Thanks to the centuries of Travis Head and Steve Smith, Australia’s position in the Sydney Test has been strengthened. Captain Steve Smith is at the crease with 129 runs and Bev Webster is at the crease with 42 runs. For England, Brydon Carse took 3, Ben Stokes took 2 while Josh Ting and Jacob Bethell took one wicket each. Joe Root scored 160 and Harry Brook scored 84 runs. For Australia, Michael Nasser took 4 wickets, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland took 2 wickets each, while Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne took one wicket each.

Left-arm Test fast bowler Mir Hamza has crossed an important milestone in first-class cricket. According to the details, Mir Hamza, who represented Ghani Glass in the President’s Trophy Grade One, has taken 500 wickets in first-class cricket. He achieved this feat by taking a total of 7 wickets (2 in the first innings, 5 in the second innings) in the match played against State Bank. Although Mir Hamza’s team was defeated in this match, he entertained everyone with his brilliant bowling. It should be noted that Mir Hamza has taken 14 wickets in 7 Test matches for Pakistan.

TikTokers Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak got relief from the court in the case of promoting a gambling app. According to the details, Additional Sessions Judge Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi heard the interim bail applications of Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak in the Sessions Court Lahore. Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak were presented in the court under tight security. The court extended the interim bail of Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak until January 26, giving time to the investigation officer to submit the record. The court had kept the bail applications pending and allowed Rajab Butt and Nadeem Mubarak to complete their appearance and leave the courtroom.

Pakistani showbiz industry’s leading actor Humayun Ashraf is known for his diverse acting. Recently, Humayun Ashraf participated as a guest in the comedy show Hanasna Mane Hai, where he mentioned a horrific mobile snatching incident. Humayun Ashraf said that a few days before the incident, he had bought a new and expensive mobile when suddenly a snatcher showed a weapon and demanded the mobile. According to Humayun, he resisted, during which firing took place and the snatcher escaped. Humayun Ashraf said that this moment was very difficult, but by the grace of Allah, he remained safe.

Karachi: Gold became more expensive due to a sharp increase in prices in the global and local markets for the second consecutive day today. The price of gold per ounce increased by $32 in the international bullion market today, Tuesday, after which the new global price reached the level of $4,456 per ounce. On the other hand, in the local bullion markets, the price of 24-carat gold per tola increased by Rs3,200, reaching the new price of Rs467,962, while the price of gold per 10 grams increased by Rs2,743 to Rs401,201.

Today, it is not merely one man before a New York court, but thirty million Venezuelans whose sovereignty stands on trial. Even U.S. allies expressed discomfort, warning that force without legal mandate shatters the system meant to prevent war. Yet Washington appears determined to prove power through force at a moment when it is losing ground elsewhere. They defend the idea that power must answer to law, and that even the strongest nation cannot declare itself judge, jury, and executioner over global governance. And the nation that fails to adapt becomes the nation left behind.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns on Monday about greater instability in Venezuela after the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro, while the United States said it does not plan to occupy the Latin American country. Russia has been denounced by the United Nations for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “The lessons of history offer a stark warning,” said Sun Lei, the charge d’affaires of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. The United States cannot be held accountable by the UN Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, for any such violation. The United States wields a veto – along with Russia, China, Britain and France – so it can block any action.

Pakistan on Monday expressed profound concern over the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela, warning the United Nations Security Council that unilateral military action undermines international law and risks triggering long-term instability with unpredictable consequences. The meeting was convened following a US military operation launched over the weekend in Caracas, during which American special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in a night-time raid. The operation took place on Saturday and was followed by President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington would temporarily govern the oil-rich South American nation until a transition was put in place. Ambassador Jadoon told the Council that such unilateral actions set “dangerous precedents” that erode the foundations of the global legal framework and threaten the doctrine of sovereign immunity. He cautioned that history had repeatedly shown that military interventions often fuel instability, leading to outcomes that remain “unpredictable and uncontrollable” for years.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi will visit Karachi from January 9 to January 11, during which he will tour various areas of Sindh and personally lead his party’s political activities. During the visit, the chief minister will be accompanied by provincial assembly members. Afridi will also visit the Karachi Press Club and engage with party workers in different localities as part of a political street campaign aimed at mobilising support. Shafiullah Jan stated that the release of detained party leaders would be pursued at every constitutional and democratic forum. He added that the chief minister would raise his voice against political victimisation and violations of democratic values during the visit.

Speaking to the media, Rana Sanaullah said that the IHC had clearly defined the procedure for meetings with the PTI founder. He further said that PTI has again demanded meetings before considering talks, despite the prime minister already extending an offer for negotiations. Rana Sanaullah claimed the PTI founder has consistently avoided dialogue and is unwilling to sit at the negotiation table. Recalling past events, he said the PTI founder showed a similar attitude during his tenure as prime minister, often rejecting dialogue and refusing to engage with political opponents. He warned that pursuing a policy of confrontation with the state would only harm the PTI founder, adding that such an approach could not be supported.

Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges after President Donald Trump’s stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup. I am still president of my country,” Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter, before being cut off by US District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court. Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores also pleaded not guilty. Maduro is accused of overseeing a cocaine-trafficking network with international drug cartels and faces four criminal counts: narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Maduro has long denied the allegations, saying they were a mask for imperialist designs on Venezuela’s rich oil reserves.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that Shanghai’s rapid and well-planned development serves as a model for cities around the world, adding that Pakistan aims to develop Islamabad along similar lines. During his visit to the Shanghai Urban Planning Headquarters, the interior minister was received by the head of Shanghai Urban Planning, Madam Chen, who briefed him on the city’s master planning, modern infrastructure, and public facilities. Mohsin Naqvi was given a detailed overview of Shanghai’s fast-paced urban development system through presentations, videos, and city models outlining the evolution and future vision of the metropolis. Mohsin Naqvi lauded Shanghai’s ability to achieve rapid development while ensuring high-quality civic facilities, calling it an example worth emulating. The interior minister also recorded his impressions in the visitors’ book.

A severe cold wave continues to grip Balochistan, including its coastal regions, disrupting daily life across several districts of the province. In other districts, Sibi experienced a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, while Turbat recorded 11 degrees Celsius. Similarly, the minimum temperature in Nokkundi was recorded at 3 degrees Celsius, while Chaman experienced 1 degree Celsius. Despite being coastal, areas along Balochistan’s shoreline also remained under the grip of cold weather. Gwadar recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, while Jiwani saw temperatures drop to 11 degrees Celsius.

Family members had earlier received messages demanding Rs20 million as ransom, prompting police to register a case of kidnapping for ransom and initiate an investigation. Given the seriousness of the situation, Chaklala police registered a kidnapping-for-ransom case and began investigations. She added that the kidnapping-for-ransom drama was staged because she feared her family would not accept her decision. Murder case adjournedThe District & Sessions Court of Islamabad on Monday adjourned the proceedings of the murder case of 22-year-old Islamic University student Iman Afroz due to the absence of prosecution witnesses. However, none of the prosecution witnesses were present, which prevented any major development in the case.

Without credible air data, Karachi’s fight against pollution remains stalledRecent reporting on Karachi's air quality has only verified what its foggy, grey skies have been telling for the past few months. Meanwhile, valuable government equipment, such as a Japanese-donated air quality monitoring station, has been lying dormant for eight years now. Lack of reliable public transportation pushes people towards personal conveyance, which has led to around 70 per cent of the city's pollution. Protecting the public means investing in reliable air monitoring infrastructure and enforcing emissions standards that match the scale of this problem. Without an accurate system, the channels to eradicating pollution will always remain obstructed.