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  • Sania Mirza opens up about ‘lowest moment’ after divorce with Shoaib Malik and Farah Khan saved her

    Sania Mirza opens up about ‘lowest moment’ after divorce with Shoaib Malik and Farah Khan saved her

    Former Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza has revealed that she suffered something that was very similar to a panic attack after her marriage with Pakistani cricketing star Shoaib Malik ended. 

    The tennis player invited Bollywood choreographer Farah Khan to the first episode of her podcast ‘Serving it Up With Sania’. There, she revealed that Farah was standing by her during the low moment which took place just before she was supposed to start recording a live show. 

    “There was a moment that was one of the lowest moments when you (Farah Khan)

     showed up on my set and I had to go on a live show after that,” Sania said. “I was shivering. And if you would not have come there I wouldn’t have done that show. You told me, ‘No matter what, you are doing this show.’”

    Farah recalled that she was “scared” to see Sania on that day. ” I had to shoot that day, but I just left everything and came there in my pyjamas and chappals.” 

    Farah then went on to praise Sania for being an exemplary single parent. “You’re doing it beautifully,” she remarked.

    Sania married Shoaib in 2010 at the peak of her tennis career in a multi-day ceremony that spread out across India and Pakistan. The two became parents to a boy in 2018, naming him Izhaan Mirza Malik. While the couple managed a long-distance relationship, rumours and speculation about the state of their marriage followed them for years. 

    In January 2024, Shoaib announced that he had married actress Sana Javed, after which Sania’s family admitted that the star couple was already divorced. 

    Sania’s sister Anam Mirza said at the time that the couple had formally separated months before the public acknowledgement of their divorce.

  • 27th Amendment sails through Parliament after return to Senate

    27th Amendment sails through Parliament after return to Senate

    The Upper House on Thursday once again approved the 27th Constitutional Amendment Bill with tweaks made by the Lower House on Wednesday.

    According to reports, Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar presented the constitutional amendment bill in the National Assembly with the changes made to the draft earlier approved by the Senate. The amendment received the 64 votes (two-thirds majority in the 96-member House) in favour and four against amid ruckus due to protest by opposition members.

    Earlier, the session kicked off with Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar maintained that his party and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) defectors were disqualified under Article 63-A of the Constitution as they, in the previous session, claimed on the floor of the house that they had resigned.

    “If they have indeed resigned and the article applies, I request that the votes of these two members not be counted [during the re-voting]. Otherwise, we will challenge the entire process,” he added.

    JUI-F’s Kamran Murtaza said that if someone voted against party lines and a resignation was sought from them under Article 63-A, those who wished to vote against the party should follow proper procedures.

    Tarar, however, disagreed, saying that the objection of PTI and JUI-F that a member was automatically disqualified under Article 63-A for voting against party lines was incorrect.

    He explained that the party head could submit a reference to the presiding officer or speaker under the Constitution. “We shouldn’t twist the Constitution for political point scoring,” he added.

    He further explained the process, saying that the presiding officer has two days to examine a written reference submitted by the party head and forward it to the Election Commission.

    The party head must also conduct a hearing with the defector for voting against party directives, as sometimes instructions are not properly communicated. The matter is then sent to the Election Commission, where a formal hearing is conducted. The member concerned can appeal a deseating decision in the Supreme Court.

    On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed the amendment bill that seeks to change the judicial structure and military command, with 234 votes in favour and four against amid opposition’s walkout. It included eight amendments aimed at clarifying the chief justice’s position, due to which the bill was sent back to the Upper House before the president’ ascent.

    Clauses 4, 19, 51, and 55, which collectively proposed to modify the wording of oaths administered to a range of constitutional officeholders, were also removed from the final text.

  • Saima Qureshi, Frieha Altaf battle it out over Hazrat Khadija RA, working women

    Saima Qureshi, Frieha Altaf battle it out over Hazrat Khadija RA, working women

    Actress Saima Qureshi, known for her roles in the dramas Amanat and Bandhay Aik Dor Say created controversy when, on a podcast, she said that a woman earning money was not blessed. 

    When asked why she was working if there was no ‘barkat’ in a woman’s earnings, she said that she is a single mother and has to work and despite working so hard, she still lives in a rented house. 


    The host responded to say that if a man earned money, would he have been able to make his own house, to which Saima said yes, it was possible and she believes that men’s earnings are blessed. 

    He countered by saying that what about the women who run businesses and make money, can they not make their own houses, to which she asked which woman had done so. He replied that actress Mahirah Khan had been able to do it, to which Saima said that Mahirah had her family’s support and is now married.

