Tips to keep your Facebook account secure

For many of us, Facebook is part of everyday life. It’s where we interact with friends and colleagues, follow our favorite celebrities, and stay on top of the latest news.

Many of us see Facebook as an extension of ourselves, which is why having your Facebook account hacked can be more than just humiliating. A hacked Facebook account can damage your reputation, expose private information, or even cost you money.

Things You Should Know
There are plenty of things you can do to protect your Facebook account and prevent it from being hacked, like making a secure password.
Use Facebook's security features to check your activity on the social media site and make sure there aren't unknown logins.
Don't click links in emails that claim to be from Facebook and don't give away your login information if you're asked for it.

Create a secure password.
Choose a password that will be hard for hackers to guess. Your Facebook password should be difficult to guess, yet easy for you to remember. Avoid including your name, birthdate, pets, or common words in your password.

Make a password that’s just for Facebook.
Do not use your Facebook password on any other website or app. You should have a different password for every service you use. For example, let's say you use the same password for Facebook as you do for TikTok. If your TikTok is hacked, the hacker can also gain access to your Facebook account.

Change your passwords often.
Change your password once every 6 months. This goes for all your passwords, not just Facebook. Set a reminder on your calendar if it's difficult to remember.

Don't share your password.
Do not share your Facebook password with anyone. In fact, don’t share any of your passwords with anyone! Nobody from Facebook or any other service will ever request your password.

Use trusted computers.
Only log in on trusted computers. If you are using a computer that you don’t know or trust, avoid doing anything that requires you to enter your password. Hackers commonly use keyloggers on computer systems that record everything you type, including passwords.

Make sure you log out of Facebook when you're done.
Log out of Facebook when not using your own computer. This is particularly important if you’re using a computer at a library or internet café, where many people you do not know will use the computer throughout the day.

Use Login Alerts to detect suspicious logins.
Set up Login Alerts. Login Alerts send you an alert (Facebook notification, email, and/or text message) when someone logs into your account from an unrecognized location. If you get a login alert and you weren't the one that logged in, click or tap the This wasn't me link to recover your account immediately.

Enable two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication makes it harder for hackers to log in. Two-factor authentication gives your account an extra level of security by requesting a security code when you log in from an unknown browser. You can choose to receive this code via SMS text message or using an authentication app like Google Authenticator. After setting up two-factor authentication, you'll be given options for recovering your account in case you lose access to your second device (your phone).

Check your login activity regularly.
See where you're logged in (and log yourself out remotely). The “Where You’re Logged In” section tells you which devices are currently signed to your Facebook account. If you think someone is using your account, or that you left yourself logged in somewhere else (like at work or on a friend's computer), you can use it to sign yourself out remotely.

Look for suspicious activity in your emails from Facebook.
Check the list of recent emails from Facebook. If you accidentally deleted an email that Facebook sent you, or if your email account was hacked and you’re afraid that the hacker got into your Facebook account, you can see a list of recent messages sent by Facebook.

Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know.
Scammers can create fake accounts and friend people. Once they’ve friended you, they can spam your timeline, tag you in posts, send you malicious messages, and even target your friends.

Don't click suspicious links on Facebook.
Click carefully. Your friends aren’t immune to spam. If a friend posts a suspicious link or “shocking video” or sends something strange in a message, don’t click it—even if it's from someone you know. If one of your Facebook friends clicks on a spam link, they could accidentally send it over to you.

US says Indian gov’t official directed plot to assassinate Sikh activist

Authorities in the United States have said that an Indian government official directed a failed plot to assassinate a Sikh activist on US soil, as they announced charges against a man accused of orchestrating the attempted murder.

On Wednesday, federal prosecutors said that Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old Indian man, had worked with an Indian government intelligence and security worker in a clandestine effort to kill a Sikh activist in New York.

Prosecutors did not name the Indian official or the target, but described the target as a critic of the Indian government and an advocate for an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region, home to a large number of Sikhs and once the site of a movement to create Khalistan – a Sikh homeland independent from India.

Gupta was arrested by Czech authorities in June and is awaiting extradition.

“The defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a US citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs,” said Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

Prosecutors said that Gupta allegedly planned to pay an assassin $100,000 to carry out the killing.

The charges have come a week after a senior member of the administration of President Joe Biden said that the US had thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the US, and two months after Canadian authorities accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of a Sikh activist in Canada.

That official said Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who says he is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, was the target of the foiled plot.

Toshakhana reference hearing against Nawaz Sharif adjourned till Dec 20

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday informed the Lahore accountability court that it has recorded PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s statement in the Toshakhana reference.

According to the case filed by NAB, then-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, in order to extend illegal benefits to former Nawaz and president Asif Zardari, allegedly allowed the retention of vehicles gifted to them by different foreign states and dignitaries by relaxing procedures related to the submission of gifts in the Toshakhana — a government department that stores gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats and officials by heads of other governments, states, and foreign dignitaries.

The accused, “through dishonest and illegal means for their personal benefit and interest”, retained the vehicles in question “against a nominal payment of 15 per cent of the total value”, the reference stated.

In June 2020, an accountability court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the PML-N supremo, who had skipped hearings because he had begun his self-imposed exile in London. Months later, Nawaz had challenged the warrants in the Islamabad High Court but withdrew the petition days later.

On Sept 10, 2020, he was declared a proclaimed offender in the case, with an accountability court initiating the process to confiscate his properties and directing the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to make his arrest through Interpol.

Ahead of his return to Pakistan in October, an accountability court had suspended the perpetual arrest warrants issued in 2020 for the ex-premier in the case. He was granted bail days later.

Today, Nawaz’s counsel Qazi Misbah appeared before accountability judge Mohammad Bashir along with the PML-N supremo’s pleader Rana Irfan.

At the outset of the hearing, Misbah informed the court that his client had joined the investigation and was provided with a questionnaire.

He recalled that the questionnaire for the reference was drafted in 2019, when Nawaz was “extremely ill”. The defence counsel further argued that his client had “made no demand” for a car and that the same was present on record as well.

The lawyer stated that Nawaz had provided his answers to the questionnaire. The NAB prosecutor also confirmed the same before the court.

“There will be further proceedings, for which some time will be required,” he informed the judge.

Here, Misbah argued that the reference filed “mentioned Nawaz’s car, which has no record of its return”. He reiterated that there were “no documents present that stated that Nawaz had asked for any car”.

Judge Bashir then asked the NAB prosecutor about his request before the court, to which the latter replied: “We will review Nawaz Sharif’s statement for now and then there will be further action on this.”

Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing till Dec 20.

FBR removes restrictions on PIA's bank accounts

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Thursday withdrew its orders to freeze the Pakistan International Airlines’ bank accounts but at the same time clarified that these directives did not bar it from pursuing recovery proceedings.

The national carrier has been lately embroiled in a financial crisis. On Wednesday, the FBR had frozen 28 PIA accounts. Additionally, Pakistan State Oil had threatened to stop the airline’s oil supply if outstanding dues were not settled.

These actions came at a time when a team from the European Union’s Avi­ation Safety Agency (EAS­A) was in Pakistan to assess issues related to flight safety.

The EASA had barred PIA from operating flights to Europe after a plane crashed in Karachi on May 22, 2020. The restrictions were imposed in light of an explosive claim by former aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan in parliament that 40 per cent of Pakistani pilots had questionable qualifications.

In a notification today, the FBR’s deputy commissioner for Inland Revenue said: “This office has been directed to withdraw the notice mentioned above and to de-attach the bank accounts of the subject taxpayer with immediate effect.”

