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  • Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia withdraws Diwali ad after backlash from Hindu groups

    Indian retailer Fabindia, which sells home furnishings, furniture, clothes and food, has withdrawn an ad about a new Diwali line after backlash from right-wing Hindu groups, reported BBC.

    Social media users accused the ad of using Urdu — a language spoken by many Muslims in India — to celebrate a collection for the Hindu festival of Diwali.

    #BoycottFabIndia trended on Twitter in India on Monday after Fabindia called Diwali “Jashn-e-Riwaaz” (celebration of tradition) in a tweet. Following the tweet, many social media users called for a boycott of the company, claiming that the Urdu phrase had been used to hurt sentiments of the Hindu community.

    A spokesperson from Fabindia told the Times of India newspaper that Jashn-e-Riwaaz was not its Diwali collection.

    The tweet, which went viral on Monday, said: “As we welcome the festival of love and light, Jashn-e-Riwaaz by Fabindia is a collection that beautifully pays homage to Indian culture.” The tweet has since been deleted and the ad has also been withdrawn.

    Fabindia’s deleted tweet

    This is not the first time an Indian brand had to withdraw ads following backlash from right-wing Hindu groups. Last year in October, popular Indian jewellery brand Tanishq had to withdraw an advertisement featuring an interfaith couple after a right-wing backlash on social media.

    A recent advert by clothing brand Manyaavar featuring Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt in a wedding attire also caused a social media furore. The ad, which appeared to question an old tradition (Kanya Daan), received widespread backlash as it was seen as an attack on Hindu wedding rituals.

  • Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Shahzeb Khanzada warns of December crisis, Hammad Azhar ignores question in heated debate

    Energy Minister Hammad Azhar appeared in Geo News’ programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath on Monday, during which the minister indulged in a heated debate with the host of the programme, Shahzeb Khanzada.

    During the show, Khanzada asked Azhar about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter season but the minister refused to answer the question. The minister kept refusing to answer the question about an expected gas crisis in December saying that he will appear again to talk about it.

    The federal minister said that he has only come to talk about the facts presented on Friday’s episode of the programme. The host mentioned that in Friday’s programme, he did talk about the expected shortfall of gas in the winter.

    The show on Friday, October 15, shared data from a report, compiled by Nepra, on the performance of the Ministry of Energy and asked the question: why is the ministry delaying the purchase of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is costing the public dearly.

    Khanzada claimed earlier that he had invited the minister on his show 27 times, but the minister refused to come.

    Earlier in Friday’s show, Khanzada warned of the expected gas shortage during the winter season as Pakistan will not have the required number of LNG cargoes. He explained that during the winter season the government will only have 10 LNG cargoes. The government has the capacity to have 14 LNG cargoes but in the winter, the demand for LNG is more than 14 cargoes.

  • US envoy to Afghanistan resigns two months after chaotic withdrawal

    US envoy to Afghanistan resigns two months after chaotic withdrawal

    United States envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is stepping down, the State Department has announced, less than two months after the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover of the country, reported Al Jazeera.

    Zalmay Khalilzad led the US dialogue with the Taliban. The Taliban took control in August after capturing the capital Kabul.

    In a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Zalmay Khalilzad acknowledged that “the political arrangement between the Afghan government and the Taliban did not go forward as envisaged”, reports BBC.

    “The reasons for this are too complex and I will share my thoughts in the coming days and weeks,” he wrote, saying he was stepping aside as the US entered the “new phase of our Afghanistan policy”.

    He added that he was “saddened” for the Afghan people given the current outcome.

    Khalilzad will be replaced by his deputy, Tom West, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Monday, noting that West will work closely with the US embassy, which is now based in Doha, on US interests in Afghanistan.

  • VIDEO: ‘Buddha ho gaya hai’: Babar Azam to Shadab Khan

    VIDEO: ‘Buddha ho gaya hai’: Babar Azam to Shadab Khan

    Pakistan crushed West Indies by seven wickets in their T20 World Cup 2021 warm-up fixture in Dubai on Monday.

    Apart from Pakistan’s dominance with both bat and ball, the match also saw a hilarious banter involving Babar Azam and Shadab Khan.

    During the first over of West Indies’ innings, Lendl Simmons took a quick single on the second ball, prompting the Pakistan captain to point out Shadab’s lack of agility on the field.

    “Buddha ho gaya hai. Jawani vich tera run out si (You’ve gotten old otherwise it would have been a wicket for you if you were young),” stump mic caught Babar as saying.

    This video caught Twitterati’s attention and got viral in minutes.

    Pakistan will open their T20 World Cup 2021 campaign against arch-rivals India in Dubai on October 24.

  • Kumail Nanjiani dons Pakistani designer’s customised attire at ‘Eternals’ premiere

    Kumail Nanjiani dons Pakistani designer’s customised attire at ‘Eternals’ premiere

    Eternals’ premiere in Los Angeles turned out to be a star-studded affair with stars like Angelina Jolie gracing the red carpet. Kumail Nanjiani who is a Pakistani-American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and podcast host attended the premiere in a Sherwani.

    Nanjiani wore a Sherwani by a Pakistani designer Umar Sayeed.

    The Stuber star revealed to the Hollywood Reporter, “I wanted to wear a Sherwani because 1. They look awesome and 2. My costume in the film always reminded me of Sherwanis. And I wanted to use a designer in Pakistan, not just a Pakistani designer in the U.S. So I called my mom, she gave me names of three amazing designers in Pakistan.”

