Author: newsdesk

  • ‘I was blown away by her talent’ : Ali Rehman Khan has high praise for THIS popular actress

    ‘I was blown away by her talent’ : Ali Rehman Khan has high praise for THIS popular actress

    Ali Rehman Khan is among the most talented stars in the industry but whose acting prowess does he admire?

    The actor recently talked about his journey in the entertainment industry and his experience working with one colleague who blew him away with her craft.
     
    During the FWhy podcast hosted by Frieha Altaf, Ali Rehman shared his experience working with Yumna Zaidi, praising her talent and professionalism.

    “Yumna has been working for so long and now she, I think, no, before me, she had also done a few things. And at that time, I remember, like at that time, seeing her, and I was like, ‘My God, this one is so talented.’ I was blown away by her talent at that time. I said, ‘Wow.’ She was amazing. Ghazal was playing her mother, and those two really, you know, they were fire on screen. When I saw them, I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was really intimidated. I was like, ‘Man, this level of professionalism, this is what I need to be doing.”

    They both worked together in the drama Rishtay Kuch Adhooray Se, written by Nadia Akhtar and directed by Farooq Rind. It aired on HUMTV in 2013.

  • Elon Musk launches ‘X TV’ app, challenges YouTube

    Elon Musk launches ‘X TV’ app, challenges YouTube

    Tesla Motors and X (formerly Twitter) Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has launched X TV, continuing his efforts to transform microblogging platform X into a popular multimedia platform.

    The tech tycoon and SpaceX owner recently made the beta version of X TV public on social media. The new feature lets users watch movies and live content within the X app.

    The feature is expected to reduce user dependency on external media platforms by allowing users to switch to other media players without requiring them to do so.

    It will also be available on LG, Amazon Fire TV, and Google TV.

    Earlier, X surpassed YouTube in the battle of ad-revenue features for content creators.

  • ‘Ballon d’Or’ without Messi or Ronaldo? Shocking first for football world

    ‘Ballon d’Or’ without Messi or Ronaldo? Shocking first for football world

    Portuguese star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s great Lionel Messi have not been nominated for the Ballon d’Or awards for the first time since 2003.

    Six Britishers have been shortlisted for the 30-man International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

    Captain Harry Kane, midfielders Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Declan Rice and forwards Bokayo Saka and Cole Palmer are in the running for the 2024 Male Footballer of the Year award. Eight players from Manchester City and Arsenal ranked first and second in the Premier League, respectively, have been nominated for this award.

    Spain and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal, who just turned 17 in July, is also included in the list.

    England reached the final of Euro 2024 but lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin on 14 July.

  • Australians put up historic T20 runs blitz against Scotland

    Australians put up historic T20 runs blitz against Scotland

    The Australian cricket team set a world record for chasing a target in T20 while beating Scotland on Wednesday.

    The match in Edinburgh saw the Australian team score 113 runs in the first six overs (Power Play). Australia also set the record for achieving a target of 150-plus runs in less than 10 overs.

    Batting first, Scotland scored 154 runs for nine wickets. Australia achieved the target in 9.4 overs.

    Travis Head scored 80 runs off 25 balls with 5 sixes and 12 fours in his innings, and Mitchell Marsh scored 39 runs off 12 balls with three sixes and 5 fours. Australia beat Scotland by seven wickets in the first T20 match.

  • False claims link bailed Mahal Baloch to BLA suicide attacker

    False claims link bailed Mahal Baloch to BLA suicide attacker

    A series of violent attacks took place on August 26 in Balochistan, including a suicide attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in Lasbela.

    The BLA identified one of the bombers as Mahal Baloch in the attack on the Frontier Corps (FC) camp.

    On social media, people linked her to a recently bailed woman named Mahal Baloch, who was alleged to have possessed a suicide jacket.

    Geo Fact Check has reported that these claims are false.

    The confusion stems from two Baloch women having the same names.

    Imran Baloch, the lawyer for the bailed Mahal Baloch, told Geo Fact Check that his client is from Turbat and is alive, while the suicide attacker was from Gwadar, a coastal area of Balochistan.

    Baloch, a 30-year-old widow with two children, was charged with carrying a suicide jacket, which she vehemently denied, according to Imran.

    On May 10, 2023, she was granted bail by the two-judge bench of the Balochistan High Court.

    Moreover, the lawyer has revealed pictures of the two women, proving that they have no resemblance and are, thus two different people.

    On August 26, the Majeed Brigade, a faction of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), carried out multiple attacks, resulting in seventy-three casualties.

  • Female police officer suspended for posting TikTok video while on duty

    Female police officer suspended for posting TikTok video while on duty

    A female police officer in Karachi was suspended for posting a TikTok video while on duty, revealing her team’s location, Sindh Police has said in a notification.

    Police Constable (PC) Maria Gill was posted at the Gizri Police Station District South, Karachi.

    The police notification said that she was suspended immediately “due to improper and irresponsible behaviour towards the performance of official duties at place of deployment, leading to negligence and dereliction of duty.” Dawn reported.

    In the video, Maria addressed her followers on TikTok by saying, “Hello guys, Assalamoalikum. Today, I am posted for duty at the Mai Kolachi Road outside Bahria College.

    “As you can see, there’s a heavy police presence here,” she says while pointing towards four other police officers seated at a bus stop. To this, one of them waved at the camera. “Whoever wants to meet me, you can come here and meet me. I am posted on duty here today,” she said while saying goodbye.

