BREAKING NEWS
Advertise with us >

Danish Taimoor clarifies viral Ronaldo remark after social media backlash

Danish Taimoor

KARACHI: Pakistani actor Danish Taimoor has clarified his recent remarks about football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after they sparked debate on social media, saying his comments were misunderstood and were intended only as a tribute to one of his favorite athletes.

Taimoor recently paid tribute to Ronaldo ahead of what could be the footballer’s final FIFA World Cup, saying he had “grown up watching” the Portuguese star.

The remark drew criticism from some social media users, who pointed out that Taimoor is about two years older than Ronaldo.

Responding to the criticism, the actor shared a statement on Instagram, explaining that his words had been taken out of context.

“I am, Alhamdulillah, 43 years old,” Taimoor wrote. He said he meant that he had followed Ronaldo’s career from his own twenties into his forties and had remained an admirer throughout the footballer’s journey.

Following the clarification, many social media users came to Taimoor’s defense, arguing that his original comment was a figure of speech that had been unnecessarily turned into a controversy.

Several fans said they had understood his intended meaning from the outset, while others criticized what they described as an attempt to create unnecessary online drama over an emotional tribute.

Taimoor has long been known as a football enthusiast and has frequently expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo on various occasions.

Ali Rehman Khan, Sonya Hussyn to star together in new film ‘Double Siyapa’

Ali Rehman Khan

KARACHI: Actors Ali Rehman Khan and Sonya Hussyn are set to share the screen for the first time as lead stars in the upcoming feature film Double Siyapa.

Directed by Kashif Saleem, the film is scheduled to begin shooting in the United Kingdom next week. The project has already generated excitement among fans following its official announcement.

In addition to Ali Rehman Khan and Sonya Hussyn, the cast includes Dodi Khan and Saif Ali Khan in key roles. The filmmakers have yet to reveal details about the storyline, but the ensemble cast has raised expectations for an entertaining production.

Ali Rehman Khan is among Pakistan’s leading actors, having earned acclaim for his performances in television dramas including Parchayee, Suno Chanda and Gudi, as well as the feature film Parey Hut Love.

Sonya Hussyn has also established herself as one of Pakistan’s most versatile actresses through acclaimed performances in dramas such as Ishq Zahe Naseeb, Saraab, Tere Bina and Mere Humdum Mere Dost. She has also expanded her career into films with a variety of roles.

Although Double Siyapa remains in its early stages of production, its international filming location and star-studded cast have already generated considerable interest ahead of its release.

British Pakistani doctor Azqa Sohail crowned Miss Supranational Pakistan 2026

British Pakistani doctor

LONDON: British Pakistani doctor Azqa Sohail has been crowned Miss Supranational Pakistan 2026 and will represent Pakistan at the Miss Supranational 2026 pageant in Poland.

Miss Supranational is regarded as one of the world’s five major international beauty pageants, bringing together contestants from across the globe to showcase their countries’ culture, traditions, social initiatives and personal achievements.

Sohail is a medical doctor and aesthetic practitioner based in the United Kingdom. Alongside her medical career, she is actively involved in women’s empowerment initiatives and serves on the board of Adana, a London-based charitable organization focused on education, welfare and social development for women and girls.

She said community service remains an important part of her life and credited her mother as her greatest inspiration. Sohail said her mother, who came from a small village in Punjab’s Malkwal district, rose through education and determination to become a college principal in the United Kingdom.

Representing Pakistan on the international stage for the first time, Sohail said she considers the opportunity a major milestone and hopes to highlight Pakistan’s culture, traditions, values and the achievements of its women during the competition.

Miss Pakistan Organization President Sonia Ahmed congratulated Sohail on her selection, noting that Miss Supranational is among the world’s most prestigious beauty pageants and that Sohail will become the third contestant to represent Pakistan in the competition.

Ahmed expressed confidence that Sohail’s talent, confidence and personality would enable her to deliver a strong performance and achieve success for Pakistan.

Karachi court sentences man to death twice in anchor murder case

Karachi court

KARACHI: A district court in Karachi has sentenced the main accused, Atif Zaman, to death on two counts in the 2019 murder case of television anchor Mureed Abbas and his friend Khizar Hayat.

The verdict was delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Court (South), which announced its decision seven years after the case was filed. Proceedings were conducted at the Judicial Complex inside Karachi Central Jail.

The court found Atif Zaman guilty of murdering Abbas and Hayat and ordered him to pay compensation of Rs500,000 to the legal heirs of each victim.

In addition to the death sentences, the court sentenced Zaman to seven years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs50,000 for possessing illegal weapons.

The court also issued permanent arrest warrants for absconding co-accused Adil Zaman and directed authorities to continue legal proceedings against him.

Adil Zaman was declared a proclaimed offender after fleeing following the rejection of his bail plea by Pakistan’s Supreme Court.

