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  • ‘Cry with me my brothers’: Adnan Malik posts video in tears, asking for change

    ‘Cry with me my brothers’: Adnan Malik posts video in tears, asking for change

    Actor Adnan Malik has shared a personal video of himself crying on his Instagram account, while talking about an often-overlooked topic in the caption: the inner child.

    In the post on his other public Instagram account, In Presence with Adnan Malik, he wrote, “My inner 11 year old self needed to cry today. He found himself in an old, familiar space of unsafety where his feelings and emotions weren’t safe to be expressed. He felt cornered, gaslit, unseen and trapped by a familiar drama triangle that he never consented to be a part of.”

    Reflecting on the impact of societal expectations on emotional expression, the Sadqay Tumharay actor pointed out the general response towards emotional expression, “At the end he was told “you’re too sensitive.”

    Malik went on to share how he found peace and healing, “My adult stepped in, set a boundary and asked the other person to leave the room. He then embraced the inner child and took took him into a safe space where he invited his grief.”

    The Cake actor found comfort in his vulnerability.

    “All of me broke down in empathy and harmony. Your sensitivity is your superpower your sensitivity is a gift to the world your sensitivity is what makes you, you.” The adult reassured my inner child. And we all cried together some more. A grief ritual with all my parts”, Malik said.

    He reflected on his experience at the Resistance and Acceptance Men’s Work Retreat, where many men shed tears and shared their experiences in a collective expression of healing.

    “I’m sharing this here because I want to help dispel the myth that men can’t cry. That men have to hold back their emotions. That it’s not “masculine” to cry”, Adnan Malik explained.

    For Adnan Malik, crying is not a sign of weakness but a portal to healing, “Crying is my portal to healing. It’s a super-power. To allow my heart to be penetrated. Like a powerful storm that makes the emotional landscape fertile again”, he added.

    Adnan Malik called on people, encouraging them to be unapologetic in their emotional expression, “Cry with me my brothers, sisters and fellow beings. Let’s remove the shame around tears and grieve together to rejuvenate ourselves and the planet. To heal the pain and the grief and the injustice. Crying isn’t a sign of weakness.

    It’s a reminder that we are alive.”

    His post has received a number of responses from netizens, including celebrities, praising him for opening up about being okay with emotional expression.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Serious concerns about independence of benches’, more Supreme Court judges write alarming letter

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Serious concerns about independence of benches’, more Supreme Court judges write alarming letter

    Weeks after Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Munib Akhtar’s concerns hinted at possible dissent within the quarters of the Supreme Court (SC), more judges of the apex court have openly expressed discontentment in a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP).

    As per the details, Justice Shah, Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi have written to the top judge, saying they were “surprised and disturbed” that their cases were not fixed for hearing on Monday despite a judicial order being issued in this regard last week.

    “On 16.1.2025, the Bench stood reconstituted and one of the members (Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, J.) being the author of the impugned judgment, when he was at the High Court of Sindh, could not hear the matter. Therefore, we directed the office to fix the case before the earlier bench on Monday, the 20th January, 2025 at 1:00 pm,” read the letter.

    It went on to say that on Monday, they were informed that the bunch of cases had not been fixed.

    “We have also been informed that the matter was taken up by the Committee constituted under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023 (“Committee”) on 17 January 2025 at 12 noon. One of us (Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah), being a member of the Committee, verbally communicated to the Chair of the Committee that as he has passed the judicial order, his view is on the record which may be considered as it is and he need not be personally present in the meeting.”

    “We are surprised and disturbed that inspite of a judicial order, the cases have not been fixed for hearing before any bench today i.e. 20.01.2025 It is noted with concern that a three member bench had already been constituted to hear the case by the Committee which heard the case on 13.01.2025. On 16.01.2025 the new Bench could not hear the case due to the reason explained above and the Court simply directed that the earlier Bench, constituted by the Committee, to hear the matter on 20.01.2025 being part heard, In this background there was firstly no need for the Committee to take up the matter as the office was to simply fix the case before the earlier bench as it was a part heard matter. Even if the Committee took up the matter, it could have once again constituted the same Bench as constituted earlier and as mentioned in the judicial order and fix the case for 20.01.2025. Or the Committee could have reconstituted the Bench by a third member instead of Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi,” read the letter.

