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Author: News Desk

  • ICC rankings: Pakistan slips behind Sri Lanka in all formats

    ICC rankings: Pakistan slips behind Sri Lanka in all formats

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its annual team rankings update for 2025, bringing significant changes across all three formats of the game, with Sri Lanka overtaking Pakistan in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.

    According to the latest rankings, Pakistan now sits seventh in Tests, fifth in ODIs, and eighth in T20Is. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has moved ahead of Pakistan in each of these formats, marking a major leap in their cricketing progress.

    In the Test format, Australia has retained its top spot with 126 rating points. However, their lead has been reduced to just 13 points. England has made a strong comeback and now holds the second position with 113 points. South Africa is in third place, followed by India in fourth. New Zealand occupies fifth position, Sri Lanka is sixth, and Pakistan has slipped to seventh.

    In ODIs, India has strengthened its hold on the number one spot with 124 rating points after winning the Champions Trophy. New Zealand, after reaching the final, has moved up to second place, pushing Australia to third. Sri Lanka has climbed to fourth, while Pakistan has fallen to fifth.

    India also leads the T20I rankings, maintaining its number one position. Australia remains second, while Sri Lanka has shown improvement by rising to seventh place.

    Pakistan, however, has dropped one spot and now stands eighth in the T20I rankings.

  • India restricts water flow to Pakistan via Baglihar dam on river Chenab

    India restricts water flow to Pakistan via Baglihar dam on river Chenab

    India has restricted the water flow from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River to Pakistan, as ties between neighbouring India and Pakistan nosedived following a militant attack in Pahalgam, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Indian media reported on Monday.

    According to media reports, India is also considering taking similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River.

    In Pakistan, a severe and sudden drop in the Chenab River’s water flow at Head Marala has been recorded over the past two days, a media outlet reported on Monday, citing officials.

    According to the Executive Engineer (XEN) Irrigation, the current inflow at Head Marala is recorded at 10,889 cusecs, while the outflow stands at 9,020 cusecs. In stark contrast, the inflow just two days ago was 87,282 cusecs, highlighting a dramatic decline of over 85%.

    The hydroelectric dams, Baglihar in Ramban in Jammu, and Kishanganga in north Kashmir, allow India the ability to regulate the timing of water releases, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported, quoting sources familiar with the matter.

    The Baglihar Dam has long been a point of contention between the two neighbours, with Pakistan having sought World Bank arbitration in the past. Similarly, the Kishanganga Dam has come under legal and diplomatic scrutiny, particularly amid concerns about its effects on the Neelum River, a tributary of the Jhelum.

    Following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Ilegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which claimed the lives of 26 people, New Delhi linked Islamabad to the attack without providing any evidence and took a flurry of punitive measures, including suspending the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to downgrade ties.

    In response to India’s water aggression, Pakistan warned that “any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan … will be considered as an act of war.”

    With claims from India’s Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil not to allow “a single drop of water” to the neighbouring country from the Indus rivers, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has warned that Pakistan will not allow even a single drop of its rightful share of water to be compromised.

    “India has no authority to unilaterally suspend or terminate the treaty,” Dar said while speaking at the Regional Dialogue 2025 event, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to safeguard its rights under the agreement.

    While strongly condemning India’s suspension of the IWT, he called it a gross violation of international law.

    Highlighting Islamabad’s preparedness and commitment to regional peace, the Deputy PM also confirmed that Pakistan successfully thwarted an Indian misadventure on the night of April 29–30.

  • ‘Subscribed to VPN just for you’; Indian fans go the extra mile to follow Hania Aamir on Instagram

    ‘Subscribed to VPN just for you’; Indian fans go the extra mile to follow Hania Aamir on Instagram

    After the Indian government blocked Pakistani superstar Hania Aamir’s Instagram account, her Indian fans found a clever way to keep following her by using a VPN.

    The ban was imposed after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) .Several Pakistani celebrities’ social media accounts, including Hania’s, were blocked in India and labeled national security threats.

    But that didn’t stop her admirers.

    Hania recently posted new photos on Instagram with the caption: ““Yaad nai satati”?” Her comment section quickly filled with replies from Indian fans, many of whom revealed they had subscribed to VPN services to access her account.

