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  • USA Cricket files for bankruptcy to restructure finances

    USA Cricket files for bankruptcy to restructure finances

    USA Cricket, the national governing body for the sport, filed for financial reorganization under Chapter 11, Subchapter V of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on Wednesday.

    CEO Johnathan Atkeison said the move will give the organization time to stabilize finances, address concerns raised by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and protect the future of the game in the United States. Atkeison, who joined in 2024, previously helped USA Rugby through a similar restructuring.

    USA Cricket cited its troubled partnership with American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) as a major reason for the filing. The board terminated its 50-year agreement with ACE in August, accusing the company of failing to honor financial commitments, withholding payments, and blocking sponsorship and broadcast opportunities.

    The body also accused ACE of failing to deliver promised infrastructure, noting that the company committed to building six ICC-grade stadiums by 2025 but completed only one.

    General Counsel Corey MacDonald said ACE used its financial strength to pressure USA Cricket. “We have been forced into bankruptcy protections because ACE has weaponized its financial muscle to frustrate our ability to govern the sport,” he said.

    Atkeison added that the Chapter 11 filing will help USA Cricket fix contracts, reorganize finances, and pursue governance reforms with a long-term focus on the LA 2028 Olympics.

    Earlier, on 23 September 2025, the ICC suspended USA Cricket’s membership for repeated breaches of the ICC Constitution, including failure to establish a functional governance structure and lack of progress toward recognition by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

    The suspension does not bar U.S. teams from competing in ICC events. The ICC has temporarily taken charge of national teams management to protect player interests and ensure continuity during the reorganization.

  • Gillette’s parent company P&G exits Pakistan as part of global restructuring

    Gillette’s parent company P&G exits Pakistan as part of global restructuring

    Gillette Pakistan Limited announced on Thursday that its parent company Procter & Gamble (P&G) will exit Pakistan as part of a global restructuring plan.

    The company informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that P&G has decided to discontinue its operations in the country. Gillette Pakistan Limited will soon call a Board of Directors meeting to decide on the next steps, which may include delisting from the PSX in line with regulatory requirements.

    P&G, an American consumer goods giant founded in 1837, owns popular brands such as Pampers, Tide, Gillette, and Head & Shoulders. The company said it will wind down its manufacturing and commercial activities in Pakistan and instead rely on third-party distributors to serve customers in the market.

    “We have decided to shift our business and operating model in Pakistan and transition to a third-party distributor model,” P&G said in a statement. “This means we will wind down the manufacturing and commercial activities of P&G Pakistan and Gillette Pakistan Ltd. and serve consumers from our other operations in the region.”

    P&G added that it will continue business as usual until the process ends, which could take several months. The company also confirmed that it will support employees during the transition, offering opportunities abroad or separation packages in line with local laws and company policies.

    In June, P&G announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs worldwide, representing about 15 percent of its non-manufacturing workforce, as part of its restructuring program. Executives also signaled plans to exit certain categories, brands, and products in selected markets.

    The development adds to a growing list of multinational companies leaving Pakistan. Ride-hailing platform Careem suspended its services in July, citing economic challenges and competition. Around the same time, Microsoft also shut down its operations in the country.

    According to Bloomberg, between 2021 and 2024, more than 55 funded startups in Pakistan either closed or pivoted their businesses drastically.

  • Feroze Khan says account was hacked after deleted Instagram story asked his wife not to return home

    Feroze Khan says account was hacked after deleted Instagram story asked his wife not to return home

    Pakistani actor Feroze Khan, no stranger to public controversy, has once again found himself in the spotlight after an Instagram post announcing the end of his marriage to Dr. Zainab went viral only to be deleted shortly afterwards, with the actor claiming his account was hacked.

    The now-deleted post, which circulated widely on social media before its removal, accused Dr. Zainab of blackmail and psychological pressure, stating, “I’m simply forced and blackmailed to be in a relationship… After my mother was abused and so was my sister the relationship died for me.” The post further alleged attempts to alienate Khan from his family and children, ending with a dramatic appeal: “Don’t come back home, thank you… I am sure my fans would trust me.”

    However, in a follow-up, Khan denied authoring the statement, claiming his account had been compromised. “Was hacked.”

    This latest incident adds to a growing list of personal controversies involving the Khaani star. In 2022, Khan’s high-profile divorce from his former wife Alizey Sultan made headlines, particularly after she accused him of domestic abuse. Khan has consistently denied the claims.

    Despite the backlash, Khan maintained a steady presence in the entertainment industry, appearing in multiple hit dramas and films, often portraying intense or conflicted characters, with viewers fixed on the mirroring of his increasingly volatile off-screen persona.

