Tue, 21-Oct-2025

South Africa opts to bowl first after winning toss in first test against Pakistan

South Africa opts to bowl first after winning toss in first test against Pakistan

South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first in the opening Test of a two-match series against Pakistan at SuperSport Park on Thursday. After a 3-0 ODI series loss, Pakistan is gearing up for a challenging Test series, part of the ICC World Test Championship. The tour has been a mixed experience for … Read more

Hania Aamir reveals surprising reason behind her departure from Dallas meet-and-greet

  • Hania Aamir addressed the backstage altercation in Dallas.
  • This led to her abrupt departure from a meet-and-greet event.
  • Many fans criticized Hania for abandoning them.

Renowned actress Hania Aamir recently addressed the backstage altercation in Dallas that led to her abrupt departure from a meet-and-greet event, leaving fans disappointed. shocking

The incident sparked rumors on social media, with many fans criticizing Hania for abandoning them. In response, the Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum star clarified the situation through a detailed post on Instagram, expressing her deep affection for her supporters.

“I love you to bits, but it’s unfortunate that it had to end so abruptly,” Hania wrote, explaining the circumstances. She revealed that while heading to the stage after taking pictures with fans, she overheard a man verbally abusing her manager. Concerned, she confronted the organizer, saying, “You cannot speak to her like this.” However, the situation escalated when the organizer began calling them names and even called off the security protocol.

Hania and her team were eventually escorted out of the venue by promoter Arif Khan, who ensured their safe return to the hotel. “Firstly, whatever your position may be, big or small, it gives you no right to disrespect anyone,” Hania emphasized, adding, “We will not take a stand for ourselves.”

She concluded her post by apologizing to fans for the inconvenience caused by the incident.

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Is Pakistan ready for 5G revolution?

Is Pakistan ready for 5G revolution?

The Pakistani government appears determined to launch 5G technology, driven by efforts to address connectivity issues and the passage of digitalisation-friendly legislation. However, the country’s economic struggles raise concerns about its readiness for this technological leap. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) 2024 annual report highlights significant hurdles in adopting 5G. Despite the growing availability of … Read more

‘Baby Driver’ famed actor Hudson Joseph Meek passes away at 16

Hudson Joseph Meek
  • Hudson Joseph Meek passed away after falling from a moving vehicle.
  • Meek sustained fatal injuries from the fall.
  • He was transported to UAB Hospital, where he died two days later.

Hudson Joseph Meek, a talented 16-year-old actor known for his roles in Baby Driver and the MacGyver reboot, tragically passed away after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, on December 19.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Meek sustained fatal injuries from the fall and was transported to UAB Hospital, where he died two days later. The Vestavia Hills Police Department is investigating the incident.

Meek’s family shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram, stating, “Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight. His 16 years on this earth were far too short, but he accomplished so much and significantly impacted everyone he met.”

The young actor began his career in 2014 with The Santa Con and later gained recognition for portraying the younger version of Ansel Elgort’s character in Baby Driver. Meek was also involved in the MacGyver reboot, Genius, and The School Duel. His projects, including some set for release in 2025, have left a lasting impact.

A sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School, Meek was known for his passion for sports and his vibrant personality. His obituary remembered him as “a prankster, loved a good joke, and was happiest when he was making others laugh.” He is survived by his parents, brother, and extended family.

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Court extends interim bail of Bushra Bibi in PTI protest case

Court

ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Courts Islamabad extended the interim bail of Bushra Bibi, wife of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf(PTI) founder in the cases related to the November 26 protest, till January 13.

Duty Judge Shabir Bhatti heard the interim bail application in the cases registered against Bushra Bibi on the November 26 protest of PTI.

A case has been registered against Bushra Bibi in Tarnol police station and 3 cases in Ramna police station.

Bushra Bibi appeared in the court room along with her lawyers, the court granted interim bail of Bushra Bibi till January 13.

District and Sessions Courts Islamabad granted bail to Bushra Bibi on a surety of Rs 50,000, 50,000.

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PIA set to extend operations to Europe, UK

IMF removes GST on aircraft for PIA

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced plans to expand its operations to Europe and the United Kingdom (UK) following the lifting of a ban by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The national carrier’s spokesperson revealed that preparations are underway to reintroduce aircraft previously in storage as part of its network expansion. The airline … Read more

Justin Baldoni’s publicist in hot water for alleged involvement in Blake Lively smear campaign

Justin Baldoni’s publicist
  • Justin Baldoni’s publicist is at the center of a legal battle.
  • She was involved in an alleged smear campaign against Blake Lively.
  • Lively had filed a lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment.

Justin Baldoni’s publicist, Jennifer Abel, is at the center of a legal battle following allegations of bullying and her involvement in an alleged smear campaign against actress Blake Lively. The controversy follows Lively’s lawsuit accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and orchestrating a campaign to tarnish her reputation during the filming of It Ends With Us.

