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  • Bradley Cooper, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, other artists sign open letter urging Gaza ceasefire

    Bradley Cooper, Dua Lipa, Florence Pugh, other artists sign open letter urging Gaza ceasefire

    An open letter was posted on social media by Pakistani-British actor Riz Ahmed, calling for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza. The letter urged world leaders and civilians to end the ongoing bombing in Gaza, where currently the death toll is set to hit 7000, including 3000 children.

    “We urge your administration, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the holy land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay- and end to the bombing of Gaza and safe release of the hostages.”

    “We refuse to tell future generations the story of our silence, that we stood by and did nothing. History is watching,” the letter, addressed primarily to US President Joe Biden, said.

    The letter is signed by actors like Alyssa Milano, America Ferrera, Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Bradley Cooper (who had also signed the other letter calling for release of all Israeli hostages), Channing Tatum, Politician Cynthia Nixon and Sandra Oh.

    Jewish director of the film ‘Bottoms’, Emma Seligman, was also among the signatories. She clarified on Instagram that she was wrong to sign the letter demanding more funding for Israel. She released a post on her Instagram stories clarifying her position was always pro Palestine.

    Here is the complete letter.

  • Court rejects Khan’s appeal seeking bail, cancellation of FIR in cipher case

    Court rejects Khan’s appeal seeking bail, cancellation of FIR in cipher case

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday has rejected former prime minister Imran Khan’s appeal requesting bail and cancellation of the first information report (FIR) in the cipher case on Friday.

    The verdict, reserved on October 16, was read out by IHC Chief Justice Amir Farooq.

    Khan’s lawyer, Latif Khosa, stated during the last hearing that an FIR against his client should not be registered as the federal cabinet of the former prime minister declassified the cipher.

    Another PTI lawyer, Salman Safdar, said that Section 5 of the Official Secrets Act was not relevant in the cipher case.

    He also mentioned that Section 5 could be applied for sharing sensitive information with foreigners, and this “main ingredient is missing” in the FIR against former prime minister.

    The FIR was registered against PTI’s chairman and the party’s vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, for misusing the cipher for their political motives.

  • Big blow for Pakistan as Hassan Ali gets fever

    Big blow for Pakistan as Hassan Ali gets fever

    Pakistan cricket team’s problems in the World Cup have increased, with fast bowler Hasan Ali being ruled out of the match against South Africa due to fever.

    According to PCB, Hasan Ali will not play tomorrow’s match against South Africa. He will be rested due to fever. Sources say that Muhammad Wasim Jr. is likely to be included in the team against South Africa tomorrow in place of Hasan Ali.

    Pakistan will now play their next match today at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai against the strongest team of the mega event, South Africa.

  • ‘Fear is not an option’: Bella Hadid speaks out on Palestine genocide

    ‘Fear is not an option’: Bella Hadid speaks out on Palestine genocide

    Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid has broken her silence to speak out against Palestinian genocide. Currently, the death toll has reached 7500, with 3000 of them being children.

    Bella apologised for her silence for the past two weeks, and spoke about the threats she was given to remain silent: “I’ve been sent hundreds of death threats daily, my phone number leaked and my family has felt to be in danger. But I can not be silenced any longer. Fear is not an option. The people and children of Palestine, especially in Gaza, cannot afford our silence. We are not brave- they are.”

    Gigi, Bella and her family were targeted with threats because of their outspoken support for Palestine. The family members recieved threats on emails, phone calls which gave graphic descriptions of how they would be murdered.

    READ MORE: Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid are receiving death threats, phone numbers doxed after Palestine support

    Bella wrote her heart is bleeding on the bloodshed and violence Gaza has witnessed in these past two weeks, when hospitals, mosques and bakeries were bombed by Israeli airstrikes.

    “My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath from the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children, and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, friends that will never again walk this earth.”

    Bella reflected on the history of her father, Mohammad Hadid, who was a survivor of the 1948 Nakba when Israeli forces expelled 750,000 people from Palestine.

    “My father was born in Nazareth in the year of the Nakba (the displacement of 750,000 Palestinians in 1948.) Nine days after he was born, he, in his mother’s arms, along with his family were expelled from their home in Palestine, becoming refugees, away from a place they once called home. My grandparents, never being allowed to return. My famiyl witnessed 75 years of violence against Palestinian people- most notably, brutal settle invasions which led to the destruction of entire communities, murder in cold blood and the forcible removal of families from their homes. The practice of settlements on Palestinian land still continues to this day. The pain of that is unimaginable.”

    READ MORE: There is a painful history behind why supermodels Gigi, Bella Hadid support the Palestinian cause

    Bella urged her followers to be aware of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to keep pressurising governments to listen to the needs of Palestinians:

    “There is an urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza that must be attended to. Families need access to water and food. Hospitals need fuel to power generators, tend to the wounded and keep people alive. Wars have laws – and they must be upheld, no matter what. We need to keep pressure on our leaders, wherever they are, not to forget the urgent needs of the people of Gaza, and to ensure that innocent Palestinian civilians are not the forgotten casualties of war,”

  • PIA struggles to stay afloat as fuel shortage forces cancellation of 349 flights  

    PIA struggles to stay afloat as fuel shortage forces cancellation of 349 flights  

    Over the past two weeks, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been compelled to cancel 349 flights due to a severe fuel shortage, underscoring the challenges faced by the financially struggling national carrier.

    According to a spokesperson, these flight cancellations, which began on October 14, have affected both domestic and international routes, causing significant inconvenience to passengers. 

    PIA has issued a statement confirming that daily flight rescheduling is ongoing, but without specifying the expected duration of this crisis. Flight schedules are being adjusted based on fuel availability, as mentioned in the statement. 