    The judges went on to say that the committee, in any case, could not ignore the dictate of a judicial order and was bound to fix the case for hearing.

    “We are not aware of the order passed by the Committee and nothing has been communicated to us. We have also noticed that the cause list of our Bench for the entire week has been changed where all the cases fixed by the Court has been removed from the cause list without there being any order passed to this effect,” it added.

    The letter expressed concern over how the failure to comply with a judicial order “undermined the institution’s integrity” and defied the law against administrative orders taking away jurisdiction of the bench concerned. “It also raises serious concerns about the independence of the Benches,” it said, adding that such non-compliance constituted as contempt of court while eroding public confidence in the judiciary.

    The judges also went on to demand compliance with the January 16 judicial order to “maintain independence, transparency, comity of judges, and smooth functioning of the court”.

  • Gwadar International Airport officially inaugurated with first flight

    Gwadar International Airport officially inaugurated with first flight

    The new Gwadar International Airport has received its first inaugural flight at 11:14 AM. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK-503 touched down on the only runway available at the airport.

    In true PIA fashion, the flight departed late after it was delayed by 46 minutes at Karachi’s airport. The aircraft, an ATR, received a water salute upon landing to celebrate the inauguration of the airport.

    The operationalization of the airport marks a key moment in the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Spanning an impressive 4,300 acres, the airport is the largest in terms of size in the entire country.

    According to reports, the airport cost an estimated $230 million. Its construction was funded by the Chinese government in the form of a grant to Pakistan. The project employed 3,000 people during the time of its construction.

    Analysts have been quick to question as to why the largest airport was not constructed in a larger city. At first glance, the claims seemingly have merit as the city of approximately 100 thousand residents might not require such a large airport. However, Gwadar is the crown jewel of the CPEC project and as such, justifies the need for the airport.

    The airport’s location sparks security concerns as well as Balochistan has historically been the victim of terrorist operatives. In March 2024, eight armed terrorists associated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Gwadar Port Authority Complex.

    Gwadar has not been able to leverage its strategic location for economic gains yet. Reports on January 9 suggested that the flow of trade has remained at suboptimal levels. However, despite the challenges, Islamabad seems to be fully invested in making the city a trade hub.

    Lawmakers have committed to improving the low levels of cargo shipments currently flowing through Gwadar port. This is evident by the government’s decision to route 60 percent of all public sector cargoes through Gwadar.

    Moreover, the flight to Gwadar was not a passenger flight as it carried key government officials only. However, flight operations will continue to and from the airport today.

    Both national and international airlines have expressed great interest in serving the airport as per reports. The airport is expected to serve approximately 50 airlines for passenger, cargo and refueling operations.

    Analysts have commented on how this spells great news for the tourism industry in Gwadar as the airport will bring in a greater number of people to the small city.

  • Here’s how much money Trump made from $TRUMP meme coin

    Here’s how much money Trump made from $TRUMP meme coin

    Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump is taking the oath of office for the second time today. However, just two days before the inauguration, the launch of his cryptocurrency tokens has significantly increased his wealth.

    On Friday night, Donald Trump announced the launch of a meme coin cryptocurrency called $TRUMP. Soon after, its market capitalization reached $12 billion, and within the last 24 hours, the trading volume exceeded $40 billion.

    On Friday, the price of one token was $10, but by Sunday morning, it quickly rose to $72.

    Two days after the launch, $TRUMP became the 19th most valuable cryptocurrency in the world, with Trump’s company issuing two million tokens.

    Before launching the cryptocurrency, Donald Trump’s wealth was estimated at $6.7 billion, but thanks to the meme coin, his wealth has increased by $12 billion. This increase is due to the investments made by crypto investors in his coin.

    As a result, after launching $TRUMP, Donald Trump has become one of the wealthiest people in the world.

