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  • Rashid Latif gives a bold recommendation for dispute over Champions Trophy

    Rashid Latif gives a bold recommendation for dispute over Champions Trophy

    Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has given a bold recommendation amid the escalating dispute between Pakistan and India over hosting the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

    Rashid Latif has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to strip both countries of their hosting rights for all global events in the upcoming cycle if they fail to resolve their long-standing differences.

    Rashid Latif expressed his disappointment over the current impasse while speaking to a private news channel and said, “My suggestion is that the ICC should strip India and Pakistan of all global event hosting rights for the 2024-2025 cycle. The ICC should ask these boards first to resolve all the issues and then give them hosting rights.”

    Stressing the need for a strong approach, Rashid Latif further explained, “Pakistan is going to host two ICC events, and India will have four or five events in this period. If these two teams do not want to play in each other’s countries, then take away the hosting rights until they sort out their differences.”

    The standoff is centred on India’s refusal to play in Pakistan, citing security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected a proposed hybrid model under which India would play its matches at a neutral venue and has insisted on hosting the tournament entirely in Pakistan.

    The PCB has formally sought clarification from the ICC, challenging the BCCI’s stand and demanding that the pre-agreed hosting conditions be adhered to.

    Rashid Latif dismissed the hybrid model as unworkable, saying, “PCB is only hosting the event as per the ICC agreement. There is nothing concrete about the hybrid model. Everything has to be as per ICC rules. It is not about bilateral series or ACC tournaments.”

    The cricket rivalry between Pakistan and India has been limited to ICC events and the Asia Cup since the bilateral series between the two countries ended in 2012-13. Despite strained relations, Pakistan has honoured ICC commitments by touring India for the 2016 T20 World Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup.

    The situation has put the ICC in an uncertain position, with broadcasters pressing for clarity due to the financial implications of the tournament not happening. The absence of a clash between Pakistan and India could have commercial repercussions.

    With less than three months left until the Champions Trophy begins, the cricketing world is watching closely as the fate of the tournament and cricket diplomacy hang in the balance.

  • AR Rahman’s son reacts to rumours about his father

    AR Rahman’s son reacts to rumours about his father

    India’s music star AR Rahman’s son, Amin, has expressed disappointment over the circulating rumours regarding his father.

    Following the announcement of his divorce, AR Rahman, his former wife Saira Banu, and their children requested privacy, but the appeal fell on deaf ears.

    After 29 years of marriage, A.R. Rahman and Saira Banu announced their separation on Tuesday evening, asking the public to respect their private lives. Despite this, rumours have been circulating, with some linking Rahman’s divorce to Mohini Dey’s recent split. Rahman’s son has dismissed these speculations as baseless and disheartening.

    On social media, Amin shared a picture of a child and his father, captioning it, “What’s the difference between these two? Just their age.”

    In his post, Amin further wrote, “My father is a legend, not just because of his work but because of the values, respect, and love he has earned over the years.”

    Amin expressed frustration over the spread of false and unfounded rumours, urging people not to circulate incorrect information regarding his parents’ marriage.

    He clarified in an Instagram post that there is no connection between A.R. Rahman’s divorce and Mohini Dey’s separation.

    Earlier, Rahman’s daughter Raheema also took to social media, writing, “Always remember, rumors are spread by haters and fools, and only fools believe them. Live life honestly.”

  • ‘Sitaare Zameen Par will make you cry,’ says Aamir Khan on upcoming film

    ‘Sitaare Zameen Par will make you cry,’ says Aamir Khan on upcoming film

    If Taare Zameen Par touched your heart, Sitaare Zameen Par will leave you both laughing and crying, Bollywood actor Aaamir Khan has said.

    In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Aaamir discussed his upcoming film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ and its emotional depth. “It’s a beautiful story, actually, the easiest way I can describe it is that Sitaare Zameen Par is a very emotional film. It makes you cry… it makes you laugh. It’s a humorous film.”

    He said that the theme of the upcoming film is similar to Taare Zameen Par — of people with different abilities, intelligence, all with different challenges. “So the theme is similar, but the feel of the film, the emotional feel of the film, is humor as opposed to emotions.”

    The 3 Idiots actor also revealed what sets Sitaare Zameen Par apart from Taare Zameen Par.

