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  • Australia faces another setback as Mitchell Starc withdraws from Champions Trophy

    Australia faces another setback as Mitchell Starc withdraws from Champions Trophy

    Australia’s troubles continue ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 as star fast bowler Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the tournament.

    Starc pulled out of the Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan, due to personal reasons. Cricket Australia has expressed full support for his decision, while the pacer has requested privacy and will not be making any further comments on the matter.

    Australia has already suffered major setbacks, with captain Pat Cummins, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh ruled out with fitness issues. Additionally, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis recently announced that he is retiring from One Day International (ODI) cricket.

    Meanwhile, Cricket Australia has finalized its squad for the Champions Trophy, with experienced batter Steve Smith leading the side.

    Australia’s Squad for the ICC Champions Trophy includes:

    Captain: Steve Smith

    Players: Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, and Adam Zampa.

    Chairman of Selectors George Bailey acknowledged that the team had to make several changes with the injuries and retirements plaguing players. He emphasized that the squad was chosen based on performances over the past 12 months.

    The Champions Trophy is set to commence in Pakistan on February 19.

  • Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025

    Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025

    Top Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy due to injury.

    The BCCI confirmed that Bumrah, who hurt his lower back during the final Test against Australia in Sydney last month, will be replaced by Harshit Rana in the squad.

    Reports said that the star pacer’s recent medical scans showed no serious concerns, but there’s no clear timeline for his return. He is expected to start running in a few weeks and gradually begin bowling again under medical supervision.

    Bumrah’s replacement Rana, on the other hand, recently made his Test debut and is in excellent form. He was crucial in India’s T20I series win against England and impressed in the first ODI with a 3-53 spell at a key moment.

    Meanwhile, India has also added mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy to the squad, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

  • CJP confirms receiving Imran Khan’s letter, says forwarded it to constitutional committee

    CJP confirms receiving Imran Khan’s letter, says forwarded it to constitutional committee

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has forwarded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s letter to the constitutional committee, saying that the request pertained to Article 184(3) of the Constitution and is to be handled by the constitutional bench.

    Last month, Khan wrote a lengthy 349-page letter to the CJP and Justice Aminuddin, addressing issues related to human rights violations, alleged electoral fraud and the arrests of party workers. Article 184 (3) of the Constitution gives SC the power to take on cases involving fundamental rights violations and issues of public importance.

    “I have asked the committee to review the letter and make a decision,” reports quoted the apex court judge as saying in conversation with journalists after an hour-long meeting with a six-member delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Earlier, the CJP briefed the IMF delegation at the Supreme Court (SC) on the country’s judicial system and ongoing reforms. The discussion, reports said, also included matters pertaining to the appointment of judges and constitutional amendments that have been dubbed as “controversial” by the opposition and certain lawyer groups.

    The top judge told media persons that he informed the IMF delegation of the judiciary’s independent operations under the Constitution, and clarified that it was not the judiciary’s mandate to provide the IMF with all the details they had asked for.

    “I informed the delegation about the agenda of the National Judicial Policy-Making Committee (NJPMC). The supervision of subordinate courts falls under the jurisdiction of high courts. The delegation expressed interest in Pakistan’s adherence to agreements and property rights, to which I responded that reforms were underway,” reports quoted CJP Afridi as saying.

    The top judge said that the delegation provided suggestions regarding the protection of property rights, to which he assured them that the country would consider their recommendations. “They were also informed that special benches would be formed in high courts to expedite hearings.” 

    On controversy surrounding the judicial commission’s proceedings, CJP Afridi said that he had already expressed his opinion in the meeting and acknowledged that judicial review could be applied to his stance.

    “Had there been no boycott yesterday, another competent judge could have been appointed to the Supreme Court,” he said in reference to the boycott by PTI members as well as two judges of the SC amid isolated lawyers’ protests.

    “I expect the agenda for the National Judicial Committee to be finalised by tomorrow,” reports quoted him as saying, adding that the opposition leader had also been asked for suggestions.

    To a question about alleged cracks within the judiciary, the CJP said that previous practices among judges persisted, and it would take time for them to change.

