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  • Adnan Siddiqui joins viral ‘aura farming’ dance, dares Humayun Saeed to keep it rolling

    Adnan Siddiqui joins viral ‘aura farming’ dance, dares Humayun Saeed to keep it rolling

    What happens when a legendary Pakistani actor jumps on the trend of the year? Adnan Siddiqui just gave fans the answer, and it is nothing short of iconic. The Tamasha host posted a video of himself recreating the viral “aura farming” dance, originally made famous by 11-year-old Indonesian sensation Rayyan Arkan Dikha.

    In his caption, Adnan confessed he had no clue about aura farming but couldn’t resist trying the smooth boat dance that took over the internet. He wrote: “Aura farming? I don’t know about that… But I know this boat dance was too smooth not to try. Major props to 11-year-old Rayyan, the undisputed king of cool, for blessing the internet with these moves. And now, I dedicate this ‘performance’ to my dear friend Humayun Saeed, who I know won’t resist the chance to top up his aura levels Humayun, your mission: recreate the dance, post it, tag me, and pass the baton to someone else. Let’s keep the chain alive and the rizz rolling!”

    The challenge has left many fans waiting to see if Humayun Saeed will accept it.

    As expected, the comments section lit up. One user poked fun at his hosting gig on Tamasha, writing: “Badshah after eliminating Ghania ” while another joked, “Badshah after deducting prize money for no reason.” 

    Others couldn’t stop laughing at his moves: “Doctor kya khahty thek ho jay gy? ” Another fan left a cheeky warning: “Disclaimer: Please don’t try this at home .”

    The original “aura farming” dance became a worldwide sensation after Rayyan Arkan Dikha stood at the edge of a speeding boat during a traditional Pacu Jalur race in Indonesia, performing effortless hand gestures and blowing kisses with unmatched swag. 

    Social media dubbed it “aura farming,” and soon celebrities across the globe started copying the moves.

  • Indian team likely to have no jersey sponsor for Asia Cup 2025

    Indian team likely to have no jersey sponsor for Asia Cup 2025

    Indian media reports suggest that the Indian cricket team might compete in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 without a jersey sponsor.

    According to Indian media reports, the search for a new sponsor was discussed at an emergency Apex Council meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The board admitted that securing a replacement just days before the Asia Cup would be a major challenge.

    In contrast, the BCCI is working on plans to finalise a long-term sponsorship deal that will extend until the ICC ODI World Cup 2027. Until then, the team may have to compete in the Asia Cup without a sponsor logo on its jerseys.

    The development follows the termination of BCCI’s sponsorship deal with fantasy sports company Dream11 after the Indian Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, which imposes a complete ban on real-money online games.

    The bill has significantly impacted the gaming industry, forcing Dream11 to end its agreement with the BCCI. This termination has reportedly caused heavy financial losses to the board.

    The sponsorship agreement between BCCI and Dream11 was signed in 2023 and was scheduled to continue until 2026. The deal was worth $44 million (approximately ₹358 crore).

  • ‘I am selected for Pakistan Idol’: Newcomer stuns with ‘Saiyaara’ cover

    ‘I am selected for Pakistan Idol’: Newcomer stuns with ‘Saiyaara’ cover

    Hamza Khan, a young singer with just 100 Instagram followers, has been selected for Pakistan Idol 2025. He shared a video singing the title track ‘Saiyaara’ from a 2025 Indian movie, captioning it: “POV: I am selected for Pakistan Idol.”

    Pakistan Idol 2025, the country’s biggest music competition, is making a grand comeback after 11 years on Geo TV, presented by MHL. 

    This season introduces a new judging panel featuring Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Bilal Maqsood, Zeb Bangash, and Fawad Khan, while Syed Shafaat Ali will host the show. 

    The platform has launched countless careers, offering young talent nationwide a chance to shine and gain global recognition.

  • ‘I shouldn’t have lost my temper’: Azma Bokhari says she regrets her statement

    ‘I shouldn’t have lost my temper’: Azma Bokhari says she regrets her statement

    Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari on Thursday regretted her recent harsh remarks passed in the wake of online trolling on Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz’s clothes.

    Bokhari’s lament came days after she, during a press conference in Lahore, passed objectionable remarks, saying that mothers of those commenting on Maryam Nawaz’s attire “do not consider wearing appropriate clothes”.

    “I am in pain from giving such a statement. I should have expressed restraint,” Bokhari stated, speaking on a private media channel’s talk show.

    When informed that she should not have responded to trolls at their level, as she holds a ministerial post, Bokhari admitted, “I should not have lost my temper, which I realised later.”

    Recalling the Thursday visit of the chief minister to Lahore’s Shahdara to oversee relief measures amid the ongoing flood situation in the River Ravi, Bokhari said when Maryam Nawaz visited the affected area on a boat, “an organised propaganda” was carried out against the provincial executive chief.

    When the host further informed Bokhari that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as well as Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) do not condemn the trolling of females, she replied that her party does not endorse trolling, adding, “We do not have any propaganda cell.”

    “Why don’t they [trolls] come out of what CM Maryam is wearing? Why don’t they talk about her performance or how she is serving the people of Punjab?” she concluded by asking.

