Lahore hosts 10-day Basant festival; celebrations run January 29 to February 7

Hasan Daudpota, Founder & CEO of Keys Productions, shaped Pakistan’s automotive launches through experience design. Dauddota stated that "Consumers today don’t just want to see a vehicle; they want to experience what the brand stands for."

Keys Productions executed several notable automotive launches across the last two years. The BYD Pakistan launch marked a significant event during 2024.

Furthermore, Daudpota advised that "Technology is most powerful when it enhances the experience without becoming the experience itself." The firm also guided Keys Productions to participate at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2026.

Video footage showing four Pakistani female cricketers performing an unusual training drill circulated widely across social media platforms. Fact-checkers questioned whether the players seen in the video belong to the senior Pakistan women’s team.

The footage actually features members of Pakistan’s Under-19 women’s team. Furthermore, Wahab Riaz and Umaid Asif are confirmed to be part of the senior women’s team management and have no link to the Under-19 setup.

Currently, Wahab Riaz continues to serve with the Pakistan women’s setup, participating in team training and planning activities.

A powerful nor'easter exposed shipwreck remains on Miacomet Beach, revealing segments of the Warren Sawyer. The Warren Sawyer originally ran aground in Nantucket on 22 December 1884, while carrying 1,115 bales of cotton and 28 tons of scrap iron.

Staff from the Egan Maritime Institute will examine the site and the recovered fragments. However, the Egan Maritime Institute noted that the newly emerged segments were not definitely from the Warren Sawyer.

Massachusetts state archaeologists previously inspected a roughly 42ft section of hull exposed on Miacomet Beach in late 2022. Furthermore, a roughly 15ft square section of the lower stern appeared nearby in February 2023.

The schooner remained intact on the island’s Miacomet Beach for two weeks. Jason Graziadei stated that the location of the debris suggests that everyone driving to the beach this summer was directly over the site.

The Punjab government committed to establishing catheterization laboratories (cath labs) and cardiology centres in every district hospital across the province. Currently, the cath labs have facilitated 7,294 successful cardiac procedures across six districts of Punjab.

These procedures included 4,448 instances where patients underwent angiography. Furthermore, 2,763 patients received angioplasty procedures at these facilities.

At the District Headquarters Hospital Kasur, two patients received temporary pacemakers at the cath lab. Authorities plan to establish cath labs in eight districts by November.

Moreover, the government intends to set up cath labs in seven additional districts by February. The plan also involves establishing state-of-the-art cardiac centres in every division of Punjab.

Heart patients will receive free stents, bypass surgeries, and medicines. Additionally, free screening for blood pressure and diabetes is available through field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels.

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw three debt instruments, totalling Rs27.8 billion, listed on its debt market today. Faysal Bank Limited introduced Rs7 billion in Rated, Unsecured, Subordinated Sukuk (FABLSC) to the exchange.

Bank Alfalah Limited subsequently listed Rs20 billion worth of Rated, Unsecured, Subordinated Tier-2 Term Finance Certificates (BAFLTFC9). Additionally, At-Tahur Limited added Rs800 million through the listing of Rated, Secured Sukuk (PREMASTSC).

Trading across all three newly listed instruments began in the secondary market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) proposed raising the limits for microfinance and housing loans to Rs5 million. The SECP issued proposed amendments for consultation with various stakeholders.

Furthermore, the SECP suggested increasing the annual income threshold for microfinance loans to Rs1.5 million, up from the previous Rs1.2 million. For small businesses, the SECP proposed elevating the maximum annual turnover threshold to Rs400 million, an increase from Rs150 million.

Medium-sized businesses would see the maximum annual turnover limit set at Rs2 billion, rising from Rs800 million. Overall, the SECP proposed that these SME thresholds align with recent changes implemented by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

Aryna Sabalenka stated she feels "fresh" for her first tournament since losing the world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina. The athlete noted, "This time I feel like, because I didn’t play that many matches, I feel fresh."

