BREAKING NEWS
US-Iran talks second round reportedly expected in Pakistan, claims US media • Shaheen Bhatt announces engagement to Ishaan Mehra • Iran signals naval readiness as tensions rise with US over maritime restrictions • Field Marshal Asim Munir concludes 3-day official visit to Iran • HIV cases surge in Islamabad, raising public health concerns • Pakistan stocks rally as KSE-100 posts strong weekly gains amid improved sentiment • Iran restores tight control over Strait of Hormuz, blames US blockade • PSL 11 points table heats up after 26 matches as playoff race intensifies • Moeen Ali explains why he chose PSL over IPL • US President Trump hints at ‘surprise’ on Iran deal • Shah Rukh Khan reacts to academy clip, says he feels like king • Few issues remain in US-Iran talks, Says Ishaq Dar at Antalya Forum • US–Iran talks continue on 3-page plan to end conflict • Pakistani film “Psycho” set for worldwide release on Eid-ul-Adha 2026 • Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Love & War’ set for January 2027 release
Advertise with us >

Newsdesk

Malala Launches Global Women’s Sports Initiative

by
Malala Yousafzai, women sports Pakistan, Asser Malik, gender equality, female athletes empowerment, sports initiatives, global women leadership


Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai and husband Asser Malik launch a new project to promote women’s sports and gender equality worldwide.


Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has launched a new global initiative aimed at empowering women through sports. The project, started in collaboration with her husband Asser Malik, seeks to increase participation, investment, and visibility for female athletes in Pakistan and around the world.

Announcing the initiative on social media, Malala emphasized that “sports empower girls to lead, to challenge stereotypes, and to inspire their communities.” The program will fund local clubs, mentorship programs, and digital campaigns that highlight female sports stories.

Asser Malik, who previously worked with the Pakistan Cricket Board, said the goal is to build sustainable structures for women’s leagues, especially in cricket, football, and athletics. The couple plans to collaborate with schools, NGOs, and global sports brands to provide training and scholarships for women athletes.

Malala Yousafzai, women sports Pakistan, Asser Malik, gender equality, female athletes empowerment, sports initiatives, global women leadership

This marks the first major joint project by Malala and Malik since their marriage, and it aligns with Malala’s long-standing advocacy for girls’ education and empowerment.

Social media users and activists have praised the initiative as a milestone for women in sports, especially in conservative regions where female participation remains limited. The project is also expected to bring international attention to Pakistan’s emerging women athletes.

Pakistan vs South Africa: Day 1 Test Highlights from Rawalpindi

by
Pakistan vs South Africa Test, Rawalpindi cricket, Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique, Pakistan cricket highlights, sports news Pakistan


Pakistan closed Day 1 at 259/5 against South Africa in Rawalpindi, with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique steering a steady batting performance.


Pakistan’s top order displayed resilience on the opening day of the second Test against South Africa in Rawalpindi, finishing at 259 for 5 by stumps. Skipper Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique led the charge with confident batting after early pressure from South Africa’s pace attack.

Shafique struck a composed 73 runs before being caught at slip, while Masood scored a gritty 84 runs in challenging conditions. The pair’s 130-run partnership helped Pakistan recover after losing two early wickets to Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

South Africa’s fielding errors, including two dropped catches, allowed Pakistan to regain control of the innings. Middle-order batsman Saud Shakeel contributed 42 runs, anchoring the team toward a competitive total.

Pakistan is aiming to level the series after losing the first Test in Cape Town. Coach Gary Kirsten said the team “focused on playing disciplined cricket and building partnerships,” praising the players for showing intent.

Day 2 will be crucial for Pakistan as it seeks to post a first-innings total of over 400. South Africa’s bowlers, led by Rabada, are expected to fight back early in the morning session.

Sindh’s Fuel Cess Likely to Raise Prices Nationwide

by
Sindh fuel cess, Pakistan oil prices, infrastructure tax Sindh, inflation in Pakistan, fuel import levy, petroleum news Pakistan


Sindh’s new 1.8% infrastructure cess on oil imports may push fuel prices higher by Rs 3 per litre, sparking economic concerns nationwide.


