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  • Pahalgam attack: Fawad Khan’s ‘Abir Gulaal’ songs, teaser deleted from YouTube, Instagram

    Pahalgam attack: Fawad Khan’s ‘Abir Gulaal’ songs, teaser deleted from YouTube, Instagram

    The teaser and songs of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s upcoming Bollywood flick ‘Abir Gulaal’ have been removed from YouTube and Instagram.

    Following the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam area of held Kashmir and subsequent cross-border tensions, calls to ban Abir Gulaal began trending across social media. Now, it seems those demands are gaining ground as production companies have taken down all promotional content related to the film.

    According to India Today, songs such as Khudaya Ishq and Angreji Rang Rasiya — which had already racked up millions of views — have also been removed from YouTube. The music was released under the banner of Saregama, which had earlier launched the soundtrack at a grand music event in Dubai on April 20.

    Not just the songs, but the film’s official teaser — initially released in early April by Dharma — has also been deleted from both YouTube and Instagram. However, Fawad’s co-star Vaani Kapoor still has the teaser up on her personal Instagram account.

    With all traces of Abir Gulaal vanishing from official platforms, speculation is growing that the film may face a ban or cancellation in India due to the involvement of Fawad, a Pakistani actor.

    While the film’s team is yet to release an official statement regarding a delay or possible shelving of the project, some industry insiders believe that the producers are now considering pulling the film entirely in light of recent events.

  • VIDEO: Internet in fits as Rajasthan Royals CEO spotted at liquor store after 5th continuous defeat

    VIDEO: Internet in fits as Rajasthan Royals CEO spotted at liquor store after 5th continuous defeat

    The Rajasthan Royals are having a tough time in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). On Thursday, the team lost its fifth match in a row, this time against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), in a close and exciting game. With just two wins from nine matches, Rajasthan is stuck in 8th place on the points table.

    After the match, a video went viral on social media, showing RR CEO Jake Lush-McCrum walking towards a popular liquor store in Bengaluru. Fans quickly made jokes online, linking the loss to the CEO’s outing.

    In the match against RCB, the Rajasthan Royals won the toss and chose to bowl first. RCB scored 205 for five on a good batting pitch. Virat Kohli led the way with a brilliant 70 off 42 balls. He and Phil Salt gave RCB a strong start, putting 59 runs on the board in the first six overs. Salt got out for 26 in the 7th over.

    Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal then added 95 runs for the second wicket. Padikkal scored a quick 50 off 27 balls. Late cameos from Tim David (23) and Jitesh Sharma (20*) helped RCB reach a strong total.

    In response, Rajasthan got off to a flying start. Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed 49 runs off just 19 balls but was removed by Josh Hazlewood. Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell early too, scoring 16.

    Despite good starts from Nitish Rana (28) and captain Riyan Parag (22), both were taken out by spinner Krunal Pandya. Rajasthan still had hope thanks to Dhruv Jurel, who played a fine knock of 47 off 34 balls.

    But Hazlewood came back in the 19th over and took two big wickets, first Jurel and then Jofra Archer, which left Rajasthan needing 17 runs from the final over. They couldn’t get there and lost by 11 runs.

    Hazlewood ended with figures of four wickets for 33 runs and was the star of the night.

    Rajasthan now needs a miracle to make it to the playoffs as their game continues to fall apart.

  • Pakistan loses whopping $2 billion to climate disasters every year: report

    Pakistan loses whopping $2 billion to climate disasters every year: report

    In its latest report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revealed that Pakistan loses a staggering $2 billion per annum to climate related disasters, worsening concerns related to poverty in the cash-strapped economy.


    Pakistan is one of the “most climate-vulnerable” economies in South Asia. However, destruction from disaster does not affect every resident uniformly as it disproportionately impacts vulnerable segments of the Pakistani demographic, the report said.


    The ADB’s report indicated that women and other groups are hit hardest, resulting in a significant decline in their quality of life.

    The institute has attempted to safeguard the disaster-prone country from further calamities by providing financial assistance in 2024, the reports said, revealing that the regional lender extended a $500 million “policy-based” loan to prepare Pakistan against future disasters. These funds were to be utilised for disaster preparedness, response and planning.


    The report suggested that the creditors programme assisted Pakistan with disaster modelling, risk mapping and provided financing for initiatives that would reduce the risk of disasters. Furthermore, Pakistan received support for programmes to boost domestic climate resilience.


    According to the report, Pakistan’s subscription to ADB’s programme allows it to receive timely disbursements from the lender if a disaster strikes the country. With floods usually occurring during the summer season, particularly June to August, many believe that the availability of funds to combat potential disasters in the upcoming months could provide a safety net to victims.


    The regional creditor highlighted the issues faced by Central and South Asian economies, notably outlining Pakistan’s poverty related woes.


    The report revealed that the ADB had allocated a staggering $330 million to provide social protection to 9.3 million Pakistanis, aimed at helping alleviate financial strain on poverty-stricken households, providing education to children and boosting access to healthcare services.