    “Everything will gradually be set right,” he said and highlighted recent changes within the JCP. “Any member can now propose a name for consideration. Excellent judges are being brought in.”

  • ‘Garam paani nahi aa raha tha’: Feroze Khan’s exchange with journalist draws mixed reactions

    ‘Garam paani nahi aa raha tha’: Feroze Khan’s exchange with journalist draws mixed reactions

    Mixed reactions have poured in on social media over actor Feroze Khan’s exchange with journalist Ambreen Fatima after being called out for showing up late at a press conference.

    As per the details, the event was scheduled for 3 PM but started around 5:30 PM because of Feroze’s late arrival. Ambreen, who was among the journalists present, called out the actor for his lack of professionalism and stressed the need to be punctual.

    Feroze, however, jokingly responded that he had no warm water at home, which had caused the delay.

    Nonetheless, Ambreen dismissed his justification, pointing out that many media representatives had left disappointed after waiting for hours. She also emphasised that the media plays a major role in celebrities’ success, to which someone added that fans do as well, and the journalist agreed.

    However, Feroze interrupted, saying that the media had been against him for the past three years, which prompted applause from the audience.

    Here’s how social media is reacting to the exchange:

    One user wrote, “A “man” couldn’t digest being questioned by a “woman.” Her time is as important as his time. If she can be professional, who is stopping him from doing the same. The audacity.”

    Another said, “People like this for real doesn’t deserve the fame kudos to the women for standing up”

    A user also pointed at the support of Feroze Khan from the audience, saying, “Why’s everyone hooting on this unprofessional behavior”.

    One added, “He does not have the common decency to let the other person even finish saying what she is saying!”

    Some of the actor’s supporters, however, joined in his defence, saying, “First of all, he apologized for being late as soon as he arrived and secondly paani nhi aa raha tha yaar ‍♀️”

    Another added, “He apologized for being late as soon as he reached there so there was no need to create unnecessary drama by the reporter.”

    The press conference was part of Feroze Khan’s promotion for his upcoming boxing match with YouTuber Raheem Pardesi.

  • Akif Javed joins squad as Haris Rauf gets ruled out of tri-series

    Akif Javed joins squad as Haris Rauf gets ruled out of tri-series

    Pakistan’s lead fast bowler Haris Rauf has been ruled out of the ongoing tri-nation series after suffering an injury on February 8. Left-arm pacer Akif Javed has been added to the national squad as his replacement.

    Haris was injured during the 37th over, forcing him to leave the field without completing his spell.

    According to MRI and X-ray reports, the pacer has suffered a strain on the lower side of his chest.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that Rauf’s injury is not serious, and he is expected to be fit in time for the ICC Champions Trophy. 

    While Pakistan will miss Rauf’s presence in the remaining matches of the tri-series, his availability for the Champions Trophy comes as a relief for the team.

  • Remittances grow 31.7 percent in just seven months

    Remittances grow 31.7 percent in just seven months

    Pakistan saw a large influx of remittances during the first seven months of fiscal year (FY) 2024-25. Owing to the strong inflows, Islamabad has managed to meet the five-billion-dollar foreign reserve inflow growth target.

    Data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that a staggering $20.8 billion was received in remittances from July 2024 to January 2025. This represents a growth rate of 31.7 percent when contrasted with the corresponding period from last year, as remittances during that time frame stood at a measly $15.8 billion.

    Previously, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed and Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb informed the media that Pakistan would meet its $35 billion remittance target by the end of the current fiscal year. However, liberal remittance inflows have allowed Pakistan to meet this growth target five months in advance.

    While this spells great news for the cash-strapped nation, it sets an unrealistic pressure on relevant authorities to boost remittance inflows even higher. The most probable scenario for the upcoming fiscal year will be strong remittance inflows, but lower than the abnormally high inflows Pakistan enjoyed in the current fiscal year.

    This would be a classic case of regression to the mean, which refers to the concept of extraordinary inflows of the first year setting an unrealistic baseline, making a return to normal levels look like a major decline even if remittances remain strong based on historical trends.

    For lawmakers and relevant authorities, this improvement could allow future inflow statistics to paint their policies in a bad light in the coming periods despite actually benefitting the economy instead.