However, the board highlighted that the said de-attachment did not bar the department from pursuing “recovery proceedings” under Section 14(3) of the Federal Excise Act, 2005. The law pertains to the recovery of “unpaid duty or of erroneously refunded duty or arrears of duty”.

As the national flag carrier is experiencing billions of rupees in losses, the government has announced privatisation plans for the debt-ridden PIA along with outsourcing airport operations.

Last month, PIA’s fortunes plummeted to an all-time low when its operations grounded to a halt after PSO cut the carrier’s fuel supply over mounting unpaid dues. Over 500 flights were cancelled in two weeks.

Although the operations were later restored, the government has now stepped up on its decisions regarding the airline’s future.

Last week, the PIA chief executive cancelled scheduled off days on Saturday and Sunday and instructed senior officials to report to their offices, along with the relevant departmental general managers and their teams, to complete tasks pertaining to the carrier’s divestment process.

Pakistan asks UN to investigate Israel’s atrocity crimes in Palestine

Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Usman Iqbal Jadoon has asked the General Assembly and UN Security Council to consider the establishment of a special tribunal and accountability mechanism to investigate Israel’s atrocity crimes in Palestine.

Taking part in the UN General Assembly Debate on the "Question of Palestine", Ambassador Usman Iqbal Jadoon asked that deployment of an international protection force or mechanism to protect Palestinian civilians, especially women and children in Gaza and West Bank and play its role in the restoration of the peace process.

The Ambassador regretted that the General Assembly’s call was not heeded by Israel, which continued its indiscriminate and criminal attacks against the Palestinian people. Israel also ignored the call from the Security Council to comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, notably with regard to the protection of civilians, especially children; and to refrain from depriving the civilian population in the Gaza Strip of basic services and humanitarian assistance indispensable to their survival.

He strongly condemned the indiscriminate use of force by Israel. He said Israel’s attacks on civilians, civilian objects and infrastructure, blockading of water, food and fuel, as well as the forced displacement of people within the occupied territory, are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, and may amount to the crime of genocide.

The Ambassador appreciated the efforts undertaken by Qatar and Egypt to save precious lives. Pakistan’s position, however, remains in favour of a complete and immediate cessation of hostilities. He said the Israeli killing machine operating with complete impunity needs to be stopped and Israel must be held accountable for its defiance and criminal actions.

Talks underway to further extend Gaza truce, report

As the extended Gaza truce enters its final day, regional powers and the US are holding consultations to extend the pause in the Israel-Hamas war.

According to international media reports, “During discussions in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, officials representing Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt were in consensus about working toward extending the current pause in the Israel-Hamas war to get more hostages out of Gaza.”

The expectation is that if everything goes well on the sixth day of the truce Wednesday —and Hamas releases at least 10 Israeli hostages as planned — Hamas could produce an additional list of hostages for the following day, extending the pause for another 24 hours, report said.

According to reports, “Negotiators believe there are enough women and children in Hamas captivity to extend the truce by two additional days before the discussion turns to men and soldier hostages.”

On Tuesday, thirty Palestinian women and children have been released from Israeli prisons after 10 Israelis and two foreign nationals were freed from Gaza.

Palestinians in Gaza express hope that Israel-Hamas truce will be extended further as they seek out much-needed aid, assess the destruction from Israeli bombardments.

UN sees North Korea rocket launches as threat to civilian planes, ships

North Korea's rocket launches are a serious risk to civil aviation and maritime traffic, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council as it met to discuss Pyongyang's first spy satellite launch.

North Korea's Foreign Ministry said the November 21 launch aimed to monitor the United States and its allies. On Monday, Pyongyang said it would continue exercising its sovereign rights, including through more satellite launches.

Senior UN official Khaled Khiari told the 15-member Security Council that while Pyongyang issued a pre-launch notification to the Japanese Coast Guard, it did not notify the International Maritime Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, or the International Telecommunications Union.

"The DPRK's launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic," Khiari said.

Formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea has been under UN sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes since 2006. This includes a ban on the development of ballistic missiles.

Such technology was used to launch the satellite last week and follows the testing of dozens of ballistic missiles over the past 20 months. The United States has long warned that Pyongyang was ready to carry out a seventh nuclear test.

"The DPRK has made its motivations clear. The DPRK is unabashedly trying to advance its nuclear weapons delivery systems by testing ballistic missile technology in clear violation of this council's resolutions," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the council.

"This reckless unlawful behaviour threatens all of the DPRK's neighbours and all member states. As you heard from Mr Khiari, there was no notification of this action," she said.

Pyongyang says it is exercising its right to self-defence with its ballistic missile tests to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests from military threats.

For the past several years the UN Security Council has been divided over how to deal with Pyongyang. Russia and China, veto powers along with the US, Britain and France, have said more sanctions will not help and want such measures to be eased.

China and Russia say joint military drills by the United States and South Korea provoke Pyongyang, while Washington accuses Beijing and Moscow of emboldening North Korea by shielding it from more sanctions.

PCB waives off Azam Khan's fine over Palestinian flag display

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday reviewed its decision and abolished 50% match fee fine imposed on batter Azam Khan for displaying the Palestinian flag on his bat during National T20 Cup match.

Azam was fined for breaching clothing and equipment regulations (displaying unapproved logo/political messaging), as he didn’t remove the sticker despite the match umpire’s warnings.

However, two days after the incident, the PCB reviewed the penalty and officially waived it.

“Azam Khan‘s 50 per cent fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the Pakistan Cricket Board,” the PCB said in a brief press release.

“Azam Khan was found to have violated Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct For Players and Players Support Personnel for repeated failure to comply with the instruction or directive of an Umpire during a Match.

“Players and team officials are not permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their equipment unless approved in advance by both player or team official’s cricket association and PCB Cricket Operations Department,” the board’s statement concluded.

The PCB’s decision comes after cricket fans expressed their anger over the action taken against the cricketer on social media.

FIA arrests four human smugglers from Lahore

Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA’s) Anti Human Trafficking Circle Lahore in an operation arrested four fugitives allegedly involved in human smuggling.

According to the FIA spokesperson, four arrested suspects were identified as Mohammad Rehan, Shehbaz Ali, Tayyab Ali, and Shehbaz, meanwhile, a number of cases were registered against the arrested accused Tayyab Ali.

The accused were arrested from different operations in Sheikhupura, Lahore and Chiniot, where the accused took millions of rupees from citizens on the pretense of employment abroad.

Earlier to this, FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Lahore apprehended two suspects involved in human trafficking, including a judicial fugitive.

According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the judicial fugitive, Muhammad Shahid, has been on the run since 2016 and was arrested from Shahdara Lahore.

The apprehended accused, Muhammad Shahid, was allegedly involved in human trafficking.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Lahore arrested another individual, Fahad Iqbal, from Sabzazar Lahore.

NAB gives clean chit to Ahad Cheema in assets beyond means case

Ahad Cheema, the advisor to the caretaker prime minister, has been given a clean chit by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in assets beyond known sources of income case.

According to the NAB report submitted to the accountability court, the assets in excess of income against the former LDA chief do not constitute a reference.

The investigation indicates that the alleged benamidars of Ahad Cheema built properties from their personal income and cannot be directly linked to Cheema.

The report emphasized that the assets accumulated by the bureaucrat were found to align with his income. Additionally, he provided NAB with his income and profit records during the re-investigation, and the submitted records have been verified and found to be correct.

In light of these findings, NAB has requested the accountability court to decide on Ahad Cheema’s acquittal plea according to the law.

