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  • Trump’s South Asia nominee backs ties with Pakistan, stresses peace after India clashes

    Trump’s South Asia nominee backs ties with Pakistan, stresses peace after India clashes

    Paul Kapur, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the key role of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday for his nomination hearing, where he outlined the relationships and opportunities the United States would engage in, including with Pakistan, if confirmed for the position.

    Commenting on Pakistan, Trump’s Indian-origin nominee stated his plan to pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to US interests while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration “in trade and investment”.

    Regarding India, he remarked that Washington, DC and New Delhi share a “host of common interests”, including ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region that is “not dominated by China”, expanding bilateral trade, and building an economic relationship that is “more symmetrical and more profitable”.

    Terming the US relationships with South and Central Asian countries as ones that “hold great promise”, Kapur said that with effective policy, the region can flourish and enable the US to achieve Secretary Rubio’s goal of making the country safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

    He commended the role of US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their engagement in avoiding what he called “a costly conflict”, alluding to last month’s military and diplomatic standoff between Islamabad and New Delhi following the Pahalgam incident on April 22.

    “If confirmed, I will continue to promote long-standing US security interests with India and Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and the fight against terrorism,” he remarked.

    Declaring Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan “important for stability in the Indo-Pacific region”, the US president’s nominee said that he will advocate for enhanced US cooperation with these countries to bolster country security, “counterbalance China’s influence”, and expand trade.

    Commenting on Afghanistan, Kapur said that, if successfully appointed, he will support President Trump and Secretary Rubio in bringing home wrongly detained Americans. 

    “I also will work to ensure that the country never again becomes a springboard for terrorism threatening the homeland,” he added.

    On Central Asia, he stressed that the US seeks to advance the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of regional states, adding, “If confirmed, I will leverage the C5 plus1 process as well as bilateral formats and pursue cooperation in areas including energy, critical minerals, counterterrorism, the fight against transnational crime, and the development of physical and digital infrastructure.”

    The opportunities in South and Central Asia that I’ve just outlined hold tremendous promise. If confirmed, I will pursue them energetically to realise their potential to enhance the safety, strength, and prosperity of the American people.”

    Security expert and author Paul Kapur was nominated by President Donald Trump for the position of Assistant Secretary of State in February this year. If his nomination is confirmed, Kapur would succeed Donald Lu, who completed his term on January 17, 2025.

  • Ali Raza responds after Atiqa Odho’s viral advice to ‘wax your chest’

    Ali Raza responds after Atiqa Odho’s viral advice to ‘wax your chest’

    Actor Ali Raza has responded to Atiqa Odho’s criticism over his appearance in the drama Dastak, sparking debate over on-screen styling and double standards in the industry.

    Atiqa criticised Raza’s clothing choices during a recent interview with Nadia Khan and Marina Khan, singling out his unbuttoned shirts. “Women are constantly instructed to wear long sleeves and follow strict wardrobe rules,” she said. “Why shouldn’t the same standards apply to men?”

    She clarified that she didn’t object to bold styling in general, but questioned its relevance in family dramas. “What really bothers me in Dastak is Ali Raza’s partially unbuttoned shirt,” she said. “It’s not necessary to show a hairy chest on screen.”

    The conversation then took a playful turn as she joked, “Please, do wax your chest. Hairy chests are the biggest turn-off. I can even take you to the salon. He’s a good actor, good-looking and all, but this is a big no-no.”

    Marina Khan shared her opinions, citing Shamoon Abbasi and other male performers who have had comparable appearances on television.

    Ali Raza later addressed the remarks while commenting on Instagram under a clip of the interview. He wrote: “Lagta hai baat toṛi galat jagah kar di inho ne. #AwamNhiChorayGy.”

    His response received support from followers. One user replied, “Yes, nahi choray gy,” while another commented, “Ali, we just love the way you are.”

