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Haris Rauf vows to bounce back after missing T20 World Cup selection

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Haris Rauf vows to bounce back after missing T20 World Cup selection

Pakistan,23 Jan (ABC)-The Pakistan Cricket Board recently announced its 15-member squad for the tournament, with former captain Babar Azam included, while Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan were omitted. Speaking during an interview in Australia, the 31-year-old pacer said missing out on selection was disappointing but stressed that it did not mark the end of his international career.

Rauf acknowledged that any player would feel regret at missing a major global event but said his priority was to continue working hard and refining his bowling.

He said he had been consistently working on his skills and felt his performances had improved since the Asia Cup. The Rawalpindi-born fast bowler added that he remained confident about making a strong return through improved performances.

Rauf also extended his best wishes to the Pakistan team for the T20 World Cup, saying he hoped the side would deliver strong results in the tournament.

Addressing criticism from fans and commentators, Rauf said there was an important distinction between constructive feedback and personal attacks. He added that players feel the pain deeply when Pakistan suffer defeats.

He said he had always given his best whenever he represented the country and highlighted the difficulty of bowling in the death overs, describing it as one of the most challenging roles in modern-day cricket.

The fast bowler also praised the Pakistan Super League, which is set to enter its 11th edition in March, calling it a growing competition that continues to attract top international players.

The announced T20 World Cup squad combines experience with emerging talent. Young batter Khawaja Nafay has earned a place, while the batting lineup includes Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan.

In the all-rounders and spin departments, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Khan have been selected. Pakistan’s pace attack will be led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, whose presence is expected to strengthen the team in seam-friendly conditions.

The squad also includes Usman Tariq and Salman Mirza, both of whom impressed in domestic cricket and will now get the chance to perform on the international stage.

AI-ready generation: Why young entrepreneurs are shaping future of business

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AI-ready generation: Why young entrepreneurs are shaping future of business

LONDON, Jan 23 (ABC): Even before graduating from the University of Bath in 2024, London-based Arnau Ayerbe secured a coveted position as an AI engineer at JPMorgan Chase. Yet despite the prestige of the role, he soon felt constrained by the corporate environment.

“I realised very quickly that the person to my right and to my left were going to be me in 20 years, and I didn’t want to become that,” Ayerbe said.

His longtime friend from Madrid, Pablo Jiménez de Parga Ramos, who had taken a corporate job after graduating from University College London, shared similar doubts. Along with Bergen Merey, a university friend of Ayerbe, the trio teamed up in London in 2023 to launch Throxy, a company that develops AI-powered agents for sales teams.

Now aged 24, the founders have raised nearly £5 million in two funding rounds and report annual sales approaching £1.2 million. Their journey reflects a wider trend of young people embracing entrepreneurship. According to Enterprise Nation, 62% of Gen Z individuals in the UK — those born between 1997 and 2012 — want to start their own business. Data from the British Business Bank’s Start Up Loans programme shows the number of loans awarded to Gen Z founders has doubled over the past five years.

For Throxy’s founders, the rewards have come with intense pressure. Ramos describes the company culture as “9-9-6” — working from 9am to 9pm, six days a week. Ayerbe admits that had he fully understood the workload required, he might not have taken the leap at all.

Still, the founders say their familiarity with artificial intelligence gives them an edge. Working with early versions of OpenAI’s ChatGPT during research projects, one of the co-founders said the technology felt “transformational,” reinforcing the belief that AI would fundamentally reshape how people work.

Research by global investment network Antler suggests that AI entrepreneurship is increasingly led by younger founders. An analysis of more than 3,500 founders behind companies valued at over $1 billion found that the average age of AI unicorn founders fell from 40 in 2020 to 29 in 2024.

However, running a business in one’s 20s can bring challenges, particularly when dealing with older clients and partners. London-based entrepreneur Rosie Skuse recalls being mistaken for an assistant rather than the owner of her company during her early 20s.

“People wouldn’t even shake my hand,” she said, adding that once she began speaking, perceptions quickly changed.

Now 29, Skuse is founder and chief executive of Molto Music Group, a music and entertainment agency serving luxury clients including The Dorchester, The Savoy, Soho House and Raffles. The company works with more than 300 musicians and also collaborates with luxury brands such as Hermès and Patek Philippe.

Despite launching in 2019 and facing major setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, Molto Music Group recorded its first £1 million in revenue in 2023 and turned over £1.6 million in 2025. Skuse says she has no formal business education and learned through experience, but believes youth can be a strength in a competitive market.

More seasoned entrepreneurs urge caution. Lee Broders, who started his first business at 26 and now runs multiple ventures, says rapid growth can mask weak foundations. “Turning over a million pounds doesn’t mean much if margins are razor thin,” he warned.

Sarah Skelton, co-founder and managing director of recruitment firm Flourish, also stresses the importance of experience and professional networks. Having started her first business at 46, she believes younger founders may miss out on leadership skills gained through traditional careers.

“Networks are built over years,” Skelton said. “When you’re very young and go straight into entrepreneurship, it can be hard to know who to lean on.”

Even so, as AI lowers barriers to entry and reshapes industries, young entrepreneurs continue to play an increasingly prominent role in defining the future of business.

TikTok finalises US joint venture to avert nationwide ban

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TikTok finalises US joint venture to avert nationwide ban

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (ABC): TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance has said it has finalised a deal to create a majority American-owned joint venture aimed at securing US user data and avoiding a nationwide ban on the popular short-video app, which is used by more than 200 million Americans.

The agreement marks a major milestone for TikTok after years of scrutiny over national security concerns that intensified in August 2020, when then-president Donald Trump sought to ban the app. A law passed in April 2024 required ByteDance to divest TikTok’s US assets or face a ban, a measure later upheld by the Supreme Court, though enforcement was ultimately paused.

Under the deal, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC will be responsible for safeguarding US user data, applications and algorithms through enhanced data-privacy and cybersecurity measures. ByteDance said American and global investors will hold 80.1% of the venture, while ByteDance will retain a 19.9% stake.

The three managing investors — Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX — will each hold 15%.

Trump welcomed the agreement in a social media post, saying TikTok would now be owned by “great American investors,” and thanked Xi Jinping for approving the deal. A White House official told Reuters that both the US and Chinese governments had signed off on the arrangement, while the Chinese embassy in Washington declined immediate comment.

The venture will operate TikTok’s US app and secure its content-recommendation algorithm within Oracle’s US-based cloud infrastructure. TikTok said the algorithm will be retrained and tested using US user data under the new framework.

Former TikTok USDS executives Adam Presser and Will Farrell have been appointed chief executive officer and chief security officer, respectively. TikTok CEO Shou Chew will also sit on the venture’s board.

Additional investors include Dell Family Office, Vastmere Strategic Investments, Alpha Wave Partners, Revolution, Merritt Way, Via Nova, Virgo LI and NJJ Capital. Further details on commercial arrangements between the joint venture and ByteDance have not been disclosed.

Chalamet reacts as Marty Supreme earns nine Oscar nominations

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Chalamet reacts as Marty Supreme earns nine Oscar nominations

Los Angeles, California,23 Jan (ABC).Timothée Chalamet shared a brief but enthusiastic reaction after his latest film, Marty Supreme, secured nine nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards.

The nominations for the 98th Oscars were announced on Thursday, January 22. Soon after the announcement, the French-American actor took to his Instagram Stories to mark the achievement.

Chalamet, who portrays professional table tennis player Marty Mauser in the Josh Safdie-directed film, reposted a message from A24 highlighting the film’s nominations and added a celebratory caption reading, “BIG DREAAAAM!!!!!!”.

Marty Supreme received nominations across several major categories, including Best Picture, Best Director for Josh Safdie, and Best Actor for Chalamet. His nomination makes him the youngest male actor to earn three acting nominations during his career. The film was also recognised for Best Original Screenplay, Best Casting, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing and Best Production Design.

The latest recognition brings Chalamet’s total Oscar nominations to four, including three nods in the Best Actor category.

Competition in the 2026 Best Actor race is expected to be strong, but Chalamet is widely viewed as a leading contender following his awards-season success. His performance as a 1950s-era table tennis hustler has been described as one of the most transformative roles of his career.

Chalamet has already won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and the Critics Choice Award for Best Actor, both considered strong indicators ahead of the Oscars.

The outcome will be decided at the Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien, on Sunday, March 15, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

UK scientists create ‘human lung-on-a-chip’ to track disease response

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UK scientists create ‘human lung-on-a-chip’ to track disease response

LONDON: Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have developed a sophisticated “human lung-on-a-chip” model using stem cells derived from a single individual, enabling detailed study of how a person’s lungs respond to respiratory infections such as tuberculosis.

The research, led by Max Gutierrez, marks a significant advance in disease modelling and treatment development. Scientists say the technology allows therapies to be tested on a miniature replica of a patient’s own lung, paving the way for more personalised treatments while reducing dependence on animal testing.

The lung-on-a-chip model is built using organ-on-a-chip technology, in which lung cells are grown on a thin membrane inside a small device designed to simulate natural breathing movements. This environment enables researchers to closely observe early-stage interactions between immune cells and disease-causing bacteria.

Unlike earlier laboratory models that used a mixture of cells from different donors, the new approach relies on genetically identical cells from a single person. Researchers say this innovation provides a clearer picture of disease progression and individual biological responses, supporting the development of tailored medical therapies.

In laboratory experiments, the model showed that the lung’s cellular barrier began to break down five days after exposure to tuberculosis bacteria, mirroring early stages of infection observed in humans.

Scientists say the breakthrough aligns with global efforts to find alternatives to animal testing and to advance personalised medicine, which focuses on individual variations in disease behaviour and treatment effectiveness.

Vine leads UAE Team Emirates XRG one-two on stage two of Tour Down Under

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Vine leads UAE Team Emirates XRG one-two on stage two of Tour Down Under

ADELAIDE, 23 Jan (ABC): Former champion Jay Vine and defending title-holder Jhonatan Narvaez delivered a dominant one-two finish for UAE Team Emirates XRG on Thursday, controlling the second stage of the Tour Down Under near Adelaide.

Vine, the 2023 winner, launched a decisive attack on the final ascent of Corkscrew Hill, with Narvaez the only rider able to stay with him. The pair opened a clear gap on the rest of the field before cruising to the finish in Uraidla, where Vine claimed the stage victory.

Narvaez acknowledged his teammate’s strength by applauding Vine as they crossed the line after the 148.1km stage. Swiss champion Mauro Schmid of Team Jayco AlUla finished third, 58 seconds behind the leading duo.

The result moved Vine into the overall race lead, six seconds ahead of Narvaez, with Schmid a further 1 minute and 5 seconds back in third place.

Vine said winning the stage held special significance after previously wearing the ochre leader’s jersey. He added that the team was now in a strong position, supported by the presence of Narvaez and Adam Yates.

Narvaez praised Vine’s performance, admitting he struggled to match his teammate’s pace on the final climb. He said Vine’s preparation had paid off and that the team was focused on securing overall victory.

The performance underlined UAE Team Emirates XRG’s strength in the UCI World Tour season opener, with three stages still remaining.

The stage marked the first time in the race’s 26-year history that a men’s stage included two ascents of Corkscrew Hill. With 700 metres remaining on the final climb, Vine surged clear, leaving the peloton behind as only Narvaez managed to respond.

Race leader after stage one, Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen, was dropped on the final ascent and finished the stage in 82nd position.

NCHD expands footprint to 128 districts across Pakistan

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NCHD expands footprint to 128 districts across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Jan 23 (ABC): The National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) has expanded its nationwide operational footprint to 128 districts, significantly strengthening its outreach in underserved and low Human Development Index (HDI) areas across Pakistan.

Documents available with Wealth Pakistan show that the NCHD is currently operating through 91 district offices and 37 satellite offices, enabling grassroots-level delivery of education, literacy and social development programmes in some of the country’s most remote and marginalised regions.

Province-wise data indicates that Balochistan accounts for 24 district offices and two satellite offices, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 20 district offices supported by seven satellite offices.

In Sindh, the Commission maintains 21 district offices and three satellite offices, whereas Punjab hosts 20 district offices backed by 15 satellite offices, reflecting the scale of the population and programme demand.

The NCHD has also extended its operations to Gilgit-Baltistan, with two district offices and five satellite offices, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where four district offices and five satellite offices are operational.

The documents note that district offices have been deliberately established in areas with lower HDI rankings to reduce regional disparities and improve access to education and human development services. Satellite offices operate in remote pockets, particularly in regions facing accessibility constraints or challenging law-and-order conditions.

The NCHD’s expanding operational network is supported by a workforce of 2,257 employees currently working across these districts to implement programmes and deliver services at the community level.

The strengthened district and satellite office network is expected to enhance monitoring, service delivery and local engagement, in line with national goals for inclusive and sustainable development.

US naval forces move toward Middle East as Trump warns Iran

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US naval forces move toward Middle East as Trump warns Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (ABC): President Donald Trump said on Thursday that US naval forces were heading toward the Middle East, signalling continued pressure on Iran, even as he played down the likelihood of immediate military action.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said Washington was closely monitoring Tehran’s actions.

“We’re watching Iran,” Trump said. “We have a lot of ships going in that direction, just in case. We have a big force moving toward Iran.”

The president described the deployment as a “massive fleet” and an “armada”, but added that he hoped it would not need to be used.

Trump recently softened his rhetoric after stepping back from an earlier threat to strike Iran over its violent crackdown on anti-government protests. The White House had said Tehran paused planned executions of demonstrators, prompting Trump to claim his warnings prevented further deaths.

Despite this, Trump confirmed that military preparations were continuing and reiterated that the United States would not allow Iran to revive its nuclear programme. He also said he remained open to talks with Tehran.

Iranian authorities on Wednesday released their first official death toll from the protests, stating that 3,117 people were killed. Human rights groups have said the actual number may be significantly higher.

Meanwhile, two US officials confirmed that a US aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets would arrive in the Middle East in the coming days. The deployment includes the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, several destroyers and fighter aircraft, which began moving from the Asia-Pacific region last week as tensions escalated.

One official said additional air defence systems were also under consideration. US troop levels in the region are often increased during periods of heightened tension, a move experts say can be defensive in nature.

However, the United States carried out a similar military build-up last summer ahead of its June 2025 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, later acknowledging that the preparations were deliberately kept secret.

Trump said on Wednesday that he hoped further military action would not be necessary but warned that Washington would respond if Iran resumed nuclear activities.

“They can’t do the nuclear,” Trump said in an interview with CNBC in Davos, referring to previous US strikes. “If they do it, it’s going to happen again.”

Separately, the International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Iran to comply with monitoring requirements. The UN nuclear watchdog has not verified Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium for at least seven months, despite guidelines calling for monthly inspections.

Iran is required to submit a report to the agency detailing the status of nuclear material at sites struck by the United States, including an estimated 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 per cent purity, close to weapons-grade levels. According to IAEA benchmarks, this amount could be sufficient for up to 10 nuclear weapons if further enriched.

It remains uncertain whether protests in Iran will intensify again. The demonstrations began on December 28 with economic protests in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar before spreading across the country.

Imaan Mazari and husband arrested in Islamabad

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Imaan Mazari and husband arrested in Islamabad

Islamabad, Jan 23 (ABC): Activist and lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were arrested on Friday in Islamabad, according to former federal minister Shireen Mazari.

In a post on X, Shireen Mazari said the couple was detained by police, placed in separate vehicles, and taken to undisclosed locations. She alleged that no first information report (FIR) was presented at the time of arrest and that efforts by a lawyers’ bar association to intervene were unsuccessful.

The former lawmaker strongly criticised the arrests, calling them an example of “fascism at its peak”.

The arrests came as Imaan and Hadi were scheduled to appear before a sessions court in a case related to controversial social media posts. A day earlier, the couple had failed to appear in court despite repeated summons, prompting Additional District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka to issue arrest warrants on January 16.

Shireen Mazari also shared videos showing police vehicles following the lawyers’ car before stopping it and opening its doors. In separate posts, she alleged that police used force during the operation, including breaking the vehicle’s windows and manhandling lawyers present at the scene.

She claimed the action was taken to prevent further embarrassment during court proceedings, stating that the case had been exposed during cross-examination and that the technical officer involved had reportedly resigned.

The former minister further alleged that police also used violence against Imaan and Hadi during the arrest.

Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court Bar Association President Wajid Ali Gilani, who was accompanying Imaan at the time, confirmed the arrest in a video message. He said authorities had assured him a day earlier that the couple would not be arrested and would be provided safe passage to the district court.

Gilani said the couple, fearing arrest, had approached Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar to raise concerns, but the court did not convene on Friday.

According to Gilani, Imaan and Hadi, along with their legal team, were en route to the sessions court when police intercepted their vehicles and used force, breaking windows and forcibly removing the couple.

He called on lawyers from both the Islamabad High Court and the district courts to gather at the Sitara Market women’s police station, where Imaan was reportedly taken, and announced a strike in protest.

Xi signs order to promulgate regulations on military theory work

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Xi signs order to promulgate regulations on military theory work

BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to promulgate regulations on work related to military theory.

The regulations, which will take effect on March 1, focus on accelerating the modernization of military theory, optimizing the top-level design for innovation in military theory, improving the model for military theory research and other issues.

The regulations also standardize the management system for military theory work; specify the main contents, compilation and release procedures of military theoretical development strategy, development planning and annual plans; and clarify measures and requirements for the registration and sharing, evaluation and recognition, promotion and application, and retrospective assessment of military theoretical achievements.

The regulations comprise seven chapters and 52 articles.

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