    “In many ways, I feel its way ahead of Taare Zameen Par… because in Taare Zameen Par, the person who was challenged, was Ishaan. He was helped by a character, which was my character. In Sitaare Zameen Par, it is 10 people with challenges who help me… the supposedly normal person. So, it’s a real flip. It goes much further, I feel, than Taare Zameen Par,” he added.

    The film Sitaare Zameen Par is an official Hindi remake of the Spanish movie Campeones (Champions). Other than Aaamir, the film also features Genelia D’Souza and Darsheel Safary.

    Aamir directed Taare Zameen Par in 2007, which starred Darsheel Safary as Ishaan, a young boy struggling with dyslexia.  

    According to Indian media reports, Sitaare Zameen Par is expected to release on Christmas 2024.

    Earlier, Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan had discussed the emotional journey that led him to change his mind over leaving the industry, explaining how his family convinced him through this interview with The Hollywood Reporter India.

    “I was going through a personal journey of my own, and towards the end of COVID, I found myself sitting alone and reflecting. The time alone made me realize that I’d spent the bulk of my adult life, from the age of 18 when I first became an assistant, entirely focused on cinema and films. This made me think that maybe I hadn’t been there enough for my relationships, my kids, my siblings, my family, whether it was with Kiran when I was married to her or Reena when I was married to her. I felt I hadn’t been present enough for these people.”

     Aamir shared that the realization dawned on him during the shooting of Laal Singh Chaddha, when the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic halted production.

    “I felt a lot of guilt and didn’t feel good about what I had done. So, in an emotional reaction, I thought I’d done enough films in my 35 years in the industry and could now focus on my family and personal relationships,” Khan admitted.  

  • ‘She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all’: Imran Khan defends Bushra Bibi’s controversial claims

    ‘She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all’: Imran Khan defends Bushra Bibi’s controversial claims

    With former first lady Bushra Bibi landing in hot water over allegations that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) was involved in her husband Imran Khan’s ouster from power, the incarcerated former premier’s official X (formerly Twitter) account has rushed to her defence.


    In a rare on-screen appearance, Bushra had on November 21 released a video message to urge people to take to streets for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) “decisive” Nov 24 protest. She had gone on to talk about her husband’s ouster as the prime minister.


    “The reason behind all powers standing against Khan hasn’t been told before. When Khan went to Madinah barefoot, Bajwa immediately started receiving calls about what kind of person he had brought [with him],” she said.


    According to Bushra’s allegations, Saudi leadership told Gen Bajwa that he had brought with him the “custodian of Shariah” at a time they were trying to “distance themselves from the Shariah system”.
    “After this, a smear campaign was launched against us, and [they] started calling Khan a Jewish agent,” the former first lady claimed.


    As the claims drew strong reactions from members of the government, PTI leaders and supporters alike – with only a few defending or clarifying Bushra’s remarks – her husband and party founder Imran Khan’s official account on X has posted an apparent clarification.


    “Bushra Bibi’s statement was deliberately taken out of context to draw our brotherly country KSA into a needless controversy. She didn’t mention Saudi Arabia at all. My government was toppled through conspiracies, all orchestrated by General Bajwa. I tried to have these investigated through the Chief Justice and General Tariq Khan, but General Bajwa did not allow that to happen. Bushra Bibi has no connection with politics; she only conveyed my message to the nation, as my wife, regarding the November 24 protest,” read the statement on X.


    Khan’s account also claimed that bilateral relations between Pakistan and KSA were at their best during his tenure and he personally shared “excellent” relations with the Kingdom. “I have excellent relations with Saudi Arabia. When I was attacked in Wazirabad, one of the first calls I received was through the embassy from HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.”


    “Saudi Arabia has always stood by us in difficult times. Only two weeks prior to our government being toppled, we held a very successful OIC foreign minister’s conference in Islamabad, which would have been impossible to do had Saudi Arabia not supported and stood with us,” the statement added.


    It merits a mention that former prime minister (PM) Khan has been in jail since August last year without any access to the internet or his social media accounts. Posts on his official handles have time and again made headlines over confusion surrounding actual handlers of said accounts.


    PTI maintains that all statements on Khan’s social media are conveyed via his legal team after seeing him at Adiala Jail.

  • ‘Fame makes me afraid of how I’ll answer to Allah,’ says Hania Aamir

    ‘Fame makes me afraid of how I’ll answer to Allah,’ says Hania Aamir

    Pakistani renowned actress Hania Aamir has expressed that her fame makes her fearful of how she will answer to Allah Almighty.