Ahad Cheema was released from jail on bail in April, last year. He remained incarcerated for over three years. A BPS-19 PAS officer, Cheema was the head of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) during the last PML-N government.

Also, in recognition of his services in constructing the Lahore metro, he was conferred the award of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the then president.

Countrywide anti-polio drive begins

A countrywide anti-polio campaign of varied durations to administer drops to children under five years of age started on Monday (today).

According to details, thousands of teams have been formed in the drive against the crippling disease with hopes to eliminate the virus this year.

Polio teams will go door-to-door and administer oral polio vaccine drops to children under the age of five.

Health ministry officials urged people to cooperate with polio teams to administer drops to their children against this crippling disease.

In Punjab, anti-polio teams have been constituted to administer the Polio vaccine to 22 million children.

In Sindh, more than eighty thousand polio workers will go door to door to administer vaccines to over ten million children.

Likewise, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, more than seven point four million children up to five years of age will be administered Polio vaccine drops.

In Balochistan, more than 2.5 million children up to five years of age would be administered anti-polio drops.

Six foods that help prevent Alzheimer's disease

Reducing the risk of Alzheimer's disease is a goal that can be approached through dietary choices, according to recent research published in a health Journal.

The study identifies specific foods to include and avoid, emphasising recognised eating patterns such as the Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets for cognitive health.

Best and worst eating patterns for Alzheimer’s risk
The Mediterranean diet, characterised by high consumption of olive oil, fish, fruits, vegetables, and legumes, with moderate amounts of dairy, poultry, and alcohol, has gained recognition for supporting cognitive health.

Similarly, the DASH diet focuses on grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, with limited red meat and sweets. The MIND diet combines elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, emphasising olive oil, fish, whole grains, berries, and green leafy vegetables.

Conversely, the Western diet, marked by high fat, processed foods, and meat consumption, is associated with poor cognitive outcomes. This diet, lacking in fruits, vegetables, and essential nutrients, is characterised by 70% of calories originating from animal foods, oils, fats, and sweeteners.

Best foods to support brain health
While no single food guarantees immunity from Alzheimer's, incorporating certain foods into one's diet may contribute to maintaining brain health, particularly within established brain-supporting dietary patterns like the MIND diet.

Walnuts
Walnuts are highlighted for their lignan content, a unique plant compound believed to reduce neurodegeneration and inhibit inflammatory pathways in the brain.

Berries
Red, violet, or blue produce, rich in anthocyanins, can positively impact brain health by reducing oxidative stress and tau protein aggregation, key factors in Alzheimer's.

Hazelnuts
Packed with nutrients, hazelnuts contain phenolic acid and flavonoids like quercetin, which may help decrease tau phosphorylation and reduce protein oxidation in the brain.

Leafy greens
Leafy greens like spinach and kale provide folate, lutein, and vitamin K, supporting brain health by managing homocysteine levels and offering essential nutrients.

Salmon
Coldwater oily fish, including salmon, offer DHA omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, known to reduce inflammation, provide antioxidant capabilities, and lower the risk of Alzheimer's.

Eggs
Although not explicitly listed in the study, eggs are rich in choline and lutein, supporting brain health by potentially reducing harmful brain proteins and aiding neurotransmitter production.

Advocate Shah Khawar appointed as PCB election commissioner

Shah Khawar, former attorney general, has been named the Chief Election Commissioner of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), according to a notification issued by the Inter-Provincial Liaison Ministry.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Haq Kakar approved the appointment, entrusting Khawar with the responsibility of overseeing the organization of PCB elections within the next three months. Khawar's tenure will culminate on February 4, 2024, which serves as the deadline for the election of the PCB chairman.

"Shah Khawar Board of Governors will hold elections on completion. The deadline for the election of the chairman is February 4, 2024," the notification said.

It must be noted that the federal government recently approved a three-month extension for Zaka Ashraf as the chairman of the PCB's Management Committee.

Myanmar rebels capture country's key border gate with China

An ethnic minority armed group in Myanmar has seized control from the country's ruling junta of a lucrative border crossing to China, local media said.

According to international media reports, clashes have raged across Myanmar's northern Shan state, close to the Chinese border, after an armed alliance of three ethnic minority groups launched an offensive against the military in October.

The groups seized dozens of military positions and a town important for trade with China, choking commerce routes for the cash-strapped junta.

An offensive by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) — one of the three allied groups — captured the Kyin San Kyawt border gate, a local media outlet affiliated with the group said.

It added that the alliance — including the Arakan Army (AA) and Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) — had taken other positions in the border trade zone after the assault began on Friday.

 

After the pandemic, the gate was re-opened in 2022 and is a major trading point along the Myanmar-China border.

Earlier in the week, junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told state media that roughly 120 trucks, parked near the border crossing, had gone up in flames and blamed armed groups.

The uptick in fighting has battered Myanmar's already struggling economy, damaging vital cross-border commerce and denying the military much-needed taxes and foreign exchange.

Local reports say goods that pass through the Kyin San Kyawt crossing include machinery, electrical appliances, agricultural tractors and consumer items.

Joe Root opts out of IPL 2024

England batter Joe Root has pulled out of next year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), joining his red-ball skipper Ben Stokes in sitting out the glitzy Twenty20 tournament.

Root, who had made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this year, opted out a day before the deadline for franchises to announce their releases and retentions ahead of the auction on December 19.

“Joe Root has opted out of IPL 2024. The dressing room will miss you, Rooty,” Royals said late Saturday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Root became the second player from England to opt out of the IPL after Stokes announced his withdrawal last week in order to manage his workload and fitness.

Royals said in a statement on their website that they “respect” Root’s decision.

“Even in a short span of time, Joe was able to create such a positive impact on the franchise and the players around him,” said Kumar Sangakkara, Royals’ director of cricket.

“His energy around the group and the experience he brought to the Royals will be missed. We respect his decision totally and wish him success in everything he does.”

Root was signed up by the Royals for his base price of $121,000 in the IPL auction this year.

He played three games but batted in just one, scoring 10 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Jaipur.

 

6 surprising health benefits of eating peanuts daily

Peanuts, the small but mighty legumes, have earned their place as a popular snack and a versatile ingredient in various cuisines worldwide.

Many people believe the peanut is not as nutritionally valuable as true nuts like almonds, walnuts, or cashews. But actually, peanuts have many of the same health benefits as the more expensive nuts and should not be overlooked as a nutritious food.

Heart Health
Much attention has been paid to walnuts and almonds as “heart-healthy” foods, given their high content of unsaturated fats. But research suggests that peanuts are every bit as good for heart health as more expensive nuts.

Peanuts help prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels. They can also stop small blood clots from forming and reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

Weight Loss
Foods with a lot of protein can help you feel full with fewer calories. And among nuts, peanuts are second only to almonds when it comes to protein count. Studies have shown that people who include a moderate amount of peanuts in their diet will not gain weight from peanuts. In fact, peanuts could help them lose weight.

Longer Life Span
Eating peanuts might help you live longer too. A large-scale study found that people who regularly ate any kind of nuts (including peanuts) were less likely to die of any cause than were people who rarely ate nuts.

Because the study was observational, it cannot prove that peanuts were exactly what caused the lower death rates, but they are definitely associated with them.

Lower Diabetes Risk
Peanuts are a low-glycemic food, which means that eating them won’t cause a spike in your blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that eating peanuts can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

Reduce Inflammation
Peanuts are a good source of fiber, which helps reduce inflammation throughout your body as well as aids your digestive system.

