users subjected her to criticism as one commented underneath the British Vogue post, “Wow, the priorities Malala has during an ongoing genocide.”


    While another commented, “Proving that modesty fashion can be stylish, trendy, and fun.”


    A user subjected her to severe criticism: “Can officially add actress to her CV, we’ve only been assuming for the past many years”. Someone else commented, “Baby girl is too busy to give a damn about genocide. #AllEyesOnRafah”


    Fashion journalist Amna Isani shared the picture and took a jibe at her by commenting, “Is this what officially losing the plot looks like?”.


    Malala has been receiving ire since October 7 because of her perceived restraint in condemning Israel for the genocide. Even though she has called for a ceasefire in the past, the internet is lambasting her for her silence on the Rafah Massacre carried out by Israeli forces early in the week.

    However, in the interview that she gave to Vogue, Malala did talk about Gaza and specifically the Rafah Massacre. “This is such a difficult time right now, especially with what is happening in Gaza, and especially what we saw in Rafah this week,” she told the magazine, calling the images “heartbreaking.”

    She went on to plead the case for a ceasefire in Gaza, stating: “I want people in Gaza not to be dehumanised. I want people to see those children as humans.”

  • Pakistan’s forex reserves decline by $63.3 million to $9.09 billion

    Pakistan’s forex reserves decline by $63.3 million to $9.09 billion

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has reported a marginal decline in the nation’s foreign exchange reserves, indicating a decrease of $63.3 million or 0.69 per cent week over week (WoW) to $9.09 billion, according to data released on Thursday.

    The central bank attributed this downturn primarily to debt repayments. In a statement issued by the SBP, it was highlighted that during the week ending May 24, 2024, SBP reserves experienced a $63 million decrease to reach $9.09 billion, primarily due to external debt repayments.

    Similarly, Pakistan’s overall reserves witnessed a decrease of $270 million or 1.85 per cent WoW, amounting to $14.32 billion. Furthermore, commercial banks saw a decline in reserves by $206.7 million or 3.81 per cent WoW, totaling $5.22 billion.

    Despite these fluctuations, the current fiscal year has seen a remarkable increase in SBP-held reserves, amounting to $4.63 billion or 103.6 per cent.

    This surge follows Pakistan’s attainment of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) of approximately $3 billion by the end of June last year.

    This arrangement not only bolstered the nation’s reserves but also facilitated access to additional multilateral and bilateral funding.

    Furthermore, the ongoing calendar year has witnessed a notable increase of $872.5 million or 10.61 per cent in reserves, reflecting continued efforts to stabilise and strengthen Pakistan’s economic position.

  • 24-karat gold price drops by Rs1,500 to Rs241,200 per tola

    24-karat gold price drops by Rs1,500 to Rs241,200 per tola

    On Thursday, gold prices in Pakistan saw a significant decline, with the cost of 24-karat gold dropping by Rs1,500 to settle at Rs241,200 per tola.

    This decrease is noteworthy as the current price is kept Rs3,000 below its actual value, reflecting reduced purchasing power among consumers.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association reported that the price of 24-karat gold per 10 grammes fell by Rs1,286 to Rs206,790. Similarly, the price of 22-karat gold decreased, now quoted at Rs189,558 per 10 grammes.

    In contrast, silver prices remained stable. The price for 24-karat silver was unchanged at Rs2,900 per tola and Rs2,486.28 per 10 grammes.

    On the international market, spot gold was trading near $2,333 an ounce, marking a 0.22 per cent decline from the previous session. This downturn is largely influenced by investor sentiments regarding the potential for U.S. interest rate cuts.

    A key inflation report due later in the week has added to the market’s cautious outlook.

    Recent minutes from the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting indicated a commitment to maintaining higher interest rates for an extended period to combat persistent inflation.

    This policy stance is seen as bearish for gold, as higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, reducing its appeal.

    As economic conditions remain volatile, both local and international gold markets continue to respond to shifts in monetary policy and consumer demand.