    In recent years, the actor has also been embroiled in disputes with fellow celebrities, including a public spat with singer Muneeb Butt and superstar Hania Aamir, who have called out his alleged toxic behavior.

    The latest controversy has again raised questions about Khan’s personal life. In the alleged post, he admitted to seeking mental health treatment and taking medication, saying what’s “killing me is someone is making me look like an a**hole to my own people.”

    Neither Dr. Zainab nor her representatives have publicly responded to the accusations or the hacking claim. Social media, meanwhile, remains flooded with speculation, with fans and critics weighing in on the actor’s turbulent personal life.

  • Senator Mushtaq’s last audio message for Pakistanis before Israeli forces detained him

    Senator Mushtaq’s last audio message for Pakistanis before Israeli forces detained him

    Former senator and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mushtaq Ahmed Khan released an audio message to Pakistanis before Israeli forces detained him during a raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid to Gaza.

    The audio, posted on his official Facebook account, urged Pakistanis to take to the streets in solidarity with Gaza. “The people of Europe have already come out against the attack on the flotilla, so Pakistanis must also come out,” he said in his message, received by page administrators around 3 a.m. before contact was lost.

    The administrator of his page said Khan had consistently appealed to the nation for the past two years to protest against the “inhumane massacre” in Gaza. “Today, as he himself has become a victim of Israeli terrorism, the nation must finally rise,” the admin said. Khan had also backed the call of the Pakistan-Palestine Forum to join demonstrations, which the group says it will now carry forward.

    Protests have been announced for Thursday afternoon outside press clubs in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, and Karachi against Israel’s raid on the flotilla and Khan’s arrest.

    According to reports, Israeli naval forces stormed the Global Sumud Flotilla, which included more than 40 boats carrying food and medicine for Gaza’s besieged population. The attack targeted several vessels with water cannons before soldiers boarded and detained participants. Khan was among the 500 people on board, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

    Organisers said Israeli forces seized control of the vessel Deir Yassin and cut all live broadcasts and communications. They confirmed that 13 boats had been stopped, but 30 others remained on course toward Gaza, just 46 nautical miles from the enclave.

    Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Israel’s assault on the flotilla and demanded the immediate release of all detainees. Israel’s foreign ministry said passengers were being transferred to an Israeli port and would later be deported.

    The Israeli military said the flotilla had been warned it was entering a combat zone and was told to reroute to Ashdod port, from where aid could be delivered to Gaza.

    Despite the interceptions, flotilla organisers pledged to continue their mission. “We are reaching a decisive stage,” said Tiago Avila, a member of the steering committee, in an audio message from his ship.

    Turkish activists on board said Israeli drones hovered over the flotilla throughout the night before cyberattacks disabled the navigation and internet systems of Alma, the main vessel. Turkish participant Metihan Sari said Israeli naval ships came within five to 10 meters of their boat. “They tried to scare us, but we told them we would not be afraid,” he said.

    The Global Sumud Flotilla has drawn widespread attention as it challenges Israel’s blockade of Gaza, in place since 2007. Amnesty International has called for international protection for the flotilla and its passengers.

  • Israeli forces stop 13 Gaza aid boats, 30 still sailing amid detentions

    Israeli forces stop 13 Gaza aid boats, 30 still sailing amid detentions

    Israeli forces stopped 13 boats carrying foreign activists and aid bound for Gaza, while 30 other vessels continued sailing towards the war-ravaged enclave on Thursday, Reuters reported quoting flotilla organisers.

    A video released by Israel’s foreign ministry and verified by Reuters showed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg surrounded by soldiers on the deck of a boat. The ministry said on X that “Greta and her friends are safe and healthy” after several vessels from what it called the “Hamas-Sumud flotilla” were diverted to an Israeli port.

    The Global Sumud Flotilla set out with more than 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, along with medicine and food for Gaza. Organisers said their mission was non-violent and humanitarian. They shared videos on Telegram of passengers holding passports and claiming Israeli forces abducted them and took them to Israel against their will.

    Despite Wednesday’s interceptions, the flotilla remains defiant. Tracking data showed 30 boats still en route to Gaza, about 46 nautical miles away on Thursday morning. Organisers described the raid as a “war crime”, accusing Israeli forces of using water cannons, scrambling communications and intercepting vessels in international waters.

    The mission has drawn global attention as one of the most high-profile challenges to Israel’s blockade of Gaza since 2007. Turkey, Spain and Italy deployed boats or drones to assist their nationals. Turkey called Israel’s action “an act of terror”. 

    Colombian President Gustavo Petro expelled Israel’s entire diplomatic mission and cancelled a free trade agreement after two Colombians were detained, calling the arrests a “new international crime” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Israeli forces had detained eight Malaysians and accused Israel of showing “utter contempt” for global conscience.

