Jim Carrey spent the back half of the 1990s turning himself into the face of American comedy. Within a single stretch of years, Carrey introduced audiences to the twitchy, rubber-faced pet detective Ace Ventura, the dim-witted Lloyd Christmas in Dumb and Dumber, the Riddler in Batman Forever, and the unhinged cable installer Chip Douglas in […]
For a spy that’s ideally supposed to stay under the radar, there sure is a lot of talk about James Bond. The rumor mill has been working overtime, spinning stories about who will take up the 007 mantle after Daniel Craig retired from the movie role five years ago. We’ve heard all kinds of theories, […]
Iron Man has had a very interesting 20 years. Ol’Shellhead had been a tough sell since the ’90s and the ’00s saw the character slowly built back up. In 2006, Iron Man was in the midst of Civil War, becoming one of the most important heroes in the Marvel Universe in a very controversial fashion, […]
This week is shaping up to be big for Nintendo Switch 2 owners. We finally got the Switch 2 port of Oblivion Remastered, and a potential new special edition console just leaked. And that’s not all! A hit sci-fi shooter just shadow-dropped for the Switch 2, giving us yet another great addition to the console’s […]
This article contains spoilers for X-Men ’97 Season 2’s finale. X-Men ’97 Season 2’s finale sets the X-Men on a collision course with Apocalypse after the final defeat of Apocalypse. The latest X-Men adventure uses time travel in the best possible way, bringing past, present, and future into head-on collision. Apocalypse resurrected Gambit as the […]
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is making fresh diplomatic efforts to revive its role as a mediator between Iran and the United States. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi travelled to Tehran on Tuesday for talks with senior Iranian officials. During his visit, he met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The visit is aimed at keeping Pakistan’s mediation channel active. Islamabad is seeking progress on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which emerged from earlier efforts to ease tensions between Iran and the United States. Naqvi was received in Tehran by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. He later held discussions with Araghchi on bilateral relations and regional developments. Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts had slowed after Oman became more directly involved in talks concerning arrangements for navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. However, recent contacts between Oman and Iran appear to have created an opportunity for Islamabad to renew its broader mediation initiative. A diplomatic source said Pakistan wants to follow up on the Islamabad MoU and encourage both sides to return to a wider diplomatic process. The situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains particularly sensitive. The waterway is vital for international energy and trade routes. Iran has maintained that the Islamabad MoU remains the key framework for resolving the wider dispute. Tehran has also linked the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to implementation of the commitments contained in the agreement. Iran and Oman have been discussing arrangements for safer passage through the strategic waterway. Their discussions include possible shipping routes and mechanisms for managing navigation. However, Tehran has indicated that any understanding with Oman would initially address technical matters. It would not necessarily represent a complete resolution of the wider dispute. Iran has also called for concrete assurances from Washington before moving towards the next stage of negotiations. Tehran wants guarantees that can be verified rather than verbal commitments. Pakistan has continued to encourage dialogue between the two sides. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also indicated that Washington and Tehran could be moving closer to an understanding. He said recent signals suggested that the two countries were again moving towards a possible peace arrangement or deal. Meanwhile, Pakistan has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Islamabad. Iranian officials have said the visit would take place at an appropriate time. Naqvi’s trip to Tehran is therefore significant because Islamabad is maintaining direct engagement instead of waiting for the Iranian delegation to visit Pakistan. During his meeting with President Pezeshkian, Naqvi described Pakistan-Iran relations as strong and longstanding. He conveyed Islamabad’s intention to further strengthen ties with Tehran. Pezeshkian also stressed the importance of bilateral relations. He said stronger cooperation between Pakistan and Iran could serve their national interests and contribute to regional stability. The discussions come amid broader diplomatic and security developments in the region. Pakistan recently signed a trilateral defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Islamabad has maintained that the arrangement is defensive and is not directed against any country. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the agreement with his Iranian counterpart. He briefed Araghchi on its objectives and stressed its focus on strategic cooperation and regional peace. At the same time, US President Donald Trump has adopted a tougher tone towards Iran’s negotiating team. Trump described Iranian negotiators as difficult and accused them of making commitments privately and later presenting them differently in public. He also warned that Iran’s economic problems and inflation were becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. Trump said Washington could continue applying economic pressure on Tehran. He also suggested that the United States could take stronger measures if necessary. The contrasting positions underline the difficulties facing diplomatic efforts. Pakistan is now attempting to keep communication channels open with Tehran while encouraging a broader political process involving Iran and the United States.
