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Newsdesk

FIFA and TikTok partner to deliver unique digital experience for World Cup

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FIFA and TikTok

Zurich: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and TikTok have signed a first-of-its-kind “Preferred Platform” agreement to expand coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and offer football fans a unique digital experience worldwide.

The partnership is designed to make football’s biggest event more accessible to millions of fans through innovative digital engagement. Under the agreement, TikTok becomes FIFA’s first official preferred platform, providing fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and digital content.

A dedicated “FIFA World Cup 2026 Hub” will be launched on TikTok, featuring match ticket information, viewing details, and interactive gaming features. Broadcasters and official media partners will be able to live stream content, post match clips, and generate revenue through advertising on the platform.

To safeguard FIFA’s intellectual property, TikTok will implement strict anti-piracy measures. For the first time, FIFA and TikTok will also launch a comprehensive Creator Program, granting selected TikTok creators from around the world direct access to press conferences and training sessions to deliver immersive World Cup content to their followers.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the goal is to bring the excitement of the 2026 World Cup closer to fans than ever, emphasizing TikTok as the ideal platform for this mission.

TikTok’s Global Head of Content, James Stafford, highlighted the platform’s growing football audience, noting that 42 percent of sports content viewers on TikTok show increased interest in live matches. He added that the company aims to engage younger audiences and women in particular.

The agreement builds on the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, whose videos on TikTok garnered billions of views. The collaboration has now been significantly expanded for the 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams, with the aim of taking the tournament to new digital heights.

Babur Azam’s selfie with Indian fan goes viral in Melbourne

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Babur Azam’s selfie

Melbourne: Pakistan’s national cricketer Babur Azam shared a memorable moment with an Indian fan, which quickly went viral on social media.

After the Melbourne Stars faced Sydney Sixers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Babur Azam interacted with fans, signing autographs and taking photos.

Among the spectators, an Indian girl wearing her national team jersey approached him, holding a poster with his picture, and requested a selfie along with an autograph.

Babur Azam obliged, posing for a photo with the fan and signing her poster. The heartwarming moment received widespread attention online, with fans praising his courteous and positive demeanor. Many noted that despite the intense emotions surrounding Pakistan-India cricket matches, Babur Azam’s popularity transcends borders.

On the match front, Sydney Sixers defeated Melbourne Stars by six wickets. Babur Azam had a modest outing, being dismissed LBW by Stars captain Marcus Stoinis in the seventh over after scoring 14 runs off 17 balls, including one boundary.

Although visibly disappointed, he did not contest the umpire’s decision and returned to the pavilion after a brief conversation with his batting partner.

So far in the tournament, Babur Azam has delivered mixed performances, scoring 145 runs across seven innings, including two half-centuries.

Autonomous Robo-car now available for public purchase

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Autonomous Robo-car

Self-driving vehicles are currently limited to a few countries and mainly offered through ride-sharing services. However, those who wish to own a car capable of autonomous driving—with minimal steering involvement—may soon have that option.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the company Tenser unveiled its new self-driving robo car designed for everyday consumers.

According to the company, the car can be driven manually as well. When seated in the driver’s position, a touch-screen display allows the steering wheel, brake pedals, and other controls to appear at the push of a button. In autonomous mode, the steering wheel is concealed inside a side screen on the driver’s seat.

The vehicle is equipped with dozens of microphones that enable passengers to give voice commands, such as adjusting the air conditioning or rolling down windows. Each passenger will have access to their own screen, with a total of four displays inside the car. Cameras mounted above each display also provide video call functionality. Passengers in the driver’s seat can interact with these features even while the car is in autonomous mode.

For safety and navigation, the car includes cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic sensors that detect objects and help plan the route. Small external displays are installed at each corner of the car to signal pedestrians when it is safe to cross the street.

The robo car will be available in silver and black. While the company has not yet disclosed the price, it confirmed that the vehicle will be released to consumers later this year, initially in the United States, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates.

Haris Waheed shares miraculous experience during Umrah with father

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Haris Waheed

KARACHI: Pakistani actor Haris Waheed recently recounted a miraculous event that occurred during his Umrah pilgrimage with his father.

Haris Waheed, who performed Umrah alongside his father, shared the experience with his fans on social media. He posted a video on Instagram showing his father in a wheelchair during the pilgrimage.

According to the actor, his father had used a wheelchair to perform Umrah but was able to walk back home on his own.

Moved by the sight, Haris Waheed said tears came to his eyes and credited the moment to Allah’s blessings, expressing immense happiness for his father.

The video quickly went viral on social media, with fans congratulating the actor on performing Umrah and offering prayers for his father’s health and well-being.

Abida Parveen alive: daughter denies death rumors

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Abida Parveen

LAHORE: Social media reports claiming the death of renowned Sufi singer Abida Parveen are completely false.

Abida Parveen’s daughter dismissed the rumors, clarifying that her mother is alive and in good health. She explained that the misinformation arose after the death of another woman named Abida Parveen in the Dilgaran Chowk area of Lahore, which led to confusion among the public.

“These reports about the legendary singer’s passing are entirely untrue,” her daughter stated, urging fans not to be misled by unverified news.

She further appealed to the public to rely only on credible and authenticated sources for information and not to believe in rumors.

The false news caused widespread concern among Abida Parveen’s fans both in Pakistan and abroad. The family requested that the media and the public refrain from spreading unverified information and respect the privacy of the singer and her family.

PM Shahbaz orders high-loss electricity feeders to shift to solar energy

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PM Shahbaz orders

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has directed that high-loss electricity feeders be transitioned to solar energy, aiming to reduce losses and ensure a reliable power supply.

