Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • PSL hits back at Ahmed Shehzad over allegations of ‘using’ his name

    PSL hits back at Ahmed Shehzad over allegations of ‘using’ his name

    The management of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has reacted to Pakistani batter Ahmed Shehzad’s viral video wherein he accused the league of “using his name without consent”.

    Reports quoted PSL officials as saying that any local player who participated in domestic cricket was automatically eligible for the league, and a part of the PSL. Since Shehzad represented WAPDA last year, his name was included in the list of players for PSL 10 this year, they said.

    The officials added that they could not take into account a player’s retirement announced in a social media video unless they were officially informed as well, adding that Shehzad, in this regard, had not notified the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in writing.

    Earlier, PSL had added Shehzad’s name to the list of local players for season 10 of the tournament, prompting him to criticise the PCB and PSL on Samaa Digital’s programme “Zor Ka Jor”.

    Shehzad had accused the league of using his name to promote the PSL despite his retirement announced during the season 9 of the tournament last year.

  • Which Bollywood actor is eating only boiled food to stay fit?

    Which Bollywood actor is eating only boiled food to stay fit?

    Some people binge-watch their favourite shows, while others binge-boil their food—welcome to the world of extreme diets and unexpected flavour discoveries.

    Indian actor Gurmeet Chaudhary has revealed that he has been following a strict diet for over a year and is eating only boiled food that has no taste.

    Speaking on the YouTube channel of laughter queen Bharti Singh and her husband Harsh Limbachiya, Gurmeet shared details about his strict diet plan with his fans.

    “I have given up foods like sugar, roti, rice, and bread,” he said, adding, “As a foodie, it is very difficult, but it is necessary to prepare yourself according to the character.”

    He also claimed to eat only “boiled foods like boiled fish, chicken, and vegetables, which initially seemed tasteless,” but admitted, “ with time, the same foods started to taste good.”

    In this regard, nutritionists state that the continuous consumption of boiled food has both positive and negative effects.

    According to Veena Wei, Chief Clinical Dietitian, this method reduces body fat, improves digestion, and helps with weight loss, but it can deplete water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins B and C.

    It is important to plan your diet and include a variety of cooked foods to avoid nutritional deficiencies.

    On the other hand, raw vegetables, which are not boiled, are more beneficial because they retain all the micronutrients and fibre that are lost during boiling.

  • India creates visa hurdles for Pakistan-origin British pacer

    India creates visa hurdles for Pakistan-origin British pacer

    England’s upcoming white-ball tour of India has hit a snag as a report reveals that pacer Saqib Mahmood, who is a British-Pakistani, has not yet received a visa. 

    According to the Daily Mail, Saqib Mahmood was supposed to leave for a fast-bowling camp in the UAE last Thursday. However, it is still unclear whether he will be able to join the tour, as his passport is still with the Indian embassy.

    Saqib has been waiting for a decision for the past few days. It remains uncertain if he will be allowed to travel with the rest of the England squad this Friday.

    Meanwhile, his teammates Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Mark Wood are currently training in Abu Dhabi with fast-bowling coach James Anderson. Freezing temperatures in the UK have effectively barred Saqib from practicing outdoors.

    During England’s recent white-ball tour of the West Indies in November, Mahmood stood out by taking the most power-play wickets for England in the series, grabbing nine wickets in three matches and earning the Player of the Series award.

    Despite applying well in advance, the ECB faced difficulties in obtaining a visa for Saqib Mahmood due to his Pakistani heritage. In 2019, he was unable to travel to India as part of the England Lions squad for the same reason.

    England is scheduled to play a series of five T20s and three ODIs in India, with the first match set for January 22 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. 

    Last year, Lancashire had to tour India without Saqib due to similar visa issues. 

    Another player, Shoaib Bashir, also faced problems in January 2024 because of his Pakistani background, having to return to London during England’s Test series against India to get his visa.

  • Hina Bayat says her show inspired Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate

    Hina Bayat says her show inspired Aamir Khan’s Satyamev Jayate

    Actress Hina Bayat, recently appearing as a guest on After Hours, shared insights about her talk show Geo Hina Ke Sath and its, what she claims, influence on Aamir Khan’s show Satyamev Jayate.

    “You had a beautiful and strong show, and later, a similar show was made in India, which Aamir Khan also copied a little,” remembered the host, Ushna Shah, who then asked, “Can you tell me more about it? What were the similarities?”

    Hina Bayat recalled that when the show was first aired, “issues like psychological problems were still not discussed openly. There were many topics that were considered taboo.”

    “My goal was always to address these issues—not to expose people, but to help others understand that these are real people with real problems. If one person’s issue is discussed, it might benefit 10 others,” she added.

