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Author: News Desk

  • Husband ‘tortures mother of three to death’ in Rawalpindi

    Husband ‘tortures mother of three to death’ in Rawalpindi

    A mother of three was allegedly tortured to death by her husband in Rawalpindi over domestic issues on Friday, according to media reports.

    The police reportedly registered an FIR against her husband, Amir Abbas, and their children on charges of murder and concealing evidence.

    Ghulam Akhtar, a resident of Kot Adu in Muzaffargarh district, lodged the FIR at the Dhamial police station. He said his daughter, Samina, married Amir Abbas 19 years ago by choice and had been living with him in Malik Colony, Girja Road, Rawalpindi. The couple had three children, Mohammad Zaman, 17, Shan Haider, 15, and Maryam Rani, 12.

    Akhtar said, “On Wednesday morning, an announcement was made in our native town that my daughter’s funeral would be held at 8am in a local graveyard, but no one from our family had been informed about her death.”

    He added that he, along with his brothers Ghulam Rasool and Abdul Rehman, and his sister Kalsoom Bibi, went to Amir Abbas’s home. “My sister Kalsoom Bibi and other women saw torture marks on Samina’s body,” he said.

    Akhtar told police that he called the emergency helpline in Kot Adu for assistance. “As soon as I contacted the police, Amir Abbas and his children began threatening me with dire consequences,” he alleged.

    The reports added that Kot Adu police informed Akhtar that the incident fell under the jurisdiction of Dhamial police in Rawalpindi. The case was then taken up by Dhamial police, who transported Samina’s body to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Rawalpindi for postmortem examination.

    In his complaint, Akhtar alleged that his son-in-law, Amir Abbas, along with his children, had murdered his daughter.

  • 307 dead in KP after apocalyptic rains unleash devastation

    307 dead in KP after apocalyptic rains unleash devastation

    The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has released details of the devastation caused by heavy rains and floods over the past 48 hours, confirming that the death toll has crossed 300.

    According to figures cited in media reports, 307 people have lost their lives so far, including 279 men, 15 women, and 13 children. The PDMA also reported 23 injuries, comprising 17 men, 4 women, and 2 children.

    The disasters damaged 74 houses across the province. Of these, 63 houses were partially damaged while 11 were completely destroyed.

    The incidents reportedly occurred in Swat, Buner, Bajaur, Torghar, Mansehra, Shangla, and Battagram. The provincial authority added that it has released a relief package worth 500 million rupees for the affected districts. “Buner will receive 150 million rupees, Bajaur, Battagram, and Mansehra will each receive 100 million rupees, while Swat has been allocated 50 million rupees,” the statement said.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Adviser on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said, “Eleven districts were hit by cloudbursts and flooding, affecting a total of 3,817 people.”

    He added, “Thirty-two people remain missing as search operations continue. A total of 545 rescue workers along with 90 vehicles and boats are carrying out relief and rescue efforts in the affected areas.”

    Saif confirmed that Buner suffered the highest number of casualties with 159 deaths, while rescue teams managed to save 100 people. “In Bajaur, 20 people died and one remains missing, while Battagram reported 11 deaths and 10 missing persons,” he said.

  • Shami’s ex-wife slams him for not spending money on his own daughter

    Shami’s ex-wife slams him for not spending money on his own daughter

    Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami’s former wife, Haseen Jahan, has accused him of neglecting their daughter’s education expenses while allegedly spending lavishly on the children of his girlfriends.

    Jahan, a former model, married Shami in 2014, and the couple welcomed their daughter Aira in 2015. In 2018, she separated from the cricketer after accusing him of domestic violence, adultery, and dowry harassment.

    In a social media post, Jahan alleged that Shami refused to support their daughter’s admission to a good school. Sharing Aira’s photo on Instagram, she wrote, “By the grace of Allah, I am very happy today, because enemies wanted my daughter not to get admission in a good school, but with Allah’s blessings, my daughter has now been admitted to a reputed international school. Alhamdulillah.”

    She further claimed that, despite his wealth, Shami tried to obstruct their daughter’s education. “The father of my daughter, who is a multi-millionaire, tried hard to stop her from studying in a good school. Just because of his affairs with other women, he was playing with his daughter’s future. He sent his girlfriends’ children to the best schools, spent lakhs on business class flights for women, but refused to pay for his own daughter’s education,” she said.

    Jahan added, “I thank Allah that there is law in this country, otherwise I don’t know what would have happened to us.”

    Last month, the Kolkata High Court ordered Shami to pay a monthly allowance of 400,000 Indian rupees to his estranged wife and daughter. According to the ruling, Jahan will receive 150,000 rupees per month while Aira will receive 250,000 rupees. The court also said Shami is free to voluntarily contribute toward his daughter’s educational and other expenses.

    However, Jahan challenged the ruling, filing a plea in the High Court to raise the allowance to 700,000 rupees for herself and 300,000 rupees for her daughter.

  • Former Australian captain Bob Simpson passes away at 89

    Former Australian captain Bob Simpson passes away at 89

    Former Australian Test captain and legendary coach Bob Simpson has died at the age of 89, Cricket Australia and local media have confirmed.

    Simpson played 62 Test matches for Australia, scoring 4,869 runs with 10 centuries. Fans admired him in the 1960s and 70s for his aggressive batting and sharp fielding.

    He produced one of the greatest innings in Test history when he scored 311 runs against England, a knock that cemented his place among the game’s best batsmen.

    After retiring from international cricket, Simpson turned to coaching and reshaped Australian cricket. He took charge in the late 1980s when the team struggled for consistency. Under his strict discipline and focus on teamwork, Australia lifted the 1987 World Cup.

    His coaching laid the foundation for Australia’s dominance in the 1990s and 2000s, when the team went on to rule world cricket.

    Cricket Australia paid the former captain a befitting tribute, calling him not only a great batsman and captain but also an extraordinary coach who gave Australian cricket a new direction.

  • Three martyred as KP govt helicopter crashes

    Three martyred as KP govt helicopter crashes

    A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government helicopter crashed near Chingai Banda on Friday while delivering relief supplies to Salarzai, Bajaur, killing all three people on board.

    According to media reports citing senior officials, the cause of the crash is yet to be determined. Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah said the helicopter was headed to Bajaur for relief operations when it went down.

    KP Chief Minister stated, “Contact with the MI-17 helicopter had been lost earlier.” He added, “I have directed immediate dispatch of teams to the crash site,” while noting that “the provincial government’s second helicopter remains engaged in rescue operations in Buner district.”

    Reports by rescue officials reveal that flash floods in Jabrai, Salarzai tehsil of Bajaur, “destroyed multiple houses overnight, with roads and bridges washed away.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar said, “Our focus remains on search and rescue operations, with teams being deployed to Buner.” He urged the public to “remain cautious” and instructed that “all MNAs, MPAs, provincial ministers, and local government representatives stay in the affected areas until operations are completed.”

  • Chinese climber dies on K2 after being struck by falling rocks

    Chinese climber dies on K2 after being struck by falling rocks

    Chinese mountaineer Guan Jing has died while descending K2, the world’s second-highest peak.

    According to Shigar district Deputy Commissioner Arif Ahmad, Guan was struck by falling rocks on Tuesday night while making her way down from the summit.

    “An army aviation team is ready for the recovery of the body and is waiting for better weather conditions,” he said, as cited by a foreign media outlet.

    According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, which monitors local climbing expeditions, Guan is the fourth casualty of the country’s summer climbing season.

    She was among 30 climbers who reached the summit of K2 on Monday before beginning her fatal descent.

    “The incident occurred on the Abruzzi Spur route between Camp I and Advanced Base Camp, a section notorious for frequent rockfalls,” the Alpine Club stated.

    At 8,611 metres (28,251 feet), K2 is located on the Pakistan-China border, and is 238 metres shorter than Mount Everest but is considered far more technically challenging.

  • CM Gandapur reiterates resolve for Imran Khan’s ‘honourable release’

    CM Gandapur reiterates resolve for Imran Khan’s ‘honourable release’

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday vowed to do whatever it takes for the “honourable release” of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, describing himself as “a rebel against the system” which, he alleged, had “unjustly imprisoned” the party leader.

    Speaking at a public gathering in Paharpur Sports Stadium after leading a massive rally from Al-Amin House, the chief minister said the Constitution and law gave them the right to reclaim their mandate, and that they were prepared to “take bullets on the chest” in their struggle.

    Hundreds of vehicles participated in the protest, which was part of the PTI’s August 14 protest movement. Supporters greeted the rally at several points along the way.

    During his address, Gandapur accused the state of engaging in “oppression” since May 9, 2023, claiming that despite being arrested and subjected to violence, PTI supporters have remained steadfast in their support of the party. “We will not commit suicide, we will fight. Those who shoot at us will face the same,” he declared.

    He criticised the state for waging “war against its own people” and stressed that peace was essential for development. “If people have taken up arms, the state also bears responsibility,” he remarked, adding that while terrorism must be eradicated, the government should avoid oppressing citizens.

    The chief minister also underscored the cultural ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, calling for improved relations, and announced that Paharpur would be granted district status.

  • Taylor Swift shares details of 12th album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

    Taylor Swift shares details of 12th album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’

    Taylor Swift has revealed her forthcoming album The Life of a Showgirl, scheduled to drop on October 3, will feature 12 songs, including a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. The album will also contain a rendition of George Michael’s 1987 classic Father Figure. 

    Swift disclosed the tracklist and cover art during a guest appearance on New Heights, the podcast hosted by her partner Travis Kelce and his brother, former NFL player Jason Kelce. She explained that the album was composed and recorded in Europe while she was on tour for the Eras Tour, the first concert series to exceed $1 billion in revenue and to earn over $2 billion in total across 21 months.

    As for the album’s concept, Swift mentioned that it encapsulates her experiences from two years spent touring. In contrast to her last album, The Tortured Poets Department, which comprised 31 songs and included a surprise second release, she assured fans that this time there won’t be any extra material. “This is the record I’ve dreamed of creating for a long time,” she shared with the Kelces.

