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Author: News Desk

  • Bold & unapologetic: Maya Ali refuses to bow to marriage expectations

    Bold & unapologetic: Maya Ali refuses to bow to marriage expectations

    In a world obsessed with timelines and traditions, Pakistan’s beloved actor Maya Ali has drawn a bold line. She’s not marrying for anyone’s satisfaction but her own.

    In a recent interview, Maya Ali made it clear that she won’t get married to please others.

    “We shouldn’t get married just because someone is asking why we haven’t done so yet,” she said, adding that people often try to push women into marriage by saying they are aging or because a certain person might “keep them happy”.

    She further added that it is “a major decision in life between two families and two individuals”. She also believes what truly matters is the connection between the partners.

    She said she will get married the day she will find that connection with someone. The Mann Mayal actress also added she will get married but not because people are pushing her to.

    Maya also mentioned, “If we keep saying everything happens by the will of God, then why don’t we believe that marriage is also His decision. It will happen when it’s meant to happen.”

    Maya shared that after her father’s death, she and her mother have become the decision makers of the house. “It’s like there’s so much burden on my shoulders but I just tell my mother to relax, I say it’s okay we will handle it together, the way my father used to do it. People think Maya has a glamorous life and I am always happy, but that’s not the case. There is so much happening in our mind but we still have to do what we do,” she added.

    Maya Ali’s debuted in the serial Durr-e-Shehwar in 2012, where she had a supporting role as the younger sister of the main character. She later gained more recognition for her lead role in Aunn Zara.

    She has two main upcoming projects, an unnamed drama serial for Green Entertainment with Ahad Raza Mir, and a project for Hum TV alongside Bilal Ashraf. The Green Entertainment project is directed by Farooq Rind, and the Hum TV project is written by Mustafa Afridi and directed by Ehteshamuddin.

  • Newborn triplets die as floods cut off hospital access for Gujranwala woman

    Newborn triplets die as floods cut off hospital access for Gujranwala woman

    Three newborns have died on Sunday in Sohdra, a flood-affected village of Gujranwala, after their mother failed to reach a hospital as rising waters had cut off all access routes.

    The woman, who was expecting triplets, went into labour but could not be taken to a medical facility as access routes had submerged underneath flood waters. She gave birth to her first child at home, but complications quickly developed.

    The family arranged a boat to take her to a hospital in an effort to save her and the babies. But she gave birth to two more children as they were being taken in a car toward the boat.

    Due to the lack of medical attention, all three infants – two daughters and a son – died. Overcome with grief, the mother said, “Roads opened for everyone else, but not for us.”

    This is not the first time such a tragedy has been reported in Pakistan, where women have been unable to access hospitals in time.


    In November 2022, a woman in Dir Upper District lost her newborn after giving birth on the way to a hospital, barely surviving herself. 

    Similarly, in August 2021, another woman delivered a baby girl inside an ambulance near the Hazara Motorway’s Shah Maqsood Interchange.

  • US stops visa approvals for nearly all Palestinian passport holders

    US stops visa approvals for nearly all Palestinian passport holders

    The United States (US) has stopped approving visas for almost all individuals holding Palestinian passports, The New York Times reported.

    According to reports, the new restrictions go beyond the measures announced by President Donald Trump’s administration, which only applied to residents of Gaza.

    The decision will prevent Palestinian citizens from traveling to the US for medical treatment, higher education or business purposes.

    Two weeks ago, the State Department announced that all visitor visas for people from Gaza would remain suspended until a “full and comprehensive” review was completed.

    While Palestinian advocacy groups have strongly criticised the move, the US also recently declared that it would not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York for next month’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting where several American allies are expected to recognise Palestine as a state.

    Reports added that a State Department official revealed that visas for Abbas and nearly 80 other Palestinian leaders would be canceled or rejected. The list includes representatives from the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

  • Flooding causes 45 schools in Lahore to remain shut after holiday

    Flooding causes 45 schools in Lahore to remain shut after holiday

    The District Education Authority (DEA) Lahore has stated that 45 schools will remain closed due to flooding, as many of them have turned into relief campuses.

    Schools in the worst flood-hit areas, such as Shahdara, Saggian, Maraka, Chung, Manga, and Bund Road will remain closed.

    According to an order issued by the deputy commissioner, the closures affect 33 government schools, three operated by the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF), one under the Punjab Education Initiative Management Authority (PEIMA-PSSP), and eight private institutions.

    Private institutions in the Tehsil Raiwind area, including British Grammar School, The Heaven School System, and Dar-e-Arqam Manga Mandi, will also remain shut.

    Earlier, the Punjab government had extended summer vacations due to intense heat, from mid August to August 31 due to bad weather.

    According to a notification issued by Lahore Colleges Director Ehsan Mukhtar, about 20 colleges in the Lahore division, including six in the Lahore district, will remain closed for two days (September 1 and 2) due to the flood situation.

    Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP’s) plain areas, public and private schools and colleges have reportedly reopened after the summer break.