    The notification said that Gill would undergo a counselling session by Station House Officer Women South Zone. She would also be shifted to Police Headquarters South Zone, where she would have to “attend daily roll call/parade.” However, it mentioned that Maria will be able to draw pay and allowances as “admissible under the rules”.

  • ‘Viewers are talking about the need for therapy’: Mohib Mirza discusses mental health in Jafaa

    ‘Viewers are talking about the need for therapy’: Mohib Mirza discusses mental health in Jafaa

    Actor Mohib Mirza is once again in the limelight, this time for his performance as Hassan in the drama Jafaa. What makes his character truly remarkable is the way it sheds light on the importance of mental health awareness and the need to break free from toxic relationships.

    BBC Urdu’s Shumaila Khan talked to the actor and asked, “Hassan’s toxic behavior that we see, what do you hope the audience will take away from this message?”

    Mizra replied, “Nearly everyone around us has trauma, and it has shaped us in a certain way. Hassan’s character shows that realizing the situation you are in is important, and viewers are talking about how he needs therapy. That’s exactly what we wanted to convey to the audience.”

    The host asked, “Mawra’s character is Dr. Zara, a very empathetic wife. Despite seeing red flags, she is trying to understand Hassan. In your opinion, how much social pressure is there on married women in our society to maintain the marriage, you know, socially?”

    In reply, Mohib shared a personal anecdote, “I remember a phrase my friend once said: ‘Brother, it’s like this once you’re married, that’s it. There’s no one else, just this.’ However, he continued, that this it shouldn’t be burdening as he shared. “Of course, you have to make it work. But I don’t understand why there’s so much pressure. It’s not like we’re trying to promote divorce or anything. We’re not promoting it. But, if there’s toxicity, if the situation is toxic, it’s like poison.”

    The Jaffa actor stressed that this pressure can lead to mental illness. “Continuous stress is scientifically proven to cause some kind of mental or physical illness. So, no one should have to bear such negativity and poison,” he asserted.

  • ‘Humsafar’ stage play in India set to foster Indo-Pak harmony

    ‘Humsafar’ stage play in India set to foster Indo-Pak harmony

    An Indian stage production has reportedly adapted the popular Pakistani drama ‘Humsafar’ as part of an initiative to promote peace between India and Pakistan. Theater and film actor Imran Zahid confirmed the news to the Indian media.

    In parallel, the Bombay High Court has rejected a petition to ban Indian nationals, corporations, and associations from working with Pakistani artists. The court said the move would “disrupt cultural harmony and peace” and advised not to be myopic.

    The adaptation of ‘Humsafar’ is significant in light of the All India Cine Workers Association’s (AICWA’s 2019) ban on Pakistani artists after the Pulwama attack. This is not the first time that Pakistani artists have been barred in India; similar instances were reported back in October 2016, when the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association announced a ban on all Pakistani actors, singers, and technicians working in Bollywood films.

    Zahid revealed they approached Pakistan’s HUM TV to secure the stage adaptation rights for ‘Humsafar,’ which originally starred Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan.

    He further revealed that “conversations are being held with Momina Duraid, the creative head of HUM TV and also the creator of the show.” Both parties have reached an agreement in principle to proceed with the project.

    Times Now also reported that according to Zahid, the show will be free of charge with no monetary gain “as part of an initiative to promote Indo-Pak peace following recent decisions by the Indian high court and Supreme Court”.

    The final announcement is due shortly, and talks are reportedly being held with Sultana Siddiqui, the founder and president of HUM TV.

    The play has not been officially named, nor the location or casting finalised. The revelation surfaced amidst speculation that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who starred in ‘Humsafar,’ could appear in some future Bollywood films.

  • ‘These are just excuses’: Sonya Hussyn on nepotism in entertainment industry

    ‘These are just excuses’: Sonya Hussyn on nepotism in entertainment industry

    Renowned actress Sonya Hussain has denied the existence of nepotism in Pakistan’s entertainment industry during her appearance on the Afterhour show with Ushna Shah.

    “It is not necessary to have family ties to make a place in the industry. These are all excuses, you should do your work,” she claimed.

    While she acknowledged favouritism in the industry, she thinks “there is no such thing as nepotism in the industry, or only fair colour is preferred, but one who knows how to work can make his place based on his work.”

    Dismissing the complaints of most artists needing to get work or securing lead roles as groundless, she added, “People only make excuses that they are not getting work, jobs are given based on nepotism in the industry or only fair complexion is preferred.”

    Hussyn emphasised that hard work pays off and advised the newcomers to avoid making excuses and focus on hard work.

  • Can Pakistan qualify for World Test Championship?

    Can Pakistan qualify for World Test Championship?

    Pakistan cricket team’s chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) have darkened after Bangladesh whitewashed the national team in the two-match test series at home, but these are still some possibilities for Pakistan to qualify for the championship.

    After losing against Bangladesh, Pakistan lost 24 crucial points in the WTC and was relegated to 8th place in the rankings.

    In the World Test Championship cycle, under Shan Masood’s captaincy, the Pakistani team has won only two out of seven matches. Its WTC points total 19.05, which is better only than the West Indies.

    To qualify for the finals of the WTC cycle, Pakistan will have to win the remaining three matches against England at their home ground, and also whitewash West Indies and South Africa.

    Now, the Green Shirts have to win all seven remaining matches, after which their percentage of points will be 58.2. If Shan manages to do this, then the chances of playing in the finals will still not be possible but will remain bright.

    India and Australia are at the top of the points table, while the national team will have to monitor the results of other teams.