Abel, who recently left her role at the PR firm Jonesworks, is now being sued by her former employer for defamation and breach of contract. According to Jonesworks, led by Stephanie Jones, Abel “stole over 70 documents” and secretly contacted clients before starting her new firm, RWA Communications. “Jennifer tendered her resignation in July and had agreed to stay on until August 23. She was terminated early after Jonesworks discovered that she had stolen over 70 documents,” the firm claimed.

An insider close to Abel denied these accusations, asserting, “They were not ‘stolen,’ nor were any other clients.” Abel’s team contends the lawsuit is retaliatory, highlighting that several high-profile clients, including Baldoni, moved to her new firm.

In her resignation letter, Abel admitted, “I take full responsibility for my part in all of this. I’m not proud of how emotional I get in these situations.”

The lawsuit adds to the growing scandal surrounding Baldoni, who has denied all allegations of misconduct.

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Passenger held over fake documents at Karachi airport

170 Pakistanis deported from 11 countries; 59 offloaded in Karachi

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a passenger traveling on fake travel documents while conducting an operation at Jinnah International Airport Karachi.

According to the spokesperson of FIA, the immigration officials arrested the accused Muhammad Usman after failing to go abroad on fake travel documents by taking action at Karachi Airport. The accused tried to go to Canada through an international flight. He had a fake visa.

According to the forensic report of Scandline Office, the visa was also fake, the visa did not show any UV features.

According to the initial investigation, the accused made an agreement to go to Canada with the agent of Sheikhupura, the accused made an agreement to go to Canada with an agent named Nawaz for 1 crore 5 lakh rupees.

The accused is an employee of Punjab Police and posted as a constable in Women Enclave Gujranwala, the accused has been transferred to Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Karachi for identification of the agent and further legal action.

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Have Karan Johar, Kartik Aaryan ended their long-standing dispute? New film announced!

Kartik Aaryan
  • Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan have finally come together.
  • This time for a new project: Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri.
  • Kartik shared the announcement video, featuring his voiceover.

After years of reported tension, Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan have finally come together for a new project. Kartik recently announced their collaboration on a romantic comedy titled Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, the film is slated for release in Christmas 2026.

Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Kartik shared the announcement video, featuring his voiceover. In it, he humorously reflects on his past relationships, saying, “I’ve had three breakups, and my exes have struggled without me.” He adds, “Mummy kasam khayi hain maine (I have taken my mother’s promise),” vowing to ensure his fourth relationship doesn’t end the same way.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan)

This marks the first collaboration between Kartik and Karan Johar, following their fallout during the production of Dostana 2. Originally announced in 2019, the project was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and eventually shelved amid rumors of a rift between the actor and filmmaker.

Kartik, who was last seen in the box office hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, continues to make waves in Bollywood. The film, starring Vidya Balan, Madhuri Dixit, and Triptii Dimri, will stream on Netflix starting December 27.

Fans eagerly await the announcement of the female lead for Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, as this reunion marks a significant moment for Bollywood.

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Redmi Turbo 4 and Realme Neo 7 SE set for early 2025 launch in China

Redmi Turbo 4

Redmi has announced the launch of its upcoming Redmi Turbo 4, scheduled for January 2025 in China. It will be the first smartphone to feature the MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra processor, promising enhanced performance, better power efficiency, and advanced AI capabilities. The Redmi Turbo 4 is expected to sport a sleek design with a flat display … Read more

Justin Baldoni’s Women Solidarity Award revoked following sexual harassment allegations

Justin Baldoni
  • Justin Baldoni has had his prestigious Voices of Solidarity Award revoked.
  • This happened after allegations of sexual harassment against him.
  • The award honored men advocating for women’s empowerment.

Justin Baldoni, star and director of It Ends With Us, has had his prestigious Voices of Solidarity Award revoked following allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against co-star Blake Lively.

The award, presented by Vital Voices, honored men advocating for women’s empowerment but was rescinded after Lively’s legal complaint, described as detailing “abhorrent conduct.”

Lively filed the complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign through his studio, Wayfarer, and a crisis management team. She alleged they launched a “sophisticated and well-financed” effort to discredit her while promoting Baldoni’s image. Her demands for a safe working environment included avoiding references to Baldoni’s past admissions of pornography addiction and eliminating inappropriate scenes and dialogue.

Baldoni’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, denied the allegations, accusing Lively of making “salacious” claims to harm Baldoni’s reputation. Meanwhile, WME dropped Baldoni as a client.

High-profile figures, including It Ends With Us co-star Brandon Sklenar, shared Lively’s complaint, with Sklenar tagging her on Instagram with a heart emoji. Author Colleen Hoover and SAG-AFTRA also expressed solidarity, calling the allegations “startling and troubling.”

In her statement, Lively said: “I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics… and protects others who may be targeted.”

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Experts calls for reforms to fix Pakistan’s energy sector

Experts

KARACHI:  Experts have called for institutional reforms to address excess power demand, rising electricity prices, and the influx of redistributed solar energy.

