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Author: News Desk

  • Hamza Ali Abbasi breaks silence on performing friend’s nikkah

    Hamza Ali Abbasi breaks silence on performing friend’s nikkah

    Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi has recently responded to the criticism he faced for performing the Nikah at a close friend’s wedding.

    A video that went viral some time ago showed Hamza conducting the Nikah ceremony, during which he also asked the groom to declare the Haq Mehar (dower, or the obligatory financial gift a groom is promised to give his bride at the time of marriage).

    In a recent podcast interview, Hamza explained, “Performing Nikah or Janazah is basic religious knowledge that every Muslim should have. My friend himself requested me [to conduct his Nikah], so I took up the responsibility.” He also clarified that a religious scholar was present at the ceremony to guide him.

    Hamza, who has been engaged in the study of Islam for years now, further discussed his spiritual journey during the interview. “What I say is not my personal opinion, but knowledge gained from the Quran, Hadith, and lectures of scholars,” he emphasised.

    He also revealed that he follows the Ghamdi School of Thought and has made significant moral changes in his life since 2017. He added, “I work within my limits and do not cross any boundaries as per Sharia.”

    Earlier, social media users were divided over the viral video showing Hamza officiating the Nikah.

    The clip featured him reading from a phone and asking the groom if he accepted the bride three times — to which the groom replied, “Qabool hai [I accept]” each time. Hamza responded with, “SubhanAllah [Glory be to Allah].”

    While many praised the video, calling Nikah a legal act that any Muslim can conduct, others felt that the moment lacked a certain religious decorum.

    “Nikah and funeral prayers can be conducted by any Muslim,” wrote one user. Another commented, “It’s a good practice, and not everything needs to be criticised online.”

    “My Nikah was officiated by my uncle — there’s nothing wrong with that,” added another.

    Others even praised Hamza’s appearance in the video, calling him a “handsome Nikah officiator.”

    The video resurfaced just months after Hamza made headlines for publishing his book My Discovery of God: Islam and Judgement Day.

    Before that, he had announced embarking on a journey of self-discovery to study religion.

    “Alhamdulillah. For now, it is available in the USA only, but soon it will be available globally and in Pakistan. Will keep you all posted. Thank you,” he wrote in a social media post announcing the book.

    Many congratulated him on the accomplishment, while others posed tough questions — which Hamza welcomed and answered directly.

  • Here is the latest update on Snapchat outage

    Here is the latest update on Snapchat outage

    Popular multimedia messaging app Snapchat experienced a major global outage on Sunday, May 4. However, the situation had notably improved by Monday morning, with a sharp decline in outage reports.

    According to Downdetector, a platform that monitors online service disruptions, users from several countries, including Pakistan, the UK, and France, reported widespread issues. A majority of affected users (57%) said they were logged out of their accounts, while 24% faced issues sharing content, and 18% had trouble uploading media.

    At the peak of the disruption on Sunday evening, global reports exceeded 900, with significant spikes recorded in Pakistani cities such as Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar. Users from Punjab and Sindh were particularly vocal on social media, expressing frustration over the app’s unavailability.

    By early Monday, Downdetector showed a consistent drop in complaints, suggesting Snapchat had restored services for most users. Outage reports fell significantly after midnight and remained low throughout the morning.

    Despite the widespread nature of the issue, Snapchat has yet to release an official statement explaining the cause of the outage. Tech analysts speculate that the disruption may have stemmed from a server-side error or a glitch related to a recent update.

    Interestingly, some users reported that accessing Snapchat via a Virtual Private Network (VPN) allowed them to use the app normally, prompting questions about whether the issue was region-specific or linked to server access restrictions.

    Previously, Downdetector’s heat map highlighted trouble spots across multiple regions. With the recent decline in reports, the platform now shows service stabilisation in most affected areas.

    In Pakistan, Sunday evening data showed that 53% of users experienced login issues, 28% had problems sharing content, and 19% faced media upload failures. These figures have since dropped, indicating a clear recovery in services.

  • Russia says willing to help resolve Pakistan-India differences over Kashmir

    Russia says willing to help resolve Pakistan-India differences over Kashmir

    Amid the simmering stand-off between nuclear-armed neighbours Pakistan and India in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to his Pakistani counterpart on Sunday and offered Moscow’s help in resolving tensions, the foreign ministry has said.

    “Particular attention was paid to the significant rise in tension between New Delhi and Islamabad,” the foreign ministry said in a statement while referring to Lavrov’s conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

    The Russian foreign minister’s telephonic conversation followed two days of talks with the Indian External Affairs Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He called for a settlement of differences between the two neighbouring countries.