    In response to a question, she discussed her social media posts, saying, “I want everyone to be happy. If someone is facing mental health issues, they should know what the solution is and who they can talk to. Because talking about mental health is no longer considered taboo.”

    She added, “I do not want anyone else to go through the difficulties I have faced regarding mental health. For a long time, talking about mental health was considered taboo, but thankfully, that is no longer the case. I always say that I am afraid of my [public] image; how will I face Allah Almighty?”

    “What will I say? That I made some films and earned a lot of money?”

    Hania Aamir also remarked, “It doesn’t suit me; I am not like that. I try to make people laugh, and my social media posts bring joy to people. I’m happy to know this, and I hope they realise that mental health is a common issue that they can talk about.”

    She had given an interview to BBC Asia earlier this year, a video clip of which has surfaced in which she spoke openly about mental health.

  • ‘Shrek’ director tackles taboo in Netflix fairy tale ‘Spellbound’

    ‘Shrek’ director tackles taboo in Netflix fairy tale ‘Spellbound’

    Animated films tackling parent separation and divorce are few and far between.

    While live-action kids’ classics like “The Parent Trap” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” have used the concept as a launchpad for humorous antics, animation has tended to steer entirely clear of the issue.

    “Isn’t that funny… you can kill off a parent in a movie like ‘Lion King,’ or ‘Bambi,’” said Vicky Jenson, best known for co-directing “Shrek.”

    “Disney moms are often dead — the only time anyone remarries is because the other spouse is dead. This topic of separation, of parents not being able to live together… it’s taboo.”

    But in Jenson’s new film, “Spellbound,” a princess’s parents have been transformed by a dastardly spell into literal monsters.

    It is an allegorical device that forces young Ellian to try to “fix” her mother and father, and their broken family.

    “We encountered some resistance when we were looking for someone to help bring the movie to the world, a partner to distribute the movie,” Jenson told AFP.

    “They all reacted the same way, like: ‘What a beautiful movie, what a great message.’ And then they ghosted us!”

    The movie went through a number of different studios, including Paramount and Apple TV+, before ultimately landing at Netflix, which will release the film Friday.

    “I credit Netflix for stepping up bravely and partnering with us on this,” said Jenson.

    “In this environment, it does feel like stories that push the boundaries are more accessible on streaming.

    “Theaters are kind of filled with superheroes right now… the big safe bets.”

    – ‘Monsters’ –

    As the film starts, tenacious teen princess Ellian (voiced by Rachel Zegler) is desperately seeking a cure for the mysterious spell that has transformed her parents, Queen Ellsmere (Nicole Kidman) and King Solon (Javier Bardem).

    To make matters worse, she must hide the whole mess from the oblivious citizens of Lumbria.

    When the secret gets out, and panic spreads throughout the kingdom, Ellian is forced on a dangerous quest to undo the curse.

    But even if she succeeds, she soon learns that her family may never go back to the way it once was.

    To make Ellian’s reaction to her — literally — monstrous parents believable and accurate, filmmakers employed the consulting services of a family psychologist and therapist who specialized in divorce.

    “Kids feel like it’s their responsibility to fix this. They don’t understand that something happened to their parents — they’re acting like monsters,” explained Jenson.

    The director, and cast and crew, also drew on their own experiences, “because we all know our parents are monsters at one point — and as parents, we’re all monsters at one point,” she joked.

    – An inverse ‘Shrek’? –

    The end result is a thoroughly contemporary parable, set in a magical fairytale kingdom.

    That has clear echoes of Jenson’s smash-hit directing debut “Shrek,” but with cause and effect reversed.

    “‘Shrek’ was the modern take on fairy tales. This was a fairy tale take on a modern story,” she said.

    For Jenson and the filmmakers — including legendary composer Alan Menken, of “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and countless more — it was important to bring this “truth about family life” to the screen.

    It “is there for so many of us, but hadn’t been approached as a myth or as a new fairy tale before,” said Jenson.

    “Now, a new fairy tale is out there for that experience that so many kids, so many parents, so many families need help through.”

  • Punjab govt bans gatherings; motorway closure announced

    Punjab govt bans gatherings; motorway closure announced

    As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gears up for its nationwide November 24 protest and march on Islamabad, the Punjab government has imposed Section 144 across the province for three days.

    Motorway Police, on the other hand, has announced closure of the road network for ‘maintenance’.