    His stylist, Jeanne Yang, and the actor ultimately connected with the House of Umar Sayeed, a designer based in Karachi, Pakistan, via Instagram.

    Directed by Oscar-winning Chinese director Chloé Zhao (The Rider, Nomadland), Eternals is the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • PDM announces nationwide protests against inflation from October 20

    PDM announces nationwide protests against inflation from October 20

    Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday announced countrywide protests against rising inflation and poor economic policies from October 20, reports Dawn.

    Speaking to the media after the PDM meeting, Maulana Fazl said that the nation is suffering due to high inflation, adding that the PDM stands with the public shoulder to shoulder.

    “Rallies and demonstrations will begin from the district level while all PDM component parties will meet at the provincial level. PDM will lead rallies and demonstrations, stand shoulder to shoulder with people and get them their due rights,” Maulana Fazl said.

    “We will go a step further and hold wheel-jams and long march, but step by step,” he said and also called for fresh general elections in the country.

    “We are not discussing local bodies polls – the main issue is holding of free and fair general elections in the country. There is no reason of holding local government elections when there is no legitimate government in the country,” said Maulana Fazl.

  • VIDEO: Babar shows ultimate sportsman spirit by calling back Shimron Hetmyer

    VIDEO: Babar shows ultimate sportsman spirit by calling back Shimron Hetmyer

    Pakistan Cricket Team’s captain, Babar Azam, showed the ultimate sportsman spirit as he called back West Indian batter, Shimron Hetmyer, to bat during the 2021 T20 World Cup warm-up match on Monday.

    Hetmyer was adjudged out after he was caught by wicket-keeper, Mohammad Rizwan, off the bowling of right-arm pacer, Hasan Ali. While the decision looked correct, Hetmyer said that he did not touch the ball with his bat and complained that he was wrongfully given out.

    Babar decided to go against the decision of the umpire and decided to bring the batter back to the crease as the batter could not take a review because it was not allowed in the warm-up matches.

    Take a look:

    Pakistan brushed defending champions West Indies aside in their first warm-up game, crushing Kieron Pollard’s side by seven wickets with 27 balls to spare. In a comprehensive all-round bowling performance, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Imad Wasim, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali found themselves amongst the wickets while keeping the run-scoring down, before a majestic half-century from Babar Azam, and an unbeaten 24-ball 46 from Fakhar Zaman put West Indies out of their misery.

    West Indies had won the toss and opted to bat first, but found themselves tied down by a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.

    Pakistan will face South Africa in their next warm-up match on Wednesday. While the Shaheens will be playing their first match of T20 World Cup on Sunday against India.

  • ‘All is settled, new DG ISI notification to be issued this week’: Fawad

    ‘All is settled, new DG ISI notification to be issued this week’: Fawad

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, “All the matters have been resolved” and announced that the notification of the new director-general (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency would be issued this week.

    Chaudhry denied speculations that a new summary with names of candidates for the position of ISI chief had been sent to the Prime Minister (PM), reported Dawn.

    While mocking the Opposition, Fawad said, “It [Opposition] is thinking that there are some differences between the government and security institutions but its euphoria is gradually fading.”

    Fawad also invited the Opposition to work collectively with the government but rejected any possibility of holding discussions with its leaders on corruption cases.

    On inflation, Chaudhry said, “We don’t live on another planet. If there is a worldwide increase in the prices of oil, then we will also witness a hike in the prices.”

  • Eid Milad-ul-Nabi: PM, President extend greetings to nation

    On the occasion of Eid Milad-ul-Nabi: Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi, among others, have extended their greetings to the nation.

    Imran Khan, in his message said that the arrival of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) in the world brought a revolution in every aspect of human society, Radio Pakistan has reported.

    He said it was the affect of the life of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) that Arab tribes who were victims of internal chaos for centuries, emerged as a nation.

    The Prime Minister said in this state system, minorities were protected, poor and needy were taken care of and rights and obligations of the state and citizens were determined.

    He said the government has formed Rahmat-tulil-Aalameen Authority to apprise the people and the world about the life and teachings of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

    President Dr Arif Alvi in his message said that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) united people for the Oneness of Allah Almighty and it is his character that made worst enemies as each other’s well-wishers.

    The President said that Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) established such a welfare state where the rich and poor enjoyed equal rights.

    Lauding the efforts of the present government in turning Pakistan into a model welfare state on the patterns of Riasat-e-Madina, President Alvi hoped that all resources will be utilized for this purpose.

  • Sadaf Fawad, Fatima Ahmad glamp-up Atif Aslam’s better half Sara’s extravagant birthday celebrations

    Sadaf Fawad, Fatima Ahmad glamp-up Atif Aslam’s better half Sara’s extravagant birthday celebrations

    Singer Atif Aslam’s wife Sara Bharwana recently celebrated her birthday with friends and family members.

    Bharwana took over husband’s Instagram on Friday to pen herself a sweet birthday note on behalf of the singer.

    “You are undoubtedly the most funniest, cutest , hardworking , smartest , wittiest , beautiful person I have ever known,” began Sara in the hilarious post.

    She quipped, “The other person in this picture is my Husband Marrying me was the best decision of your life – I love you Oh wait … happy birthday to me,” adding partying face emojis.

    Sara’s post invited birthday wishes from Atif’s fans in only a few hours.

    The Aadat singer also a hosted a birthday party for his wife Sarah. The guest list included Fawad Khan’s wife Sadaf and Ahmad Ali Butt’s better half Fatima.