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Australia announce squad for third Ashes Test against England

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Australia announce

Adelaide: Australia have named a 15-member squad for the third Ashes Test against England, with captain Pat Cummins returning to lead the side. Usman Khawaja has also been retained despite concerns over a back injury.

Cummins, who missed the first two matches, will resume captaincy duties in Adelaide. Khawaja was dropped from the playing XI in the second Test, where debutant opener Jack Weatherald impressed with a maiden half-century at the Gabba, but the veteran batter has been included in the squad for the upcoming Test.

Due to the strong opening partnership between Travis Head and Jack Weatherald, Khawaja’s return as opener appears unlikely. However, his versatility keeps him in contention for a middle-order slot. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are set to continue at No.3 and No.4, while the final middle-order combination remains undecided with Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Josh Inglis under consideration.

All-rounder Beau Webster has also been included and is being viewed as a strong option for both middle-order batting and bowling depth, especially if there are fitness concerns over Cummins or other pacers.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who starred in the second Test, said the team have started the series strongly but must not become complacent. He stressed that despite leading 2-0, the Ashes are far from over as England remain a formidable opponent.

Australia, mindful of the 2023 Ashes where they let a 2-0 advantage slip to finish 2-2, are aiming to approach the third match with caution and a solid strategy.

Fast bowlers Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser may miss out on the final XI due to Cummins’ return and the expected inclusion of Nathan Lyon, who was left out of a home Test for the first time in 13 years in Brisbane.

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the series due to hamstring and calf injuries, while Jhye Richardson is recovering from shoulder surgery and will train with the squad in Adelaide.

The third Ashes Test begins on December 17 at Adelaide Oval.

Australia Squad:

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jack Weatherald, Beau Webster.

Lahore tops pollution index as air quality worsens in major cities

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Lahore tops pollution

KARACHI: Air quality levels in all four provincial capitals have deteriorated significantly, raising environmental and health concerns.

According to the global environmental monitoring website, Lahore topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world with a particulate matter (PM) level of 253. Quetta followed with 248, while Peshawar and Karachi recorded PM levels of 243 and 236 respectively.

Dense smog continues to blanket parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, severely affecting visibility. Due to poor conditions, Motorway M-1 has been closed from Peshawar to Burhan, and M-5 remains shut from Zahir Pir to Sher Shah.

Meanwhile, most parts of the country are expected to remain cold and dry today, while upper hilly regions may experience very cold conditions during morning and night hours.

Smog is likely to prevail in plain areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with chances of fog at a few locations during late night and early morning.

Cold and dry weather is also forecast for Islamabad and surrounding areas.

Sabrina Carpenter reveals secret behind her “surprise songs”

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Sabrina Carpenter

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter has opened up about the careful planning that goes into her signature surprise song performances, revealing that while they appear spontaneous, there’s always some preparation behind the magic.

The “Espresso” singer appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers, December 8, where Meyers asked if audiences genuinely believe she’s caught off guard by her surprise songs.

Carpenter explained, “It’s sort of a surprise for me, but I have options of things that I’ve rehearsed and then I’m surprised by what the option is. That’s good. So there’s a little surprise. There’s a little bit of honesty.”

She added that this method keeps the performance smooth while preserving the element of spontaneity. “In the heat of the show, it’s like Christmas. It’s magical,” she said.

For fans, the Short n’ Sweet Tour includes a “Spin the Bottle” segment, where Carpenter randomly picks a song to perform.

These surprise selections often include covers and deep cuts, from ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” and Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and Carpenter’s own hits like “15 Minutes.”

This combination of preparation and spontaneity has become a fan-favourite element of her live shows, keeping audiences excited for every unexpected musical moment.

Bollywood’s iconic film ‘3 Idiots’ to get a sequel with original cast

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Bollywood

Mumbai: Bollywood’s historic film ‘3 Idiots’ needs no introduction. Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, the beloved film left a lasting impact on audiences and received widespread acclaim from both critics and fans.

