Pakistan Ex-PM, Imran Khan is handed a 14-year imprisonment term
Pakistan Ex-PM, Imran Khan is handed a 14-year imprisonment term
By: Shahzain S.
March 8, 2024
Embedded Files
Former PM Imran Khan called a massive rally in Liberty, Lahore, where he called the army out - MashriqTV.
On the 31st of January, a Pakistani court found Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan and his wife Bushra Bibi, guilty of charges regarding selling state gifts and releasing state secrets. Subsequently, this resulted in Khan being sentenced to 14 years.
Imran Khan and his wife were sentenced by the National Accountability Bureau, for charges related to an unlawful sale of state gifts, which happened during his term as the Prime Minister of Pakistan from 2018 to 2022. After this, his political party, PTI, declared that Khan had been barred from holding office for ten years.
This conviction comes a day after Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi were found guilty of revealing state secrets, Khan shall be allowed to serve the sentences concurrently.
The court has also commanded Khan and Bibi to pay 1.5 billion PKR ($5.3 million), in fines for these charges.
His wife, Bushra Bibi has been out on remand, and she surrendered at the Adiala Jail. Consequently, the government ordered that she be under house arrest at her Islamabad residence.
Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi strongly opposed the charges brought up by Pakistan’s anti-corruption watchdog. The Toshakhana case focused on when the couple was accused of keeping a valuable jewelry set from the Saudi Crown Prince for personal profit.
In 2022, Khan was ousted from office by numerous opposition parties, and he has faced two corruption charges, which have threatened Khan to go to jail.
Paramilitary forces arrested Khan on his first charge, leading to widespread riots throughout Pakistan, however, his high-profile case was declared illegal by the Supreme Court. Furthermore, Khan’s second arrest has resulted in him being jailed in the dreary Adiala Prison, as he endures a 3-year sentence.
Khan says that all of the charges against him are politically motivated.
Khan asked the judge during his intense trial, “Why are you in a hurry to announce the verdict? I have not even recorded my final statement.” Khan then exited the courtroom in a state of anger, during which the judge declared the sentence during his absence.
Khan’s lawyer, Intezar Panjutha has said, “It’s a sham verdict…”
Khan and Bibi get married in a quiet ceremony - NDTV.
Interim Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said the court decision proved that “no one is above the law and no one can get away with abusing the trust of people”.
Khan, formerly one of the most prominent cricket stars in the world rose to power as he founded the party PTI.
Bibi, Khan’s wife has hidden out of the public eye for many years, and many say she is attracted to Sufism (Islam’s mysticism).
PTI has also been stripped of its signature cricket bat symbol, which is essential since the country has a very low literacy rate, which makes PTI more identifiable, thus aiding millions of voters to cast their ballots which will impact PTI’s campaign severely.
This accusation of Khan comes just 10 days before the Pakistani general election, which is a huge blow as PTI led the polls.
Nawaz Sharif, the former three-time Pakistani Prime Minister, who was removed from office in 2017 is a member of the Pakistani party PML-N. He is now poised to win the Pakistani general elections as a result of Khan’s legal issues which don’t allow him to contest.
The general elections are happening on the 8th of February 2024.
First-Ever Sighting Of a Newborn Great White Shark
First-Ever Sighting Of a Newborn Great White Shark
By: Sevrine M.
February 25, 2024
First images of a possible newborn great white pup off the coast of California. Credit: Carlos Gauna/TheMalibuArtist
On July 9, 2023, a pure-white shark pup was spotted in waters near Santa Barbara, California by wildlife film-maker Carlos Gauna and researcher Philip Sternes. They believe this could be the first ever sighting of a great white pup.
Where great whites give birth is largely unknown. As a result, this possible finding is huge for conserving great whites, who are listed as vulnerable on an international level and have an estimated population of around 3000-5000 individuals. Finding their breeding grounds could prove a big step forward in protecting the species.
