Short News

WASHINGTON: An official with Meta’s popular WhatsApp chat service said Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions had targeted scores of its users, including journalists and members of civil society. The official said on Friday that WhatsApp had sent Paragon a cease-and-desist letter following the hack. In a statement, WhatsApp said the company “will continue to protect people’s ability to communicate privately.” Paragon declined to comment. The WhatsApp official told Reuters it had detected an effort to hack approximately 90 users of its platform. The official declined to say who, specifically, was targeted or where they were geographically, saying only that targets included an unspecified number of people in civil society and media. He said WhatsApp had since disrupted the hacking effort and was referring targets to Canadian internet watchdog group Citizen Lab. The official declined to discuss how it ascertained that Paragon was responsible for the hack. He said law enforcement ...

MANAMA: Bahrain authorities imposed a six-month ban on fishing, trading, and sale of shrimp in the country’s territorial waters. Shrimp fishing, trade, and sales in Bahraini territorial waters are prohibited for six months, from February 1 to July 31, according to the Marine Wealth Directorate of the Supreme Council for the Environment (SCE). The prohibition supports national initiatives to guarantee the sustainability of the industry by preserving fish populations and safeguarding Bahrain’s maritime resources. The decision is part of larger measures to protect the maritime environment and encourage the conservation of natural resources, according to the maritime Wealth Directorate. In order to promote stock sustainability, all techniques of shrimp fishing in defined regions are restricted, and trade in shrimp in marketplaces will also be outlawed at this time. Read More: Shrimp fishing season begins in Oman The Coast Guard will continue to coordinate inspection efforts to enforc...

GAZA: Hamas armed wing or al-Qassam Brigades announced the killing of its elusive military leader Mohammed Deif and deputy military commander Marwan Issa in combat. “The Al-Qassam Brigades announce to our great people the martyrdom of a group of distinguished fighters and heroic commanders… commander Mohammed Deif, chief of staff of the Al-Qassam Brigades (and) commander Marwan Issa, deputy chief of staff,” the armed wing of Hamas announced. Israel had accused Deif of being one of the masterminds of the October 7 attack. Mohammed Deif, one of the masterminds of the Oct. 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel, was an elusive figure who had a long and secretive career in the Palestinian group and had been sought by Israel for decades. Deif had survived seven previous Israeli assassination attempts, the most recent in 2021. In the months since Oct. 7, he was believed to have been directing military operations from the tunnels and backstreets of Gaza, alongside senior colleagues. Rising u...

Incarcerated PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has penned a letter to Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, extolling the top judge to bring about an end to the “terror and brutality by the state and the suppression of democracy”, it emerged on Thursday. Titled “Meltdown of the constitutional order in Pakistan”, the letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com , was dated January 24 and signed from Adiala Jail where he is incarcerated. Following the arrest of the ex-premier on May 9, 2023, from the Islamabad High Court’s premises, riots erupted across the country and went on for at least 24 hours. The state subsequently launched a crackdown against him and his party, filing several other cases against Imran since the events of May 9, in many of which he has been acquitted. The period since has been one of political instability with the government and opposition at loggerheads with each other. “You are hereby called upon to exercise all powers vested in t...

A man who recently brought his family back to Quetta from the United States on Wednesday confessed to shooting his teenage daughter dead, motivated by his disapproval of her TikTok content, according to the police. The shooting happened on a street in Quetta on Monday night. The suspect initially said that unidentified gunmen shot and killed his American-born 15-year-old daughter before he confessed to the crime, Gawalmandi Station House Officer (SHO) Babar Baloch said. “Our investigation so far has found that the family had an objection to her dressing, lifestyle and social gathering,” Serious Crimes Investigation Wing (SCIW) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zohaib Mohsin said. “We have her phone. It is locked,” he told Reuters . “We are probing all aspects, including ‘honour’ killing.” The family recently returned to Balochistan after having lived in the US for about 25 years, SHO Baloch said. He said that the suspect has US citizenship, adding that the suspect told him the ...

