News Digest Pakistan

Mitchell’s Fruit Farms is in talks with IGI Investments, a subsidiary of Packages Group, to finalize its sale after a deal with CCL Holdings fell through. If successful, the company will remain within the extended family, as Packages Group belongs to the maternal cousins of the Mohsin family, which has run Mitchell’s since 1958. Mitchell’s was originally founded by Francis J. Mitchell before partition and later sold to Syed Maratib Ali, who acquired it for his son-in-law, S.M. Mohsin. The Mohsin family has been trying to sell Mitchell’s since 2019 due to declining financial performance. Talks with multiple bidders, including Bioexyte and Waves Singer Pakistan, failed as the company struggled to find suitable terms. The pandemic further worsened the situation, and Mitchell’s started focusing on restructuring, appointing Najam Sethi as chairman and Naila Bhatti as CEO. These changes briefly led to profits in 2021 but 2022 marked the company’s worst financial year. Mitchell’s has faced mounting losses since 2016, leading to equity shrinkage by 2020. Efforts to stabilize the company have continued, including leadership changes and fresh equity injections. Now, the sale to IGI Investments under the Packages Group signals a significant transition, potentially revitalizing this historic brand under a new leadership structure. #mitchellsfruitfarms #businesstransition #familybusiness #packagesgroup #pakistanbusinessnews

Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s Test coach, has resigned following tensions with the PCB. The former Australian bowler stepped down after the board decided not to renew high-performance coach Tim Nielsen’s contract, a move that reportedly left Gillespie feeling disrespected as he was neither consulted nor informed beforehand. The PCB has now named Aqib Javed as interim red-ball head coach for the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa. The first Test is scheduled from 26 to 30 December at SuperSport Park, Centurion, and the second from 3 to 7 January at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town. Gillespie’s departure comes amid frustrations about being sidelined within the PCB, including being removed from the Test selection panel in October. These issues left him feeling reduced to a “matchday analyst,” which he did not agree to when he joined in April. Gillespie’s resignation ends a short tenure that began with high hopes, with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi initially praising his “stellar track record.” However, internal disagreements and Nielsen’s dismissal ultimately led Gillespie to resign, with sources stating he refused to travel to South Africa under these circumstances. #pcb #pakistancricketteam #jasongillespie #aqibjaved #cricketnews #pakistanvssouthafrica

Euromonitor International has ranked Bangkok as the world’s top tourism city for 2024, welcoming a record 32.4 million visitors. Istanbul came in second with 23 million tourists. Bangkok’s popularity is largely due to Thailand’s tourism policies, including a 60-day visa exemption for citizens of 93 countries and visa-on-arrival options for 31 countries. Despite its impressive growth of over 30% in 2024, Bangkok did not make the top 10 for overall destination attractiveness. Paris, Madrid, and Tokyo secured the top spots in this ranking, which evaluates cities on business tourism, infrastructure, safety, and sustainability. #tourism #bangkok #travel2024 #paris #globaldestinations #traveltrends

The Ministry of Finance reported that over Rs 3 trillion in taxes were collected from mobile phone users over the past five years. This revenue, amounting to Rs 3.38 trillion, was shared with the National Assembly. As of August 2024, Pakistan had 193.1 million cellular subscribers, highlighting the massive scale of mobile usage in the country. #pakistan #finance #mobileusers #taxrevenue #pakistaneconomy #cellular

Pakistan defeated the United States 41-33 to claim the second New Zealand Kabaddi World Cup title in Auckland. The one-day event, held at the Sikh Sports Complex in South Auckland, featured teams from India, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Pakistan’s Rana Ali Shaan was named the tournament’s best stopper, while Bilal Mohsin Dhillon earned the title of best raider. Kabaddi, a traditional sport from the Indian subcontinent, involves raiding the opponent’s side to score points without getting caught. Captain Bilal Aslam Gill credited the team’s victory to their experience in last year’s tournament, where they finished third. He praised the crowd’s enthusiasm and the organisers for hosting a competitive and fair event. The local South Asian community applauded Pakistan’s performance, with many appreciating the players’ dedication despite coming from humble backgrounds. Fans and participants admired the spirit of sportsmanship and cultural pride at the event. Asim Mukhtar, a Pakistani living in New Zealand, expressed hope that this success would encourage more support for kabaddi players. Supreet Singh, an Indian resident in New Zealand, also praised the tournament’s quality, calling it a celebration of kabaddi’s growing popularity in the region. #KabaddiWorldCup #pakistan #sportsmanship #cultural #kabaddi