    This situation has arisen from an ongoing financial dispute between PIA and the Pakistan State Oil Company (PSO). PIA alleges that PSO has suspended its credit line for fuel and is now requiring daily advance payments before supplying the necessary fuel. 

    PIA has emphasised its efforts to manage its funds and has indicated that the return to regular flight schedules depends on the availability of financial resources. 

    To keep affected travellers informed, PIA has outlined its priority destinations once flight operations resume. Canada, Turkey, China, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia are expected to be among the first countries to be reconnected. 

    However, PIA’s flights to Europe and the UK have remained suspended since 2020 following the revocation of the national carrier’s authorization by the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency due to the pilot licence scandal. 

  • State Bank of Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $220 million in weekly report 

    State Bank of Pakistan’s forex reserves dip by $220 million in weekly report 

    The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) witnessed a notable decline in its foreign exchange reserves, with a weekly reduction of $220 million, bringing the total to $7.5 billion as of October 20th, according to the data released on Thursday. 

    The overall liquid foreign reserves of the country now stand at $12.6 billion, while the commercial banks hold net foreign reserves of $5.1 billion.  

    The decrease in SBP’s reserves was attributed to debt repayments during the week that ended on October 20, 2023, leading to a decrease of $220 million and bringing the total to $7,494.2 million. 

    Last week saw a modest increase of $67 million in Pakistan’s central bank reserves. Notably, Pakistan’s central bank received a significant boost to its reserves in July of this year.  

    This boost was a result of the initial installment of approximately $1.2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the approval of a new $3-billion stand-by arrangement by the IMF. Additionally, Pakistan received inflows from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 

    Nevertheless, the central bank’s reserves have come under pressure due to a combination of factors, including ongoing debt repayments, increased import payments after the easing of restrictions, and a lack of substantial new inflows. 

  • How the economic and energy crisis could be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan

    How the economic and energy crisis could be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan

    The notorious pollutant, nitrogen dioxide gas, is predicted to stay low this year in Pakistan, thanks to the economic and energy crisis that the country is going through. This is seemingly a blessing in disguise because the result is reduced air pollution in the country.

    For a few years the cities of Lahore and Karachi are constantly making it to the top charts of air pollution due to the smog. Higher concentration of nitrogen dioxide is released in the air due to the combustion of fossil fuels like petroleum, coal and gas which in turn pollutes it irreversibly.

    This time around there is a record decrease of 24 per cent in the annual sale of petrol and diesel in Karachi alone. Simultaneously, there is a 20 percent decrease in the release of nitrogen dioxide.

    Lahore has witnessed a decrease of 20 per cent in gas concentration whereas in Islamabad and Peshawar reduction of 14 and 5 per cent are recorded respectively. The same was observed during the winter of Covid times.

    It is predicted that compared to last year air pollution will be a little less than it was in the winter. This may affect the lethal and obstructive smog to become a lot less than usual.

  • India ‘Shocked’ At Qatar Death Penalty For 8 Citizens

    India ‘Shocked’ At Qatar Death Penalty For 8 Citizens

    India said Thursday that eight of its citizens had been sentenced to death by Qatar in a case that media reported involved high-ranking ex-naval officers accused of spying.

    New Delhi said it would “take up the verdict with Qatari authorities” and would continue to “extend all consular and legal assistance” to the prisoners, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

    “We have initial information that the Court of First Instance of Qatar has today passed a judgement in the case involving eight Indian employees of Al Dahra company,” the statement added.

    “We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement.”

    Al Dahra is a Gulf-based company that offers “complete support solutions” to the aerospace, security and defence sectors, according to its website.

    There was no immediate confirmation from the Qatari authorities.

    India’s foreign ministry gave no further details on the eight condemned or their alleged crimes.

    “Due to the confidential nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture,” the ministry statement added, saying it was “exploring all legal options”.

    However, several Indian media outlets reported that among those sentenced were ex-naval officers -– including former captains and commanders -– and that the men had been arrested in Doha in August 2022.

    The Times of India, Hindustan Times and the Press Trust of India all reported that the men were arrested for an “alleged case of espionage”.

  • Instagram page, Eye on Palestine, restored

    Instagram page, Eye on Palestine, restored

    According to officials from Meta, the owner of Eye of Palestine has been given access to their account.

    Previously, the widely followed Instagram account Eye on Palestine (@eye.on.palestine), that had been extensively covering the situation in Gaza, has been removed by Meta.

    It reportedly had more than six million followers.

    It also had a second page created as a back-up which was also removed.

    People react:

    Here is how can make sure you are able to keep up with all the posts of other similar accounts that are being censored:

  • World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka defeats England by eight wickets

    World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka defeats England by eight wickets

    In the 25th match of the ICC ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka defeated defending champions England by eight wickets, achieving their second victory in the tournament.

    English batsmen appeared to be in trouble against Sri Lanka from the beginning with a continuous fall of wickets. Sri Lanka kept pressure on England throughout the innings.

    Half of the English team were bowled out for just 85 runs, but Ben Stokes gave them little hope of a big score, before he too was bowled out for 43 runs. Jonny Bairstow 30, David Mullan 28, Joe Root three, and David Wiley was not out scoring 15 runs.

    Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara dismissed three players while Angelo Mathews, and Kisun Rajitha took two wickets each while Thakshana took one wicket.

    Chasing England’s target, Sri Lanka’s Patham Nissanka scored 77 runs off 83 balls, with the help of two sixes and seven fours.

    Siddira Wickrama remained not out with 65 runs off 54 balls while Kaushal Mendes scored 11 runs and Kaushal Perera got out with four runs.