    One of the primary factors behind declining living standards and persistently high poverty rates is the ballooning of Pakistan’s urban population. Reports indicate that urban areas suffer from significant planning issues, resulting in housing shortages and ultimately, high living costs.


    The rise in the cost of living has resulted in a significant decline in the standard of living for rural to urban migrants as they do not own residences in the urban areas. 


    However, Islamabad seems to be taking independent steps towards sustainable growth as well. The government has raised the petroleum development levy and is focusing on hydropower projects. 

    The federal government recently also issued Sukuk bonds to raise funds to develop three hydropower infrastructure projects that could reduce the incidence of widespread flooding while also generating power.

  • Lahore policewoman arrested after robbery weapon found at her home

    Lahore policewoman arrested after robbery weapon found at her home

    A female police officer in Lahore has been arrested after a 9mm pistol linked to a robbery was allegedly recovered from her residence, raising serious concerns about internal accountability within the force.

    The arrest took place under DIG Operations Faisal Kamran’s zero-tolerance policy, which focuses on eliminating misuse of authority, corruption, and disorder within police ranks.

    The officer, Sub-Inspector Sania, was serving as the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Lytton Road Women Police Station at the time of her arrest.

    According to a spokesperson for Lahore Police, the pistol was discovered during a raid at her residence. The operation was launched after a suspect, currently under investigation, confessed during interrogation that the weapon used in multiple street crimes in the Kahna area was in the possession of a policewoman.

    Acting on this information, a police team raided Sania’s house and recovered the firearm.

    Following an internal inquiry, the DIG ordered her immediate arrest and directed officials to register a case against her.

    DIG Faisal Kamran emphasised that the department is committed to strict accountability.

    “No one involved in wrongdoing will be spared. Accountability will continue under our policy of fair reward and punishment,” he said.

    The arrest has stirred discussions around internal discipline and the importance of holding law enforcement officers to the highest standards of conduct.

  • Indian airlines to lose millions after Pakistan shuts its airspace: report

    Indian airlines to lose millions after Pakistan shuts its airspace: report

    With Pakistan having imposed tit-for-tat diplomatic measures, including shutting down its airspace for Indian planes, India fears that it will cost airlines millions in losses. Carriers now face longer durations and higher fuel consumption for westward international flights taking off from northern India.

    According to details, after India’s 2019 border violation of entering Pakistan, Pakistan closed its airspace on February 26, 2019, leading to losses of around ₹700 crore INR amid to operational complications that came with longer routes, which many of their flights were forced to take.

    With routes closed in 2019, most flights witnessed their durations rise by at least 70–80 minutes, with Air India’s flights from Delhi to Chicago having to stop in Europe for refuelling.

    In July 2019, Pakistan eventually fully opened its airspace for overflying.

    According to data provided by the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation at the time, the collective loss of Indian airlines due to the airspace closure by June was estimated to be more than ₹550 crore INR.

    The figure, according to industry insiders, rose to ₹700 crore INR by mid-July of that year, when Pakistan completely removed the restrictions.

    Pakistan’s retaliatory action will affect Indian carriers’ flights to Central Asia, the Caucasus, West Asia, Europe, the UK, and North America, a leading Indian English outlet has claimed while reviewing the recent Indian flight paths of multiple international flights departing from Delhi.

    The media report quoted industry insiders as stating that, as airlines from other countries can continue to overfly Pakistan, they may gain a cost advantage over Indian airlines on the affected routes.

    Analysts suggest that Air India will be severely affected, as it operates most west-bound international routes, including those to North America.

    On Thursday, Air India took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that it will take an alternate route following the closure of Pakistani airspace for India.

    “Due to the announced restriction of Pakistan airspace for all Indian airlines, it is expected that some Air India flights to or from North America, UK, Europe, and Middle East will take an alternative extended route. Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen airspace closure that is outside our control. We would like to reiterate that at Air India, the safety of our customers and crew remains top priority,” the airline wrote on X.

  • ‘This won’t be the last time’: Farhan Saeed slams Indian media over Pahalgam Incident

    ‘This won’t be the last time’: Farhan Saeed slams Indian media over Pahalgam Incident

    Renowned singer Farhan Saeed has expressed strong criticism over the “irresponsible and provocative” coverage by Indian media following the Pahalgam incident.

    Sharing his thoughts through an Instagram story, Farhan wrote, “As sad as the Pahalgam incident is, the Indian media’s irresponsible and provocative attitude towards this incident is equally sad.”

    He didn’t hold back his anger and added, “This is not the first time that the Indian media has done this and I am sure that this is not the last time either, but this attitude will be even worse in the future.”

    The backlash from Farhan comes at a time when Pakistani artists have once again been banned in India.

    Calling out the media’s obsession with sensationalism, he said, “These people say anything just to increase viewership, and if, God forbid, anything happens between these two countries, the Indian media will be at the forefront of the race, and the people of both countries will have to bear the consequences.”

    In a direct message to Indian news outlets, Farhan urged, “Show some responsibility.”

