BREAKING NEWS
Iran, Oman reach understanding on shipping route through Strait of Hormuz • More than 100 killed in India floods, heavy rains since July • Brock Lesnar announces retirement from professional wrestling • Actor Ahsan Khan urges men to empower their wives • Bollywood star Aamir Khan pays tribute to Pradeep Rawat • Pakistan beat West Indies by 8 wickets to draw Test series 1-1 • Adiala Jail rejects solitary confinement claim in Imran Khan case • Pakistan government will complete five-year term, Naqvi says • Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer battle • Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over AI-generated deepfake content • Fazlur Rehman warns against politicizing debate over new provinces • Pakistan posts 387, secures first-innings lead over West Indies • Pakistan exempt from new US visa bond program • Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict • West Indies all out for 344 against Pakistan in first innings
Advertise with us >

Newsdesk

Bangladesh Cricket Board announces series against Pakistan

by
Bangladesh Cricket Board

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced an upcoming bilateral series against Pakistan, with matches scheduled across March and May 2026.

According to the announcement, the Pakistan cricket team will tour Bangladesh in March 2026 for a three-match One Day International (ODI) series. The ODI matches will be played on March 12, 14, and 16, 2026.

In addition, Pakistan will return to Bangladesh in May 2026 for a two-match Test series, which will be part of the ICC World Test Championship. The first Test is scheduled for May 8, followed by the second Test on May 16.

The Pakistan team is set to arrive in Bangladesh on May 4, 2026, ahead of the Test series.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board stated that the venues for both the ODI and Test series will be announced at a later date.

Usman Khawaja announces retirement, speaks out against racial bias

by
Usman Khawaja

Sydney: Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, while also expressing deep disappointment over what he described as racial bias and discriminatory treatment from sections of former players and the media.

During his retirement announcement, Khawaja said he had always felt different within the Australian team, adding that this feeling persists even now and stemmed from his background.

“I have always felt different in the Australian setup. Even today, that feeling remains, and it was because of where I come from,” he said.

Khawaja acknowledged that the Australian cricket team represents the nation’s pride and excellence but revealed that he was often treated differently. “I believe this is Australia’s best team and a source of pride, but in many situations, I felt people behaved differently towards me,” he added.

Highlighting his identity, Khawaja said, “I am a proud Muslim of Pakistani origin who was once told he would never play for Australia. Look at me now — if I can do it, so can you.”

The 39-year-old also addressed criticism surrounding his recent fitness issues, explaining that a back strain was beyond his control. He said verbal attacks from media figures and former players were difficult to endure.

“I could tolerate it for a day or two, but I faced it for almost five days,” he said.

Usman Khawaja will play his 88th and final Test match in Sydney, the same ground where he made his Test debut against England 15 years ago, bringing his distinguished international career full circle.

Salman Khan once offered to work for free for Rajesh Khanna

by
Salman Khan

Mumbai: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan had once offered to work without remuneration in a film starring legendary actor Rajesh Khanna in an attempt to purchase Khanna’s iconic bungalow, Aashirwad, Indian media reports have revealed.

According to reports, during a difficult phase in Rajesh Khanna’s life marked by severe financial troubles, Salman Khan approached him with an offer to buy the famous bungalow and additionally proposed to act for free in one of Khanna’s films.

However, Rajesh Khanna reportedly doubted Salman’s intentions, rejected the offer, and accused him of attempting to financially and socially undermine him.

Rajesh Khanna had purchased Aashirwad in the early 1970s from actor Rajendra Kumar for Rs 350,000. Khanna believed that selling the house would weaken his standing, both financially and socially.

Author Gautam Chintamani, in his book Dark Star: The Loneliness of Being Rajesh Khanna, writes that after moving into Aashirwad, Khanna lived with a regal aura, often holding court while seated on a high chair, wearing his signature silk lungi and kurta. Only a select few were allowed access to the inner areas of the house, while close associates enjoyed long late-night gatherings marked by excessive admiration.

The book also notes that Khanna did not tolerate opinions that went against his temperament and would often ask people to leave his home. As his stardom faded, Amitabh Bachchan rose to prominence with films such as Zanjeer, Sholay, and Deewar, replacing Khanna as Bollywood’s leading star.