According to a recent report by Indian media, the filmmaker is planning a sequel with the same cast.

‘3 Idiots’ was originally released almost 16 years ago during Christmas and quickly became one of the highest-grossing and most celebrated films in Bollywood history.

Sources told Pinkvilla that the script has been locked and the team is extremely excited about the project. The story of the new installment is said to continue directly from where the first film ended.

While no official announcement for ‘3 Idiots 2’ has been made yet, the news has already created a buzz on social media, reigniting excitement among fans of the original film.

TIP NCPS 2025 finds police, judiciary leading corruption

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TIP NCPS 2025

ISLAMABAD: According to the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025 released by Transparency International Pakistan (TIP), police, tender and procurement departments, and the judiciary are perceived as the most corrupt sectors in Pakistan.

 A large majority of respondents also consider provincial governments more corrupt than local governments.

The survey found that 77% of participants are dissatisfied with government efforts to curb corruption. Dissatisfaction was highest in Balochistan (80%), followed by Punjab (78%), and Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (75%).

Encouragingly, 66% of respondents reported that they had not been asked for bribes in the past year. Regarding economic conditions, 57% said their purchasing power decreased over the past 12 months, while 43% reported improvements.

Nevertheless, 58% of respondents (40% partially, 18% fully) agreed that government measures, including the IMF program and exiting the FATF grey list, helped stabilize the economy.

Public opinion on political funding and advertisements

Public opinion strongly favors political funding reforms:

42% want a complete ban on business funding of political parties.

41% support regulated funding, creating an overall support of 83%.

55% believe government advertisements should not include political party names or leadership images.

Sector-wise corruption perception

Police topped the list nationally with 24% reporting it as the most corrupt sector. Punjab showed the worst perception at 34%, followed by Balochistan (22%), Sindh (21%), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (20%).

Tender and procurement: Balochistan (23%) showed the highest concern.

Judiciary: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (18%) and Punjab (17%) had the highest perception of corruption.

Provincial governments and accountability

59% of respondents view provincial governments as more corrupt than local bodies, with Punjab leading at 70%.

Strong distrust of anti-corruption institutions was noted, with 78% wanting self-accountability mechanisms for bodies like NAB and FIA.

Main causes of corruption identified were: lack of transparency (35%), absence of independent oversight (33%), and perception of political revenge (32%).

Healthcare sector corruption

67% said corruption in healthcare significantly affects people’s lives.

Hospitals (38%), doctors (23%), and pharmaceutical sector (21%) were reported as most corrupt.

Provincial variations: hospitals – Sindh 49%, KPK 46%, Balochistan 32%, Punjab 26%; doctors – Balochistan 35%; pharmaceutical – Punjab 30%.

Measures suggested: strict action against pharma commissions (23%), ban on public-sector doctors’ private practice (20%), stronger regulations (16%).

Bribery and reporting awareness

Highest bribery reported in Sindh (46%), followed by Punjab (39%), Balochistan (31%), and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (20%).

70% are unaware of official corruption reporting mechanisms; of the 30% who are aware, only 43% have ever reported an incident.

Anonymous reporting (38%) and rewards (37%) could encourage more people to report corruption.

Charity and tax-exempt organizations

51% believe NGOs, trusts, hospitals, and educational institutions with tax exemptions should not charge fees.

53% want these organizations to disclose donors and donations publicly.

The NCPS 2025 reflects public perception trends and highlights the urgent need for stronger transparency, accountability, and reforms in governance across Pakistan.

8 in 10 citizens without safe drinking water, says ADB

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ADB

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) warns that nearly 80% of Pakistanis lack access to safe drinking water, according to its latest Water Development Outlook report.

The report highlights that Pakistan will need between $3.5 billion and $4.2 billion over the next decade to improve water governance.