    Many expressed how much they missed her. Some even shared that they had subscribed to VPN services just to view her posts. “I subscribed to a VPN for you!” one user wrote. Another added, “Don’t worry, Indians will reach your Instagram even from Mars.”

    Hania responded to one of the comments with a playful “Sadqy.”

    Fans from Bangladesh also joined in to show their love and support in the comments.

    One Indian fan wrote that she would pass Hania’s message along to her friends in India — to which the actress responded with a warm thank you.

  • Widow of Indian naval officer killed in Pahalgam attack becomes target of right-wing trolls

    Widow of Indian naval officer killed in Pahalgam attack becomes target of right-wing trolls

    Just days after tying the knot, Indian naval officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and his spouse Himanshi Swami went to Indian occupied Kashmir for their honeymoon. On April 22, Narwal was among 26 individuals killed in an attack in Pahalgam. Reports indicate that he was allegedly questioned about his religion before being fatally shot.

    As the Indian nation grieved the attack, images of Himanshi Narwal sitting next to her husband’s body became a symbol of collective mourning. However, what transpired next triggered a cascade of attacks against the young widow.

    In her first public statement following the attack, Himanshi said: “We do not want to oppose Muslims or Kashmiris. Our only desire is for peace — nothing else.” Her comments, intended to mitigate tensions, emerged during a time when online outrage was escalating. Many had begun equating the attackers with entire communities, particularly Muslims and Kashmiris.

    Rather than receiving support, Himanshi became a target of right-wing Hindutva nationalists. She faced trolling for her remarks, was accused of “virtue signaling,” and labeled a “publicity seeker,” placing her at the heart of harsh social media backlash.

    Some extremist users on X questioned her loyalty to the country and doubted her mourning. A viral post alleged she had connections with “Kashmiri radicals” and ridiculed her for having previously joked about wearing a hijab. Others went further, with one calling her a “JNU liberal, tukde tukde gang,” and declaring she shouldn’t receive “a single penny from the government.” Another claimed her secular views were due to “an affair with a Kashmiri Muslim,” and speculated that she would soon file false legal cases against her in-laws and resume dating her ex.

    One particularly vicious post read: “She saw Vinay’s death as an opportunity to climb the social and political ladder. She will become the face of Wire, Scroll, Washington Post & used by anti-India elements.” Another said, “You think she is innocent? She is not even sad. She started virtue signalling even before Lieutenant Vinay’s funeral pyre got settled.”

    The attacks turned deeply personal — with one post even suggesting that she should forfeit her late husband’s pension. In response, the National Commission for Women (NCW) released a statement denouncing the trolling. “Targeting a woman for her opinions or her personal life is unacceptable,” the Commission stated, emphasizing that disagreements should remain within “constitutional boundaries.”

    NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also commented on the matter, affirming that while individuals may disagree with Himanshi’s perspective, resorting to personal abuse to silence her is intolerable.

    Some users pointed out that the trolling is indicative of a far bigger rot in the Indian society.

    At the same time, others on X have spoken up in her defense. One user wrote:

    “Dear Himanshi,
    Stay strong. You’ve lost your husband — you know the pain of deep, irreparable loss. And yet, in the midst of your grief, you still speak of peace and calm. Your appeal is thoughtful and courageous, a reflection of true humanity. Many need to learn from your strength.”

  • Dananeer Mobeen’s film debut lands in trouble over her portrayal of Lyari athletes

    Dananeer Mobeen’s film debut lands in trouble over her portrayal of Lyari athletes

    Young drama star Dananeer Mobeen is now all set to make her big-screen debut with the upcoming film Behnaz, following her recent television success, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

    Dananeer is reportedly currently working on a sports-based film set in Lyari, a Karachi neighbourhood known for its football talent and rich culture. The film is being directed by Abu Aleeha, who is known for projects like Kukri, Super Punjabi, and Taxali Gate.

    Renowned actress Ayesha Omar will also feature in the film, playing the role of a football coach.

    While the announcement has excited many of Dananeer’s fans, who are thrilled to see her take this next step in her career, the casting choice has triggered online backlash, especially around issues of representation and colourism.

    On X (formerly Twitter), user Maryam J (@maryammjamali) voiced strong concerns: “Log isse hot take samjhein ge, but casting Dananeer in a film on football in Lyari probably based on or inspired by stories of Baloch footballers, especially Afro-Baloch communities is not it. She’s the big new star but this also reeks of colorism and co-opting stories.”