Television anchor Mureed Abbas and Khizar Hayat were shot dead in Karachi on July 9, 2019.

Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira to headline World Cup final halftime show

Justin Bieber

NEW JERSEY: The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature the tournament’s first-ever halftime show, with a star-studded lineup of international music artists set to perform.

The halftime show will take place during the World Cup final on July 19 at New Jersey Stadium, featuring performances by Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and South Korean pop group BTS.

Also scheduled to perform are Nigerian singer Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, British rock band Coldplay and the PS22 Chorus.

Justin Bieber said it was an honor to be part of the event, adding that the FIFA World Cup brings people together from around the globe.

Organizers also announced that beloved characters from Sesame Street and The Muppets will make appearances during the historic halftime show.

Messi leads 2026 World Cup scoring chart with nine goals

Messi leads

Lionel Messi has emerged as the leading scorer at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with nine goals in the tournament so far.

According to tournament statistics, 280 goals have been scored across the first 96 matches of the competition, with Argentina leading all teams with 14 goals.

Messi tops the tournament’s scoring chart with nine goals, while France’s Kylian Mbappe is second with eight. Norway’s Erling Haaland ranks third with seven goals, followed by England captain Harry Kane with six.

Including his goals at this year’s tournament, Messi has now scored a total of 21 goals across all FIFA World Cup appearances during his career.

Tournament statistics also show that referees have issued 259 yellow cards and 14 red cards in the 2026 World Cup so far.

PCB confirms four-team ODI tournament ahead of 2027 World Cup

PCB confirms

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed a four-team One-Day tournament next month as part of its preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

According to the PCB, the tournament will be held in August before the start of the domestic first-class season.

Director of the High Performance Centre Aqib Javed said Pakistan has around 18 months until the 2027 World Cup, making it the right time to begin building a strong pool of ODI players.

He said selectors and coaches jointly designed the four-team tournament, which will feature all of the country’s leading white-ball cricketers.

Aqib said the selectors and coaching staff will assemble playing XIs based on players’ specific roles, allowing them to evaluate performances and identify the best player pool for the future.

He added that all matches will be televised, providing transparency in player performances and making the selection process more effective.

Aqib also said Pakistan should be ranked among the top four ODI teams in the world, adding that anything lower would be unacceptable and expressing confidence that the team’s ranking would improve.

Mufti Taqi Usmani issues fatwa against cryptocurrency transactions

Mufti Taqi

KARACHI: Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, president of Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan and Darul Uloom Karachi, has issued a religious ruling declaring that the use of cryptocurrency for purchases is not permissible under Islamic law.

According to the fatwa, Mufti Usmani said that based on the research and opinions of experts available so far, cryptocurrency does not qualify as “mal” (property or wealth) in Islamic jurisprudence but is merely a record of virtual numbers in an account.

He said purchasing goods through cryptocurrency is not permissible, whether using USDT or any other crypto token.

The authenticity of the fatwa was confirmed by Mufti Usmani’s son, Hassan Usmani, who said the ruling circulating publicly was indeed issued by his father.

PM Shehbaz accuses eastern neighbor of backing terrorism in Pakistan

PM Shehbaz

QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan’s eastern neighbor is involved in terrorism inside the country, vowing that the government and military would jointly eliminate the militant threat.

Chairing a provincial Apex Committee meeting on the National Action Plan in Quetta, the prime minister said recent terrorist attacks had claimed the lives of police personnel, members of the armed forces and civilians.

The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the governor and chief minister of Balochistan, as well as federal ministers.

Sharif said security forces had killed 54 militants in recent operations, adding that the campaign would continue until the last militant was eliminated and that the state would thwart their objectives.

He paid tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces, saying the entire nation stands behind its military.

The prime minister alleged that Pakistan’s eastern neighbor was playing a significant role in fueling terrorism by providing militants with weapons, financial support and other assistance. He also claimed that militants were using Afghan territory to launch attacks in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Sharif said Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained united and fully committed to eradicating terrorism, pledging to employ all available resources to eliminate the militant threat.

US approves sale of Tomahawk missiles to Germany

US approves

BERLIN: The United States has approved the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, marking a significant step in strengthening Berlin’s long-range strike capabilities.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a NATO summit in Ankara proved more productive than expected, revealing that Germany had reached an agreement with the United States to purchase Tomahawk missiles, which will be deployed in the country.

“We are closing a major strategic gap in our defense capabilities,” Merz said, adding that Germany is also continuing efforts to develop and deploy European-made long-range defense systems.

According to foreign media reports, German government sources said the United States signed a letter of intent on Tuesday assuring Germany that formal approval for the purchase of Tomahawk missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers would be granted in August.

The sources did not disclose how many missiles or launchers Germany intends to acquire, saying the details remain classified.