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Author: News Desk

  • US Attorney General refuses to apologise to Epstein victims

    US Attorney General refuses to apologise to Epstein victims

     US Attorney General Pam Bondi declined to directly apologise to victims of Jeffrey Epstein during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Wednesday, as Democratic lawmakers questioned the Justice Department’s handling of the case.

    During the hearing, Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal asked victims of Epstein who were present in the room to indicate whether they had been able to meet with the Department of Justice.

    “Please raise your hand if you have still not been able to meet with this Department of Justice,” Jayapal said. She then stated for the record that “every single survivor has raised their hand.”

    Jayapal then asked Bondi: “Will you turn to them now and apologize for what your Department of Justice has put them through with the absolutely unacceptable release of the Epstein files and their information?”

    Bondi did not turn toward the victims and instead began referring to her predecessor, Merrick Garland. When Jayapal repeated the request, Bondi responded, “I’m not going to get in the gutter for her theatrics.”

    In her opening remarks earlier in the session, Bondi addressed the victims while defending her record. “I’m a career prosecutor and despite what the ranking member said, I have spent my entire career fighting for victims, and I will continue to do so,” she said. “I am deeply sorry for what any victim, any victim, has been through, especially as a result of that monster.”

    Representative Jamie Raskin, the ranking member on the committee, also questioned Bondi over the department’s approach. In his opening statement, he accused the Attorney General of “siding with the perpetrators” and “ignoring the victims.”

    “That will be your legacy, unless you act quickly to change course,” Raskin said. “You’re running a massive Epstein cover-up right out of the Department of Justice.”

    Raskin introduced Bondi to victims and relatives of deceased victims who were present at the hearing and told her, “You’re not showing a lot of interest in the victims, Mrs. Attorney General.”

    Raskin attempted to prevent the attorney general from giving extended answers that reduced the time available for questioning. When Raskin said he had warned Bondi at the outset of the hearing about consuming members’ time, Bondi replied by raising her voice: “You don’t tell me anything.

    “You’re a washed-up loser lawyer. You’re not even a lawyer,” she said to Raskin.

    Later in the hearing, Representative Jared Moskowitz asked the victims in the room to stand and respond to questions. He asked whether any of them had met with the Justice Department and provided testimony or evidence. No hands were raised. He then asked whether they had reached out, individually or through legal representatives, to offer testimony and evidence. All of the victims raised their hands. They also raised their hands when asked whether they had been “denied or ignored” by the department and whether they remained willing to speak with officials.

  • ‘Loyalty doesn’t even come close to Quetta Gladiators’: Ahmed Shehzad, Amir upset over team’s behaviour

    ‘Loyalty doesn’t even come close to Quetta Gladiators’: Ahmed Shehzad, Amir upset over team’s behaviour

    Ahmed Shehzad has criticised Quetta Gladiators for their treatment of senior players following the Pakistan Super League (PSL) auction, contrasting their approach with teams like Lahore Qalandars who showed greater loyalty to their core group.

    Speaking on a television show with host Tabish Hashmi and fellow cricketer Mohammad Amir, Shehzad expressed disappointment over how Quetta handled their relationship with established performers.

    “In Quetta, loyalty is something else. If we talk about loyalty, it doesn’t even come close. I have performed for three or four seasons straight, but no phone call, nothing,” Shehzad said. “On the other hand, Aamir performed well in the last two years. In fact, some big things happened with Aamir. No, he wasn’t really a performer? One person could have at least called in the loyalty thing, like, ‘Hey, you haven’t been with us for two years.’ But no.”

    Shehzad also pointed to the franchise’s treatment of Saud Shakeel, who captained the team last season. “They didn’t even want to pay him 50 lac. So when it comes to loyalty, it doesn’t even come close to the Quetta Gladiators,” he added.

    Amir, who Rawalpindi picked for 5.7 crore after Quetta released him, took a lighter approach to the situation. When asked if he would miss his former team, he laughed and said, “Why would I miss Quetta? Life’s all about moving forward.”

    The left-arm pacer welcomed the move to Rawalpindi, noting his connection to the city. “I’m happy playing for Pindi because my cricket started from the cricket club there,” he said.

