Author: News Desk

  • ‘Childish’: Indian netizens slam Modi’s mumbling joke with Macron

    ‘Childish’: Indian netizens slam Modi’s mumbling joke with Macron

    Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s fumbling and awkward attempt on Tuesday to crack a joke with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, left internet users mocking the Indian premier.

    The G7 (Group of Seven) comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The European Union also takes part. The group was formed in the 1970s to discuss world economy and now also focus on areas like climate, health, trade, and global security.

    The G7 holds a summit once a year, hosted by one of the members. 

    As Modi hugged Macron, he appeared to crack a joke; however, his words weren’t clearly understood. “Now you are active on Twitter (sic),” he seemed to mumble, leaving many unsure of what he actually said and meant.

    The Indian premier then laughed heartily at his own joke, while Macron appeared visibly confused, unsure of what the Indian premier meant. Internet users were quick to react to the awkward moment, poking fun at Modi.

    “Isko lagta hai aise pagalon ki tarah kuch bhi mumble kar k joke maarunga, candid moment lagega.. Sideways camera mein hi dhyan rehta hai (He thinks if he mumbles something like a madman, it’ll come off as a joke. As if it’ll look like a candid moment… His focus remains only on the camera). Everyone feels embarrassed to be around him,”


    “Body language is childish,” one social media user wrote. Another said, “’Nowadays, you are active on Twitter?’ Khi khi khi. Really?? Laughed so hard at his own alleged joke.”

    “As per his Twitter post, in dono ne planet ke betterment ke liye baat ki (According to his X post, both talked about the betterment of the planet),” pointed out another netizen.

    Sharing a short clip of the video, one user sarcastically took a jibe at ANI as well as at the Indian PM. “The reason ANI always mutes Bal Narendra when he talks to foreign leaders!”

    One tweet read: “Oh my god he can’t speak even basic English?? And he is the PM of 140 billion people.”

    “How fake this person Modi is… Always in full mode to flatter the western leaders by hugging them etc but how rude& arrogant he remains with the eastern world. Too much frank behavior with the world leaders looks extremely awkward (sic),” another tweet stated.

  • Hunza hotel fined Rs1.5 million for ‘releasing sewage into Attabad Lake’

    Hunza hotel fined Rs1.5 million for ‘releasing sewage into Attabad Lake’

    A viral video by British travel vlogger George Buckley has prompted immediate action from Gilgit-Baltistan authorities against Luxus Hunza, a private hotel located near Attabad Lake. Buckley posted a video on social media alleging that the hotel was releasing untreated sewage into the lake, resulting in brown-colored water and a foul smell in the area.

    In the video, Buckley also cited a local resident who claimed the lake was being polluted by the hotel’s waste system. The video quickly gained traction online, sparking public outrage among environmentalists, tourists, and concerned citizens.

    In response to the backlash, officials from the Gilgit-Baltistan Environment Department and the deputy commissioner of Hunza conducted a surprise inspection of the hotel. They confirmed that several manholes were damaged and fined the hotel Rs1.5 million. Authorities also gave the hotel one week to upgrade its sewage system under environmental regulations.

    Luxus Hunza, in response to the allegations, denied any wrongdoing and issued a detailed statement on social media.

    “Attabad Lake formed in 2010. Before Luxus Hunza opened its doors to tourists in 2019, no one had experienced this majestic lake up close. This lake has been home for us for the last six years. It is the reason and purpose of our existence. To dump sewage water into the lake would be like desecrating our own house. We have never nor will we ever dump a single liter of waste water into Attabad Lake,” the hotel stated.

    Defending themselves, the hotel described the muddy appearance of the water as natural, explaining: “The adjacent water streams coming from the mountains have natural sediments like mud, rocks and minerals. When these Turbid water streams mix with the blue lake water, this causes the muddy/cloudy appearance of water seen near Luxus Hunza. This phenomenon is known as confluence, where two separately flowing water bodies meet. If one of the water bodies is high in turbidity, then this causes a muddy/cloudy water surface at the point of confluence. This phenomenon is more pronounced during the summer times which is why every summer Luxus Hunza is falsely accused of dumping waste water into the lake. Hope this helps. If you have any further questions please DM us.”

    The hotel maintains that its waste management system complies with all regional environmental regulations.

  • Lahore’s car community unites to make six-year-old’s dream come true

    Lahore’s car community unites to make six-year-old’s dream come true

    What started as a simple social media request turned into a heartwarming community event in Lahore, as dozens of exotic car owners came together to make a young boy’s dream come true.

