Former Indian Skipper Shoulder-Bumped Australian Debutant Sam Konstas Indian star Virat Kohli has been facing backlash for shoulder-bumping Australian debutant Sam Konstas during the opening session of the Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday. The former skipper has been fined 20% of his match fee and handed one demerit point after the incident, which occurred at the conclusion of the 10th over on the first day. During the match, Kohli made physical contact with Konstas in front of a packed crowd of 90,000 — the video of which has gone viral on social media, drawing criticism…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
“Sports Should Be Kept Out of Politics,” Says Information Minister Pakistan’s fans cheer during the Asia Cup 2023 One-Day International (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on September 6, 2023. — AFP Foreign cricket teams to be warmly welcomed in Pakistan: Tarar Says Champions Trophy to promote Pakistan’s culture and tourism. Urges spectators to show their passion for cricket. RAWALPINDI: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Wednesday that Pakistan will ease its visa policy for cricket fans from around the world during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the…
The Karachi Marathon, scheduled for January 5, 2025, promises to be a celebration of endurance, determination, and community. As Karachi wakes up to the rhythmic sound of waves at Sea View, groups of runners from all walks of life can be seen running on the streets, their breaths syncing with their strides. The event has not only brought the city together but also placed Pakistan on the international marathon map. For months, Karachi’s streets, parks, and promenades have turned into training grounds. Veteran marathoners and first-timers alike gather in groups, pushing each other to new limits. The excitement is palpable…
Babar Azam has made his return to the playing XI for Pakistan’s first Test against South Africa, which is scheduled to begin on December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Babar last represented Pakistan in the first Test against England in October. He was not included in the playing XIs for the last two Tests of the series. The right-handed batter has scored 366 runs in his last 18 innings without registering a half-century since his 161-run knock against New Zealand in December 2022. He has replaced right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique, who recently recorded three consecutive ducks in the ODI…
In Asia, on Thursday, harrowing stories were shared and candles were lit to remember the 220,000 people who lost their lives in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. A 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the western coast of Indonesia triggered a series of waves as high as 30 meters (98 feet), wreaking havoc on coastlines of 14 countries. In Indonesia’s Aceh Province, where over 100,000 people perished, a siren sounded at the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, marking the beginning of numerous commemorative events across the region, including Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand, which were struck hours later by the tsunami. Survivors recounted harrowing…
A former mayor and presidential candidate in Taiwan has been indicted on charges of corruption, including the misuse of political donations and other fraudulent activities. Ko Wen-je, the leader of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), contested Taiwan’s presidential elections in January as a third-party candidate, securing nearly a quarter of the votes. However, he has faced multiple scandals in recent months, particularly involving a property development scheme during his tenure as Taipei mayor from 2018 to 2022. Ko has been charged with corruption in the property scandal, misappropriation of TPP donations, and misuse of funds from a charitable foundation. Prosecutors…
Tokyo: Japan’s national flag carrier, Japan Airlines (JAL), announced that its systems are back online after a cyberattack caused delays to both domestic and international flights. JAL stated on social media platform X that the “large data attack” did not leak any customer information and did not affect safety. JAL has resumed ticket sales for domestic and international flights, while 24 domestic flights faced delays of over 30 minutes due to the cyberattack. JAL shares fell as much as 2.5% but later recovered, closing the trading day down 0.2%.
Baku: Azerbaijan observed a national day of mourning after a passenger jet from Azerbaijan Airlines crashed in western Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 of the 67 people onboard. The Embraer 190 aircraft deviated from its route and crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and ordered the immediate initiation of investigations into the causes of the disaster. He expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished for the injured to recover swiftly.
Seoul: South Korea’s Constitutional Court will hold its first hearing on Friday regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached following his short-lived martial law decree on December 3. Yoon’s powers are suspended, but he retains his office with immunity from most charges except for insurrection or treason. Acting President Han Duck-soo has assumed the role in the meantime. The court has 180 days to decide whether to remove Yoon or restore his presidential powers. If Yoon is removed or resigns, a presidential election must be held within 60 days. Yoon’s legal team has not yet been announced, but reports…
Kyiv: US President Joe Biden condemned Russia’s recent attack on Ukraine as “outrageous” and vowed to provide further military aid to Kyiv. Russia launched missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing injuries and fatalities. Biden described the attack as “inhuman” and said Russia sought to deprive Ukrainians of heating and electricity during the winter months. Ukraine’s military reported that its air defenses intercepted 59 Russian missiles and 54 drones, while the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed all attacks were successful in hitting critical targets. In Moldova, Ukraine’s western neighbor, President Maia Sandu reported that a Russian missile crossed…