During a review meeting on ongoing reforms in the energy sector, the Prime Minister emphasized that feeders with higher losses should be converted to solar power with the support of provincial governments. He noted that this initiative would decrease financial losses and provide continuous electricity to affected areas.

The Prime Minister also instructed that pilot projects be launched immediately in high-loss feeders under PESCO and K-Electric (KESCO).

In addition, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has instructed all relevant authorities to prepare a more effective and beneficial Ramadan package, surpassing last year’s efforts.

During a review meeting on third-party validation of the proposed federal government Ramadan package and last year’s package, PM Shahbaz Sharif praised the report issued by an independent audit agency for confirming the transparency of last year’s initiative.

Speaking at the meeting, the Prime Minister said that the government had established a transparent system to provide essential food items at subsidized rates to low-income citizens through the Ramadan package.

He noted that the decades-old utility stores system, which had been prone to financial irregularities, mismanagement, and exploitation of the poor, had been replaced with a fully transparent mechanism under the federal government.

Iran will not tolerate mercenary forces: Ayatollah Khamenei

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Ayatollah Khamenei

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has stated that the country will not tolerate mercenary forces operating within its borders.

Addressing the public, Khamenei emphasized the importance of national unity and urged Iranians to remain steadfast amidst ongoing unrest.

He criticized elements causing damage to public property, accusing them of trying to please US President Donald Trump, and said Trump should focus on his own country’s issues.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate mercenary forces,” Khamenei asserted.

The remarks come amid nationwide protests against the country’s ongoing economic crisis, which began on December 28. Clashes during the demonstrations have so far left 45 people dead, including security personnel.

In response to the unrest, internet services across Iran have been largely shut down, severely limiting communication and access to information.

PM Shehbaz blames neighboring countries for threats to Pakistan’s security

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PM Shehbaz blames

Quetta: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that the war against terrorism is still ongoing and will continue until its complete eradication, stressing that extremist elements are receiving support from neighboring countries.

Addressing a meeting in Quetta, the prime minister stated that the federal government remains fully committed to working with the Balochistan government to ensure the province’s development, stability, and public welfare.

Reiterating his resolve, PM Shehbaz said all available resources would be utilized to address Balochistan’s challenges, complete development projects, and provide relief to the people. He emphasized that peace and prosperity in Balochistan are vital for the overall progress of Pakistan.

The prime minister praised the Balochistan government for its efforts to promote development, improve law and order, strengthen political harmony, and effectively resolve public complaints registered through the Prime Minister’s Complaint Cell.

He noted that terrorism has created difficulties in Balochistan similar to those faced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that the government will not rest until terrorism is eliminated. Referring to recent security operations, he said the enemy had been taught a lesson in the “Battle for Truth” that would not be forgotten.

Earlier, Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan briefed the prime minister on reforms undertaken across various sectors, progress on development projects, and key initiatives in education, healthcare, governance, and public service delivery.

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Quetta earlier today on a one-day official visit.

Bollywood actresses’ viral party images spark debate on social media

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Bollywood actresses’

When Bollywood is mentioned, images of megastars and leading actresses immediately come to mind. However, beyond its glamour and stardom, India’s film industry often makes headlines for controversies linked to celebrity lifestyles.

 In recent days, a new debate has emerged on social media following the circulation of viral images allegedly featuring prominent Bollywood actresses.

According to Indian media reports, images claimed to show Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Shraddha Kapoor have been widely shared across various social media platforms. The photos depict the actresses in a party-like setting, with scenes suggesting alcohol consumption and smoking.

In one image, Deepika Padukone appears to be smoking and blowing smoke rings, while Shraddha Kapoor is seen posing with a glass of alcohol in hand. Alia Bhatt, seated alongside them, appears slightly hesitant yet smiling. These visuals quickly drew public attention, prompting mixed reactions from social media users.

The images have triggered an intense wave of commentary online. Some users argue that such gatherings and lifestyles are common among celebrities following fame and success, and therefore should not be viewed as unusual.

Others, however, have questioned the authenticity of the visuals, claiming the images may have been generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

Several users have also suggested that the images are not recent and may be old photographs resurfacing to create controversy.

 As a result, the issue has gone beyond the images themselves, fueling broader discussions about digital manipulation, public perception, and the powerful influence of social media in shaping narratives around celebrities.

Russian President Putin makes animated debut in Prostokvashin

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Russian President

Moscow:  Russian President Vladimir Putin has surprised audiences by stepping into the world of animation, appearing for the first time in a popular children’s cartoon instead of the usual political arena.

According to international media reports, President Putin featured in the well-known Russian animated series Prostokvashino, delighting viewers with an unexpected cameo. In the episode, he was seen interacting with the show’s famous talking cat and dog while extending New Year greetings to the nation.

Residents of the fictional village of Prostokvashino were shown reacting with astonishment as they watched the Russian president appear alongside their favorite animated characters on screen.

The appearance marked the first time a character based on President Putin has been introduced into a cartoon, drawing interest not only from children but also from adult viewers.

Parents visiting the Prostokvashino theme park in Moscow welcomed the move, calling it entertaining and creative. One visitor, Marina, remarked that “anything is possible in cartoons, so why not Putin?” Another parent said children are already familiar with the president, making his cartoon appearance engaging for young viewers and intriguing for international audiences as well.

The idea to portray President Putin as an animated character was conceived by Yuliana Slashcheva, chairwoman of the Soyuzmultfilm studio.

 She noted that Russian cartoons are widely exported to former communist states, the Middle East, and other regions, with plans to expand cultural reach in China.

Slashcheva emphasized that President Putin’s inclusion in Prostokvashino is being used as a form of “soft power,” aimed at promoting Russian culture, values, and national identity globally.

The president’s unexpected animated appearance has quickly gone viral on social media, where users are describing it as both amusing and surprising.