    The raid also triggered street protests in Italy and Colombia, where Italian unions announced a general strike in solidarity.

    Israel defended the operation, saying it had warned the flotilla that it was entering an active combat zone and violating a lawful blockade.

    The confrontation follows earlier clashes at sea, including the 2010 raid in which nine activists were killed, and a June 2025 incident when Thunberg and others were detained by Israel while approaching Gaza.

  • Salman Khan loved Karachi biryani, says veteran comedian Kashif Khan

    Salman Khan loved Karachi biryani, says veteran comedian Kashif Khan

    Veteran Pakistani actor and comedian Kashif Khan has revealed that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was a big fan of Karachi’s famous biryani and haleem, which Kashif used to personally bring from Burns Road during his frequent visits to Mumbai.

    In a candid conversation on the ARY Podcast, Kashif Khan shared intriguing memories from his close ties with the Indian film industry, especially during a time when cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan were more common. He described how he would travel to Mumbai so frequently that it felt like commuting between neighborhoods in Karachi.

    He recalled bringing traditional Pakistani dishes for Salman Khan, who developed a fondness for the flavors of Karachi. “I used to take biryani and haleem for Salman from Burns Road and he absolutely loved them,” Kashif said.

    During the conversation, Kashif also defended his daughter, TikToker Rabeeca Khan, who was previously ridiculed for claiming that Bollywood legends Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan were fans of her father. “People mocked her, but the reality is many Indian actors did admire my work,” he stated.

    Highlighting his past work in India, Kashif noted that he had collaborated extensively with the Indian entertainment industry, more than most Pakistani artists today, but the absence of social media at the time meant much of it went unnoticed. “Those who worked before 2013 didn’t get the online recognition that artists receive now,” he explained.

    Kashif said that he often took his family along during his India visits, and that Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, showed a genuine interest in meeting them. “They wanted to know about my family. My kids even met them,” he added.

    He emphasized how the current political tensions between India and Pakistan have made such cross-border interactions difficult.

    On a question about receiving a call from Bollywood greats on Rabeeca Khan’s wedding, he said that neither Salman nor Shah Rukh called to congratulate her, and he believes its better that way. “Even a phone call can cause problems for Indian actors today,” he remarked.

    Kashif concluded by expressing nostalgia for those better times. “I value those memories, but times have changed,” he said.

    While he admitted that today’s generation does not know about Kashif Khan the comedian but they do know him as Rabeeca’s father.

    Kashif Khan has worked in various Indian projects, including a comedy show called India Best Comedy.

  • Sahiwal girl escapes 40 days after being abducted, raped, and sold into prostitution

    Sahiwal girl escapes 40 days after being abducted, raped, and sold into prostitution

    An 18-year-old female cotton-picker from village 53/12-L in Chichawatni tehsil, who was abducted, raped, and then sold to a prostitution network in Sindh, managed to escape after 40 days and returned home on Tuesday, media reports said.

    According to reports, the victim, identified as Z, told police that she was trafficked from Punjab to Sindh and forced into prostitution. On the complaint of her maternal uncle Gulam Abbas, Okanwala Bangla police registered a case on Wednesday against four suspects, including two residents of her native village, one man from Dhagri village in Umerkot district, and an unidentified person.

    The case has been filed under sections 375-A and 365-B of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018.

    Police reports state that on August 20, 2025, ‘Z’ went to a nearby village to pick cotton. On her way back, two armed men from her village allegedly intercepted her on a motorcycle, abducted her, and took her to an abandoned house where they repeatedly raped her.

    The victim told police that the suspects later drugged her and she lost consciousness. When she regained awareness, she was in a car on a highway. She said the suspects again used a chemical-soaked cloth to render her unconscious and transported her to Dhagri village in Umerkot, Sindh.

    There, she said, she was handed over to a suspect identified as G, who told her that her abductors had sold her to him for Rs200,000. She said G ran a brothel and forced her into prostitution, where she suffered repeated sexual abuse by him and other men.

    The FIR states that on September 27, while being transported to Hyderabad, the suspect’s car got stuck in traffic on the national highway. Taking advantage of the situation, Z escaped from the car and cried for help. As people gathered, the suspect fled the scene.

    The girl said a passerby gave her a phone to contact her family. She was taken to a house in Hyderabad, where her cousin Farooq and her uncle Abbas reached and brought her back to Chichawatni. On Wednesday, she lodged a formal complaint with the police.

    A police official said the victim is being medically examined and confirmed that a case has been registered against the suspects. The official added that the girl informed investigators about a criminal network operating across Punjab and Sindh, abducting young girls and selling them into prostitution.

    Sahiwal DPO Rana Tahir told a private media outlet that police arrested one of the girl’s abductors, who has denied the charges. He said investigations are underway.

