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World News / International

PCB’s Pakistan vs Australia T20 promo takes subtle dig at India, goes viral

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PCB’s Pakistan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a promotional video for the upcoming Pakistan vs Australia T20 series, featuring a subtle satirical reference to India that has quickly gone viral on social media.

The video highlights Pakistan’s hospitality and passion for cricket, showing an Australian passenger thanking a taxi driver who refuses payment.

When the passenger forgets to shake hands, the driver jokes, “Looks like you also visited the neighbors.” This lighthearted jab was widely interpreted as a playful reference to India.

In the promo, a character named Aga Ji says, “We are hospitable by nature, but when it comes to cricket, we are ready to compete.”

The three-match T20 series will kick off on January 29, with the second and third games scheduled for January 31 and February 1, all taking place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

President Trump announces Gaza Board of Peace at Davos

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President Trump

DAVOS, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump officially announced the formation of the Gaza Board of Peace during a signing ceremony in Davos, attended by world leaders including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. With the signing of the charter, the board is now fully operational.

In his address, President Trump thanked all participating nations for joining the board and pledged continued collaboration with the United Nations and other international partners to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.

Trump emphasized the board’s security objectives in Gaza, warning that Hamas must disarm or face destruction.

He highlighted the role of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a key contributor to the board’s efforts and expressed optimism about the success of peace initiatives in the region.

“I have successfully stopped eight wars, prevented conflict between nuclear powers Pakistan and India, and worked to make the world safer,” Trump said, while also noting his willingness to engage in dialogue with Iran.

According to Arab media reports, the Gaza Board of Peace now includes 19 countries, including Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Indonesia, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE. Additional participants include Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kosovo, Morocco, and Vietnam. Reports also indicate that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to participate.

During the Davos session, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Trump for the invitation and expressed willingness to contribute $1 billion to support global stability, affirming Russia’s cooperation in international peace efforts.

PSL team Sialkot officially named “Sialkot Stallions” by owner

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PSL team Sialkot

ISLAMABAD: Kamal Khan, owner of the new Pakistan Super League (PSL) team from Sialkot, has officially announced the team’s name as “Sialkot Stallions.” He shared the announcement along with a video on social media platform X.

The addition of Sialkot Stallions is expected to bring more excitement and diversity to the PSL, with cricket fans eagerly looking forward to seeing the new team in action.

Meanwhile, the final name for the Hyderabad PSL team is yet to be revealed.

The 11th edition of the PSL, featuring eight teams, is scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026.

ICC decides to replace Bangladesh in World Cup if team skips

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ICC decides

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to include an alternative team in the World Cup if Bangladesh opts not to travel to India.

According to cricket news sources, the decision was taken during an ICC Board Members meeting, where the situation regarding Bangladesh’s participation was discussed in detail.

The ICC reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to communicate with their government and confirm whether the team will participate in India. If they decide not to travel, the ICC will proceed to include a replacement team in the tournament.

During today’s board meeting, a vote was held, and the majority of members favored including a substitute team to ensure the tournament schedule is not disrupted.

Meanwhile, the ICC has granted BCB one more day to finalize its decision regarding playing in India.

Trump warns of severe consequences if Iran attempts to kill him

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Trump warns

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face devastating consequences if any attempt were made on his life.

Speaking in an interview with American media, Trump was asked about alleged threats from Iran. He said he did not believe the Iranian government would take such a step, but added that he had already prepared a formal notification regarding the matter.

“If Iran kills me, the United States will completely destroy Iran,” Trump stated.

In a recent statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader had blamed President Trump for deaths and damages that occurred during recent protests in Iran.

Meanwhile, a few days earlier, former US ambassador Dan Shapiro claimed that Trump might attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the coming weeks — a claim that further heightened tensions between the two sides.

The remarks have once again fueled concerns over escalating hostility between Washington and Tehran.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland night due to a minor electrical malfunction, the White House confirmed. The decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that Air Force One landed back at Andrews Base around 0400 GMT following a brief flight. Journalists traveling with Trump reported that cabin lights went off for a few moments shortly after takeoff.