    Maryam added: “Lyari has such a huge arts community specifically into filmmaking and music that they can easily cast local people in their own stories. This interest in the arts was driven by young people coping with the amount of violence that took place there.”

    She also pointed out: “People in Lyari don’t look like her. Their identity as ‘Little Brazil’ historically comes from people watching Brazilian players like Pelé and relating to them, joking that they look the same.”

    Another user responded in agreement: “Hot take nahi hai you’re absolutely right & it’s extremely weird that they didn’t cast a local.”

    In addition to criticism over representation, others also raised concerns about the repetitive casting of popular TV stars in Pakistani films, saying it limits space for new talent.

    “It’s getting boring to see the same actors again and again something new should happen,” commented another user.

  • Mohafiz Force officers loot Sindhi businessman in Lahore

    Mohafiz Force officers loot Sindhi businessman in Lahore

    Five uniformed personnel from the Muhafiz Force of the Qila Gujjar Singh Police in Lahore have been accused of stopping a Sukkur trader on Abbott Road at gunpoint on the evening of April 29.

    Mushtaq Ahmed, the trader, was stopped at a regular police checkpoint while he was in Lahore for business-related work.

    According to the complaint, the police officers allegedly kidnapped the trader and took him to a remote area. There, in a fake police encounter, they reportedly threatened to kill him and physically assaulted him.

    Surveillance footage from local CCTV cameras shows Mushtaq Ahmed seated between two uniformed individuals on a motorcycle.

    Later in the video, the officers can be seen travelling to Neela Gumbadd in the Anarkali neighbourhood, where they stopped outside a bank.

    The trader was then taken to an ATM and instructed to withdraw cash. He complied and handed over Rs. 100,000 to the officers.

    After taking the money, the officers reportedly left him on the roadside and fled the scene.

    Mushtaq Ahmed filed a formal complaint at the Old Anarkali Police Station after the incident.

    An FIR was lodged against five members of the Muhafiz Force.

    The names of the accused officers have been verified, according to police officials. Raids are being carried out at several locations in an effort to apprehend the culprits.

    No arrests had been confirmed at the time of reporting.

  • Pope Francis leaves one final gift for the children of Gaza

    Pope Francis leaves one final gift for the children of Gaza

    The late Pope Francis Jorge Mario Bergoglio (late), one of the most staunch supporters of ending Israel’s genocide in Gaza, has left one last gift for the children of the besieged strip.

    One of the late Pontiff’s popemobiles, open roof vehicles used by the head of the Church to mingle with followers, is being transformed into a mobile health unit for the children of Gaza, Vatican News reported on Sunday.

    The repurposed popemobile is being outfitted with equipment for diagnosis, examination, and treatment, including rapid tests for infections, diagnostic instruments, vaccines, suture kits, and other life-saving supplies, Vatican News reported while citing Caritas, a Catholic aid network in Jerusalem.

    In one of his final wishes before his passing, Francis entrusted the popemobile used during his 2014 pilgrimage to the Holy Lands to Caritas, Vatican News said, to help respond to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    Francis asked that the vehicle be used to help injured and malnourished children in the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

    “Children are not numbers. They are faces. Names. Stories. And each one is sacred,” Vatican News quoted Pope Francis as often claiming.

    The mobile health unit will be staffed by doctors, medics and will reach children in the most isolated corners of Gaza once humanitarian access to the strip is restored.

    “With the vehicle, we will be able to reach children who today have no access to health care—children who are injured and malnourished,” Secretary General of Caritas Sweden, Peter Brune, said in a press release.

    “This is a concrete, life-saving intervention at a time when the health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed,” he further said.

    “It’s not just a vehicle…It’s a message that the world has not forgotten about the children in Gaza,” Brune added.

    Secretary General of Caritas Jerusalem, Anton Asfar, stated, “This vehicle represents the love, care and closeness shown by His Holiness for the most vulnerable, which he expressed throughout the crisis.”

    Meanwhile, welcoming the final gift of Pope Francis, the State of Palestine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, said, “Palestine has lost a loyal friend and a steadfast supporter of our people’s rights and a true messenger of peace and justice.”

