PSB overturns lifetime ban on coach of Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem

KARACHI: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has annulled the lifetime ban placed on renowned athletics coach Salman Iqbal Butt, who trains Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem, fully restoring his professional status.

In a decision issued by Senator Pervaiz Rashid acting as PSB adjudicator, the ban imposed by the Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) was declared “without lawful authority, unconstitutional, ultra vires, and void ab initio”—meaning invalid from the moment it was issued.

The AFP had announced the ban on October 12, which Butt challenged on grounds of lack of jurisdiction, due process, and legal foundation. After reviewing the case, the adjudicator sided with Butt in a final order issued on November 13.

“The lifetime ban has no legal effect and is declared void,” the ruling stated, directing the AFP to immediately withdraw all adverse communications sent to bodies such as World Athletics and Asian Athletics. The federation has also been barred from issuing any future defamatory or prejudicial statements regarding Butt.

The adjudicator highlighted multiple procedural violations by the AFP, including failure to issue a charge sheet, provide an inquiry report, or grant Butt a fair hearing. Citing infringements of Articles 4, 10-A, and 25 of the Constitution, the order stated that any penalty imposed without due process is void.

The dispute also related to the Punjab Athletics Association (PAA) elections, which the AFP had annulled. The adjudicator ruled that the AFP lacked authority over the matter, as PAA elections fall under the jurisdiction of the Punjab Sports Board and Punjab Olympic Association and were conducted in the presence of authorized observers without objections.

The ruling emphasized the damaging impact of the ban on Pakistan’s elite athletics programme, noting that Butt has been instrumental in Arshad Nadeem’s development, including his milestone gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics. A written endorsement from Nadeem supporting Butt was included in the case record.

PSB legal advisor Saif ur Rehman Rao assisted the proceedings, while AFP President Brig (R) Wajahat Hussain and advocate Usman Akram represented the federation. The adjudicator dismissed the AFP’s objections to the petition’s maintainability, confirming full PSB jurisdiction.

With the order now in effect, all rights, privileges, and professional standing of Salman Iqbal Butt as a national athletics coach have been reinstated.

Far-right Australian senator wears burqa in parliament, triggering outrage

SYDNEY: A far-right Australian lawmaker sparked widespread condemnation on Monday after appearing in the national parliament wearing a burqa, a move fellow legislators denounced as offensive and “racist.”

Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-immigration One Nation party, staged the display shortly after the Senate blocked her attempt to introduce legislation that would ban full face coverings in Australia — a proposal she has promoted for decades.

Minutes after her bill was rejected, Hanson entered the chamber dressed in a black burqa and took her seat, prompting immediate anger from other senators.

Greens Senate leader Larissa Waters described the act as “a middle finger to people of faith,” calling it “extremely racist and unsafe.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who also leads the government in the Senate, condemned the stunt as “disrespectful.”

“All of us here have the privilege of serving diverse communities,” Wong said. “We represent people of every faith and background, and we should do so with decency.”

Hanson refused to remove the garment, leading to a suspension of the Senate session. This marks the second time she has worn a burqa in parliament.

The incident comes amid warnings from a government envoy in September that Australia has failed to adequately address growing and persistent Islamophobia.

Pakistan Shaheens Defeat Bangladesh A to Claim Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 Title

Pakistan Shaheens clinched the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 trophy after defeating Bangladesh A in a thrilling final at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha on Sunday.

The match went down to the wire, with both teams finishing on 125 runs in their allotted 20 overs, forcing the contest into a Super Over. Bangladesh batted first in the tie-breaker but suffered an early setback when Ahmed Saniyal removed Abdul Gaffar Saqlain for a first-ball duck.

Although Daniyal conceded a boundary off a wide, he quickly regained control and restricted Bangladesh to just six runs in 0.3 overs.

Chasing seven runs to lift the trophy, Pakistan started with a leg bye that brought Maaz Sadaqat on strike. He picked up a single on the next delivery before Saad Masood smashed a boundary off the third ball, leaving Pakistan needing only one run from three deliveries. Masood then inside-edged the final ball to seal the win and crown Pakistan Shaheens as champions.

Earlier in the match, Bangladesh fell just short of Pakistan’s target of 126, finishing at 125 for nine in their 20 overs. Openers Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam got their side off to a strong start, scoring freely in the early overs.

Pakistan responded swiftly. In the third over, Arafat Minhas dismissed Jishan for six off four balls, reducing Bangladesh to 22–1. The Shaheens struck again in the next over when Habibur Rahman was removed for a quick-fire 26 off 13 balls—an innings featuring three fours and two sixes—by Saad Masood.

Arafat continued to apply pressure, trapping Mahidul Islam Ankon for a five-ball duck in the fifth over, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 36–3.

Tri-nation T20 Series: Pakistan Defeats Zimbabwe by 69 Runs

Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by 69 runs in the tri-nation T20 series in Rawalpindi. Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 195 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Babar Azam led the innings with 74 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan contributed a solid 63.

Chasing a target of 196, Zimbabwe struggled and were bowled out for 126 runs. Ryan Burl provided some resistance with a half-century, but it was not enough to save the team.