According to Chintamani, Salman Khan later made multiple attractive offers to purchase the bungalow—allegedly on behalf of his brother Sohail Khan—including assurances to settle outstanding income tax dues and again offering to work without charge. Despite these efforts, Rajesh Khanna refused to sell the property and lived there in isolation until his death.

After Khanna’s passing, the bungalow was eventually sold, demolished, and replaced with a high-rise building, marking the end of one of Bollywood’s most iconic residences.

PSX continues bullish run as index jumps more than 2,600 points

by
PSX continues bullish

Karachi: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its strong upward trend on the second trading day of the year, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index posting significant gains.

Trading on the final day of the business week began on a positive note, with the 100 Index crossing the 179,000-point mark during early hours. At one point, the index surged by 2,661 points to reach 179,016.

By the end of the first session, the index was halted at 178,504 points, while a total of 570 million shares were traded, generating a turnover of Rs 32 billion.

It is worth noting that a strong bullish trend was also observed on the first trading day of the New Year, when the PSX 100 Index closed at 176,355 points, gaining 2,300 points.

Market analysts attribute the sustained rally to renewed investor confidence and positive economic expectations at the start of the year.

From Mentor to Rival: Schwartz and Sonnenblick head to Oscars

by
From Mentor to Rival

Los Angeles: Legendary composer Stephen Schwartz, known for Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, and rising star Mark Sonnenblick, composer for K-pop hit Demon Hunters, are set to face off at the upcoming Oscars.

At the start of 2025, Schwartz and Sonnenblick shared a mentor-mentee relationship after meeting at the ASCAP Foundational Musical Theatre Workshop, where Schwartz guided Sonnenblick on his work. That bond has now evolved into a friendly rivalry as both vie for top honors.

Both composers are on the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Original Song and have also earned Golden Globe nominations, putting their tracks in direct competition.

Schwartz contributed two original songs for Wicked: “For Good”, Cynthia Erivo’s “No Place Like Home”, and Ariana Grande’s “The Girl in the Bubble”. Sonnenblick co-wrote “Golden”, the breakout hit from Demon Hunters, which has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart for several weeks.

Reflecting on his Golden Globe nominations, Schwartz said he had forgotten about the awards until receiving a congratulatory text from director Jon M. Chu, calling it “a perfect moment.” Sonnenblick has yet to comment publicly on facing his mentor.

The Golden Globe Awards will air on January 11, 2026, while the Oscars premiere live on March 15, 2026.

Pakistani astrologer Samiah Khan makes predictions for 2026

by
Pakistani astrologer

ISLAMABAD: Renowned Pakistani astrologer Samiah Khan has shared her predictions for the year 2026, expressing optimism about Pakistan’s growth and political developments.

 Samiah Khan said, “I had previously mentioned that May 15, 2025, would mark a turning point for Pakistan. The country would begin its journey towards becoming a favored partner of superpowers. This vision, which our forefathers dreamed of, started unfolding from that date—and it has.”

She added that the “new Pakistan” currently emerging will continue to progress in the coming year without any slowdown.

When asked about the future of the current government, Samiah Khan stated that a new political system may be established, with its foundations possibly laid in 2026.

On the political front, Samiah Khan identified three leaders with strong and stable political stars, including Shahbaz Sharif, noting that any changes are likely to happen through mutual understanding.

Regarding Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, she said his political grooming has been impressive but suggested he may not have a long political trajectory. However, she highlighted Aseefa Bhutto Zardari as someone who will carry forward Benazir Bhutto’s legacy.

Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, Samiah Khan indicated that there may be possibilities of a deal in early January and February, but the chances diminish afterward.

Xi Jinping says no one can stop China-Taiwan reunification

by
Xi Jinping

Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that no one can prevent China and Taiwan from reunifying, emphasizing that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship.

In his New Year address, Xi said that reunification with Taiwan is unavoidable and cannot be stopped. His remarks came a day after the conclusion of two-day Chinese military exercises near Taiwan, which were conducted shortly after the US approved arms sales worth over $11 billion to Taiwan.