Former tennis star Anna Kournikova, wife of famous singer Enrique Iglesias, made a rare public appearance over the weekend when she was spotted out with her children and their friends at a shopping mall in Miami, Florida. The former tennis star was in a wheelchair and wearing an orthopedic boot, which sparked concern among her fans. It seems she may have recently had surgery, although details are not yet clear. Anna Kournikova’s husband, Enrique Iglesias, was not with her during this outing. Instead, the mom of three was being pushed by a friend while shopping at the Bal Harbour Mall. Despite needing help to move around, Anna Kournikova appeared to be in good spirits. She laughed and chatted with her friends while spending time with her children, Lucy, seven, and Maria, four. Read More: Kendrick Lamar launches Super Bowl merch to support L.A. Wildfire victims Anna and Enrique Iglesias also have a third child, Nicholas, who is a twin to Lucy, but he wasn’t seen in the photos. It ...

International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Geoff Allardice stepped down from the position ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan. After serving as the company’s CEO for four years, he announced his intention to “pursue new challenges” in his resignation. Geoff Allardice took over as temporary CEO and was officially named CEO in November 2021. After a stint with Cricket Australia, he began his career with the ICC in 2012 as the general manager of cricket. Read More: Champions Trophy 2025: PCB shares ticket prices for Pakistan games “It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council,” Geoff Allardice said and added, “I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members.” “I’d like to thank the ICC Chair, the board of directors and [the] entire cricket community for their support and collabora...

Google Maps will change the name of “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America” once it is officially updated in the United States Geographic Names System (GNIS), Google said in an X post on Monday. “We have a longstanding practice of applying name changes when they have been updated in official government sources,” a spokesman for the search and tech giant said on Monday. Google said the changes align with its policy of following official US government geographic designations through the GNIS and will come into effect once the GNIS is updated. The change will be visible in the US but the name will remain “Gulf of Mexico” in Mexico. Outside of the two countries, users will see both names on Google Maps. The Trump administration’s Interior Department said on Friday it had officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the Alaskan peak Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, to Mount McKinley. “As directed by the president, the Gulf of Mexico will now...

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said that despite past setbacks, Pakistan’s economy is on the right path to achieving long-term growth. Adressing an event titled “Opportunities for Economic Diplomacy to Promote Pakistan’s Trade and Investment” organised by Pakistan Business Council, the DPM highlighted the critical turning point of 2013, when the country was grappling with extreme load shedding, rampant terrorism, and a deteriorating economy on the brink of default. “Our political party secured a third term to serve the country, and we introduced our three Es manifesto—Economy, Extremism, and Electricity—successfully addressing these issues,” he said. The results, he said, were clear as within three years, Pakistan became the 24th largest economy, saw record-high foreign reserves, and reduced inflation to below double digits. Ishaq Dar said after 2018, the country faced a regression, with its economy slipping to 47th place and infl...

Although it was released back in 2021, Netflix’s psychological thriller Behind Her Eyes is still leaving viewers stunned with its jaw-dropping plot twist. The Netflix series has remained a topic of conversation among fans and new viewers alike, as the shocking ending continues to take social media by storm. Viewers who are just catching up with the Netflix series are finding it impossible to stop thinking about the unexpected conclusion. “I couldn’t sleep for like a week after finishing it!” one fan shared. Another added, “I swear, I’ve never seen such a crazy ending. I was like, ‘WAIT WHAT!’” The surprise twist has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments in the Netflix thriller genre, with many fans commenting, “No one saw that coming!” Despite the series being over two years old, the plot twist is still being discussed by viewers who are watching it for the first time. But Behind Her Eyes is not just about the twist. Critics continue to praise the series for its ...

SHAKARGARH: In a viral incident mirroring a similar one in Narowal, a farmer in Shakargarh vegetable market gave away cauliflower for free after being disheartened by its plummeting price of Rs50 per maund, ARY News reported. Reports reveal that the farmer distributed over a maund of cauliflower at no cost and even offered cold drinks along with the vegetables, leaving citizens in the market rushing to fill their bags with the free produce. Frustrated by the unstable market prices, the farmer urged authorities to take steps to stabilise rates in vegetable markets, as the viral incident highlighted the dire financial challenges farmers are facing. Earlier, a farmer named Mudasir, in Punjab went viral when he was was forced to distribute 50 maund of cauliflower free of cost due to the drastically low prices of vegetables in the market after a bumper crop. Read More: Low prices force Punjab farmer to distribute 50 maund cauliflower for free Despite a bumper harvest, farmers in Punja...