 Due to population growth, per capita water availability has decreased by 2,400 cubic meters, dropping from 3,500 cubic meters in 1972 to 1,100 cubic meters per person by 2030. The lack of safe drinking water is contributing to the rapid spread of diseases.

ADB further notes that excessive water use in agriculture is causing depletion and pollution, while challenges in water flow and infrastructure put Pakistan’s river systems at risk.

 Rural water supply remains inefficient, and monitoring mechanisms are weak. Policies for water availability and safe water provision are not aligned with demand, affecting agriculture, industry, and the energy sector.

Urban areas face a nearly 10% annual increase in water demand, compounded by untreated water and urban flooding, threatening public health and essential services.

 The report also points to aging urban water infrastructure, minimal private investment, and environmental risks from population growth and urban sprawl.

While Pakistan has made progress in developing a water governance framework, funding for an improved water system remains insufficient. Urban water losses are high, tariff recovery is low, and billing systems are inadequate.

The ADB emphasizes that large infrastructure projects, institutional partnerships, technical capacity building, and financial planning are crucial to enhancing water security.

According to current exchange rates, Pakistan would need to invest approximately PKR 12 trillion to upgrade its water systems.

Despite these challenges, the report notes improvements in Pakistan’s water security score over the past 13 years, highlighting gradual progress in water infrastructure development.

Pakistan Army extends lead with 48 gold medals in National Games

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Pakistan Army

KARACHI: Pakistan Army has strengthened its lead in the National Games by securing 48 gold medals. WAPDA stands second with 14 golds, while Pakistan Navy holds the third position with 7 gold medals.

Nine-year-old Kainat Ibrahim from Sindh became the youngest athlete to win a bronze medal in the 10,000 meters event.

In men’s football, teams from Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force have advanced to the semi-finals. The semi-final matches are scheduled for December 10, with the final set for December 12.

WAPDA athletes Samiullah and Faiqa Riaz claimed gold in the 100 meters sprint, earning the titles of Pakistan’s fastest male and female athletes, respectively.

Arshad Nadeem also won gold in the javelin throw. So far, 11 gold medals have been decided in the athletics events at the National Games.

Bilawal Bhutto urges political parties to respect institutional boundaries

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Bilawal Bhutto

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has criticized a political party for targeting national institutions, stating that all organizations should operate within their respective mandates, while political parties should conduct their activities within the political sphere.

Speaking at a meeting, Bilawal emphasized that adhering to the political domain ensures that parties do not create difficulties for themselves or others. He also stressed the need to counter attempts to target the military in a non-political manner.

The PPP chairman held discussions at the Governor House Lahore with over 70 ticket holders from Punjab. The meeting focused on political matters, including preparations for the upcoming local government elections in the province.

During the session, Dost Muhammad Khosa reportedly briefed Bilawal Bhutto on alleged irregularities in his constituency, NA-185.

UK grants visas to thousands despite failing English test

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UK grants

LONDON: It has emerged that thousands of immigrants were granted UK visas despite failing their English language test.

According to a British newspaper, around 80,000 candidates received incorrect results in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam.

The report highlights that evidence of malpractice was found in countries including China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, with some candidates passing the exam after purchasing leaked test papers.

In response, the UK Conservative Party has called for the deportation of individuals who obtained visas through fraudulent scores.

The government, however, stated that investigations are ongoing and that stricter measures will be implemented in the future to prevent such incidents.

Australian Cricket delegation arrives in Lahore ahead of T20 series

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Australian Cricket

LAHORE: A recce team from Cricket Australia has arrived in Lahore to assess arrangements for the upcoming tour of Pakistan.

According to sources, the team is scheduled to inspect the venues, including Gaddafi Stadium, the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and the LCCA Ground.

During the visit, officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and security agencies will brief the delegation on preparations and security measures.

Australia’s T20 squad is expected to tour Pakistan late next month, with a three-match T20I series planned between the two sides. Sources indicate that all three fixtures are likely to be hosted in Lahore.