    However, both players praised Lahore Qalandars for their approach during the auction. Despite new rules requiring teams to select one player from each category, Lahore retained Shaheen Afridi while releasing Fakhar Zaman and Haris Rauf. They then bought both players back in the auction, nearly exhausting their 45 crore purse in the process.

    “Lahore Qalandars were packed with loyalty. They are number one [in loyalty],” Amir said.

    Shehzad also acknowledged Karachi Kings, noting that team owner Salman Iqbal bid for Amir during the auction despite their previous association having ended. 

    “Even if you look at Karachi Kings, no matter the terms they finished on, today Salman Bhai was bidding [for Mohammad Amir]. Lahore Qalandars said, ‘who cares if the team sinks?’ But they picked their players,” he said.

    The conversation also touched on the importance of senior players in team dynamics. When discussing whether captains should seek advice from experienced cricketers, Shehzad was emphatic. 

    “Any captain who doesn’t take advice from this must be crazy. Senior players aren’t just sidelined. They’re really important for the team, and that goes for the captain too. You need help sometimes. So when there are senior players, you ask them for help on the ground,” he said.

    The auction, held on Wednesday in Lahore, marked a significant moment for the league. PSL 11 will feature eight teams for the first time, with new franchises Hyderabad Houston Kingsman and Sialkot Stallionz joining the competition. Multan Sultans, sold for Rs 2.45 billion after previous owner Ali Tareen left the team, have been renamed Rawalpindi.

    The tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

  • Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek passes away at 48

    Dawson’s Creek star James Van Der Beek passes away at 48

    Actor James Van Der Beek, widely recognised for his lead role in the American teen drama Dawson’s Creek, has died at the age of 48 following a battle with bowel cancer.


    “Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” his family said in a statement shared on his social media accounts. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace.”


    The actor had been diagnosed in the latter half of 2023, though he chose to make the news public in November 2024. He was a father of six and a familiar face on television and film during the late 1990s and early 2000s, earning widespread fame for his portrayal of Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003. He also starred in the 1999 coming-of-age film Varsity Blues.

    Speaking to Business Insider in August 2025, Van Der Beek said he initially noticed changes in his bowel movements — a common warning sign of colorectal cancer. At first, he stopped drinking coffee to see if his symptoms would improve, before eventually undergoing a screening test.

    The test revealed stage three cancer, meaning the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes.

    Medical experts note that colorectal cancer affects more men than women. However, improved screening practices have contributed to earlier detection and a decline in mortality rates.

    Van Der Beek previously described the emotional toll of his treatment, calling his “lowest point” the sense that he was losing the parts of himself he most identified with.

    “All these beautiful things that I love, and I used to define myself as – a father, a provider, a husband – all that got taken away, or at least paused,” he said. “I had to sit there and say, ‘Well, what am I?’ And it was, ‘I’m still worthy of love.’”

    After going public with his diagnosis, he became an advocate for cancer screening and awareness.

    “I’ve learned a lot,” he told Business Insider. “If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that’s magic.”

    Beyond Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues, Van Der Beek appeared in several other projects over the years. He played a fictionalised version of himself in the cult comedy series Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 and competed on the 28th season of Dancing with the Stars.

    Despite his diagnosis, he continued to work. Earlier this year, he made a guest appearance in the Prime Video college comedy Overcompensating, remaining active in the industry while undergoing treatment.

  • US trade office pulls controversial India map after Pakistan’s protest

    US trade office pulls controversial India map after Pakistan’s protest

    The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has removed a map of India from its official X account following a strong diplomatic protest from Pakistan over its depiction of disputed territories, diplomatic sources told a private media outlet on Wednesday. 


    The map, posted alongside a USTR press release outlining a framework for an interim US-India trade agreement, showed the entire Jammu and Kashmir region — including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as part of India. It also depicted China’s Aksai Chin region within Indian boundaries, despite its disputed status between China and India.


