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  • Historic Day: Pakistan launches first satellite mission to moon

    Historic Day: Pakistan launches first satellite mission to moon

    Today marks a historic milestone as Pakistan launches its first satellite (iCube Qamar) mission to the moon. The groundbreaking event signifies a significant step forward in the country’s space exploration endeavors.

    Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a member of the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology, while talking to Geo News, said, “The space mission will be sent today on May 3 at 2:10 pm. This mission will be sent into space from China’s Hainan Space Launch Site, the launch of satellite iCube Qamar will also be telecasted directly from the website.”

    He said, “iCube Qamar has been designed and developed in collaboration between China and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SPARCO). Two cameras are installed in iCube Qamar to take pictures of the moon. satellite images of the moon’s surface will be acquired through China’s Deep Space Network.”

    In 2022, the Chinese National Space Agency through the Asia-Pacific Space Corporation Organization (APSCO) provided a unique opportunity for member countries to reach lunar orbit for free.

    The National Institute of Space Technology also submitted a proposed project on behalf of Pakistan. Out of eight countries, only the Pakistani project was accepted, and after two years of hard work, the satellite ‘iCube Qamar’ has been completed.

  • ‘Girls are not display items’, Maya Khan on rishta rejections

    ‘Girls are not display items’, Maya Khan on rishta rejections

    A video of actress and TV host Maya Khan talking about how people search for girls for marriage is making rounds on social media and it seems like a lot of people agree with her.

    In the video that got a lot of attention, she talks about how people visit a girl’s house to consider marriage, but they end up not marrying her

    The actress said, “After seeing the girl, the people who come ask the girl’s parents for a few days and then say on the phone that their istikhara is not correct, they cannot have a relationship. In the same way, the girl’s parents get a call from someone else to come to see the girl and then the family asks the girl to stay at home or leave the office early.”

    Maya Khan stated, “The people who come for the second time also do the same, see the girl, leave after drinking tea and water and ask for an answer after a few days.”
    She added, “Calls for girls to see relationships are coming again and again and every time the girls are decorated and dressed like a ready-made item in a showroom.”

    The actress’s video discussing Pakistani culture regarding girls’ relationships became really popular. Users commented on it and agreed with her. They said that some people pretend to pray for guidance (istikhara) when they don’t really intend to marry the girl.

  • Hamid Mir received death threats, CPJ urges authorities to investigate

    Hamid Mir received death threats, CPJ urges authorities to investigate

    The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Pakistani authorities to “swiftly and impartially investigate death threats and online harassment targeting prominent television anchor Hamid Mir and ensure his safety.”

    Hamid Mir, a prominent journalist in Pakistan who hosts a political talk show ‘Capital Talk’ on Geo News, has survived at least two assassination attempts in the past.

    Mir told the CPJ that he had received multiple death threats on social media and warnings that his life was in danger from two journalists familiar with the situation.

    The Islamabad police is yet to register an FIR after Hamir Mir reported the threats to the police last week.

    The CPJ reported that on April 28, YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he had been told that “preparations are being made to take action” against Mir for his comments in support of freedom of speech in Pakistan

    On April 27, he filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya. In February, Mir spoke out on his show against the detention of Imran Riaz Khan and journalist Asad Ali Toor.

    Mir also told CPJ that he saw at least two people filming him last week while he was in his vehicle near his Islamabad home but they ran away when he approached them. Mir also reported the incident to the police.

  • PM orders inquiry on wheat import last year

    PM orders inquiry on wheat import last year

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry committee to investigate the import of wheat last year under caretaker setup despite abundant harvest.

    Shehbaz appointed Secretary Cabinet Division Kamran Ali Afzal as head of the probe body.

    “What led to the import of wheat despite abundant production,” the prime minister inquired.

    Farmers in Punjab have staged protests because the government is not buying wheat crops from them at the agreed-upon rates.

    “All necessary measures should be taken for buying wheat and farmers should be compensated for their hard work soon,” Shehbaz assured.

    Importantly, Shehbaz has removed Federal Secretary National Food Security and Research Division Captain (R) Muhammad Asif from his post on the issue of wheat import during the caretaker government.

    Asif is a Grade 21 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service. He has been made OSD.

  • Heatwave swells Asia’s appetite for air-conditioning

    Heatwave swells Asia’s appetite for air-conditioning

    Hong Kong (AFP) – A record-breaking heatwave is broiling parts of Asia, helping drive surging demand for cooling options, including air-conditioning.

    AC exhaust units are a common feature of urban landscapes in many parts of Asia, clinging like limpets to towering apartment blocks in Hong Kong or tucked in a cross formation between the windows of a building in Cambodia.

    They offer relief from temperatures that have toppled records in recent weeks, with many countries in the region hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) or higher.

    Scientists have long warned that human-induced climate change will produce more frequent, longer and more intense heatwaves.

    Only 15 percent of homes in Southeast Asia have air-conditioning, according to a 2019 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

    But that figure obscures vast variations: ranging from around 80 percent installation in Singapore and Malaysia, to less than 10 percent in Indonesia and Vietnam, the IEA said.

