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  • Lionel Messi could make Barcelona return in January: reports

    Lionel Messi could make Barcelona return in January: reports

    Lionel Messi’s surprise visit to the Spotify Camp Nou has reignited hope among Barcelona fans around the world, and this time, the dream of his return might actually come true.

    Foreign media reports claim that the Argentine legend could rejoin Barcelona on loan in January, thanks to a special “Beckham Clause” included in his Inter Miami contract.

    The “Beckham Clause” is an unofficial MLS rule that lets players join European clubs during the league’s off-season from December to March.

    Multiple outlets suggest Messi’s deal allows him to play short-term elsewhere, keeping his fitness sharp ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

    Inter Miami are currently in the MLS Cup semifinals, with the final set for December 6. That timeline leaves Messi and Barcelona enough room to work out a potential short-term agreement. While finances could be tricky, optimism is high that Barcelona might find a way to bring their greatest-ever player back home.

    The idea isn’t new. Stars like David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Landon Donovan all returned to Europe during their MLS breaks. 

    If Messi follows that path, Barcelona is both the most emotional and logical destination. The Argentine icon scored 672 goals and lifted 35 trophies for the club, shaping an era that defined modern football.

    Since Messi’s tearful farewell in 2021, fans have never stopped dreaming of his return. Seeing him link up with rising star Lamine Yamal would make that dream even sweeter.

    Messi himself recently said, “I hope I can come back someday, not just to say goodbye as a player…” – words that have only fueled excitement.

    If the move happens, Messi’s return to Camp Nou in January 2026 won’t just be a transfer story. It would be one of the most emotional comebacks football has ever witnessed.

  • ‘Pakistan in state of war’: Defence minister says Islamabad bombing a ‘message’ from Kabul

    ‘Pakistan in state of war’: Defence minister says Islamabad bombing a ‘message’ from Kabul

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Pakistan is in a state of war and Tuesday’s bombing in Islamabad was “a message from Kabul”, to which Pakistan has full strength to respond.

    “We are in a state of war. Anyone who thinks that the Pakistan Army is fighting this war in the Afghan-Pakistan border region and the remote areas of Balochistan should take today’s suicide attack at the Islamabad district courts as a wake-up call,” he wrote in a post on X.

    The defence minister said it was a war for all of Pakistan, in which the army is giving sacrifices every day and making the people feel secure. “In this environment, it would be futile to hold out greater hope for successful negotiations with Kabul.”

    “The rulers of Kabul can stop terrorism in Pakistan, but bringing this war all the way to Islamabad is a message from Kabul, to which — praise be to Allah — Pakistan has the full strength to respond,” he added.

    The defence minister’s post came as a suicide attack in the federal capital killed at least a dozen people dead.

    A Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) spokesperson said that the blast outside a local court building in G-11 left at least 12 martyred and 30 injured.

    Of the injured brought to the hospital, about five injured are in critical condition, the spokesperson added.

    The injured reportedly included petitioners and lawyers. The building of the court was vacated after the explosion, those present inside the building were evacuated through the back door of the facility and court proceedings were suspended.

    Speaking to the media at the site of the explosion, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the suicide attack took place at 12:39 pm today as the bomber was trying to enter the courthouse.

    “But when he did not get an opportunity, he attacked a police vehicle”.

    Noting that Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has directed to ensure the best medical assistance to those injured, the minister said that the first priority was to identify the suicide bomber.

    “Those behind the court attack will be brought to justice,” he noted, adding that evidence will be brought to light soon.

    He warned that if someone from another country was involved, it will not be forgiven.

    Meanwhile, reports quoted sources as saying that the head of the suspected suicide bomber was found at the site of the explosion. They said the bombing was carried out by India-backed terrorists and the Afghan Taliban proxy Fitna al-Khawarij.

  • Sindh government considers reducing e-challan fines

    Sindh government considers reducing e-challan fines

    The Sindh government is considering lowering fines issued under the recently launched e-challan system after citizens criticised heavy challans and poor road infrastructure.

    The AI-powered Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), launched by the Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Oct 27, generated around 30,000 challans within the first week. Traffic police sent fines to registered vehicle owners for violations such as not wearing seatbelts, using tinted glasses, and riding motorcycles without helmets.

