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  • Nepal blocks Facebook, X and YouTube among other social media platforms

    Nepal blocks Facebook, X and YouTube among other social media platforms

    Nepal has announced blocking most social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, after the companies refused to comply with new regulations requiring them to register with the government.

    Minister for Communication and Information Prithvi Subba Gurung said that about two dozen popular social networks in Nepal received repeated notices to officially register their companies but ignored them. “The platforms will be blocked immediately,” he told reporters.

    TikTok, Viber and three other social media platforms will continue to operate because they have registered with the government.

    While authorities have directed the Nepal Telecommunications Authority to disable all platforms that fail to meet the requirements, the action comes days after the government demanded that social media companies set up liaison offices in Nepal, appoint grievance officers and follow a strict code of conduct.

    Officials argued that fake accounts and hate speech were fueling cybercrime and disturbing social harmony in a country where nearly 90 percent of the 30 million population uses the internet.

    At the same time, the government has introduced a bill in parliament aimed at tightening control of social media. The legislation, which has not yet been fully debated, has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups. Activists say it could be used as a tool for censorship and to punish opponents voicing dissent online.

    Officials defend the move, insisting that laws are needed to hold both users and operators accountable for what is published on social platforms.

  • Atif Aslam says he misses Bollywood

    Atif Aslam says he misses Bollywood

    One of Pakistan’s biggest stars, singer and sometimes-actor Atif Aslam, has said that he misses working in Bollywood.

    Atif, who is currently in Canada for a concert tour, sat down for an exclusive interview with Indian host and journalist Faridoon Shahryar.

    During the interview, he opened up about his musical journey and said, “I miss you guys. It has been what 8 to 10 years since I last worked there. I miss performing there, recording in studios… miss friends there but I am happy that music is flourishing all over the world.”

    He also shared his thoughts on what a singer feels when he gets on stage. “When I get to the stage, I forget everything and I don’t have any clue what’s happening in my life. At first, you sing for fame, then for money and when you’ve reach at certain position, you only do it as an art and then a time comes when you do it for yourself.”

    “If we talk about Pakistan, we don’t have a lot of big names or singers. Our industry isn’t as large as Bollywood…  and that’s just the reality,” he said.

    Reflecting on his own success, the singer added that despite limited resources, God had enabled him to reach Bollywood and that was the greatest blessing for me. “He made me shine in such a vast world. I can never thank Him enough for His blessings.”

    To a question about memories of song Dil Diyan Gallan, Atif said he was in Dubai with Vishal Shekar. “I remember they made me sing on low notes and I am glad they did that because everyone wanted and expected high notes from me. When I sang it in low notes, a beautiful tune popped in. Also, the song had beautiful lines. Yes, I sang for Salman Khan as well and it is always a pleasure to sing for Salman Khan because we have met a few times… what a man, what a guy.”

    Meanwhile, many Indian fans of the singer are saying that they miss him too.

  • Three schoolchildren killed, five injured as dumper runs over students in Abbottabad

    Three schoolchildren killed, five injured as dumper runs over students in Abbottabad

    Three children were killed and five others sustained injuries when a dumper truck ran them over in Abbottabad on Friday morning.

    Abbottabad police spokesperson Azam Mir Afzal told a private news outlet that the accident took place as the children were crossing the road near Lady Garden Park on their way to school.

    A first information report was registered against the driver, who fled the scene, while the dumper truck was seized, he said.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi told reporters that a rescue team immediately went to the accident site after receiving information. “The bodies of the deceased, as well as the injured children, were taken to the district headquarters hospital.”

    After the incident, family members of the children and locals staged a protest by blocking the Old Karakoram Highway.

    “They demanded the arrest of the dumper truck’s driver,” the police spokesperson noted, adding that the protest ended after police assured the families that the driver would be arrested. Raids are being conducted to trace him.

    It may be noted that the city has witnessed such tragedies before. In March, at least two students died and nine others were injured when a private van plunged into a gorge in Abbottabad’s Tarnoi Qalandarabad area.

  • Ross Taylor set to return to international cricket

    Ross Taylor set to return to international cricket

    New Zealand star Ross Taylor is ready to make a comeback to international cricket, this time representing Samoa in the upcoming Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier in Oman.

    Officials named Taylor in Samoa’s squad on Friday morning, marking his return to the international stage after more than two years.

    Taylor shared his excitement on Instagram, saying, “It is a huge honour for me to represent my heritage, culture, village and family.”

    Taylor qualifies to play for Samoa through his mother, who hails from the island nation. Alongside his New Zealand citizenship, he also holds Samoan nationality. After his final game for New Zealand in April 2022, Taylor completed the required three-year stand-down period, which cleared him to switch allegiance.

    Over 16 years with the Black Caps, Taylor scored 7,683 runs in 112 Tests, 8,607 runs in 236 ODIs and 1,909 runs in 102 T20Is, totaling 18,199 runs across all formats.