    The host brought up the example of Hazrat Khadija RA, the wife of The Holy Prophet (PBUH), stating that she was a successful businesswoman before and after she married him (PBUH) to which Saima said, ‘Well, that’s Hazrat Khadija RA and she got married. She should’ve prolonged her work, why didn’t she?’

    Actress Frieha Altaf responded to Saima in another podcast. When asked about what she thought about Saima’s views, Frieha said, “working has blessing, it is a form of worship’, adding that, “Hazrat Khadija RA worked, how can you say this, when The Prophet’s (PBUH) wife was working, you’re saying there was no blessing in her work?…She hired someone because she needed help, she needed a trustworthy person and found him to be trustworthy. It wasn’t that she couldn’t work.”

    Frieha went on to talk about how we have examples in Islam of women that worked like Hazrat Khadija RA and Bibi Fatima RA and that she was “flabbergasted that Ms. Saima Qureshi has said this.”

  • PM to meet Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart among other top global CEOs in Pakistan

    PM to meet Amazon, Alibaba, Walmart among other top global CEOs in Pakistan

    A list of chief executive officers (CEOs) of global retail giants has been finalised to arrange their meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Pakistan.

    According to reports, said companies include Amazon, Alibaba and Walmart among others, representing several countries, including the United States (US), China, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, Netherlands and France.

    Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Haroon Akhtar Khan and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani attended the high-level meeting that finalised the list.

    The meeting also discussed preparations for the upcoming interaction between the premier and the CEOs of the top 20 companies. The federal ministers reviewed arrangements and the invitation process for the CEOs to meet PM Shehbaz. Participants also deliberated on strategic measures to promote investment in Pakistan and highlight the country’s economic and geopolitical significance on the global stage.

    SAPM Haroon Akhtar Khan emphasised that Pakistan holds immense strategic importance and offers vast investment opportunities across multiple sectors. He added that the premier’s upcoming meeting with the top CEOs would be a “game-changer for Pakistan’s economy”.

    Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan said that trade policies were being aligned with modern global trends to ensure sustainable economic growth while Food Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the need to adopt modern technology to enhance agricultural productivity.

    Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani noted that stability in the investment sector would lead to increased employment opportunities and sustainable economic development. He further said that the government’s outreach to ambassadors and global stakeholders was part of a broader effort to project Pakistan’s positive image internationally.

    It merits a mention that the plan comes a month after PM Shehbaz expressed commitment to transform Pakistan into an attractive destination for investment in the region through transparency and by crafting economic policies aligned with global standards.    

    Presiding over a meeting regarding the country’s economy in Islamabad in October, the premier directed relevant ministries and institutions to ensure the provision of all necessary facilities to foreign investors. He further said that the recent positive economic trends reflect the confidence of foreign investors in country’s economy.

    He termed stabilising country’s economy on strong foundations as the top priority of the government, and directed the officials to ensure the participation of the private sector.

    PM Shehbaz pledged that the government would utilise all investment opportunities to promote public welfare and increase employment opportunities, saying that ongoing economic and financial reforms had set the economy on a new course, and the country was steadily moving toward sustainable progress due to innovation and transparency.

  • ‘Sniper safaris’: Italy to investigate tourists who went to Bosnia to shoot civilians

    ‘Sniper safaris’: Italy to investigate tourists who went to Bosnia to shoot civilians

    Italian authorities have opened an investigation in Milan to determine whether claims of Italian tourists paying money to shoot civilians in Bosnia are true. 

    Citizens of multiple countries, including Italy, are at the center of explosive claims that state that they paid huge amounts to travel to Sarajevo to shoot at civilians in “sniper safaris” in the 1990s. 

     
    Milan’s public prosecutor office opened an investigation into the claims on the complaint of journalist and novelist Ezio Gavazzeni who says there was a “manhunt” by “very wealthy people” with a passion for weapons who “paid to be able to kill defenceless civilians” from Serb positions in the hills around Sarajevo.

    Reports have claimed that different rates were charged for killing children, men and women. More than 11,000 civilians were killed in the siege of Sarajevo by Serb forces. 

    Although the allegations are not new, Gavazzeni has reportedly gathered extensive, including intelligence from Bosnian officers. 

    Italy’s counter-terrorism prosecutor Alessandro Gobbis will investigate the murder charges. 

    A Bosnian intelligence officer told the journalist that in 1994, Bosnia passed on the information to Italy’s military intelligence. 

    Italy’s military intelligence then told the Bosnians that citizens were indeed travelling from the border city of Triesto to the hills surrounding Sarajevo. “We’ve put a stop to it and there won’t be any more safaris,” the officer reportedly told the Bosnians. 

    ‘Sarajevo Safari’, a documentary film made in 2022, alleges that the killer tourists came from a host or different countries, including USSR and USA. 

