Social media users in the United States have turned to Xiaohongshu, another Chinese app, ahead of a planned ban on TikTok by the US government. Last year, a law was passed in the US forcing ByteDance, the owner of the popular video platform TikTok, to sell it or shut it down by January 19. With the deadline approaching, Xiaohongshu — a lifestyle-focused alternative to Instagram and Pinterest — has surged to the top of the US Apple App Store’s free downloads chart. The hashtag “#tiktokrefugee” had amassed over 290 million views by noon on Wednesday. Here are some key facts…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who suffered a back injury during the recent Test series in Australia, has denied media reports claiming that he is on bed rest at home. Earlier, Indian media reports had claimed that Bumrah, who captained the first and last Test matches in a five-match series against Australia and was named Player of the Series, had been advised to rest due to his back injury. These reports also suggested that the pacer would not rush to return to the squad, raising doubts about his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan next month. In…
The ticket prices for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches have been revealed, with prices varying for each hosting venue in Pakistan, which will take place next month. The pricing structure has been established following a detailed consultation process. Sources confirmed that ticket prices will differ across the three host cities—Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi—based on both the venue and the seating categories. The minimum ticket price is set at Rs1,000, with the highest prices expected to go up to Rs25,000 for exclusive VIP and hospitality experiences. Tickets will be available in multiple categories, including General Enclosure, First Class, Premium,…
Pakistan’s top-order batter Saim Ayub has stated that he plans to work hard on his rehabilitation to be fit in time for the Champions Trophy in the coming weeks. Speaking to Geo News in London, Ayub, when asked if he thinks he will be fit for the upcoming Champions Trophy, said: “I will try my best, and so will the doctors working with me, but I cannot say anything with certainty.” The aggressive batter added: “I have no idea about the estimated time of recovery. I will try my best.” Ayub, one of Pakistan’s key players in the batting order,…
Leg spinner Usman Qadir has relocated to New South Wales, Australia, in pursuit of a fresh cricketing chapter. Currently playing for Hawkesbury Cricket Club in Sydney, the 31-year-old is seeking better opportunities after retiring from Pakistan cricket last October. In a heartfelt social media post at the time, Qadir reflected on his journey with Pakistan cricket, expressing gratitude for the honor of representing his country. “It has been an immense honor to represent my country,” he wrote. “I’m thankful for the support of my coaches and teammates who have been with me every step of the way.” Qadir’s career with…
Pakistan’s Test cricket team captain Shan Masood has expressed his determination to win the upcoming two-match ICC Test Championship series against the West Indies by a 2-0 margin. Masood, who has captained Pakistan in 10 Test matches, made these comments during an appearance on Geo News’ “Score” program, hosted by Sayed Yahya Hussaini. He mentioned feeling deep regret after nearly winning the first Test in Centurion against South Africa, only to lose in the end. “But this isn’t the first time this has happened to us. Our team has also lost matches from strong positions against Australia and Bangladesh,” he…
In his farewell address, US President Joe Biden warned against the rise of a “dangerous” oligarchy under Donald Trump’s influence, urging Americans to remain vigilant. He expressed concern over the growing concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few ultra-wealthy individuals, particularly within the “tech industrial complex.” Biden also criticized social media companies and the spread of misinformation, which he said enables the abuse of power. Additionally, he voiced concerns about artificial intelligence and its potential risks, stressing the importance of America leading in the technology race against China. Biden’s address, which marked his final days in…
The international community breathed a sigh of relief as a historic ceasefire deal was reached between Hamas and Israel to end the 15-month-long war in Gaza. The deal, brokered by the US, Qatar, and Egypt, includes a phased approach that will start with a six-week initial ceasefire phase, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. US President Joe Biden confirmed the deal, stating that the ceasefire would halt fighting in Gaza and allow for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinian civilians. The deal also aims to…
Wildfires have been raging in Los Angeles for eight days, fueled by strong, dry winds, prompting officials to urge residents to stay alert and be ready for evacuation at any moment. Around 6.5 million people remain at high risk as fires have burned an area nearly the size of Washington, DC, resulting in at least 25 deaths. Despite forecasts of winds up to 70 mph (112 km/h), actual gusts have been between 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 km/h), with low humidity exacerbating the situation. The fires have destroyed over 12,000 homes and structures, forcing 200,000 people to evacuate.…
British screenwriter and film producer, Jemima Goldsmith, emphasized that the issue of child sexual abuse, or grooming, in the UK is a broader issue and not confined to any specific community. She mentioned that sexual abuse spans across all communities, ethnic backgrounds, and religions. According to her, the common thread in such abuses is men abusing their power, often from closed, hierarchical, gender-segregated communities. Jemima also shared statistics regarding abuse cases involving the Catholic Church, British boarding schools, and UK Asian grooming gangs, highlighting that many of these cases go unreported for years, and there have been failures in prosecuting…