    The tracklist for The Life of a Showgirl includes: The Fate of Ophelia, Elizabeth Taylor, Opalite, Father Figure, Eldest Daughter, Ruin the Friendship, Actually Romantic, Wi$h Li$t, Wood, Cancelled!, Honey, The Life of a Showgirl (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)

    This album also signifies the comeback of Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, who have previously collaborated with Swift on Red, 1989, and Reputation. She acknowledged their influence on some of her most iconic songs, like Shake It Off and Blank Space. 

    There has been speculation among fans that some of the new songs may touch on Swift’s relationship with Kelce, which became public in 2023. Swift stated that each song on the album was deliberately chosen, with no additions or omissions, to preserve a cohesive theme.

    In the period leading up to the announcement, Taylor Nation – a branch of Swift’s official marketing team, Taylor Nation, shared 12 images from the Eras Tour on Instagram, followed by a countdown timer on Swift’s official website. The site temporarily went down before returning to provide initial information about the project.

    Swift’s last release, The Tortured Poets Department, broke numerous streaming records, including 300 million Spotify streams in a single day and surpassing one billion in just five days.

  • Celebrities, fans praise Atif’s professionalism for I-Day performance despite father’s passing

    Celebrities, fans praise Atif’s professionalism for I-Day performance despite father’s passing

    Atif Aslam’s choice to perform on Independence Day in Karachi, one day after his father’s passing, has generated an outpouring of support from fans and fellow artists. The singer graced the stage at the Sindh government’s Maarka-e-Haq Jashn-e-Azadi event held at Karachi’s National Stadium, entertaining a full audience despite his recent sorrow.

    His performance caught significant attention as videos from the event began circulating on social media. While some viewers were taken aback by his decision to perform so soon, many from the industry publicly lauded his determination to fulfil a prior commitment.

    Actor Saba Qamar posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, stating that she recognized the struggle of performing while in mourning. “Bearing heartbreak while putting on a smile is one of the most difficult challenges anyone can face,” she remarked, adding that his ability to take the stage the following day showcased “strength, depth, and dedication.”

    Actor Nameer Khan applauded Aslam, remembering that he had to go back to work shortly after his father’s death and noted how audiences often fail to grasp the struggles artists endure away from the spotlight. “They witness the performance, not the sorrow beneath it,” he commented, referring to Aslam’s performance as a testament to his professional dedication.

    Superstar Meesha Shafi referred to Aslam as “the most exceptional and committed artist” of his time, sending prayers for him and his family.

    The support extended to social media platforms as well. One user remarked, “Life and performances must continue. We will always remember our loved ones, but they would want us to keep advancing.” Another urged for an end to the online negativity, stating, “Let’s offer a prayer for him. May Allah provide him with the strength to endure this loss and grant his father the highest status.” Others acknowledged that his performance likely fulfilled an engagement made many months prior, viewing it as a testament to his devotion to his art.

    Despite frequent reports of delays and last-minute cancellations in Pakistan’s live music circuit where artists sometimes arrive late or withdraw without notice, Atif Aslam’s decision to perform under such personal strain has renewed discussion on professionalism in the industry. Public responses contrasted his approach with a pattern where performers fail to meet commitments. In March 2024, for instance, singer Asim Azhar’s Lahore concert was cancelled at short notice. Organisers cited “unforeseen circumstances,” but Azhar later said neither he nor his team had any conflict and that no genuine reason was provided for the postponement. Against this backdrop, many noted that while cancellations and delays remain common, Aslam honoured an engagement made months earlier, setting an example of dedication to his craft.

  • YouTube turns to AI to spot children posing as adult

    YouTube turns to AI to spot children posing as adult

    YouTube has started using artificial intelligence (AI) to figure out when users are children pretending to be adults on the popular video-sharing platform amid pressure to protect minors from sensitive content.

    The new safeguard is being rolled out in the United States as Google-owned YouTube and social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok are under scrutiny to shield children from content geared for grown-ups.

    A version of AI referred to as machine learning will be used to estimate the age of users based on a variety of factors, including the kinds of videos watched and account longevity, according to YouTube Youth director of product management James Beser.

    “This technology will allow us to infer a user’s age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections,” Beser said.

    “We’ve used this approach in other markets for some time, where it is working well.”

    The age-estimation model enhances technology already in place to deduce user age, according to YouTube.

    Users will be notified if YouTube believes them to be minors, giving them the option to verify their age with a credit card, selfie, or government ID, according to the tech firm.

    Social media platforms are regularly accused of failing to protect the well-being of children.

    Australia will soon use its landmark social media laws to ban children under 16 from YouTube, a top minister said late last month, stressing a need to shield them from “predatory algorithms.”

    Communications Minister Anika Wells said four-in-ten Australian children had reported viewing harmful content on YouTube, one of the most visited websites in the world.

    Australia announced last year it was drafting laws that will ban children from social media sites such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16.

    “Our position remains clear: YouTube is a video sharing platform with a library of free, high-quality content, increasingly viewed on TV screens,” the company said in a statement at the time.

    “It’s not social media.”

    On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.

    It is due to come into effect on December 10.

    The legislation has been closely monitored by other countries, with many weighing whether to implement similar bans.