Author: News Desk

  • 75 crores on opening day: Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ makes history

    75 crores on opening day: Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jawan’ makes history

    The King is back

    Shah Rukh Khan has made Bollywood history with his film ‘Jawan’ making around INR 75 crores on the opening day, the highest amount earned by any Hindi film. Box office pundits compared the opening with the actor’s previous film ‘Pathaan’ which made INR 55 crores on its first day.

    Directed by Atlee, ‘Jawan’ also stars Deepika Padukone, Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi. The movie centers around a jailer Azaad (played by SRK) who guards the women’s prison in Mumbai, then gathers an army to hijack the Mumbai Metro in order to demand negotiations from the government.

    Since the movie’s release on Thursday, celebrations have broken out across India as hardcore fans of the superstar have flocked to theatres to watch ‘Jawan’. Viral clips on social media show fans dancing in theatres with the hashtag #JawanDay.

  • Supreme Court seeks reports on Sikh target killings, Jaranwala riots

    Supreme Court seeks reports on Sikh target killings, Jaranwala riots

    As reported by Geo News, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has, on Friday, asked the Inspectors General (IG) of Police to provide reports on cases pertaining to minority rights, asking what steps have been taken by the government on the Jaranwala tragedy and target killing of minority citizens.

    Sardar Bishna Singh, chairman of Baba Gurunanak Welfare Society, appeared in the Supreme Court, where he pointed out that while some of the people from Sikh community went to India in 1947, “We stayed in Pakistan, our religion also started from here. We are not claiming that we are being wronged because we are Sikhs but the Qabza group (land grabbers) does not take anything into consideration — temple, mosque, gurdwara.”

    He also highlighted the destruction of gurdwaras across the country, including Lahore.

    The Supreme Court described the target killing of the Sikh community as deplorable with Justice Ijazul Hassan stressing that the murders have forced Sikh community to move to different places or leave Pakistan, emphasizing that practical steps need to be taken to ensure their safety.

    The Supreme Court asked all the IGs for a detailed report on the recent target killings and also issued notices to the Attorney General and all Advocate Generals.

    The Apex Court also called for a report from a JIT on the Jaranwala tragedy, asking that the initial report be given to the petitioner.

    The petitioner said that after the Jaranwala tragedy, hateful speeches continue unabated.

    The court sought the report on Jaranwala tragedy from the Advocate General Punjab and the IG Punjab and also sought a report from the Punjab Interior Department on the steps taken after the incident, adjourning the hearing of the case for two weeks.

  • Hira Mani says husband Mani has ‘Hritikh ki body’ and she’s not accepting any doubt

    Hira Mani says husband Mani has ‘Hritikh ki body’ and she’s not accepting any doubt

    You thought your man was hot, but actress Hira Mani has six reasons for why her husband is better than everyone else’s, including Bollywood leading actors.

    The actress shared a hilarious post on her Instagram stories, where she pointed out how Mani embodies six of the best qualities from Bollywood actors:

    “Hrithik ke body, Shah Rukh ke adayien, Bobby Deol jaisay mazboot baal, Sallu bhai jaisa commitment, Akshay jaisa manly, Amir Khan jaisa cute papu, 6 mardoun ki khasosiyaat wala Mani.”

    True love aisa hi hona chahiye I guess?

    Hira Mani is known for her outspoken nature, making headlines with some of the most hilarious one-liners but this one takes the cake. Speaking on the ‘Mazaaq Raat’ show, the ‘Teri Meri Kahaniyaan’ actress talked about her marriage to actor and television host Mani:

    “If I had not married Mani, then I would have been married 5-6 times by now.”

    “I am very flirtatous person by nature. When I found Mani, I married him because it was my choice. If I hadn’t found him then I liked a lot of boys…I f hadn’t been Mani’s wife then I would have been married several times.”

    This isn’t the first time that actress was quite bold about her love for her husband. In 2021 Hira said to a media outlet that had Mani been married to anyone else, she still would have married him. Referring to the viral incident where she confessed about going behind her friend’s back and stealing Mani’s number, the ‘Yakeen Ka Safar’ actress said she has no regrets.