    As per a press release from the SBP, worker remittances in January 2025 alone brought in over three billion dollars into the economy, which translates into an astronomical rise of 25.2 percent compared to the corresponding period last year as remittances were reportedly $2.4 billion in January 2024.

    According to data, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was responsible for bringing in over $700 million into Pakistan alone. The United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom were a distant second and third, with $621.7 million and $443.6 million, respectively. Of January’s three-billion-dollar remittance inflow, the United States of America’s share stood at a little under $300 million.

    As per reports, inflows in all relevant countries surged during the first seven months of FY 2024-25. This shows Islamabad’s dependence on remittances to meet foreign exchange demands.

    Pakistan’s industrial base does not bring in significant amounts of foreign reserves vis-a-vis exports, making remittance inflows essential to keep Pakistan’s cash-strapped economy afloat practically. Islamabad recognises this fact and has even launched a loan scheme to assist individuals in moving abroad, as this might bring in a steady stream of remittances in future periods.

  • ‘No, thank you, but we will buy Twitter,’ OpenAI CEO rejects Musk’s offer

    ‘No, thank you, but we will buy Twitter,’ OpenAI CEO rejects Musk’s offer

    Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence company OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sam Altman, has dismissed a reported $97.4 billion takeover bid led by tech billionaire Elon Musk.

    Altman informed employees that the company’s board has no intention of considering Musk’s proposal to acquire the nonprofit entity that oversees OpenAI.

    According to media reports, Musk, along with his AI startup xAI and a consortium of investment firms, made the multi-billion-dollar offer to gain control of OpenAI. This move marks the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Musk and Altman. Both co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but disagreements over the company’s leadership and direction led to Musk’s departure.

    Altman publicly rejected Musk’s offer on X (formerly Twitter), responding with a sarcastic remark: “No thanks, but if you want, we’ll buy Twitter from you for $9.74 billion.” In response, Musk fired back by calling Altman a ‘Scam Altman’.

    Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of OpenAI, arguing that the company has strayed from its original mission as an open-source, nonprofit AI research organisation. After resigning from OpenAI’s board in 2018, Musk later sued the company, claiming it prioritises profit over public interest. His legal team also alleged that he had contributed approximately $45 million in funding before his departure.

    OpenAI’s global significance skyrocketed in 2022 following the success of ChatGPT. This increased internal conflict, culminating in the board’s decision to fire Sam Altman in late 2023. However, following significant backlash, he returned to lead OpenAI with a restructured leadership team.

    Meanwhile, AI development has become a key focus for governments and corporations. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a $500 billion infrastructure investment to accelerate AI advancements. This initiative has received backing from Japanese tech giant SoftBank, cloud computing firm Oracle, and OpenAI itself.

    As AI competition heats up, the battle between Musk and OpenAI is expected to continue, further shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

  • These three players can replace Jasprit Bumrah in Champions Trophy

    These three players can replace Jasprit Bumrah in Champions Trophy

    Team India is confronted with a major concern as star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah struggles with a back injury ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.

    Bumrah picked up the injury during the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney last month. Though he is in India’s provisional squad, his final participation depends on medical clearance.

    With the February 12 deadline to finalise the squad approaching, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is racing against time to assess his fitness. Losing Bumrah would be a major blow, as he is India’s key pacer in big tournaments. His last ODI was the 2023 World Cup final against Australia, where he took two wickets, and his latest white-ball match was the T20 World Cup final in June 2024 against South Africa.

    Players who could replace Bumrah in the Champions Trophy 2025

    Shardul Thakur

    Shardul Thakur is in top form in the Ranji Trophy, performing well with both bat and ball. In the quarter-final against Haryana, he took six wickets in the second innings. So far, he has grabbed 30 wickets in eight matches at an average of over 22. He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 396 runs in nine innings at an average of over 45.

    Harshit Rana

    Harshit Rana has made an impressive start to his international career across all formats. He bowls at speeds above 140 km/h and troubles batters with his bounce. In his ODI debut against England, he took three wickets. While he was expensive in the second match, his aggressive bowling style makes him an exciting option.

