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Newsdesk

Trump warns of severe consequences if Iran attempts to kill him

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Trump warns

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face devastating consequences if any attempt were made on his life.

Speaking in an interview with American media, Trump was asked about alleged threats from Iran. He said he did not believe the Iranian government would take such a step, but added that he had already prepared a formal notification regarding the matter.

“If Iran kills me, the United States will completely destroy Iran,” Trump stated.

In a recent statement, Iran’s Supreme Leader had blamed President Trump for deaths and damages that occurred during recent protests in Iran.

Meanwhile, a few days earlier, former US ambassador Dan Shapiro claimed that Trump might attempt to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the coming weeks — a claim that further heightened tensions between the two sides.

The remarks have once again fueled concerns over escalating hostility between Washington and Tehran.

On the other hand, US President Donald Trump’s plane was forced to return to Joint Base Andrews shortly after departing for Switzerland night due to a minor electrical malfunction, the White House confirmed. The decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt stated that Air Force One landed back at Andrews Base around 0400 GMT following a brief flight. Journalists traveling with Trump reported that cabin lights went off for a few moments shortly after takeoff.

Despite the technical issue, Trump did not cancel his trip. Instead, he switched to a backup plane and departed again on Wednesday morning to attend the Davos Forum. The new aircraft left Andrews Base approximately two and a half hours after the initial flight.

Air Force One, widely regarded as one of the most recognizable aircraft in the world, has been in service since 1990 as a Boeing 747-200B.

Trump has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the current planes, and delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft had prompted his administration to explore alternative options. Reports also indicated that some of these options raised constitutional, ethical, and security concerns.

The incident caused only minor disruption, and Trump continued his schedule as planned, highlighting the precautionary protocols followed during presidential travel.

Flash flood risk in KP and Kashmir amid heavy rain, snow forecast

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Flash flood risk

ISLAMABAD: Authorities have issued warnings of potential flash floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Azad Kashmir as heavy rain and snowfall are expected due to a powerful western weather system from today until January 24.

The system is likely to affect the upper regions of the country, increasing water levels in the Kabul River and its tributaries, raising the risk of sudden floods.

The Federal Flood Commission has issued alerts for multiple districts, including Swat, Chitral, Dir, Malakand, and Mansehra.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has instructed the KP provincial and district administrations to remain on high alert and closely monitor vulnerable areas.

In addition, most districts of Balochistan are also expected to experience rain and snowfall during this period, prompting authorities to prepare for possible local flooding and related emergencies.

Karachi’s Gul Plaza tragedy death toll rises to 31

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Karachi’s Gul Plaza

KARACHI: The death toll in the Gul Plaza incident has risen to 31 as rescue teams continue clearing the debris. Authorities recovered parts of three more bodies, which were immediately transferred to Civil Hospital Karachi.

Officials confirmed that 86 people remain missing, with families still seeking updates from authorities. One more family recently contacted the Deputy Commissioner’s office regarding a missing relative.

Speaking to the media, Karachi Commissioner said the investigation into the Gul Plaza incident has become highly complex, involving multiple angles. He added that responsibility cannot be attributed to a single agency and that the investigation would aim to provide recommendations to the government to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner South, Javed Nabi Khoso, stated that the building cannot be demolished until all missing individuals are accounted for. Once the search is complete, the entire structure will be safely taken down.

Khoso also noted that the adjacent Rumpa Plaza has been temporarily closed, and authorities have requested building plans and other documents from SBCA to ensure safety measures.

Meta’s Threads surpasses Elon Musk’s X in daily mobile users

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Meta’s Threads

CALIFORNIA:  Meta’s social media app Threads has overtaken Elon Musk’s X in daily mobile usage, according to a recent report.

In January 2026, Threads recorded 141.5 million daily users on iOS and Android devices, surpassing X, which had 125 million daily mobile users.

 Over the past year, Threads’ daily user base has steadily increased, while X has seen a gradual decline in mobile engagement.

Both platforms were roughly equal in user numbers during the fall of 2025, but Threads has now pulled ahead, aided by Meta encouraging Facebook and Instagram users to adopt the platform.

The report noted that while Threads has surpassed X on mobile, X maintains a significant lead on its web version.

Threads’ web daily users reached only 8.5 million in January, compared to 145 million daily users on X’s web platform.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik announces retirement from PSL

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Former Pakistan captain

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has announced his retirement from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), bringing an end to his decade-long career in the tournament.

In a statement shared on his social media account, Malik said, “I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment on and off the field during my 10-year PSL career.