    “People criticise me because I stole Mani’s number from my friend’s phone and messaged him behind her back, but the truth is, I have no regrets. People can say what they want. Even if Mani was married to someone else, I would have married him regardless.”

  • Netflix isn’t paying any amount to star of this massive hit series

    Netflix isn’t paying any amount to star of this massive hit series

    As the SAG-AFTRA strikes continue to loom across Hollywood, several major stars have spoken up against streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Disney, accusing them of exploiting actors and writers.

    Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul, who played Jessie on the hit show, has spoken at a picket line about not receiving any residuals from Netflix.

    Residuals are financial compensation provided to actors and writers who are innvolved in TV shows or movies aired after the release.

    Speaking next to co-stars Bryan Cranston and Jesse Plemons, Paul told Entertainment Tonight Canada:

    “I don’t get a piece from Netflix on ‘Breaking Bad’ to be totally honest and that’s insane to me, you know what I mean.”

    “Shows live forever on these streamers and it goes through waves,” said the three-time Emmy award winner. “And I just saw the other day that ‘Breaking Bad’ was trending on Netflix, and it’s just such common sense, and I think a lot of these streamers, they know they have been getting away with not paying people just fair wage and now it’s time to pony up, and that’s just one of the things we’re fighting for.”

    Aaron played the eccentric high schooler who partners with his chemistry teacher Walter White (played by Cranston) to make drugs. The show received critical acclaim and led to a spin-off ‘Better Call Saul’ which centered around the crook lawyer Saul Goodman.

    In light of the protests, several actors have come forward to make shocking revelations of how little compensation they received from platforms, even though their shows received massive ratings on streaming platforms.

    ‘This Is Us’ actor Mandy Moore revealed in July that despite being a lead actor on the hit series, she received only 81 cent checks as residuals from 21st century Fox.

    Katie Lowes, who starred in the ABC political drama ‘Scandal’ for several seasons, also revealed she didn’t receive any residuals for her work:

    “If you are someone who has been fortunate enough in our positions to do 120-plus episodes of a successful show in previous years — 10, 15, 20 years ago — that re-airing would be the thing that could sustain you on years where I did this smaller project or I wanted to go do a play or you have kids and you have a family to provide for,” Lowes said. “And that’s just not a reality anymore. The entire model has changed.”

  • Ranking our favourite Deepika-Shah Rukh Khan movies in accordance of sizzling chemistry

    Ranking our favourite Deepika-Shah Rukh Khan movies in accordance of sizzling chemistry

    Every one can agree that Shah Rukh Khan’s best on-screen partner is Kajol, but we have to admit that another actress has time and time again proven that she can match the Bollywood superstar’s charisma and sensuality. Deepika Padukone has once more proved her star power with ‘Jawan’ releasing in theatres across India, and fans can’t get enough of the three-times Filmfare Award winning actress for the way she commands the screen, even in a 20 minute cameo.

    So we’d like to make a case: Kajol has the wittiness and feisty attitude to balance Shah Rukh’s intensity but it is Deepika whose domineering presence, poise and sultriness makes her the ideal on-screen partner for Shah Rukh.

    Deepika and Shah Rukh first won hearts back in 2007 with ‘Om Shanti Om’, then continued to dominate the box office, proving that the chemistry between the two is powerful enough to blow us over. In celebration of ‘Jawan’, the duo’s fifth partnership, we rank our favourite films:

    1 Om Shanti Om (2005)

    Deepika set the standard for everyone to come in an iconic entry scene. Even eighteen years later, fans remain in awe of the moment where Shanti (played by Deepika) arrives at her premier in a glittering pink saari and Om (played by SRK) watches her in admiration from the sidelines. Since then, the film has become a cult favourite for fans of one of the best tragic romances Bollywood has ever producer. We recommend every non-Bollywood fan to check out the film to understand why the SRK-Deepika partnership leads to box-office hits.

    2 Pathaan (2023)

    ‘Pathaan’ demonstrated how the duo’s powerful chemistry worked for different genres. The two start off as enemies working on opposing sides with Deepika playing Pakistani doctor and ISI agent Rubina Mohsin, who is being chased across the continent by Indian agent Pathaan (played by SRK), and then both come together to take down a former RAW agent who is trying to unleash a virus across the country. The film was praised for Deepika’s flawless action sequences, as well as electrifying chemistry with the Bollywood Badshah.

    3 Chennai Express (2013)

    The hilarious duo once more delivered a rom-com that surpassed expectations, proving that the Shah Rukh- Deepika partnership is one that will make history. In this film, Shah Rukh plays a 40-year-old bachelor who travels to Goa to spread his grandfather’s ashes. On board the Chennai Express, he meets Meenalochni (played by Padukone), a woman running away from a forced marriage.

    4 Billu Babar

    Deepika had a small cameo in the song ‘Love Mera Hit Hit’ but the chemistry in this solo scene was off the charts. Fans have praised the song as a game changer, and if you don’t believe it, then watch it for yourself.

  • Open market: PKR gains Rs30 against US dollar in just four days

    Open market: PKR gains Rs30 against US dollar in just four days

    The Pakistani rupee (PKR) has shown remarkable strength, appreciating by 4 rupees against the US dollar (USD) in the open market, with current quotes at 301/305 around noon. In just four days, the PKR gained an impressive 30 rupees (9.97 per cent), moving from PKR 331 to PKR 301 against the USD.

    Simultaneously, in the interbank market, PKR appreciated by 2 rupees in today’s session, quoted at 302.74/302.84, following a similar gain in the previous interbank session, reducing the gap between the interbank and open market to 0.57 per cent.

    This surge in the local currency is attributed to reforms by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the exchange companies sector. These reforms aim to consolidate exchange companies into a single category with a well-defined mandate and higher capital requirements, also encouraging banks to establish wholly owned exchange companies.

    An ongoing crackdown against speculators, hoarders, and smugglers has further boosted sentiment, reducing the disparity between the open market and interbank rates below the IMF’s recommended threshold.

    The black market for Hawala/Hundi has also seen a significant decline in dollar rates. Previously, rising demand for dollars due to speculation and smuggling had widened the gap between open market and interbank rates, exceeding IMF recommendations.

    The government’s initiatives effectively curb speculative activities in the open market without interbank intervention. Further improvements are expected if similar measures are taken against gold smuggling, as individuals may opt for smuggled gold investments in the absence of dollar access.

  • ACC decides to set reserve day for the Pak-India match

    ACC decides to set reserve day for the Pak-India match

    After the last match between Pakistan and India on September 2 was ruined by rain, PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has requested ACC (Asian Cricket Council) to set a reserve day for the Pakistan-India match.

    Some Weather tracking websites are predicting rain for the next 15 days in Colombo, with chances of a downpour on the day of the Pak-India match currently projected at 90 per cent. PCB has raised objections serval times, requesting a reserve day for the Pak-India clash.

    After the PCB’s request, ACC has decided to set a reserve day for the Pak-India match on September 10 on Sunday. If the match is not completed on September 10 due to weather conditions, the game will restart on September 11 from the point where it ended.

    Read More: Babar and Shadab shortlisted for the ICC Player of the Month award

    Ticket holders will also watch the match on the next day with the same tickets.

    Remember that if the match ends on September 11, the Indian team will have no practice day because their next match with Sri Lanka is scheduled for September 12.

  • Manholes remain uncovered in Karachi as another child falls to death

    Manholes remain uncovered in Karachi as another child falls to death

    Another child has died after falling into an uncovered manhole in Karachi.

    Ramzan was playing outside when he accidentally fell into the gutter in the Orangi Town area.

    According to local residents, Rizwan was with other children of the neighborhood at the time he fell into the open sewer.