    Gavazzeni alleges that many people took part in the practice, “at least a hundred” in all, with Italians paying up to €100,000 (£88,000) in today’s terms.

    Italian prosecutors have compiled a list of witnesses to talk to.

  • ‘Sri Lanka defeats terrorism’ as team decides to continue playing series despite Islamabad bombing

    ‘Sri Lanka defeats terrorism’ as team decides to continue playing series despite Islamabad bombing

    In a major win for the sport, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday rubbished calls to cancel the series, confirming that its ongoing tour of Pakistan will go ahead as planned.

    The decision that came despite Tuesday’s suicide bombing in the federal capital that left 12 people dead and 27 injured, was hailed by Pakistani officials as a show of solidarity and confidence in the country’s security efforts.

    “No player is returning home,” the manager of the Sri Lankan cricket team confirmed to a private media outlet as SLC clarified that if any player wanted to return despite assurances, he will be replaced in a bid to ensure the continuation of the ongoing series without interruption.

    It also warned of a formal assessment by the cricket board over the returning player’s actions.

    The confirmation came hours after Sri Lankan team management informed their board that some members had requested to leave Pakistan. The board said it had immediately engaged with the players, assuring them that all safety concerns were being addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and relevant authorities.

    Following the reservations, the PCB said security around the visiting team had been increased following the attack.

    To address the concerns, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, will reportedly be meeting the Sri Lankan team to brief them.

    In a statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar thanked the Sri Lankan Cricket Team and said: “We are honoured by your presence.”

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also said: “Our special thanks to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team for their visit and for a good display of cricket. Our best wishes and gratitude.”

    PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars said the Sri Lankan team defeated terrorism.

    Earlier, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner also expressed satisfaction over the security of its team following a meeting with Naqvi in Islamabad.

    ‎During the meeting, the chief commissioner and the inspector general of Islamabad gave a detailed briefing on the security being provided to the Sri Lankan team.

    It may be noted that the Sri Lankan team’s concerns could be rooted in the bitter memories of 2009 when, for the first time, cricketers were directly targeted by terrorists in an attack on their team bus in Lahore.

    International cricket tours in Pakistan were subsequently suspended for approximately ten years, from March 2009 until late 2019 when Sri Lanka returned for a two-Test series.

  • Setting up life together: Inside Master MoltyFoam’s modern love story

    Setting up life together: Inside Master MoltyFoam’s modern love story

    Every love story begins with a promise, not just of forever, but of togetherness. In Master MoltyFoam’s latest communication, that promise takes centre stage as a young couple begins their journey side by side, not with lavish gifts or dowry, but with shared dreams, steady hands, and MoltyFoam, the best mattress in Pakistan, ready to build a life of their own.

    The film beautifully captures the magic of simple beginnings, a small apartment, boxes waiting to be unpacked, furniture to be assembled, and a couple laughing through it all. Each moment speaks of teamwork, equality, and mutual respect, the real foundations of a modern marriage.

    As they set up their Master MoltyFoam mattress, it becomes more than just a product placement; it becomes a symbol of comfort, stability, and partnership. It’s where conversations will happen, dreams will be planned, and the first chapter of their shared story will unfold.

    Through this campaign, Master MoltyFoam, the best mattress brand in Pakistan, sheds light on a refreshing truth: that love doesn’t need to be adorned with extravagance; it only needs two people willing to build, grow, and rest together. The brand’s message beautifully mirrors the changing times, where marriage is no longer a transaction, but a shared transition into a life built on equality and care.

    Because at the end of the day, every couple deserves a foundation that’s as comforting and enduring as their bond, and that’s exactly what Master MoltyFoam stands for.

    Watch the communication here:

  • Elon Musk tries to prove he’s ‘human’ after best-selling author slams his behaviour

    Elon Musk tries to prove he’s ‘human’ after best-selling author slams his behaviour

    Elon Musk has gone on a binge of tweets trying to prove that he is a ‘human’ with real human interests after best-selling author Joyce Carol Oates tweeted out about his odd behaviour. 

    On Saturday morning, Musk shared a video of an AI generated woman, smiling at the camera. By evening, best-selling author Joyce Carol Oates tweeted out an observation about the richest man on earth that got traction on the very platform he owns, X (formerly Twitter). 

    The 87-year-old writer said, “So curious that such a wealthy man never posts anything that indicates that he enjoys or is even aware of what virtually everyone appreciates— scenes from nature, pet dog or cat, praise for a movie, music, a book (but doubt that he reads); pride in a friend’s or relative’s accomplishment; condolences for someone who has died; pleasure in sports, acclaim for a favorite team; references to history.” 

