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Newsdesk

BBL: Mohammad Rizwan retired by captain over slow scoring

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BBL

Sydney: In an unusual incident during the Big Bash League (BBL), Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland retired Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan during his innings, apparently due to slow scoring.

The incident occurred on Monday in the 33rd match of the 15th edition of the BBL, when Melbourne Renegades faced Sydney Thunder. Rizwan had scored 26 runs off 23 balls when the captain signaled him to leave the field.

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A video shared by the BBL on social media shows Sutherland gesturing Rizwan back to the pavilion so that he himself could take the crease.

 Commentators on the broadcast praised the decision, saying it could have been done a little earlier. The video quickly went viral, sparking strong reactions from cricket fans, many of whom called the forced retirement “embarrassing.”

Rizwan has struggled with the bat during the ongoing BBL season. In eight matches so far, he has scored 167 runs at an average of 20.88 and has yet to hit a half-century.

In the match, Melbourne Renegades posted 170 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan to finalize squad for Australia, World Cup

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Pakistan to finalize

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to hold final consultations on the national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the three-match home series against Australia later this week.

Sources said head coach Mike Hesson will return to Lahore after completing the Sri Lanka tour. Members of the national T20 squad are arriving back in Pakistan today following the series in Sri Lanka. Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha will meet with selectors to finalize the squad.

Once consultations are complete, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will approve the official squad announcement. The PCB has already submitted the preliminary names for the T20 World Cup to the ICC. Changes to the list can still be made before January 31 with ICC approval.

Probable Players:

The likely squad is expected to include captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan, and Abrar Ahmed.

Other potential inclusions are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza, and Khawaja Nafi. Reserve players may include Abdul Samad, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Usman Tariq.

Iran ready for both war and negotiations, says Foreign Minister Araghchi

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Iran ready for both

Tehran: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Iran is prepared for both conflict and dialogue amid ongoing unrest in the country.

In a statement, Araghchi noted that violence escalated over the weekend, with terrorists targeting both protesters and security forces, but added that the situation is now fully under control.

He said that peaceful demonstrations over the past few days had turned violent, with around 350 mosques set on fire within two weeks.

 Despite the unrest, Iranian security forces exercised restraint, recognizing that many of the protesters’ demands were legitimate and being heard by the government.

Araghchi also accused recent US comments of exacerbating the protests. “After President Trump spoke of intervention, the protests turned bloodier to create a pretext for outside interference,” he said.

He emphasized, “We are ready for both war and negotiations.”

The remarks follow recent statements from US President Donald Trump, who said that Iran has reached out for negotiations and that arrangements are underway.

Trump also warned that the US is considering military options in Iran, which he suggested might need to be acted upon even before talks begin.

China opposes possible US military action against Iran

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China opposes

Beijing/Washington: China has voiced its opposition to any potential US military action against Iran in response to the ongoing protests in the country.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that China always opposes interference in the internal affairs of other countries and the use of force in international relations.

The statement emphasized that national sovereignty must be respected and the safety of all nations ensured under international law. It added that China hopes the Iranian government and people can overcome the current challenges and maintain national stability.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor also commented on the situation, urging an end to the violence in Iran. “The use of force is a sign of weakness, not strength,” the Chancellor said.

The remarks come as US President Donald Trump indicated that Washington is considering various options in response to the unrest in Iran, including military action. Speaking aboard Air Force One while traveling from Florida to Washington, DC, Trump said the US is in contact with Iranian opposition leaders.

He added that Iran reached out to discuss the nuclear deal recently, and the US is open to meeting with them. However, Trump reiterated that military action remains one of the options under consideration.

Hania Amir responds with humor to Astrologer’s divorce prediction

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Hania Amir responds

KARACHI: Pakistani actress and social media sensation Hania Amir recently caught the attention of fans after responding with her signature wit to an unusual prediction about her personal life.

Hania Amir, one of Pakistan’s most-followed Instagram celebrities, is widely admired for her candid personality, sharp humor, and engaging presence on social media.

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A local TV channel recently shared a video on Hania Amir’s Instagram account in which an astrologer claimed, based on her horoscope and astrological signs, that the actress would face divorce in 2026—despite the fact that Hania is currently unmarried.

Hania did not miss the opportunity to respond humorously. She commented on the video, saying, “Strange… first let the marriage happen.”

Her witty reply quickly went viral, drawing a flood of humorous comments from fans. One user tagged Hania, asking, “Hania, did you know about this?” Another jokingly wrote, “So you got married secretly and didn’t tell us?” Others questioned the logic, asking, “How can there be a divorce before marriage?”

Separately, rumors surfaced late last year suggesting that Hania Amir and her former boyfriend, singer Asim Azhar, might be rekindling their relationship with possible marriage plans. However, neither party has issued an official statement regarding these reports.

Hania Amir’s playful response once again showcased her ability to entertain fans not only on screen but also in her real-life interactions, reaffirming her status as one of Pakistan’s most relatable and beloved celebrities.

Dancer Mehak Malik reveals drama fee exceeds price of car

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Dancer Mehak Malik

Transgender dancer Mehak Malik recently disclosed that the fee she charges for a single drama exceeds the cost of a car.

Transgender dancer Mehak Malik recently appeared in an interview, where, when asked about her remuneration, she said, “Just as YouTubers often claim that they earn enough from their videos each month to easily buy one, two, or even three Alto cars, similarly, I earn so much from a single drama that it could buy one and a half Altos.”

