Day: February 23, 2025

Wedding costs surge under social media influence

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ISLAMABAD: With the growing influence of social and digital media, wedding traditions in the country have undergone a significant transformation. Once a simple celebration, weddings have now evolved into lavish, week-long extravaganzas, featuring multiple events and extravagant spending. The increasing influence of social media has played a major role in reshaping wedding culture, introducing new trends that emphasise grandeur and opulence. Elaborate traditions such as “Bride-to-Be” parties, Mehndi nights, and Dholki celebrations have gained popularity, largely inspired by TV dramas and the extravagant lifestyles of showbiz personalities showcased on social…

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Germans vote under shadow of far-right surge, Trump

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Germans began voting Sunday in a pivotal election, with the conservatives the strong favourites after a campaign rocked by a far-right surge and the dramatic return of US President Donald Trump. Polling stations opened at 8:00am (0700 GMT) with more than 59 million Germans eligible to vote and first estimates based on exit polls expected after polls close at 6:00pm (1700 GMT). Frontrunner Friedrich Merz has vowed a tough rightward shift if elected to win back voters from the far-right anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is eyeing a record…

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New rain spell forecast across country with flash flood warning

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The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has said that a new rain spell is expected across various parts of the country from tomorrow (Monday). A system of westerly winds, as per the Met Office, will enter the country due to which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad are likely to experience hail. Meanwhile, northern areas are expected to receive snowfall with showers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The PMD’s forecast comes days after Islamabad and Rawalpindi finally received heavy rainfall after nearly four months, providing much-needed relief amid an escalating…

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Prince Andrew gives King Charles new tension after latest move backfires

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King Charles is now faced with urgent demands for action after Prince Andrew causes another headache for the royals. The controversial figure in the royal family has been ousted in the eyes of the public as his royal titles and patronages were stripped off following the disgraceful sex scandal in 2019. Andrew, who marked his 65th birthday last week, treated himself with a special expensive present – new royal Range Rover – which sparked outrage with the public, despite the slew of new blunders. A US attorney Gloria Allred has…

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Pakistani stars look back on Champions Trophy 2017 glory

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As anticipation mounts for another thrilling Pakistan-India showdown, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has treated fans to a nostalgic throwback, sharing a video of Pakistani cricketers recalling their iconic 2017 Champions Trophy triumph. Posted on ICC’s official Instagram with the caption “A trip down memory lane as stars from Pakistan share their favourite moments from the 2017 Champions Trophy,” the clip revisits the unforgettable final at The Oval, where Pakistan stunned arch-rivals India to claim the prestigious title.   Players recall glory Babar Azam, reflecting on the match, highlighted multiple…

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WhatsApp rolling out changes to Meta AI chatbot: What to expect

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WhatsApp, the Meta-owned platform, is currently working on bringing a new widget feature for accessing the Meta AI chatbot in a future update of the app. This widget is in making to provide users with a quick and enhanced way to initiate conversations with Meta AI directly from their Home Screen, reported WABetaInfo. Eliminating the need to search for the chat manually in the app, this action will directly open a conversation with Meta AI. Ensuring a consistent experience across both platforms, it appears that WhatsApp now intends to bring the…

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Champions Trophy: Cricket’s biggest rivalry heats up as Pakistan face India today

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All eyes are on Dubai as cricket’s most intense rivalry takes centre stage today (Sunday), with the bitter rivals Pakistan and India set to ignite passion and excitement in today’s high-stakes clash of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Fans at home and abroad are exhilarated, with thousands set to pack the Dubai Cricket Stadium and millions more watching from around the world as anticipation soars for what promises to be an electrifying encounter. Pakistan enters the match in a do-or-die situation after a crushing 60-run defeat to New Zealand in…

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London plans sweeping sanctions on Russia as Ukraine war enters third year

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LONDON: As the Ukraine war reaches its third anniversary on Monday, the UK is all set to impose its most extensive sanctions yet on Russia in a bid to weaken its military operations, Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced. “This is also the time to turn the screws on (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia,” Lammy said in a statement. “Tomorrow, I plan to announce the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the war — eroding their military machine and reducing revenues fuelling the fires of destruction in…

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‘Justify your jobs or be fired,’ Elon Musk warns federal employees

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WASHINGTON: Billionaire adviser to US President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, has announced that all US federal employees are required to report on their weekly work output or risk losing their jobs, warning that those who fail to do so will be considered to have resigned. Musk’s unexpected bold move comes just hours after Trump called for stronger and “more aggressive” measures to reduce government spending and tackle waste. “Consistent with President @realDonaldTrump’s instructions, all federal employees will shortly receive an email requesting to understand what they got done last week. Failure…

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Pope Francis’s health deteriorates, remains in critical condition

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VATICAN CITY: The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis is in a critical condition after he suffered a severe respiratory attack that requires high-flow oxygen and blood transfusions, as he remains in hospital receiving treatment for double pneumonia. “At the moment, the prognosis is reserved,” it said, as the head of the 88-year-old Catholic Church prepared to spend his ninth night in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he was diagnosed this week with double pneumonia. “The Holy Father’s condition continues to be critical; therefore, as explained yesterday, the pope is not…

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