The much-awaited teaser of Empuraan , the second chapter in the Lucifer trilogy starring Mohanlal, has finally been released, ending months of speculation. Directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran, Empuraan promises to be a bigger, bloodier, and more intense action film than anything Malayalam cinema has seen. The movie stars Malayalam superstar Mohanlal in the lead role, reprising his iconic character Khureshi Ab’raam, also known as Stephen Nedumpally. The 143-second teaser begins in the war-torn town of Qaraqosh, Iraq, with the phrase “Death to the Evil” appearing in the background. A voiceover from the first movie, featuring PK Ramdas (Sachin Khedekar) advising Priyadarshini (Manju Warrier), sets the tone. The scene then transitions to Stephen’s black Ambassador car, covered in dust, symbolizing his absence. The teaser reveals Stephen as the leader of Asia’s most powerful mercenary group, whose influence is felt worldwide. Mohanlal makes a dramatic entrance, cautioning against dea...

RAIWIND: In a shocking turn of events, the mother of the child who went missing a day before from Raiwind has been arrested for her involvement in his murder, ARY News reproted. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Chaudhry Usman revealed that the mother, along with a friend and the maid, staged a fake kidnapping. According to the DSP, the mother and the maid together killed the child, Azlan, and then burned his body. The suspects dumped the burnt body in Kot Radha Kishan after setting it on fire. Read More: Mother murders two innocent children in Nawabshah The body of the child has been moved to Jinnah Hospital for a post-mortem examination. DSP confirmed these details, shedding light on the horrific crime. A similar heart-wrenching tragedy occurred in December 2024, where a mother brutally killed her two children by slitting their throats. The tragic event took place within the jurisdiction of the Airport Police Station in Nawabshah. According to reports, the mother, id...

NAROWAL: A farmer in Punjab was forced to distribute 50 maund of cauliflower free of cost due to the drastically low prices of vegetables in the market after a bumper crop, ARY News reported on Saturday. Despite a bumper harvest, farmers in Punjab are struggling with severe financial distress as vegetable prices have plunged in markets across the province over the past week, leaving them unable to recover even the basic costs of cultivation. Prices of staple vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, and tomatoes have plummeted to as low as Rs 2 to 10 per kg in wholesale markets. Middlemen are unwilling to offer farmers fair prices due to the low demand and increased supply, compelling many growers to take drastic measures. In a rare case in Narowal, a farmer was left with no choice but to distribute his cauliflower crop in frustration as the market price was only Rs 2 per kg. Mudasir, a disheartened farmer from Sadiq Abad, distributed 50 maund of cauliflower free of cost. He ...

KARACHI: In light of the recent surge in child kidnappings in Karachi, police have issued a new set of guidelines for schools and seminaries (Madrasa) to ensure children’s safety, ARY News reported. According to the guidelines issued by Karachi police, children should not be allowed to leave with anyone other than their parents. The advisory also urges parents not to send their children to school or seminaries alone, emphasising the need for supervision during travel. Earlier, a shocking attempt to abduct a young girl in Korangi’s Bhatai Colony was thwarted after the girl and a woman shouted for help, causing the kidnappers to flee. Read More: WATCH: Brave mother-daughter duo foil kidnapping attempt in Karachi The incident took place in Sector D, and CCTV footage of the incident has now been shared. The video shows a woman walking with the girl on the street when two men on a motorcycle approach them. One of the men gets off the bike and tries to grab the girl, but she quickly ...

A video of former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir celebrating a wicket in Pushpa style has gone viral on social media. The right-arm pacer, who is currently playing for the Desert Vipers in the ILT20, took four wickets in his previous match, including a stunning celebration inspired by the Bollywood movie “Pushpa.” The celebration, popularised by actor Allu Arjun, has been adopted by several cricketers, including David Warner, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja. Mohammad Amir is the latest cricketer to perform Pushpa style and the same has gone viral. Mohammad Amir revealed that he watched the movie “Pushpa 2” last week and decided to emulate the celebration style after taking a wicket. The Desert Vipers secured a convincing 10-wicket victory over the Sharjah Warriors at the Dubai International Stadium, with Mohammad Amir taking four wickets and Fakhar Zaman scoring an unbeaten 71. Amir, who has retired from all forms of cricket, continues to impress with his exceptional bo...

