Author: newsdesk

  • No beard, no show: Zuhab Khan says he needed a beard transplant to get work

    No beard, no show: Zuhab Khan says he needed a beard transplant to get work

    Zuhab Khan, who started acting as a child star, has grown up on Pakistani TV screens while working on numerous projects. Recently, he underwent a beard transplant, which caused a stir on social media.

    In a conversation on Ayaz Samoo’s show, he shared, “I opted for the transplant because I’m at an age where I’m not offered child roles anymore and not yet considered for leading adult roles. Taking a year-long break for the beard was necessary for my career progression. I aim to have a beard for future projects when I’m offered hero roles.”

    Zuhab also opened up about facing rejections in dramas due to his appearance. He revealed that he had to face issues due to his lack of facial hair. “Being turned down for four projects because I lacked the required ‘hero-like’ beard. This was disappointing, especially as I was close to signing one of the projects. These experiences led me to make decisions about my future,” he said.

  • MPA who never won a general election, has never lost a by-election in entire career

    MPA who never won a general election, has never lost a by-election in entire career

    In the recent by-elections, one politician made a unique record as he won the by-poll for the third time on April 21. However, he is the only lawmaker who has never won a general election in his entire life.

    Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader Shoaib Siddiqui has become the only politician who won the by-polls for the third time, and he contested three general elections but unfortunately lost them all for his provincial seat.

    Siddiqui has contested every election in the same constituency but on the ticket of a different political party every time. This time, he contested the by-election on the ticket of IPP from PP-149 Lahore. In the February 8 election, IPP head Aleem Khan won the election on provincial seat from PP-149.

    The present PP 149 comprises areas like Garhi Shahu, Empress Road, Basti Syden Shah, some sides touching Dharampura, and parts of the city that pertain to the Walton Board. Earlier, Shoaib Siddiqui won the by-election in 2004 and 2015.

  • No India: Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant set to marry in London

    No India: Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant set to marry in London

    The pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, Gujarat, caught the world’s attention, and some couldn’t believe that it wasn’t the actual wedding. Now, all eyes are on what the Ambanis will do next. But unexpectedly, throwing a curveball to India, the Ambanis have decided to have the marriage in England instead of their home country.

    According to recent reports, the couple will tie the knot at the Stoke Park estate in London. While some festivities might still happen in Mumbai, the main ‘I do’s’ will happen in The King’s land.
    With Nita Ambani overseeing every detail, preparations are in full swing. Invitations have already been sent out to Bollywood stars, ensuring a star-studded celebration.
    Like the extravagant pre-wedding celebrations in Jamnagar, guests can expect luxurious arrangements and a strict dress code for the London ceremony.

  • Malala’s collaboration with anti-Palestinian Hillary Clinton causes uproar, diminishes Malala support

    Malala’s collaboration with anti-Palestinian Hillary Clinton causes uproar, diminishes Malala support

    Education activist, Malala Yousafzai, has recently faced criticism for her lack of speedy and strong support for the Palestinians and is now facing major backlash once again. This time because of her partnership with former US First Lady Hilary Clinton, who has actively spoken against a ceasefire in Gaza.

    Malala Yousafzai always had people who did not agree with her point of view. But this time it’s different. Different because people, including notable personalities who have defended her against those deeming her a “puppet” of the Western world, are now withdrawing support of her.

    In a recent announcement, Hillary Clinton and Malala are said to collaborate as co-producers for a new Broadway production titled “Suffs,” marking their debut on the Broadway stage.

    “Suffs” is a musical that depicts the suffrage movement in the United States, chronicling the campaign for women’s right to vote from 1913 to 1920, culminating in the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

    This collaboration has become questionable for the Pakistani public in the light of an on-going Israeli genocide in Gaza that is financed by the US and above all, supported by Hilary Clinton herself. And people are asking: what exactly is Malala thinking by doing this collaboration at this time.

    People react:

    Some supporters defended Malala

    Background

    While Malala Yousafzai has spoken regarding the situation in Gaza since October 7 and has called for a ceasefire, her takes have been carefully worded and somewhat diplomatic which also drew criticism as she has not openly called out Israel for committing a genocide.

    On the other hand, Hilary Clinton has openly advocated against a ceasefire in Gaza, justifying Israeli deadly operations in the besieged strip.

  • Sunil Narine denies return to T20 World Cup

    Sunil Narine denies return to T20 World Cup

    West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine has denied his return to the T20 World Cup 2024.

    Sunil Narine said in a statement, “I am happy that people are expressing their desire to return from retirement for the World Cup. I have made my decision, I will not withdraw my retirement.”

    Earlier, West Indian captain Raoman Powell had hinted at the possibility of Sunil Narine coming out of retirement.

    At the moment, Sunil Narine is showing an excellent all round performance in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League (IPL).

  • Netflix’s Squid Game season 2, Emily in Paris season 4 set for late 2024 release

    Netflix’s Squid Game season 2, Emily in Paris season 4 set for late 2024 release

    Co-CEO of Netflix, Ted Sarandos has hinted at the release of several series, including Netflix’s Squid Game in the latter half of 2024, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

    Although Sarandos didn’t specify release dates, his remarks suggest they will be out sometime in the second half of 2024.

    Squid Game holds the title of Netflix’s most-watched show ever and was renewed for a second season in June 2022.