  • Video of King Charles hugging British Pakistani tailor draws mixed reactions

    Video of King Charles hugging British Pakistani tailor draws mixed reactions

    A recent video posted on Instagram shows King Charles III hugging British Pakistani tailor Imran Khan during a meeting.

    In the video, Khan is seen presenting some of his handmade pieces to the King and mentions that the outfit he is wearing is also entirely handcrafted. During the exchange, King Charles embraces him warmly.

    Khan, who runs the tailoring label @ik.collections, has designed bespoke suits for the King on multiple occasions. In this meeting, King Charles stitched the final thread on a jacket that will be donated to The King’s Trust charity. Khan also gifted a handcrafted blazer to the King for his personal wardrobe.

    While the gesture was widely celebrated as a recognition of British Pakistani craftsmanship, not everyone was convinced. Some social media users questioned the authenticity of the hug, calling it “AI-generated” or “too polished”. Others debated whether it was appropriate for a royal to engage so casually.

    Reactions ranged from proud support to outright scepticism, with one user asking whether such a moment should truly be considered an honour. Another commented, “This looks so fake. Is this AI?”

  • How much tax will you pay on digital transactions? Here are the details

    How much tax will you pay on digital transactions? Here are the details

    The federal government on Tuesday imposed a broad range of taxes on e-commerce platforms, digital service providers, and courier companies in an effort to generate Rs64 billion during the next fiscal year. The new policy establishes a tiered tax structure for online transactions and applies to both domestic and foreign enterprises operating in Pakistan’s digital economy.

    Under the proposed structure, transactions on local e-commerce platforms will be taxed based on their value. Transactions up to Rs10,000 will be taxed at one percent, while those less than Rs25,000 would be charged at two percent. A reduced fee of 0.25 percent will be applied to transactions exceeding Rs25,000.

    Foreign vendors who deliver digital goods and services to Pakistani users, whether physically or online, will be taxed at five percent. Banks have been designated as withholding agents, and they will be responsible for deducting the tax before transferring funds. The tax also applies to digital networks with a Pakistani user base, such as YouTube and social media services. 


    A new levy, called the Digital Transactions Proceeds levy, has also been implemented. This applies to digital transactions, and courier providers and banks are now accountable for guaranteeing payment chain compliance. The amended tax laws also cover digitally delivered services such as cloud computing, online education, telemedicine, streaming, online banking, and remote accounting.

    The courier industry, particularly cash-on-delivery (CoD) services, will also undergo adjustments. The tax rate for goods delivered via COD is 0.25 percent for electronics, two percent for clothes, and one percent for other things. Courier firms will collect these taxes at the time of delivery. 


    To increase control, the government has required that online marketplaces, payment intermediaries, and courier services provide detailed accounts to tax authorities. These declarations must include information about sellers engaged in digital transactions and services. Failure to comply would result in penalties, including a Rs1 million punishment for platforms that allow unregistered vendors to operate and a fine of 100% of the unpaid tax for withholding agents who fail to remit collected taxes.


    The meaning of “e-commerce” has also been broadened. It now includes all online transactions, including those made using COD. In keeping with this, the withholding tax on e-commerce sales has been increased from one percent to two percent, and all online vendors will be required to register with the tax authorities.

  • Haroon Rashid rates Love Guru: Glossy, charming but not fully convincing

    Haroon Rashid rates Love Guru: Glossy, charming but not fully convincing

    This summer’s major Pakistani release Love Guru has been receiving mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, and veteran BBC journalist Haroon Rashid has now shared his honest take on the film, calling it “largely enjoyable.” 

    In a detailed review on BBC Sounds, Haroon praised the chemistry between leads Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed.

    “I thought the romance between Humayun and Mahira was really heartwarming. It was a sweet, simple premise, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performances.”

    He added that Mahira brought an effortless charm to the screen:

    “Without having to do much, she lights up the frame. I felt that radiate throughout the entire film.”

    Haroon also appreciated Humayun’s versatility as an actor, “Humayun is such an experienced performer that he can very easily adapt to different characters.”