Cancer Prevention
Research has demonstrated that for older people, eating peanut butter may help lower the risk of developing a certain type of stomach cancer called gastric non cardia adenocarcinoma.

ATC issues arrest warrant for Marriyum Aurangzeb

Anti-terrorism court (ATC) has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant for Marriyum Aurangzeb, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

The case, which involves Marriyum Aurangzeb and others, was brought before Judge Abhar Gul Khan of the anti-terrorism court.

The decision to issue a non-bailable arrest warrant was based on Maryam Aurangzeb's failure to appear in court.

However, the other co-accused individuals appeared in court and fulfilled their required appearances.

The court granted time to the lawyers representing the accused to confer and prepare their arguments.

This legal action stems from a case registered in 2022 at the Green Town police station against Marriyum Aurangzeb and the other accused individuals.

Two ex-army officers sentenced for inciting sedition

The Pakistan Army has sentenced two of its retired officials through court martial after allegations of rebellion were proved against them.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj (retd) Adil Farooq Raja and Capt (retd) Haider Raza Mehdi, both retired officers of Pakistan Army, were convicted and sentenced through the Field General Court Martial (FGCM) under Pakistan Army Act, 1952.

The armed forces’ media wing said the former soldiers were charged with inciting sedition among army personnel from discharge of duties and violation of the provisions of Official Secrets Act 1923 related to espionage and acts prejudicial to the safety and interest of the state.

The court of competent jurisdiction convicted and adjudged both the individuals on October 7 and 9 through due judicial process.

The statement said that Adil Raja was awarded 14 years of rigorous imprisonment and Haider Raza Mehdi 12 years.

“Pursuant to the awarded sentence, the ranks of both officers have been forfeited on 21 November 2023,” it added.

10 people killed in Karachi shopping mall fire incident

At least ten people have died after a huge fire ripped through a multi-storey shopping mall on Karachi’s Rashid Minhas Road, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed.

Taking to X, the Mayor wrote: “KMC Fire Department has so far confirmed that there have been 9 casualties in the fire incident.”

“Search process for trapped people still continues,” he added in the post.

According to rescue officials, the fire that broke out at around 6:30 am engulfed the fourth, fifth and sixth floors of the shopping mall.

A faulty generator placed on the roof of the shopping mall was the cause of the fire, said fire brigade authorities.

More than 50 people trapped inside the mall have been rescued in the rescue operation involving two snorkels and eight fire tenders, said Sindh Rescue Director Dr Abid Sheikh.

“Efforts are being made to rescue more people trapped inside the mall,” Abid added.

The injured people were shifted to a nearby hospital where the condition of eight of them was said to be serious.

Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar and Governor Kamran Tessori took notice of the incident and expressed grief over the loss of life in the wake of the deadly fire.

The chief minister has asked authorities concerned to provide immediate medical aid to the injured.

How to stop people from downloading your Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels are the short videos you probably doom-scroll through every day. Among them, you'll find plenty of useful ones that fit your interests and needs.

You can always save them so you can visit them later to take advantage of the information you want to remember. They'll remain available in the Saved section of your account as long as the creator doesn't delete them.

From now on, you'll be able to download all the public Instagram Reels you want, which might be even better than saving them.

That way, you can actually keep the tips and tricks you want to remember on your phone or computer.

But that's not necessarily a great idea for creators. They might not want their followers to download videos and Reels.

The good news is that Instagram users are in charge of whether they can be downloaded.

Enabling and disabling the feature can be controlled with a simple toggle switch.

Adam Mosseri, chief of Instagram, confirmed that the Instagram Reels download feature is going to be available worldwide.

How to prevent Instagram Reels downloads

The good news is that Instagram offers a few different ways to prevent followers from downloading your Reels.

First, any Reels from private accounts can be downloaded. Also, public Reels from accounts belonging to creators under 18 can't be downloaded.

Again, Reels from the past can't be downloaded, so you'll only have to pay attention to the clips you're about to make.

Instagram offers a quick walkthrough on how to prevent Reels downloads on each post.

Here's what you need to do:

Start by recording and editing your Reel, then tap Next in the bottom right.

Tap More options at the bottom. Scroll down and tap Advanced Settings.

Scroll down to allow people to download your reels and tap [the toggle] to turn the setting on or off.

Select whether you want to turn on or off downloading for all Reels or only for the Reel you're uploading.

Tap [the back arrow] in the top left to go back, then tap Share at the bottom.

You'll be able to revise the settings if you want to make changes to how people download your Reels.

PSX reaches new highs, crosses 59,000 milestone in intraday trading

Continuing its bull run from the preceding sessions, the benchmark index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) hit yet another all-time high on Friday and crossed the 59,000 milestone.

According to the PSX website, the KSE-100 index stuck 59,402.82 points at 10am, up 502.98 or 0.85 per cent from the previous close of 58,899.84.

The benchmark of representative shares has recorded steady gains throughout the week, thanks to the improving macroeconomic outlook following the successful review of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme.

The IMF funds, expected to be issued next month after the lender’s executive board board meeting, are a second tranche of the nine-month bailout package. This will bring total disbursements under the $3bn package, approved in July, to almost $1.9bn.

Speaking to Dawn.com today, Raja Jafri, head of equities at Intermarket Securities Ltd, attributed the rally to the return of foreign institutional buying.

“Despite the recent sharp rally, valuations remain attractive. The government has due focus on the economy and risks seem well-managed for now,” he said, adding that the completion of the IT export policy had galvanised the tech sector particularly.

Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline securities, was of the opinion that the stock market was catching up on the losses of the last few years.

“The finance minister’s remarks that the government is looking to get $1.5 billion after the IMF tranche is helping sentiments,” he added.

Meanwhile, JS Global equity sales head Syed Faran Rizvi said the Pakistani market’s future performance hinges on the crucial indicator of declining oil prices.

“From a technical standpoint, the upside target for the index stays consistent at 59,294,” he pointed out.

However, Rizvi cautioned that on the downside, support was anticipated in the range of 58,450-58,700 levels, with a subsequent level at 58,246 — a breach below this point might trigger a corrective trend.

Guns fall silent as cease-fire in Gaza comes into effect on Israel-Hamas war day 49

A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect, with captives held in Gaza to be released in exchange for Palestinian women and children detained in Israeli prisons.

The truce, broke by mediation of United States, Qatar and Egypt, begun after prolonged delay of 24 hours and killing of over 1,400 Palestinains mostly children after October 7 surprice attack in which 1,400 people killed.

The pause in fighting is due to begin at 7:00 am (05:00 GMT) in the Palestinian territories and Israel.

More than 14,800 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll from Hamas’s attacks stands at about 1,200.

Israel intensified it attacks ahead of the pause in fighting, including an airstrike that killed at least 27 people at a UN school.

The Red Cross will escort them to the Rafah border crossing and hand them over to the Israeli military who will begin the identification process.

The captives will be taken to hospitals in Tel Aviv for physical and psychological tests. Thirty-nine Palestinian prisoners are also going to be released from Israel as part of the swap on the first day.

They will be taken from two Israeli prisons: Damon and Megiddo, both southeast of Haifa.

They will then be driven to the Ofer prison, south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and from there to a nearby crossing and handed over to their families. Much-needed humanitarian aid is also expected to cross from Egypt into Gaza in the hours that follow. Hamas says 200 aid trucks and more trucks of fuel will enter Gaza daily.

