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Newsdesk

TIME Magazine announces 2025 person of the year

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TIME Magazine

KARACHI: As the year draws to a close, TIME Magazine has announced its Person(s) of the Year 2025, honoring individuals who have made significant societal impacts through the imagination, design, and development of artificial intelligence (AI).

TIME has released two cover images for 2025. One highlights the pervasive influence of AI, while the other features tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg, Lisa Su, Elon Musk, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, and Fei-Fei Li.

In a letter to readers, Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs stated that selecting the Person of the Year is a powerful way to focus global attention on those shaping our lives — and this year, no one’s influence surpassed that of AI architects.

He added that 2025 was the year when AI’s full potential became visible, providing answers to nearly every question and redefining the possibilities across industries.

Abhishek Bachchan breaks silence on false divorce rumours

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Abhishek Bachchan

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan has finally responded firmly to the fabricated divorce rumours surrounding him and his wife, Aishwarya Rai.

According to Indian media, Abhishek said in an interview that being a celebrity means people will always speculate. “Whatever nonsense is written about us is false, baseless, wrong, and filled with malice,” he stated.

He added that the media behaved the same way before their marriage — first predicting when they would marry, and now speculating about divorce. “It’s all rubbish,” he said.

Abhishek emphasised that both he and Aishwarya know each other’s truth and share a happy, peaceful family. “That’s what matters — the rest is meaningless,” he added.

When asked whether such rumours cause mental stress, he replied, “If even a little of it were true, maybe it would affect me. But since it’s all lies, it doesn’t matter.”

Regarding their daughter Aaradhya, Abhishek said she is not affected as she does not use a phone, and Aishwarya has taught her not to believe everything on the internet.

For months, social media speculation suggested trouble between the couple, despite them consistently appearing happy together with family.

Abhishek and Aishwarya married in 2007 and welcomed their daughter Aaradhya in 2011.

Abhishek Bachchan will soon be seen in the upcoming film King, alongside Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji and Suhana Khan.

Austria passes law banning hijab for girls under 14 in schools

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Austria

Austria’s parliament has approved a new law banning girls under the age of 14 from wearing the hijab in schools. According to international media reports, the Green Party voted against the motion, calling it unconstitutional.

Under the new legislation, violations could result in fines of up to €800.

Human rights groups and experts have criticised the decision, describing it as discriminatory and warning that such measures could deepen social divisions.

The Austrian government had introduced the proposal earlier this year, claiming the ban aims to “protect young girls from oppression.”

This is not the first such restriction in the country — in 2019, Austria had already banned headscarves for girls under 10 in schools.

PM Shehbaz, Turkmen President reiterate resolve to enhance trade cooperation

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PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov  reaffirmed their determination to enhance bilateral cooperation, focusing on stronger trade and economic linkages.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Turkmen President for assisting in the safe evacuation of Pakistani nationals from Iran during the Iran-Israel conflict.

He said Turkmenistan could benefit from enhanced access to Pakistan’s ports in Karachi and Gwadar to expand its regional connectivity.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterated his invitation to the Turkmen President to undertake an official visit to Pakistan next year.

The Turkmen President thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his visit and participation in the International Forum on Peace and Trust, expressing his country’s desire to deepen cooperation with Pakistan across various fields of mutual interest.

Earlier, Pakistan and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation and expand partnership across multiple sectors.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister.

Hania Aamir wins best actress title at Lux Style Award

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Hania Aamir

KARACHI: Pakistan’s celebrated actress Hania Aamir has clinched the Best Actress Award for 2025, earning widespread praise for her exceptional performance and strong public support at the prestigious Lux Style Awards ceremony.

The Lux Style Awards 2025 ceremony was held in Karachi, where leading showbiz personalities lit up the glamorous evening.

The event featured a soulful performance by legendary singer Abida Parveen, who captivated the audience with her mystical kalam.

Hania Aamir received the best actress of the year award for her remarkable performance in the drama “Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum.” She was declared the winner after securing the highest number of public votes.

In other categories, Hira Faisal was honoured with the most beautiful influencer of the year award, while viral social media duo Rehan and Rabia, popularly known as “Ron & Coco,” won the best influencer award for creating outstanding home-based content.

Who is Shaheen Afridi’s cricket role model?

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Shaheen Afridi

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has revealed that he considers Australian pacer Mitchell Starc as his cricket role model and is eagerly looking forward to meeting him soon.

Shaheen said that whenever he played alongside Starc against Australia, their interactions were encouraging, and Starc always motivated him.