    Addressing the criticism that the lead actors were “too old” for their roles, he disagreed. “They come with a wealth of experience and slide into those roles with absolute ease.”

    He also praised the film’s high production value, noting that it looked “international, glossy, and cinematic,” especially when compared to the usual TV-style visuals often associated with Pakistani films.

    However, not everything hit the mark. Haroon pointed out that the film felt unnecessarily long, “It could have been at least 30 minutes shorter. It dragged out in the second half.”

    He also questioned the emotional arc of the storyline, “For a film built on a man cheating women, there wasn’t enough of a redemption arc to make the love story believable. I need to be convinced that a character has thoroughly learnt their lesson before they earn true happiness.”

    Despite the flaws, Haroon concluded that he enjoyed Love Guru “to a large extent.”

    Viewers echoed similar sentiments online. One fan commented, “Spot on! agree with the review”

    Another added, “Exactly what I felt. The cinematography was amazing, but Humayun’s character was a red flag. Mahira’s character left a good fiancé without any real reason, there was no redemption for Humayun”

  • ‘They went too far’: Elon Musk apologises for posts about Trump

    ‘They went too far’: Elon Musk apologises for posts about Trump

    Billionaire Elon Musk has apologised for his recent tirade against United States (US) President Donald Trump.

    “I apologize for some of my posts last week about President Trump. They went too far,” He said in a post on his X account.

    The post comes a week after a public feud between the two made headlines across the globe.

    It all began when Elon Musk criticized a large government spending bill supported by Donald Trump. Musk called it a “big ugly spending bill” and said, “Shame on those who voted for it.” He also brought up Trump’s old tweets from 2012 and 2013, where Trump had criticized government debt. Musk shared those tweets on his X account and sarcastically wrote, “Wise words” and “I couldn’t agree more,” making it clear he thought Trump was being hypocritical.

    The situation escalated when Musk claimed in a post that Donald Trump was in the Jeffrey Epstein files and said that was the reason the files had not been made public. He ended that post with a message directly to Trump, telling him to “have a nice day.” In another post, when someone called for Trump to be impeached, Musk simply replied, “Yes.”

    These comments quickly gained attention, and Trump responded. During a public event, he said Musk had “gone crazy” and claimed he had asked Musk to leave. Trump also hinted at ending government contracts and subsidies for Musk’s companies, which could affect businesses like SpaceX and Tesla.

    Musk did not stay silent. He replied on X, calling Trump ungrateful and said, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” At one point, Musk even mentioned that he might ground SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which works closely with NASA, although he did not follow through with that threat.

    As days passed, the tension seemed to cool. Musk quietly deleted some of his most controversial posts, including the one about Epstein and the one supporting impeachment. Then, about a week after the feud began, he posted an apology on X. He wrote, “I apologize for some of my posts last week about President Trump. They went too far.”

  • PCB has dropped big names from selection committee, squad: reports

    PCB has dropped big names from selection committee, squad: reports

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made significant changes to its selection committee and T20 squad. According to reports, former Test players Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have been removed from the selection panel, with 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht added in their place.

    Reports suggest that Sarfaraz joined the recent selection meeting via video call from England, while Sikandar Bakht was present in Lahore. Others in attendance included head coach Mike Hesson, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, and selectors Aaqib Javed and Aleem Dar.

    The new committee has made several bold decisions. Three major players, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, have been left out of the upcoming T20 squad. Pakistan is expected to play a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in July, followed by matches against the West Indies in the USA.

    Despite Shaheen’s strong performance in the recent PSL, reports suggest that concerns about his attitude were a key factor in his exclusion. Babar and Rizwan have not featured in a T20I since the 2024 series against South Africa.

    Sarfaraz and Sikandar have now attended two consecutive selection meetings. While no official announcement has been made regarding their exact roles, reports indicate that Sarfaraz is likely to assume greater responsibilities owing to his experience and strong rapport with players. Since retiring from international cricket, he has expressed interest in working closely with the PCB.