The first trailer for Verity has arrived, offering audiences an unsettling glimpse at the upcoming psychological thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett. Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation follows Lowen Ashleigh, played by Johnson, a struggling writer who receives an unexpected opportunity when she is hired to complete a successful author’s unfinished book series. Hathaway portrays Verity Crawford, the celebrated writer whose life changes dramatically after a serious accident leaves her unable to continue working. Lowen travels to the Crawford family’s secluded home to examine Verity’s notes and research for the books, but what initially appears to be a straightforward writing assignment quickly takes a disturbing turn. As Lowen begins sorting through Verity’s personal papers, she discovers a shocking manuscript containing revelations about the Crawford family. The material forces her to question how much she truly knows about Verity, her marriage and the events surrounding the family’s darkest moments. Hartnett stars as Jeremy Crawford, Verity’s husband and a grieving father whose relationship with Lowen becomes increasingly complicated as she spends more time inside the family home. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film leans heavily into the novel’s atmosphere of suspense, secrecy and psychological uncertainty. The trailer teases a tense dynamic between Johnson, Hathaway and Hartnett, while the isolated Crawford residence becomes an ominous backdrop for Lowen’s investigation. The film’s promotional artwork mirrors that unsettling tone. Its striking poster is divided by a bold letter “V,” accompanied by the ominous tagline, “There is no light where we’re going.” The adaptation is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2, bringing Hoover’s controversial and twist-filled story to the big screen. The trailer has already generated anticipation among readers familiar with the novel, particularly over how its major revelations will translate to film. With a high-profile cast, a dark premise and a story built around uncertainty, Verity is positioning itself as one of the season’s most closely watched psychological thrillers. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db6Akt2K-6c/?igsh=MXNodHQ2bTRoNGVlbg==
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 254, according to foreign media reports, as rescue teams continue searching through devastated areas for survivors. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction across the affected region, with dozens of buildings collapsing and significant damage reported to infrastructure. Several communities remain without electricity and access to essential services, making rescue and relief operations increasingly difficult. Colombian authorities have warned that the full scale of the disaster may not become clear for several days. Rescue workers are still assessing damaged areas, while officials are working to determine the exact number of casualties and the extent of property damage. The earthquake also disrupted basic services in several affected communities, leaving residents struggling to access electricity and other necessities. Emergency teams have been deployed to assist victims, search damaged buildings and provide immediate relief to people who have lost their homes. Officials expect the death toll and damage estimates to change as rescue crews reach areas that remain difficult to access. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious and follow emergency instructions as assessments and relief efforts continue. The 7.4-magnitude tremor stands among the most destructive earthquakes to hit western Colombia in recent years, causing severe damage and a major humanitarian challenge for local authorities.