    During the conversation, Dar stressed that Pakistan would safeguard its sovereignty and national interest and conveyed Pakistan’s offer for a transparent and independent probe.

    Emphasising deep concern over the situation, Lavrov also stressed for diplomacy to resolve the issue, adding that both states should exercise restraint and avoid escalation.

    It merits a mention that Russia exports fighter jets, tanks, and nuclear submarines to India, as India is the world’s largest arms importer and New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since Soviet times.

    Pakistan and India have locked horns after last month’s attack when militants opened fire on tourists in IIOJK in Pahalgam, a tourist spot, resulting in the death of 26 individuals, including a Nepalese citizen.

    New Delhi linked Islamabad to the attack without offering any evidence. Pakistan has strongly denied the accusations and offered a transparent and credible investigation into the matter.

    Meanwhile, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry and Information Minister Ataullah Tarar on Sunday briefed senior political leaders from various parties on national security.

    A media outlet quoted sources as claiming that during the in-camera briefing at state TV headquarters in Islamabad, DG ISPR warned, “If aggression is imposed on Pakistan, the armed forces are fully prepared to deliver a befitting response.”

    During the briefing, the media outlet quoted sources as further reporting that the session focused on Pakistan’s security position in light of the evolving situation, particularly following India’s baseless accusations after the Pahalgam incident.

    A large number of political representatives including Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Khurram Dastgir, Abid Sher Ali, Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha, Adviser to PM on Interior Pervez Khattak, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) Noor Alam Khan, Senator Abdul Shakoor, Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) Senator Abdul Qadir, Sindh ministers Nasir Hussain Shah, Sharjeel Memon, and Saeed Ghani attended the crucial security briefing.

  • Trump imposes tariffs on ‘foreign’ films, putting Hollywood into tailspin

    Trump imposes tariffs on ‘foreign’ films, putting Hollywood into tailspin

    US President Donald Trump has opened a new front in his ongoing tariff disputes — this time targeting the film industry. In a passionate statement posted on Truth Social on Sunday, the former president announced a 100 percent tariff on all movies made outside the United States, contending that foreign governments are undermining the American film sector through aggressive incentives and subsidies.

    Describing it as a “National Security threat,” Trump stated that this is “a concerted effort by other Nations” to take over U.S. productions and use storytelling as “messaging and propaganda.” He asserted that he had instructed the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade Representative to start implementing the tariffs right away. “We want movies made in America, again!” he wrote in all caps. 

    Nevertheless, no specific details were given on how or when these tariffs would be put into action. It is also uncertain whether the tax would affect streaming content, theatrical releases, or solely films produced by non-American studios. The Motion Picture Association has not yet responded, while Hollywood executives were reportedly grappling to understand the implications. 

    The announcement arrives at a challenging moment for the U.S. film industry, which has already experienced a 40 percent decline in production in Los Angeles over the last ten years, according to FilmLA. An increasing number of Hollywood studios including Disney, Universal, and Netflix — are now shooting films in countries like Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, attracted by generous tax incentives and production advantages. 

    Research indicates that about half of all U.S. film and TV expenditures on major projects in 2023 were spent overseas. Furthermore, California has slipped to sixth among the most favored global filming locations  trailing Toronto, London, Vancouver, Central Europe, and Australia. 

    Governments in Australia and New Zealand reacted quickly to Trump’s announcement. Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke expressed that his government would support the Australian screen industry “unequivocally.” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon mentioned that his government was awaiting more information but stressed their continued advocacy for their domestic film sector. 

    This is not the first occasion Trump has connected culture with politics. In January, he appointed Jon Voight, Sylvester Stallone, and Mel Gibson as “special envoys” to help rejuvenate Hollywood, which he referred to as “a great but very troubled place.” Their objective? To restore Hollywood “back—bigger, better, and stronger than ever before!” 

    However, the proposed tariffs have drawn caution from trade specialists. William Reinsch, a former senior Commerce Department official, warned that retaliation from other nations could severely damage Hollywood exports. “The retaliation will kill our industry. We have a lot more to lose than to gain,” he remarked, doubting that a national security argument would be sustainable.

    The consequences may already be in motion. In April, China the world’s second-largest film market — reduced its quota for U.S. films, citing American tariff misuse. The China Film Administration cautioned that these actions would tarnish the reputation of American films among local viewers and further diminish their import rates.

