Pakistani celebrity couple, Aiman Khan and Muneeb Butt, has been blessed with third daughter, Naimal Muneeb. The news was shared by Muneeb on Instagram, where he posted a touching welcome note on behalf of his elder daughters, Amal and Miral, for their newborn sister. “From the moment you arrived, you brought magic into our world. Your tiny hands, your sweet …

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has revealed that he has undergone another surgery for skin cancer, renewing concerns about the disease’s prevalence in Australia. Clarke, 44, shared the update via social media, posting a photo from a hospital bed with a visible bandage on his nose. “Skin cancer is real! Especially in Australia,” Clarke wrote. “Another one cut out of …

Former Bayern Munich striker Thomas Muller has confirmed changing his opinion on the greatest of all time (GOAT) debate involving Argentinian star Lionel Messi and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi and Ronaldo, with 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, are widely regarded as the two greatest footballers in history. Yet the debate over who deserves the title of GOAT remains alive …

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations (UN) has allocated 600,000 U.S. dollars to support Pakistan’s response to the devastating 2025 monsoon season, according to a UN spokesperson. Speaking at a press briefing in New York, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that according to local authorities, heavy rains and flash floods over the past 10 days have killed at least 400 people and …

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India, long regarded as the impartial guardian of the world’s largest democracy, is facing unprecedented scrutiny over its credibility and independence. Opposition leaders and critics have alleged that large-scale rigging of elections is impacting the overall results of the vote. The ECI has denied all charges, the first against it in India’s history. Heading …

TEHRAN/SYDNEY: Iran has vowed reciprocal action after Australia expelled its ambassador over accusations that Tehran was behind antisemitic arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne. “The accusation that has been made is absolutely rejected,” said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei during a weekly press conference, adding that “any inappropriate and unjustified action on a diplomatic level will have a reciprocal reaction”. …

KARACHI: The mystery behind ‘D’, ‘K’ and ‘P’ is out! Last week Hasan Raheem dropped two more cryptic reels on Instagram, revealing the full form of the acronyms. “DIL KAY PARDAY is now loading,” he announced the name of the album in the caption. The singer dropped the second track from the album, “EXES” featuring a collaboration with the Young …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Jeddah on Tuesday to express appreciation for his chairmanship of the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Organisation Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers. The two parties reaffirmed firm solidarity with the Palestinian people. Dar also stressed on “strengthening our [Pakistan and Turkey’s] multifaceted cooperation”. Earlier, Dar also held meetings …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday asserted that party founder Imran Khan had refused to accept his resignation from party’s secretary general post. This was the third instance the political leader has submitted his resignation and the PTI founder has rejected it. The senior lawyer was appointed as PTI secretary general last year in September, following …

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has requested the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) to lodge a case against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz along with eight police officials, alleging denial of facilities in Adiala jail. The request, submitted by the jailed ex-prime minister’s lawyer, Tabish Farooq, to CPO Khalid Hamdani, seeks the registration of a case against Maryam …

KARACHI: A new Bollywood track has sparked an unexpected debate online, with many pointing out that Danger, from an upcoming film, looks and sounds a lot like Laal Suit, the popular song from Pakistani drama Mannat Murad. The chatter is less about who did it better and more about whether Bollywood may have once again leaned too heavily on Pakistan’s creative pool. Laal …

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) opened the rollover week on a turbulent note on Monday as profit-taking and cautious sentiment drove the benchmark KSE-100 index from the intra-day high of 586 points to the low of 735 points. It closed the day at 148,815.31, representing a decrease of 677.75 points, or 0.45%. Banking and cement stocks weighed heavily on the …

The Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni has expressed sorrow and condolences over the loss of lives due to the torrential rains and floods in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Gilgit Baltistan (G-B). Momeni held a telephonic conversation with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives. He offered cooperation and …

New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attracted 2,000 supporters on Sunday with a citywide scavenger hunt, a campaign event blending humour, politics and history. The hunt began in Union Square, where participants collected printed cards before following clues tied to past mayors. Mamdani announced the event in a video holding a bag of sour cream and onion crisps, a pointed …

SANAA: Israel struck Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Sunday, killing at least two people, according to the country’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels who have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel throughout the Gaza war. AFP images showed a large fireball lighting up the skies over the rebel-held Yemeni capital, leaving behind a column of thick, black smoke. The Huthis’ health ministry …

Cristiano Ronaldo achieved another career milestone during the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr. The Portuguese forward scored to bring his tally to 100 goals since joining the Saudi Pro League. Despite his goal, Al-Nassr were edged out in the match, with Al-Ahli securing a 3-2 victory. The final was closely contested, with both sides creating opportunities, but …

Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has released his rendition of the Bollywood track Saiyaara, which he shared on Instagram. The cover quickly drew reactions from his fans. Explaining his inspiration, Zafar said he was moved after hearing an AI-generated version of the song performed in the voice of legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar, whom he regards as his all-time favourite. “Not many …

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Faisalabad sentenced on Monday senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz and 57 others each to 10 years in prison in the May 9 case about an attack on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah’s residence. Of the 59 persons convicted in the case, 17 were PTI leaders. Sixteen other accused were …

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday unveiled Fatima Sana-led 15-member squad for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, set to take place from September 30 to November 2. With Sana — who has previously captained the team in Women’s CWC Qualifier held in Lahore this year — set to lead the national side for the first time in …

BEIJING: China on Saturday activated a Level-IV emergency response to flooding and typhoon in Hainan Province as Typhoon Kajiki, the 13th typhoon of this year, is approaching, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has initiated emergency response measures and dispatched a work team to the southern province to assist with local …

