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  • Pakistan’s historic win against Sri Lanka launches meme storm on social media

    Pakistan’s historic win against Sri Lanka launches meme storm on social media

    Pakistan chased down the highest total in the history of the World Cup on Tuesday against Sri Lanka, successfully bypassing the island nation’s 344/9 with six wickets to spare.

    Muhammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafiq scored magnificent centuries to lead their team to a comfortable victory. Rizwan was suffering cramps during the match, limping across the pitch.

    After this historic chase social media users started sharing memes. Here are one the best ones posted yet:

  • Another earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hits Afghanistan

    Another earthquake of 6.3 magnitude hits Afghanistan

    As per the United States Geological Survey, yet another earthquake occurred in Afghanistan at a shallow depth at around 5:10 am local time on Wednesday, with its epicenter about 29 kilometres north of the city of Herat.

    No casualties have been reported till now.

    According to the Associated Press, Ministry of Information spokesperson Abdul Wahid Rayan has said that at least 80 people have been injured and a landslide has blocked the main Herat-Torghundi highway.

    This is the second deadliest aftershock in the region after Saturday’s earthquake which destroyed 11 villages and has devastated 12,000 people. The death toll has exceeded 2,400 fatalities. Afghanistan is frequently hit by deadly earthquakes, but this weekend’s disaster was the worst to strike the war-ravaged country in more than 25 years.

    Rescue efforts are being hampered by poor infrastructure and lack of resources.

  • Rizwan dedicates win to people in Gaza

    Rizwan dedicates win to people in Gaza

    Records were left stranded in the dust as Pakistan created history on Tuesday night, chasing down the highest total in World Cup history against Sri Lanka.

    Pakistan chased a target of 345 and won the match against Sri Lanka by six wickets. Muhammad Rizwan, who battled severe cramps during the match, remained unbeaten on a 121-ball 131. He was declared Player of the Match. We hope we win the World Cup with these dedicated players in our team.

    Read More: Indian anti-minority lawyer targets a Pakistani over fake allegations

    Rizwan took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to celebrate the victory, dedicating it to people suffering a war in Gaza Strip, an already besieged area, that will now face a “total” blockade from Israel including a ban on food and water.

    “This was for our brothers and sisters in Gaza. Happy to contribute in the win. Credits to the whole team and especially Abdullah Shafique and Hassan Ali for making it easier. Extremely grateful to the people of Hyderabad for the amazing hospitality and support throughout.,” he wrote.

  • ‘Sometimes cramps, sometimes I’m acting’: Rizwan’s hilarious quip is leading a meme storm

    ‘Sometimes cramps, sometimes I’m acting’: Rizwan’s hilarious quip is leading a meme storm

    Pakistanis celebrated all night long after their cricket team’s stunning victory against Sri Lanka on Tuesday night, successfully chasing down a 345 runs target with six wickets to spare. The win created history as the highest successful chase in the World Cup. Cricketers Muhammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafiq paved the way for the team, leading it to a comfortable victory with their stunning centuries.

    Now, Rizwan’s hilarious quips after the match have taken center stage. Addressing a press conference, he talked about the cramps that plagued him while he was playing, limping on the pitch.

    Addressing the moment, Rizwan cheekily replied “Sometimes it’s cramps, sometimes I’m acting.”

    The one-liner soon led to a meme-storm on the internet, as if there weren’t enough reasons to love Muhammad Rizwan, he just gave us another one.

    With that, we just found a new way to get off from hectic work schedules thanks to Rizwan

    Not just an ace in the field, but also an ace in the meme game.

    Us next time Mama says guests arahay hain kamra saaf karo

    Bas give him an Oscar because he just gave the internet a gold star meme

  • Chartered plane booked for Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21

    Chartered plane booked for Nawaz Sharif’s return on October 21

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) head and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will travel on a chartered plane to reach Pakistan from Dubai on October 21.

    According to a report filed by Geo News, the flight carrying Nawaz will be named ‘Umeed-e-Pakistan’. It can carry approximately 150 passengers.

    The former prime minister will leave Dubai for Pakistan on October 21, along with senior and close party members. Nawaz Sharif’s flight will land in Islamabad for a 30 minute long stay, with the PML-N supremo then flying to Lahore to address a gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan.

    Before the final leg of the journey, Nawaz Sharif will reach Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and perform Umrah there. He will stay in Saudi Arabia for a week and hold important meetings.

    Earlier, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said there is no chance of Nawaz’s arrest upon his arrival in the country.

    Dar also said that PML-N’s narrative will be about the economy, adding that, “recovery of the economy is the best revenge.”

  • Author Arundhati Roy to be prosecuted in India for 2010 speech

    Author Arundhati Roy to be prosecuted in India for 2010 speech

    Prolific writer Arundhati Roy, the only non-expatriate Booker prize winning author of The God of Small Things, is one of the most high-profile critics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a voice for the voiceless in her country.

    Amidst the dire situation of press freedom in India, the author may face prosecution for a speech she delivered in 2010 about Kashmir, as per media reports. A top-official in New Delhi, VK Saxena, has given approval for the case to proceed before the courts. According to Saxena’s directive, Roy and her co-defendants were allegedly advocating for the secession of Kashmir from India at a public function and that is enough evidence for a legal case.

    Under the Modi Government, sedition laws are often used to curb the freedom of expression and journalism, raising a question over the so-called biggest democracy’s principles. Added to that are PSA laws exclusive to Jammu and Kashmir which allow detention of individuals “preventively” for up to two years, without a trial or warrant. In IOK, a number of journalists have been held in detention.