For Pakistan, Usman Tariq was the star with the ball, taking four wickets, including a hat-trick, while Mohammad Nawaz picked up two wickets.

Pakistan made two changes to their playing XI for the match, bringing in Usman Tariq and Naseem Shah, while Salman Mirza and Abrar Ahmed were dropped.

Earlier in the series, Pakistan defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets in their first encounter and had beaten Sri Lanka by seven wickets the previous day.

Global halal economy surpasses $2.4 trillion, forum told

LONDON: The global halal economy has grown to more than $2.4 trillion annually and continues to expand at a rapid pace, speakers said at the London Halal Forum 2025, held at ExCeL London with participation from dozens of Islamic countries, including Pakistan.

The event brought together businesses, investors, policymakers and media representatives to support UK economic growth by strengthening trade ties with the fast-growing halal market. According to Dinar Standard’s State of the Global Islamic Economy 2024/25 report, the global halal economy is now valued at $2.4 trillion.

This year’s forum centred on responsible growth and cross-border cooperation. Two major strategic partnerships were announced:

• A new agreement between the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and its Kenya chapter to enhance certification pathways and expand market access across East Africa.

• A strategic cooperation agreement aimed at boosting data-driven investment strategies and fostering innovation across halal industries.

Delegates also took part in the “Halal for Business Excellence” conference, which examined commercial trends, governance frameworks and cultural dynamics shaping global halal markets. A leaders’ session on technology and trust underscored the importance of halal standards in maintaining consumer confidence worldwide.

Panel discussions throughout the day featured industry leaders, government officials and investors, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global halal development; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s rise as a European hub of excellence; the expanding role of women’s leadership and cultural diplomacy; the surge of halal-focused entrepreneurship; and the importance of values-driven storytelling in shaping public perceptions of the halal economy.

Sarah Ferguson considering major move as Prince Andrew’s behaviour reportedly tests her patience

Sarah Ferguson is reportedly developing a personal “survival plan” as Prince Andrew’s behaviour continues to leave her “quietly mad,” according to claims circulating in the UK press.

Sources suggest the former Duchess of York has even contemplated relocating to Portugal to distance herself from ongoing scrutiny linked to her and Andrew’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein.

The reports come amid separate rumours that King Charles’ “disgraced” brother is exploring a potential move to the Middle East.

Palace insiders told Radar Online that Ferguson has been struggling with the fallout from losing her royal titles and facing uncertainty over the future of the Royal Lodge, the residence she shared with Andrew.

According to the outlet, Ferguson has been “driven quietly mad” following the loss of her titles and what has been described as an increasingly difficult domestic situation.

Andrew, meanwhile, is characterised by the source as behaving “childishly,” allegedly spending long periods wandering the halls muttering to himself or retreating to his TV room to watch golf.

“He’s still a child and always will be — at least Sarah is trying to put together a survival plan. He just wallows,” the insider claimed.

Iran warns of alleged plots to target Supreme Leader Khamenei

Iran’s intelligence ministry has issued a warning about what it says are attempts by foreign adversaries — including the United States and Israel — to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and undermine the Islamic Republic.

According to a report published Saturday by the ISNA news agency, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib claimed that “the enemy seeks to target the supreme leader, sometimes with assassination attempts, sometimes with hostile attacks.”

Khatib did not specify whether he was referring to a particular plot or incident, and while Iranian officials frequently accuse foreign governments of covert operations, explicit warnings about threats to Khamenei have been uncommon. Such remarks have drawn increased attention since the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June.

“Those who act in this direction, knowingly or unknowingly, are infiltrating agents of the enemy,” Khatib said, directly pointing to the United States and Israel.

During the confrontation earlier this year, Israel carried out strikes on senior Iranian military personnel, nuclear scientists, government facilities and residential areas, with the United States later joining with attacks on key nuclear sites.

When asked about reports during the conflict alleging that then-U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei to prevent escalation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the claim but remarked that such an act would “end the conflict.”

At the time, Trump had described Iran’s supreme leader as a “very easy target,” adding, “We are not going to take him out, at least not for now.”

Babar, Farhan steer Pakistan to 195 against Zimbabwe

Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan struck fluent half-centuries as Pakistan posted a formidable 195-run total against Zimbabwe in the fourth match of the T20I tri-series on Sunday at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Farhan provided early momentum at the top, while Babar anchored the innings with characteristic control, enabling Pakistan to set a challenging 196-run target.

Pakistan XI: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Usman Khan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq.

Zimbabwe XI: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Wellington Masakadza.

Pakistan lift IBSF Snooker World Cup title after remarkable comeback

Pakistan claimed the IBSF Snooker World Cup Team Championship on Sunday, overturning a 2–1 deficit to edge Hong Kong China 2 by 3–2 in a tense best-of-five final.

The Pakistani duo — former world champion Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal — delivered two superb century breaks in the crucial final stages to secure the trophy. Hong Kong’s challenge was led by Chau Hon Man and Nansen Wan.

Hong Kong struck early when Chau Hon Man dominated the opening frame, defeating Asjad Iqbal 94–0 with the help of an 85 break to put Pakistan on the back foot.