Sabalenka is seeded second at the China Open tournament. Regarding her participation, Amanda Anisimova will not compete at the China Open because of a wrist injury.

Novak Djokovic intends to add to his existing six titles at the China Open. The seven-time champion stated, "My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need."

Currently, Novak Djokovic holds the world ranking of 11th. The Beijing campaign for Djokovic commences in the first round against Nuno Borges of Portugal.

Sri Lankan shares closed lower on Tuesday, with the CSE All Share index settling at 20,817.82, marking a 0.60% decline. Trading volume on the CSE All Share index increased significantly, reaching 69.6 million shares compared to 32.1 million shares recorded in the prior session.

The total turnover for the equity market climbed to 1.01 billion Sri Lankan rupees, equating to $3.05 million, up from 596 million rupees in the previous trading day. Foreign investors acted as net buyers, acquiring stocks valued at 25.7 million rupees.

Conversely, domestic investors recorded net selling activity, disposing of shares worth 1.00 billion rupees. In separate financial news, the FBR extended the deadline for filing tax returns until 15 October.

Paramount+ acquired the U.S. streaming rights for three original British series from A24. The platform will stream the series 'It Gets Worse' in the United States.

Additionally, viewers can stream 'Major Players' on Paramount+ within the U.S. The series 'The Ministry of Time' will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

This particular series, 'The Ministry of Time', adapts Kaliane Bradley’s novel bearing the same title. Alice Birch adapted the material for 'The Ministry of Time'.

Mohsin Naqvi inspected twenty-one new rescue and firefighting vehicles that arrived at Karachi Port from China. These vehicles are being added to Islamabad’s emergency response fleet, which officials stated should reach the federal capital within five days.

Naqvi claimed the arrival of these new vehicles would strengthen the rescue and firefighting services within the capital. He further noted that this addition represents a major expansion of the city’s rescue fleet since 2009.

According to the briefing, the modern rescue and firefighting vehicles will be deployed across six stations in the capital. The equipment possesses the capability to conduct operations at heights reaching up to 256 feet.

The comprehensive fleet includes four fire aerial trucks, six fire towers, and five fire tenders.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) put forward a proposal to host the SCO Hockey Championship in Islamabad. Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani briefed SCO representatives in Islamabad regarding this matter.

The SCO National Coordinators and representatives welcomed the suggestion. These officials noted the championship could promote sports and strengthen cooperation among SCO member countries.

PHF stated that further discussions concerning the championship will take place in the coming weeks.

Dolly Parton's estate initiated legal action against her nephew, Bryan Seaver. Separately, Jay-Z requested a California appeals court to revive his extortion lawsuit targeting Tony Buzbee.

Furthermore, Jermaine Dupri and Jacquees encountered a copyright lawsuit. Bryan Seaver, the nephew, denied making any threats.

Other legal developments include a woman recanting her allegations against Jay-Z, and a judge ruling that the Federal Trade Commission can sue Ticketmaster and Live Nation.

The Australian government implemented a ban on social media use for individuals under the age of sixteen, asserting that credible risks support this measure. The government stated that significant credible risks of harm to children justify such a precautionary measure even before a full scientific consensus is reached.

In December alone, the platform removed almost five million accounts from under-16s users. Reddit has challenged the ban in a high court, questioning the government's action.

During the legal challenge, Reddit noted that no scientific consensus exists regarding a direct link between social media use and specific harms. Meanwhile, the eSafety commissioner's powers received an upgrade, and associated fines were doubled to nearly $100 million.

The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) hosted a seminar titled “Sialkot’s Prince of Character Puran Bhagat: From Heritage to Tourism” on 29 September 2026. The seminar concentrated on the historical and cultural importance of Puran Bhagat.