    Citizens and opposition parties accused the Pakistan Peoples Party-led provincial government of using heavy fines to “mint money”. At least three petitions have been filed in the Sindh High Court, which has issued notices to the provincial government and police on two of them.

    Despite the criticism, the system has produced visible improvements. More motorists have begun stopping at designated lines and motorcyclists have started wearing helmets since the system became operational.

    Sources told Dawn that Karachi-based PPP politicians and senior police officers raised concerns with the provincial leadership. They warned that a positive initiative had been turned into a political target because fines for several violations were too high. They advised the government to ease the criticism by rationalising or reducing fine amounts for a period of its choosing.

    Sources also said the government and police now recognise that fines alone cannot change Karachi’s traffic culture. They stressed the need to involve civic agencies and the Excise and Taxation Department to make the system more effective.

    Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon agreed that cooperation between multiple government bodies is essential. He said, “The long-term success of TRACS depends on strong inter-agency coordination between traffic police, local administrations, excise department, TMCs, KMC, and other civic bodies.”

    When asked whether the fines match the income levels of Karachi residents, he said, “The fine structure has been designed keeping in view deterrence and road safety rather than revenue generation. Traffic fines are not an unavoidable burden. They are avoidable by choice. Citizens who drive responsibly will never incur penalties.”

    A senior provincial official and PPP leader said the chief minister had already offered relief for first-time violators, who may have fines waived within ten days by submitting an in-person apology. He added that the government would likely announce a significant reduction in fines for selected violations by the end of this month.

    He made it clear the system would not be suspended or rolled back. Instead, he said, the government plans to expand TRACS across Karachi and other districts of Sindh.

  • Turkey arrests eight players, suspends another 1,024 players for football betting

    Turkey arrests eight players, suspends another 1,024 players for football betting

    Turkish authorities have arrested eight people on Monday, including the chairman of a top-tier football club, during an expanding investigation into illegal betting on matches. 

    The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) also suspended 1,024 players across all leagues while disciplinary proceedings move forward.

    Earlier this month, the TFF suspended 149 referees and assistant referees after investigators discovered that officials working in Turkey’s professional leagues were betting on football matches.

    A foreign news agency reported that a court ordered the arrest of Eyupspor chairman Murat Özkaya along with seven others. Eyupspor compete in the Turkish Super Lig. The club did not immediately comment on the development.

    In a statement, the TFF said it referred 1,024 players to the Professional Football Disciplinary Council (PFDK), including 27 players from the Super Lig. All 27 have been suspended. The list includes players from defending champions Galatasaray and Istanbul club Besiktas.

    The federation said, “Due to the precautionary transfer of 1,024 football players to the PFDK, negotiations have been initiated urgently with Fifa to grant a 15-day transfer and registration period in addition to the 2025-2026 winter transfer period, only at the national level, in order for clubs to complete their squad deficiencies.”

    The TFF also suspended matches in the second- and third-tier leagues for two weeks. Local media reported that the TFF board will hold an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday at 2pm GMT.

    Fifa has not responded to a Reuters request for comment regarding the investigation or Turkey’s request for an additional transfer window.

    TFF president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu has called the situation a “moral crisis in Turkish football”. The federation’s internal investigation revealed that 371 of Turkey’s 571 active referees had betting accounts. Among them, 152 were actively placing bets.

    Investigators found one referee had placed bets 18,227 times. Forty-two referees had bet on more than 1,000 matches each, while others were discovered to have bet only once.

  • Two transgender persons killed in Serai Naurang

    Two transgender persons killed in Serai Naurang

    Unidentified gunmen have shot dead two transgender persons in Serai Naurang town of Lakki Marwat district on Sunday night.

    Police said Zakir Khan, 34, a resident of Kakki Jan Naurang, and Shahab alias Dollar, a resident of Mardan, were living in a rented room near the fruit and vegetable market. 

    They had hired the room along with another companion, Irshad alias Khattaki, a resident of Mumbatti Kallay Karak, to arrange music concerts.