    The singer’s bold statement has sparked discussions online, with many echoing his concerns about the role of media in fuelling tensions between Pakistan and India.

  • Fact Check: Did Penn Badgley really dance to ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’?

    Fact Check: Did Penn Badgley really dance to ‘Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai’?

    A video of You and Gossip Girl star Penn Badgley dancing in a beige pantsuit has gone viral on Instagram, with fans thrilled to see him grooving to the Bollywood classic Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. But is the video real?

    The viral clip shows Penn busting some quirky moves to the Hrithik Roshan-Ameesha Patel hit song. It has been widely shared across social media, and fans couldn’t get enough, calling it the crossover they didn’t know they needed. However, the video is not as it appears.

    The original video was shared by The Jennifer Hudson Show on Instagram, which is known for welcoming its guests with its team singing to them. In that version, Penn Badgley dances to the team’s cover of Doechii’s song Anxiety, which was re-recorded and re-released on streaming platforms on March 4, 2025, after gaining traction on social media.

    Later, an insta-famous account named @qualiteaposts edited the video, replacing the original audio with Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, making it look like Penn was vibing to Bollywood beats. The edit was so well done that many viewers believed it was authentic.

    “I honestly could watch this all day,” @qualiteaposts captioned the post.

    The page, @qualiteaposts, is widely popular on the platform for dubbing videos with suitable and catchy songs to fit the vibe of the moment.

    Despite the clarification, the video has already racked up over a million views and countless reactions.

    “Joe Goldberg after changing his identity for the 17th time,” one fan joked.

    “THE Gossip Girl dancing to a Bollywood song is all I needed,” another wrote.

    “Joe’s next victim is Hrithik Roshan,” a third commented.

    “Wait, is Joe coming for an Indian girl now?” someone else added.

    Penn Badgley is currently promoting the fifth and final season of Netflix’s You, which is set to premiere on April 24, 2025. All 10 episodes will be available to stream worldwide. In India, the season will drop at 12:30 PM IST on the same day.

    Filming for the season began in March 2024 and wrapped up in August 2024, mostly in New York City. The release was delayed amid the 2023 Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

    The upcoming season will also feature Charlotte Ritchie, Madeline Brewer, Griffin Matthews, Anna Camp, Tati Gabrielle, Amy-Leigh Hickman, and Kathryn Gallagher in key roles.

    No, Penn Badgley didn’t dance to a Bollywood song. The video is a cleverly edited fan creation, but it definitely gave fans a reason to smile.

  • VIDEO: Indian soldier trains guns at Modi govt

    VIDEO: Indian soldier trains guns at Modi govt

    An undated video of an Indian soldier accusing Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi of ignoring the worsening conditions faced by soldiers across the country has surfaced online.

    In the viral video, the soldier asserts that the Indian PM has rendered them powerless and without support in their own country.

    He goes on to express frustration over the media’s silence on the plight of soldiers, stating, “When you (Modi) went to Pakistan, every news channel in India covered your visit… we don’t have a free or living media.”

    The soldier questioned, “If the Indian government could not provide them justice, would he ask for it from the Pakistan government?”

    Lashing out at the government’s leadership, the soldier argued that if Indian Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi cannot govern the country effectively, soldiers could take charge and do it better. “Amit Shah is controlling the whole Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and paramilitary,” the soldier accused.

    “Any soldier who speaks the truth is just thrown in jail. You went to meet Donald Trump, but you don’t meet us to hear our grievances,” he added.

  • Nida Dar takes a break from cricket to focus on mental health

    Nida Dar takes a break from cricket to focus on mental health

    Former Pakistan women’s cricket team captain and all-rounder Nida Dar has announced a temporary break from cricket, citing mental health concerns.

    She shared the news with her fans on social media, explaining the reasons behind her decision. “Over the past few months, a lot has happened in my personal and professional life, which has negatively impacted my mental health,” she wrote.

    She added, “That’s why I’ve decided to take some time off from cricket to focus on myself. I kindly request everyone to respect my privacy during this period.”

    Nida Dar was recently invited to attend the training camp for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers, where she underwent a fitness test. However, she was not selected for the squad due to fitness issues.

    The camp was held in Faisalabad, but Nida did not attend. She was later invited to participate in the National T20 Cup, a domestic tournament, but she declined and officially announced her break from the game.

  • Pakistan responds to Indian aggression… with memes

    Pakistan responds to Indian aggression… with memes

    Amid all the warmongering by India following the terrorist attack in the Pahalgam area of held Kashmir Tuesday, Pakistanis are having a field day over the internet, responding to Indian statements and threats with, well, memes.

    Read More: Pakistan strikes back: Shuts down Wagah, trade, airspace for Indian airlines

    As Indians take to social media to threaten Pakistan with war despite Islamabad’s categorical denial of any involvement in cross-border terror, netizens on this side of the border are taking a different route, joking, laughing and posting endless memes as they watch the situation unfold.

    Here are some of our favourite ones: