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Author: News Desk

  • Pakistan’s fast-bowling star quits cricket over dispute with a boy

    Pakistan’s fast-bowling star quits cricket over dispute with a boy

    Pakistani fast bowler Ihsanullah has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. The cricketer, known for his fiery pace, has announced he is quitting cricket because of a strange personal dispute.

    The 22-year-old pacer, once celebrated as Pakistan’s next big hope, stunned fans when he revealed he is stepping away from the game due to an issue with a teenage friend named Abdullah. 

    In a recent interview with sports journalist Sanaullah, Ihsanullah broke down while explaining why he is refusing to play.

    “You once saw a friend with me,  his name was Abdullah. I considered him like a brother. He was a good friend. It’s just because of him that I’m upset. I already told you his name, Abdullah. So, because of him, I’m crying. He’s not coming back to cricket, so that’s why we see that he’s not returning, so he stopped playing. That’s why I’m crying. He was with me in rehab too,” Ihsanullah said.

    Cricket fans are now urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and his PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi to step in and make sure Ihsanullah gets a thorough psychiatric evaluation and proper support before his career slips away.

    Ihsanullah was a breakout star in the Pakistan Super League, regularly bowling over 150 kph and winning both the Player of the Tournament and Bowler of the Tournament awards with Multan Sultans in 2023. His raw pace made him one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the country, but a serious elbow injury during a home series against New Zealand stalled his rapid rise.

    In 2025, he joined Peshawar Zalmi but did not play a single match during PSL 10, sparking more questions about his well-being and fitness.

  • Pakistan stun Kyrgyzstan for second consecutive win in AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier

    Pakistan stun Kyrgyzstan for second consecutive win in AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier

    The Pakistan women’s football team continued their remarkable run in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers by defeating Kyrgyzstan 2-1, registering their second consecutive victory in Group D.

    This win is even more impressive as Kyrgyzstan is ranked 21 places higher than Pakistan in the FIFA rankings. 

    On July 2, Pakistan pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against hosts Indonesia, who are ranked 95th in the world compared to Pakistan’s 157th spot. 

    Nadia Khan opened the scoring in the eigth minute with her fifth international goal, while Suha Hirani doubled the lead with a well-taken penalty in the 18th minute. Goalkeeper Ziyana Jeewraj stood strong, making crucial saves to secure a clean sheet for Pakistan.

    The back-to-back wins mark an incredible turnaround for the national side, which recorded their first international victory since September 2023 when they beat Laos in a penalty shootout.

  • Fresh Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 35, including aid seekers

    Fresh Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 35, including aid seekers

    At least 35 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza since the early hours of Saturday, as reported by hospital sources cited by Al Jazeera.

    Among the deceased are at least eight individuals reportedly waiting for aid. Medical facilities in the region are facing difficulties managing the increasing number of injured as Israeli forces persist in targeting various locations.

    Hamas on Friday said it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said Israel’s ongoing offensive killed more than 50 people.

    The announcement came after it held consultations with other Palestinian factions and before a visit on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, where President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the war, now in its 21st month.

    “The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place” the terms of a draft US-backed truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement.

    Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded “guarantees” that Israel “will not resume its aggression” once hostages held in Gaza are freed.

    Trump, when asked about Hamas’ response aboard Air Force One on Friday, said: “That’s good. They haven’t briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.”

    The genocide against the Palestinians by Israel worsened after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to a massive Israeli offensive and has killed more than 57,000 innocents civilians in Gaza.

    Two previous ceasefires brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

    Netanyahu earlier on Friday vowed to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza, after coming under massive domestic pressure over their fate.

    “I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,” he said.

    Trump said on Thursday he wanted “safety for the people of Gaza”.

    “They’ve gone through hell,” he said.

    – 60-day truce proposal –

    A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the latest proposals included “a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip” — thought to number 22 — “in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees”.

    Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

    Nearly 21 months of genocide have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations.

    The military said in a statement it had been striking suspected Hamas targets across the territory, including around Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.

    – Civil defence says aid-seekers killed –

    Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday.

    The Israeli military said it was looking into reports, except for a handful of incidents for which it requested coordinates and timeframes.

    Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.

    In a separate statement, the Israeli military said a 19-year-old sergeant “fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip”.

    Mughayyir said the Palestinians killed included five shot while waiting for aid near a US-run site near Rafah in southern Gaza and several who were waiting for aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the centre of the territory.