    Prasidh Krishna

    At 6 feet 2 inches, Prasidh Krishna brings extra bounce and pace. He shone in the Sydney Test against Australia, taking six wickets. In ODIs, he has claimed 29 wickets in 17 matches. With 120 wickets in 70 List-A games, he has experience in high-pressure matches.

    The Champions Trophy is set to take place in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 to March 9.

  • ‘Name the establishment’: Imran Khan’s lawyer calls Kamran Shahid out for ‘censoring’ his words

    ‘Name the establishment’: Imran Khan’s lawyer calls Kamran Shahid out for ‘censoring’ his words

    Incarcerated former premier Imran Khan’s lawyer Faisal Chaudhry took a witty jab at talk show host Kamran Shahid for using the word “system” to refer to the establishment. 

    During the talk show, the TV host said, “You [PTI leadership] seem helpless, and the system looks strong.” In reply, Chaudhry mocked Shahid by saying, “What is the ‘system’? Call it the establishment, which is involved in court packing.”

    In reply, the TV host said, “Let’s say it in this manner: the establishment is looking strong (sic).”
    Imran Khan’s counsel went on to tell Shahid that systems are meant for democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law, which do not exist in Pakistan.

    Stressing that the recently passed 26th Constitutional Amendment was against the judiciary, Chaudhry opined that clauses related to the judiciary were focused on dividing the courts.

    The TV host asked why Imran Khan’s party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was unable to mobilise all lawyer’s associations for Monday’s protests against a controversial meeting of the Judicial Commission Pakistan (JCP) which took place yesterday. Chaudhry replied that a significant number of lawyers were present in the demonstration at the federal capital.

    “They [lawyers] did not sit there but ended the protest [shortly]?” said Shahid. “[lawyers] were not present to engage in war but to protest. The protest did not intend to stage a sit-in there,” Chaudhry responded.

    Lawyers on Monday had orchestrated a protest in Islamabad, demanding the JCP meeting scheduled on the same day be called off, no new judicial appointments be made till the case pertaining to the amendment is decided upon and the senior-most judge of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) be made its chief justice.


     
    Six leading bar associations, including representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council, Supreme Court Bar Association, Punjab Bar Council, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council, Balochistan High Court Bar Association, and Sindh High Court Bar Association, have condemned the protests, saying that political groups within the legal community were attempting to advance their agendas.


     
    Despite PTI lawmakers boycotting the JCP meeting and the lawyer’s protest at the federal capital, the JCP nominated six high court judges for elevation to the Supreme Court.


     
    The judges elevated to the apex court include four high court chief justices: Hashim Khan Kakar of the Balochistan High Court (BHC), Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui of the Sindh High Court (SHC), Ishtiaq Ibrahim of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), and Aamer Farooq of the IHC.

    Additionally, SHC Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and PHC Justice Shakeel Ahmed were also nominated for elevation to the Supreme Court.

  • Karachi man arrested for harassing woman

    Karachi man arrested for harassing woman

    A man has been arrested in Karachi for harassing a woman in the city’s Federal B area after CCTV of the altercation emerged online. 

    In the video, the man, riding a motorcycle, is seen trying to grope a woman walking on a street. The woman turns around and tries to slap him. He manages to evade her but she turns back and tries to hit him again. 

    At this point the motorcyclist turns his bike around and tries to flee the scene. Footage from another CCTV camera then shows a man running out of his house and pushing the harasser. The motorcyclist hits a parked car and lands on the road as his bike falls to the side. 

    The good Samaritan then quickly grabs the man while the woman is also seen running towards him. 

    The man was handed over to the police. 

    This isn’t the first time motorcyclists in the port city have tried to harass women while passing them by. In December 2024, a viral video of a man on a motorcycle trying to expose himself to two female students went viral online. 

    Another video of a man riding a motorcycle along with a young child and trying to grope a woman wearing a hijab went viral in August of last year, leading to vocal condemnation from netizens and many celebrities including Zara Noor Abbas. 

    The year before that CCTV footage caught a man stripping on his motorcycle and harassing a woman who passed him by in North Karachi. The woman hit him, forcing him to flee from the street.