William Hague, former leader of the Conservative Party and former foreign secretary, has been elected as the 160th chancellor of Oxford University. Announced on November 27, 2024, the result marks a significant moment both for the esteemed university and the veteran politician, who will serve a 10-year term in this largely ceremonial position. Hague, an Oxford graduate from Magdalen College in 1982, triumphed after four rounds of voting, securing 12,609 votes. His closest rival, Lady Elish Angiolini, the outgoing principal of St Hugh’s College and former Lord Advocate of Scotland, received 11,006 votes. Angiolini had previously gained attention for leading…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Several members of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming cabinet and administration appointees have been targeted with violent threats, including bomb threats and swatting incidents, according to Trump’s transition team. These threats occurred on the evening of November 27 and the morning of November 28, creating alarm and raising security concerns within the administration. Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump, confirmed that multiple violent threats were made against his cabinet nominees. Among the incidents was a bomb threat targeting the home of Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman from New York. Stefanik, who has been nominated as the US Ambassador to the United…
US President Joe Biden has given provisional approval for a $680 million arms sale to Israel, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. This approval, reported on Wednesday, comes at a time when the US is intensifying efforts to mediate peace in the region, highlighting a complex contradiction in US foreign policy — supporting peace initiatives while continuing to arm Israel in its conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. The arms deal, which has reportedly been in the works for months, includes small-diameter bombs and Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits, which convert unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions.…
Following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, international aid to the country has raised significant concerns, with reports revealing troubling evidence of funds being diverted to terrorist groups. The misappropriation of humanitarian and financial aid has become a critical issue, with billions in foreign funds allegedly funneled into the hands of terror organizations. The United States, as the largest donor, along with the United Nations, has contributed billions in aid to Afghanistan, including $2.6 billion allocated by the UN in August 2021 alone. However, disturbing findings from multiple reports, including the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR),…
The first men’s Cricket World Cup, held in 1975, marked the beginning of multilateral international cricket tournaments. Since then, there have been several instances where teams scheduled to participate were unable to attend due to various reasons, including visa issues, security concerns, or even pandemics. One of the most recent examples involves the ongoing controversy surrounding the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is supposed to be hosted by Pakistan. After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) refused to send its team to Pakistan, a deadlock ensued. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is scheduled to meet soon to decide…
Fast-growing e-commerce platforms like Shein and Temu are deepening their foray into the toy market, catering to the growing demand for holiday bargains as shoppers prepare for the Black Friday weekend. Previously, these platforms, which mainly operate through mobile apps, were not known for selling toys or holiday gifts. Now, both companies are looking to claim a larger share of the global toy market, which saw $108.7 billion in sales worldwide in 2023, according to Circana. Shein, which initially gained popularity by selling low-cost clothing, has seen significant growth in toy sales, with toys becoming one of the fastest-growing categories…
Australia has introduced groundbreaking legislation aimed at banning social media access for children under the age of 16, making it one of the world’s strictest crackdowns on popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). The new rules were approved by the Australian Senate on Thursday with 34 votes in favor and 19 against. The legislation requires social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from accessing their services. Failure to comply could result in fines up to AU$50 million (US$32.5 million). While the new laws are set to pass, many social media firms have criticized…
TikTok is implementing new measures to address mental health concerns, particularly regarding the impact of beauty filters on young users. The popular social media platform has announced that, in the coming weeks, it will block users under 18 from using filters that artificially alter their appearance, such as enlarging their eyes, plumping their lips, or changing their skin tone. This move comes after growing concerns over the pressure beauty filters place on teenagers, especially young girls, to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. The use of filters that change one’s appearance often leads to negative mental health effects, as users struggle…
A recent report from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has highlighted a concerning trend among digital content creators: two-thirds of them fail to verify the accuracy of the information they share. The report, titled ‘Behind the Screens’, is the first global study to analyze the motivations, practices, and challenges faced by digital content creators. Released on Tuesday, it was compiled with input from 500 influencers across 45 countries, in collaboration with researchers from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA. According to the findings, 62% of surveyed digital content creators admitted to not fact-checking the information they…
Islamabad: Amidst political instability, Pakistan’s government is increasingly resorting to heavy-handed internet censorship, a move that experts and citizens fear could sever the country’s ties to a promising digital future. Social media platforms, such as X (formerly Twitter), have been blocked since February, internet outages are becoming more frequent and severe, and soon, tools used to bypass state censorship, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), will be banned for personal use. Analysts suggest that these measures are being introduced as the government faces opposition from supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a leader who has a strong following…