    The revocation of Article 370 ensuring the special status of Kashmir on August 6, 2019, has caused voices like Roy to become more loud. “In Kashmir when we wake up and say, ‘Good Morning’ what we really mean is ‘Good Mourning,’” exclaimed one of the characters from her novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. Her house was besieged when the speech became public and the complaint that lodged against her has now proceeded after 13 years.

    Roy, now 61, has always been fearless in her expression and is known for her work as a journalist, activist and a novelist. Her work is a scribbled protest whereas her speeches and the articles she reads in conferences is vocal dissent in the face of oppressors. In one of her famous speeches, she voices out the basic facts of Kashmir’s reality that “it is not an integral part of India and even the Indian Government has accepted this years back in the UN.” Her latest book Azadi Freedom, Fascism, Fiction is an honest account of the situation of minorities, Dalits and activists in India.

  • World Cup 2023; India finally starts visa issuance for Pakistani journalists

    World Cup 2023; India finally starts visa issuance for Pakistani journalists

    The Indian embassy in Islamabad has started the process for issuing visas to Pakistani journalists to cover the ICC cricket World Cup 2023.

    Pakistani journalists have been waiting for Indian visas since before the tournament begun.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown disappointment in the delay by the Indian embassy. Now the embassy has started contacting journalists who are willing to cover the World Cup, asking them to submit their passports as soon as possible.

    Earlier, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf contacted Pakistan foreign secretory Syrus Qazi to voice alarm over the delay of visas to Pakistani fans and journalists for the World Cup.

    Read More: World Cup 2023: Pakistani cricket presenter Zainab Abbas sent back from India due to safety concerns

    According to ICC, the host country has to host visas for fans and journalists to cover the event but India was still being stubborn.

    The PCB has reminded ICC and BCCI (Board of Control of cricket in India) of the terms and conditions for the host country to issue visas for fans and journalists.

  • Stockholm to ban petrol, diesel cars in city centre from 2025

    Stockholm to ban petrol, diesel cars in city centre from 2025

    The capital of Sweden, Stockholm, will ban the presence of petrol and diesel cars by 2025 in a central 20-block area of the city in order to achieve better air quality.

    The city’s vice-mayor for transport and urban environment, Lars Stromgren, said in a statement, “Nowadays the air in Stockholm causes babies to have sick lungs and the elderly to die prematurely. It is a completely unacceptable situation,”
    He added that there is a need to “limit the harmful exhaust gases from petrol and diesel cars,”

    The 20-block area of the city is a bustling part of Stockholm with a shopping district, office buildings, and eateries. And according to Stromgren, this area “has a lot of pedestrians and cyclists, where the air quality needs to be better,”

    “This is also a part of the city where we see that there is a lot of interest in a faster electrification, with actors that can spearhead the transition,” he added.

    The ban will come into effect on December 31, 2024. However, police cars, ambulances and other security services will be exempted.

  • Peshawar students to campaign against use of drugs in educational institutions

    Peshawar students to campaign against use of drugs in educational institutions

    The students of the University of Agriculture in Peshawar have decided on starting a mission to prevent use of drugs in educational institutions.

    According to reports, the administration has become active to protect the students of the University of Agriculture from drugs. The Anti-Drug Awareness Committee held a meeting at the campus.

    According to experts present at the meeting, drugs give temporary relief by increasing hormones, but later they cause permanent destruction; adding that the addict becomes a burden on his family and society.

    The students have decided to join hands with the government and social organisations to play an active role in the anti-drug campaign.

    According to the report of a non-governmental organisation, 7.6 million people use drugs in Pakistan, including 78% men and 22% women.

  • SBP reports $112 million increase in workers’ remittances

    SBP reports $112 million increase in workers’ remittances

    In September 2023, Pakistan experienced a notable surge in workers’ remittances, marking a 5.3 per cent increase compared to August 2023.

    This uptick can be primarily attributed to a crackdown on the informal money transfer systems known as hawala and hundi.

    According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country received remittances amounting to $2.206 billion in September 2023, up from $2.094 billion in August 2023, equating to a $112 million rise.

    The majority of remittance inflows for September 2023 were derived from several key sources, with Saudi Arabia contributing $538.2 million, the United Arab Emirates $400 million, the United Kingdom $311.1 million, and the United States of America $263.4 million.

    This increase in remittances can be linked to the fact that a substantial number of Pakistani expatriates resorted to using the Hawala/Hundi channels during the initial two months of the fiscal year, largely due to a significant disparity between official and unofficial exchange rates.

    Subsequently, strict enforcement measures against illegal currency dealers have curbed this volatility, leading to a gradual appreciation of the Pakistani rupee in both the interbank and open currency markets.

    In the last month, the rupee has rebounded by 9 per cent, recovering from its record low of 307.1 against the dollar on September 5. The crackdown on these illicit currency dealers has also contributed to the 5 per cent month-on-month increase in remittances for September.

    However, when examining the entire first quarter of fiscal year FY24, the overall home remittances to Pakistan have experienced a sharp decline of 20 per cent, totalling $1.57 billion. Home remittances for the July-September period of FY24 amounted to $6.33 billion, a decrease from $7.90 billion during the same period in the previous fiscal year, FY23.

    During this initial quarter, remittances from all major sources displayed a downward trajectory. Specifically, home remittances from Saudi Arabia decreased by 22 per cent to $1.516 billion for July–September in FY24, down from $1.946 billion in the equivalent period in FY23.