World denounces twin blasts in Pakistan

KARACHI/QUETTA: The global community has vehemently condemned Friday’s terrorist strikes in Pakistan’s Mastung and Hangu district on the occasion of Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH).  Countries including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkiye, and others have expressed their sympathies towards the families affected by the blasts in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where suicide bombers transformed a day of celebration into tragedy. The two separate explosions took place a day earlier amid preparations for Friday prayers and the festivities commemorating the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The…

Sikhs refuse Indian ambassador to UK to enter inside Glasgow Gurdwara

Sikh men on Friday denied entry to an Indian envoy to Gurdwara Albert in Glasgow, United Kingdom after Canada accused the Narendra Modi-led country of involvement in the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. There has been a ban on Indian officials from visiting Gurdwaras in their official capacity after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s killing. The Sikh men, protesting Nijjar’s killing in Canada, confronted the Indian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami, after which he left the Gurdwara premises. Nijjar was the…

From revenge to economy: PML-N announces policy shift after London meetings

LONDON: In a major policy statement on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) narrative, former finance minister Ishaq Dar said that party supremo Nawaz Sharif’s focus is not on revenge, but on nation-building upon his return to the country on October 21.  Nawaz has left his matter to Allah to punish his tormentors and those who threw him out of power using illegal, vindictive and unethical means, said Dar while speaking to journalists outside the former premier’s temporary party headquarters in London.  He added that the three-time prime minister does not believe in revenge and…

All Blacks dominate Italy on the way to clinch Rugby World Cup trophy

New Zealand’s All Blacks delivered a resounding 96-17 victory over Italy, firmly asserting their intentions at the Rugby World Cup.  The match, which unfolded at OL Stadium, witnessed the Kiwi side scoring an astounding 14 tries, leaving Italy struggling to keep pace.  The All Blacks, known for their physicality and clinical precision, completely disregarded any hopes of an upset victory by Italy, a team they had defeated in all previous 15 encounters. The tone for the match was set early, with scrumhalf Aaron Smith notching up an impressive hat-trick in…

Another power-up for OpenAI as ChatGPT given full access to Internet

ChatGPT, a generative AI platform, can now acquire data directly from the internet and gather current information in real-time in a significant development for the software, as per its developer OpenAI. Until now, ChatGPT´s responses to user queries were based on a vast database, which did not contain information from after August 2021. “ChatGPT can now browse the internet to provide you with current and authoritative information, complete with direct links to sources,” OpenAI said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “It is no longer limited to data before…

Bangladesh’s first World Cup umpire reveals secret for his success

Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, a former top-class cricketer who is set to become the first Bangladeshi umpire in a World Cup match, has attributed his historic appointment to the “thick skin” he developed over the years in the face of relentless criticism.  Ahead of the ICC World Cup opening on October 5, Sharfuddoula, aged 46, revealed that the challenging world of cricket umpiring in Bangladesh prepared him for this moment, according to AFP. “We are criticised unduly most of the time… we have to have a thick skin, that’s what I developed,”…

Pakistani school bags 2023 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education

Isamabad-based Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education has been announced as one of the two laureates of the 2023 UNESCO Prize for Girls’ and Women’s Education. According to a statement issued on Thursday, the Prize’s international jury recognised the school as an outstanding model of a locally-led initiative that effectively raises awareness of girls and women’s right to education. The Prize honours the outstanding contributions of individuals, institutions and organisations to advance girls’ and women’s education, and showcases successful projects promoting best practices in the field. The award is a diploma…

Blast near Mastung mosque kills 7, injures 25

QUETTA/MASTUNG: A massive explosion Friday rocked Balochistan’s Mastung district leaving at least seven dead and over 25 people injured. The district’s assistant commissioner said the blast was of a “massive nature” and took place near a mosque where people were gathering to mark Eid Miladun Nabi. The district’s station house officer (SHO) informed Geo News about the number of injured in the blast.

ICC World Cup 2023: Pakistan YouTubers say they did not apply for Indian visas

Pakistani YouTubers on Thursday denied rumours of being denied an Indian visa for the ICC World Cup 2023, saying that they did not apply for it. Social media reports claimed YouTubers Nadir Ali, Momin Saqib, Saadur Rehman aka “Ducky Bhai” and a UAE-based Indian TikToker known as “Love Khaani”, who pretends to be a Pakistani, have not been issued visas for the mega event. These rumours gained strength following unexpected delays in granting visas to Pakistani players who had to change their plans for the tournament and reached Hyderabad last night. Responding…