    The map went live on Friday evening and was taken down by Monday evening, the first working day after the weekend. Pakistani officials said they lodged protests both through the US Embassy in Islamabad and with the State Department in Washington, emphasizing that the map contradicted the longstanding US position that Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory whose final status should be determined according to United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

    Diplomatic sources familiar with the matter suggest that the map may have been sourced from Google Maps, similar to a previous instance where the USTR used a map in a trade press release on Bangladesh.
     


    While the map only showed territorial outlines and no labels, Pakistani diplomats stressed that even an outline carries significant political and diplomatic weight, especially on the sensitive Kashmir issue.

    Concerns escalated after Indian media highlighted the map, portraying it as a possible shift in US policy and an implicit endorsement of India’s territorial claims. Pakistani officials said this made it critical for Islamabad to immediately reaffirm Washington’s traditional position on Kashmir and prevent any misinterpretation.

    The USTR press release itself remains online, but the India map has been withdrawn. The map used for the Bangladesh trade release remains available, reinforcing the view that the India map was posted inadvertently.


    The controversy comes as Washington and New Delhi unveiled a framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement, designed to boost two-way commerce. Under the agreement, the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent, having already removed an additional 25 percent punitive duty, with reciprocal cuts expected for US exports to India.

  • ‘Winner but still a loser’: Internet slams Sturla Laegreid for admitting to cheating on girlfriend

    ‘Winner but still a loser’: Internet slams Sturla Laegreid for admitting to cheating on girlfriend

    Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid turned a routine post-race interview into a deeply personal moment after winning bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

    Laegreid finished third in the 20-kilometre individual event, but the result quickly took a back seat when he spoke to media and admitted he had been unfaithful to his girlfriend.

    “Six months ago I met the love of my life. The world’s most beautiful, sweetest person. And three months ago I made the biggest mistake of my life and cheated on her,” Laegreid said, struggling to hold back tears.

    He said that he had informed his partner about the incident a week earlier adding that his personal life had overshadowed sport in recent days.

    “I’m sure many people now see me in a different light, but I only have eyes for her,” he said. “I’m not quite sure what I’m trying to say by saying this now, but sport has taken a back seat in recent days. I wish I could share this with her.”

    Despite the achievement, Laegreid appeared distraught after the race, crying and embracing teammates instead of celebrating. At a later news conference, he explained why he chose to make his confession on live television.

    “It was the choice I made. We make different choices during our life and that’s how we make life,” he told reporters. “So today I made a choice to tell the world what I did, so maybe, maybe there is a chance she will see what she really means to me. Maybe not.”

    He also expressed concern that his remarks may have shifted attention away from Botn’s Olympic triumph.

    “Now I hope I didn’t ruin Johan’s [His teammate who won gold] day,” Laegreid said. “Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I’m not really here, mentally.”

    The interview quickly went viral, sparking a wave of reactions on social media. 

    Many users criticised Laegreid’s actions, questioning his judgment and timing. One user wrote, “So he cheated on his girlfriend moments after winning his medal…you’d have thought he’d be knackered after skiing all that way… the lads got some stamina.” 

    Others commented, “Girl, run.” “I hope she runs far, far away from you,” one wrote. Some pointed towards the pattern, writing, “He cheated three months into a relationship. Mate, stay out of her life you’re only going to do this again if you get back with her,”  while a user wrote, “How are you an Olympic medalist and still a loser .”

    The race itself belonged to Laegreid’s teammate Johan-Olav Botn, who shot clean in his Olympic debut to claim gold. France’s Eric Perrot, the overall World Cup leader, took silver after missing one target. Laegreid also missed once and finished 48.3 seconds behind Botn to secure bronze.

    The medal marked Laegreid’s first individual Olympic podium finish. He previously won gold as part of Norway’s relay team at the Beijing Olympics.

  • Sindh University’s Dadu campus pro VC suspended for ‘coming in drunk’

    Sindh University’s Dadu campus pro VC suspended for ‘coming in drunk’

    The Sindh government has suspended Professor Azhar Shah, the pro vice chancellor of Sindh University’s Dadu campus, after viral videos on social media sparked allegations of intoxication, use of inappropriate language and disruption of academic activities.