    Armed suspects entered the room, shot both Zakir and Shahab, and escaped. Rafiullah, 48, brother of Zakir, told police he was at home when someone informed him about the murders. 

    He rushed to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and found the bodies lying in the emergency ward. Rafiullah said his family had no enmity with anyone.

    Police registered a case against unknown killers under relevant sections of law and launched an investigation.

    Separately, two more people, including a teenager, were killed over a petty dispute in the Abbasa Khattak area of Lakki Marwat. The double murder occurred in the trans-river belt within Dadiwala police station limits.

    Mohammad Aqeel, 20, who survived the attack, told police he was traveling with Mohammad Sajjad, 23, and Naimatullah, 18, from Barmikhel Wazir Abbas village to Kooz Kallay Abbasa Wazir on a motorcycle. 

    At a section of the road near a mosque on a dirt track, Kamal, Parvaiz, Raqeebullah, Shahidullah, and Michani suddenly appeared and opened fire, killing Sajjad and Naimatullah instantly.

    Police conducted postmortems at THQ Hospital in Serai Naurang town and handed over the bodies to their families. 

    Authorities registered a case against the suspected killers and started an investigation.

  • What advice did Zeba Bakhtiar give her son Azaan about using the bathroom?

    What advice did Zeba Bakhtiar give her son Azaan about using the bathroom?

    Actor Azaan Sami Khan, son of legendary actress Zeba Bakhtiar and singer Adnan Sami Khan, revealed that when he started acting his mother gave him the best advice.

    She told him that when going to the bathroom on set, to make sure that there is water in the bathroom and the best way to tell if the bathroom is clean is to see how much hair is stuck on the soap.

    The podcast host asked him if there had been a time when he had to go to the bathroom and there wasnt any. “Bohat dafa,” replied Azaan and also said when there wasn’t a bathroom in sight, he would use the “jhaariyan” (bushes).

    In the podcast, Azaan also spoke about his relationship with his father, Adnan Sami Khan who is now in India. He said the relationship wasn’t the best a few years ago but now his father is part of his life just like other fathers. He said he lives with his mother so obviously, he is closer to her but his relationship with his father is also better than before.

    Azaan was said that Merub Ali and Haniya Aamir were very kind people and also that he thinks the biggest superstars in Pakistan are Atif Aslam, Fahad Mustafa and Humayun Saeed.

    Azaan is best known for his music and his role in the drama, ‘Mai Manto Nahi Hoon’.

  • Merub Ali’s Insta Q&A Was Pure Gold: From Height Jokes to ‘Sakht’ Brothers

    Merub Ali’s Insta Q&A Was Pure Gold: From Height Jokes to ‘Sakht’ Brothers

    Actor Merub Ali took to Instagram stories to answer questions from her two million followers and her responses are epic. 

    She was asked how she handles toxic people and said that she doesn’t, stating that Allah handles them for her.

    In response to questions about how to deal with people who make fun of people’s height she said to “just lie”. 

    When asked how one should deal with someone who makes fun of their face, she posted a screenshot of a conversation with her brother Zaviar Ali, saying “I have brothers, sakht hona parta hai.”

    Merub is best known for her role in the drama Sinf-e-Aahan. She is also a fan favourite for her outspoken nature. 

    She was previously engaged to Singer Asim Azhar but the engagement was called off. Recently, she was seen at Asim’s concert and fans were happy to see her dancing to his rendition of “Yeh dosti hum nahi choreingay”.

  • Explosion rocks Islamabad a day after suspected terror attack in New Delhi

    Explosion rocks Islamabad a day after suspected terror attack in New Delhi

    A day after a suspected terror attack in New Delhi, a suicide blast outside the district courts has rocked the Pakistani federal capital, leaving at least 12 dead and over two dozen injured, including petitioners and lawyers.

    As per the details, the blast occurred near the main gate of the G 11 Islamabad Courthouse, prompting emergency measures at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Emergency services at other hospitals were also activated, and the casualties were transferred from the site by Rescue 1122, private ambulances and police vehicles.

    A heavy contingent of police personnel also reached the hospital with Islamabad inspector general of police (IGP) and the chief commissioner visiting the site.

