Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Key South African player ruled out of Champions Trophy

    Key South African player ruled out of Champions Trophy

    South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy after suffering a back injury. 

    According to Cricket South Africa, Nortje’s injury was confirmed after a scan on Monday. He was part of South Africa’s 15-member squad for the tournament but is now expected to miss the event as he won’t recover in time.

    Cricket South Africa will announce the replacement later.

    The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to start on February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo to earn £300 per minute under new Saudi deal

    Cristiano Ronaldo to earn £300 per minute under new Saudi deal

    Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is set to earn £300 (over 86,000 Pakistani rupees) per minute under a new deal, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world.

    Reports suggest Ronaldo is likely to sign a contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr worth £167.9 million (over 57 billion Pakistani rupees).

    The 39-year-old Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in January 2023, earning £164 million per season for matches and an additional £49 million for off-field activities. With this new deal, he will become the highest-earning player globally.

    Cristiano Ronaldo shares his retirement plans

    On November 18 2024, Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement plans.

    Portugal booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League with a 5-1 win over Poland on Friday. Ronaldo secured his 132nd international win by surpassing former Real Madrid teammate Sergio Ramos, who had 131 wins for Spain.

    The 39-year-old spoke about his retirement plans while addressing the media after the match.

    “I just want to enjoy,” he said, adding that his retirement could be in “a year or two.” He continued, “I don’t know; I’m going to be 40 soon.”

    “As long as I enjoy it with passion, I will continue playing. The day I realise that I no longer had the passion, I would retire,” he said.

    Ronaldo also revealed that he has “no plans to go into the coaching field” and that he may consider other matters after retirement.

    “I do not see myself becoming a manager of any team, it is not in my plans; my future is in other fields outside of football. Time will tell what happens.”

    Earlier, in an interview in August, Ronaldo indicated that he was considering retiring early despite his contract with the Saudi club Al-Nasr expiring after this season.

    He recently also became the first man to score 900 goals in official matches and is also a five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

  • Saif Ali Khan hospitalised after getting stabbed at home by intruder

    Saif Ali Khan hospitalised after getting stabbed at home by intruder

    Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan has been hospitalised early on Thursday morning after getting stabbed six times by an intruder in his Mumbai home. 

    The actor, husband to Indian A-lister Kareena Kapoor, is going through surgery at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital to treat the six stab wounds he received during what Indian media has described as a robbery attempt. 

    Mumbai police have confirmed to the media that the intruder entered Saif’s residence around 2:30 am where he got into a confrontation with the actor. Saif was taken to hospital around 3:30 am. 

    Doctors have assessed that two of the stab wounds are deep, with one near the spine. A neurosurgeon and a cosmetic surgeon are among the team of doctors operating on the Bollywood star.

  • Bangladesh bans Kangana’s upcoming film amid India tensions

    Bangladesh bans Kangana’s upcoming film amid India tensions

    Looks like politics isn’t just a theme in Kangana Ranaut’s new film; it’s also why it won’t make it to Bangladeshi cinemas.

    Renowned Indian actress and right-wing politician Kangana Ranaut’s film Emergency, set to release on January 17, has been banned in Bangladesh.

    According to Indian media, the reason for the ban is the ongoing political tension between the two countries and not the content of the film.

    The film revolves around the political situation of 1975 and the Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a role played by Kangana Ranaut.

    It highlights the involvement of the Indian Army, Indira Gandhi, and the founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

    According to Indian media, Pushpa 2 and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 were also banned in Bangladesh previously, and now Kangana’s film has become one of the subjects of the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

  • Family secrets, memory loss and mystery: This drama keeps you guessing

    Family secrets, memory loss and mystery: This drama keeps you guessing

    In a world of revenge-fueled heroes and over-the-top villains, Rahim proves that nice guys don’t always finish last—at least not yet.

    One special thing about Aye Ishq e Junoon is that Rahim did not marry Aimen for revenge and that he is still a good person inside. Unlike many other heroes who become toxic, he remains kind to her.

    Aimen loses consciousness time and again, after which we hoped Rahim would take her to the doctor, who would assure him that she has undergone a memory loss.

    But the drama seems to be building towards that.

    Now that Afia has started giving Aimen medicines again, it makes you worry because what if she forgets Shehroze completely? How will she find out the truth?

