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  • Meta fires two dozen employees for spending food allowance on personal items

    Meta fires two dozen employees for spending food allowance on personal items

    Meta has initiated mass layoffs in various divisions, including Instagram, WhatsApp and Reality Labs, as part of company restructuring in a move that could affect hundreds of employees.

    A spokesperson for the company confirmed that the changes are being made in line with Meta’s long-term strategy and better organization of teams across locations. The strategy includes moving some teams to other locations and assigning new roles to some employees. We will make every effort to provide alternative opportunities to those affected.

    Among those most affected by Meta’s move is renowned app reverse engineer Jin Min Chun-Wong, who joined Meta’s Threads team in 2023. He announced on social media that his post has been terminated.

    Meta did not disclose the exact number of layoffs, but the company has cut about 21,000 jobs since November 2022 to cut costs.

    In March 2023, Meta Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the need for significant initiatives to make the organization faster and more efficient to meet the company’s priorities more quickly and effectively. He said that these changes will lead to more satisfying and meaningful work for the employees.

    In another major development, Meta has fired more than two dozen employees in its Los Angeles office over alleged abuse of its $25 meal credit program. According to sources, these employees continuously misused the credit to buy unrelated items such as acne treatment pads, wine glasses and laundry detergent.

    Moreover, some employees colluded by pooling their credits, while others ordered food at home, even though this facility was only for office staff.

    The CEO of Meta has become one of the three richest people in the world, with his wealth increasing by $71.8 billion in 2023. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index, Zuckerberg’s net worth has surpassed $200 billion, trailing behind only Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

    Meta’s impressive performance, which hit the milestone of $134.9 billion in revenue and nearly four billion monthly active users in 2023, has led to this massive increase in Zuckerberg’s wealth. Meta’s stock price has also risen nearly 60 percent since January, pushing the company’s net worth to new highs.

    Mark Zuckerberg has now surpassed the world’s top billionaires such as Larry Ellison, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, and this increase reflects Meta’s continued success and strong position in the global market.

  • Real reason behind Imran Khan’s expulsion from Oxford chancellor race

    Real reason behind Imran Khan’s expulsion from Oxford chancellor race

    Journalist Murtaza Ali Shah has listed down the probable reasons that led to Oxford University blocking founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, from the University chancellorship race.

    Appearing on the Neo News programme Madde Muqabal, journalist Murtaza Ali Shah disclosed that Imran Khan does not fulfil the requirements of becoming Oxford University chancellor, which demands a “fit and proper person.”

    According to the Oxford University criteria for Chancellorship, a convicted person is not eligible to become the University chancellor. “Imran Khan was convicted in Tosha Khana case,” the journalist said.

    Murtaza Ali Shah further revealed, “A chancellor candidate shouldn’t be the member of a legislative assembly. Although currently Imran Khan is not a lawmaker, there is the possibility of his premiership in future, on which the University has reservations.”

    Meanwhile, The Telegraph lambasted Imran Khan shortly before Oxford University released its list of ineligible candidates to run for the Chancellorship post.

    An oped printed by The Telegraph declared Imran Khan a narcissistic man and a sympathiser to Taliban who had restricted women’s education in Afghanistan, adding that if Khan was elected Oxford Chancellor, he would help Western enemies.

    The newspaper wrote that 20th-century cricketer Imran Khan, who presented himself as a quasi-islamist in the 21st century, though in reality he is not Islamist, was among the candidates competing for Oxford chancellorship.

    He is remembered either as a cricketer or for his frivolous stories in magazines in the 1980s, yet some people in the United Kingdom (UK) advocating for Imran Khan, the oped said.

    Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s Advisor on International Affairs, Syed Zulfi Bukhari, claimed that Oxford University blocked Khan from contesting the chancellor election after the Pakistan government pressured the administration.

    “The Oxford University has made a very narrow-minded and pressured decision to block Imran Khan. The decision came as a big disappointment because the whole of Pakistan wanted Imran Khan to take part in the Oxford University chancellor election. People from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and many Islamic countries wanted Imran Khan to take part,” Bukhari told Geo News.

  • Aima Baig’s rumored beau looks hot in new photo

    Aima Baig’s rumored beau looks hot in new photo

    Speculations about Aima Baig’s relationship with Zain Ahmed are heating up after she posted a picture of her rumored beau on her Instagram story.

    The duo has been spotted together frequently, sparking rumors that they might be more than just friends.

