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  • Bid submission date for outsourcing Islamabad Airport extended again

    Bid submission date for outsourcing Islamabad Airport extended again

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan has once again extended the deadline for outsourcing Islamabad Airport.

    According to ARY, the government aims to raise funds by outsourcing airport services, so the deadline is now extended by two months, until July 15. The CAA mentioned that companies from Turkey, Qatar, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have shown interest in the project.

    CAA first announced the tender in March with deadline of May 15. But the deadline has been extend due to a lack of interest from potential bidders for outsourcing the airport.

    Before this, the federal government asked for applications to outsource Islamabad International Airport for 15 years. The Civil Aviation Authority told interested bidders to submit their applications with a Rs5,000 fee by November 8.

    The government also plans to outsource Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad International Airports.

    The Employee Unions of the CAA are against the decision to outsource Pakistan airports.

  • Sachin Tendulkar’s security guard allegedly shoots himself

    Sachin Tendulkar’s security guard allegedly shoots himself

    Former Indian star batsman Sachin Tendulkar’s VIP security guard Parkash allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself.

    According to Indian media, 39-year-old Prakash shot himself in the neck with his official gun. He was on vacation when he committed suicide, leaving behind parents, a wife and two young children.

    Senior Police Inspector Kiran Shinde of the local police station said that the incident took place around 1:30 pm today. Investigations are on to find out the reasons behind the alleged suicide.

  • Punjab Cabinet says ‘undue interference’ by institutions unacceptable

    Punjab Cabinet says ‘undue interference’ by institutions unacceptable

    The Punjab cabinet, on Tuesday, made a strong statement that it would not accept any ‘undue interference’ in the government’s authority by another institution.

    Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presided over the meeting and made it clear that the Punjab government believes in harmony between state institutions, but unfair interference in the executive authority was unacceptable.

    This statement came after the Lahore High Court passed a ruling to extend the stay order against the distribution of electric motorcycles by Maryam Nawaz among students.

    “It is the responsibility of all of us to uphold the sanctity of our office by exercising our powers within the constitutional limits,” Maryam Nawaz said while addressing the cabinet.

  • Australian doctor, after a year of experimental treatment, is cancer-free

    Australian doctor, after a year of experimental treatment, is cancer-free

    Australian doctor Richard Scolyer is cancer-free after undergoing the world-first treatment for a brain tumor based on his own pioneering research.

    BBC reported about his self-treatment journey earlier this year and called it a “gamble” as the detected cancer was in its fourth stage. It was so aggressive that most patients survived less than a year.

    The 57-year-old underwent experimental therapy based on his own research on melanoma, a type of cancer that starts in the skin.

    Dr. Scolyer, went ahead with the treatment, aided by his colleague and friend Professor Georgina Long. Both are co-directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia.

    The team used a treatment based on immunotherapy, which teaches the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.

    Dr. Scolyer also became the first to be administered a vaccine personalised to his tumour’s characteristics.

    After a tough couple of months, at the start of the year – spent dealing with epileptic seizures, liver issues, and pneumonia, Dr. Scolyer says he is feeling healthier.

    The results so far have generated huge excitement that the duo may be on the cusp of a discovery that could one day help roughly 300,000 people, who aer diagnosed with brain cancer globally every year.

  • Gold prices rebound, increasing by Rs2,900 per tola

    Gold prices rebound, increasing by Rs2,900 per tola

    Gold prices in Pakistan experienced a notable turnaround on Wednesday, bouncing back after a downward trend observed over the past three sessions.

    This resurgence coincided with a global uptick in gold rates. In local markets, the price of gold per tola surged to Rs244,000, marking a substantial single-day increase of Rs2,900.

    According to data provided by the All Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 10 grammes of gold reached Rs209,191 following a rise of Rs2,487.

    Internationally, the price of gold also witnessed a rise during the day. APGJSA reported an international rate of $2,365 per ounce, with an additional premium of $20, reflecting an increase of $28.

    In contrast, silver prices remained steady at Rs2,650 per tola.

    Notably, the local gold market had reached a record high last month, with prices hitting Rs252,200 per tola.

    This positive turn comes after a decrease of Rs1,200 per tola observed on Tuesday in the gold prices in Pakistan.

  • Sonali Bendre finally talks about rumors of Shoaib Akhtar crush

    Sonali Bendre finally talks about rumors of Shoaib Akhtar crush

    If you thought we have left behind the era of crazy rumors, you are mistaken.

    The rumor that former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar threatened to kidnap Indian actress Sonali Bendre if she didn’t marry him has resurfaced online. During a podcast promoting her latest show, Bendre was reminded of Akhtar’s alleged crush on her. She responded, “I don’t know how true this is. Fake news existed even then!”

    In 2019, Akhtar was reported to have said, “If she [Bendre] doesn’t marry me, I’ll kidnap her!” He later used his YouTube channel to deny the statement, calling it completely false. Bendre, surprised by the rumor, joked, “Thank God for that. Maybe that has made my career!”
    Akhtar also addressed claims in 2019 that he carried a picture of Bendre in his wallet and wanted to marry her. He firmly denied all allegations, saying, “I never met Sonali Bendre. I’ve seen her in films, and she is indeed beautiful, but I’ve not been a fan.”

    He praised Bendre’s bravery in fighting cancer, saying, “I became her fan when she showed how bravely she struggled against her illness. But, my brother, I had nothing to do with her. These are all lies.”

  • ‘The one ‘Heeramandi’ stunt I would never attempt’: Aditi Rao Hydari

    ‘The one ‘Heeramandi’ stunt I would never attempt’: Aditi Rao Hydari

    Bollywood Actress Aditi Rao Hydari, recently shared the one thing she wouldn’t do, which her character Bibbojaan does, in the Netflix web series ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’.
    During a conversation with Netflix India, she talked about her role and revealed what she wouldn’t do. “I wouldn’t wear a heavy ghagra (skirt) and dance near a fountain that was super dangerous,” she said.

    Hydari also thanked Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the success of the series.
    “Bhansali is the main reason to watch ‘Heeramandi’, a hundred per cent Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and then there’s six of us, we’re not too bad,” she quipped.

    Hydari reflected on her childhood dream job and said that she had always wanted to be a heroine, particularly in a movie starring Mani Ratnam.
    Now that she’s working with Bhansali, she said shes happy and that, “life is good.”

    Bhansali’s highly anticipated digital debut, ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, which tells the story of courtesans in Lahore’s red-light district, premiered on Netflix on May 1.

  • Ireland to recognise Palestinian statehood ‘this month’: minister

    Ireland to recognise Palestinian statehood ‘this month’: minister

    Ireland is certain to recognise Palestinian statehood by the end of May, the country’s foreign minister said Wednesday, without specifying a date.

    “We will be recognising the state of Palestine before the end of the month,” Micheal Martin, who is also Ireland’s deputy prime minister, told the Newstalk radio station.

    In March the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovakia and Malta said in a joint statement that they stand ready to recognise Palestinian statehood.

    Ireland has long said it has no objection in principle to officially recognising the Palestinian state if it could help the peace process in the Middle East.

    But Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza has given the issue new impetus.

    Last week EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Spain, Ireland and Slovenia planned to symbolically recognise a Palestinian state on May 21, with others potentially following suit.

    But Ireland’s Martin shied Wednesday from pinpointing a date.

    “The specific date is still fluid because we’re still in discussions with some countries in respect of a joint recognition of a Palestinian state,” said Martin.

    “It will become clear in the next few days as to the specific date but it certainly will be before the end of this month.

    “I will look forward to consultations today with some foreign ministers in respect of the final specific detail of this.”

    Last month during a visit to Dublin by Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the countries would coordinate the move together.

    “When we move forward, we would like to do so with as many others as possible to lend weight to the decision and to send the strongest message,” said Harris.

    Israeli genocide in Gaza has killed more than 35,000 people in the besieged strip, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry.

  • Zayn Malik faces Tinder bans again and again – here’s why

    Zayn Malik faces Tinder bans again and again – here’s why

    Zayn Malik recently opened up about his music, his upcoming album ‘Room Under the Stairs,’ and his past relationships. The former One Direction superstar also shared his struggles with Tinder, the popular dating app.

    In an interview with NYLON, Zayn revealed that his attempts to use Tinder were unsuccessful. He was repeatedly removed from the app because people thought he was catfishing. “Everyone accused me of catfishing,” Zayn said. “They’re like, ‘What are you using Zayn Malik’s pictures for?’” the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker said.

    “It’s not been too successful for me, I’ll be honest,” he added.

    Zayn also talked about his engagement to Perrie Edwards, which lasted from when he was 17 to age 21. He admitted, “I didn’t know anything about anything at that point. I was legally allowed to do everything, but I didn’t know [expletive]”

  • Work first, love later: Haris Waheed’s advice for actors

    Work first, love later: Haris Waheed’s advice for actors

    Actor and model Haris Waheed appeared as a guest on Journalist Maliha Rehman’s YouTube show and made some interesting revelations. In the show, he opened up about his romantic scenes with co-actors and shared a list of his favourite co-stars.

    Talking about romance with co-actors, Haris Waheed said, “It’s not recommended to get romantically involved with co-stars because you’re here to work, not to pursue personal desires. If someone wants romance, they should do so outside of their workplace.”

    Giving some leeway, Waheed added, “If there is honesty between the two people, it will eventually make its way.”

    Talking about his favourite co-stars, Waheed said, “I enjoyed working with Zara Noor Abbas in Jhoom. In Jaan E Jahan, Tabraiz and Gulraiz also had great on-screen chemistry. Credit goes to Qasim Ali Mureed too; the chemistry you see is because of Nawal, me, and Qasim Ali Mureed. I also recently enjoyed working with Mashal Khan. Working with Sania Saeed is something I love. Saboor Aly, who I worked with in ‘Mujhe Wida Ker’, is naturally subtle and reactive. Working with her was a great experience.”