Syed Ahtesham Mazhar, President Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), and Khalid Latif, Chairman, SCCI Departmental Committee on Tourism, Culture & Archaeology, attended the event. Rana Arif Iqbal Harna, Provincial Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, Culture & Archaeology, was also present.

Latif stressed the necessity of promoting Sialkot’s historical and cultural assets by researching, documenting, and preserving them for younger generations through heritage tourism.

Punjab now permits driving license holders to secure a second license from any district within the province. The Inspector General of Police, DIG Traffic, approved this endorsement for driving licenses. Drivers can now apply for and receive a second license from any city after passing the necessary driving test. Officials confirmed that the online system now enables authorities to verify license data more easily across different districts. Traffic Police reported a 43% rise in the issuance of driving licenses throughout Punjab this year. This development streamlines the process for obtaining multiple driving credentials across the region.

Azam Khan responded with humour to a circulating fake news report that alleged his passing. The fabricated report suggested that Khan had died the day before.

Khan previously stated, "He was a very good player. He was supposed to play for Pakistan tomorrow, but he died today." His career statistics show that Khan has represented Pakistan in 14 T20 Internationals, accumulating 88 runs.

During the 2026 Pakistan Super League, Khan played for the Karachi Kings. For the Karachi Kings in the 2026 Pakistan Super League, Khan scored 74 runs.

His List A debut for Pakistan Television occurred in September 2018. Pakistan saw Khan make his T20 International debut against England in Nottingham on 16 July 2021.

Separately, false reports circulated in December 2025 claiming that Moin Khan had passed away.

Rob Lowe stated that a sequel to the film 'St. Elmo’s Fire' remains 'in the works'. The original film, 'St. Elmo’s Fire', premiered in 1985.

Joel Schumacher directed and co-wrote the script for 'St. Elmo’s Fire' alongside Carl Kurlander. Variety had previously reported that NBC was developing a series adaptation of the movie back in 2019.

Furthermore, Josh Berman was attached to write and executive produce the series adaptation alongside Chris King.

The special tax scheme for small shopkeepers is currently in its initial implementation stages. The government stated the scheme offers small shopkeepers a chance to join the documented tax system using a simplified and facilitative framework.

This effort seeks to encourage voluntary compliance while also providing greater certainty and ease of doing business for small traders. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is actively working to help traders and resolve any practical or technical issues encountered during the registration process.

Furthermore, the Government of Pakistan and the FBR maintain continuous contact with market representatives and trade bodies to ensure the scheme's implementation remains smooth, transparent, and trader-friendly. Traders are advised by the FBR to approach the board directly when they face any technical difficulty or problem during registration.

Microsoft announced new Xbox Mythic Achievements, a feature that functions similarly to PlayStation Platinum trophies. Xbox Insiders can currently test these Mythic Achievements.

To earn a Mythic Achievement, players must secure every original achievement available for a specific game. The Xbox team confirmed that Mythic Achievements have already been incorporated into games players finished previously, including titles from the Xbox 360 era.

Furthermore, Xbox profiles will soon feature a dedicated gaming tab. The team Xbox stated that a new progress bar at the top of each game’s achievement list shows players how near they are to Mythic status, and it offers an option to focus on outstanding original achievements.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed that Xbox expects to receive a platinum trophy equivalent later this year.

An ice shelf, spanning 400 miles in width, has separated from the glacier and is now floating towards Europe. This detachment carries the potential for a catastrophic event, including a tsunami, a mega-disaster, and mass death upon impact with the continent.

The film's narrative focuses on climate change issues. Tom Cruise features in the production.

John Goodman also appears in the film. Riz Ahmed is another actor featured in the movie.

In the film, a character named Digger addresses a global assembly, explaining the world's continued reliance on oil.

The Pakistan Junior Golf Team arrived in Lahore for the 3rd APGC Bangladesh Junior Amateur Golf Championship 2026. The arrival was marked by a special welcome ceremony.