  • ‘My mother committed suicide because of father’s violence’, Munawar Faruqui’s revelation

    ‘My mother committed suicide because of father’s violence’, Munawar Faruqui’s revelation

    India’s famous standup comedian and Big Boss season 17’s winner Munawar Faruqui has revealed his mother committed suicide by consuming poison after enduring 22 years of marital abuse.

    In a recent interview, Faruqui opened up about his childhood, marital situation of his parents and how his mother committed suicide due to his father’s ill treatment. He also shared he was only 13 when this happened.

    The comedian said his father was very cruel and hurtful to his mother in life, due to which his mother consumed poison. Two years after this incident, his father himself suffered a stroke and remained bedridden for 11 years.

    “In my early life, I also considered my father as a villain. I used to get angry whenever I saw him, but then I forgave him because the circumstances taught me to forgive and be strong,” he shared.

    Faruqui said that despite being a “villain”, it was his father, and asked how could he hate his father. “He had no one but me, and he got what he deserved and he himself was in pain.”

    The comedian described this moment as the one that taught him the power of forgiveness. It was then, Faruqui said, he learned to release the weight of pain and negativity. “From that point on, no one was ever able to hurt me in the same way.”

  • Did Wahaj Ali, Saife Hasan clash on the Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi set?

    Did Wahaj Ali, Saife Hasan clash on the Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi set?

    Clashes on drama sets is not a new thing but a video of what appears to be a loud argument between Wahaj Ali and Saife Hasan has social media wondering what happened. 

    A behind-the-scenes video is making waves on social media in which Wahaj can be seen having a heated argument with director Saife Hasan on the sets of upcoming drama Jinn Ki Shadi Unki Shadi.

    Saife Hasan can be seen yelling at Wahaj while Wahaj also replies in the same manner. After the verbal sparring, Wahaj left the set. In the video, a co-actor standing with Wahaj is also looks uncomfortable.

    The video was initially shared on Instagram by Maliha Rehman, a digital journalist, in which she questioned if the BTS video was leaked.

    Penned by the ever-creative Syed Nabeel and helmed by acclaimed director Saife Hasan, the drama promises a blend of spooky laughs and unexpected twists, a genre not often explored on Pakistani television.

    Meanwhile, the drama is an ensemble with a huge cast while Wahaj is all set to make a much-anticipated comeback after the not-so-well-received Sunn Mere Dil, while Sehar Khan returns to the screen following her intense performance in Tann Man Neelo Neel. Fans are excited to see this fresh duo light up the screen in a completely different avatar.

    Previous social media sensations and now actors Romaisa Khan and Arsalan Naseer are playing pivotal roles in the drama. Syed Jibran, Nadia Afgan and Sidra Niazi are also among the bigwigs included in the cast of the drama.

    With a mix of horror and humor, Jinn Ki Shadi, Unki Shadi is shaping up to be a drama to watch out for this season.

  • SCO member states ‘strongly condemn’ terrorist attacks on Jaffar Express, school bus

    SCO member states ‘strongly condemn’ terrorist attacks on Jaffar Express, school bus

    In a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan, member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks on the Jaffar Express and the school bus attack in Khuzdar.

    “SCO Member states strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on Jaffer Express on 11 March 2025 and in Khuzdar on 21 May 2025,” read an excerpt from the Tianjin Declaration, as quoted by journalist Anas Mallick in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.

    On March 11, 2025, Jaffar Express, with over 400 passengers on board in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it came under attack by terrorists in the Dhadar area of Bolan Pass.

    A day later, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made an appearance on a private media outlet, saying that the Jaffar Express clearance operation was completed and all terrorists, 33 in total, at the site of the attack had been killed, with 21 passengers and four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel martyred by the terrorists.

    On 21 May, a terrorist suicide attack at the school bus of Army Public School (APS) near Zero Point in Khuzdar on the Quetta-Karachi highway martyred eight children, including two adults.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif, during his SCO speech on Monday, said that “Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, lincluding state terrorism”. 

    In the presence of Indian PM Narendra Modi, PM Sharif highlighted that those who have long used terrorism to advance their “political interest” must know that the world no longer buys this “fictitious narrative”.

    He noted that Pakistan has “irrefutable evidence” of some foreign nations being involved in terrorism in the Jaffer Express attack as well as terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

    The premier further stated Pakistan expects SCO member countries to follow all bilateral treaties, adding that the country has advocated for dialogue and diplomacy and consultation over confrontation.

    He emphasised that Pakistan supports and respects the sovereignty and integrity of all SCO members and their neighbours, respects all international and bilateral treaties, and expects similar principles to be followed by all member nations.

  • Wasim Akram urges Pakistan to use Babar Azam as anchor in T20 cricket

    Wasim Akram urges Pakistan to use Babar Azam as anchor in T20 cricket

    Former Pakistan captain and Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram has urged the national team to include Babar Azam as an anchor in the middle order for upcoming T20 challenges. Akram believes Pakistan needs a technically strong batter with an attacking mindset for high-pressure situations in big tournaments.

    During an appearance on Geo News’ program ‘Hasna Mana Hai’, Akram shared his thoughts on the challenges Babar faces. 