  • Tears and Triumph: Palestinian girl’s story earns unforgettable standing ovation at Venice Film Festival

    Tears and Triumph: Palestinian girl’s story earns unforgettable standing ovation at Venice Film Festival

    A powerful film depicting the heartbreaking final moments of a young Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab, has received a record-breaking standing ovation at the prestigious Venice Film Festival.

    Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, “The Voice of Hind Rajab” was met with a standing ovation that lasted an astonishing 23 minutes and 50 seconds — the longest in the festival’s history.

    The film centers on the tragic story of 5-year-old Hind, whose final pleas for help during an Israeli attack deeply moved global audiences earlier this year. Her voice, heard from beneath the rubble, became a symbol of unheard suffering in Gaza.

    “This is not just a film,” said Ben Hania during the post-screening Q&A. “It is the voice buried under the rubble. The voice the world refused to hear.”

    The film has already been hailed by international critics as “the most important film of the year”, and clips from the screening have gone viral across social media platforms, resonating deeply with audiences around the world.

    “The Voice of Hind Rajab” is being praised not only for its raw emotional power but also for shining a light on the human cost of conflict and the voices that are too often silenced.

    The film is expected to become a major contender in upcoming international awards circuit.

    Meanwhile, the story of Hind Rajab is Tunisian — it’s Tunisia’s entry to the Academy Awards this year — but also has Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara as executive producers alongside filmmakers Alfonso Cuarón and Jonathan Glazer. The American connection did not sit well with many, who called out Hollywood for its complacency.

    Rajab’s mother hoped that the genocide in Gaza would end after the release of the film but the Israeli Defence Forces continue their killing spree in Gaza.

  • Punjab by-elections postponed due to floods, damaged infrastructure

    Punjab by-elections postponed due to floods, damaged infrastructure

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the postponement of by-elections in Punjab due to heavy rains and floods that have devastated infrastructure and disrupted administrative functions across the province.

    As per the details, NA-66 Wazirabad, NA-96 Faisalabad, NA-104 Faisalabad, NA-129 Lahore and NA-143 Sahiwal are among the constituencies of the National Assembly where elections have been postponed. In the provincial assembly, the by-polls were postponed in PP-73 Sargodha, PP-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad and PP-203 Sahiwal constituencies.

    In an official notification, the ECP noted that floods have destroyed both public and private infrastructure, including school buildings that are typically used for polling stations and storage of election material.

    The commission added that district returning officers (DROs) had reported that polling staff, mostly drawn from government departments, was currently engaged in rescue and relief operations, making it impossible to conduct elections.

    “The decision to postpone the elections is in the public interest,” it said and added that polling would resume once the situation stabilises to ensure that elections are conducted with optimum security and full voter participation.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has reported that several rivers in the province remain in spate with substantial water inflows being observed at key headworks.

    According to the PDMA, the flow of water in the River Chenab at Marala Headworks has reached 117,000 cusecs, while at Khanki Headworks, it has risen to 248,000 cusecs. The discharge at Qadirabad Headworks stands at 385,000 cusecs and 554,000 cusecs at Chiniot Bridge.

    At Trimmu Headworks, the flow is measured at 239,000 cusecs, whereas in Ravi, the flow at Jassar is 80,000 cusecs. The same stands at 110,000 cusecs at Ravi Siphon and 108,000 cusecs at Shahdara. The flow at Balloki Headworks has reached 138,000 cusecs.

    In Sutlej, water discharge at Ganda Singh Wala is reported at 319,000 cusecs while at Islam Headworks, it stands at 102,000 cusecs. At Panjnad Headworks, the inflow has reached 224,000 cusecs.

  • Trump rebrands Department of Defense as ‘Department of War’

    Trump rebrands Department of Defense as ‘Department of War’

    President Donald Trump is changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the White House announced Thursday, insisting the rebrand will project a more powerful image.

    While the department’s official name is set in law, Trump in an executive order is authorizing use of the new label as a “secondary title” by his administration, a White House document said.

    Defense officials are permitted to use to use “secondary titles such as ‘Secretary of War,’…in official correspondence, public communications, ceremonial contexts, and non-statutory documents within the executive branch,” according to the document.

    It was not immediately clear when Trump planned to sign the order, but his public schedule for Friday said he would be signing executive orders in the afternoon as well as making an announcement in the Oval Office.

    The president, a marketing-savvy real estate developer, has repeatedly said in recent weeks that he was mulling such a change.

    Late last month, the 79-year-old Republican claimed the Defense Department’s title was too “defensive.”

    The Department of War “was the name when we won World War I, we won World War II, we won everything,” he told reporters on August 25.

    According to the White House document, the name change “conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve.”

    Established in the early days of US independence, the Department of War historically oversaw American land forces.

    A government reorganization after World War II brought it along with the US Navy and Air Force under the unified National Military Establishment, which in 1949 was retitled to the Department of Defense.

    “Restoring the name ‘Department of War’ will sharpen the focus of this Department on our national interest and signal to adversaries America’s readiness to wage war to secure its interests,” the White House document said.