    Rumors of her relationship with Zain Ahmad, co-founder of international streetwear brand Rastah, started after Aima posted several pictures with him on her Instagram stories, grabbing the attention of fans and the media. Recently, the singer took to Instagram to show roses and a pink teddy bear she got from Zain, calling him her “little teddy.”

    Fans also noticed Aima leaving sweet comments on Zain’s social media, which further fueled the dating rumors. Aima and Zain have neither confirmed nor denied anything.

    Aima has been a popular figure in media, especially after her breakup with actor Shahbaz Shigri. The couple got engaged after meeting during the filming of ‘Parey Hut Love’ but ended things in September 2022.

    As rumors about her and Zain continue to spread, Aima remains silent, keeping fans wondering about her relationship status.

    Earlier, she discussed the end of her engagement with actor Shahbaz Shigri. “Some secret stories were circulating between us, which I didn’t want to discuss because they involved many people I didn’t want to name,” Baig said.

    She stressed that marriage builds a new relationship between two families. “There were never any issues between our families; both are very good families,” she remarked.

    “After the engagement ended, I posted a message on social media for my fans, which was misunderstood, and people began criticizing me,” she said.

    Her family supported her a lot, the singer recounted, adding that her siblings protected her from criticism on social media, although she was aware of it.

    During this tough time, when she saw her family worried because of her, she began having suicidal thoughts.

  • Why does Saleem Mairaj keep getting compared to Nawazuddin Siddiqui?

    Why does Saleem Mairaj keep getting compared to Nawazuddin Siddiqui?

    People frequently compare actor Saleem Mairaj to Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, but why do fans make the comparison?

    Saleem Mairaj talked to Gup Shab host Vasay Chaudhry, about comparisons with Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

    The co host asked, “Being such a versatile actor, you are often compared to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, do you feel satisfied with this comparison, or do you think it’s unnecessary?”

    Mairaj replied, “This question has been asked 200 times, and I don’t understand if it doesn’t make sense to me or if the comparison itself doesn’t make sense, let me tell you, he is a great actor.”

    Saleem Mairaj recalled a funny story about an experience he had while getting a passport.

    “However, I had a very strange experience once when I went to get a passport, I was standing in line when two women were also in line. They had watched the Indian film ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ the previous night. One of them was saying to the other, ‘Look, he was in that film last night.’ They didn’t recognize me as Saleem Mairaj,” the Alif actor added.

    Saleem Mairaj has starred in dramas such as Ishq Ki Inteha, Kash Main Teri Beti Na Hoti, Ulla Baraye Farokht Nahi, Raqs-e-Bismil, and Mein Kahani hu.

  • Liam Payne: One Direction singer swept up by teenage stardom

    Liam Payne: One Direction singer swept up by teenage stardom

    Liam Payne, who died aged 31 after plunging from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, spent more than half his life in the public eye as a member of one of the world’s most successful boy bands.

    The singer from Wolverhampton in central England was first unsuccessful in his audition on the hugely popular television talent show “The X Factor”.

    But he hit gold on the programme in 2010, aged just 16, joining Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik — and One Direction was born.

    Over the next six years, the group enjoyed global fame and legions of screaming fans, selling more than 70 million copies of their five albums. They went on four world tours and won nearly 200 awards.

    Payne, described by former X Factor host Dermot O’Leary as “a joy… polite, grateful and… always humble”, was said to be the “driving force” behind some of One Direction’s most loved songs.

    He penned “Story of My Life”, “Night Changes” and “Midnight Memories” among others, and once referred to himself as the “first verse man” — singing the coveted first verse of most of the songs on the band’s first album “Up All Night”.

    After Malik left One Direction in 2015, the band went on an “indefinite hiatus” a year later, prompting Payne and the others to start solo careers.

    Payne met with early success with his debut solo single “Strip That Down”, released in 2017, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart.

    Last year, he revealed he was working on a second solo album, having delayed a planned tour due to health problems, and released his last single “Teardrops” in March 2024.

    – Charity –

    Payne, who fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in the Argentinian capital on Wednesday, was in the city to watch his former bandmate Horan in concert.

    While the exact circumstances of the fall are unclear, police said they responded to a report of “an aggressive man who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol”.

    He leaves behind a son from a previous relationship with the Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.

    News of Payne’s death left fans distraught. “I feel like it’s a part of adolescence lost,” said one, Lena Duek, 21, outside the hotel.

    She described One Direction as the soundtrack of her teenage years and had been hoping for them to reunite.

    British anti-poverty charity Trussell praised Payne for his “compassion and kindness” for supporting their foodbanks. Chief executive Emma Revie said he funded more than 360,000 meals during the pandemic.