During the interview, the host also asked Mehak Malik to compare her earnings with those of actress Nargis. She responded, “I have never met Nargis, so I cannot comment on that. But my fee exceeds PKR 2 million.”

Pink skies dazzle Birmingham during winter storm

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Pink skies

Birmingham: Residents of Birmingham and nearby areas were left astonished after the night sky turned an unusual shade of pink during ongoing snowfall, creating a striking and rare visual spectacle.

Images and videos of the phenomenon quickly spread across social media, with some users comparing the scene to a dramatic sunset, while others said it resembled the Northern Lights.

According to a BBC report, the pink glow was caused by LED lighting at St Andrew’s Stadium, the home ground of Birmingham City Football Club. Snowfall combined with thick cloud cover intensified the effect, reflecting light from the stadium, streets, and surrounding buildings back into the sky.

The BBC explained that low clouds and falling snow act like reflective surfaces, absorbing and scattering artificial light. This allows colored lighting—particularly pink or purple hues—to spread widely across the horizon.

Commenting on the phenomenon, Met Office spokesperson Graham Madge said that blue light is easily scattered by tiny ice or water particles, while longer wavelengths such as red and pink dominate, resulting in the sky’s vivid coloration.

Birmingham City Football Club also shared images of the pink sky on social media, captioning the post:

“Pink sky at night, Blues delight.”

Experts stressed that the spectacle was not a natural atmospheric event, but rather the result of a unique combination of weather conditions and artificial lighting, briefly transforming Birmingham’s night sky into a stunning display of color.

Bill Gates quietly transfers $7.88b to ex-wife’s philanthropic prganization

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Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has quietly transferred $7.88 billion to the philanthropic organization of his former wife, Melinda French Gates, according to recent disclosures.

Bill and Melinda Gates were married in 1994 and share three children. The couple announced their decision to divorce in May 2021, stating that they could no longer move forward together as partners. Their divorce was formally finalized in August 2021.

The $7.88 billion transfer is being described as one of the largest financial settlements to emerge from their divorce proceedings.

The payment came to light through recent tax filings, marking the first time that key financial details related to the 2021 divorce have become public.

Following the divorce, Melinda French Gates had stated that, under the terms of the settlement, Bill Gates would commit billions of dollars to support her independent philanthropic efforts, particularly those focused on women and families.

The newly revealed transfer underscores the scale of the financial arrangements tied to one of the most high-profile divorces in recent history.

Viral Dhurandhar TikTok: Who is woman in police uniform?

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Viral Dhurandhar TikTok

A viral TikTok-style video showing a woman in a police uniform dancing to a song from the Bollywood film Dhurandhar has triggered widespread criticism on social media, with users questioning the sanctity of the police uniform.

The video, which circulated widely on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), shows a woman inside what appears to be a police station, with the song “Faasla” from the film Dhurandhar playing in the background. Several users shared the clip with captions criticizing the act and associating it with Pakistan’s police force.

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However, a fact-check conducted by iVerify Pakistan has debunked these claims. Using reverse image search and source verification, the team traced the video to its original uploader and confirmed that the woman is not a police officer.

According to the investigation, the woman is a Karachi-based fashion model and actress, and the video was part of a professional shoot.

She had originally posted the clip on her Instagram account on December 12, 2025, clearly stating in the caption that it was a staged shoot and not related to any real police force. She also clarified that actual police officers do not wear such attire or high heels.

A review of her other social media posts further confirmed that the police uniform was used solely as a costume for a role, not as an official uniform.

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It is worth noting that the song used in the video belongs to the Bollywood film Dhurandhar, which has previously faced criticism in Pakistan for allegedly promoting anti-Pakistan narratives. This context contributed to the video gaining additional attention and being incorrectly linked to Pakistani police personnel.

Fact-check conclusion:

The claim that the woman shown in the viral video is a Pakistani police officer is false. She is an actress, and the video is part of a scripted shoot. The claim has therefore been labeled misleading.

Hasan Nawaz’s brilliant performance seals victory on final ball

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Hasan Nawaz

Sylhet: In the 19th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025–26, Chattogram Royals defeated Rajshahi Warriors by two wickets in a nail-biting finish, thanks to a composed innings by Hasan Nawaz.

The match was played, where Rajshahi Warriors, batting first, struggled against disciplined bowling and were restricted to 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The Royals’ bowlers applied pressure from the outset, never allowing the Warriors’ batting lineup to settle.

No Rajshahi batter managed to cross the 20-run mark. Mohammad Wasim was the top scorer with 19 runs off 14 balls, including one four and two sixes.

For Chattogram Royals, Aamer Jamal delivered an impressive bowling spell, picking up 3 wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. Tanvir Islam and Shariful Islam claimed two wickets each, while Mehdi Hasan and Hasan Nawaz took one wicket apiece.

Chasing the modest target, the Royals reached the finish line on the final ball of the match, scoring 129 for 8 to seal a dramatic victory. Hasan Nawaz anchored the chase with an unbeaten 35 off 36 deliveries, playing a crucial role under pressure.

Captain Mehdi Hasan contributed 28 runs off 25 balls, including three fours and a six, while Asif Ali added 27 runs from 25 balls, featuring three boundaries and one six.

For Rajshahi Warriors, Fernando was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs in his four overs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent a narrow defeat.

The win strengthens Chattogram Royals’ position in the tournament, while Rajshahi Warriors were left to rue missed opportunities in a closely contested match.