    They were the latest in a spate of deaths near aid distribution centres in the devastated territory, which UN agencies have warned is on the brink of famine.

    The US- and Israeli-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distanced itself from reports of deadly incidents near its sites.

    – Displaced civilians –

    Mughayyir told AFP that eight people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli air strike on the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis on Thursday.

    The civil defence official said eight more people were killed in two other strikes on camps on the coast, including one that killed two children early Friday.

    The Israeli military said it was operating throughout Gaza “to dismantle Hamas military capabilities”.

  • Global trends or local market conditions? Microsoft shuts down Pakistan office after 25 years

    Global trends or local market conditions? Microsoft shuts down Pakistan office after 25 years

    Microsoft has closed its Pakistan office, marking the end of its physical presence in the country after 25 years.

    As per the details, the decision is part of a larger global restructuring initiative as the company reduces its workforce by over 9,000 positions globally and focuses more intensely on a cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.

    Although Microsoft did not have a complete commercial operation in Pakistan, it operated liaison offices that catered to enterprise, education and government clients. Much of this work had already been transitioning to local partners and regional centers, especially in Ireland. The local team had reportedly diminished considerably in recent years.

    In response to media inquiries, a Microsoft representative said that the company would continue to support Pakistani customers through regional offices and a robust partner network. The representative also noted that this model was already implemented in various other countries.

    The announcement also elicited responses from former officials and industry analysts. Former president Dr Arif Alvi described it as a “worrying sign,” indicating that the company had previously contemplated expanding its operations in Pakistan but opted for Vietnam instead, citing political and economic unpredictability. “The opportunity was lost,” he said on X.

    Jawwad Rehman, the first country manager for Microsoft Pakistan, also acknowledged the decision in a LinkedIn update. He remarked that the move was indicative of the current business environment where even prominent global firms struggled to maintain operations.

    Tech entrepreneur Habibullah Khan pointed out that Microsoft’s revenue from Pakistan was estimated at approximately $50 million — less than 0.02% of its total global earnings. He contended that the company’s relationship with the country was never deeply established and characterised the exit as part of a broader trend towards cloud-first services.

    The Ministry of IT and Telecommunications recognised the development but clarified that Microsoft’s action did not equate to a complete withdrawal. Instead, it indicated a transition to a service delivery model that did not necessitate a physical office. The ministry connected this to the global shift away from capital-intensive and on-premise software installations to cloud-based subscription solutions.

    Analysts also opined that Microsoft’s transition was more influenced by global market trends rather than local market conditions.

  • ‘Don’t mock my condition’: Babu Baral’s son appeals for help

    ‘Don’t mock my condition’: Babu Baral’s son appeals for help

    Nabeel Baral, son of the late stage legend Babu Baral, has released an emotional video message pleading for help from the public and authorities, highlighting his struggles as a disabled person with no source of income or shelter.

    The video message,  recorded on June 28, shows Nabeel saying he has no house of his own and cannot afford rent. “I am making this video because I am in great need of help. I don’t have my own house and I can’t even afford rent. I swear to Allah, I am the only breadwinner for my family but my condition is such that I cannot manage anymore,” he said.

    Showing his broken prosthetic leg, he explained, “You can see for yourself, even this prosthetic I had is now broken. Let me show you the condition of my leg. Please tell me, people say ‘go and work’, does anyone think I enjoy asking for help? Tell me, with this leg, how can I work? I can’t even stand properly.”

    Nabeel urged people to share his video so his voice reaches the authorities. “My voice should reach the people. Please help me and follow me too, so that I can become an influencer. I hope to generate some income from here because my situation is getting worse, both financially and physically.”

    He continued saying, “What should I do? I swear to Allah I am alone. I have no one else to earn for my family. I am the only man. Please take this seriously. Reach out to the government, I should get a house, that’s all I ask. Please, I can’t do any work, my condition is not good. Whatever savings I had are gone, there is very little left. It’s becoming very difficult to survive. Please help me.”

    In the end, he made a humble request, “Thank you and please don’t mock me. It’s very rude. Please look at my condition and then if you still call me a scammer or make fun of me, then please fear Allah. Thank you.”