    According to reports, Sindh Minister for Universities and Boards Muhammad Ismail Rahoo confirmed the suspension and said the government acted immediately to safeguard the dignity and reputation of the institute.

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    An official notification issued by the Universities and Boards Department on February 10 said the minister took notice of the matter after the videos surfaced online and raised concerns about damage to the varsity’s image.

    The notification instructed the vice chancellor to suspend Professor Shah with immediate effect and launch a formal inquiry to establish the facts of the case.

    It directed the university to conduct the inquiry under the Sindh University Act and other relevant rules, give the officer a fair opportunity to present his position, and complete the process within 15 days.

    The varsity has been told to submit a detailed report, along with findings and recommendations, to the minister.

    The notification also said the university will place the matter before its syndicate for further action under the law.

  • PM directs urgent review of NEPRA’s new solar policy to safeguard existing contracts

    PM directs urgent review of NEPRA’s new solar policy to safeguard existing contracts

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken immediate notice of the new solar regulations issued by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and directed the Power Division to promptly seek a review to safeguard existing net metering agreements and shield grid consumers from any added financial strain.

    According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the prime minister instructed the Power Division to file an appeal before NEPRA without delay. The move is aimed at protecting the rights of current solar consumers and ensuring that all previously signed agreements remain fully intact.

    During the meeting, the prime minister stressed that fairness within the power system must be upheld. He stated that the financial implications associated with solar net metering should not be transferred to the majority of electricity users who rely exclusively on the national grid. 


    Highlighting the scale of the issue, he noted that around 466,000 solar consumers are currently benefiting from net metering, and any policy revision must not unfairly impact more than 37.6 million consumers who depend entirely on grid electricity.

    He further directed the Power Division to develop a comprehensive strategy to ensure the national electricity system remains balanced, sustainable, and equitable for all consumers. 

    The directives were issued during a special high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister in Islamabad to assess NEPRA’s latest solar-related framework and its potential consequences for consumers and the broader power sector.

    The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Ahsan Iqbal Chatha, Attaullah Tarar, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, Adviser on Privatization Muhammad Ali, along with senior officials from relevant departments.

    Officials briefed the prime minister on the anticipated impact of the revised regulatory structure on power sector operations and financial sustainability. The prime minister reiterated that while the government remains committed to promoting renewable energy, policy reforms must maintain system stability, protect investor confidence, and ensure that the costs and benefits of the transition are fairly distributed across the consumer base.

  • Protests erupt in New Delhi over alleged Modi link to Epstein files

    Protests erupt in New Delhi over alleged Modi link to Epstein files

    Hundreds of protesters gathered in India’s capital on Tuesday after media reports and a fresh release of United States (US) court documents allegedly linked Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s name to communications connected with the Jeffrey Epstein case, triggering political backlash and demands for clarification from the government.

    Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) assembled at Jantar Mantar, a key protest venue in central New Delhi, calling on the PM to publicly address the controversy. 

    Demonstrators held placards, chanted slogans and accused the government of maintaining silence over an issue they said could damage India’s global standing.

    “We want answers. The silence from the Prime Minister’s Office is unacceptable,” a Youth Congress organiser said at the rally, videos circulating on social media showed.

    The protests followed the publication of a large tranche of documents related to the late US financier Epstein, who was convicted of soliciting prostitution and died in a New York jail in 2019.

    The newly released files reportedly contain names and communications involving prominent political and business figures from multiple countries. However, individuals named in the documents have not been charged with crimes linked to Epstein’s activities.

    In India, the development quickly took on a political dimension. Youth Congress leaders accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to downplay the matter and demanded an independent inquiry. 

    Mumbai Youth Congress President Zeenat Shabrin said the allegations were harming the country’s international image and argued that Modi should step down if he fails to provide a satisfactory explanation.

    The Prime Minister’s Office has not issued a direct response to the claims. Government representatives, however, have dismissed the controversy as politically motivated and based on what they describe as misinterpretations of publicly released documents.