    The boy’s father posted a request on social media on June 9th, specifically addressing Lahore automobile owners, particularly those from Valencia, Bahria Town, and Lake City. His six-year-old kid, who loves cars, wanted to get a close look at exotic vehicles. 


    The post quickly went viral, capturing the attention of Pakistan’s car community. Prominent auto influencers including PakWheels’ Suneel Sarfraz Munj, and Bilal Munir, a Tech content creator, also saw the appeal. 

    Soon, car owners from across the city began responding, eager to bring smiles to the young vehicle enthusiast. 

    In the days that followed, an informal but specially organized car meet-up took place, drawing in a lineup of luxury and exotic vehicles.

    The little boy, accompanied by his twin sister, was given the chance to see and even sit inside some of his dream cars, surrounded by supportive car enthusiasts.

    After the event, the father shared an update and expressed his appreciation: 

    “Few days ago, I requested the awesome people here with such cars to show up so my son can see them up close and man, the Pakistanis didn’t disappoint! He got the best exposure to your cars and I hope it remains a wonderful memory of his lifetime.” 


    The heartwarming moment went viral on the internet, with many people appreciating the generosity and goodwill of those who made a simple wish into an experience.

    It was not just a display of cars, but a reminder of how online communities can come together to create real-world joy.

  • Arshad Nadeem to compete in key European events ahead of World Championships

    Arshad Nadeem to compete in key European events ahead of World Championships

    Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is preparing for a series of crucial competitions ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. His coach, Salman Butt, confirmed that Arshad will participate in three major events over the coming months, including the Diamond League in Poland.

    “Most events are in Europe, and we will also participate in the Diamond League in Poland in August,” Salman Butt said, adding that their main focus is to improve Arshad’s form and rhythm ahead of the World Championships.

    This period is important for Arshad to get back to top condition. The upcoming events, expected to take place in July and August, will help him improve his techniques and compete against some of the best athletes in the world.

    The Diamond League event in Poland is one of the top competitions in javelin and regularly features world-class athletes. Winning this event would be a major milestone for Arshad Nadeem, as it remains one of the few titles he has yet to claim.

    Although the full schedule of his European tour is not yet finalised, Arshad is expected to compete in smaller events leading up to the Diamond League. These competitions will help him gradually regain his competitive form.

  • YouTuber Rajab Butt’s cousin granted bail in rape, blackmail case

    YouTuber Rajab Butt’s cousin granted bail in rape, blackmail case

    A Sessions Court in Lahore has granted interim bail to Salman Haider, cousin and co-accused of YouTuber Rajab Butt, in a case involving alleged rape and blackmail.

    Additional Sessions Judge Najaf Haider presided over the hearing and directed the police to submit an investigation report. The prosecution informed the court that the investigation was still ongoing and sought additional time.

    The court extended Salman Haider’s interim bail until June 23. A case has been registered against him at the Nawab Town Police Station.

    Earlier, an FIR had been filed against YouTuber Rajab Butt and his cousin Salman Haider. While Haider was accused of rape, blackmail, and unlawful confinement, Rajab Butt was named as an accomplice for allegedly helping detain the complainant and her sister.

    According to the FIR lodged by social media activist Ayesha Sharafat at Nawab Town Police Station, she met Salman Haider through social media. They often met in public until August 16, 2024, when she was invited to his residence in Bahria Orchard.

    “Salman called me at 7 PM on August 16, 2024, and invited me to his house in Bahria Orchard. Due to trust, I agreed,” she stated in the FIR.

    She further claimed, “He gave me juice that had been mixed with an intoxicating substance. After consuming it, I lost consciousness. When I regained awareness, I realized I had been raped; my shirt buttons were open.”

    “Fearing social stigma, I remained silent and did not inform my family,” she added.

    She went on to allege that, “Later, Salman contacted me again. When I refused to meet him, he began blackmailing me using an explicit video he had secretly filmed without my consent.”

    “He also sent that video to my sister, Palwasha, which prompted both of us to confront him at his residence.”

    According to the FIR, “We went to Salman’s house to stop him, but once there, Rajab Butt, Man Dogar, Jawad Haider, and Jahangir Butt, who were present with Salman, locked us in a room.”

    “Jawad Haider snatched our mobile phones, reset them, and then threatened us before throwing us out.”

    Back in May, a video allegedly showing Rajab Butt and his associates assaulting a young man went viral. The victim later filed a complaint at Satu Katla Police Station, but Butt apologised and claimed it was a misunderstanding. The victim accepted the apology, and both parties reconciled, resulting in the withdrawal of the legal request.