    In 2024, viewers can expect Squid Game 2, The Night Agent, new seasons of Outer Banks, Emily in Paris, and Ryan Murphy’s Monster anthology.

    Following the success of Squid Game, Netflix launched a reality competition version titled ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’.

    The 10-part reality series featured 456 players competing in games inspired by the original series, for a cash prize of $4.56 million.

    Upon its November 2023 premiere, ‘The Challenge’ debuted as the No.1 English-language show on Netflix.

  • Listen to your body, trust your instincts: ZaraNoor Abbas has advice for new moms

    Listen to your body, trust your instincts: ZaraNoor Abbas has advice for new moms

    Zara Noor Abbas just had a baby girl named Noor-e-Jahan with her husband Asad Siddiqui. Usually, people talk a lot about the happiness of having a new baby, but Zara wanted to talk about something else too. She went on Instagram to discuss the postpartum period.

    Zara posted pictures with her daughter and photos of cute things like white booties, a pink cake, and toys. There was even a poster saying ‘Welcome home, baby Noor-e-Jahan and Mommy.’ Zara also said thank you to everyone who has been supporting her, like her fans, friends, and family. She talked about how becoming a mom changed her life, making her feel like she had everything she needed.

    “First and foremost- Thank you to all my friends and family and my amazing fans for all the pyaar and duayein (love and prayers). I read all your comments and messages,” Abbas penned in the caption. “It’s just Insane. The journey from nothingness to everything. This rush of joy and power. The feeling that I can conquer anything now. The nourishment of empowerment and love.”

    She continued, “The tears, the all-nighters, the difficulties in understanding what the baby wants. Which cry will signal me of a particular task/action. How to position the head – how to lengthen the body, how to massage the fragile bones that you can hear sounds of.”

    Zara openly talked about the challenges of understanding her newborn’s needs, learning how to take care of a baby, and the confusing feelings that come with the time after giving birth. She stressed how important it is for new moms to accept help, take care of themselves, and be proud of what they’ve achieved without feeling like they have to be perfect.
    She added, “The questions that will only be answered by spending alone time with the baby. The pressure to know it all in these 40 days. It’s superior! It’s a lot! And I feel like we don’t talk much about the journey after the birth. Postpartum. It’s real. It’s as real as pregnancy.”

    Zara highlighted the strength that comes with being a mom, encouraging other new moms to recognize their own strength and ask for help when they need it. She wanted to make it normal to talk about the challenges after giving birth, hoping to reassure other moms that they’re not alone in their journey.

    The Jhoom actor had a message for new moms: take control of your post-baby journey. “To all the new moms, don’t feel like you have to be a superhero. You already became one by giving birth with God’s help. Now, take a break. Let others help you. Rest. Eat. Sleep. Nap. You can tell people to leave you alone. Don’t follow advice you don’t like. Swaddle the baby how you want. Feed the baby however you want. Do what feels right for you,” she commented.

    Abbas ended with an important reminder: “Listen to your body and your motherly instincts.” She emphasized the need to be patient, saying, ‘It will take time to recover, but you’ll be okay, I promise. You know why? Because you’re a mom. And moms, wow, we know how strong they are, don’t we?’”

  • IMF raises questions over PM Shehbaz giving huge bonuses to staff

    IMF raises questions over PM Shehbaz giving huge bonuses to staff

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reportedly raised questions on Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s decision to grant huge financial awards to the officers of his office, as reported by Express Tribune.

    The supplementary grants amounted to Rs. 24 billion, which the PM approved, amidst a severe economic crisis.

    The global lending body IMF took up the issue, asking about the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet decisions to approve awards for the PM’s office staff.

    The Express Tribune reported that the IMF questioned the source of funding for these awards.

    IMF’s Resident Representative Esther Perez did not respond to a request for a comment on the matter even after two weeks, according to the news outlet.

    However, despite IMF questioning, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb have not reversed this decision.

  • Rana Sanaullah wants ‘stubborn’ Khan to work together, resolve country’s issues

    Rana Sanaullah wants ‘stubborn’ Khan to work together, resolve country’s issues

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah proposed a ‘reconciliation offer’ to imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan. He said that together, all parties can steer the country out of crisis.

    On Geo News’ show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, the senior PML-N leader urged the founder of PTI to join the political discussion, stressing that the weak economy ‘can’t handle more political tension’.

    He asked Khan to, “take the matter to a logical conclusion.” The former interior minister said the PTI founder was not even “ready to sit or talk” with anyone.

    Referring to the results of Sunday’s by-polls, the PML-N leader said, “PTI’s supporters and voters did not come out of their homes due to his [Imran Khan] stubbornness.”

  • US isn’t happy, warns Pakistan of sanctions after Iran President visit

    US isn’t happy, warns Pakistan of sanctions after Iran President visit

    The United States State Department on Tuesday warned, without naming Pakistan, against the “potential risk of sanctions” amidst the background of a recent memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and Iran, following the visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Pakistan.

    “We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions,” said a State Department spokesperson.

    The spokesperson also mentioned the beneficial economic ties between Pakistan and the United States and said that the US remains Pakistan’s biggest export market.

    “We have also been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past 20 years. Pakistan’s economic success is in both of our interests, and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” they added, stressing the significance of economic relations between both countries.

    Previously, the US warned Pakistan of sanctions after it signalled that it would complete the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.

    Meanwhile, Iranian President Raisi revealed that both Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase the trade volume to $10 billion in coming years.