Israel and Hamas started a four-day ceasefire on Friday with the militants set to release 13 Israeli women and child hostages later in the day and aid to flow into the besieged Gaza enclave, the first pause in the near seven-week-old war.

The truce began at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT), involving a comprehensive ceasefire in north and south Gaza, and was to be followed by the release of some of the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas during the Islamists' Oct. 7 attack inside Israel, mediators in Qatar said. A number of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons were to be freed in exchange.

In these four days of ceasefire we’re supposed to witness a huge number of aid trucks entering Gaza as local Gazans are expecting today alone 200 trucks of aid to enter – 140,000 litres of fuel and at least four trucks of gas.

Facilities provided to Imran in jail unimaginable for common people: Bugti

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti has said that a “common citizen cannot even imagine” the facilities being provided to former prime minister Imran Khan in jail.

In an interview with Independent Urdu published today, Bugti said: “The facilities provided to him (Imran) are more than those provided to an ordinary prisoner or a prime minister behind bars as he is, after all, a laadla of the courts.

“The kind of facilities being provided to him in jail, they weren’t given to any prime minister and a common citizen cannot even imagine them,” he added.

Recalling Imran’s arrest on May 9, Bugti claimed directives were issued “within two minutes” to take the PTI chief to Islamabad Police Lines in a Mercedes.

The caretaker minister also mentioned former chief justice Umar Ata Bandial’s “good to see you” remarks during the May 11 hearing, saying that such instances strengthen his argument.

“We direly need judicial reforms here,” he stated.

Asked about the special court’s directives to present the ex-premier and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi before the court on Nov 28 in the cipher case, Bugti said he would follow the court orders to the letter.

The caretaker minister further said that most of the cases filed against PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif were baseless, but at the same time asserted that no favours were being given to the PML-N.

On the matter of deporting undocumented immigrants, Bugti said they were being sent back to their home country due to the lack of peace in Pakistan.

“This country is for Pakistanis; Pakistanis will live in it. Foreigners who want to live here should come in a legal manner. We will welcome them.

“If someone comes under a veil or by leaping over a wall, then we cannot give them the status of a guest,” the interior minister said.

Bugti stated that around 300,000 illegal immigrants had returned to their home country so far, of which more than 99 per cent are Afghan nationals.

When asked about the “failure” in dealing with the deadly clashes in Kurram district last month — that claimed over a dozen lives — Bugti said the word “failure is too big”.

The interior minister said there was no doubt that “hostile agencies in the fault lines of Pakistan” always tried to increase violence. “There is an attempt to increase fault lines,” he added.

Referring to the Jaranwala incident in August and unrest in Gilgit Baltistan in early September, Bugti said the “connections of conspiracies” in these places traced to “somewhere else”.

Expanding on the security situation in the country, Bugti talked about “planned” social media campaigns and said the country “basically needs a firewall that could regulate our media, especially social media”.

Responding to a question about Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar being summoned by the Islamabad High Court in a case pertaining to missing persons, the minister said it was “not appropriate if the court began summoning the premier on every other minor issue”.

The senator claimed that the number of missing persons in Pakistan was the “lowest in the region” and said it had become a “propaganda tactic against the country”.

Bugti further said that 78pc of the cases mentioned in the lists provided to him had been resolved.

ECP orders PTI to hold intra-party polls within 20 days

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday ruled that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) intra-party polls were not transparent, ordering the party to hold new elections if it wishes to retain its “bat” symbol.

The PTI has been asked by the commission to hold fresh elections within 20 days in a reserved verdict announced today.

In the verdict, the ECP stated that the PTI failed to hold free and fair intra-party elections, adding that the polls were objectionable and controversial.

“PTI’s intra-party elections cannot be accepted,” stated the verdict, directing it to hold polls and submit the record within seven days.

The ECP had issued notices to the PTI for not holding intra-party polls on August 2 and reserved its verdict on the matter on September 13.

Today’s verdict will be a worry for the PTI as most of its leadership, including Chairman Imran Khan, his deputy Shah Mahmood Qureshi and party president Pervaiz Elahi, are in jail or have deserted the party following the crackdown launched against them after the May 9 riots.

PTI lawyer Barrister Gohar, in his media talk outside the ECP office, said that he was disappointed with the verdict.

“Election Commission did not fulfill the requirements of justice,” said Gohar. He also alleged that the ECP delayed the announcement of the verdict for a “special purpose”.

“The bat symbol will remain with us. We will challenge this order on an appropriate forum,” said Gohar.

Al-Qassam Brigades post footage of its fighters destroying Israeli armor

Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, published footage of its resistance fighters directly confronting and targeting Israeli occupation force vehicles and soldiers during their aggression on Gaza.

The video shows one of the fighters planting an IED on the back door of a Merkava tank and a group engaging a vehicle's crews at point blank with AKMs.

Earlier, Al-Qassam published scenes of launching missiles toward the occupied Palestinian territories and hammering enemy positions on the contact lines with mortar shells.

#WATCH | The Military Media of Al-Qassam Brigades published a video depicting its fighters engaging and destroying multiple Israeli vehicles.

The video shows one of the fighters planting an IED on the back door of a Merkava tank and a group engaging a vehicle's crews at point… pic.twitter.com/0JCmxap2nY

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 22, 2023

On the other hand, the head of the United Nations children's agency on Wednesday called the besieged Gaza Strip "the most dangerous place in the world to be a child," and said that the hard-won truce deal between Israel and Hamas was not enough to save their lives.

UNICEF's executive director Catherine Russell told the UN Security Council that over 5,300 children have reportedly been martyred in Gaza since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel, accounting for 40% of the deaths.

"This is unprecedented," said Russell, who had just returned from a trip to southern Gaza. "I am haunted by what I saw and heard."

Russell welcomed a deal reached Wednesday by Israel and Hamas to free hostages and pause ferocious fighting and bombardment in Gaza.

 

Money laundering case: Moonis Elahi's assets, bank accounts seized

Following the court order, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) froze the properties and bank accounts of former federal minister Moonis Elahi – son of PTI President Parvez Elahi – in a money laundering case.

Following court orders to investigate alleged money laundering activities, the FIA has frozen multiple bank accounts and properties linked to Moonis Elahi.

The investigation revealed that Moonis Elahi had a total of eight bank accounts in Lahore, all of which have now been frozen by the FIA. According to official documents, more than Rs 487.6 million had been transacted through these accounts.

Moonis Elahi also reportedly withdrew all the funds from the frozen bank accounts prior to FIA’s action. FIA has secured documents detailing the transactions, shedding light on the extent of the alleged financial misconduct.

All bank accounts belonging to Moonis, that are believed to have been used by Moonis Elahi for both depositing and withdrawing money have been frozen. Officials suspect that these accounts played a pivotal role in facilitating the alleged money laundering activities under investigation.

Apart from the freezing of bank accounts, the FIA has targeted multiple properties linked to Moonis Elahi. A total of six properties have been seized, with five in Kasur and one in Rawalpindi. Documents obtained during the investigation suggest that these properties were acquired through channels connected to money laundering.

FIA officials emphasised that the legal action taken against Moonis Elahi, freezing both bank accounts and properties, was carried out in strict accordance with court orders. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are determined to uncover the full scope of the alleged money laundering network involving Moonis Elahi.

Earlier, on Friday, an Accountability Court in Lahore issued a written order, declaring Moonis Elahi an ‘absconder’ in corruption cases.

Gold price per tola increases Rs900 in Pakistan

The prices of per tola 24 karat gold increased by Rs 900 and was sold at Rs 216,500 on Wednesday against its sale at Rs 215,600 the previous day.