    – Anxiety, frustrations –

    Payne’s death came as he faced heavy criticism on social media following an interview in which his ex-partner Maya Henry accused him of being abusive.

    In the interview this week, Henry said Payne would tell her he was “going to die” as a manipulation tactic. The Daily Mail reported Henry obtained a “cease-and-desist” order against Payne.

    In recent years, the singer opened up about his struggles with alcohol and dealing with fame at such a young age.

    “I’ve found in my life at the moment, because of the way things have happened, that everything’s kind of fast-forwarded,” he told Esquire Magazine in 2019.

    Speaking about anxiety and losing his sense of self, he added: “It’s a bit like being stuck out in deep water and you’re just going ‘well, it would be really nice to get back now’.”

    However, after taking a break, Payne said last year he was ready to return to music career in a video titled “I’m Back… “.

    In it, he said he was sober and apologised for taking out “frustrations” with his career on “everybody else”.

    “The rest of the boys really stuck by me when I needed them most, they kinda came to the rescue,” he added.

    “I feel like I’ve got more of a grip on life now, and everything that was getting away from me.”

  • ‘Iss tarmeem ke peeche aik bohut bara naam hai…,’ reveals Maulana Fazl in a slip of tongue

    ‘Iss tarmeem ke peeche aik bohut bara naam hai…,’ reveals Maulana Fazl in a slip of tongue

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while addressing a press conference on October 17 along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, had an apparent slip of the tongue when he said: “This is such a significant amendment that there is a big name behind it and that name is…”

    As soon as Maulana said those words, everyone burst into laughter, including PTI’s Asad Qaiser, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub, and Sheikh Waqas Akram.

    Maulana, while smiling, then stated: “Wait a minute… That man can be Mohsin Naqvi.”

    Last night, the JUI-F chief warned of suspending talks on the highly anticipated constitutional amendment with the government amidst undue pressure on his party members.

    “We are engaging with the government with absolute open-heartedness, but sadly, we are receiving reports of pressure being exerted on our members while both PTI and BNP members are being intimidated,” said Fazl.

    “If these tactics continue, they will be compelled to stop negotiations,” warned Fazlur Rehman.

    The JUI-F chief further said that if the government chooses to talk with them reasonably, then his party would answer politely; however, if the government uses thuggery to speak with them, then they would receive their reply in the same tone and tenor.

    In the past few weeks, the coalition government has been consistently engaged with the JUI-F Chief to convince him of the proposed constitutional amendments, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto at the forefront of the negotiations.

    Maulana acknowledged the positive role played by PTI, saying, “they have accepted what is feasible and agreed to continue consultations today (Friday).”

    Furthermore, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated: “Despite these issues, we have participated in every meeting to ensure the draft is presented before us.”

    On October 16, PTI member Meher Bano Qureshi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that her sister-in-law, the wife of PTI MNA Zain Qureshi, was abducted from near their home by “masked men in plain clothes and multiple cars.”

    “They have not been able to break us for the last year and half despite all kinds of threats and are now resorting to such low level tactics. Mine & my family’s faith in Allah is unbreakable. He will see us & Pakistan through this fascism,” she wrote.

    A few hours later, Qureshi posted a photo with the caption: “Alhamdulillah, she’s home. Thank you for your prayers and support!”

    However, Meher Bano Qureshi was not the only one to complain about the sudden ‘disappearance’ and ‘abduction’ of lawmakers and their family members.

    Chairman Balochistan National Party (BNP) Akhtar Mengal also posted on X, “My party Senator Naseema Ehsan is confined to her apartment, and her son has been abducted. Meanwhile, my party’s other Senator Qasim Roonjo, who went for his dialysis at 8 a.m. in Islamabad, has been untraceable along with his son since then. Is this what democracy looks like?!!!”

    The BNP leader warned last week that “undemocratic methods” were being employed to enforce the upcoming constitutional amendments.

  • Aurat March criticises Maryam Nawaz for remarks in Punjab College case

    Aurat March criticises Maryam Nawaz for remarks in Punjab College case

    Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has been widely criticised for her remarks in a recent presser about the alleged Punjab College case where she asserted that the allegations of rape against the girl are totally wrong by saying, “Woh bachi bilkul paak saaf hai, uske opper yeh ghalat ilzaam lagay,” implying that the concerned girl is clean or pure.