    Forecasts suggest that higher temperatures and better wages could see the number of air-conditioning units in Southeast Asia jump from 40 million in 2017 to 300 million by 2040.

    That would stretch local electricity capacity, which is already struggling under current conditions.

    Myanmar is producing only about half the electricity it needs each day, with the junta blaming weak hydropower because of scant rains, low natural gas yields and attacks by its opponents on infrastructure.

    Thailand has seen record power demand in recent weeks, as people retreat indoors to cooled homes or businesses.

    Air-conditioning is already responsible for the emission of approximately one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to the IEA, out of a total of 37 billion emitted worldwide.

    Still, cooling options like air-conditioning are a key way to protect human health, especially for those who are most vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat: children, the elderly and those with certain disabilities.

    With demand surging, dozens of countries last year signed up to the United Nations’ Global Cooling Pledge, a commitment to improve the efficiency of air conditioners and reduce emissions from all forms of cooling.

    Some countries have been trying to reduce the impact of cooling for years.

    Since 2005, Japan has encouraged office workers to ditch ties and jackets so air conditioners can be kept at 28 degrees Celsius.

    The annual “Cool Biz” programme took on new significance during power shortages in 2011 following the shutdown of nuclear plants after the Fukushima disaster.

  • American women marries Pakistani Polo player after accepting Islam

    American women marries Pakistani Polo player after accepting Islam

    An American woman converted to Islam and married a young polo player from Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province of Pakistan.

    Polo player Anwar Wali and American woman Claire Stephen got married on Thursday in Islamabad. The family of the boy also participated in the ceremony.

    Video credit: Aaj Tv Official

    During an interview on a YouTube channel, Anwar Wali said that Claire had come to Chitral a year ago and had stayed in his hotel. “She liked the environment and people of Chitral so much that she extended her stay here for 6 months.”

    Claire mingled with people here and tried her best to understand the Chitrali culture.

    She said that she had traveled all over the world but found the culture of Chitral inspirational.

    She said that she is associated with a local sports magazine in America, and had reached Chitral to watch a polo match. “Anwar Wali is the best polo player,” she remarked.

    Claire will stay in Chitral for some time after which she will leave for America.

  • Is Parizaad 2 in the works? Ahmed Ali Akbar has a surprising reply

    Is Parizaad 2 in the works? Ahmed Ali Akbar has a surprising reply

    Ahmed Ali Akbar, the renowned actor and model who stole our hearts in the superhit drama ‘Parizaad’, has finally addressed rumors about whether the popular serial is returning for a sequel.

    Talking about taking a long gap after the success of ‘Parizaad’, Ahmed Ali Akbar said, “’Parizaad’ was deeply ingrained within me, shaping a part of my identity. I felt the need to detach myself from the character before engaging with others. The year-long filming process deeply immerses you into the character, making it a part of yourself. So, I felt it was essential to take a break, to disconnect and recharge.”

    Asked about a possible sequel, he said, “I saw Hashim Nadeem’s story on his Instagram and found out about it from his post. Going back to it will be challenging. I need to read it and feel it before deciding. But, a part of me is really curious and wants to see where Parizaad’s life goes. Let’s wait and see what Hashim Bhai has in store. I’m really curious; I have no idea.”

  • UNESCO awards press prize to Palestinian journalists in Gaza

    UNESCO awards press prize to Palestinian journalists in Gaza

    UNESCO on Thursday awarded its world press freedom prize to all Palestinian journalists covering the Israeli genocide against the people in Gaza since October 8, 2023.

    “In these times of darkness and hopelessness, we wish to share a strong message of solidarity and recognition to those Palestinian journalists who are covering this crisis in such dramatic circumstances,” said Mauricio Weibel, chair of the international jury of media professionals.

    “As humanity, we have a huge debt to their courage and commitment to freedom of expression.”

    Audrey Azoulay, director general at the UN organisation for education, science and culture, said the prize paid “tribute to the courage of journalists facing difficult and dangerous circumstances”.

    According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 members of the press have been killed since the war broke out in October, 92 of whom were Palestinians.

  • ‘Mujhay easy na laina’, Gandapur slams federal govt for not paying KP dues

    ‘Mujhay easy na laina’, Gandapur slams federal govt for not paying KP dues

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur criticized the federal Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led government on Thursday, threatening that people from his province will march towards Islamabad if the Centre does not pay KP’s dues. 

    While speaking at an event in Peshawar, Gandapur said that “They [centre] are making a mistake by denying the rights of the province.” 

    The chief executive of the province said that he will protest against the federal government, and the people of KP will stand by him.

    “Clear the dues of my province as soon as possible, otherwise no body will even thank you,” he told the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government in Islamabad.

    “I will ask the federal government not to take me easy.”

    The KP chief minister believes that his province deserves its fair share, as the province shares its sources with the country.

  • ICC banned West Indies player Devon Thomas for five years

    ICC banned West Indies player Devon Thomas for five years

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed a 5-year ban on West Indies player ‘Devon Thomas’, after which he will not be able to play any type of cricket.

    According to the details, Devon Thomas accepted the charge of violating seven clauses of the anti-corruption codes of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for which the ICC sentenced him. He has been declared ineligible for any type of cricket for 5 years.