    Farooq is important in keeping peace in the Nawaz family. Because of him, Rahim’s father accepted Aimen and the wedding. Farooq cares about Rahim’s safety. But we wonder if Farooq has other motives. He might not be as simple as he seems.

    With Aimen in the house, the truth can come out anytime. So, why is Farooq making sure she stays with Rahim?

    Rahim is a kind character with silent strength. He still wants his father’s respect and is trying to uncover the truth about Shehroze.

    He is gentle with Aimen. Even though he thinks she married for money, he is not harsh with her. He makes sure she is safe and well. This makes him more likable and progressive.

    Sheheryar Munawar is doing a great job with his performance.

    It is sad to see Maheen’s reaction. We wish the drama did not show a woman becoming so desperate and almost losing her mind just for a man.

  • Rajab Butt becomes first to get newly-launched car; here’s how much he paid for it

    Rajab Butt becomes first to get newly-launched car; here’s how much he paid for it

    Famous YouTuber Rajab Butt has once again captured the spotlight, but this time it’s all about his exclusive new car.

    The social media star has revealed the price of his brand-new Hyundai Sonata N Line, and the details are nothing short of extraordinary.

    “The car costs a total of 1 crore 70 lacs, but they launched it at 1 crore 58 lacs. After adding taxes and charges, it costs 1 crore 72 lacs… including registration,” he said in his new vlog, adding how he was the first person to get Hyundai’s new Sonata N Line.

    Hyundai Pakistan’s officials also confirmed that they had promised to deliver the first unit of the car in the country to Rajab.

    Earlier, netizens speculated as to how much Rajab overpaid to become the first person to receive the newly-launched car. However, his revelation has put all rumours to rest.

     

     

     It may be  noted  that making famous Pakistani vloggers Rajab Butt, Ducky Bhai (Saad ur Rehman), and Nadeem Naniwala  has making headline due to a new learning platform called ‘Join Elite Group’. This platform offers paid courses on TikTok live streams, business startups, cryptocurrency investments, YouTube vlogging, and online store management.

    Join Elite Group is an online platform designed to offer a variety of paid courses aimed at professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and enthusiasts. The courses cover a range of topics, including:

    TikTok Live Streaming: Strategies and best practices for monetizing live streams.

    Business Startups: Guidance on launching and managing businesses effectively.

    Cryptocurrency Investments: Insights into trading and navigating the crypto market.

    YouTube Growth: Techniques to start, grow, and sustain YouTube channels while boosting engagement.

    E-commerce Expertise: Methods to establish and optimize online stores for increased sales.

    Despite these ambitious offerings, the platform’s credibility has been called into question by a growing number of critics.

    Since its launch, the Join Elite Group website has struggled with technical problems. Users have reported high traffic issues, frequent “too many requests” errors, and difficulties signing up, which has fueled skepticism about the platform’s reliability and transparency.

    Journalist Sheraz Butt, who has 496K followers on Instagram, recently criticized the project in a viral video. He questioned the integrity of the creators, saying:

    “These are the same creators who sold their private lives like a reality show. Now they claim that they will teach the youth how to earn money?” YouTuber Sheraz also mocked their courses, adding:

    “YouTube is a trend that may end in a year. Are they trying to make money now by selling courses on how to earn from YouTube? It’s laughable.”

    He argued that these creators gained fame by showcasing their families and private lives, and now they are monetizing their audience by selling knowledge that is freely available online.

    Adding fuel to the fire, Ducky Bhai’s past remarks have resurfaced. In a podcast, he admitted, “I am not a teacher to provide knowledge.”

    However, while promoting the project, he stated, “You have supported us for years; now it’s our turn to give back and help you stand on your feet.”

    The criticism doesn’t stop there. Talha Reviews, another YouTuber, labeled the project a “scam.”

    Similarly, popular YouTubers Maaz Safdar and Ali Butt advised fans to avoid the initiative, pointing out that free resources for learning about YouTube and online earning are readily available.

    Many fans and critics alike have questioned the credibility of these courses, calling them a “fraud business.”

    Hundreds of YouTubers with global followings offer free seminars, courses and tips on how to grow online audiences. TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and nearly all social media platforms carry such content, easily searchable and in easy to understand terms. Many Pakistanis too have posted such videos, offering breakdowns of algorithms and financial benefits, completely free of charge.Just a day after his lavish wedding, YouTuber Rajab Butt was arrested for receiving a lion’s cub as a gift and possessing an unlicensed gun.