Jannat Aamir Jami secured the Girls Under-15 Championship title during the event. Nabeeha Nafees claimed first place and the championship title in the Girls Under-19 category.

Areeba Rizwan finished as the runner-up in the Girls Under-19 category. The Pakistan Golf Federation also launched the PGF Junior Development Programme in January 2026.

Malik Kamran, the PGF Manager, possesses a Game Development and High Performance certification from the PGA of Australia. Furthermore, The R&A extended an invitation to PGF to present its model at the Global Alliance Best Practices Exchange.

The Pakistan Golf Federation acknowledged the players, their parents, Team Manager Tehmina Ali, and the Bangladesh Golf Federation.

OpenAI hosted its annual DevDay, where the company revealed several new developments for its artificial intelligence offerings. Sam Altman, a key figure at OpenAI, oversaw the announcements, which included the unveiling of Dots, a new AI agent product.

Initially, access to Dots will be restricted to paying subscribers of ChatGPT Pro, Business Premium, and Enterprise tiers. Furthermore, the company presented its GPT-6.1 Sol model to the public.

In a separate announcement, OpenAI detailed a new ChatGPT Pro plan priced at $500 per month. The platform has previously demonstrated significant reach, boasting an estimated 1.2 billion users per week.

Earlier this year, OpenAI's models were noted for breaching Hugging Face.

Berlanti Productions promoted Liam Driscoll to the role of creative executive. Driscoll initially joined Berlanti Productions after working as an assistant to Greg Berlanti.

The company maintains an overall television deal with Warner Bros. Television. Berlanti Productions has operated from Warner Bros. Television premises for fifteen years.

Upcoming projects slated for release include “Afterlife with Archie” on Disney+. Furthermore, the slate of forthcoming shows features “Scooby-Doo: Origins” for Netflix.

The production company also has “How to Survive Without Me” scheduled for HBO Max. Finally, “Stillwater” is set to appear on Amazon Prime Video.

Muhammad Sohail Afridi inaugurated new hybrid buses and a Pink Bus Service for women in Peshawar. The Peshawar BRT fleet expanded from 244 to 296 buses following the introduction of the new hybrid buses.

Furthermore, a dedicated Pink Bus Service, consisting of five buses, commenced operations for women. This Pink Bus Service will run on the 21-kilometre route between Gulbahar Chowk and Karkhano Market, operating Monday through Friday during peak morning, noon, and evening hours.

Separately, the inauguration included a 1-megawatt Solar Project at the Chamkani Depot. Officials stated that this Solar Project is projected to generate between 1.38 and 1.44 million units of electricity yearly, saving approximately Rs74.4 million annually and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 469 tonnes each year.

Finally, the Mall of Hayatabad BRT Depot also received an inauguration.

Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb met with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Chief Executive Officer Bill Winters to discuss Pakistan’s structural reforms, macroeconomic developments, and potential areas for future cooperation. During the meeting, the Finance Minister acknowledged SCB’s assistance with financing and capital market transactions.

Discussions also covered collaboration areas, specifically mentioning tokenization and international Sukuk. Furthermore, the Finance Minister pointed out SCB’s extensive investor network spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The executives also covered capital market transactions related to the government’s privatisation programme.

The Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) will formally launch in Islamabad on 14 October 2026. Organisers plan for the league's first season to commence in 2027.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) granted league rights to Mediacast. The inaugural edition is expected to feature between six and eight franchise teams.

PHL intends to draw private-sector funding via corporate sponsorships and franchise ownership.

Director Michael Showalter directed the film 'Verity'. Lowen now resides in the Crawford family's luxurious lakeside residence.

During his time there, Lowen discovers a manuscript containing what appears to be a secret memoir penned by Verity. Verity Crawford's popular thriller series had been incomplete since a motor vehicle accident the previous year, which left her paralyzed and in a catatonic state.