    While this sudden increase in wealth is significant, Donald Trump is facing heavy criticism for the move. Analysts argue that he used his official position to promote the cryptocurrency for personal gain. They question whether it’s ethical or legal for a U.S. president to use their fame and status for business purposes.

    On the other hand, cryptocurrency experts are debating whether the massive investment in the coin will keep its value stable in the future. They fear that cryptocurrencies launched with artificial attention might lose value quickly, which could risk  billions of dollars invested by people.

    In addition to Trump, his wife, Melania Trump, also announced the launch of her cryptocurrency called MELANIA on Sunday, which has already attracted $1.7 billion in investment.

  • Fahad Mustafa auctions off his iconic bike

    Fahad Mustafa auctions off his iconic bike

    Drama star Fahad Mustafa’s iconic bike from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum has been auctioned and sold, with the proceeds being donated to a noble cause.

    The bike, which became a symbol of Mustafa’s character’s journey in the hit drama from 2024, has been sold in Dubai for an impressive price of 46,000 AED (35 lacs Pakistani rupees).

    The actor has donated the proceeds to Indus Hospital Karachi to support its mission of providing free medical care.

    Sharing the news with his fans, Fahad Mustafa posted a picture of his bike on his Instagram with the caption,  “Even after winning hearts on screen, Mustafa’s bike from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum continues to spread love off-screen as we have auctioned the iconic ride for a noble cause through Indus Hospital. Mustafa has been a gift that keeps on giving and spreading love! Thank you to Indus Hospital for this opportunity!”

    Earlier, in an interview with Something Haute hosted by Hassan Choudhry, Fahad shared his favorite scene from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, and the struggle of the casting process.

    Talking about his favorite scene from Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum, Fahad Mustafa said, “The scene between Sharjeena and Mustafa that I like the most is the last scene, I really love that scene, and no one could have made that last scene, no one could have thought of it, no one could have created it.” 
     


    The Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum actor didn’t hold back when talking about the hurdles he faced as a producer and actor. He expressed frustration about how money often overshadows the creative process.


    “I was a bit angry during the production of Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. When I talked to anyone, all they were focused on was how much money they will make. I know that I would earn a lot of money from this drama, a lot of money, but it’s not about money. In any project, you have to be fully involved. If it doesn’t make any difference, there’s no benefit,” Fahad said.  

    As an experienced producer and actor, Fahad is keenly aware of the difficulties behind the scenes.  


    “Look, I’m a producer, and I’ve been in this industry for years. I’m not speaking ill about anyone, but as an actor, when I sit and watch my own drama, you can find many flaws in my production, and you can find many flaws in the writing by the writers. But you don’t know how hard it is to manage the actors,” the Main hoon Abdul Qadir actor explained.

  • Bowen Yang Brings Back Georges Santos on ‘SNL’

    Bowen Yang Brings Back Georges Santos on ‘SNL’

    Comedian Bowen Yang comes back in chief of staff George Santos during the cold cap of SnL on January 20th, 2024. Many people were waiting for Yang’s return so that his cynical attitudes could finally be expressed. This impression of George Santos made fun of all the conflicts that Santos had created for himself over the years, and he did so in a manner only Bowen Yang could do.

    The SNL open started with a remake of a Santos press conference. Using his trademark humor, Bowen Yang turned the press conference into a perceived comedy where George Santos retook the central character role. His impression focuses on using advanced body language, where Santos comes across as an innocent fraud with an overly dramatic, concealed evil accent. It shows how deep the self-loathing of this person goes.

    Political Humor at Its Best

    SNL has been known for its political humor, particularly in the aftermath of the Trump administration. However, its relevance has been sustained by timely and harsh narratives about contemporary political figures.  SNL had returned to Yang’s Santos impression, proving that the show could still make the most of the ongoing escapade of Santos in Congress. The impression was based on multiple broadcasts in the mainstream media about that politician’s opposing personas.