    Meanwhile, Azhar Ali is now involved in youth development programmes, and Asad Shafiq is focusing on the Karachi High-Performance Centre and the women’s selection committee.

    Sikandar Bakht returns to the PCB setup after a long hiatus. He last served as a team analyst in 2003. Known for his outspoken views on cricket, he is reportedly a trusted figure within the current setup.

    The PCB is expected to make official announcements regarding these changes soon. For now, the focus remains on building a refreshed T20 side for the upcoming international fixtures.

  • US ‘hopeful’ for end to Kashmir issue during Trump’s presidency

    US ‘hopeful’ for end to Kashmir issue during Trump’s presidency

    US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has expressed hope that the Kashmir dispute might be resolved during President Donald Trump’s tenure in office.

    During the weekly press briefing on Tuesday, a journalist posed a question: “After the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, President Trump offered to mediate on the Kashmir dispute. So, what kind of follow-up are we expecting? How the state department moves forward?” referring to the possibility of inviting the leadership of both countries or supporting the UN resolution on Kashmir.

    In response, the spokesperson said that while she could not speak about President Trump’s intentions or plans, his actions are always “aimed at resolving long-standing international disputes.” 

    “So, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he’d want to manage something like that,” Bruce added, stating that “he is and has been the only one to bring certain people to the table to have conversations that nobody thought were possible.”.

    She called it “an interesting time,” with the conflict nearing a possible resolution, and thanked “God, but also Secretary Rubio, President Trump, and the vice president.”

    Tammy Bruce asserted that this is “a time filled with hope.”

    When the ceasefire was agreed, India and Pakistan were expected to meet at a neutral venue to sort out unresolved issues. However, there’s been no clear progress, and all sides have stayed silent on what’s next.

  • Couple arrested in case linked to death of 13-year-old domestic worker

    Couple arrested in case linked to death of 13-year-old domestic worker

    A 13-year-old girl working as a domestic worker in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Rahim Yar Khan died after allegedly being subjected to physical abuse, local police have confirmed. 

    District Police Officer (DPO) Irfan Samo said the girl, identified as Samiya, was a resident of Kotla Pathan, a nearby area.For the past three years, she had been employed at the house of a man named Shahram.

    The DPO claims that the girl’s death was caused by physical abuse at the hands of the couple she worked for. 

    Her mother was informed of her “sudden” death, and the body was given to her late at night wrapped in a shroud.

    Upon receiving the body, the mother noticed visible signs of violence.
     

    The mother notified the police, and a raid was conducted. Despite attempts to flee, the couple were successfully taken into custody.

    Authorities said the girl’s body was handed over to the family after an autopsy.

    The initial medical report confirmed signs of severe violence from head to toe on the child’s body.

  • PCB grants foreign leagues NOC to 13 players

    PCB grants foreign leagues NOC to 13 players

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the names of players who have been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in some of the top international cricket leagues this summer.

    Among these are Pakistan’s top centrally contracted players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.

    According to PCB’s policy, players who are under central contracts are only allowed to take part in two foreign leagues within a calendar year. This rule helps the board manage players’ workload and is the main reason why some players are either approved or denied NOCs.

    The list includes players taking part in several leagues around the world. Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan are set to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). Mohammad Amir, Shan Masood, Kashif Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khawaja Khurram and Hasan Ali have been cleared to play County Cricket in England. Meanwhile, Khawaja Nafay and Hasan Nawaz will participate in the Global Super League and Muhammad Nawaz and Hassan Khan are set to join the Caribbean Premier League.

    Meanwhile, Babar Azam’s name is not officially in the first phase of BBL 15 draft registrations; however, his inclusion in the PCB’s NOC list indicates that he is available for selection.

    The BBL 15 Draft is scheduled for 19 June 2025, when Pakistani players will be up for grabs. This year marks the first time that Pakistani cricketers will be available for the entire BBL season, giving teams greater flexibility in selecting their squads.