The price of 10 grams of 24 karat gold also increased by Rs 766 to Rs 185,614 from Rs 184,842 whereas the prices of and 10 gram 22 karat gold increased to Rs 170,146 from Rs 169,439, the All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association reported.

The price of per tola and ten gram Silver witnessed no change and was sold at Rs 2,550 and 2,186.21 respectively.

The price of gold in the international market increased by $11 to $2,022 from $2,011, the Association reported.

You can now link your email with your WhatsApp account

In a positive development, WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that will allow its users to link their email addresses with their accounts.

The new feature will allow the users of the meta-owned platform to log into their WhatsApp accounts without needing the six-digit verification code that is received through SMS.

Though not officially announced by the platform, WaBetaInfo has termed the 23.24.70 WhatsApp update on iOS as "compatible" with some users even able to experience this new feature by installing the previous update.

The feature will especially be useful for users who face temporary issues in receiving the verification code — due to network, SIM or other issues — required to log into WhatsApp accounts on mobile phones.

Users can simply go to "WhatsApp Settings > Account" to experiment with this new feature.

It is pertinent to know that the meta-owned platform is not abolishing the "traditional" login method — via SMS verification code — but in fact, is simply aimed to provide an "alternate login method" to the users.

If this feature isn't available to you, be aware that some accounts might get it in the upcoming weeks even though the official changelog hasn't included it.

Azerbaijani president accuses France of supporting separatists, arming Armenia

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused France of destabilising the South Caucasus region by supporting separatists.

"France destabilises not only its past and present colonies but also our region, the South Caucasus, by supporting separatist tendencies and separatists,” Aliyev said in an address to participants of an international conference in Baku.

Aliyev said that France implements a "militaristic policy" by providing military aid to Armenia, while also accusing Paris of encouraging "revanchist forces" in Armenia, and preparing "the ground for the start of new wars in our region."

Aliyev also accused France of continuing a policy of neocolonialism and committing “most of the bloody crimes in the colonial history of humanity.”

He added that France should be “ashamed of its history of colonialism rich in bloody crimes," but it talks about "fictitious ethnic cleansing in other countries" instead of "apologising for the atrocities it has committed."

Pakistan desires to maintain friendly relations with all neighbouring countries: PM

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar says Pakistan is a peace loving country and desires to maintain friendly relations with all especially neighbouring countries.

Addressing the passing out parade at PAF Asghar Khan Academy in Risalpur today, he said our desire for peace must not be understood as weakness.

The Prime Minister said there can be no peace without the just settlement of the Kashmir issue.

While congratulating the graduating cadets, the Prime Minister said that you carry the hopes of the nation.

He said Pakistan would not indulge in any arms race, but we would continue to enhance our capabilities in line with the evolving character of the warfare due to fast changes in technology to deter any aggression.

The Prime Minister said Armed Forces of Pakistan are professionally competent and well trained to cope with all internal and external challenges.

Yemeni forces release video of seizing Israeli ship in Red Sea

Yemen's Armed Forces have released a video showing their earlier capture of an Israeli ship during a recent operation in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who are under Israel's genocidal war.

Yemeni forces released the footage on Monday, a day after seizing the vessel, which was traveling under the name of Galaxy Leader.

The video shows the country's forces dropping from a military helicopter onto the deck of the Israeli ship "following a monitoring and control operation."

It also shows the forces raising Yemeni and Palestinian flags on the deck of the vessel after bringing it under their full control and redirecting it towards the Yemeni coast.

The Houthis in Yemen release footage of their seizure of the Israeli-linked “Galaxy Leader” ship in the Red Sea yesterday. pic.twitter.com/jeGzvZMqPc

— Ariel Oseran (@ariel_oseran) November 20, 2023

According to media reports, it followed earlier warnings by Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement that it would target any Israeli ship crossing the country’s territorial waters.

The report added that 52 crew members who were on board the ship were arrested.

Cipher case: IHC reserves verdict on jail trial of Imran Khan

The Islamabad High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on an intra-court appeal filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan against a single-member bench’s decision that had approved the ex-premier’s jail trial in the cipher case.

An IHC division bench, comprising Justice Mian­gul Hassan Aur­angzeb and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, is expected to announce the decision at 5:30pm.

As the proceedings resumed today, Imran’s lawyer Advocate Salman Akram Raja started presenting his arguments. Citing the high court rules, he said a judge’s permission was mandatory for a jail trial.

“The judge then informs relevant ministry via the high court or district magistrate or commissioner’s office,” he argued.

Here, Justice Aurangzeb inquired what the judge should do foremost for a jail trial. In his response, Raja said the judge had to list reasons for the same with a “clear mind”.

However, the lawyer continued, the reasons for Imran’s jail trial were not conveyed in the Aug 29 documents. It must be noted that on the said date, the IHC had suspended the PTI chief’s sentence in the Toshakhana case, but a special court established under the Official Secrets Act had directed jail authorities to keep Imran in “judicial lockup” in the cipher case.

“Even if we accept that the trial was initiated by a judge, the process that followed was incomplete,” Raja argued.

Raja highlighted that the federal cabinet is empowered to approve jail trials but in this scenario, no such decision was taken until Nov 12. “The federal cabinet’s approval only came when the intra-court appeal was under way,” he revealed.

Raja contended that a judicial order pertaining to the same had also not been issued yet. “The judicial order of a jail trial gives us the chance to present our stance,” the lawyer added and urged the court to declare the jail trial unlawful.

Meanwhile, Justice Aurangzeb asked if the government’s Nov 12 decision was taken to fulfil legal requirements. “How can the cabinet approve something that was never sought,” the PTI counsel responded.

He said the special court judge never mentioned the previous proceedings in the case. Whereas, in the notification issued by the government, nothing similar to what the judge said was written, Raja added.

“As per Article 352, the Nov 12 notification is not applicable to the previous hearings,” he contended.

At that, Justice Aurangzeb asked if the lawyer was saying that the government’s order on jail trial was issued merely to fulfil legal obligations.

No, Raja replied, adding that the cabinet’s approval came without a judicial order.

The judge then said that the IHC registrar had informed the court that the process of appointing the judge was initiated by the Islamabad High Court. “We were also told that the special court judge informed the IHC before commencing the jail trial,” Justice Aurangzeb revealed.

Raja, while concluding his arguments, then contended that all the notifications pertaining to the jail trial were illegal. “If you want to conduct a jail trial, you will have to adopt a legal procedure and provide solid reasons for it,” he added.

Subsequently, Attorney-General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan came to the rostrum. He said a jail trial wasn’t for ordinary people to attend but at the same time highlighted that Imran’s family members were allowed to attend the proceedings.

He recalled that Imran was in prison at the time of arrest and therefore a physical remand was not taken. “If the things that exist in the law are not taking place, then you say that justice is not being served,” the AGP said and highlighted that charges were framed against the accused in front of him as per the law.

The hearing is held at a big hall in Adiala Jail, Awan further said, adding that the jail trial against Imran was being conducted due to security reasons.

After the AGP concluded his arguments, the bench reserved the verdict with Justice Aurangzeb saying that the court would first issue a short order and then a detailed one at a later time.

OpenAI appoints new boss, Sam Altman joins Microsoft

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced on Monday that ousted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, along with co-founder Greg Brockman, will be joining Microsoft to lead a new advanced AI research team.

According to international media reports, former OpenAI President and co-founder Brockman had quit over Altman's firing on Friday.