    The Jannat Say Agay actress explained that the initial concept for her show, Uljhan Suljhan, was focused on specific issues but later evolved into Geo Hina Ke Sath.

    “My tagline was always, ‘In life, we don’t just want to survive; we want to live.’ To live, you have to do many things,” Hina Bayat added.

    Hina Bayat then noticed that Aamir Khan was hosting a similar show.

    “When we saw it, everyone said, ‘This is our set; this is our content.’ At that time, we didn’t watch shows from India, and they didn’t watch ours. I wouldn’t say they copied, but they were definitely inspired by it,” Hina Bayat claims.

  • BCCI bans cricketers’ wives on international tours to end India’s losing streak

    BCCI bans cricketers’ wives on international tours to end India’s losing streak

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has come up with a new plan to help their team avoid continuous losses.

    Indian media has reported that after a surprising whitewash against New Zealand in a home Test series and a 1-3 defeat to Australia, the BCCI has issued new guidelines for the players.

    During a review meeting with BCCI officials, captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, it was decided that players’ wives will not be allowed to stay with them for the entire duration of international tours.

    The BCCI is planning to reintroduce the pre-COVID rule, where players’ wives and families could not accompany them for the full tour. For tournaments or series lasting more than 45 days, wives can stay for only 14 days, and for shorter tours, the stay will be limited to just seven days.

    Players like Virat Kohli and KL Rahul had their families with them during the Australia tour. The Indian Board believes that having family present throughout the tour is affecting the players’ performance.

    The report also mentions that all players will now be required to travel together on the team bus. 

    In recent years, many players preferred to travel alone, but this will no longer be allowed. To ensure team unity, every player, no matter how senior, must travel with the team.

  • ‘I have seen judges shivering, falling sick’: Bushra Bibi’s argument with judge makes headlines

    ‘I have seen judges shivering, falling sick’: Bushra Bibi’s argument with judge makes headlines

    Bushra Bibi, the wife of incarcerated PTI leader Imran Khan, recently appeared in the Anti-Terrorism Court for a hearing, where she had an exchange of arguments with the judge. She claimed, “I have seen judges shivering and falling sick in front of me.”

    Bushra Bibi appeared in court in a case related to the killing of Rangers personnel during PTI’s Islamabad protest.

    Judge Tahir Abbas Supra heard the case in the ATC, and the exchange between him and Bushra Bibi took an interesting turn. The judge commented that the court had taken some time, but the legal procedures had been fulfilled. Bushra Bibi replied, “No, it is not a point of concern now, as our trust in the courts has already been lost.”

    Judge Abbas interjected, “It is not like that; there is no loss of trust anywhere,” while cautioning, “In whatever way the justice system works, if it ends, then society will end.”

    The ATC judge also reminded Bushra Bibi that she had appeared before him in court in the past. In response, Bushra Bibi exclaimed, “I have seen judges falling sick and trembling. One judge’s blood pressure even rose to 200 points, but he had to give a verdict against us.”

    She added, “There is law in the country but no justice.”

    Bushra Bibi asserted, “The founder of PTI is imprisoned in jail for the supremacy of the constitution. After what happened to us, faith in the law has been lost.”

    The court, however, granted interim bail to Bushra Bibi until February 7 in the case registered at the Ramna police station regarding the killing of Rangers personnel in Islamabad.

    CCTV footage had dismissed the claims of four Rangers personnel being crushed by security vehicles amid violent protests by PTI supporters in and around Islamabad.

    Senior journalist Azaz Syed, in his vlog on YouTube, stated that not only did law enforcement agencies apprehend the driver of the car who ran over the Rangers personnel, but they also reached his home, where they discovered that the driver had a history of mental health issues and drug abuse.

    Moreover, the ATC approved Bushra Bibi’s bail in 13 D-Chowk protest cases.

  • Users turn to new app as TikTok ban looms

    Users turn to new app as TikTok ban looms

    With the threat of a TikTok ban in the US looming, many Americans are turning to a new app called RedNote as an alternative. These users, who have been called “TikTok refugees,” have helped the newly discovered platform become the most downloaded app on Apple’s US App Store.

    This Chinese-owned app, known as Xiaohongshu in China, allows users to post short videos and live-stream, similar to how TikTok works. It features content such as product reviews, comedy, and influencer videos and has even been compared to Pinterest for its e-commerce focus.

    Launched in 2013, RedNote has gained massive popularity in China and is now seeing a surge in US users.

    On January 13, 2025, the number of downloads for RedNote peaked on Apple’s App Store in the US, as people flocked to it in case TikTok is banned. Although most of RedNote’s content is in Chinese, the app has been updated to be more user-friendly for English speakers.