    Bowen Yang’s portrayal shows the absurdity of fake and often scandal-ridden modern political personalities. In a glorious moment, Yang’s Santos glorified himself as the “best liar ever.” Meanwhile, he denied the numerous allegations against him to a hilariously incredulous audience at the press conference. The comedy segment ended with Santos offering a unique, nonsensical argument for his actions, all while basking in another sense of grandiosity that rendered it all the more hilarious. 

    Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers Share Which Movie They Think Is the “Best of 2024”

    In the January 15 episode of the Las Culturistas podcast, Bowen Yang and Rogers discussed their impressions of watching The Substance. It is a sci-fi/body horror film starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley that impressed them so much they call it their “favorite movie of the year” or maybe the “best movie of 2024.” But Bowen Yang noted further that “Except with projects we’ve been involved in,” a nod to his involvement in Wicked.

    One awkward term after the other, Yang described the production, saying, “This camp doesn’t paint a disgusting picture of the good and bad. In a way, one can define it as it is throughout the film.” “The dialogue, oh my god, this is a reverie. It is dreamlike…in such a calibrated manner.”

    During their conversation, the two also conveyed their deepest sympathies for the “horrendous” fires raging across Los Angeles. Rogers said, “I just want to send all our love and strength to all who have been affected and to everyone who will be affected…I mean, this is just tragic.”

    Read Also: WHSmith Store Closures: Effects on UK High Street and the Company’s New Strategy

  • ‘US president saved Nawaz Sharif from getting death penalty’

    ‘US president saved Nawaz Sharif from getting death penalty’

    Author and ex-head of National Commission for Human Development Dr Naseem Ashraf has claimed that United States (US) President Bill Clinton saved former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif from death penalty during military ruler Pervez Mushrraf’s regime.

    In his upcoming book ‘Ring Side’, Dr Ashraf claimed that the US State Department had advised President Clinton against visiting Pakistan, however, he decided to visit nonetheless to prevent the execution of the ousted premier.

    On his short trip, the former US president held a secret meeting with then-chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Irshad Hassan Khan for assurance that Nawaz would not be hanged, Dr Ashraf claimed in the book published in Urdu under the title ‘Maidan-e-Amal’.

    He revealed that Clinton was seen heading to the restroom during a luncheon hosted by Musharraf, and moments later, ex-CJP Irshad also went in. The meeting, he added, lasted for about five minutes during which President Clinton asked the then-CJP whether Nawaz would be sentenced to death.

    To this, Justice Hassan assured him that it would not happen, Dr Ashraf wrote.

    He said that Pakistanis living in the US were advocates of democracy and patriotic citizens who supported Pakistan during challenging times. This is why, Dr Ashraf wrote, when Nawaz was ousted, protests were held for his reinstatement, advertisements were placed in newspapers and letters were written to members of Congress and the US president, which eventually prompted Clinton’s visit.

    On Pakistan-US relations, Dr Ashraf said that the events of September 11 shook the US, which is why it targeted Afghanistan. 

    Nonetheless, he acknowledged that President Musharraf assured President George W Bush of full cooperation, accepting five out of seven demands. Had Pakistan not complied, it would have faced economic ruin, detrimental to national security.

    In his book, he also wrote about former PM Imran Khan’s 2019 visit to the US, terming it “successful”. He said it strengthened Pakistan-US relations. 

    Dr Ashraf also recounted a meeting he had with former Indian PM Manmohan Singh during General Musharraf’s visit to India, during which Singh confirmed that he had sent two tons of gold to the Bank of England to secure a loan, as he was not in favour of going to the IMF. From the loan obtained from the Bank of England, Dr Singh initiated a new economic policy in India, he wrote. 

    During his stint as the chief of the National Commission for Human Development, Dr Ashraf said he faced numerous challenges, even contemplating resignation at one point. The programme’s success can be gauged by the fact that Tony Blair’s son, Nicholas Blair, came to Pakistan specifically for an internship.

  • WHSmith Store Closures: Effects on UK High Street and the Company’s New Strategy

    WHSmith Store Closures: Effects on UK High Street and the Company’s New Strategy

    WHSmith store closures are a big blast for the UK high streets.WHSmith store is a street retailer that announced the closure of its number of stores. At present, the company has closed its various branches in different locations in 2024. Moreover, there are several chances by the closer of more stores in 2025.

