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  • ‘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.

  • S. Korean actor Yoo Ah-in jailed for one year for drugs

    S. Korean actor Yoo Ah-in jailed for one year for drugs

    High-profile South Korean actor Yoo Ah-in was found guilty Tuesday of illegal use of the anaesthetic drug propofol and handed a one-year jail term, the Yonhap news agency reported.

    Yoo, whose real name is Uhm Hong-sik, was accused of using propofol on 181 occasions between 2020 and 2022. The drugs were administered at professional clinics, under the guise of having cosmetic procedures done.

    The prosecution had sought a four-year sentence for the “Hellbound” actor, but the Seoul Central District Court handed the 37-year-old a one-year jail term, Yonhap reported.

    “He is deemed guilty of all his purchases for habitual drug use,” the court stated in its ruling, according to Yonhap News TV.

    The court said Yoo had committed the offences “in disregard of relevant regulations” and displayed a “lack of caution against drug substances”.

    A doctor who administered propofol to Yoo without a proper prescription was fined 40 million won ($30,000) last month.

    Propofol, while primarily used as a surgical anaesthetic, is sometimes abused recreationally, often with the involvement of medical professionals who may be willing to provide it without a legitimate clinical need.

    An overdose of the drug was cited as the cause of pop star Michael Jackson’s death in 2009.

    “I am sorry for having caused concern to many people,” Yoo was quoted as saying in court by Yonhap.

    Yoo rose to stardom in the South following his debut in 2003, starring in a range of television dramas and films across genres, and becoming one of the country’s most recognisable actors.

    This trial marks the latest drug scandal to hit South Korea.

    In a similar incident, K-pop star G-Dragon faced allegations of drug use and was questioned by police, but the case was dropped in November due to insufficient evidence.

    Actor Lee Sun-kyun, known for his role in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite”, took his own life in December after being accused of illegal substance use, sparking public outrage over what many perceived as an excessive investigation by the police without substantial evidence.

    Lee Jae-yong, then vice-chairman of Samsung Electronics, was convicted in 2021 of illegally using propofol and was fined 70 million won. He was found guilty of repeatedly receiving the anaesthetic at a plastic surgery clinic in Seoul on numerous occasions over several years.

  • Dananeer Mobeen to share screen with Ahad Raza Mir in ‘Meem Se Mohabbat’

    Dananeer Mobeen to share screen with Ahad Raza Mir in ‘Meem Se Mohabbat’

    After a break of two years, Ahad Raza Mir is making a highly anticipated comeback to television screens alongside social media influencer and actress, Dananeer Mobeen in the new drama Meem Se Mohabbat. The serial will be written by Farhat Ishtiaq and directed by Ali Hassan.
     
    Dananeer Mobeen has starred in dramas like Sinf -e- Aahan, Mohabbat Gumshuda Meri’ and Very Filmy. Ahad Raza Mir’s last project were Ehd-e-Wafa, Ye Dil Mera, and Hum Tum.
     
    ‘Meem Se Mohabbat’ story offers a narrative beyond a typical love story.
    Fans are excited as they await this drama’s release date and more details.

  • Netflix bows to Modi government’s demands

    Netflix bows to Modi government’s demands

    Netflix, an international streaming media service, has bowed to the Indian government and announced a withdrawal notice from the controversial web series.

    There is a controversy in India over using the names of Bhola and Shankar for the hijackers in the web series IC814: The Kandahar Hijack, which was released last week on the platform.

    The Indian government reached out to Netflix, calling out to change their names in the show.

    In compliance, Netflix India’s head of content, Monica Shergill, responded, “For the benefit of audiences unfamiliar with the 1999 hijacking, the opening disclaimer has been updated… code names in the series now reflect those used during the event.”

    In December 1999, an Indian Airlines flight from Kathmandu to Delhi was hijacked and taken to Amritsar, Lahore, Dubai and Kandahar. Maulana Masood Azhar, Ahmed Umar Saeed and Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar were released.

    According to passengers on the plane and journalists who reported the incident, the hijackers used to call each other Chief, Doctor, Burger, Bhola and Shankar while talking to each other.

    However, in a statement issued by the Indian government on January 6, 2000, the hijackers were identified as Ibrahim Athar, Shahid Akhtar, Sunny Ahmed Qazi, Mistry Zahoor Ibrahim and Shakir.

    The drama is made by Anubhav Sinha and Trishant Shrivastava, starring actors Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Vijay Varma, Arvind Swamy, Patralekhaa and Dia Mirza.

  • Senate Committee approves bill mandating three-year imprisonment for unapproved protests in Islamabad

    Senate Committee approves bill mandating three-year imprisonment for unapproved protests in Islamabad

    The Senate Standing Committee of Interior, presided by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman, has approved a bill pertaining to rallies in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad.

    The bill reads that protests will occur in the Islamabad-connected area of Sangjani or other specified areas where the government referred. Without permission, protest organisers and participants will be punished with three years of imprisonment.

    Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Senator Irfan Siddiqui debated the bill, saying it is intended to legalise protests in Islamabad and will be implemented only in the capital territory.

    He further said that containers are still on Islamabad roads, creating trouble for people. He emphasised that the government needed to allocate a designated place for protests.

    Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri clarified that the bill’s purpose is not to target any political party.

    Senator Saifullah Abro said that according to the Pakistan constitution, every citizen has the right to peaceful protest.

  • Indian journalist seeks interview with Hania Aamir as ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ mania spreads beyond borders

    Indian journalist seeks interview with Hania Aamir as ‘Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum’ mania spreads beyond borders

    Hania Amir’s latest role in the drama series Kabhi Mein Kabhi Tum has also captured the attention of Indian audiences, and Indian journalists are eager to interview the renowned Pakistani actress.

    Famous Indian journalist Faridoon Shahryar has expressed his interest in interviewing Hania after praising her acting in the trending drama of the season, reflecting on her fan base extending across the border.

    “I would love to interview you. Please let me know how this can be made possible,” Faridoon commented on one of Hania’s social media posts, complimenting her work and requesting an interview.

    Hania has yet to respond, but fans are encouraging her to accept the opportunity.

    The screenshot of the comment was shared by Fahad Mustafa, who is starring alongside Hania Amir in ‘Kabhi Mai Kabhi Tum’. The drama also marks Fahad Mustafa’s return to TV after a long break.

    The drama airs on a Pakistani channel, Ary Digital. It has been trending on YouTube in Pakistan and on X (formerly Twitter) in India and Bangladesh following the much-anticipated reunion of the characters Mustafa and Sharjeena in episode 17.

    The latest episode, featuring an intense confrontation, a heartfelt apology, and a reunion of the lovebird couple MusJeena, has resonated with audiences, leading to the show’s popularity beyond Pakistan.

  • Suicide bombers given numbing injections, reveals arrested terrorist

    Suicide bombers given numbing injections, reveals arrested terrorist

    An apprehended terrorist belonging to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Rooh Ullah, has revealed that suicide bombers are administered injections to numb them two days before planned attacks.

    In a video statement, the terrorist revealed details about his and other suicide bombers’ training in a seminary in Afghanistan and how they crossed the border to get inside Pakistan.

    He said that he was a student of the seminary Tarteel-ul-Quran in Tortam village in Afghanistan’s Dangam area for one year.

    He’d received the training for 10 days under the supervision of men named Molvi Sibghatullah along with Farooq and Zakir.

    He stated that the injections were administered to suicide bombers two days before their departure so they could no longer understand what was happening around them.

    Rooh Ullah stated that after completion of their training, he, along with four other suicide bombers, travelled to the Afghan border, where a facilitator named Jawad helped them get inside Pakistani territory.

    Then, the group’s responsibility was taken over by another man, Sajjad, who separated the suicide bombers and took Rooh Ullah to a mosque.

    The terrorist had now been instructed to meet another individual, Suleman, whom he got to meet after travelling for one hour.

    Suleman instructed the terrorist to receive a suicide vest from Jameel, who would also guide him about carrying out the attack in a cantonment area.

    Pakistan is witnessing the most significant surge in terrorist attacks over the last two years as it blames the Taliban government in Kabul for not taking action against the TTP.

  • IHC registrar objects to Imran Khan’s petition against potential military trial

    IHC registrar objects to Imran Khan’s petition against potential military trial

    The Islamabad High Court (IHC) registrar office has objected to former Pakistan Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s petition to bar his potential military trial in connection with the May 9 riots cases.

    The IHC registrar objected to the petition, stating that the petitioner could only seek relief while referring to a specific First Information Report (FIR). The court also highlighted the absence of any document and an order that should be attached to the petition.

    The IHC registrar further objected to how a petition could be filed with a high court while the matter of military trials is sub judice in the Supreme Court; registering cases in Punjab is impossible for a federal court to hear.

    Earlier, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) filed a plea under Article 199 of the constitution.

    Imran Khan’s counsel, Intezar Panjutha, questioned, “How can the leader of a popular political party be taken to a military court?”

  • Astrologers predict big changes for Hania Aamir in 2025

    Astrologers predict big changes for Hania Aamir in 2025

    Actress Hania Aamir is in for some major life changes in 2025, astrologers predict.

    During a recent morning show, ‘Subha Samma k Sath’, hosted by Madiha Naqvi, three renowned astrologers shared predictions of some celebrities, including Hania Aamir.

    Astrologer Nadeem Yasin said that Aamir is “a very good, very innocent person, and it is very easy to make a fool of her”.

    He then foretold that the coming year, 2025, will be a turning point for her as “something big is going to happen in Hania Aamir’s life.”

    The host also asked about Adnan Siddiqui, to which astrologer Ansa Shah responded, “I have the Six of Wands card here, a card of success. It signifies that success is on the horizon for Adnan Siddiqui, whether he does business or any investment, media, acting, or hosting.”