    TikTok’s potential ban in the US comes after lawmakers raised national security concerns, believing the Chinese government might use the app to spy on Americans.

    TikTok has denied these claims, but in April 2024, the US government passed a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app by January 19, 2025, or face a ban. The Supreme Court could intervene to stop the law from going into effect.

    If the law stands, app stores could stop allowing new users to download TikTok, and the app may no longer receive updates.

  • Here’s why dozens of actors are scared of working with older actresses

    Here’s why dozens of actors are scared of working with older actresses


     
    Age can be a major obstacle for professionals in the entertainment industry, and actress Faiza Hasan reveals the hidden insecurities of male actors over the age of 50, fearing middle-aged women overshadow them.

    In an interview on Suha Ka Samma with Madeha Naqvi, the Burns Road Ki Neelofar actress shared her thoughts on how some male actors hesitate to work with middle-aged women.

    “Men in the entertainment industry are complex and insecure. Many actors over 50 don’t want to work with us [middle-aged women] because they feel threatened and insecure. They believe that working with younger actresses will make them look younger, and they worry that we will overpower them with our work,” she claimed.

    Faiza Hasan is not the only one shedding light on the insecurities of older actors.

    Actress Javeria Saud, who joined the conversation, revealed a shocking truth, saying, “Wives of middle-aged actors have openly told me that they want to see their husbands with younger women. They don’t want to see their husbands with women of their own age.”

  • PIA looking for new graphic designer after Paris flights memefest?

    PIA looking for new graphic designer after Paris flights memefest?

    Days after Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was trolled by netizens from Pakistan as well as around the globe over its announcement of resumption of flights to the European Union (EU), a social media post has claimed the national carrier is looking for a new graphic designer.

    PIA on January 10 announced the resumption of direct flights to France after four years as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the ban on its flights to the region. The national carrier had been banned by the EU over safety concerns following 2020’s Karachi crash and then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar’s claims that around 40 percent of Pakistani pilots had fake licences. 

    Though last week’s development was positive, the official handle of PIA on X was brutally trolled for uploading a picture that seemed more like a “threat” than an announcement.

    “PIA please change the angle of your plane. It’s looking like 9/11 here,” wrote one user. “I think every Pakistani should clarify that this plane isn’t aiming for the Eiffel Tower. And the designer should be fired ASAP,” wrote another.

    ” ‍♂Who approved this graphic? Delete it!! [sic]” said a social media user while others could not believe it was an actual ad. Some users also uploaded a PIA advertisement in a French newspaper from the 20th century wherein a PIA plane’s shadow could be seen on the Twin Towers in New York.

    “Keep the plane a little to the side. Flights have resumed with great difficulty,” wrote journalist Waseem Abbasi.

    With the post going viral globally and reports by foreign media outlets also taking digs at the national carrier, another post by a LinkedIn user on Tuesday suggested the PIA had let go of its designer and was now looking for someone to fill the vacant position.

    “We’re hiring a graphic designer,” said the post shared by one Jaffar Nisar.

    However, following an investigation into the viral post and speaking to an official concerned, The Current can confirm that the post was actually a meme. The same was also confirmed by Nasir, a graphic designer, who said so in a comment on the post on his LinkedIn profile.

    On Friday, PIA’s flight PK 749 took off to Paris from the Islamabad International Airport, carrying 330 passengers and 14 crew members.

    The inaugural flight ceremony was attended by a multitude of high-profile senior officials such as PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and director generals of both the Civil Aviation Authority as well as the Pakistan Airport Authority.

    Addressing media at the occasion, the minister commended the hard work PIA officials had displayed for Europe to reopen its airports to Pakistan. He also expressed great dissatisfaction with his predecessor, the former aviation minister, whose statements Asif believed negatively impacted the aviation sector.

  • Trump shares video referring to Netanyahu as ‘son of a b**ch’

    Trump shares video referring to Netanyahu as ‘son of a b**ch’

    American President-elect Donald Trump has shared a video on Truth Social in which prominent economist Jeffrey Sachs refers to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “dark son of a b*tch”. 

    Sachs, a known critic of Israel, says that Netanyahu manipulates US foreign policy and pushes the super power into “endless” wars in the Middle East. 

    “[Netanyahu’s] gotten us into endless wars and because of the power of all of this in US politics, he’s gotten his way,” Sachs tells a Cambridge Union event in the video. 

    While Trump did not add any remarks to the video, he has posted it at a time when a ceasefire deal seems within reach. The video has left many analysts scratching their heads as Trump’s nominees for key positions in his future cabinet are known Zionists with documented anti-Palestine sentiment.