    As Trump intensifies his protectionist economic strategy with certain tariffs on Chinese goods reaching as high as 245 percent, the global entertainment sector is being drawn into a tense trade conflict. Whether this policy revitalizes domestic filmmaking or further isolates Hollywood remains to be determined

  • Lahore man kills woman for seeking justice for murdered daughter

    Lahore man kills woman for seeking justice for murdered daughter

    In the outskirts of Lahore, a man allegedly abducted and murdered a young woman he had been involved with in a personal relationship, and later targeted her mother in retaliation for pursuing legal action against him.

    The key suspect, Yousaf, had been in contact with a woman named Naureen, according to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD).

    He allegedly lured her under false pretences and kidnapped her on May 27, 2024, following a disagreement. She was killed by him the same day.

    On October 12, 2024, several months after Naureen’s mother, Iqra Bibi, was named as the complainant in the FIR, she too was abducted.

    Police officials stated that both murders were premeditated, and the victims’ bodies were later desecrated.

    Three suspects, Yousaf, Mansab, and Nasir, have been taken into custody. Weapons used in both crimes were recovered by law enforcement.

    Following interrogation, the suspects confessed to dismembering the victims’ bodies and disposing of the remains in a nearby canal.

  • Skype has officially shut down; here are some alternatives

    Skype has officially shut down; here are some alternatives

    Microsoft has officially shut down Skype on May 5, 2025. The company had announced the plan back in February as part of its effort to simplify and enhance its communication tools. Now, Microsoft will focus on its communications software, Microsoft Teams (free), for messaging, video calls, and collaboration.

    The company stated that retiring Skype would help it better align with how people use communication apps today. Following the announcement, Microsoft also discontinued the sale of Skype Credit and new calling plans for first-time users.

    If you already have a paid plan, you can continue using your remaining credit and features until your current billing cycle ends. Paid users continue to access the Skype Dial Pad via the Skype web portal or within Microsoft Teams after May 5.

    Between February and May, Microsoft provided users time to transition to Teams. Users can sign in to Teams using their existing Skype account, and their chats, contacts, and settings will be transferred automatically. If you choose not to use Teams, you can still download your Skype data before it is permanently removed.

    Teams now includes most of Skype’s features, such as messaging and video calling, along with additional tools like calendar integration and shared group spaces for improved collaboration.

    Looking for alternatives? Here are some reliable options to stay connected:

    WhatsApp


    Widely used app for personal messaging and free voice/video calls worldwide. Works well on smartphones and has a desktop/web version.

    Zoom


    Used for online meetings, webinars, and virtual classrooms. Supports large groups, screen sharing, and breakout rooms.

    Microsoft Teams


    Designed for both professional and personal communication. Offers messaging, file sharing, calendars, and video calling.

    Google Meet


    A simple and secure platform for video meetings. Accessible directly from your browser, no downloads required.

    Viber


    Provides free messaging and voice/video calls globally. Includes features like communities, public chats, and end-to-end encryption.

    Webex


    A professional video conferencing solution used widely by businesses. Offers screen sharing, meeting recordings, and breakout sessions.

    Talky


    A free and easy video chat service, no sign-up required. Just share a link to start a conversation instantly.

    WeChat


    Popular in China, this app offers messaging, voice/video calls, social media functions, and even payments.

  • Dispute with brother-in-law ends in fatal shooting in Lyari

    Dispute with brother-in-law ends in fatal shooting in Lyari

    A man was shot dead and another injured during a confrontation over a domestic dispute in the Bihar Colony area of Lyari, Karachi, police confirmed on Sunday.

    Initial reports stated that the incident took place inside an apartment in the Ali Arcade building. The deceased was identified as Saif-ur-Rehman, and the injured man as Adnan, police said.

    According to the officials, Adnan had arrived at his in-laws’ residence with his friend Saif-ur-Rehman to resolve a dispute with his wife, who had returned to her parents’ home. During the visit, an argument broke out between Adnan and his brother-in-law, Shahid.

    Police claimed Shahid reportedly opened fire during the altercation, resulting in the death of Saif-ur-Rehman and injuries to Adnan. The suspect fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

    Law enforcement shifted the body and the injured to the Civil Hospital for medico-legal procedures and treatment.

    The crime scene unit was called to collect evidence, and a case is being registered.

    Police have launched an investigation and are conducting raids to apprehend the suspect.

    Statements from eyewitnesses and family members are also being recorded to determine the sequence of events.