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday blocked US President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing an executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional”. US District Judge John Coughenour at the urging of four Democratic-led states issued a temporary restraining order preventing the administration from enforcing the order, which the Republican president signed on Monday during his first day in office. “This is [a] blatantly unconstitutional order,” the judge told a lawyer with the US Justice Department defending Trump’s order. The order has already become the subject of five lawsuits by civil rights groups and Democratic attorneys general from 22 states, who call it a flagrant violation of the US Constitution. “Under this order, babies being born today don’t count as US citizens,” Washington Assistant Attorney General Lane Polozola told Senior US District Judge John Coughenour at the star...

RAWALPINDI: In a brazen daylight robbery, dacoits targeted a mother and her children in Rawalpindi’s Quaid-e-Azam Colony, depriving them of valuables, ARY News reported. The incident occurred when the mother was returning home with her children from school. Two motorcycle-borne dacoits snatched gold jewelry and other valuables from the woman. The dacoits were caught on CCTV camera, fleeing the scene after committing the crime. The footage shows the dacoits looting the woman and children outside their home, while a young girl is seen running inside the house in fear. The robbers made off with four gold bangles and a mobile phone. Senior police officers arrived at the scene after the incident and launched an investigation with the help of CCTV footage. Earlier on January 5, a young man was gunned down when he offered resistance to robbers in Karachi’s Korangi area. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Korangi Kamran Khan, five robbers entered a house with the intenti...

Lynn Ban, the famous jewellery designer and star of the Netflix show “Bling Empire: New York,” has sadly passed away. Lynn Ban had a serious ski accident in Colorado last month, which led to emergency brain surgery. Unfortunately, she lost her battle despite undergoing medical treatment. Ban’s son, Sebastian, announced her passing on her Instagram account. He shared a heartfelt message about his mother, describing her as his best friend and the strongest woman he knew. He mentioned that Ban always had a smile on her face, even during the difficult recovery period.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by ＬＹＮＮ ＢＡＮ (@lynn_ban) Before the accident, Lynn Ban shared her experience on Instagram. She explained that she had a fall while skiing in Aspen on Christmas Eve. Initially, she was cleared by ski patrol, but a paramedic later advised her to go to the hospital for a scan. This decision likely saved her life as the scan reve...

Indian Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday said that there had been no talks on trade between his country and Pakistan, nor had there been any proposals to resume the flow of commerce. Delhi’s top diplomat made the remarks while fielding questions from reporters at the Indian embassy in Washington, where he had travelled to attend the inauguration of US President Donald Trump on Monday. In response to a question about trade with Pakistan, Jaishankar said: “After last year, there have been no talks with Pakistan about trade, nor has any initiative come forward from their side.” He further said about the situation between the neighbours: “We never stopped trade. Any steps taken to stop trade with India were taken from their side in 2019 . Our concern from the beginning was that they never granted us MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status, even though we granted it to them.” Pakistan, under the government of then-prime minister Imran Khan, had downgraded diplomatic rel...

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah become the first player in the club’s history to achieve a half-century of goals in Europe with his opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Lille at Anfield on Tuesday. Liverpool’s top scorer in European tournaments reached the milestone in the 34th minute of the game by finishing touch on the pass by Curtis Jones. Shortly after Lille was relegated to 10 men, Jonathan David equalized, but Harvey Elliott deflected effort in front of the Kop gave the Ligue 1 team its first loss in 22 games. Harvey Elliott who came off the bench at halftime and scored the game-winning goal to make sure Arne Slot’s team won seven of seven Champions League games “Hopefully [I’m] not the last one but it’s something I’m very happy and proud about – and especially because we won the game, so that’s the most important thing,” Mohamed Salah told Amazon Prime Video. “I’m happy for him, I’m always there to help him,” Mohamed said of the match-winner by Harvey Elliott. “...