  • Asma Abbas reveals painful reaction to facial procedure

    Asma Abbas reveals painful reaction to facial procedure

    Senior actress Asma Abbas has revealed that she developed a severe skin allergy during treatment for dark spots on her face.

    She shared the details in a video posted on her YouTube channel, where she talked about the incident that left her face red and inflamed.

    She said, “I had been dealing with dark spots on my face for a while, and it’s something that runs in my family.”

    Asma explained that although the spots can appear on different parts of the body, in her case, they appeared on her face, prompting her to consult a doctor.

    The doctor suggested a treatment called cauterization, a procedure where “the spots are burned using a special tool so they disappear.”

    However, the night before the treatment, she applied a face mask before going to bed, which she now believes may have triggered a reaction.

    “After applying the mask, I felt a slight burning sensation, but it calmed down after a while,” she shared.

    But the situation worsened the next day.

    “After the treatment, I suddenly developed a severe allergy. A large part of my face turned red,” she said.

    She added that the doctor has prescribed her medicine and a special lotion and assured her that her condition will improve soon.

    At the end, Asma Abbas requested her fans to keep her in their prayers, saying, “InshaAllah, I will recover soon.”

  • Trump to host Field Marshal Asim Munir at lunch today

    Trump to host Field Marshal Asim Munir at lunch today

    United States (US) President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, for lunch at the White House today (Wednesday).

    According to the president’s official schedule, the meeting will be held in the Cabinet Room and will be closed to the press.

    This development marks a notable diplomatic win for Pakistan in the ongoing contest following last month’s aerial clash with India, which nearly pushed South Asia to the brink of nuclear conflict.

    During his five-day official visit to the US, the Field Marshal addressed members of the Pakistani American community on Monday evening in Washington, D.C. The army chief categorically rejected Indian claims that Pakistan was behind the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), calling it a pretext for cross-border aggression.

    He accused New Delhi of seeking to establish a dangerous “new normal” of violating international borders, which Islamabad had forcefully rejected. “We would rather embrace martyrdom than accept this dishonour,” he added.

    Addressing the broader regional landscape, the Field Marshal declared Pakistan’s “clear and strong” support for Iran in its war with Israel. He also backed US efforts to de-escalate the situation, stressing, “We want this war to end immediately.”

    The army chief emphasised Pakistan’s gratitude for the role overseas Pakistanis play in bolstering the national economy. He dismissed concerns over brain drain, describing it instead as a “brain gain.”

    One of the consequential outcomes of Munir’s visit has been the deepening of Pakistan’s counterterrorism cooperation with the US, particularly in efforts against the Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) group.

    Last week, Chief of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) General Michael Kurilla declared Pakistan a “phenomenal partner” in the fight against IS-K, praising Islamabad’s operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

    Gen. Kurilla revealed to the House Armed Services Committee that Pakistani operations, supported by US intelligence, had killed dozens of IS-K militants and captured multiple high-value individuals, including Mohammad Sharifullah, one of the masterminds of the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that claimed the lives of 13 American troops.

    “The first person Munir called was me. He said, ‘I’ve caught him ready to extradite him back to the US. Please tell the Secretary of Defence and the President’”, he added.

  • One Guru to rule them all; Love Guru rakes in huge amount

    One Guru to rule them all; Love Guru rakes in huge amount

    The romantic comedy film Love Guru, released on Eid-ul-Azha, has emerged as a major box office success, earning an impressive Rs 55 crore globally.

    The film is being celebrated by audiences both locally and internationally, quickly becoming one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films of the year. With screenings in more than 60 cinemas across Pakistan, Love Guru continues to draw large crowds and rave reviews.

    Set against the scenic backdrop of London, the film features Mahira Khan as Sofia Khan, a bold, artsy Pashtun architect living in the U.S., while Humayun Saeed plays a charismatic flirt known as the Love Guru, a man notorious for wooing women until his world turns upside down after he meets Sofia.

    Directed by renowned filmmaker Nadeem Baig and written by Wasay Chaudhry who also penned Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 1 & 2 the film is packed with romance, humor, and emotional depth. Along with its strong leads, the film also stars Momina Iqbal, Mira Sethi, Sohai Ali Abro, Amara Malik, Adnan Shah Tipu, Marina Khan, Usman Peerzada, and Javed Sheikh, with reports of a surprise cameo by another major Pakistani actor.