They called for effective policies to ensure affordability, efficiency and sustainability in the power sector to address energy crisis and environmental challenges.

This was discussed during a webinar titled, “Future of Pakistan’s Energy Sector” organized by Mehfooz Pakistan, a safety organization, to discuss the challenges faced by the power sector, hosted by current affairs commentator Zarrar Khuhro.

Faseeh Mangi, Pakistan Bureau Chief at Bloomberg, said the price of electricity has increased drastically in past few years even more than monthly rents. He is energy sector is the backbone of the economy which needs to be fixed with key reforms.

Faseeh Mangi said consumers are moving away to solar power particularly in rural areas due to reliability and affordability which is bringing changes in agriculture.

Energy Economist, Dr Asher Awan, highlighted the history of the power sector in Pakistan which led to the current situation. He reminded how a rural electrification programme was initiated in 1974 which continued till 1980 until the government was unable to meet the exceeding demand.

He added in the early 90s, there were growing calls to allow private investments in the energy sector which were successfully due to lucrative offers.

By 1994, Pakistan required institutional reforms and reorganized WAPDA by 1998, separating power generation and distribution.

He said the mismanagement started soon after and the power sector didn’t perform from 1998 to 2005.

Dr Awan said the World Bank reforms agenda called for reducing government interference to achieve energy sector regulation, and allowing the market forces to determine prices.

However, he said this was not achieved due to political and socio-economic reasons which created the circular debt crisis that has reached a staggering Rs6 trillion.

Ms Haneea Isaad, Energy Finance Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), said Pakistan has a rigid power purchase contract model that has not evolved since the past two decades.

Regarding the issues of Independent Power Plants (IPPs), she said the government signed lucrative deals but required due diligence as they were signed for 25-30 years.

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Naqvi praises security forces for ensuring peaceful Christmas, Quaid e Azam Day

Naqvi

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has commended the police, administration and law enforcement agencies for their exemplary efforts in ensuring foolproof security across Pakistan during Quaid-e-Azam Day and Christmas celebrations.

In a statement, the minister expressed satisfaction with the law and order situation, which remained peaceful throughout the country.

“The police, law enforcement agencies, and administration performed their duties diligently, ensuring the safety of citizens during these important occasions,” Naqvi said.

He also extended special appreciation to the officers and personnel of Rangers and Frontier Constabulary for their contributions to maintaining public safety.

Naqvi highlighted the active participation of the Christian community, who celebrated Christmas in a secure and joyous environment. “The peaceful conduct of Christmas celebrations across Pakistan is a testament to the coordinated efforts of our security forces,” he remarked.

The minister lauded the efforts of all security personnel, describing their role in ensuring a peaceful environment as “commendable” and “exemplary.”

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Mariyam Nafees enjoys London getaway with husband: See the pictures

Mariyam Nafees enjoys London getaway with husband: See the pictures

Mariyam Nafees is known for roles in popular Pakistani dramas. Recently praised for her acting in “Jaan-e-Jahan”. Enjoys time in London with her husband, celebrating Christmas together. Mariyam Nafees is a talented Pakistani model, TV actress, and host. She is known for her roles in popular Pakistani dramas such as “Ishq Be Naam”, “Haya ke … Read more

Javed Sheikh responds to the growing trend of hateful drama reviews

Javed Sheikh responds to the growing trend of hateful drama reviews

Javed Sheikh is a seasoned Pakistani actor, director, and producer. Sheikh questioned the credibility of the reviewers and their authority to criticize actors. Shiza Khan, an actress, also expressed her views on these reviewers. Javed Sheikh is a seasoned Pakistani television and film actor, director, and producer, admired for his brilliant acting skills in hit … Read more

WhatsApp introduces Meta AI shortcut in chats tab

WhatsApp introduces new exciting features

WhatsApp has made accessing its in-app Meta AI chatbot more convenient with the addition of a new shortcut on the chats tab. This feature, highlighted by WABetaInfo, is part of the latest update for WhatsApp beta version iOS 24.25.10.79. The shortcut replaces its previous location at the top of the navigation bar. This update aims … Read more

Indian actress Ayesha Khan talks about her comparisons with Hania Aamir

Indian actress Ayesha Khan talks about her comparisons with Hania Aamir

Hania Aamir recently starred as Sharjeena in “Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum”. Ayesha Khan is set to appear in her first Indian drama series inspired by Pakistani dramas. Khan appreciated the comparison and expressed happiness at being compared to such an accomplished actor. Hania Aamir is a super popular, gorgeous, and talented Pakistani television and film … Read more

Gas pipeline damage in Balochistan disrupts supply to several areas

Gas pipeline

KARACHI: A gas pipeline at Akhtarabad Western Bypass in Balochistan has been damaged, causing a suspension in gas supply to multiple areas. A spokesperson for Sui Southern Gas Company confirmed that the affected pipeline has an 18-inch diameter and serves as a main supply line. The cause of the damage—whether an accident or sabotage—remains unknown. … Read more