The Sindh government’s decision to impose a 1.8% infrastructure cess on oil imports has raised alarm among economists and transport associations, who warn of potential fuel price hikes of up to Rs 3 per litre across Pakistan.

The cess, announced earlier this week, aims to generate funds for infrastructure maintenance and development within Sindh. However, oil marketing companies say the added cost will likely be passed on to consumers, worsening inflation at a time when the rupee remains under pressure.

According to industry sources, Pakistan’s current account deficit has widened again, and any additional tax burden could further slow industrial output. Transport unions have already threatened protests if the increase is not withdrawn or adjusted.

The Petroleum Division is in talks with provincial authorities to reconsider the levy or develop a shared revenue mechanism that would not burden end-users. Sindh officials, however, argue that the cess is “necessary to maintain critical logistics infrastructure used by the oil industry.”

Economists suggest that such regional levies could complicate federal-provincial fiscal coordination. With global oil prices fluctuating, even minor tax changes can have cascading effects on transportation, manufacturing, and household budgets.

The federal government has yet to issue an official statement on whether it will intervene or offer a subsidy to offset the increase.

Global Outage Disrupts Amazon Web Services and Major Platforms

by
Amazon Web Services outage, AWS global downtime, internet disruption, cloud infrastructure, tech news, cybersecurity, web services


A major Amazon Web Services outage disrupted websites, apps, and streaming platforms worldwide, exposing internet infrastructure vulnerabilities.


A massive outage affecting Amazon Web Services (AWS) caused widespread disruption across major global websites, financial apps, and media streaming services on Monday. The incident impacted platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, Slack, and several government portals that rely on AWS for cloud hosting.

Amazon confirmed that an internal network configuration error caused the downtime, affecting multiple regions including North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Services began gradually returning online after several hours, though some users continued to report issues.

Cybersecurity experts said the incident highlights the risks of over-reliance on centralized cloud infrastructure. AWS powers nearly one-third of the world’s cloud-based applications, making such disruptions critical for business continuity.

In a statement, Amazon apologized for the inconvenience and pledged to “strengthen its backup and recovery systems.” Industry observers say the outage may prompt regulators to examine the resilience of cloud service providers.

Stock markets showed limited reaction, but several companies reported temporary operational losses. The event reignited discussions about decentralization and the need for multi-cloud strategies in the digital economy.

Former Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq tipped for top PCB post

by
Former Skipper

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq is likely to be given a key role by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

According to sources, the PCB had recently advertised the position of Director Cricket Operations (International), and Misbah-ul-Haq has emerged as the top contender for the post.

Sources revealed that for the first time, the eligibility criteria in the job advertisement specifically required the candidate to be a former Test or One Day International (ODI) cricketer.

It is worth mentioning that the PCB had earlier suspended Director of International Cricket Operations Usman Wahla for his alleged mishandling of the situation during the Pakistan-India dispute in the Asia Cup, although he was later reinstated.

Pakistan, Afghanistan Agree to Ceasefire Amid Border Clashes

by
Pakistan Afghanistan border, ceasefire news, Qatar mediation, Taliban Pakistan relations, Chaman border clashes, South Asia security, latest Pakistan news


Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following deadly cross-border attacks. Qatar confirms mediation efforts between both nations.


Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following a series of intense cross-border clashes that left dozens dead, officials confirmed on Monday. The agreement, brokered by Qatar, comes after Pakistan’s defence chief urged the Taliban to halt militant incursions from Afghan soil.

According to Pakistan’s military, more than 30 people were killed in overnight attacks near the Chaman and Torkham borders. Islamabad accused Afghan-based militants of targeting civilian and security installations. Kabul has yet to issue an official statement, but Afghan Taliban representatives have reportedly assured cooperation to de-escalate tensions.