  • Pakistan’s Aliya Soomro shines with knockout win against Thai opponent

    Pakistan’s Aliya Soomro shines with knockout win against Thai opponent

    Pakistan continues to make its mark on the global boxing scene with female boxer Aliya Soomro now playing her part in bringing pride to the nation.

    Aliya Soomro, a talented boxer from the Lyari area of Karachi, secured a major international victory by defeating her opponent in a professional boxing match held in Bangkok, Thailand. 

    The fight, organized under TL Boxing Promotion, took place at the World Siam Stadium, where Aliya emerged victorious in the fourth round of a scheduled ten-round bout.

    Aliya knocked out Thailand’s Sothida Gunayanuch in a powerful display of skill and determination, further establishing herself as a rising star in the world of boxing.

    Hailing from Kalakot, a neighbourhood in Lyari known for producing sporting talent, Aliya competes in the WBA Asia’s 105-pound category. She has already represented Pakistan in several countries, securing wins that have brought recognition and pride to the nation.

    Looking ahead, Aliya is preparing for a high-stakes challenge fight against an Indian boxer scheduled for August. Speaking after her recent victory, she expressed gratitude for the support of the nation and shared how the win has boosted her confidence. She vowed to defeat her Indian opponent and continue making her country proud.

  • Wanted Pakistani human smuggler potentially still luring hapless people to deadly crossing

    Wanted Pakistani human smuggler potentially still luring hapless people to deadly crossing

    A human trafficker named Khawar Hassan, nearly 30 years of age, is still at large and is potentially still luring hapless people to perilous and deadly crossings with promises of safe routes into Europe, a BBC Verify investigation has found.

    Khawar Hassan aka Fadi Gujjar, is unlike many other Pakistani smugglers. While others tend to boastfully advertise illegal routes to Europe online, he is more careful and is believed to be advertising his services through word of mouth.

    His online presence is limited to highly edited videos of his travels, and almost all clients identified were local to his town of Jaurah, in Gujrat, BBC Verify said. In fact, two people he was close to, cousins Sufian Ali and Atif Shahzad, were among those who were beaten to death on a deadly boat journey he put them on.

    As per BBC, the three men can be seen together in a TikTok video, posted on Fadi’s account, filmed at a beachside restaurant in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott.

    Within a month of the video being posted online, Ali and Shahzad were dead. Fadi, meanwhile, is currently on the run and wanted by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in connection with the Mauritania boat disaster, which resulted in the deaths of at least 43 Pakistanis and others. 

    The survivors claimed that they paid nearly 13,000 dollars to Fadi, BBC Verify reported.

    The BBC further reports that Fadi Gujjar’s Facebook location is currently set to Istanbul.

    Naming Fadi Gujjar as one of ten smugglers involved in the tragedy, Pakistani authorities have arrested some members of his family, including his mother and one of his brothers, on allegations of collecting money on his behalf from people buying routes to Europe.

    After being contacted through WhatsApp via a number shared by survivors, Fadi declined to address the allegations against him, claiming that his name was being misused and that he “left everything up to Allah”.

  • Pakistani boxer crushes unbeaten Indian boxer in Thailand

    Pakistani boxer crushes unbeaten Indian boxer in Thailand

    In a thrilling boxing showdown held in Thailand, Pakistani boxer Shaheer Afridi emerged victorious after defeating Indian fighter Tarjot Singh Bawa. The highly-anticipated match saw Afridi dominate in the middleweight category, ultimately clinching the win via technical knockout in the fourth round.

    The Indian boxer began to falter as early as the third round, showing visible signs of fatigue and imbalance. By the fourth round, the referee stepped in to stop the contest, declaring Shaheer Afridi the winner on the basis of a technical knockout due to Bawa’s deteriorating condition.

    The fight marked Afridi’s 18th professional bout. The victory was particularly significant as Tarjot Singh Bawa had remained unbeaten in his professional career until now. With this win, Afridi has now secured 16 wins, faced only one loss, and has drawn once in his career. His impressiveness has propelled him into the list of the world’s top 50 middleweight boxers.

    Shaheer Afridi, who serves as a commando in the Sindh Police, has become a source of pride not only for the department but for the entire nation. His aggressive strategy and tactical precision throughout the match showcased his skill and determination in the ring.

    Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, congratulated Shaheer Afridi on his remarkable achievement and announced a reward on behalf of the Sindh government. He stated that the entire province is proud of Afridi’s performance and emphasized how the boxer has brought honour to both Sindh and Pakistan by defeating an undefeated Indian opponent.