    “Okay, we are coming from Bangladesh after winning the series 2-1 against West Indies. But I feel there is still a little inconsistency. Now, the big series are coming up, the Asia Cup is coming up, then the World Cup next year. Now my concern is that at number three or four, if you have to chase 140 or 145 in a knockout game, for example, against Australia, India, or England, then you need an anchor, an anchor but with a good strike rate, someone who has good technique and can also play attacking shots,” Akram said.

    He further suggested Babar for this role based on his previous performances. “ In T20s, if you play him (Babar Azam) at number three, like he played for Somerset with a strike rate of 140, then he can play his natural game,” he added.

    Akram also shared advice for the former captain, who is currently out of the T20I squad. “Babar Azam is our superstar and a top player in world cricket. I would just advise him to stay calm, ignore unnecessary press conferences, and remember that ‘Form is temporary, class is forever.’ Keep going, and you will return to the top of world cricket again,” Akram said.

    Babar, currently second on the list of all-time leading T20I run-scorers, has been out of favor in the shortest format since Pakistan’s three-match series against South Africa in December last year. He was also not included in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, as Pakistan focuses on grooming youngsters ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.

    Currently, the Men in Green are competing in a tri-nation T20I series against the UAE and Afghanistan. Pakistan has won both of their matches so far in the series, which runs from August 29 to September 7, concluding just before the Asia Cup 2025 begins.

    The Asia Cup will feature eight teams divided into two groups. Group A includes Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman, while Group B consists of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong. The tournament starts on September 9 with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong.

    Pakistan will open their campaign against Oman on September 12, face arch-rivals India on September 14, and play their final group-stage match against hosts UAE on September 17. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four stage, which could set up another Pakistan-India clash on September 21.

    Pakistan Squad for Tri-Nation Series and Asia Cup 2025 includes Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem.

  • Prime suspect arrested in Chitrali student Shehla Yaqoob’s case

    Prime suspect arrested in Chitrali student Shehla Yaqoob’s case

    Authorities in Upper Chitral have taken a man into custody while investigating the death of 22-year-old student Shehla Yaqoob, who was reported missing last month and subsequently discovered deceased. 

    Shehla, who lived in Nishko in Morkho, disappeared on August 14. Her father, Muhammad Yaqoob Shah, filed a report at the Morkho Police Station on the same day. A case was first registered at Morkho Police Station on suspicion of abduction under Section 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Her remains were recovered on August 24 from a river near Ayun in Lower Chitral. An initial examination revealed the cause of death to be asphyxia and drowning. The police gathered evidence from the scene, such as sandals and a note, which have been sent for forensic examination. 

    On August 27, the investigation progressed when Junaid, the son of Muhammad Hashim, was identified as the primary suspect. Charges related to murder were subsequently added to the case. A police team conducted search operations and later confirmed his arrest. 

    District Police Officer Hameedullah stated that a Special Investigation Team, led by SP Investigation Ajmal Khan, has been established to manage the inquiry. This team will examine forensic evidence, phone records, and other information collected throughout the investigation.

  • New AI model ‘Nano Banana’ from Google sparks global buzz

    New AI model ‘Nano Banana’ from Google sparks global buzz

    Google has taken the AI image generation field up by several notches with its Nano Banana, a new AI-driven image editing model integrated into its Gemini platform. Internally referred to as ‘Gemini 2.5 Flash Image’, this tool is designed for multi-turn editing while ensuring precision and consistency throughout the modifications.


    Nano Banana allows users to edit images by providing simple text commands. For instance, a picture of a room can be modified with prompts like “change the couch to red” or “transform this into a rainy night scene,” with results produced in seconds. Unlike previous AI editing tools that often distorted images after multiple alterations, Google claims this model maintains identity, context, and intent even after more than ten changes.


    In initial demonstrations, users supplied stick figure drawings with character images, and Nano Banana produced anime-style illustrations that corresponded to both templates. The tool can merge as many as thirteen distinct elements into one unified image. It can also revive old photographs and execute face-swaps while preserving likeness.

    The model’s user interface depends on natural language prompts, making it user-friendly for people lacking design expertise. Users can create a scene from scratch, insert objects, or progressively tweak details without the need for professional editing software. By tracking earlier adjustments, it sidesteps the typical issue of images becoming warped or inconsistent after multiple edits.

    Beyond individual use, Google is starting to incorporate Nano Banana into its broader ecosystem. It is accessible via the Gemini app on both web and mobile platforms, as well as through enterprise solutions like Vertex AI, Google AI Studio, and Gemini APIs. Developers can use it for projects that range from e-commerce catalogs to virtual set design.

    Google has showcased examples where the model has been successfully applied in real-life situations. An online retailer utilized it to create 3D product mockups, while an architecture firm significantly reduced revision cycles through iterative room visualizations. A school district produced tailored science visuals for classrooms, reporting that it enhanced comprehension among student pilots.

    To tackle concerns surrounding AI-generated content, all images created with Nano Banana come with SynthID, an invisible watermark developed by Google DeepMind. Visible watermarks are also placed where necessary to indicate authenticity.