Author: newsdesk

  • Iconic duo Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed return in ‘Barzakh’ teaser

    Iconic duo Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed return in ‘Barzakh’ teaser

    The reunion we’ve all been waiting for is here. Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed have teamed up again in ‘Barzakh’, a web series that’s generating massive hype on social media.

    ‘Barzakh’ promises to be an emotional and thought-provoking story that explores the mysteries of life, the afterlife, and the enduring power of love. Set in the beautiful Hunza Valley, the story follows a 76-year-old recluse who invites his estranged children and grandchildren to his remote valley resort for a special event – his wedding to the ghost of his first true love.

    Fawad Khan will play the role of a single parent, while Sanam Saeed will play a mysterious and compassionate character. Sanam has shared the teaser on her Instagram with the caption, “Eyes lined with secrets, ready to reveal the mysteries within. When all else withers, will love endure? Trailer launching on 1st July – are you ready for the journey? #Barzakh, Premieres 19th July on Zindagi YouTube.”

    The teaser shows main characters lining their eyes with kohl. Written and directed by Asim Abbasi, the creator behind Zee Zindagi’s hit ‘Cake’ (Pakistan’s 2018 Oscar submission), ‘Barzakh’ promises to captivate viewers with its unique storyline and stunning visuals.

    Zee Zindagi recently released six striking artistic posters to keep the audience excited.
    Don’t miss out on the emotional journey premiering on July 19th on Zindagi YouTube.

  • Have you seen Netflix’s most watched series?

    Have you seen Netflix’s most watched series?

    Netflix has dominated the entertainment world since the past decade, offering a diverse range of series that have captivated millions.

    Here are the list of the most watched series and movies on Netflix:

    Most watches series:
    Wednesday
    Stranger Things
    DAHMER: Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
    Bridgerton
    The Queen’s Gambit
    Baby Reindeer

    Most watches movies:
    Red Notice
    Don’t Look Up
    The Adam Project
    Bird Box
    Leave the World Behind

    The world of Netflix awaits, explore, watch, and enjoy the most-watched series and movies. Netflix has something for everyone. Start streaming and discover your new favorite show or movie.

  • American woman charged after attempting to drown 3-year-old Palestinian child

    American woman charged after attempting to drown 3-year-old Palestinian child

    A 42-year-old Texas woman has been charged with attempted murder after she tried to drown a three-year-old Palestinian girl, as per CNN.

    The horrific incident took place on May 19 in Texas when the accused, identified as Elizabeth Wolf, attacked the girl playing in the swimming pool at her family’s apartment complex. The child’s mother and six-year-old brother were also present there.

    “Mrs H, the mother, who wears hijab and modest swimwear, was watching her children in the shallow end of the pool when a white American woman entered the swimming pool area,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in a press release on Friday.

    “The alleged attacker reportedly approached the mother with racist interrogations then jumped into the swimming pool and grabbed the children to the deep end of the pool to allegedly drown them,” the statement added, after which the mother jumped in to rescue her children, with Wolf responding by ripping off her headscarf.

    Local police arrived at the scene and arrested Wolf for public intoxication.

    “We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids. My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here,” CAIR quoted the child’s mother as saying.

    “My daughter is traumatised; whenever I open the apartment door, she runs away and hides, telling me she is afraid the lady will come and immerse her head in the water again.”

    Texas House of Representatives member Salman Bhojani, from Euless, said he was “appalled” by the incident.

    US President Joe Biden said he was “deeply hurt” by the incident.

    The attack comes in the wake of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which at least 37,598 Palestinians have been killed.

    In late November, three Palestinian men in their early 20s were shot near a university campus in Vermont in the US, injuring all three of them.

    One month earlier, police in the US state of Illinois charged a 71-year-old man with murder and a hate crime for stabbing a six-year-old Palestinian-American boy to death and seriously injuring his mother.

    According to the police, he targeted the victims as a response to the war in Gaza and their religion.

    In its press release, CAIR said it had received 3,578 complaints of bias and discrimination in the last three months of last year.

  • Gold price drops by Rs500 to Rs241,500 per tola

    Gold price drops by Rs500 to Rs241,500 per tola

    On Tuesday, gold prices in Pakistan saw a decline, marking a shift in the market trend. According to the Karachi Sarafa Association, the price of 24-karat gold fell to Rs241,500 per tola, a decrease of Rs500 per tola from the previous day’s rates.

    Similarly, the price for 10 grammes of 24-karat gold was reported at Rs207,047, reflecting a reduction of Rs429 per tola.

    Conversely, 22-karat gold was also quoted lower at Rs189,793 per 10 grammes.

    Meanwhile, silver prices remained unchanged in the domestic market, with 24-karat silver holding steady at Rs2,850 per tola and Rs2,443 per 10 grammes.

    Globally, the spot gold price hovered near $2,323 per ounce, showing a decline of $7.2 or 0.31 per cent compared to the previous trading session.

    This movement indicates ongoing volatility and fluctuations in the international gold market.

  • Salman Khan’s father explains his son’s decision to stay single

    Salman Khan’s father explains his son’s decision to stay single

    Bollywood’s legendary screenwriter Salim Khan recently shared that his son, superstar Salman Khan, “is not ready” to get married.
    Superstar Salman Khan, aged 58, has starred in about 100 Hindi films, gaining fame for his romantic and action-packed roles and breaking box-office records.

    Despite a successful career spanning three decades and immense popularity, Salman hasn’t tied the knot yet.
    A video circulating on social media features Salim Khan discussing his son’s single status and the reasons behind the megastar not moving forward with his relationships.

    “Salman easily gets into relationships with any girl but doesn’t get married,” Salim Khan stated.