    Aurat March lambasted Maryam Nawaz for rehashing the age-old concept of women being the symbol of respect for the family, and if she has been subjected to sexual assault, she has become impure, thus bringing shame to the family despite the fact she is the victim. The Karachi chapter of Aurat March mentioned in an Instagram post that a woman is a human being and not a symbol of respect. “These remarks reinforce the patriarchal belief that women’s worth is tied to supposed ‘purity’ that comes with them being sexually untouched-a rhetoric that becomes even more misogynistic when referring to the crime of rape.”

    Additonally, the statement asked a pertinent question, “Are victim survivors of rape somehow ‘impure’ and ‘unclean’?”

    The Aurat March statement emphasised that “Public officials should never echo the same repulsive justifications used by rapists and murderers in the name of “honour”.”

    Social media user, Dr Maryam S. Khan also shared a screenshot of Maryam Nawaz’s statement and wrote, “Punjab CM believes that rape victims are not ‘paak saaf’. Tantamount to victim blaming. Whether or not the crime of rape has been committed in this case is besides the point. A woman in high public office has 0 idea what language to use for sexual assault victims.”

    Another user Zahra Sabri posted, “This female “CM” spewed such toxic, anti-women cliches in today’s presser.”

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Maleeka Bokhari lambasted Punjab Chief Minister by mentioning that “a rape victim or survivors does NEVER become UNPURE because she has been raped. The shame is NEVER the survivors but that of the offender who committed this grave crime.”

    Another tweeter user opined, “Did Maryam Nawaz really just, while denying the r@pe incident, say that the girl is “paak–saaf“? This society’s going to go nowhere when its own leaders view r@pe victims as na-paak. I am speechless.”

  • Spinners magic in Multan: Pakistan outshine England for Test series draw

    Spinners magic in Multan: Pakistan outshine England for Test series draw

    Pakistan have defeated England by 152 runs in the 2nd Test match at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

    In the match being played at the International Stadium in Multan, England started the fourth day’s game with 36 runs for the loss of two wickets, but Sajid Khan showed the way to the pavilion after adding one run to Ollie Pope, while the individual score of 18 But Noman Ali dismissed Joe Root.

    Nouman Ali also dismissed Harry Brook lbw for a total of 78 while Jamie Smith became his fourth victim.

    English captain Ben Stokes became the fifth victim of Nauman Ali, who was stumped for 37 runs.

    Nauman Ali took eight, while Sajid Khan took two wickets in the second innings.

    Day 3:

    In the closing moments of play on the third day, Pakistan had run the English openers, with Sajid taking the valuable wicket of Ben Duckitt in the first over while Nauman Ali sent Zac Crawley to the pavilion.

    Pakistan scored 366 runs in the first innings, in response to which the England team was bowled out for 291 runs with a deficit of 75 runs. In the second innings, the Pakistani team was bowled out for 221 runs and gave England a target of 297 runs to win.

    Pakistan inning:

    In the first innings of the second Test match, the Pakistani team was all out by scoring 366 runs; the national team started its incomplete first innings at 259 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, then the wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan was out by scoring 41 runs for the gain of just five runs. Done. Agha Salman, 31, and Sajid Khan, two runs, proved to be guests.

    Aamir Jamal and Nouman Ali formed a partnership of 49 runs for the 9th wicket, but Aamir got out after scoring 37 runs; later, Nouman Ali was caught by Jack Leach after scoring 32 runs.

    On behalf of England, Jack Leach took four wickets, Brayden Carrs took three wickets, Matthew Potts took two wickets, and Shoaib Bashir took one wicket.

  • Shakib Al Hasan decides not to return to Bangladesh

    Shakib Al Hasan decides not to return to Bangladesh

    Former Bangladesh cricket team captain Shakib Al Hasan took a U-turn on his decision to return home.

    The star batsman has decided not to go to Bangladesh citing security concerns, as there was a protest against him outside the Sher Bangla Stadium in Dhaka yesterday while South African and Bangladeshi cricket teams were practising inside.

    Shakib said, “I was supposed to go back to Bangladesh, but now it seems that I will not be able to go. I made this decision for security reasons, and this is my personal security issue.”

    He had to participate in the Test series against South Africa; his name was also included in the squad for the first Test against South Africa.

    He had expressed his desire to play the last test match of his career at his home ground.

    The first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh will start on October 21 in Mirpur.

    Why are people protesting against him?

    A murder case was filed against Bangladesh’s star cricket all-rounder and former Awami League Member of Parliament Shakib Al Hasan in Dhaka.