    A source revealed that: 

    • The “Old Christchurch Road” branch in Bournemouth will close in January 2025. 

    • In February 2025, the Basingstoke store in the Malls shopping centre will close. 

    • And the Accrington branch will be closed in March 2025.

    Carl Cowling, the CEO of the WHSmith store revealed while talking to BBC that now, the company are not interested in opening more branches on the UK high street. He further said that instead of opening branches on UK high streets, the company is focusing on opening stores in hospitals, railway stations, and airports. He also told to BBC, that there is no doubt about a good business in the UK High Street but we are not interested in increasing it any more. He said that opening more new stores on Hight Street just “would just be a duplication”

    The company announced the opening of almost 110 new stores, and most of them are on railway stations and airports. The reason behind taking this step is that the company got profit behind the travel division is 10% while the income behind the high street has decreased 3%. The Cowling has said we invested more than 100 million pounds on airports. He added in the next 4 years our aim is to get 20% of the airport retail market. 

    The decision of WHSmith, to close high street stores and open stores in travel locations, reflects consumer trends and the trends of online shopping. However, it impacts local communities, who rely on it where these stores have been alive for centuries and play a crucial role in the local economy. The WHSmith store closures will not only impact local employment but will have a bad effect on the high streets’ overall situation.

    Read Also: Nuggets vs Magic: Key Player Stats and Box Score – January 19, 2024 NBA Matchup

  • Saba Faisal blames domestic workers for household conflicts

    Saba Faisal blames domestic workers for household conflicts

    Senior Actress Saba Faisal has blamed domestic workers for household conflicts in a strange statement where she also elaborated that she prohibits them from talking to each other. 

    In a recent podcast with Ahmed Ali butt, senior actress Saba Faisal pointed to domestic workers as the primary cause of conflicts in homes.

    She stated, “The biggest reason for the conflicts that occur in homes is the domestic workers. There is no bigger conflict in our domestic life than them.”


    Saba elaborated on her point, explaining, “What domestic workers do is they tell someone else what they are talking about and the other person also believes it. That is, they talk about this and that, which leads to fights.”


    To mitigate these issues, Saba has implemented a rule in her household: “The maid will not talk to anyone and two maids will not sit and talk to each other. If any maid comes out of sympathy with me and says something or does something bad to another, I immediately scold her and tell her to be quiet and do her job.”


    She further emphasized, “All my children and daughters-in-law are equal to me. Be careful, if we talk about anyone, by listening to these people, we encourage them. These are the people responsible for the destruction of homes.”


    In recent years, there have been reports of disagreements between Saba Faisal and her daughter-in-law and son, which both parties confirmed but later resolved.

  • Arrest warrants issued for Shakib Al Hasan in fraud case

    Arrest warrants issued for Shakib Al Hasan in fraud case

    A court in Dhaka has issued an arrest warrant on Sunday for apprehending former Bangladesh captain and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in a bank fraud case.

    According to Bangladeshi media, a relationship officer from a local bank, Shaheb Rahman, filed the case against Shakib Al Hasan, accusing the cricketer and three of his associates of failing to transfer around 41.4 million Bangladeshi Taka via two separate cheques.

    Shakib’s company, Al Hasan Agro Farm Limited, has also been involved in the case, with Managing Director Ghazi Shaheer Hussain and Directors Imad Haque and Malaika Begum named in the case as well.

    The cheques in question were issued for partial repayment of loans but were blocked due to insufficient funds.

    Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziaur Rahman issued the order.

    Shakib was named in the cheque fraud case on December 15, 2023, and after an initial hearing on December 18, the court ordered him to appear on January 19, 2024.

    Shakib Al Hasan, a member of the ruling Awami League, was elected unopposed in the general elections on January 7, 2024. However, due to student protests and the political crisis following Sheikh Hasina’s potential ousting, Shakib is currently residing abroad.