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has removed the Additional Registrar (Judicial) on account of serious lapse and the Registrar has been directed to look into the matter, said a press release issued here Tuesday. SC said “The issue involves mismanagement in fixation of cases. CPLA Nos. 836-K to 887-K, 951-K, 1056-K of 2020 and 741-K to 743-K of 2021 and 165-K of 2022, are bunch of cases where the vires of Custom Act, 1969 were challenged”. “These cases were required to be fixed before the Constitutional Bench but were mistakenly fixed before the regular Bench of the Supreme Court, consequently, it led to wastage of time, resources of the institution as well as the parties”, the Supreme Court said. “Briefly, it is stated that the mentioned cases were fixed before a regular Bench of three Hon’ble Judges. The cases were heard on 13th January 2025 where in addition to merit of the case, the constitutionality of sub section 2 of section 11A of the Customs Act were challenged. Bas...

MULTAN: A man gunned down his father over a domestic dispute in a tragic incident that took place in Multan on Monday, ARY News reported citing police. According to police reports, the incident was reported from MDA Chowk in Multan where a man named Azim, had visited his first wife’s home when his son opened fire, killing him on the spot. The police have transferred the body to Nishtar Hospital for a post-mortem examination. An investigation into the incident has been launched, and legal action is underway. According to initial reports, the deceased had an ongoing dispute with his first wife, which may have led to the son’s actions. Earlier in a similar incident, a 15-year-old boy in a fit of rage killed his ‘drug addict’ father for assaulting his mother in Tibba Sultanpur. Read More:  Man kills father, uncle over car dispute According to the details, a citizen was gunned down by an ‘unknown individual’ in Tibba Sultanpur, a town between Multan and Vehari. Later, the police...

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated Donald Trump on assuming the office as the 47th President of the United States (US). In separate felicitation messages, the president and prime minister extended their best wishes for the new US President. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his official X timeline wrote: “My warmest congratulations to Donald Trump on his assumption of office as the forty-seventh President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen the enduring Pakistan-U.S. partnership.” He said over the years, both the two great countries had worked together closely to pursue peace and prosperity in the region and beyond for their people, adding, “and we shall continue to do so in the future.” He extended his best wishes to President Trump for a successful second term in office. from ARY NEWS https://ift.tt/QH6rkpb https://ift.tt/faAe7zT

Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz has revealed her intentions to reprise her role as a nightclub singer in a sequel to her iconic film ‘The Mask.’ To Read Lifestyle Stories in Urdu- Click Here During a recent interview, the Hollywood actress, who returned to the big screen in Netflix’s ‘Back in Action’ after a 10-year hiatus, was asked if she was open to reprising her role in case a sequel to the iconic film is made. While Cameron Diaz expressed her willingness to return for the sequel, her only condition was the presence of Hollywood actor Jim Carrey who played the male lead in the 1994 comedy. “If Jim’s on board, I mean, I’ve been riding those coattails from day one,” The Hollywood actress said when asked about reprising her role as nightclub singer Tina Carlyle. Released in 1994, ‘The Mask’ sees Cameron Diaz playing the love interest of Jim Carrey’s bank teller Stanley Ipkis whose life is changed after discovering a mask that possesses him with the spirit of a magical trickster....

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has de-listed the hearing of a crucial case related to military courts trials due to the unavailability of a seven-member larger bench, ARY News reported. According to a notice issued by the Registrar’s Office, the hearings initially scheduled for January 20 and 21 have been removed from the court’s calendar. The delay has raised concerns as the case involves significant constitutional questions regarding the jurisdiction and proceedings of military courts. The larger bench was expected to deliberate on whether the trials under military jurisdiction align with constitutional provisions for fair trial and due process. In a separate development, the Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing of a petition filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, seeking an investigation into alleged electoral rigging. Read More: SC seeks data on civilian trials in military courts Justice Amin-ud-Din will lead a six-member constitutiona...

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued a circular to carry out a thorough investigation of individuals who are opting for expensive Hajj packages under the private Hajj 2025 scheme, ARY News reported. As per the new guidelines, individuals who choose packages costing over Rs3 million  will now have their Hajj process linked to security clearance. The names of these pilgrims will be sent to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), which will scrutinise their assets and tax records. In addition, security agencies will also assess their criminal and other records before providing clearance. Once the relevant authorities grant clearance, those who have chosen packages above Rs3 million will be permitted to proceed with their Hajj 2025 pilgrimage. Read More: Hajj 2025: Training program for Pakistani pilgrims to begin tomorrow Furthermore, companies offering these high-cost packages will be required to provide details of the Hajj packages. The Ministry of Religious Affa...