The pup was roughly five feet long, and had rounded fins, which supports the notion that it is a newborn. The pup also appeared to be shedding the white film layer that covered its body as it swam. Mother sharks produce uterine milk while they are pregnant to provide nutrition for their pup(s). “I believe it was a newborn shark shedding its embryonic layer,” said Sternes.
Still from the footage taken by Gauna of a white material being sloughed off the pup as it swam. Credits: Carlos Gauna/TheMalibuArtist
While Gauna and Sternes believe the white film was the pups embryonic layer, they acknowledge the possibility that the shedding could instead be an unknown skin condition. However, they are of the opinion that this is unlikely. “If that is what we saw, then that is too monumental because no such condition has been reported for these sharks,” Gauna said.
The pup was also spotted in a proposed breeding ground for great whites. Gauna also says that he had spotted three mature great whites that appeared to be pregnant at least three days prior to the sighting of the pup.
Where Gauna and Sternes believe the pup is truly a newborn great white pup, others have their doubts. Director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the University of Florida, Gavin Naylor, has posed a slightly different view of things. “It seems more likely (to me) that this young animal may have been a couple of weeks old and strayed into shallow water,” Naylor suggests.
Naylor also brings up how great whites usually give birth to around 8-12 pups at a time, which would have you to assume that there would be other pups swimming in the vicinity. Another oddity in the pup was its coloring, as it was pure white. This is an unusual coloring for great whites as they are typically grey on top and white on the bottom.
Confirming if the pup is indeed a newborn would progress the great white shark conservation efforts massively, as laws would ideally be put in place to protect the waters where great whites give birth, hopefully resulting in an increase in the famed species.
Rehearsals for the Upcoming Middle School Play Cloud Students Schedules
Rehearsals for the Upcoming Middle School Play Cloud Students Schedules
By: Vivienne L.
March 8, 2024
Rehearsals are starting for the middle school play, Narnia. Along with the news of the cast list, there is a buzz of excitement from students participating.
One student says “I was excited to meet new people that I’m going to work with,“ in response to the experience of their first ensemble rehearsal.
Poster from the motion picture.
Ms. Rankin and Ms. Grev, the Middle School drama teachers, have started working with a cast of over 100 students to create the magnificent piece that will soon become the middle school play.
As much as the students are excited to work their lines and roles, the commitment that is required going into the rehearsal process is time-consuming which means for the students that they will have to skip out on this season's After School Activities.
What is wonderful about this is that the students are actually invested in performing and working through the months to create the play. Most of the rehearsals have started off in Ms. Rankin’s room 3002 and are focused on working on line memorization and blocking.
“Rehearsals are fun because we get to know each other more,” Ambrose said after his most recent rehearsal, working on brand new blocking for two scenes.
As the days get closer and closer to the date of opening night, students of the cast are overcome by busier schedules. Considering all the preparation going into the performance, the students are reworking their schedules in order to attend the rehearsals. Everyone, both participating and soon to be watching the play, are excited for the outcome of what is soon to be the middle school play.
Steve Stolk leads the record-breaking victory against Scotland in the U19 CWC.
Steve Stolk leads the record-breaking victory against Scotland in the U19 CWC.
By: Zayan B.A.
March 8, 2024
Steve Stolk celebrates 50 runs against Scotland, January 27, 2024 -Photo provided by ESPN Cricinfo,
On the 27th of January, South Africa took first place in group B in the Under 19 Cricket World Cup in Bloemfontein, South Africa after a legendary group stage victory against Scotland led by Steve Stolk.
Steve Stolk received the player of the match after an incredible inning scoring 87 runs in only 37 balls, an incredible record for a 17-year-old. In the first 3 overs, Steve Stolk and Pretorius scored 50 runs in only 3 overs or 18 balls. South Africa needed immense efforts from its future stars like Steve Stolk and Maphaka.
While this may seem somewhat below a world record, Steve Stolk and others in the team have gotten highly respectable scores for such young under-19 players. According to ESPN Cricinfo, India vs South Africa was the earliest 50 played in an international cricket match with normal boundaries. Yuvraj Singh, an Indian Cricket player, scored a 50 in 12 balls. Meanwhile, the South Africans achieved the score of 50 in only 19 balls, a great record for both South Africans and the Under 19 Players overall.