    In a notification issued Friday, the provincial government said that Section 144 will continue to remain in effect from Nov 23 till Nov 25, leading to restrictions on public gatherings, protests, rallies and processions.

    Earlier, a notification pertaining to imposition of Section 144 in Islamabad was also issued. Rangers and Frontier Constabulary (FC) troops were deployed in Rawalpindi, Attock and Jhelum as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that no sit-in will be permitted in the federal capital.

    “I want no shop, business, or road to be closed,” Naqvi said on the potential closure of businesses during PTI’s protest.

    Motorways Closure

    Meanwhile, Motorway Police announced the closure of all motorways on Friday (today) at 8 pm, citing maintenance work.

    Major motorways, including Pindi Bhattian to Multan M4, Sialkot to Lahore M11, Dera Ismail Khan to Hakla M14, Lahore to Islamabad M2 and Peshawar to Islamabad M1, will remain closed until further notice, motorway authority said in a statement.

    The closures and imposition of Section 144 come two days ahead of PTI’s “final and decisive” protest for the release of party founder Imran Khan, who has been behind bars for over a year in Rawalpindi.

    While PTI is determined to hold “peaceful demonstrations”, the government has denied any permission to the former ruling party in this regard.

    “Forty-one funerals have been held there [KP], and here they are coming to Islamabad for protest. The KP government itself is assaulting the capital,” Interior Minister Naqvi said Friday.

    Ruling out the possibility of negotiations with the PTI, he said there was no room for talks if the party leadership was holding sit-ins and protests. “On one hand they talk about protests, and on the other, they talk about negotiations.”

    Mobile network & internet suspension

    On Thursday, it was reported that the federal government has announced the partial suspension of internet and mobile services in Islamabad and areas of KP and Punjab in light of said protests.

    A private media outlet reported that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will activate firewall for social media blocking besides suspending mobile internet service on November 23.

    The report also quoted sources as claiming that internet and mobile services might be suspended at certain locations at any time. The shutdown could result in users being unable to download audio and videos from social media apps.

  • Banks play cat-and-mouse with Islamabad, cutting deposits over boosting loans

    Banks play cat-and-mouse with Islamabad, cutting deposits over boosting loans

    Bank owners breathed a sigh of relief as they found a way to potentially overcome the additional taxes that Islamabad was keen to extract from them. These additional taxes were levied as the Advance-to-Deposit ratio (ADR) was too low.

    In simple terms, a low ADR demonstrates that banks have shown reluctance while extending credit to non-government organisations. While banks have made a herculean effort to boost lending levels by increasing loans by 1.1 trillion dollars in just the last 25 days, they now have stumbled upon an easier way to increase their ADR.

    Since a low ADR is a consequence of lending too little money from the deposits that a bank holds, banks have realised that they can just shrink their deposits instead to improve the ratio. It seems as if this strategy will prove to be successful for banks, too, as they are sitting shy of the legal ratio of just six per cent.

    Commercial banks are aiming to reduce deposits by imposing fees as high as six per cent on large deposits. This may deter many depositors from parking their funds in banks to avoid the exorbitant fees on deposits.

    Moreover, as per Dawn News, banks are also imposing credit limits so that their deposits do not rise significantly. This includes large commercial banks such as Meezan, which have notified their customers regarding these changes.

    If banks are able to achieve this, their profit margins are expected to grow as they will avoid 197 billion rupees in taxes. But what does this mean for businesses exactly?

    For businesses, this spells great news, as when bank deposits shrink, that money is likely to get injected back into the economy – most probably in the form of investments. As such, businesses can expect to find more interest from individual investors who might be eager to use their money to buy up business equity instead of keeping it in banks.

    This will allow businesses to expand the scope of their operations without having to worry about the interest payments that come with debt-fueled business growth. Additionally, the excess funds in the economy, due to banks making a conscious effort to reduce deposit levels, may find their way into the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).

    For businesses registered on the PSX, this likely means another wave of investments flowing in to continue the strong growth the exchange has witnessed. Currently, the benchmark of the PSX, the KSE-100, sits at just under 98000.

    If banks continue to shrink deposits, the potential increase in investment levels may help the KSE-100 index cross the 98000-point level and, perhaps, help propel the PSX even further.

