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Pakistani prodigy Bilal Asher is the current world under-14 Scrabble champion. — AFPKARACHI: “Dram”, meaning a measure of whisky. “Turm”, describing a cavalry unit. “Taupie”, a foolish youngster.Not words in a typical teen’s vocabulary, but all come easily to Pakistani prodigy Bilal Asher, world under-14 Scrabble champion. Despite a musty reputation, the word-spelling game has a cult youth following in Pakistan, a legacy of the English language imposed by Britain’s empire but which the country has adapted into its own dialect since independence.In the eccentric field of competitive Scrabble, Pakistan’s youngsters reign supreme — the current youth world champions and…

A man uses a school bag to protect a child from the sun as they leave school in Manila. — AFP/FileSoaring temperatures shut down schools in nearly half the Philippine capital on Monday, local officials said, as the torrid dry season started in the tropical Southeast Asian country.A national weather service advisory warned the heat index, a measure of air temperature and relative humidity, was set to reach “danger” levels in Manila and two other areas of the country. “Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are likely” at that level, the advisory said, warning residents in affected areas to avoid prolonged…

India’s captain Rohit Sharma pictured during an ODI against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on February 12, 2025. — ReutersIndian captain Rohit Sharma has landed in hot waters over his fitness with an Indian lawmaker resorting to fat-shaming the right-handed opener while terming him the “most unimpressive” Indian skipper.”@ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight And of course the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” said Indian National Congress (INC) spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed in a now-deleted post on X. The politician, as reported by the Hindustan Times, further said that Sharma was a…

Zoe Saldana delivers tearful speech as she wins first ever OscarZoe Saldana was crowned best supporting actress at the 97th Academy awards.On march 2, the Hollywood actress won her first ever Oscar for role as Rita in the mystery crime movie, Emilia Pérez. While accepting her award, she began by saying, “I am floored by this honor. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the quiet heroism and the power in a woman like Rita.”Moreover, the Avatar actress thanked her family, and said, “Everything brave, outrageous, and good that I’ve ever done in my entire life is because of you. Thank…

US president says Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano will be included in ‘Crypto Strategic Reserve’.United States President Donald Trump has named five cryptocurrencies for his proposed reserve of digital assets, sending prices of the tokens soaring. Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano will be included in a “Crypto Strategic Reserve”, Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. Trump, who in January signed an executive order to examine the creation of a “strategic national digital assets stockpile”, said the move would “elevate” the industry after years of “corrupt attacks” by the administration of former US President Joe Biden.…

Dubai Municipality has announced its intensive preparations to receive the blessed month, to equip facilities and services, to ensure that the needs of customers according to the highest quality, health and safety standards, and preparations included enhancing the readiness of the capabilities, cemeteries, markets and veterinary quarries, to keep pace with the expected increase in the number of auditors during the holy month. The municipality has developed an integrated maintenance plan for its fistula, as it was prepared by all means that guarantee the provision of services quickly, easily and safely. It also provided the ability to seek livestock, buy…

 A Rohingya girl feeds a child from a jar with the USAID logo on it, at a refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, February 11, 2025. — ReutersA senior official with the US Agency for International Development in an email on Sunday warned that the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agency will result in unnecessary deaths — only to email his staff less than 30 minutes later to say that he had been placed on leave.Nicholas Enrich, USAID’s acting assistant administrator for global health, in the seven-page memo shared with staff, and which was seen by Reuters, said “political leadership”…

Khattak’s inclusion raises concerns among PML-N leaders.Some leaders avoided speaking to him for 15-16 years.Claims of Punjab domicile preference within PML-N raised.ISLAMABAD: Some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders have expressed reservations about the inclusion of Pervez Khattak, a former close aide of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding-chairman Imran Khan, in the federal cabinet.Speaking on Geo News’ programme Naya Pakistan, PML-N leader Ikhtiar Wali said that certain party members were displeased with including Khatakk, who served as the defence minister and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister during PTI’s separate tenures, into the cabinet. He revealed that due to past political differences, some PML-N…

Pakistan players get into a huddle while trying to defend 241 against India during high-stakes clash of ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Dubai on February 23, 2025. — AFPBabar Azam, Shaheen Afridi among players expected to be dropped.Captain Mohammad Rizwan likely to be rested as part of overhaul.Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem and others to be part of team.LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering significant restructuring of the national team following the Green Shirts’ early exit from the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, The News reported on Monday.The changes come as part of PCB’s strategy to rebuild with a focus on…

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle are now ‘selling’ themselves too, sources speak outPrince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly been getting themselves milked dry, all in order to ‘sell themselves’ and their likeness. This comment has been made by a well placed inside source. That source weighed in on everything in a candid conversation with the Sunday Times where they explained the reason for Netflix current moves, when it comes to Meghan.For those unversed, Netflix is rearing to release a store that offers fans immersive experiences featuring their biggest hits like Squid Game, Bridgeton, Stranger Things etc, but not only that,…