     

    The saga took a turn when Malik Zaman Naseeb, a politician and close friend of Rajab Butt, revealed that someone “very close” to him betrayed him, leading to the arrest.

    Appearing as a guest on Rehman Tariq’s show, Malik Zaman shared surprising details of the incident.

    “It was someone inside the house who knew about it, it was someone close, and we caught him. Everything happened so quickly. He was very close, but that didn’t matter.”

    Earlier, just a day after his lavish wedding, YouTuber Rajab Butt was arrested for receiving a lion’s cub as a gift and possessing an unlicensed gun.

    The saga took a turn when Malik Zaman Naseeb, a politician and close friend of Rajab Butt, revealed that someone “very close” to him betrayed him, leading to the arrest.

    Appearing as a guest on Rehman Tariq’s show, Malik Zaman shared surprising details of the incident.

    “It was someone inside the house who knew about it, it was someone close, and we caught him. Everything happened so quickly. He was very close, but that didn’t matter.”

  • ‘Why were APS attackers not tried in military court?’ questions SC

    ‘Why were APS attackers not tried in military court?’ questions SC

    The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench on Wednesday inquired the government why the trial of the Army Public School (APS) attack was not conducted in military court despite having the Army Act and the crimes linked to it.

    During the intra-court appeals hearing against civilian trials in military courts, the bench headed by Justice Amin-Ud-Din Khan also questioned why an amendment to the Constitution was required to conduct terrorism trials in military courts.

    Ministry of Defence lawyer Khawaja Haris stated that while the APS attack concerned the military, it was not directly tried under military courts. He noted that the constitutional amendment extended to additional crimes beyond those related to military duties.

    On December 16, 2014, the militants attacked the Army Public School in Peshawar, killing 147 people, mostly school children.

    The Defense Ministry’s counsel added that the nature of the crime determines where the trial will take place. If a civilian’s crime is related to the armed forces, the trial will proceed in a military court.

    Justice Jamal Mandokhail also questioned why the cases related to the General Headquarters (GHQ) attacks and Karachi airbase did not proceed in military courts, adding that the answer to this question was provided in the 21st Amendment case.

    The 21st Constitutional Amendment allowed military trials for terrorism cases after the APS attack.

    In response, Haris explained that the 21st Amendment case mentioned attacks on the GHQ, airbases, military, and places of worship, stating that if a crime is related to the military, the trial will be held in a military court.

    When the judge sought clarification on what “related to the military” meant, Haris stated that it referred to crimes directly tied to the Army Act.

    The judge further inquired where trials for terrorist acts committed in the name of a terrorist group or religion would be held.

    Haris responded that such cases would be tried in military courts under the Army Act and could proceed in these courts without requiring constitutional amendments.

    After hearing the Defence Ministry counsel’s arguments, the constitutional bench adjourned the hearing until Thursday (tomorrow).

  • When Atif helped Hamza Ali Abbasi talk to Naimal Khawar during Hajj

    When Atif helped Hamza Ali Abbasi talk to Naimal Khawar during Hajj

    Who would have thought legendary singer Atif Aslam would be the glue that helped keep actor Hamza Ali Abbasi and Naimal Khawar in touch?

    But that is exactly what happened during the star singer and actor’s unforgettable Hajj trip together before Abbasi got married.

    In a recent video as part of his digital project ‘Borderless World’, Atif recalled how he became Abbasi’s go-to person during the pilgrimage in 2019.

    He said he remembered when Naimal messaged him because Abbasi didn’t have his phone with him.

    “He took my phone and went to the side. I remember the conversations… ‘When is the wedding? Don’t cut your hair… don’t cut your hair’,” Atif said in the video alongside Abbasi and his now-wife Naimal.

    Confirming Atif’s side of the story, Abbasi said he remembered it all. “I remember that entire phase… he [Atif] was [the] means of communication between me and Naimal.”

    He went on to recall how he wasn’t even prepared for the trip.

    “I didn’t even have a soap, and he gave it to me. I didn’t have a brush either… he gave me that too. I didn’t even have slippers and he gave me those as well,” Abbasi said while pointing at Atif.

    He went on to say that the star singer was his wingman on Hajj and they now had a “bond for life”.

    Earlier, in an interview with Amna Haider Isani’s Haute Talk, Abbasi talked about the challenges he faced in love and relationships before meeting his wife Naimal Khawar.