The ceasefire was confirmed by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said both countries had “agreed to halt hostilities and establish a joint mechanism for future communication.” Analysts believe Qatar’s involvement underscores the growing diplomatic interest in stabilizing the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister stated that long-term peace “depends on the Taliban’s ability to control militant networks operating within Afghanistan.” The issue of border management and refugee movements has also been brought to the table.

The recent escalation marks one of the deadliest border episodes since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021. Experts warn that any prolonged conflict could undermine regional stability and trade routes connecting South and Central Asia.

Security officials said both sides will maintain communication through military channels to ensure that the ceasefire holds in the coming days.

Pak-Afghan border partially reopened after Doha meeting

by
Pak-Afghan border

CHAMAN: Following renewed peace efforts in Doha, Pakistan and Afghanistan have moved toward normalization as the Chaman border crossing has been partially reopened.

According to local sources, empty vehicles and trucks engaged in Afghan transit trade have been allowed to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan. However, pedestrian movement across the border remains suspended.

Entry has been permitted only for Afghan drivers holding valid passports and visas. A large number of vehicles are reportedly crossing into Pakistan at Chaman, while Afghan refugees being repatriated from Pakistan have also been allowed to cross the border.

President of Chaman Traders Association, Muhammad Sadiq, told media that the permission is temporary. The Spin Boldak border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reopened.

Media reports indicate that the border has been reopened solely for trade activities. Sources added that pedestrian crossings remain restricted due to certain sensitive security concerns.

Background of the Clashes:

The border clashes began on the night between October 11 and 12 when Afghan Taliban militants launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani forces. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), more than 200 militants were killed, while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom while defending the border.

US leaders rush to Israel as Gaza ceasefire hangs in balance

by
US leaders

WASHINGTON/GAZA: Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and a key envoy in the Gaza peace deal, has said that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas is adhering to the commitments made under the agreement.

According to international media reports, US Vice President J.D. Vance, Jared Kushner, and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff have departed for Israel in an effort to preserve the fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya has reached Cairo to hold discussions regarding the implementation of the truce.

Kushner emphasized that “Hamas is honoring its commitments, and the Gaza ceasefire will succeed 100 percent — failure is not an option.”

Separately, the Israeli military announced that it has resumed enforcement of the ceasefire, following days of deadly violence in Gaza.

It is worth noting that Israel, after committing grave violations of the ceasefire agreement and killing dozens of Palestinians, has now announced that it will resume the implementation of the truce.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have claimed 45 Palestinian lives since yesterday morning, while a total of 98 Palestinians have been martyred in Gaza since the ceasefire was first enforced on October 10.

Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha welcome baby boy

by
Parineeti Chopra

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra and Indian politician Raghav Chadha have been blessed with a baby boy.

The couple shared the joyful news through a joint social media post, announcing the birth of their first child nearly two years after their marriage.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Raghav Chadha (@raghavchadha88)

In an emotional note shared on social media, Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha expressed their joy, writing:

“He’s finally here — our baby boy. We can’t remember what life was like before him. Our arms are full, and our hearts even fuller.”

The heartfelt message beautifully captured the couple’s overwhelming happiness as they embraced parenthood for the first time.

In their heartfelt post, the couple wrote, “First, it was just the two of us — now we have everything.”

Following the announcement, congratulations poured in from fans and Bollywood celebrities alike, with many extending their love and best wishes to the new parents and their baby boy.

It may be recalled that Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha tied the knot in September 2023 in a grand ceremony held at The Leela Palace and Udaya Vilas in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Earlier this year, in August 2025, Parineeti had announced her pregnancy on social media.

Ashab Irfan clinches maiden PSA World Tour title at Vancouver Open

by
Ashab Irfan

VANCOUVER: Pakistan’s rising squash star Ashab Irfan captured his first-ever PSA World Tour title by winning the Vancouver Open Squash Championship.

In a commanding performance, Ashab defeated England’s Sam Todd in straight sets, 11-9, 11-1, 11-5, sealing victory in just 43 minutes.

The Vancouver Open carried a total prize purse of $31,250, marking a significant milestone in Ashab Irfan’s professional career and a proud moment for Pakistan squash.