    Nabeel’s father, Babu Baral, was one of Pakistan’s most beloved theatre comedians. He began his career in 1982 as a stage performer in Gujranwala and quickly rose to fame for his remarkable mimicry and improvisational comedy. He became a prominent figure in Lahore’s theatre scene, performing in over a thousand plays including hits like Shartiya Mithay, Bhukay Haatha Bataira, and Kuch Na Kaho. 

    Babu Baral was also known for his writing and direction, and his contributions to Pakistani theatre earned him the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-e-Imtiaz. He passed away in Lahore in 2011 at the age of 47 after battling cancer, hepatitis, and kidney disease.

  • Yasir Hussain shrugs off Nadia Khan’s court warning with jokes

    Yasir Hussain shrugs off Nadia Khan’s court warning with jokes

    Actor and director Yasir Hussain has once again used sarcasm to respond to Nadia Khan’s warning of legal action, turning their online spat into a new round of social media mockery.

    TV host Nadia Khan released a video a few days ago in which she warned her critics that she would “drag them to court” for passing personal remarks about her. However, Yasir Hussain, staying true to his mischievous reputation, responded with jokes instead of concern.

    In his Instagram stories, Yasir took a dig at the situation and wrote, “Yeh @sabafaisal.official ji aur @sarwatg ne hi kuch bola hoga. Mery 1.5 numbers se agar kisi ko bura laga hai toh mai sorry kehta hun aur 2.5 number kar leta hun. I hope we are ok now?!? Happy to you.”

    He then reshared the story, adding a line in the style of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, “Mai karon to sala character dheela hai.”

    Yasir continued his mocking tone with, “@sabafaisal.official ji tusi bary hi mazakia. Tuhada kutta Tommy, tay saada kutta kutta.”

    The situation escalated when popular YouTuber Junaid Akram posted a story on Instagram, writing, “Nadia Khan’s Warning: Hypocrisy or Bullying? @yasir.hussain131 sudhar jao.”

    Yasir reshared the story and responded,“Bhai mai nahi hun @mominalimunshi, @sabafaisal.official aur @sarwatg. Mai ne toh sorry kar liya hai boss.”

    In another story, Yasir continued, “Numbering ki zaroorat toh kisi ko bhi nahi hai magar ap bhi toh de hi deti hain. So ap k career k jo 2 dhai number banty hain please qubool farmaen.”

    He didn’t stop there. Taking another shot, he added, “Baqi Paradise ki ap fikar na karen. Ap apny chughli show ki fikar karen jis ki watch se sari industry ‘thu thu’ kar rahi hai. Adaab. Faqat apka bohot junior.”

    Social media users had mixed reactions to Yasir’s response. While some called it “jesa ko tesa”, others praised him for his bold and unapologetic tone.

    The feud between Yasir Hussain and Nadia Khan has been going on for weeks. Last month, Yasir took a jab at Nadia’s acting career by saying he gave her performance a score of only 1.5 out of 10.

  • Pak vs WI: ODIs to not be converted into T20s

    Pak vs WI: ODIs to not be converted into T20s

    Pakistan and the West Indies will play their three One Day Internationals (ODIs) as originally scheduled.

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed converting the ODIs into T20s; however, the West Indies Cricket Board has chosen to proceed with the originally scheduled format and ticketing plan.

    Tickets for the T20 matches, which will be played in the USA, are priced at $25 and $30. Meanwhile, tickets for the ODIs are available for $8 and $5. The West Indies Cricket Board has already started selling tickets for the ODIs, which will be held from August 8 to August 12.

    Fans can purchase tickets for both the T20 and ODI matches online through the West Indies Cricket Board’s official website.

    The T20 series between Pakistan and West Indies will begin on July 31 in Florida, USA. The second match will be played on August 2, while the third T20 is scheduled for August 3.

    The first ODI will take place on August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. The second ODI will be held at the same venue on August 10, with the third and final match of the series scheduled for August 12.

  • 16 dead as five-storey building collapses in Karachi; rescue op continues

    16 dead as five-storey building collapses in Karachi; rescue op continues

    A rescue and search operation is underway to find survivors and recover bodies from the debris after a five-storey, decades-old building collapsed in Karachi.

    The residential building, located in Lyari’s Baghdadi area, that housed over 40 people in 20 apartments, crumbled on Friday. According to the authorities’ estimation, 10-12 people may still be trapped under the rubble.

    Reports, citing hospital administration, claimed that the rescuers have recovered 16 bodies—six women and 10 men—from the debris so far. Three people are undergoing treatment. While the rescue operation continues even after 20 hours.