     
    The Legends of Maula Jatt actor revealed that he had never truly experienced love “in the right way” before finding his soulmate.

     
    “In life, I had never experienced love in the right way and I was never able to truly love [someone]. I had many bad experiences and I believe the fault was mostly mine. I wasn’t mature enough. I still don’t think I’m mature enough to say I’ve grown up,” he said.

     
    “I’ve broken hearts and my own heart was broken too. I feel ashamed for hurting people,” the actor said while reflecting on his past.

     After going through so many hardships Abbasi said, he turned to faith and made a sincere prayer.


    “I prayed, ‘Oh Allah, I’ve never experienced true love, and I never thought of marriage.’ Then I chose a path and prayed for love or marriage. I didn’t know how to go about it but I trusted Allah, and I think my prayer was accepted. Allah took my hand and led me to love a person in a way that I had no control over. I couldn’t control myself and it was happening on autopilot.”

  • Punjab gears up for crackdown on wildlife abuse, illegal pets

    Punjab gears up for crackdown on wildlife abuse, illegal pets

    The Punjab government is planning to establish special courts to tackle wildlife violations, it emerged Wednesday.

    As per the details, the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Wildlife has announced the setting up of special courts to take severe action against those committing violence against wildlife.

    The move has come after amendments were made to the Wildlife Act of 1974, keeping in view the reports of brutal killings of endangered species such as striped hyenas, grey wolves and leopards in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

    Earlier, the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department had also proposed changes to wildlife law to regulate the rising trend of keeping large cats, including lions, tigers and cheetahs, as pets.

    “The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee approved amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act,” Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a post on X. She added that the government had decided to establish special courts to address crimes against wildlife, which includes both abuse and illegal possession.

    “Violators of wildlife protection laws will face fines of up to Rs 500,000,” the post said.

    In the same post, the minister said that a complaint line, 1107, had also been established to report problems pertaining to wildlife. 

    Additionally, in the meeting of the Punjab Assembly’s standing committee, a new board called “Protected Areas and Wildlife Management” was approved to oversee these efforts. Meanwhile, special centres will also be set up for the breeding, treatment and protection of wildlife.

    “A hospital costing Rs1.47 billion will also be built for the treatment of wild animals,” reports quoted the minister as telling the committee earlier.

    “A comprehensive project has been launched in Punjab at Rs 1.73 billion for the protection of wildlife and the promotion of global tourism,” she said, adding that Achhali, Bansara Gali and Changa Manga forests will be used to promote tourism.

    It merits a mention that the amendments to the act have been approved after 14 years. Last changes to the act were made in 2007. The Punjab government has also announced the Chief Minister Wildlife Rescue Force for protecting wildlife.

    With this force, the government is aiming to address a longstanding gap in wildlife conservation in the province.

  • Top English all-rounder skips first-class cricket for PSL

    Top English all-rounder skips first-class cricket for PSL

    English cricketer James Vince has decided to skip first-class cricket for the 2025 season to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He made this decision despite the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new rules regarding No-Objection Certificates (NOCs).

    Vince will continue to lead Hampshire’s T20 team but has stepped down as club captain after nine years and will not participate in the County Championship this summer.

    The 33-year-old has been retained by Karachi Kings ahead of the PSL draft. In November, the ECB announced that it would issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs)—required for players to join overseas leagues—only to white-ball players for tournaments held during the English cricket season.

    With the PCB moving the PSL to April-May, Vince had the choice to either miss the PSL and lose out on the financial opportunity or change his Hampshire contract to focus solely on white-ball cricket. He opted for the latter, a decision the club confirmed on Wednesday.

    Vince is the first major player to make a big career decision in response to the ECB’s new policy. While unlikely to add to his 13 Test caps at age 33, his decision is significant. He has been a key player for Hampshire since 2015, scoring 29 centuries and averaging 41.22 in his 197 first-class games.

    Meanwhile, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, signed by Peshawar Zalmi, may follow Vince’s lead by switching to a white-ball contract to participate in the PSL. He is currently in talks with Somerset and the ECB for clarification.

    A number of players have been upset since the ECB announced its new policy in November, with some even threatening to take legal action. 

    The ECB, however, has remained firm in its decision. Chief Executive Richard Gould stated that the policy is supposed to protect English cricket and prioritise the sport’s overall interests over individual players’ preferences.