    He described Salman as a straightforward man who “always thinks about whether the woman he marries will be able to manage a family like his mother did.”

    “When Salman dates someone, he always seeks qualities and abilities similar to his mother’s,” Khan’s father further explained.

    He added that Salman is looking for a “wife who would dedicate her time and attention to her husband” and children, just like his mother did.
    Salim Khan also said that Salman desires a wife who would cook for the family and take care of all household responsibilities.

  • Shehzad Roy urges government to reverse sales tax on books

    Shehzad Roy urges government to reverse sales tax on books

    Singer and social activist Shehzad Royal has requested the government to undo the book sales tax it has recently imposed, and restore teacher salary rebates.

    Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, the singer said that he also requested the Prime Minister and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to reinstate the 25 percent tax rebate for teachers.
    Shehzad Roy tweeted, “I have spoken with the Prime Minister @CMShehbaz & planning Minister Ahsan iqbal @betterpakistan sahab & requested to reverse the 10 percent sales tax on books and reinstate the 25 percent tax rebate for teachers. They both reassured me that they will reconsider this decision with a favorable outcome.”

    The federal government, through the Finance Bill 2024, removed tax rebates for full-time teachers and researchers which created panic in the education sector. The proposal was aimed at teachers at both private and public education institutions.
    The Finance Bill proposes a 10 percent sales tax on books, with the condition that any refund of excess input tax would not be allowed. When the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wants Pakistan to tax stationery products, which include books, pens, paper, sticky notes, and similar material, it is uncertain if the government would remove this tax rate.

  • Why did Mehwish Hayat say no to Bollywood?  

    Actress Mehwish Hayat has captivated audiences with her versatility in roles in dramas and films like Dillagi, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, London Nahi Jaunga, Daghabaaz Dil and her Hollywood debut Ms. Marvel.
    But the star has never appeared in a Bollywood project and now we know why.

    She ppeared as a guest on Nashpati Prime where she highlighted how fortunate she had been to get offers from Bollywood over her career, but she turned them all down.
    Mehwish said, “Luckily, I have been blessed to be part of the revival of Pakistani cinema from the beginning. I’ve worked with Nabeel, I’ve worked with Nadeem, and seeing the love people showed for our films, and how great those films were, made me feel I don’t need to go elsewhere to prove myself. I am appreciated in my own country, where actors receive the respect they deserve. However, it’s unfair that due to film promotions, sometimes we don’t even get to watch our films in cinemas for the first time with our team members. So, I prefer to play on my home ground, play well, and enjoy.”

    Sounds like a good enough reason to us too.

  • Why did Mehwish Hayat say no to Bollywood?  

    Why did Mehwish Hayat say no to Bollywood?  

    Actress Mehwish Hayat has captivated audiences with her versatility in roles in dramas and films like Dillagi, Punjab Nahi Jaungi, London Nahi Jaunga, Daghabaaz Dil and her Hollywood debut Ms. Marvel.
    But the star has never appeared in a Bollywood project and now we know why.

    She appeared as a guest on Nashpati Prime where she highlighted how fortunate she had been to get offers from Bollywood over her career, but she turned them all down.
    Mehwish said, “Luckily, I have been blessed to be part of the revival of Pakistani cinema from the beginning. I’ve worked with Nabeel, I’ve worked with Nadeem, and seeing the love people showed for our films, and how great those films were, made me feel I don’t need to go elsewhere to prove myself. I am appreciated in my own country, where actors receive the respect they deserve. However, it’s unfair that due to film promotions, sometimes we don’t even get to watch our films in cinemas for the first time with our team members. So, I prefer to play on my home ground, play well, and enjoy.”

    Sounds like a good enough reason to us too.

  • ‘Budget by babus, of babus, for babus,’ says Bilawal in NA speech

    ‘Budget by babus, of babus, for babus,’ says Bilawal in NA speech

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday emphasised the need for a national consensus over a “Charter of Economy” to solve the country’s financial problems.

    In his speech, Bhutto criticised the “babus”, euphemism for the bureaucracy, for not knowing the ground realities of the country.

    “Without political input, the budget will be by the babus, for the babus and of the babus. And we want to end this tradition,” said the PPP chairman.

    The PPP, which is the main ally of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), continued to raise objections for not taking it into confidence regarding the federal budget.

    The party initially boycotted the session on the economic budget, but both parties have since held several rounds of talks.

    Bilawal further said, “A politician would never suggest taxing milk or stationary in a country with a 40 percent stunting rate and 26 million out-of-school children, but this would be a “babu’s” suggestion.”

    The head of PPP also said the abolishment of anti-corruption body National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is necessary because “NAB and the economy cannot go together.”

  • Dozens of cattle die in Karachi heat

    Dozens of cattle die in Karachi heat

    Karachi Cattle Farms Association spokesperson Shabir Dar has reported that 150 animals have died in a span of three days as temperatures increase in the coastal city, Samaa news has reports.

    Cattle farmers are facing financial losses as timely treatment remains elusive.

    Shabir Dar emphasised that despite the challenges, including the absence of veterinary doctors from the livestock department, it is crucial for the department to ensure the supply of care and medicines.

    Yesterday, following the mercury hitting 41 degrees Celsius in Karachi, concerns among residents escalated. Over the past four days, more than 70 people affected by extreme heat sought treatment at Civil and Jinnah Hospitals.

    Dr. Nizam, AMS Civil Hospital, reported that 67 heat-affected individuals were admitted to the emergency room, predominantly elderly or those suffering from various illnesses.

    Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz has forecast a partial heatwave in Karachi for the next two days, attributing the intensified heat to changing winds. Temperatures are expected to decrease after two days, with monsoon rains likely starting in the first week of July.