    Rescue teams are using heavy machinery to remove the debris and a Trapped Person Locator — a device that can detect heartbeats beneath the rubble, to identify any survivors. The device is used after each layer of debris is cleared, which makes the process slow but careful. 

    District South Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javed Khoso on Saturday said that it could take another eight to 10 hours to complete the operation.

    “This building was declared dangerous three years ago. A notice was issued to the building a month and a half ago,” Khoso said, noting that there were still 22 extremely dangerous buildings in Lyari, of which 16 have been evacuated.

    Additionally, the DC said that efforts were underway to evacuate the remaining buildings, warning of legal action over failure to comply with the orders.

  • Hamas says ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks ‘immediately’

    Hamas says ready to start Gaza ceasefire talks ‘immediately’

    Hamas on Friday said it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said Israel’s ongoing offensive killed more than 50 people.

    The announcement came after it held consultations with other Palestinian factions and before a visit on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, where President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the war, now in its 21st month.

    “The movement is ready to engage immediately and seriously in a cycle of negotiations on the mechanism to put in place” the terms of a draft US-backed truce proposal received from mediators, the militant group said in a statement.

    Hamas ally Islamic Jihad said it supported ceasefire talks, but demanded “guarantees” that Israel “will not resume its aggression” once hostages held in Gaza are freed.

    Trump, when asked about Hamas’ response aboard Air Force One on Friday, said: “That’s good. They haven’t briefed me on it. We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza.”

    The genocide against the Palestinians by Israel worsened after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to a massive Israeli offensive and has killed more than 57,000 innocents civilians in Gaza.

    Two previous ceasefires brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

    Netanyahu earlier on Friday vowed to bring home all the hostages held in Gaza, after coming under massive domestic pressure over their fate.

    “I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,” he said.

    Trump said on Thursday he wanted “safety for the people of Gaza”.

    “They’ve gone through hell,” he said.

    – 60-day truce proposal –

    A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the latest proposals included “a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip” — thought to number 22 — “in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees”.

    Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

    Nearly 21 months of genocide have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations.

    The military said in a statement it had been striking suspected Hamas targets across the territory, including around Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.

    – Civil defence says aid-seekers killed –

    Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday.

    The Israeli military said it was looking into reports, except for a handful of incidents for which it requested coordinates and timeframes.

    Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.

    In a separate statement, the Israeli military said a 19-year-old sergeant “fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip”.

    Mughayyir said the Palestinians killed included five shot while waiting for aid near a US-run site near Rafah in southern Gaza and several who were waiting for aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the centre of the territory.

    They were the latest in a spate of deaths near aid distribution centres in the devastated territory, which UN agencies have warned is on the brink of famine.

    The US- and Israeli-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distanced itself from reports of deadly incidents near its sites.

    – Displaced civilians –

    Mughayyir told AFP that eight people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli air strike on the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis on Thursday.

    The civil defence official said eight more people were killed in two other strikes on camps on the coast, including one that killed two children early Friday.

    The Israeli military said it was operating throughout Gaza “to dismantle Hamas military capabilities”.

  • Six dead, 18 injured in Muzaffargarh bus-trailer collision

    Six dead, 18 injured in Muzaffargarh bus-trailer collision

    Six people have died in a collision between a bus and a trailer in the Langar Sarai area of Muzaffargarh.

    According to local police, the tragic accident also injured 18 people after the bus and trailer collided head-on.

    Among the deceased are reportedly two men, including the bus driver, two women, and two children.

    The bus was travelling from Jhang to Alipur when it crashed. Rescue 1122 teams arrived at the scene immediately and transported the injured to a nearby hospital for treatment.

    The District Traffic Officer, DSP, and SHO also arrived at the scene with their teams to manage the situation and begin an investigation into the cause of the collision.

    Authorities are investigating to determine the cause of the crash.

    Meanwhile, in a separate incident on Friday, a car carrying tourists plunged into a river in the Chilana area of Neelum Valley, resulting in six fatalities, including five women, while one child remains missing.

    Another fatal incident occurred in Neelum Valley last month when a jeep carrying passengers met with a terrible accident, claiming the lives of over a dozen people.

    According to SSP Neelum Valley, Khawaja Siddique, the jeep was carrying 23 passengers at the time of the crash. However, four of them miraculously survived.