    The nature of the blast was confirmed by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi as a suicide attack.

    The security czar said the suicide bomber was trying to enter the courthouse but “when he did not get an opportunity, he attacked a police vehicle”.

    Earlier, police said that the explosion occurred in a car parked outside the court. 

    While authorities are investigating the incident amid tightened security in surrounding areas, the explosion comes a day after a suspected terror attack near the historic Red Fort in New Delhi on Monday evening.

    The blast that killed at least eight people and injured 24 others was a rare occurrence in the heavily guarded city of more than 30 million people, sending several states and key facilities into high alert.

    Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said “all angles” were being investigated and security agencies would come to a conclusion soon.

    Police said a slow-moving car which stopped at a traffic signal exploded just before 7 pm (1330 GMT). Nearby vehicles were also badly damaged.

    The explosion left behind mangled bodies and the wreckage of several cars on a congested street near a metro station in the old quarter of Delhi.

    The explosion is being probed under a stringent law used to fight “terrorism”, television channels reported, citing a case registered by the police.

    The law, called the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, is India’s main anti-terrorism law and is used to investigate and prosecute acts related to “terrorism” and activities that threaten the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

    In the absence of an official word on the nature of the blast, unconfirmed media reports have traced the explosion back to a Muslim man hailing from held Kashmir’s Pulwama area

    The explosion came hours after 350 kilograms of ammonium nitrate was recovered from Faridabad near Delhi – in widespread crackdown on what officials called a terror network operating within the heart of India.

  • John Cena beats Dominik Mysterio to complete Grand Slam

    John Cena beats Dominik Mysterio to complete Grand Slam

    John Cena reached a major career milestone on Monday night when he defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship on WWE Raw. 

    The win makes Cena the 25th superstar in WWE history to complete the Grand Slam by winning the WWE, Intercontinental, United States (US) and Tag Team Championships at least once.

    Mysterio entered the match as the reigning Intercontinental Champion after winning the title at WrestleMania earlier this year. 

    He tried to control the match with constant taunts and aggressive tactics, even attempting a submission that the referee failed to catch. Cena stayed calm and kept building momentum with his signature power moves.

    The finish came when Mysterio went for a Frog Splash. Cena anticipated the move, caught him mid-air and delivered an Attitude Adjustment that secured the three-count and the championship.

    The moment carried huge emotional weight for Cena. He had never competed for the Intercontinental Championship on television before this match. His only previous attempts happened during untelevised house shows, which made Monday night’s match feel like a final chance as the 48-year-old star moves towards the end of his career.

    Earlier, Mysterio tried to spoil the farewell run by mocking Cena throughout the buildup.

    WWE executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque stepped in and confirmed the match, setting up a showdown that ended with Cena’s latest historic achievement.

    With this victory, Cena joins a select group of Grand Slam Champions that includes Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kane, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle and Eddie Guerrero. 

    The milestone strengthens Cena’s reputation as one of the most decorated and influential performers in WWE history. His career has combined longevity, championship success and the ability to deliver on the biggest stages.

    The win also signals the start of a new tournament that will determine Cena’s final opponent for his farewell tour. WWE plans to highlight his legacy in the coming weeks as one of the most respected names to ever step inside the ring.

  • FFC Receives Best Corporate & Sustainability Report Awards

    FFC Receives Best Corporate & Sustainability Report Awards

    Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) continues its legacy of excellence, securing top honors for its Annual and Sustainability Reports 2024 at the awards ceremony in Lahore.

    Overall Top Rankings:

    · 1st Position – Chemical & Fertilizer Sector – 21st time
    · 1st Position – Sustainability Report  – 9th time

    In the Overall Best Corporate Report category for year 2024, FFC secured second place. The awards were presented by the joint committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan (ICMAP), recognizing FFC’s commitment to transparent reporting and exemplary governance practices.

    These achievements underscore the invaluable guidance of our Board of Directors and the tireless dedication of FFC management team, under the leadership of MD&CEO, Mr. Jahangir Piracha.

    With humility, we offer gratitude to the Almighty and pray for continued success, striving to raise the FFC banner even higher in the years ahead. Ameen.