  • FIA suspends Torkham immigration officer for filming women

    FIA suspends Torkham immigration officer for filming women

    The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has suspended an officer at the Torkham border immigration centre after a video surfaced showing him filming female travellers without their consent.

    The incident sparked outrage on social media after the video went viral. It showed women without veils being recorded during immigration procedures.

    According to media reports, quoting an FIA spokesperson, the officer identified as Ehtesham-ul-Haq was found recording travellers during duty hours. Following the revelation, the FIA director general ordered his immediate suspension and initiated a departmental inquiry. The FIA Peshawar Zone director has also been instructed to submit a comprehensive report on the incident.

    “The FIA is committed to ensuring a respectful and dignified immigration experience for all travelers,” the spokesperson said. “Any misuse of authority or violation of duty will result in strict disciplinary action.”

    The agency added that it is working on modernising immigration services and maintaining professional standards. “All officials must treat citizens with courtesy and follow the law. Any breach of rules will lead to action without discrimination,” the spokesperson stated.

  • Chitral student’s death sparks probe as family alleges abduction and murder

    Chitral student’s death sparks probe as family alleges abduction and murder

    The death of a 22-year-old student in Chitral is being investigated after her family claimed she was kidnapped and murdered, disputing reports that indicated she committed suicide. 

    The student, Shehla from Nishku, Morkho in Upper Chitral, was pursuing a BS in English at Government College Upper Chitral. She went missing on August 14, and her body was discovered a week later in a stream in the Bumburet locality of Lower Chitral.

    Initially, law enforcement suggested the incident might be a suicide, but her father, Muhammad Yaqoob, filed a complaint insisting she had been killed by a local individual. An FIR was submitted at the Morkho police station on August 21, first under abduction and later amended to include murder charges under Section 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    Upper Chitral DPO Hameedullah Khan verified that mobile phone records indicated Shehla had been in contact with a young man. Police sources mentioned that she had recently become engaged to another person, which reportedly upset the young man. The DPO noted that Shehla had been experiencing harassment through phone calls and appeared distressed in the days preceding her disappearance.

    Locals asserted that she had jumped into a canal on August 14, the day she went missing. Her family reported her missing and filed an abduction case a week later. On August 22, police found her body and classified the incident as murder.

    An initial post-mortem suggested drowning as the cause of death, although forensic samples have been sent to Khyber Medical College and the Punjab Forensic Science Agency to establish whether there were signs of violence. Authorities also confirmed that mobile data had been retrieved and was under investigation.

    Her father stated that the family would refuse to accept the suicide narrative. Speaking to journalists, he mentioned his daughter had dreams for her future and demanded accountability for what he characterised as cruelty against her.

    The case only gained public attention after it circulated on social media, leading to a broader public response and urging local officials to conduct an investigation.

  • Govt finalises UAE takeover of Islamabad airport management

    Govt finalises UAE takeover of Islamabad airport management

    The federal government’s Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions (CCoIGCT) on Thursday reportedly approved a proposal to transfer the management of Islamabad International Airport to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under a government-to-government (G2G) arrangement.

    Reports reveal that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the CCoIGCT meeting, wherein the decision to transfer management to the UAE was reached. Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, and key officials from relevant government departments also attended the meeting.

    During the meeting, the committee approved the process for a negotiation team to work towards finalising the deal with the UAE. Reports suggest that the Prime Minister’s adviser on privatisation will lead the aforementioned negotiation team and will iron out the details of the deal in consultation with the privatisation, finance, defence, and law ministries. 

    As per the details, the decision to relinquish managerial control over the airport is part of the federal government’s attempt to minimise losses incurred by the state’s entities, boost these institutions’ efficiency, and attract foreign stakeholders to invest in and modernise state assets. Reports suggest that similar arrangements are also under consideration by the federal government, which could witness the outsourcing of other major airports in Pakistan.

    According to reports, Islamabad International Airport had been riddled with operational inefficiencies since its inauguration in April 2018. Moreover, the airport had also been beset by financial constraints since its inception, rationalising the authorities’ decision to hand over managerial control to the UAE.

    Lawmakers and authorities alike believe that the G2G deal with the UAE, regarding Islamabad International Airport, could restore foreign investors’ confidence within Pakistan’s aviation sector, potentially drawing in investments.  This is because authorities expect the new managerial team to bring global expertise to the table and ensure that passengers receive better services.  

    It merits a mention that the federal government did not attempt to outsource the operations of Islamabad International Airport under an open bidding process as was initially planned. The government chose to pursue a G2G model instead, possibly in anticipation of bids falling far below an acceptable amount. 

    The federal government has been dismayed similarly before, when Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) televised auction attempt drew in only one, abysmally low, bid of Rs10 billion against the minimum set price of Rs85 billion from a real estate developer.

  • Fresh monsoon spell to bring heavy rains across Pakistan

    Fresh monsoon spell to bring heavy rains across Pakistan

    A new monsoon spell is expected across different regions of Pakistan starting August 29, with heavy rain likely to last through September 2, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.