    Bangladeshi media reports that authorities have charged him along with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the murder of an employee of a garment factory in Dhaka.

    He also apologised to the people of Bangladesh for his silence during the protest against Hasian Wazid.

    He wrote, “Assalamu Alaikum, respect to the love of every people in my country. Your prayers and love towards me have felicitated me today as this Shakib Al Hasan in the world court. In the beginning, I remember with respect for all the sacrificial students who were martyred and wounded in the student crowd led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. Respect and condolences from the bottom of my heart to them and their families. Although nothing can be fulfilled, the sacrifice of a family lost loved one. The pain of losing a child or losing a brother is not worthy of anything.”
    “My respect and sincere apologies to the place of feelings of you who have been hurt or hurt due to my absence of all presence during this crisis. If I were in your place, I would have been heartfelt like this. I was a Member of Parliament of Magura-1 seat for a very short time. To get involved with my politics was basically my birthplace, i.e. the opportunity for the development of the people of Magura. You know that in the context of Bangladesh, it is a bit difficult to play a direct role in the development of your area without any particular responsibility. And my desire to develop this area makes me interested in becoming a member of parliament,” he stated.

    Shakib further wrote, “Anyway, at the end of the day, I am a Bangladesh cricketer. When I was wherever I was, I captured cricket from my heart. You guys have taken the way to earn the honour of the world’s best all-rounder by holding this cricket. Your love and support made me happy today, Shakib Al Hasan. When I bat for the country on the cricket field, you all bat with me. Shout out to the gallery; your support has motivated me to play better. The crowd in front of the tea shop on the day of the cricket match – gave me strength. If I win, you all win. If I lose, you all lost! You know, I’m going to play my last match very soon. From the beginning of my cricket career to becoming Shakib Al Hasan, you have driven this whole journey.”
    Requesting his fans to support him on the home ground, he wrote, “You write this whole story of cricket! So, in my last match, in the last chapter of this story, I want you beside me. I want to take you all along and say goodbye. At the goodbyes, I want to put my hands in the hands of those people whose clap made me play well. At the goodbyes, I want to keep my eyes on the eyes of the people in my good game whose eyes are filled with joy. Again, at my bad game, whose eyes are cheating. I hope, not just hope – you all will be with me during this farewell. Everyone will stay together and draw the end of the story, who is the hero of the story – I am not, you.”

    Last month, Shakib announced his retirement from Test cricket, but he has expressed his desire to play the last Test against South Africa at his home ground.

  • Pakistan’s star debutant against England: Who is Sajid Khan?

    Pakistan’s star debutant against England: Who is Sajid Khan?

    Born in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 1993, Sajid Khan made his Test debut against Zimbabwe in April 2021. The start of the career was not good as he could not get any wickets in his first match and two wickets in the second match.

    Sajid has so far played 8 Test matches for Pakistan, in which he has taken 25 wickets with an average of 38.

    In 2021, the match played against the host Bangladesh dismissed eight players for just 42 runs, due to which the entire Bangladesh team was 87.

    Sajid Khan also guided four players to the pavilion in the second innings, and thanks to this performance, Pakistan won the match by an innings and eight runs, and Sajid Khan was also declared the best player of the match.

    After this series, the Australian team came to Pakistan for a 3-match test series in which Sajid Khan failed and could only take four wickets, after which he was dropped.

    Then Pakistan toured Sri Lanka, where Sajid Khan was neglected, and Yasir Shah was once again tested, but this series turned out to be his last.

    England then toured Pakistan, in which Pakistan lost 0-3, but we got a good spinner in the form of Abrar Ahmed, who took 17 wickets in his first series. After that, New Zealand toured Pakistan, and in this series, too, Abrar Ahmed performed impressively and took 11 wickets. However, Pakistan could not get any success in this match as both the matches were tied.

    When Pakistan toured Australia, Sajid Khan was ignored in that too, but due to Abrar Ahmed’s injury and Nauman Ali’s operation, he had to be called up during the series, and then he got a chance in the third match and took three wickets.

    But this musical chair continued, and Sajid Khan was once again left out of the team on Bangladesh’s tour to Pakistan. He complained that he was left out of the team without giving any reason.

    Sajid Khan was not part of the team against England, too, but the worst defeat in the first Test and Abrar Ahmed’s poor performance and injury forced the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali another chance.

    Sajid Khan has proven his selection right, but only the PCB selection committee knows whether he will continue to be a part of the permanent team.

    He took seven wickets in the first innings of the second Test against England in Multan on October 17, 2024.