    This is a huge possibility as banks such as Allied, Al-Falah, Al-Habib and Faysal Bank, among many others, are listed on the PSX. If their profit margins rise, they are expected to attract more investments, causing their stock value to grow, which will ultimately drive the PSX to do well, too.

    It will be interesting to see if banks can cross the legal ADR threshold level of 50 per cent. It will also be interesting to note how Islamabad’s policy will serve business interests. These pertinent questions will be answered in due time, but for now, the economy must watch and wait.

  • Here’s what Hina Bayat thinks of ‘modern marriages’

    Here’s what Hina Bayat thinks of ‘modern marriages’

    Why are divorces and breakups rising? Is social media responsible? Or have people stopped compromising? Veteran actress Hina Bayat has shared her two cents on how she thinks relationships are changing.

    Appearing on FHM podcast, Hina she shared her opinion on the growing number of divorces in society and how tolerance levels have changed. 

    “Why should I blame social media? Basically, over time, people’s tolerance has decreased. I believe that. I’ve heard some people say, ‘I was born to put up with this’, but in any relationship, even at work, not every colleague is someone you click with,” she said when asked about issues in marriages and if social media has played any role in it.

    “You have to compromise a little bit somewhere… you have to tolerate something. There are some things you just can’t tolerate. There are lines you don’t cross, and the same applies to marriage… you set your own boundaries.”

    The Zindagi Gulzar Hai actress emphasised how people now draw clearer boundaries in their relationship. 

    “Tolerance is reducing among people. Just a small thing and people can’t tolerate it… both men and women. Women have become financially secure. They know they can earn for themselves and live their life. The stigma around it has decreased,” she said. 

    The Humsafar actress further reflected on emotional abuse, calling it more dangerous than physical abuse. She highlighted how financial independence and education have empowered women to recognise what they should or shouldn’t tolerate.

    “What women tolerated in the past, they still do today, but emotional torture destroys self-esteem completely. ‘You are good for nothing’ or ‘you can’t do anything’… that’s very dangerous,” she said.

    Hina Bayat also acknowledged that social media, education and upbringing have helped women set boundaries and speak up. She emphasised that both side should work to make relationships work.

    “Women were the ones who tolerated. Women were the ones who used to tolerate more and that’s not entirely how it is now. They know what they should tolerate and what they shouldn’t. They’ve become educated. Social media has done this, people have done this. It must have started at home with mothers’ teachings. But many girls have learned from their mothers that this shouldn’t be done and they saw their mothers struggle.”

    Hina Bayat also starred in drama such as, ‘Jhumka Jaan’, ‘Ishq Gumshuda’ , ‘Uraan’, ‘Humsafar’, Mata-e-Jaan Hai Tu’, ‘Khumar’, ‘Jannat say agay’ and ‘Jaan Nisar.’

  • Is Ayeza Khan making her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan?

    Is Ayeza Khan making her Bollywood debut with Shah Rukh Khan?

    Pakistani star Ayeza Khan is making her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan – or is she, really?

    Recently, a fan-edited trailer of a drama serial featuring Ayeza Khan and Shah Rukh Khan went viral on social media. Ayeza responded to the post on her Instagram stories, sharing the video with a playful caption: “Release kab hoga yeh bhi batadey! (Tell us what the release date is?)”

    Ayeza Khan is one of the highest-paid actresses in Pakistani dramas, known for her roles in ‘Mera Saaein 2’, ‘Pyarey Afzal’, ‘Koi Chaand Rakh’, ‘Mere Paas Tum Ho’, ‘Mein’, and ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’.

    Earlier, Bilal Abbas and Ayeza Khan were reportedly joining Fawad Khan in the highly anticipated crime thriller series The Prisoner, according to IMDB listings. This powerhouse cast brought fresh excitement to the series, which is based on Omar Shahid’s bestselling novel. The novel depicts two daring cops on a covert mission in the 90s to challenge Karachi’s powerful mafia-like political party. Created by Parisa Siddiqi and Ahmer Khan, the series is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

    Fans of Pakistani cinema and thrillers can look forward to The Prisoner delivering a captivating blend of action and drama with a star-studded cast that promises exceptional storytelling. Fans were excited to see Ayeza Khan and Fawad Khan together as they hadn’t worked together since a commercial. In this series, ‘The Prisoner’, Fawad Khan plays DSP Akbar Khan, Ayeza Khan plays Mehreen Khan, and Bilal Abbas portrays DSP Constantine D’Souza.