Pakistan News World

A recent study has found widespread microplastic contamination in sampled seafood adding to growing evidence of the dangerous substances’ presence in the food and an increasing threat to human health. According to The Guardian, the peer-reviewed study found microplastics in 99% or 180 out of 182 samples of seafood bought at the store or from a fishing boat in Oregon with the researchers finding the highest levels of the harmful substance in shrimp. The researchers were also able to determine the most common type of microplastic and they were fibres from clothing or textiles, representing a whopping 80% of the substance they detected. A Portland State University microplastics researcher and study co-author, Elise Granek, says the findings underline a serious problem with plastic use at its current scale. "As long as we’re using plastic as a major component in our daily lives and we’re using it in a widespread fashion, then we’re going to see them in our food, too," Grane...

Australia’s experienced pacer Mitchell Starc commented on the prospects of his retirement from the Big Bash League (BBL). The left-arm pacer, who is a regular part of Australia’s national teams across formats, last played a BBL match in the 2014-15 season for Sydney Sixers. During the recently-concluded edition of the BBL, Starc had taken a 10-day break to get ample rest between the five-match home Test series against India and his flight for Sri Lanka for the ongoing series. The left-arm pacer may experience equally packed schedule in the next Australian summer as after the conclusion of the Ashes on January 8, the former champions are set to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in February. Australia are likely to field a full-strength side for the series as it will be crucial leading up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The tight scheduling has left Mitchell Starc unsure about his BBL future. "I don't know, to be...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday launched the year's first nationwide anti-polio campaign, running from February 3 to 9, by administering polio drops to children under five and reaffirming his commitment to eliminating the disease from Pakistan. Speaking at the campaign's launch, the premier underscored his determination to rid the country of polio. According to The Associated Press of Pakistan, he said, "The national polio vaccination drive would target millions of children to save their future and health". The prime minister lauded the dedication of vaccination teams, expressing confidence that they would work "day and night to eradicate the disease, and would reach the far-flung areas and villages". He said that the teams would shoulder their responsibility with "complete energy and commitment". Commenting on last year's figures, PM Shehbaz lamented that 77 polio cases had been reported in the country, calling it a major challe...

India’s longer formats captain Rohit Sharma opened up on his strategy for the high-octane clash against Pakistan at the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Sharma, while speaking at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annual awards, shared that he will approach the blockbuster match as any other game and will only focus on playing well. "We will do what is expected from any cricket team on that day," Rohit Sharma said. "We are not making any specific mention of this match. Our focus is simply on playing good cricket, and we will do just that," he remarked. Earlier, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had made similar remarks regarding the much-anticipated clash and asserted that the two-time champions are focused on winning the title instead of just one match. "Look, we don't go to the Champions Trophy thinking that the 23rd is the most important game for us. I think five games, all the games are important," said Gambhir at the annual BC...

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has predicted the two teams that will battle it out in the final of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. During an interview with the International Cricket Council, the former Australia captain maintained that India and Australia were the strongest contenders to play the Champions Trophy 2025 final. “It’s hard to go past India and Australia again. Just think about the quality of players in both countries right now, and you look back in recent history when these big finals and big ICC events have come around and inevitably Australia and India are there somewhere,” Ricky Ponting added. His statement came following the two teams’ clashes in the ICC World Test Championship final and the ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 final, both of which Australia won. Meanwhile, Rick Ponting also picked Pakistan as a strong contender for the ultimate game on the back of their performances in the last two ODI series against Australia and South Africa. “The other tea...

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior. While every child with autism is unique, there are some common signs that parents and caregivers may notice. Here are five common signs that may indicate a child is on the autism spectrum: Difficulties with Social Interaction: Children with autism may struggle with social cues, leading to challenges in making friends, understanding emotions, and engaging in reciprocal play. They might avoid eye contact, have difficulty sharing feelings, or prefer to play alone. Repetitive Behaviors: Repetitive behaviors, such as hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, or lining up toys, are common in children with autism. They may also have strong preferences for routines and become upset by changes in their environment. Delayed Language Development: Some children with autism may experience delays in language development, including a lack of babbling, few words by two years ...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday, announced the highly-anticipated squad for the tri-nation series and ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, featuring only one specialist opener, Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar, who returned to the ODI team after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, faces the void as his fellow opener Saim Ayub missed out on the selection due to an ankle injury, while Abdullah Shafique failed to make a cut, owing to his recent below-par performances. Meanwhile, national selector Asad Shafiq, in a PCB-released statement, addressed the concern and revealed star batter Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel as Fakhar’s potential opening partners for the eight-team tournament. Shafiq further shared that Fakhar’s opening partner will be selected after analysing various factors including conditions, opposition and match strategy. “Fakhar Zaman’s return is a significant boost for our top-order. His aggressive approach and match-winning capabilities are vital to our plans,” sai...