Meanwhile, tech publications on Monday published what it said was a letter from some of OpenAI's most senior staff members threatening to quit en masse and follow Altman to Microsoft unless the company's board was replaced.

"Your actions have made it obvious that you are incapable of overseeing OpenAI," said the letter.

Signatories included the company's chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, and even one member of the four-person board that had ousted Altman.

Microsoft is OpenAI's key business partner and has invested billions of dollars into the startup and helped provide the computing power to run its AI systems.

"We remain committed to our partnership with OpenAI," Microsoft's Nadella said as she announced Altman would join the company. "We look forward to getting to know Emmett Shear and OAI's new leadership team and working with them."

OpenAI on Monday named Emmett Shear as an interim CEO to take over from Altman. Shear was previously the CEO of social media company Twitch.

The company caused further headlines over the weekend by initially announcing that Mira Murati would take over Altman's role, only to later demote her again and leave the top job open once more.

The tech world was shocked by Altman's sacking at OpenAI. He and the company shot to fame last year amid the hype surrounding the release of a new large language model, ChatGPT, and other products like the image-generating AI Dall-E.

Many emplyoees were also blindsided by the abrupt change in management.

Major investors had pushed for reinstating him. However, the board stood by its decision, saying it was "the only path to advance and defend the mission of OpenAI."

"Put simply, Sam's behavior and lack of transparency in his interactions with the board undermined the board's ability to effectively supervise the company in the manner it was mandated to do," the board said in the memo.

Investors had said Altman's sudden removal could lead to an exodus of talent from the company, and affect an upcoming $86 billion share sale.

12 martyred in Israeli attacks on Gaza's Indonesian Hospital

At least 12 people were martyred and scores injured in Israeli shelling of the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said.

In a statement, the ministry warned that the lives of thousands of patients, medical personnel and displaced people “are at the risk of death as a result of the direct and repeated bombardment of the Indonesian Hospital.”

According to media reports, there are 150 patients, 100 medical staff and thousands of displaced people inside the facility.

Witnesses said the Israeli shelling caused the hospital to lose electricity after its generators stopped working.

Since Israel started bombarding Gaza on Oct. 7 following a Hamas attack, at least 13,000 Palestinians have been martyred, including over 9,000 women and children, and more than 30,000 others have been injured, according to the latest figures.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a small trickle.

The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is around 1,300, according to official figures.

Javier Milei wins Argentina’s presidency

Libertarian outsider Javier Milei pulled off a massive upset Sunday with a resounding win in Argentina’s presidential election, plunging the country into uncertainty in the midst of a crippling economic crisis.

According to international media reports, the self-described “anarcho-capitalist” fired up Argentines fed-up with decades of economic stagnation under the long-dominant populist Peronist coalition.

While polls had predicted a tight race, provisional results showed Milei had won with 55.7 per cent of the vote to 44pc scored by his rival, the Economy Minister Sergio Massa, who rapidly conceded defeat.

Thousands of Milei supporters waved flags and chanted “freedom” as they celebrated outside his campaign headquarters.

Milei, a 53-year-old economist with wild hair and thick sideburns, has drawn comparisons with former US president Donald Trump and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro for his abrasive style and controversial remarks.

His main platform has been a plan to ditch the ailing peso for the US dollar and “dynamite” the Central Bank to do away with the “cancer of inflation.”

Milei is against abortion, pro-gun, vowed to cut ties with Argentina’s key trading partners China and Brazil, insulted Pope Francis, questioned the death toll under Argentina’s brutal dictatorship, and says humans are not behind climate change.

World Cup 2023: ICC announces Team of the Tournament

On Sunday, Australia secured victory in the final of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023 at the Ahmedabad Cricket Stadium, defeating the host team India.

Following the final of the mega event, the ICC revealed the Team of the Tournament, in which a notable absence stands out, as no Pakistani cricketers secured a spot in the esteemed lineup.

The selection panel, consisting of Ian Bishop, Kass Naidoo, Shane Watson, Wasim Khan, and Sunil Vaidya, finalized the team based on standout performances during the tournament.

The team announced by the International Cricket Council includes six Indian players: Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami.

The Team of the Tournament also features two Australian players: Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa, along with a Sri Lankan player, Dilshan Madushanka, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and South African player Quinton de Kock.

Gerald Coetzee has been included as the twelfth player for the Team of the Tournament.

Justice Mazahar Naqvi challenges SJC inquiry in Supreme Court

Supreme Court's Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi Monday accused the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of instigating a media trial against him in a plea challenging the show-cause notice (SCN) issued to him by the judicial panel on October 27.

Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi has challenged the proceedings of the complaint against the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).

Justice Mazahar Naqvi has requested the Supreme Court to stop the SJC from taking any action against him by terminating its proceedings.

He further pleaded that Council's notice issued to him should be declared illegal.

The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will begin hearing of references against Justice Mazahir Naqvi today (Monday).

The Supreme Judicial Council has sought complete records of two properties in Lahore in the name of Justice Mazahir Naqvi. Complete records of Plot No. 144 Block F-One in Gulberg 3 Lahore and Plot No. 100 St. John's Park in Lahore Cantt have been sought.

The concerned government departments have been asked to appear before the SJC along with records regarding the two properties at 3:00pm. The Supreme Judicial Council has issued notices to all relevant officers under Article 210 of the Constitution.

Mian Dawood, a Lahore based lawyer, on February 23 had filed a complaint against Justice Naqvi for allegedly violating the code of conduct for judges of the Supreme Court issued under Clause (8) of Article 209 of the Constitution and accused the judge of “misconduct” and “amassing illegitimate assets”.

SJC is a constitutional body that probes allegations of misconduct against the judges of Supreme and high courts. It comprises the chief justice, two senior-most SC judges and two senior-most high courts’ chief justices.

Azerbaijan, Armenia agree on principles of peace treaty

Armenia and Azerbaijan have been able to agree on the basic principles for a peace treaty but are still “speaking different diplomatic languages”, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Saturday, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

The two countries have been at odds for decades, most notably over the breakaway Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which Baku’s forces recaptured in September, prompting a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians from it.

But Pashinyan said there had been some progress in talks over a peace treaty even though he was cited as saying that the two countries still often struggled to agree on some things.

“We have good and bad news about the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process,” TASS quoted Pashinyan as saying in Yerevan.

“It is good that the basic principles of peace with Azerbaijan have been agreed.

“This happened throu­gh the mediation of the head of the European Council Charles Michel as a result of my meetings with Azerbaijan’s president in Brussels,” Pashinyan said.

“The most important bad news is that we still speak different diplomatic languages and very often do not understand each other,” Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan said Armenia had also proposed swapping all Armenian prisoners for all Azerbaijani prisoners, TASS reported.

Cummins urges Australia to silence hostile Indian crowd

It was not known if Pat Cummins was searching ‘How to silence a big, partisan crowd’ as the Australia captain entered the press conference room fiddling with his phone but he conceded that was pretty much the plan for the World Cup final against India.

As if India’s formidable batting lineup and fiery bowling attack were not handful enough, Australia will also have to deal with boisterous Indian fans, who will be egging on Rohit Sharma and his team on Sunday.

Not a single seat in the 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to stay unoccupied when five-time champions Australia clash with an India side who are unbeaten in the tournament.

But Australia are a team full of big-match performers who also know what it’s like to play in cricket-crazy India from their time in the Indian Premier League.

Cummins said the best way to overcome a challenge like that was to embrace it.