Xi stressed that the shared heritage of Chinese people across the strait makes reunification a matter of historical inevitability. “The motherland’s reunification is the call of time, and it cannot be prevented,” he said.

The Chinese president also reaffirmed China’s commitment to global peace and development, noting that China stands ready to cooperate with all countries to promote humanity’s common future.

Xi praised the decision to observe Taiwan Recovery Day on October 25, commemorating the end of Japanese occupation of Taiwan after World War II.

He further highlighted China’s achievements in artificial intelligence and the space industry, noting that the country is advancing rapidly in AI models and has made significant progress in chip research and development. Xi said these advancements position China among the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Usman Khan confident Pakistan can win T20 World Cup under Coach Mike Hesson

by
Usman Khan

Dhaka: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan has expressed confidence that Pakistan has an excellent chance of winning the 2026 T20 World Cup, thanks to the thorough preparation under head coach Mike Hesson.

Speaking during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Usman said, “Our coach Mike Hesson has ensured we are well-prepared ahead of the World Cup. Next month, we will play matches against Sri Lanka and Australia to further fine-tune our skills. The team combination is strong, and we are very confident.”

Representing Dhaka Capitals in the BPL, Usman Khan will join the Pakistan squad in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, on January 7 for a three-match T20 series. He emphasized that playing in Sri Lanka will give the team a good opportunity to understand the pitches ahead of the World Cup.

“I am visiting Sri Lanka for the first time. We are focusing on improving our play against fast bowlers, and our goal is to win the series there,” he added.

Usman also highlighted that playing in Bangladesh helped him adjust to different conditions. “I have also played in the UAE, but Pakistan is my priority. Pakistan is my country, and these are my people. I thank Allah for giving me the opportunity to represent Pakistan,” he said.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will begin on February 7 in India, with Pakistan playing all of its group-stage matches in Sri Lanka.

Australia unveils spin-heavy provisional squad ahead of T20 World Cup

by
Australia unveils

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been named in a spin-friendly 15-man provisional Australian squad for this year’s Twenty20 World Cup, despite injuries affecting their recent Ashes campaign.

Test skipper Cummins featured in only one of the five Ashes Tests against England in Adelaide, as he continues to recover from a lower back issue, while Hazlewood missed the entire series due to an Achilles injury.

Cummins is scheduled for another back scan later this month to determine his fitness for the tournament, which begins on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Hazlewood and big-hitter Tim David (hamstring) are also on the comeback trail but are expected to be ready.

“Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Tim David are tracking well, and we are confident they will be available for the World Cup,” said chief selector George Bailey. He added that this is a preliminary squad and changes could be made ahead of the support period.

Left-arm spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly are new additions alongside experienced tweaker Adam Zampa and part-timer Glenn Maxwell. Australia’s group-stage matches will be played in Sri Lanka, where spin-friendly pitches are expected.

In a surprise move, the selectors chose no backup wicketkeeper for Josh Inglis and no left-arm pace replacement for Mitchell Starc, who has retired from T20 internationals. The fast-bowling attack will be led by Cummins and Hazlewood, supported by Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis.

Australia will open their tournament campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. A separate squad will be named for a T20 series against Pakistan preceding the World Cup.

Provisional Squad: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.

Sana Javed rings in New Year 2026 with Shoaib Malik, shares festive moments

by
Sana Javed

DUBAI: Renowned Pakistani model and actor Sana Javed welcomed the New Year in Dubai alongside her husband, former cricketer Shoaib Malik, sharing memorable moments from the celebration with her fans.

Photos and videos posted by the actor quickly gained traction on social media, drawing widespread attention and engagement.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sana Shoaib Malik (@sanajaved.official)

Sana Javed shared stunning images taken against the iconic backdrop of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, along with dazzling fireworks lighting up the sky.

The pictures captured the festive spirit of New Year celebrations, with Sana and Shoaib seen in a cheerful and relaxed mood.

Through multiple posts on the photo and video-sharing platform, the actor not only extended New Year wishes to her followers but also gave them a glimpse into her joyful celebrations. The vibrant visuals reflected the excitement and glamour of the occasion.

Social media users have warmly appreciated the couple’s pictures, flooding the comments section with congratulatory messages, best wishes, and enthusiastic reactions for the duo.