Despite the technical issue, Trump did not cancel his trip. Instead, he switched to a backup plane and departed again on Wednesday morning to attend the Davos Forum. The new aircraft left Andrews Base approximately two and a half hours after the initial flight.

Air Force One, widely regarded as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, has been in service since 1990 as a Boeing 747-200B.

Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the current planes, and delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft had prompted his administration to explore alternative options. Reports also indicated that some of these options raised constitutional, ethical, and security concerns.

The incident caused only minor disruption, and Trump continued his schedule as planned, highlighting the precautionary protocols followed during presidential travel.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik announces retirement from PSL

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Former Pakistan captain

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), bringing an end to his decade-long career in the tournament.

In a statement shared on his social media account, Malik said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment on and off the field during my 10-year PSL career.

 The time has come to conclude this journey here.” He added that he will always be available to serve the game of cricket in the future.

Shoaib Malik had previously retired from Test cricket in 2015 and from One Day Internationals in 2019. Although he had not officially retired from T20 Internationals, the 44-year-old all-rounder has not represented the national team since 2021. However, he continued to play in the PSL and other T20 leagues.

Malik featured in all 10 seasons of the PSL, representing four teams: Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. His final PSL season was in 2025, playing for Quetta Gladiators.

Haris Rauf excluded from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for T20 World Cup

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Haris Rauf

KARACHI: Fast bowler Haris Rauf will not be part of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Sources indicate that national team coach Mike Hesson has not been in favor of including Haris in the squad since the Asia Cup final.

Following the Asia Cup, Rauf has not featured in any T20 matches for Pakistan.

Currently, Haris Rauf is participating in the Big Bash League in Australia.

US fighter jets begin arriving in Greenland amid NORAD coordination

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US fighter jets

WASHINGTON/OTTAWA: US fighter jets have started arriving in Greenland, according to a joint statement by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The aircraft are scheduled to be stationed at the US military base on the island in the coming days.

NORAD confirmed that the Greenlandic government has been informed about the deployment plans. The agency also noted that the new aircraft shipment is fully coordinated with the Danish government, and all necessary diplomatic clearances for the US forces have been obtained.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. In 1951, the United States and Denmark signed a defense agreement in which the US pledged to protect Greenland from potential aggression.

 Later, in 1958, the US and Canada signed the NORAD treaty at the start of the Cold War, with the primary objective of providing early warning of ballistic missile launches.

Record-breaking snow hits Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, two dead

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Record-breaking snow

MOSCOW: Eastern Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula has experienced the heaviest snowfall in 60 years, causing major disruptions across the region.

According to international news agencies, towering snowdrifts several meters high have blocked building entrances and buried vehicles entirely under snow.

Authorities reported that , two people were killed after being trapped under falling snow from rooftops.

The Meteorological Department stated that some areas have already received over two meters of snow in the first 15 days of January, adding to nearly 3.7 meters recorded in December.

Videos and images from Kamchatka show cars completely buried under snow, while residents have had to clear paths themselves to reach building entrances.

Russian media footage also shows people walking atop snowdrifts as high as traffic signals, with snow piled several meters along road edges, highlighting the severity of the unprecedented winter storm.

BCB stands firm on not sending team to India for T20 World Cup

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BCB stands firm

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its decision not to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government instructions. The BCB issued a statement following a meeting with an ICC delegation in Dhaka.

During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to move Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue, citing safety and logistical considerations.

The meeting was described as constructive, cordial, and professional, with both sides openly exchanging views on relevant issues.

The ICC delegation included Gururav Sixena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Effergrove, General Manager of the Integrity Unit. Sixena participated online due to visa delays.

The BCB also highlighted recent incidents, including India’s behavior during the Under-19 World Cup, where the Indian captain refused to shake hands with the Bangladeshi captain, as part of the ongoing tensions influencing their stance.

Both the BCB and ICC agreed to continue negotiations on the matter, including the possibility of transferring Bangladesh to another group for logistical reasons.