He also shared that watching Starc’s 2015 Cricket World Cup spell left a lasting impression, prompting him to follow Starc’s career closely.

Shaheen credited the performances of both Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult for helping him improve his skills on the cricket field, describing them as true icons for young cricketers.

Starc, in recent years, has not only broken records held by Wasim Akram but has also become a role model for aspiring fast bowlers.

Shaheen further noted that Starc’s ability to bowl at speeds of 140 km/h or more serves as a major inspiration for young players.

Ex-ISI chief Faiz Hameed receives 14 years rigorous imprisonment

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Ex-ISI chief

RAWALPINDI: A Field General Court Martial has sentenced ex-ISI chief Lieutenant General (Retd) Faiz Hameed to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), On August 12, 2024, process of Field General Court Martial was initiated against Mr. Faiz Hameed, formerly Lieutenant General under provisions of Pakistan Army Act spreading over 15 months.

The accused was tried on four charges related to engaging in political activities, violation of Official Secret Act detrimental to safety and interest of the State, misuse of authority & government resources and causing wrongful loss to persons.

After lengthy and laborious legal proceedings, accused has been found guilty on all charges and sentenced to 14 years rigorous imprisonment by the Court which has been promulgated on 11 December 2025.

The Field General Court Martial complied with all legal provisions. The accused was afforded with all legal rights including rights of defence team of his choice. The convict has the right of appeal at relevant forum.

Involvement of convict in fomenting vested political agitation and instability in cahoots with political elements and in certain other matters is separately being dealt with.

Simon Cowell sets record straight on celebrity weight loss jabs

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Simon Cowell

LONDON: Music mogul Simon Cowell has addressed widespread speculation about his weight loss, confirming that he has never used injections like Ozempic or Wegovy to shed pounds.

In a recent interview tied to his Netflix docuseries The Next Act, Cowell said, “I’ve never been tempted, sorry,” dismissing rumors that his transformation was chemically assisted.

Instead, he attributes his dramatic change to discipline and lifestyle adjustments, including:

A strict 1,000-calorie-a-day diet

Hundreds of push-ups daily

Four baths a day

Cutting out sugar, dairy, red meat, and gluten

Following intermittent fasting with occasional treat days

Cowell’s revelation comes at a time when weight loss injections are trending, with many celebrities and regular users embracing GLP-1 drugs for rapid results.

By rejecting the popular trend, Cowell positions himself as an outlier in Hollywood, relying solely on exercise, diet, and disciplined habits to maintain his physique.

The interview also highlighted the growing celebrity adoption of Ozempic and similar GLP-1 medications for slimming down, a topic that continues to dominate headlines.

UAE announces strict penalties for harboring or employing illegal residents

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UAE announces

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced harsh penalties and fines for individuals who provide residency, employment, or any form of assistance to people residing in the country illegally, citing public safety concerns.

According to Gulf News, the new measures target those who employ or shelter undocumented foreign nationals, as such actions pose significant risks to public security and may facilitate illegal activities. The UAE government emphasized that enforcing strict laws is essential to ensure social stability and the safety of citizens.

Under the 2021 laws governing entry and residence, violators face fines ranging from AED 100,000 to AED 5 million and minimum imprisonment of two months.

The report further noted that individuals on visit or tourist visas working in the UAE are committing a serious offense, punishable by AED 10,000 fine. Those using fraudulent residency documents could face up to 10 years in prison.

These measures are part of the UAE’s ongoing efforts to maintain law and order and protect its residents from risks associated with illegal immigration.

Bangladesh to announce national election date on Dec 11

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Bangladesh

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Election Commission will announce the date for the upcoming parliamentary elections on Thursday, a commission official confirmed.

The elections are scheduled for February 2026, following a student-led uprising in 2024 that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.

Since August 2024, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, after deadly street protests toppled Hasina’s long-standing government.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will reveal the election schedule in a national broadcast at 6:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT), Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters.

A national referendum on the so-called ‘July Charter’, a state reform plan drafted after the unrest, is also expected to be held on the same day. The charter proposes curbs on executive powers, strengthening the independence of the judiciary and election authorities, and preventing misuse of law-enforcement agencies.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely considered the frontrunner in the polls. They will compete alongside Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamic party, which has returned to electoral politics after restrictions were eased by the interim government.

Jamaat had been barred from elections since a 2013 court ruling, which declared that its registration as a political party conflicted with Bangladesh’s secular constitution. The country has a population of 173 million, with a Muslim majority.

Meanwhile, Hasina’s Awami League, barred from contesting the upcoming election, has warned of potential unrest if the ban is not lifted.