  • Pakistan records slight improvement in 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index

    Pakistan records slight improvement in 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index

    Pakistan has improved its standing in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2025, moving up one spot – from 135 out of 180 countries in 2024 to 136 out of 182 countries this year.

    According to a report by Berlin-based Transparency International, the country’s CPI score also inched upward, rising from 27 to 28.

    In its report, Transparency International noted that corruption is a growing global concern, affecting even well-established democracies as leadership accountability declines. The 2025 index reveals a shrinking number of countries performing exceptionally well, with only five nations scoring above 80.

    Since 2012, global trends in CPI scores show 31 countries improved, 50 declined and 100 remained unchanged, highlighting the uneven progress in tackling corruption worldwide.

    This year, 182 countries and territories were ranked based on perceptions of public-sector corruption among experts and business leaders.

    Per the rankings, Denmark led for the eighth consecutive year with a score of 89 while only a handful of countries, mainly in Western Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, scored above 75, and just five surpassed 80.

    Meanwhile, over two-thirds of countries (68%) scored below 50, indicating widespread corruption challenges. The lowest-ranked countries, such as Somalia and South Sudan, scored just nine, reflecting the link between conflict, repression and corruption.

    Even long-standing democracies experienced troubling declines, the report said.

    Countries like the United States (64), Canada (75), New Zealand (81), the United Kingdom (70), France (66) and Sweden (80) showed a downward trend in anti-corruption performance.

    Transparency International highlighted that restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association are closely tied to declining CPI scores, with 36 of the 50 countries showing significant drops also experiencing reduced civic space since 2012.

    “Corruption is not inevitable. Our global research shows that strong democratic processes, independent oversight, and active civil societies create a clear blueprint to hold power accountable,” Transparency International Chair Francois Velerian said in a statement.

    He also urged leaders to uphold integrity and international norms to secure a better future for citizens globally, as the global corruption watchdog urged governments worldwide to strengthen justice systems, ensure independent oversight of public spending, increase transparency in political funding and protect civic freedoms and media independence.

    These measures are vital to curb corruption and reinforce accountability, it said.

  • ‘He was pushing girls and children’: Asim Azhar clarifies viral concert video slamming bouncer

    ‘He was pushing girls and children’: Asim Azhar clarifies viral concert video slamming bouncer

    Singer Asim Azhar has addressed a video from one of his recent concerts that went viral on social media, showing him appearing visibly upset on stage.

    Taking to Instagram, the singer said he does not usually post justifications but felt compelled to clarify the situation before “misinformation spreads further.”

    The singer explained that the individual he confronted, widely assumed to be a fan, was actually part of the security team. “In the video where I am apparently addressing a ‘fan,’ it is not a fan. The person was a bouncer, part of the security team,” Asim said.

    He added that during the show, the security staffer was pushing members of the crowd, including girls and children. 

    “Throughout the show, he was only showing off to the crowd, to girls and kids, and behaving weirdly. Before I could say anything, he jumped onto the stage. When I addressed him, he started yelling, ‘I am a bouncer.’ I got really triggered. If you are a bouncer, do your job. You were pushing kids and then came on stage trying to show you are superior to everyone else.”

    Asim admitted he reacted in the moment but stressed that he will always call out behaviour he sees as inappropriate. “I’m sorry, but I will always call out behaviour like this in my shows. Maybe next time I will be calmer, but I still will,” he said.

    He also apologised if anyone felt offended but clarified that the confrontation was not directed at a fan. 

    “If anyone got upset, I apologise. But no, it was not a fan, and this was the reason. With that being said, I just want all my fans to feel safe, heard, and seen by me and my team when they attend a show. Sorry if I got carried away with my emotions, but it was necessary,” he added.

    The viral clip sparked mixed reactions online. Some social media users criticised Asim’s tone, while others defended him, noting that artists have a responsibility to ensure crowd safety.

    Asim Azhar has been in the limelight for other reasons. His song Meri Zindagi Hai Tu has been gaining immense popularity and is the official soundtrack of Hania Aamir’s hit drama, which has also found a following in India.

    The singer has been in the news due to rumours surrounding an alleged relationship with actress Hania Aamir, keeping fans and the media intrigued.