Pakistan hit back in the second singles frame, with Asif producing a fluent 82 break to beat Nansen Wan 95–17 and bring the contest level.

Hong Kong then regained control by taking the doubles frame 84–41, pushing Pakistan into a 2–1 deficit and within a frame of defeat.

But the momentum shifted sharply in the reverse singles. Asif kept Pakistan’s hopes alive with a clinical 100 break in his 100–36 win over Chau Hon Man, tying the match at 2–2.

With the championship on the line, Iqbal delivered under pressure, compiling a brilliant 104 break to shut out Nansen Wan 104–0 and complete Pakistan’s stunning comeback.

Pakistan sealed the title with a 3–2 victory. Frame scores: 0–94 (85), 95 (82)–17, 41–84, 100 (100)–36, 104 (104)–0.

Dubai Run 2025 turns Sheikh Zayed Road into a giant fitness carnival

DUBAI: Dubai’s signature fitness festival once again brought the city to a halt on Sunday, as Dubai Run 2025 transformed Sheikh Zayed Road into what has become the world’s largest free community run.

At sunrise, tens of thousands of people — including families, children, senior citizens, and fitness enthusiasts — packed the city’s main highway to take on the 5km and 10km routes.

This year’s edition delivered an unexpected highlight. As runners advanced along the route, the morning sky suddenly burst into streaks of red and green. A formation of paramotors swept overhead, executing precise aerial manoeuvres while releasing trails in the colours of the UAE flag. The surprise display drew cheers and awe from participants and quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the run.

Dubai Run remains a flagship event of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, the month-long initiative aimed at inspiring residents and visitors to embrace active, healthier lifestyles.

For the Pakistani community in the UAE, the event has become one of the most anticipated public gatherings of the year, reflecting their strong engagement and enthusiasm for the fitness movement.

Organisers noted that Dubai Run has grown far beyond a recreational event, evolving into a global benchmark for mass-participation fitness activities and drawing runners from across the world.

Sahafi vs AI? Not quite

I’m back with another set of reflections on a conference — this time, the Sahafi Summit in Lahore held a couple of weeks ago. I know this has become something of a recurring theme, and this will probably be my last conference-focused op-ed for a while, but the event was genuinely worth writing about. It was fun, unexpectedly inspiring in parts, and one of those rare gatherings where you can discuss journalism without feeling the urge to bang your head against the nearest podium.

Before getting into the summit itself, it’s worth talking about its central theme: artificial intelligence. AI — the shiny, alarming, endlessly hyped force that some claim is coming for our jobs, our brains, and possibly our souls — took centre stage at this Sahafi get-together.

Let me begin with the most honest assessment I can offer: if anyone believes AI isn’t already being used in journalism, they’re either mistaken or lying. There is no third possibility. Let’s be real — everyone uses ChatGPT. The bold experiment with Gemini. The adventurous (or eccentric) swear by Claude. And somewhere out there, someone is secretly relying on something called “Google AI Studio Beta Ultra Something” and pretending they’re not.

Personally, I’m still a noob with most of these tools, and I couldn’t tell you how half of them work — something I need to fix soon. But I do use ChatGPT, not to write my stories, but for the sort of tasks an extremely efficient personal assistant might handle: cleaning up work lists, arranging my course outlines by date, reorganizing bullet points, sorting data. To me, it’s a support tool, nothing more — at least for now. But the larger point stands: AI is here, it’s everywhere, and we can stop pretending otherwise. And if anything, AI didn’t “break” journalism; it just exposed the fractures we’ve long ignored — shrinking newsrooms, low wages, and a culture that prizes speed over thoughtfulness. In that sense, AI is a mirror, and the reflection isn’t flattering.

Then there’s the second big fear: AI will wipe out jobs. Is that true? To a degree, yes. Transcribers and translators are already feeling the impact. Machines do both tasks brilliantly, in milliseconds, and without the annoying requirement of a salary. But is this the first time technology has reshaped our work? Of course not. We once had typists — until we didn’t. Compositors — until we didn’t. And as the song reminds us, “video killed the radio star.” (It didn’t, actually; radio simply reinvented itself — hello, podcasts.)

Pakistan, India set for T20 World Cup 2026 clash on February 15: reports

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly firmed up the schedule for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a blockbuster Pakistan–India showdown pencilled in for February 15. 

According to Indian media, the 10th edition of the tournament is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and featuring 20 participating teams. The ICC is tipped to officially release the schedule on November 25.

Reports suggest Pakistan and India have been drawn into the same group alongside the United States, Namibia, and the Netherlands. The highly anticipated clash between the rivals is slated to take place in Colombo, while Pakistan is expected to play all of its group matches in Sri Lanka. 

Under the event format, the 20 teams will be split into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight stage, which will be further divided into two groups of four. The leading two sides from each Super Eight group will then progress to the semi-finals. 

India will enter the competition as the defending champions after defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados earlier this year. 

All 20 teams have already secured their spots, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) becoming the final side to qualify last month.

The final is likely to be staged either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, with the venue potentially depending on Pakistan’s progression—an outcome influenced by ongoing political tensions that have halted bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan.