Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Mitchell Starc opens up about retirement plans

Mitchell Starc

Australia’s pacer Mitchell Starc has expressed uncertainty about his future participation in the Big Bash League (BBL) due to a hectic international schedule. The left-arm pacer, last seen in BBL during the 2014-15 season for Sydney Sixers, has consistently prioritized national commitments over franchise cricket. Recently, he took a 10-day break during the latest BBL … Read more

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia sign $1.2 billion oil import financing deal

Saudi Arabia introduces new visa policy for Pakistan

In a significant development, a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), led by CEO Sultan bin Abdul Rahman Al-Marshad, met with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif today to witness the signing of an Oil Import Financing Facility worth $1.2 billion. The Prime Minister warmly welcomed the SFD delegation and expressed appreciation for the strong … Read more

Tecno Spark 30C price slashed in Pakistan: A budget-friendly smartphone choice

Tecno Spark 30C

In a move to offer even greater value to consumers, Tecno has reduced the price of the Tecno Spark 30C in Pakistan. This price cut makes the smartphone an even more attractive option for those seeking an affordable yet feature-packed device. The Tecno Spark 30C, now priced at Rs29,999 (down from Rs31,000), continues to deliver … Read more

Taiwan bans DeepSeek for government institutions over security concerns

China’s DeepSeek banned

Taiwan’s Prime Minister, Cho Jung-tai, has confirmed the ban on DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI assistant, for all government departments to protect the country’s information security. The decision, which restricts its use within government offices, follows growing concerns about the AI tool’s potential risks. While the Taiwanese government has not made it clear if the ban … Read more

Gautam Gambhir opens up about India-Pakistan clash hype at Champions Trophy

Gautam Gambhir

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has downplayed the hype surrounding the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The match between the two arch-rivals is set to take place on Sunday, February 23, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. While acknowledging the emotional intensity of the India-Pakistan match, Gambhir emphasized that the … Read more

Govt issues cybersecurity advisory on wearable device risks

Govt

The Cabinet Division has issued a cybersecurity advisory, cautioning against the security risks posed by wearable smart devices in sensitive environments. The advisory warns that smartwatches and fitness trackers could unintentionally expose classified information, making them potential threats in high-security offices, meetings, and critical locations. Such devices could lead to data breaches, unauthorized tracking, and … Read more

foodpanda partners with Punjab Govt & Wasl to launch electric bikes for delivery riders

foodpanda

In a major step towards sustainable mobility, foodpanda, Pakistan’s leading food and grocery delivery platform, has introduced Electric Bikes as part of its delivery fleet. This initiative, launched in collaboration with the Government of Punjab and Wasl (a non-banking finance company), aims to reduce carbon emissions and promote eco-friendly delivery solutions. The launch event in … Read more

WhatsApp voice and video calls reportedly working in Saudi Arabia

Google Messages

RIYADH: Several residents in Saudi Arabia have reported that they are now able to use WhatsApp’s voice and video calling features, which have been restricted in the Kingdom for years. However, it remains unclear whether this activation is part of a temporary test run or a permanent policy change. Neither the Saudi government nor WhatsApp … Read more

Champions Trophy 2025: PCB considers Babar Azam as opener

Champions Trophy 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to promote star batter Babar Azam as an opener in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, drawing inspiration from legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. According to reliable sources, Babar, who traditionally bats at number three, has been asked to take on the opening role in the absence … Read more

WhatsApp to allow ‘view once’ media on linked devices

WhatsApp introduces news exciting feature

WhatsApp is enhancing user privacy by testing a new feature that allows users to open “view once” media on linked devices. As part of the Meta-owned app’s ongoing privacy improvements, this update aims to provide greater flexibility while maintaining security. What is the ‘View Once’ Media Feature on WhatsApp? Currently available on WhatsApp Android beta … Read more

This week’s top car launches: Kia, Suzuki, Evee, and more

Top Car Launches

The automotive industry witnessed exciting developments this week, with key launches and announcements from Kia, Suzuki, and Evee. Here’s a roundup of the biggest highlights: Kia Sportage L Debuts in Pakistan Kia Pakistan introduced the Sportage L, a compact SUV available in both petrol and hybrid variants. Featuring a sleek “Star Map” grille, LED headlights, … Read more

Apple to launch ‘Confetti’ – A new iCloud invites service

Apple

Apple is preparing to introduce a new iCloud feature called “Confetti,” aimed at simplifying event invitations and RSVP management. Unlike the existing Calendar app, Confetti is expected to provide a more interactive and user-friendly experience. Reports indicate that the service could go live as early as this week. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Confetti will … Read more

Jamaat-e-Islami calls K-Electric the biggest mafia

Jamaat-e-Islami

Karachi: Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi, Muneem Zafar, has labeled K-Electric as the biggest mafia in the public sector power industry. Speaking to BOL News, Muneem Zafar stated that K-Electric does not generate electricity, yet the government continues to provide subsidies. He criticized the privatization of K-Electric, highlighting that promises made to end load-shedding were false, … Read more

Govt to announce major electricity price cut, Rs. 9-10 deduction expected

Big relief: electricity prices expected to reduce

The federal government is set to announce a significant reduction in electricity tariffs, as Power Distribution Companies (Discos) request a negative adjustment of Rs. 52.123 billion, roughly Rs. 2 per unit, for the second quarter of FY 2024-25 under the Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) mechanism. This reduction, which is expected to take effect from March … Read more

Rohit Sharma aims for strong performance in Pakistan-India clash

Rohit Sharma

MUMBAI: India’s captain for longer formats, Rohit Sharma, has shared his approach for the highly anticipated Pakistan-India clash in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025. Speaking at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) annual awards, Sharma stated that he will treat the match like any other and focus solely on playing good … Read more

PIA begins preparations for resumption of UK flights

PIA

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has initiated preparations to resume flight operations to the United Kingdom. According to details, the UK’s Department for Transport (DFT) is expected to complete its audit of Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), a key step towards reviving direct flights between the two countries. Following positive indications, PIA is actively working on … Read more

NASA to launch space telescope ‘SPHEREx’ on February 27

NASA

WASHINGTON: NASA is preparing to launch its new space telescope, the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionisation and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx), on February 27 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The two-year mission aims to map the universe and uncover key cosmic mysteries. SPHEREx will share its launch with NASA’s Polarimeter … Read more

Pakistan aims to shift 30% of vehicles to electric by 2030

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has announced plans to transition at least 30% of its vehicles to electric power by 2030, with significant government support to develop the necessary infrastructure. To promote the electric vehicle (EV) industry, the country is implementing new regulations for the first time, facilitating the establishment of EV charging stations with the backing of … Read more

Champions Trophy 2025: Physical ticket sales begin on 3 February

Champions Trophy 2025

Dubai: Cricket fans eagerly awaiting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 can purchase physical tickets starting Monday, 3 February. This follows the recent online ticket sales, with physical tickets available at 108 Tranzum Courier Service (TCS) centers across 26 cities in Pakistan, the event’s host nation. Details regarding tickets for India’s matches, scheduled for 20 and … Read more

Babar Azam to open the innings for Pakistan in Champions Trophy 2025

Babar Azam

KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam is set to open the innings alongside Fakhar Zaman in the upcoming tri-series ODIs and Champions Trophy 2025, sources revealed. Babar, who has primarily played at number three, will now take on a role similar to legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin, who debuted in 1989 as a middle-order … Read more

Flyadeal begins flight operations in Pakistan, connecting Karachi to Saudi Arabia

Flyadeal airline in Pakistan announces schedule and fares

Saudi Arabia’s budget airline, Flyadeal, has officially launched its flight operations in Pakistan, marking a significant milestone in air connectivity between the two nations. The airline’s inaugural flight, F3 166, landed in Karachi from Saudi Arabia on Saturday, receiving a traditional water cannon salute at Jinnah International Airport. Flyadeal Expands in Pakistan A subsidiary of … Read more

YouTube expands community tab access to more creators

YouTube

In an effort to enhance creator-audience interaction, YouTube is expanding access to its Communities feature, reducing the need for external platforms like Discord. Initially introduced during last year’s Made for YouTube event, Communities remains a mobile-exclusive feature. It allows creators to share text-based posts with images, similar to X, while fostering discussions within the platform. This … Read more

DeepSeek restricted by ‘Hundreds’ of companies in days

DeepSeek

Concerns over data security and links to the Chinese government have caused numerous companies and government agencies to restrict access to DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup. DeepSeek’s AI chatbot, which has gained significant popularity in the United States for providing high-performance AI at a lower cost than competitors like OpenAI and Google, has become the … Read more

Punjab launches Pakistan’s first fully electric bus service in Lahore

Punjab

In a significant step towards eco-friendly transport and boosting tourism, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has officially launched Pakistan’s first fully electric bus (e-bus) service in Lahore. The launch ceremony, held on Friday, saw the CM take a firsthand ride in the bus, inspecting its features. The e-bus service, which is part of a pilot … Read more

Imam-ul-Haq reacts to Champions Trophy squad with cryptic post

Imam-ul-Haq

LAHORE: Pakistan’s left-handed opener Imam-ul-Haq shared a cryptic message on social media after being left out of the national squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Imam, who last played an ODI during the 2023 World Cup in India, expressed his feelings following his omission despite strong performances in domestic cricket. “Not the outcome … Read more

OpenAI launches ‘o3-mini’ with advanced thinking abilities

OpenAI

OpenAI has introduced its latest artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning model, o3-mini, integrating it into ChatGPT and its API services. The launch of o3-mini comes amid rising competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model gaining industry recognition for its performance. Initially previewed during OpenAI’s 12 Days of Ship-mas event in December 2024, o3-mini is designed to … Read more

Petrol price increased for third time Just over 30 days

Petrol price

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced revised petroleum prices for the next fortnight, marking the third consecutive increase in petrol rates. As per a notification from the Ministry of Finance, the price of petrol has been increased by Rs. 1, bringing it to Rs. 257.13 per liter. Similarly, the price of high-speed diesel has surged … Read more

Apple to enhance AI with more languages by April 2025

Apple

Apple is set to expand its AI suite, Apple Intelligence, by introducing support for multiple new languages by April 2025. Currently, Apple Intelligence is available only in US English, with limited support for English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. However, the upcoming expansion will add eight more languages: French, German, … Read more