    Joyce concluded the tweet with an incisive observation: “In fact he seems totally uneducated, uncultured. The poorest persons on Twitter may have access to more beauty & meaning in life than the ‘most wealthy person in the world.” 

    Musk’s usual X activity revolves around complaining about trans persons, retweeting anyone who praises him and agreeing with far-right extremists. 

    Oates’ diatribe, that went viral, got under Musk’s skin. He let off a furious series of tweets, calling her “an angry liar”, “demonstrably false” and “mean”. 

    Then the billionaire tried to prove Oates wrong by suddenly replying to an account dedicated to movies. He called Edge of Tomorrow a “great movie” and then wrote, “Man on Fire is great!” He also wrote another one liner about Fifth Element, offering nothing more than short sentences to show why he liked the movies. 

    Musk has previously talked about books, including Douglas Adams’ best-selling A Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But most of social media was in agreement that it seemed like he hadn’t actually read the book. 

    He also infamously made a faux-pas when he described his Tesla Cybertruck as a vehicle “the Blade Runner would have driven”. There is no character called the Blade Runner in the movie Blade Runner. 

    Joyce Carol Oates’ tweet has been viewed more than five million times and has received more than 11,000 retweets.

  • Second US crude oil shipment reaches Pakistan

    Second US crude oil shipment reaches Pakistan

    As part of strategic recalibration of Pakistan’s energy landscape, the country has received its second shipment of United States (US) crude oil, signalling a pivotal shift in the quest for energy security and economic efficiency, The News reported.

    According to reports, MT Albany tanker, laden with one million barrels of premium West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, successfully berthed at Cnergyico’s offshore Single Point Mooring (SPM) terminal near Hub in Balochistan on Nov 10.

    While the delivery is not an isolated and is part of a carefully structured energy corridor between the two countries, it follows the landmark shipment in October.

    A third cargo is scheduled for January 2026, all of which represent a strategic investment of over $200 million, moving Pakistan beyond its traditional reliance on Middle Eastern suppliers like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    The feasibility of this transcontinental energy trade hinges on a critical piece of infrastructure: Cnergyico’s deep-water SPM terminal. Unlike the shallow ports of Karachi, which are limited to smaller vessels, this terminal can accommodate massive Aframax and Suezmax tankers.

    This capability is a game-changer for vessel economics, as importing larger cargoes significantly reduces the per-barrel freight cost, making long-haul shipments financially viable.

    The economic calculus is further strengthened by the specific qualities of WTI crude. As a light, sweet crude, it is not only easier and cheaper to refine into high-value products like gasoline and diesel but also produces lower emissions. Crucially, WTI frequently trades at a discount to the Dubai/Oman benchmark, which is used to price Middle Eastern crude.

    This price differential often offsets the higher transportation costs from the US Gulf Coast, making the landed cost of American oil highly competitive. Cnergyico’s strategy to process exclusively low-sulfur crudes like WTI and Nigeria’s Bonny Light through this period underscores a dual focus on economic optimisation and environmental performance.

    It merits a mention that Pakistan and the US signed a trade and energy partnership agreement in July 2025, which included cooperation on developing Pakistan’s oil reserves and reducing tariffs for certain Pakistani exports.

    While Pakistan started importing US-origin crude oil under the same deal, the agreement was hailed by both sides as a strategic re-engagement. Critics, however, raise concerns over the feasibility of discovering massive oil reserves and potential geopolitical implications.

  • Eye witness accounts: What happened during the cadet college attack?

    Eye witness accounts: What happened during the cadet college attack?

    Five Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists attacked the Cadet College in Wana, South Waziristan, late in the afternoon on Monday.

    Operation Commander Colonel Tahir, who was part of the operation against the terrorists, revealed what happened during the attack. 

    He said that “five Afghan Khawarij” came to Cadet College, which is a very important college for the students in South Waziristan, and rammed an explosives‐laden vehicle into the main gate.

    Four more terrorists entered the college and tried to kidnap students but they were stopped by army commandos. Tahir mentions that the army managed to trap the terrorists in one administrative block of the college and late in the evening, around 10pm, an operation began against four remaining terrorists.

    According to a student who spoke to the media, students were preparing for a drill competition when they heard an explosion. He says that the army escorted them out of the college and took them to a camp and protected them. He said that the terrorists are “against education and they will never be able to stop us from getting an education.”

    A second eye-witness said that he heard an explosion and their teacher told the students not to worry and that everything would be okay. He said the army came in and then everything was fine.

    There were 550 cadets in the college at the time and all were safely evacuated.

    Information Minister Attaullah Tarar hailed it as a “huge achievement” by the Pakistan Army, saying the attack could have rivaled the 2014 APS tragedy.