    “He departed this world while calling for an end to the crimes of genocide, displacement, and annexation committed against our people at a time when the world failed to protect the children of Gaza,” the ministry added.

    As of May 3, 2025, the Genocide in Gaza has claimed the lives of 52,495 Palestinians, while 1163 Israelis have been killed.

    Read More: Hospitalised Pope Francis still makes nightly call to Gaza

    In February 2024, despite being admitted at hospital and quite unwell, Pope Francis was still making his nightly call to Gaza from his hospital bed. 

    Sometimes the Pope uses a video call and sometimes a text message to stay in touch with a small Catholic parish in the Gaza strip. Reverend Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the church in Gaza, confirmed to Vatican News that the Pope calls every night at 8 pm Palestine time, maintaining the almost daily contact he begun when Israel started its onslaught on the Gaza strip. 

    “Although we had a blackout in the whole area of Gaza City, he insisted and managed to contact us with a video call,” the Reverend told the Vatican media outlet, adding that the Pope inquires about the parishioners and gives blessings. 

    A video of the Pope saying “Asalam o Alaikum” to Muslims present at the church went viral a few weeks ago. Francis, the first Jesuit head of the Roman Catholic Church, has been a vocal opponent of Israel’s war on Gaza, going so far as to suggest that the occupying country must be investigated for war crimes. 

    He has also called Israel’s actions in the besieged strip “terrorism”, pleading for an end to the genocide multiple times. 

    The vocal opposition warned him the wrath of powerful Zionists, including the entire Israeli government, however, the Pope has not budged from his point of view. 

    In April 2025, Pope Francis delivered his last speech on Easter Sunday at the Vatican’s St Peter’s Square.

    Here is some text of his final public address, as released by the Vatican

    “From the empty tomb in Jerusalem, we hear unexpected good news: Jesus, who was crucified, ‘is not here, he has risen’ (Lk 24:5). Jesus is not in the tomb, he is alive!

    Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood. Forgiveness has triumphed over revenge. Evil has not disappeared from history; it will remain until the end, but it no longer has the upper hand; it no longer has power over those who accept the grace of this day.

    I express my closeness to the sufferings of Christians in Palestine and Israel, and to all the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. The growing climate of anti-Semitism throughout the world is worrisome. Yet at the same time, I think of the people of Gaza, and its Christian community in particular, where the terrible conflict continues to cause death and destruction and to create a dramatic and deplorable humanitarian situation.

    I appeal to the warring parties: call a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people that aspires to a future of peace!

    In the passion and death of Jesus, God has taken upon himself all the evil in this world and in his infinite mercy has defeated it. He has uprooted the diabolical pride that poisons the human heart and wreaks violence and corruption on every side. The Lamb of God is victorious! That is why, today, we can joyfully cry out: ‘Christ, my hope, has risen!’ (Easter Sequence).

    The resurrection of Jesus is indeed the basis of our hope. For in the light of this event, hope is no longer an illusion. Thanks to Christ — crucified and risen from the dead — hope does not disappoint! Spes non confundit! (cf. Rom 5:5). That hope is not an evasion, but a challenge; it does not delude, but empowers us.

    Let us pray for the Christian communities in Lebanon and in Syria, presently experiencing a delicate transition in its history. They aspire to stability and to participation in the life of their respective nations. I urge the whole Church to keep the Christians of the beloved Middle East in its thoughts and prayers.

    I also think in particular of the people of Yemen, who are experiencing one of the world’s most serious and prolonged humanitarian crises because of war, and I invite all to find solutions through a constructive dialogue.”

  • Harry Kane finally wins his first major trophy

    Harry Kane finally wins his first major trophy

    After many years of coming close but falling short, English footballer Harry Kane has finally won a major trophy. This victory puts an end to the so-called “Tottenham curse” that many believed had followed him throughout his career.

    Kane joined Bayern Munich last summer after spending many years at Tottenham Hotspur, where he became a top goal scorer but never won a title. On the day Bayern were confirmed as Bundesliga champions, Kane was suspended due to yellow card accumulation and couldn’t play.

    However, he celebrated the win with his teammates after Bayer Leverkusen’s draw with Freiburg secured the title for Bayern. A video showed Kane happily singing “We are the champions” as he celebrated.