    Just last month, two incidents of children falling into a manhole and dying were reported in Karachi.

    One incident took place in the area of Jamot Mohalla where the sewer was left open while the second was in Ghazi Khan Wara, outside the residence of a girl named Umra Baloch who also fell and drowned in the uncovered gutter while playing outside.

  • Yoga class mistaken for ‘ritual mass murder’

    Yoga class mistaken for ‘ritual mass murder’

    Onlookers mistook a yoga class as a “ritual mass murder”, reporting it to the police in Lincolnshire, England.

    Five police cars reached the ‘crime-scene’ at North Sea Observatory in Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, on Wednesday night.

    BBC spoke with 22-year-old Yoga teacher Millie Laws who found the whole incident “funny and surreal”. She initially thought that the report of her being a “mass murderer” was a “joke”.

    Laws was teaching seven students at the Seascape Cafe situated inside a building. She recalls two dog walkers peeking through the glass window while the class was at its Shavasana or relaxation stage. Additionally, the room was dark with candles lit, which made it more suspicious, she added.

    “They’re [students] laying down with blankets over them, their eyes are closed. It’s very dark in there. I just had candles and little tea lights lit the whole room, and I was just walking around playing my drum. I had a nice floaty top on with large bell sleeves,” she said.

    “A couple with some dogs just came up to the window and were having a look in, but they walked off really quickly and I didn’t think anything of it.”

    “I didn’t know until after we left that these people phoned in saying that there was a mass murderer; they were wearing a robe and they were walking over all of the people, and it looked like some kind of ritual, and that the people on the floor were actually dead.

    “I guess from the outside view it could look like that, because they’re all really still, very nice and relaxed.

    “I’m sure their imagination was running wild with what was going on.”

    “I feel really bad for whoever the person was who [phoned police] that would, of course, have been terrifying. So I do feel for them.

    “But at the same time you’ve got to see the lighter side of it.”

    Managers at Seascape Cafe posted a statement on Facebook to remove any doubts in the residents of the small village where police were ringing at night, stating everything in the area was good, jokingly adding that “We are not part of any mad cult or crazy clubs.”

  • Chief Justice sacrificed judiciary’s reputation for mother-in-law, says Maryam Nawaz

    Chief Justice sacrificed judiciary’s reputation for mother-in-law, says Maryam Nawaz

    While harshly criticizing the judges’ remarks in the audio leaks case, Maryam Nawaz said that the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJ) Umar Atta Bandial has sacrificed the judiciary’s reputation for his mother-in-law.


    Taking to X ( formerly Twitter) on Friday, Maryam Nawaz wrote, “Umar Atta Bandial Sahib and like-minded people sacrificed the reputation of the judiciary for the sake of mother-in-law. Sorry”

    The Supreme Court of Pakistan has rejected the objections of the former Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government against a five-member bench hearing the alleged audio leaks case.

    The five-member larger bench, led by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Atta Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsen, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Syed Hassan Azhar Rizvi, and Justice Shahid Waheed, was formed earlier this year, in May.

    The PDM government had filed a civil miscellaneous application (CMA) to the top court, requesting that CJP Bandial, Justice Ahsan, and Justice Akhtar bow out from the five-member larger bench hearing the case.

    The short verdict announced by Justice Ahsan on Friday said that the objections of the PDM government against the judges were the same as an “attack on the independence of the judiciary”.

    The SC reserved its decision on the PDM government’s petition of June 6.

    The government, in its CMA, said: “Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, and Justice Munib Akhtar should not listen to the audio leak case,” the petition appealed, adding that the “three respected judges should refuse to sit in the five-member larger bench.”

    “In the circumstances, till the next date of hearing, the operation of the impugned notification No.SRO.596(I)/2023 dated 19.05.2023 issued by the Federal Government is suspended as is the order dated 22.05.2023 made by the Commission and in consequence thereof proceedings of the Commission are stayed”, Chief Justice Umer Ata Bandial had announced in a short order.