 The time has come to conclude this journey here.” He added that he will always be available to serve the game of cricket in the future.

Shoaib Malik had previously retired from Test cricket in 2015 and from One Day Internationals in 2019. Although he had not officially retired from T20 Internationals, the 44-year-old all-rounder has not represented the national team since 2021. However, he continued to play in the PSL and other T20 leagues.

Malik featured in all 10 seasons of the PSL, representing four teams: Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. His final PSL season was in 2025, playing for Quetta Gladiators.

Haris Rauf excluded from Pakistan’s 15-man squad for T20 World Cup

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Haris Rauf

KARACHI: Fast bowler Haris Rauf will not be part of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.

Sources indicate that national team coach Mike Hesson has not been in favor of including Haris in the squad since the Asia Cup final.

Following the Asia Cup, Rauf has not featured in any T20 matches for Pakistan.

Currently, Haris Rauf is participating in the Big Bash League in Australia.

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna involved in minor car accident in Mumbai

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Akshay Kumar

MUMBAI : Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and his wife Twinkle Khanna were involved in an unusual accident while returning home from the airport . The couple had arrived in Mumbai from abroad.

According to Indian media reports, a high-speed Mercedes collided with an auto-rickshaw, which then struck Akshay Kumar’s security convoy before hitting the actor couple’s car. Eyewitnesses described a scene of panic and chaos, though fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.

Both Akshay and Twinkle, along with their staff, quickly assisted those trapped under the auto-rickshaw, ensuring everyone’s safety. The incident occurred near Mumbai’s Juhu area, and all involved walked away unharmed.

The couple had traveled abroad to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, returning to India when the accident occurred.

Fazila Qazi gives unexpected answer about Fahad Mustafa

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Fazila Qazi

KARACHI: Senior Pakistani actress Fazila Qazi recently shared her candid views about the entertainment industry in an interview with actor Ahmed Ali Butt.

During the conversation, she was asked which celebrities she would serve food to if they were her guests.

Fazila Qazi’s reaction to Fahad Mustafa’s name left Ahmed Ali Butt surprised, as she questioned, “Who is this?” Regarding Humayun Saeed, she gave a nonchalant response, saying she would just serve tea, adding, “Serving tea itself is a big deal.”

Speaking more broadly about the industry, Fazila Qazi described it as “uncertain earnings” and revealed that she never intended for her children to join showbiz.

 She explained that she and her late husband, Qaiser, managed their household through production work rather than acting income.

Senior Pakistani actresses praise Maryam Aurangzeb’s transformation

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Senior Pakistani actresses

KARACHI: Senior Pakistani actresses Bushra Ansari and Zara Noor Abbas have lauded Punjab’s senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb for her recent transformation, which has garnered widespread attention on social media.

The spotlight came after images and videos of Maryam Aurangzeb attending the wedding celebrations of Maryam Nawaz’s son, Junaid Safdar, went viral. Her simple yet elegant style and confident demeanor received positive reactions across social media platforms.

Bushra Ansari commented online, saying, “I know Maryam Aurangzeb closely. Her journey of weight loss is a testament to her commitment and consistency. Maryam, you look absolutely beautiful, Masha Allah.”

Meanwhile, Zara Noor Abbas shared side-by-side images of Maryam Aurangzeb, writing, “When a woman starts taking care of herself, any goal can be achieved.” She added that confidence and simplicity enhance any personality, and Maryam Aurangzeb is a prime example of this transformation.

Social media users echoed these sentiments, praising Maryam Aurangzeb’s new look as not only inspiring but also sending a positive message that women can thrive in politics with grace and confidence.

Maryam Aurangzeb remains one of Pakistan’s prominent political figures, frequently making headlines for both her statements and her distinct personal style.

US fighter jets begin arriving in Greenland amid NORAD coordination

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US fighter jets

WASHINGTON/OTTAWA: US fighter jets have started arriving in Greenland, according to a joint statement by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). The aircraft are scheduled to be stationed at the US military base on the island in the coming days.

NORAD confirmed that the Greenlandic government has been informed about the deployment plans. The agency also noted that the new aircraft shipment is fully coordinated with the Danish government, and all necessary diplomatic clearances for the US forces have been obtained.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. In 1951, the United States and Denmark signed a defense agreement in which the US pledged to protect Greenland from potential aggression.

 Later, in 1958, the US and Canada signed the NORAD treaty at the start of the Cold War, with the primary objective of providing early warning of ballistic missile launches.