LONDON: Actor Helen Mirren, one of the stars of The Thursday Murder Club, a movie about a group of retirees who enjoy cracking unresolved murder cases, said it’s great to see older people’s life experiences celebrated on screen on Thursday. Eighty-year-old Mirren plays former spy Elizabeth Best in the new Netflix mystery, who along with her other impressive, retired friends – …

KARACHI: Indo-Canadian Pop rap icon Amritpal Singh or AP Dhillon returned last month with another single called “Thodi Si Daaru,” featuring guest singer Shreya Ghoshal. The chorus of this track makes you want to donate your headphones to a local charity. AP delivers a catchy and almost nursery rhyme-like vocal line “Thori si daaru mere andar aa gaii,” which is impactful …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced the launch of a nationwide anti-encroachment campaign around rivers, streams and natural waterways, saying that the protection of water channels was critical to averting future flood disasters. Chairing a high-level meeting to review the damage caused by the ongoing monsoon rains and floods, the prime minister directed immediate relief and recovery operations, …

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited Turbat to review the security situation, assess development projects, and strengthen civil-military coordination for Balochistan’s stability and prosperity, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the COAS was received by the Balochistan Corps Commander Lt Gen Rahat Naseem Ahmed Khan. It was …

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Dhaka on a two-day official visit. He was received at the airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Asad Alam Siam, Pakistan’s High Commissioner, Imran Haider, and other senior Bangladeshi officials. The trip, described as long overdue, had earlier been postponed twice — once in May following heightened Pakistan-India tensions after the …

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has revealed that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in Washington this December. Standing alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino at the White House, Trump described the tournament as “probably the biggest event in sports” and even joked about wanting to keep the golden trophy for himself. The announcement confirmed that the Kennedy …

SHARJAH: Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his views on the absence of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled from September 9 to 28. Babar and Rizwan, who had featured in every multi-nation tournament for Pakistan since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in …

KARACHI: The rates of 24-karat gold per tola fell on Friday, August 22, 2025, in line with a decline in the international market, the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association reported. The rate of 24-karat gold dropped by Rs1,500 to Rs355,700 per tola, compared to Rs357,200 on the previous trading day. Similarly, the price of 10 grams of 24-karat …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting flood-affected families and expediting rehabilitation efforts, particularly in the worst-hit districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet, the prime minister expressed deep concern over the devastation caused by recent heavy rains, cloudbursts, and flash floods in Swat, Swabi, Mansehra, Shangla, and …

Jerusalem: Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed Friday to destroy Gaza City if Hamas did not agree to disarm, release all remaining hostages in the territory and end the war on Israel’s terms. “If they do not agree to Israel’s conditions for the release of all hostages and their disarmament, Gaza, the capital of Hamas, will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun,” …

Former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been arrested and appeared in court over allegations he misused state funds while in office, police say. Wickremesinghe, 76, who led the country during a devastating 2019-2024 economic crisis, had been investigated over a visit he made to London to attend his wife’s graduation, local media reported on Friday. Police confirmed his arrest …

MOHALI: Popular Punjabi comedian and actor Jaswinder Singh Bhalla passed away at the age of 65 on Friday. The Indian media reported that Bhalla’s family confirmed his death, stating that he was admitted to a hospital in Mohali after suffering a brain stroke, where he breathed his last on Friday morning. His funeral will be held on Saturday, August 23, at 12 p.m. in Mohali, and is expected …

Singer Perrie Edwards has announced her debut solo album, Perrie, which is scheduled for release on 26 September 2025. The news arrived alongside her new single, If He Wanted To He Would, co-written with Nina Nesbitt and The Nocturns. The single, which leans on live instrumentation, explores a toxic relationship from the perspective of a best friend. Its accompanying video, filmed inside …

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa on Thursday announced a local organising committee for the 2027 50-over Cricket World Cup — and revealed that 44 of the 54 matches will be played at eight venues in South Africa. The remaining 10 matches will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia. It will be the first men’s Cricket World Cup in Africa since the …

Pakistan’s javelin thrower Muhammad Yasir Sultan claimed the bronze medal at the Asian Throwing Championships on Friday with a season-best throw of 77.43 metres. The 27-year-old athlete delivered his best effort on the sixth and final attempt, surpassing his previous season-best of 76.07m, which he had set at the Asian Athletics Championships earlier in May. Yasir’s impressive final throw secured …

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a 410 million U.S. dollar financing package for the Reko Diq copper-gold mine in Pakistan, the ADB said on Friday. The project will help meet rising global demand for critical minerals and unlock transformative economic development and poverty reduction in the South Asian country, the ADB said in a statement. Located in the …

ISLAMABAD: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir here on Thursday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Pakistani army serves as the foundation of national stability and a staunch defender of China-Pakistan friendship and cooperation. Wang pointed out that the Pakistani …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile exports surged by over 32 percent during the first month of the current fiscal year 2025-2026, compared to the same period of the last fiscal year, officials from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Thursday. The textile exports were recorded at 1.679 billion U.S. dollars during July 2025, as against 1.271 billion dollars during July …

Under pressure from the International Monetary Fund, the federal government has begun work on a plan to slash expenditures in an effort to reduce the budget deficit, officials said. According to sources, the government is preparing to cut provinces’ share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. The move is aimed at ensuring debt repayments and narrowing the fiscal gap. …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its “All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership” with China, describing the bond between the two countries as a cornerstone of regional peace, stability, and development. He was speaking during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who called on him at the Prime Minister House here, a …