    The move is the latest overhaul at the Pentagon since Trump took office in January and appointed former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the sprawling department.

    Hegseth, a combat veteran, has repeatedly touted the push to restore a “warrior ethos” in the department, and has lambasted prior administrations for policies he and Trump have derided as “woke.”

    Hegseth notably has sought to expel transgender troops from the military and change the names of bases that honored Confederate troops back to their original titles, after they were renamed under former president Joe Biden.

    While Trump’s order could potentially be rescinded by a future president, it “instructs the Secretary of War to recommend actions, to include legislative and executive actions, required to permanently rename” the department, the White House document said.

  • US to cut military aid for Europe: reports

    US to cut military aid for Europe: reports

    The United States plans to end long-running military assistance for European countries close to Russia, as President Donald Trump’s administration pushes the continent to play a greater role in its own defense, media reports said Thursday.

    The Washington Post quoted six people familiar with the matter as confirming the move, which the newspaper said would impact hundreds of millions of dollars in aid aimed at bolstering defenses against Russia.

    The Financial Times also reported the news, saying US officials informed European diplomats last week about Washington’s decision to halt funding for programs to train and equip eastern European militaries along Russia’s border.

    A White House official pointed to a January executive order by Trump on the reevaluation of US foreign aid but did not confirm specifics of the decision to cut security assistance.

    “This action has been coordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the president’s longstanding emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defense,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

    The decision to curb assistance for countries located near Russia comes as Trump struggles to end Moscow’s three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine.

    Trump has long been skeptical of both US defense spending in Europe and aid for Ukraine, pushing some of Washington’s closest allies to play a greater role on both fronts.

  • Matthew Breetzke creates history with five consecutive fifties on ODI debut

    Matthew Breetzke creates history with five consecutive fifties on ODI debut

    South African batter Matthew Breetzke has written his name into history books as the first player to score fifty or more in each of his first five One Day Internationals.

    The 25-year-old continued his remarkable run of form on Thursday, smashing 85 against England in the second ODI. With that knock, he set a unique record that no other batter had managed on debut in ODI cricket.

    Breetzke announced himself in February this year with a stunning 150 against New Zealand on debut. He followed it with 83 against Pakistan in his second match, 57 in his third, and 88 in his fourth. With his latest 85, the right-hander has piled up 463 runs in just five ODIs.

    Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu held the previous record, scoring four consecutive half-centuries after his ODI debut in 1987. Breetzke has now surpassed that mark to stand alone in cricket’s record books.

    South Africa also edged past England in a thriller to seal the series. The Proteas posted 330 for eight, then restricted the hosts to 325 for nine to clinch a five-run win and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

  • Rahim Pardesi reveals why he didn’t throw final punch after defeating Amadeusz Ferrari

    Rahim Pardesi reveals why he didn’t throw final punch after defeating Amadeusz Ferrari

    Rahim Pardesi stepped into the ring on August 30 at Misfits Boxing Masters 22 and secured a fourth-round victory over Amadeusz Ferrari. But what had fans talking wasn’t just the win, it was the moment Rahim chose not to land a final punch when his opponent was already falling.

    Fans quickly began asking why, and Rahim addressed the question in a video. “Everyone’s asking me the same question, why didn’t I throw the last punch when my opponent was falling down. Although there were things said by him that crossed the line, I thought if I dig that last punch, then there’s no difference between me and him. And that’s not how true champions behave,” he explained.

    Rahim continued, “As a Scottish Pakistani, we are warriors but at the same time, we have a heart of gold. You may hear negativity about Pakistanis in the media, but let me tell you, Pakistanis are humble, loving, peaceful people. Whatever happens in the ring will stay in the ring.” He thanked Misfits’ team, KSI, his sponsors, and his boxing coaches Cham and Adam from Mosley Boxing before promising fans he’ll be back with another “bang.”

    The reaction online was overwhelming. Singer Bilal Saeed praised him, writing, “Perdesi, a man with many talents ✌ .” 

    Another user commented, “True sportsmanship indeed ❤.” One fan cheered, “Our CHAMP ,” while another wrote, “That’s what boxing is about, go to war and love and respect after. Well done on an amazing win on the big stage @rahimpardesi ❤ .” Messages of pride poured in, with one fan saying, “Thanks to you for making our country proud in the international boxing competition, may God bless you❤,” while another added, “More power to you my brother ❤ .”

    Rahim Pardesi is a Pakistani-Scottish content creator, and YouTuber who became a household name through his iconic character Nasreen. His comedy sketches about desi life earned him over 3.3 million subscribers and more than a billion views on YouTube. 

    Always evolving, Rahim stepped into the boxing world in 2025, first defeating actor Feroze Khan and now Amadeusz Ferrari. 

    On the personal front, Rahim first tied the knot with Sumera Amer on 21 February 2010, and the couple had three children together: two sons, Subhan and Ahil, and a daughter, Habana. Later, he married his second wife, Somia, an otolaryngologist, with whom he has another son, Zayaan.