Consequently, Lowen agrees to take on the task of completing Verity Crawford's literary work.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is accelerating the digitization of land records across the region. A modern system designed for digitizing these land records will inaugurate in Peshawar.

Citizens can now secure land records and fard documents from Service Delivery Centres, NADRA e-Sahulat Centres, NADRA kiosk centers, and approximately 3,700 e-Sahulat centres. The cashless issuance of fard will enhance transparency, convenience, and efficiency within revenue services, thereby removing the need for middlemen.

The entire digitization process is projected to take between two and three years to complete.

Sony is launching a new AI upscaling technology for the regular PS5 console, a development that introduces significant graphical enhancements to the platform. The new technology, which the company calls Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), results from Sony’s Project Amethyst collaboration with AMD.

QSSR is expected to deliver an upscaled resolution approximating 1440p on the standard PS5 unit. Daniel Craig stated that PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) currently maintains its status as the benchmark feature on the PS5 Pro model.

Furthermore, Craig confirmed that QSSR functions as a drop-in replacement for games already supporting PSSR. The capability will be made available broadly to all PlayStation developers.

Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei are slated to be the initial titles incorporating QSSR. Patches providing QSSR as an extra graphics setting are currently available for both Marvel’s Wolverine and Ghost of Yōtei.

Ken Griffin donated $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon University, funding a new Miami campus and investments in Pittsburgh. The donation will see the construction of a Miami campus slated to commence in 2027.

Furthermore, $1 billion of the funds will support Carnegie Mellon’s computer science school and provide financial aid. The computer science school will consequently be renamed the Kenneth C Griffin School of Computer Science.

The education planned for the Miami campus will structure its curriculum around addressing “societal challenges.” Artificial intelligence represents one of the defining intellectual developments of our time, and it demands that we rethink how to educate students, conduct research and partner with others, according to Farnam Jahanian.

Citadel relocated its headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022. Forbes estimated Ken Griffin's net worth to be approximately $58 billion.

Ancient sea-level changes offer evidence regarding the movement of Earth's geographic poles. Plate tectonics and mantle convection drive true polar wander by redistributing mass within the Earth’s mantle.

These true polar-wander events cause the solid outer layers of the globe to shift to find a new stable spin equilibrium. Geological records show the geographic poles shifted dramatically four times in the past, spanning periods of roughly ten million years.

Mathew Domeier noted that the speed of polar motion surpassing about 0.6 degrees per million years exceeds most tectonic plate movement rates. True polar wandering continues today, with satellites measuring the rate at approximately 10 centimetres per year.

Sabin Zahirovic stated that the Earth’s 2800-kilometre-thick outer shell, comprising the crust and mantle, moves relative to the planet’s spin axis.

The Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) intensified province-wide enforcement operations for the Electronic Invoice Monitoring System (E-IMS). Authorities issued notices to over 70 hotels, restaurants, and marquees for failing to meet the E-IMS requirements.

Furthermore, PRA Enforcement Officers imposed fines on several restaurants that continued violating rules even after receiving official notices. Businesses must issue receipts through the system if their sales reach the set threshold.

The system mandates that businesses provide customers with verifiable, computerized receipts following payment. This mechanism allows the PRA to compare the business volume declared in tax returns against the actual tax collection records.

The PRA spokesperson stated that protecting the tax paid by consumers remains the Authority’s foremost responsibility. The Authority warned that any businesses violating E-IMS requirements after receiving notices will face legal action.

Shaheryar Memon led a public awareness campaign regarding the Government of Pakistan’s Fuel Relief Package in Islamabad. The campaign received direction from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and was spearheaded by Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan.

Memon and the outreach team visited petrol stations, engaging with motorcycle riders, rickshaw drivers, and small car owners. The focus of the campaign remained on individuals who use motorcycles, rickshaws, and small vehicles for their daily work and travel.

Memon stated that clear and accessible information proves essential for people to understand and benefit from relief measures. Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan and Memon stressed the value of coordinated public service efforts.