    The victim’s family claimed they had approached Okanwala Bangla police on August 21 with a complaint about her abduction, but officers did not register an FIR. There are also unconfirmed reports that the other abductor was previously indicted in a honey-trap case at Fatehsher police station.

  • India pushes no-confidence move against Mohsin Naqvi as ACC splits into two: Report

    India pushes no-confidence move against Mohsin Naqvi as ACC splits into two: Report

    The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has split into two blocs amid growing tensions between India and Pakistan over the Asia Cup trophy row, Express News has reported.

    According to details, Bangladesh and Pakistan stand on one side, while Sri Lanka has aligned itself with India. Afghanistan continues to shift its position, sometimes siding with one bloc and sometimes with the other. Sources said the division has deepened since the Asia Cup final controversy, and the trophy matter still remains unresolved.

    ACC President and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly become a major irritant for India, with reports claiming that a no-confidence motion against him is expected. Indian media ran stories alleging that Naqvi apologized to the BCCI on Wednesday, but he firmly rejected the claims.

    Taking to X, Naqvi said, “Indian media thrives on lies, not facts. Let me make it absolutely clear: I have done nothing wrong and I have never apologized to the BCCI nor will I ever do so.” He described the reports as “fabricated nonsense” and “cheap propaganda” aimed at misleading the Indian public.

    Naqvi also reiterated his stance on the trophy handover. “As ACC President, I was ready to hand over the trophy that very day and I am still ready now. If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me,” he wrote.

    The controversy began after India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final but refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi. The ceremony ended without a handover, leaving the trophy with ACC officials. 

    Earlier in the event, Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, while their captain avoided a pre-final photo with Pakistan’s skipper.

    During a recent ACC meeting, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla reportedly demanded that the trophy be delivered to India, but Naqvi maintained the matter was not on the agenda and insisted the Indian captain should personally collect it from ACC headquarters.

    As of now, the Asia Cup trophy remains in the ACC office in Dubai.

  • AB de Villiers slams India for bringing politics into Asia Cup

    AB de Villiers slams India for bringing politics into Asia Cup

    Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has strongly criticized India for bringing politics into cricket during the Asia Cup.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers said politics should never interfere with sport. “Politics should be kept out of sport,” he said. “Cricket is a separate thing, and its celebrations should remain that way.”

    De Villiers added that he was disappointed by what he witnessed at the closing ceremony. “It seemed the Indian team was unhappy about who was handing them the trophy. I don’t think that has anything to do with cricket,” he said. 

    “Watching everything at the closing ceremony was disappointing. I hope the matter is resolved soon. This situation puts players and the game in a difficult position, and I hate seeing that. In the end, it just didn’t feel right,” he added.

    The controversy began after India defeated Pakistan in the final but refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. 

    The ceremony ended without a handover, leaving the trophy with ACC officials. Earlier in the tournament, Indian players avoided handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, while their captain skipped a pre-final photo with Pakistan’s skipper.

  • Shae Gill’s new song is an absolute banger

    Shae Gill’s new song is an absolute banger

    Rising star Shae Gill can do no wrong. The supremely talented singer is in the spotlight with the release of her latest single Insecurity, a powerful track blending vibrant Punjabi dhol rhythms with upbeat modern music.

    The song, released earlier this week, is already resonating with fans across social media for its bold message and infectious energy.

    Insecurity tells the story of a woman standing firm against emotional manipulation from an insecure partner, a theme that has struck a chord with listeners, particularly young women.

    The lyrics, co-written by Shae Gill and lyrics maestro Adnan Dhool, offer a raw and empowering narrative, while the dynamic composition showcases Gill’s continued evolution as a musical force.

    “So much heart and soul went into this and to have it finally out for the world to see feels surreal,” Shae shared on Instagram following the release. “So grateful to everyone who was involved in this project.”

    The song’s music video, directed by Nasir SiriKhan from the world-renowned dance crew Quick Style, adds visual depth to the track’s emotional core. Paired with striking choreography by Fatima Amjed, the video delivers a vibrant, energetic performance that brings the song’s defiant spirit to life.

    Fans and fellow celebrities have flooded the comments with praise for both the sound and the message. “Ye cheez”, Aima Baig wrote. A fan added, “Amazing video I can’t stop watching and jamming!”

    Actress Rimha Ahmed wrote: “Listening to this one on repeat.” One of her fans loved her dance, saying, “The greatest dancer ever tbh. First in Gila, now in Insecurity. Please give us more dances okay love u bye.” Artist Annural Khalid said: “Girly pop anthem.”

    Shae Gill is famous for her breakout hit song Pasoori, which went viral after its release on Coke Studio Season 14. She was also featured in Hassan and Roshaan’s Sukoon and this song also looks ready to bust music charts.