    For Kane, this trophy is a major feat. Even though he is England’s all-time leading goal scorer and has won many Golden Boots, he has lost six major finals, including the Champions League, League Cup, and Euro 2020 with England. His move to Bayern was seen as a chance to finally win something, but after early exits from other tournaments and a challenging league season, some critics still talked about the “curse.”

    Despite those challenges, Kane played a key role for Bayern this season. He scored 36 goals in all competitions and provided 15 assists. He also broke several records, became a leader in the team, and adapted well to life in Germany. Many of his teammates and Bayern legends praised his performances and attitude.

    Some fans joked that the Bundesliga trophy is more like a plate than a real cup. But for Kane and his supporters, this doesn’t matter. This title is an important and emotional moment. Now that he has his first trophy, Kane will be hoping to win more, including at the upcoming Club World Cup.

  • Bilal Maqsood recalls Tokyo encounter that became ‘kindest moment’ of his life

    Bilal Maqsood recalls Tokyo encounter that became ‘kindest moment’ of his life

    Bilal Maqsood recently shared a heartwarming story from his recent trip to Japan that restored his faith in humanity.

    The singer and his wife were at Tokyo’s metro station on their first day in the city. They accidentally took the wrong exit and quickly realised they couldn’t re-enter through the electronic gate.

    Maqsood recounted the experience in an Instagram post, saying, “We quickly realised we’d turned the wrong way and tried to re-enter through the electronic gate, but it wouldn’t let us. After all the research and YouTube videos about Japan’s metro system, I never thought we’d get stuck, but it happened.”

    Stranded in a quiet hallway, Maqsood approached an elderly Japanese man who could not speak English, but he understood their situation. “I hurried over, apologetically, convinced he wouldn’t speak English. And yes, he didn’t. But he understood we were stranded. With a warm smile and a hand gesture, he asked us to wait, repeating the gesture two or three times, then powered off and disappeared.”

    Just moments later, the man returned with a station officer who spoke fluent English. The officer explained what they needed to do, while the kind man stood by, smiling. “When everything was sorted, we bowed and thanked him two or three times (Japanese style). But he waved that off, ‘come, come, come,’ still smiling and personally guided us to our platform.”

    As the couple boarded the train, the kind stranger pointed out the train and made sure they got on. “We bowed again, jumped in, and when we turned back he was still standing there, smiling and waving. We waved; he waved back. We waved again; he waved again. Doors closed. He was still there, waving and smiling and kept waving till the train started moving.”

    Maqsood described the experience as “one of the kindest human moments” of his life.

  • ‘Self-respect’; Urwa Hussain slams celebs who put fans above country

    ‘Self-respect’; Urwa Hussain slams celebs who put fans above country

    Actress Urwa Hussain shared an Instagram story in which she spoke about self-respect and national dignity, in the context of ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India following the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

    Although Urwa did not name anyone specifically in her post, many social media users speculated that her message was indirectly aimed at fellow actress Hania Aamir, whose Instagram account was recently blocked in India. Hania had, nonetheless, publicly thanked her Indian fans for their continued support.

    Urwa’s post read: “Reclaim your self-respect! Propaganda is also one of the methods used in psychological warfare, and when there’s war, you don’t try to save your fans on the other side. 

    Have faith they’ll still be there even when you stand tall with your own people and the land that cultivated you in the first place. You show ‘SELF-RESPECT’ and ‘BOUNDARIES,’ and you protect your ‘HOME’ first! Someone please add these basic subjects in our school curriculums, I guess!”

    The post quickly went viral, with many linking it to Hania Aamir’s recent interactions with Indian fans, although Urwa did not directly reference anyone.

    Earlier, Hania had responded warmly to Indian fans accessing her content via VPN. One fan wrote, “Hello Hania, I just got a VPN subscription, love from India,” to which Hania replied, “Love you.” Another fan commented, “We will see your posts from Mars too,” to which Hania responded, “Sadke.”

    Since the Pahalgam attack on April 22 in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir, India has been blocking the social media accounts of several Pakistani figures, including Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, DG ISPR, and Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack but has yet to provide any solid proof. In addition, India has banned Pakistani YouTubers, dramas, and celebrities, sparking strong reactions from both the Pakistani government and the public.