“The bowlers of Scotland Under-19 did not start well and were blown away in the Hurricane named Steve Stolk,” says Ian Bishop, commentator and renowned former pacer for West Indies.
The commentators of the match were full of celebrated former cricket players who earned their national titles. The former cricketers were highly impressed with Stolk’s batting narrating the South African as aggressive and “too hard to handle for Scotland Under-19”. Meanwhile, the man himself gives all the credit to teamwork, a highly respectable quality found in leaders.
The player was not only impressive according to the former cricketers but instead, his name is now written across some of the U-19 World records and is compared to the likes of famous players like Craig Simmons. The player has achieved third place on the Most Sixes in an Innings with 8 sixes in the match against the Scots with the Highest strike rate within an impressive 50 minutes only. Along with that he now has one of the earliest fifties for U-19 Player.
However, there wasn’t only one star of the game as Kwena Maphaka, the South African pacer had impressive figures with 3 five-wicket hauls. Steve Stolk and Kwena Maphaka are now in the U-19 Player of the Month (POTTM) selections and many are rushing to select the South African players for their magical performance against the Scots. According to ICC, Steve Stolk has gotten 228 runs in the U19 World Cup. Meanwhile, the South African bowler Maphaka has gotten 21 wickets. Maphaka received the player of the match “For his outstanding spell with the ball” said Ian Bishop, former cricketer and commentator.
Photo provided by ICC, Kwena Maphaka jumping after taking a wicket, January 27, 2024
The next match of the U-19 World Cup is a Semi-Final against India, a challenging hurdle in South Africa’s journey in the U-19 World Cup. If they get through this milestone, the South Africans will be met with either Australians or Pakistan.
As an underdog team in the U-19 World Cup, South Africa has gone miles with the help of their new stars and looks forward to an interesting future team with the likes of AB Devilliers and Kagiso Rabada
Boeing 737 MAX 9’s Return Back To The Sky
Boeing 737 MAX 9’s Return Back To The Sky
By: Hridhaan A.
March 8, 2024
Boeing 737-9, involved type of aircraft in the accident that took place on Jan 5
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024, a pathway for resumed flights of Boeing 737 Max 9 jets in the US, but Boeing won't be allowed to expand production of planes after a door plug blew out from the side of an Alaska Airlines jet (callsign-1282) in mid-cruise on Jan 5, 2024 which forced the FAA to ground all Boeing 737 Max 9’s in the US immediately.
“The Jan 5 Boeing 737-9 MAX incident must never happen again,” said the FAA.
Boeing 737 Max 9’s callsign 1282, missing unused door plug blowout photo- photo courtesy Stephanie King
This blowout of the unused plug door happened at an Alaska Airlines flight 1282 from Portland International Airport in Portland, Oregon, to Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, when the aircraft was climbing through 16,000 feet, the blowout occurred because the door plug was not bolted in place.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether or not the door panel that blew off the Alaska Airlines flight was properly bolted before takeoff. Investigators have found the plane’s plug door but have not yet recovered the bolts associated with it. The FAA recommended this week that airlines inspect their door plugs on 737 jets.
This accident including Boeing's 737s is a big setback for Boeing, as Boeing were already struggling with other plane types like the 777x (long haul jets) which were supposed to be delivered to the launch customers, Qatar Airways, in 2020 but was delayed to 2025 and now the investigation of the FAA on Boeing 737s which is the highest selling aircraft for Boeing and this brings complications.
Incidents with Boeing 737 have happened before, like Lion Air 610 and Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 happened because of manufacturing defects which led to the grounding of 737 Max for 20 months.
These incidents have led to the CEO of Boeing to acknowledge and confess "We're going to approach this, number one, acknowledging our mistake,” according to an excerpt released by the company.
Overall, this incident creates a slimy situation for Boeing and brings uncertainty for all 737 jets but hopefully this incident increases the standard of safety over all Boeing 737’s variants and Boeing goes back to normal.
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