    The film is a joint production under the ARY Films banner, produced by Humayun Saeed, Shehzad Nasib, and Jerjees Seja, with Salman Iqbal as the executive producer. Infused with Punjabi and Pashto humor, Love Guru has struck a chord with diverse audiences.

    According to the film’s producers, Love Guru has done Rs 29 crore business in Pakistan and Rs 26 crore from international markets, bringing the total to Rs 55 crore. This response is being hailed as a positive sign for the revival of Lollywood cinema, which has been struggling in recent years.

    Although the film still lags far behind The Legend of Maula Jatt which holds the record for the highest-grossing Pakistani film with over Rs 4 billion in global earnings Love Guru has proven that star power, solid storytelling, and smart production can still bring audiences back to theaters.

  • ICC plans to introduce four-day Tests in future WTC cycle

    ICC plans to introduce four-day Tests in future WTC cycle

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) is planning to allow four-day Test matches in future editions of the World Test Championship (WTC) to help smaller cricketing nations play more matches and longer series.

    Only traditional five-day Tests are allowed in the current WTC cycle (2025–27), which begins with a two-Test series between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Tuesday. This rule has made it difficult for smaller teams to host or play long series due to cost and time limitations.

    Out of the 27 Test series scheduled in this WTC cycle, 17 will consist of just two matches. Only six will be a three-match series. The longer five-match Test series is reserved for the big teams: England, Australia, and India. These include the Ashes, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and a newly introduced series between England and India named the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, starting this Friday at Headingley.

    At the WTC final held last week at Lord’s, ICC chair Jay Shah reportedly showed support for bringing four-day Tests into the next WTC cycle (2027–2029). The idea is to make Test cricket more practical and appealing for smaller nations who struggle with the financial and time demands of longer matches.

    The ICC has already allowed four-day Tests for regular bilateral series since 2017. England played one against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last month, and had previously played four-day Tests against Ireland in 2019 and 2023. However, introducing them in the WTC would mark a major change.

    In four-day Tests, the daily playtime is slightly longer, with 98 overs per day instead of the usual 90, to help make up for the shorter match length. This format allows a three-match Test series to be completed in less than three weeks.

    South Africa’s limited Test schedule, even after becoming world champions by beating Australia in the WTC final, has raised concerns, pushing the ICC to take more seriously the need to make Test cricket more accessible for all member countries.

  • ‘Deemak is a symbol of revival’; Faysal Quraishi thanks fans as film breaks records

    ‘Deemak is a symbol of revival’; Faysal Quraishi thanks fans as film breaks records

    Renowned actor Faysal Quraishi is very grateful to his fans for the overwhelming success of his latest film, the horror venture Deemak, calling it a “symbol of the revival of Pakistani cinema.”


    Produced by Geo Films, Deemak has struck a powerful chord with audiences across Pakistan. From back-to-back full house shows to massive online support, the film has exceeded expectations and injected fresh hope into the country’s struggling cinema industry.


    In a video message posted on Instagram, Faysal emotionally thanked his fans for embracing the film.  “Thank you everyone. Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. The amount of love, support, and appreciation you all have given us and to Pakistani cinema is beyond words,” the veteran actor said. 


    He praised movie goers for turning up in large numbers and showing support for not just Deemak, but for local cinema overall:

    “We’ve been seeing it throughout, how families are coming to watch, how people are supporting Pakistani cinema. Groups of people are coming together to watch Pakistani films. You all liked Deemak, you liked Love Guru, we are very, very thankful to all of you.”


    Faysal also humbly acknowledged that there may have been some flaws in the film, but was grateful that fans overlooked them:

    “I admit there might have been a few shortcomings… But this was Rafay Rashdi and Murad’s first effort, and I was also returning to films after a long time. If there were any minor flaws on our part, you overlooked them and we’re thankful for that too.”

    He went on to share his amazement at the film’s performance, “Even yesterday, on Sunday, all shows were full across Pakistan. We’re getting so many messages from you all, you’re sharing so much, people are going, watching, supporting. I have no words. I’m seriously so excited and so happy.”


    Faysal admitted that his only hope was for people to simply give the film a chance, but the love it has received far surpassed expectations, “I was just hoping people would at least go and watch the film. But the way you all have supported it throughout thank you, everyone.”

    He concluded by saying, “With the records being broken, I truly don’t know how to express my gratitude. So, on behalf of the entire Deemak team I thank each and every one of you. If we missed replying to anyone’s message, please don’t be upset. We seriously love you all.”