“The crowd’s obviously going to be very one-sided but in sport, there’s nothing more satisfying than hearing a big crowd go silent and that’s the aim for us tomorrow,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“You’ve just got to embrace every part of a final ... you know in the lead-up there’s going to be noise and more people and interest and you just can’t get overwhelmed.

“You got to be up for it, you got to love it and just know whatever happens it’s fine but you just want to finish the day with no regrets.”

And while he accepted the dimensions of Sunday’s match would be different to any his side had experienced before, Cummins said: “We play over here in India a lot so the noise is not something new.

“I think on this scale it’s probably bigger than we would have experienced before but it’s not something totally foreign to what we’ve had before.

“Everyone deals with it slightly differently — you see Davey [Warner] probably dancing and winning the crowd over, other guys just staying in their own bubble — it should be good.”

Beaten comprehensively by India in their opener, Australia strung together eight wins in a row to make the final against India, who have a perfect 10-0 record in the tournament.

“We know it’s going to be a packed house. There’s going to be 130,000 fans here supporting India. So it’s going to be awesome,” Cummins said. “They’ve been playing really well, undefeated this tournament. But we know at our best we can give them a good shake.”

Much of it will depend on how their new ball pair of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood fare against India’s top order. Starc bowled seven overs on the trot in their semi-final victory against South Africa sharing five wickets with Hazlewood.

“The opening partnership between him and Josh Hazlewood is going to be a big one for us,” said Cummins, who is banking on their experience in global events organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“We saw what impact they can have in a game when they bowl like they did the other night. So, they’re both big-game players, played in a few ICC finals now, so know what it takes.”

Cummins also highlighted the impact of rival paceman Mohammed Shami had made upon a “well-rounded” India side.

Shami was left out of the team at the start of the World Cup but is now the tournament’s leading bowler, with 23 wickets from just six games at a stunningly low average of under 10 apiece.

“He’s a class bowler to right and left-armers,” said Cummins. “But all our batters can draw on moments where they’ve taken on these [India] bowlers and done well.”

Cummins felt Australia were yet to play a “complete game” in the tournament and hoped they have preserved it for the summit clash.

“There have been no huge wins. We’ve had to fight for every win, but we’ve found a way to win,” Cummins said. “I’m taking that confidence, knowing that we don’t have to be at our absolute best to challenge any team, we can find a way through it.”

Victory on Sunday would cap a remarkable 2023 for Australia that saw them narrowly lose a Test series in India before defeating India in a World Test Championship final in England, where they also went on to retain the Ashes after a drawn campaign.

“It’s been a huge year,” said Cummins, also the skipper of Australia’s Test team. “These are four marquee events. Some of the guys probably spent less than a couple of weeks in their own bed since the end of the Aussie summer.

“The guys have been awesome. They’re so up for every game they play. To put ourselves in this position, it [winning the World Cup] would just top off an incredible year.”

US Ambassador Donald Blome meets Nawaz Sharif

United States’ Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Bloom called on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif at his Jati Umra residence.

“Nawaz Sharif received US envoy Donald Bloom at Jati Umra,” the PML-N said in a party statement.

“The US ambassador and Nawaz Sharif exchanged views over the political and economic situation of Pakistan,” according to statement.

Sharif emphasized the importance of bilateral relations the US and Pakistan. He expressed hope that the people of Pakistan will vote to the PML-N in the upcoming general elections, the party stated.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s supreme leader, who returned from self-exile in London on October 21, recently addressing the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Pakistan’s currency and economic system has devastated, and prices have increased by five-fold.

“It is our responsibility and duty to emancipate the people from price hike and poverty.”

“People want education, health facilities and development,” he said. “It is their right, and it is responsibility of the state to provide these facilities,” PML-N leader said.

He claimed that Pakistan became the 24th largest global economy between 2013 to 2017. “We kept the US dollar static at Rs 104 rate for four years. The dollar would have dropped to Rs40 to 50 if our policies and development process were not interrupted,” he claimed.

26 Palestinians martyred in Israeli strike in southern Gaza's Khan Younis

At least 26 people have been martyred in an Israeli strike on a residential building in the southern Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis region, the director of a local hospital has said.

The director of the Nasser hospital told reporters, the facility had received 26 dead bodies and 23 people with serious injuries after a strike on the residential building in the city.

A two-day blackout caused by fuel shortages ended after a first delivery arrived from Egypt late Friday, but UN officials continued to plead for a ceasefire, warning no part of Gaza is safe.

On Saturday, the director of the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis said it had received the bodies of 26 people, as well as 23 people with serious injuries, after an air strike on a residential building in the southern region.

Lack of fuel is jeopardizing ‘the entire architecture of the humanitarian response’ in the Israel-blockaded Gaza, where raw sewage is now flowing in the streets, the head of UNRWA, the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees earlier said.

In a wide-ranging briefing to journalists in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini reiterated calls for a ceasefire and addressed misinformation targeting the agency, including claims that aid is being diverted.

He said, “He has also received reports of UN schools being used for military purposes.”

In his briefing, Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, said he had received reports that Gaza was under a communications blackout due to the lack of fuel.

Govt challenges SC’s military courts verdict

The Ministry of Defence has filed intra-court appeal challenging the Supreme Court’s October 23 judgement, declaring as unconstitutional the trial of May 9 rioters in military courts.

The petitioner appealed to the apex court to declare the five-judge bench’s order null and void, as well as grant a stay on the implementation of the order till this appeal is decided.

The latest petition comes a day after the caretaker Sindh government challenged the Supreme Court’s decision against trials of civilians in the military courts.

The plea moved by the Sindh government has stated that ‘SC did not review the law and circumstances.’

Earlier, the federal government informed the Supreme Court that military courts have initiated trials of civilians.

The government in a miscellaneous petition to the apex court informed it about the beginning of trials of civilians in response to the court’s August 03 order.

A total 102 individuals were arrested after May 09 and 10 incidents, the government said in its plea to the court.

On October 23, the Supreme Court (SC) announced its verdict by 4-1 in pleas against civilian trials in the military courts. The PTI chairman and others moved the top court challenging the military trial of civilians named in the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

The bench, led by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and including Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, and Justice Ayesha Malik heard the petitions that had challenged the trial of civilians in the military courts.

Hafeez to serve as Pakistan head coach for tour of Australia and New Zealand

Former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will take charge as the head coach of the Pakistan team for the tour of upcoming tours of Australia and New Zealand.

Hafeez was also recently named as the director of the national men's team, replacing Mickey Arthur.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is also likely to merge the roles of team director and head coach for three Test matches in Australia and five T20Is in New Zealand in December and January.

The decision to appoint Hafeez is slightly surprising since the former captain doesn't have any coaching experience.

Pakistan team is set to leave for Australia on November 30, and play a warm-up game against the Prime Minister's XI at the Manuka Oval from December 6 to 9. The first Test will start in Perth on December 14.

Pakistan tour of Australia

First Test: December 14-18, Perth Stadium

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG

Pakistan tour of New Zealand
12 Jan – 1st T20I, Auckland

14 Jan – 2nd T20I, Hamilton

17 Jan – 3rd T20I, Dunedin

19 Jan – 4th T20I, Christchurch

21 Jan – 5th T20I, Christchurch

It must be noted that the PCB on Wednesday announced the names of the new captains for T20I and Test formats after Babar Azam stepped down on the same day.

Left-handed batter Shan Masood has been named as the new Test captain while left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi will take the realm of the shorter format.

It must be noted that Azam stepped down from captaincy through a post on social media after the PCB offered him to keep Test captaincy. The 29-year-old refused and informed the board in the meeting that he is resigning from all formats.