    Strong winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are likely to affect northern regions from August 29. Additionally, a westerly wave is expected to move into the upper and central areas starting August 30, bringing widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

    In Azad Jammu and Kashmir, rain is forecast for Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli, Bhimber, and Mirpur from August 29 to September 2. Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan, including Diamer, Astore, Ghizer, Skardu, Hunza, Gilgit, Ghanche, and Shigar, are also expected to see rain and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy downpours possible from August 30 to September 1.

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to experience rain and thunderstorms across many districts, including Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan between August 29 and September 1.

    In Punjab, where floodwaters have already affected large areas, significant rainfall is predicted in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Galiyat, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Wazirabad, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Mianwali, Khushab, Sargodha, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Faisalabad, and Sahiwal from August 29 to September 2. The PMD also noted that districts such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, Layyah, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, and Rahimyar Khan will be affected from the night of August 29 to September 2.

    In Sindh, rain is expected in Mithi, Tharparkar, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, and Umerkot on August 30 and 31. Several districts in Balochistan, including Barkhan, Musakhel, Loralai, Sibi, Zhob, Kalat, and Khuzdar, are forecast to receive rainfall between August 30 and September 1.

    The Pakistan Meteorological Department has warned of potential flash floods in Kashmir, northern Punjab, and certain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It also warned of possible landslides and mudslides in hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat, and Kashmir. Urban flooding alerts have been issued for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Mardan from the night of August 29 through September 1.

  • Pakistan to witness rare blood moon for the first time in history

    Pakistan to witness rare blood moon for the first time in history

    For the first time in the country’s history, a blood moon will be visible in Pakistan next month, the Meteorological Department said Thursday.

    According to reports, a total lunar eclipse will take place on the night between September 7 and 8, 2025. The event will begin at 8:28 PM with the start of the penumbral phase, followed by a partial lunar eclipse at 9:27 PM. The eclipse will reach its peak at 11:12 PM, and the partial phase will end at 12:57 AM. The total lunar eclipse will conclude at 1:55 AM on September 8.

    The eclipse will last for 5 hours and 27 minutes, making it one of the longest of the decade. During the eclipse, the moon will turn a deep red colour, creating the spectacular phenomenon known as a blood moon.

    This celestial event will not only be visible across Pakistan but also in most parts of Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific region. However, it will not be visible in the United States.

    Astronomers have called the September 2025 eclipse a rare opportunity for skywatchers, as around 88 percent of the world’s population will be able to witness it. Experts explain that the blood-red colour occurs when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, blocking direct sunlight. The light that passes through Earth’s atmosphere scatters, allowing only red wavelengths to reach the moon’s surface.

    Earlier this year, the first lunar eclipse of 2025 occurred on March 14 but was not visible in Pakistan as it happened during the daytime.

  • SC overturns conviction of man jailed 12 years for raping daughter

    SC overturns conviction of man jailed 12 years for raping daughter

    The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted a man who had been in prison for 12 years on charges of raping his daughter, citing contradictions in the prosecution’s case.

    In its August 26 order, accessed by a private news channel, Justice Ali Baqar Najafi stated that the prosecution’s evidence “was deficient of trustworthiness” and was therefore rejected.

    “The sentence and conviction of the appellant is set aside. He be released forthwith if not required in any other case,” the order stated.
     

    The case dates back to 2010, when the suspect’s minor daughter, then aged six or seven, told her mother and maternal uncle that “her own father had committed rape with her”.

    According to the order, that year on October 2, the girl went to her mother crying and said her father had done a “wrong act” with her, leaving her in severe pain.

    Following the allegation, the father was arrested and handed life imprisonment under Section 376(1) of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with a fine of Rs35,000.

    In 2013, the Lahore High Court upheld the punishment. 

    The convict appealed the LHC’s decision to the Supreme Court, where a three-judge panel heard the case.

    The SC noted in its ruling that although the mother had stated the daughter had been raped at 2:00 pm, the victim’s own account cast doubt on her credibility and required corroboration.

    The order highlighted further contradictions, stating: “According to the complainant (mother), the victim was brought to the hospital where she was examined in her presence. 

    However, the doctor’s opinion is self-contradictory as in her examination in chief she stated that the victim was subjected to rape but in the cross-examination she categorically stated that on the basis of chemical examiner’s report, no rape was found to have been committed with her.”

    Justice Najafi added that this raised “a serious question on the credibility of the statement of the victim and the possibility of false implication of the appellant”, noting that a dispute between the complainant and the accused had also been recorded during the proceedings.

    The judge further underlined that the trial court had failed to apply the Rationality Test before recording the child’s statement. The order read: “a child is a competent witness if he/she passes a standard of sufficient maturity of understanding about the facts which were to be narrated by her,” stressing that such statements required corroboration.

    Sexual abuse remains widespread in Pakistan despite strong anti-rape laws that prescribe the death penalty or imprisonment ranging from 10 to 25 years.

    According to data compiled last year by Sahil, an NGO working on child sexual abuse, most perpetrators are either acquaintances, neighbours, or family members. In March this year, four men who raped and murdered an 11-year-old girl in Bahawalpur were found to be her relatives, including two maternal uncles.