ISLAMABAD: Accountability4Cambridge has called for a student protest against Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) over alleged examination paper leaks during the 2026 examination cycle, saying the incidents have raised serious concerns about fairness and the credibility of Cambridge examinations. The student group said reports of leaked papers emerged in 2024 and increased in 2025, but Cambridge failed to provide sufficient public explanations or demonstrate that it had effectively strengthened its examination security system. According to Accountability4Cambridge, leaked material from several major papers circulated before scheduled examination times in 2026. The group compiled evidence from 17 alleged cases, including screen recordings showing time-zone information that it says established that the material was available before the relevant examinations. Cambridge recognised four cases and took action, but the students say the remaining evidence was not adequately addressed. The group raised the issue before the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on May 18 and again on June 16. Following the meetings, a sub-committee comprising IBCC, Cambridge, Accountability4Cambridge, the British Council, the Ministry of Education and NCCIA was formed. During a July 13 meeting, the students presented the 17 recordings and asked Cambridge to respond. After Cambridge questioned the reliability of the videos, Accountability4Cambridge sought forensic verification from the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA). The group said NCCIA’s report, received on July 29, found no evidence of tampering in the submitted recordings. Accountability4Cambridge subsequently requested another sub-committee meeting to present the forensic findings. The meeting was initially scheduled for August 7 but was postponed to August 12 after Cambridge said it was unavailable. The students have also criticised Cambridge’s decision to use S1 paper marks instead of assessed marks. They argue that using compromised papers for grading could unfairly benefit students who accessed leaked material while disadvantaging those who did not. Accountability4Cambridge is demanding reversal of the S1 marking decision, lower grade thresholds for Computer Science and Mathematics, recognition of additional leaks supported by forensic evidence, publication of a detailed investigation report and a transparent mechanism for handling compromised examinations. The group has also urged schools to demand greater accountability from Cambridge. Founder Samaak Iqbal Malik said the dispute concerns the integrity of the entire examination system rather than a few individual papers. The organisation has announced a student demonstration outside the IBCC office in G-10, Islamabad, at 1pm on Wednesday, August 12, calling for immediate action before the controversy further affects students’ academic futures.
The Sindh government has directed Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) to take immediate steps for the three-year appointment of Professor Dr Nighat Shah, daughter of former Sindh chief minister Qaim Ali Shah, just one day before her scheduled retirement. The directive was issued following a decision of the Sindh Cabinet. Secretary of the Boards and Universities Department Abbas Baloch has also issued a formal notification in this regard. According to the notification, the provincial cabinet discussed the matter during its meeting held on August 5 under agenda item 16. The cabinet cited the broader public interest, continuity of specialised medical services, academic leadership, postgraduate medical education, research, innovation and institutional standards as reasons for considering the appointment. The notification initially states that the vice chancellor should consider appointing Dr Nighat Shah as a professor for three years. However, it subsequently directs the university administration to take immediate steps to process her three-year appointment. The university has also been instructed to implement the cabinet decision without delay and submit a report on the action taken to the Boards and Universities Department on a priority basis. The appointment has raised questions because the government has referred to a notification issued by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on May 19, 2026. The PMDC had allowed public medical and dental institutions to hire retired faculty members on a purely contractual basis until the age of 65. However, the council had clarified that the policy was enabling in nature and was not mandatory for any institution. Under the PMDC policy, individual institutions were allowed to make decisions according to their requirements, rules, regulations and available resources. The PMDC notification also stated that contractual appointments of retired faculty would not create any right to permanent employment, seniority or absorption into the regular cadre. It further clarified that such appointments should not adversely affect the promotion opportunities, career progression or cadre structure of junior faculty members. The case has therefore raised questions about the need for the provincial cabinet to intervene in the appointment of a particular retired faculty member when the PMDC policy leaves the decision to individual institutions. The PMDC notification is a general policy applicable to public medical and dental institutions. It does not specifically direct any institution to appoint an individual faculty member. The proposed appointment has also triggered concerns over seniority within JSMU. Associate professors Dr Shazia Naseeb, Dr Nasreen Fatima, Dr Saba Khan, Dr Iram Majid and Dr Maimoona Rehman are reportedly among those whose seniority could be affected by Dr Nighat Shah’s appointment. The issue is likely to attract further attention because the proposed appointment comes immediately before Dr Nighat Shah’s retirement. Questions are also being raised about how the decision could affect existing faculty members and their career progression.