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi has advised parents to limit their children’s exposure to social media, highlighting its potential negative effects. Speaking at the International Urdu Conference in Karachi, Afridi shared that he allowed his daughters to have mobile phones only after their marriages. He emphasized the need to steer children away from platforms like TikTok and engage them in real-world experiences. Afridi’s remarks reflected his concerns about the impact of social media on youth and the importance of responsible parenting. #shahidafridi #parentingadvice #socialmediaimpact #tiktok #youthguidance #responsibleparenting #urduconference

Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, is paying out millions to players following a $72 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The lawsuit accused Fortnite of using “dark patterns” to trick players into making unwanted purchases, allowing children to rack up unauthorized charges, and blocking accounts of those who disputed charges. Players who faced these issues between 2017 and 2022 may now be eligible for refunds, with the first round of payments already issued. To qualify, you must meet specific criteria, such as paying for unwanted items, unauthorized charges by a child, or having your account locked after disputing charges. Claims can be submitted until January 10, 2025, but are currently limited to players in the USA. Filing is simple: enter your Epic Games ID or claim number on the FTC’s refund website, and wait for your request to be reviewed. Average payments are $114, with more refunds expected in the coming months. This settlement is part of a larger case against Epic Games, which includes a $245 million refund order and a $275 million fine for violating children’s privacy laws. In total, Epic has been fined over $520 million. The company has promised to improve its practices to ensure fairness and transparency for players moving forward. #fortnite #epicgames #ftcsettlement #gamingnews #refunds #darkpatterns #coppa #fortniterefunds

FIFA has officially confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, following a bidding process that saw no competing countries. While the announcement aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and strengthen its global standing, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations. Concerns have been raised over issues such as the treatment of migrant workers, restrictions on free speech, and the rights of minority groups within the Kingdom. The Gulf nation has heavily invested in soccer in recent years, acquiring English Premier League club Newcastle United and attracting stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. to its Saudi Pro League. Hosting the World Cup is seen as a capstone in its efforts to cement itself as a major player in global sports. To prepare for the tournament, Saudi Arabia has pledged significant infrastructure investments, including the construction or renovation of 11 stadiums and the development of 185,000 hotel rooms. However, human rights groups warn that these ambitions come at a high cost. Michael Page of Human Rights Watch has cautioned against the “unimaginable human cost” tied to hosting the event, citing concerns about labor rights and freedoms. As Saudi Arabia moves forward with its plans, the challenge remains to ensure the tournament is conducted ethically and responsibly. #saudiarabia #worldcup2034 #fifa #humanrights #vision2030 #sportsnews #globalsoccer

Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan’s star javelin thrower and Olympic medalist, has been ranked as the third most searched person in the country for 2024. His historic performances continue to inspire millions, cementing his status as a national icon. #arshadnadeem #pakistan #trending2024 #sportshero #javelinthrow #olympicchampion

META platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, experienced a global outage, disrupting services for millions of users worldwide. Reports indicated issues with sending messages, accessing feeds, and other platform functions before services gradually resumed. META has yet to release an official statement on the cause of the disruption. #metaoutage #whatsappdown #facebookdown #instagramdown #globaloutage #technews

Veteran actor Mehmood Aslam, known for his long career and role in Bulbulay, shared his thoughts on Pakistan during an appearance on the FHM podcast. He expressed love for his country but said there is little to be proud of, citing the poor global ranking of Pakistan’s passport and challenges citizens face abroad. Mehmood compared the entertainment industries of Pakistan and India, saying Indian actors benefit from strong national support. He noted that Pakistani artists, if fairly compensated and supported, could achieve similar stardom as Indian actors like Shahrukh Khan or Salman Khan. Fellow actor Adnan Shah Tipu, who has worked internationally, agreed with Mehmood that artists in Pakistan are often underpaid and lack the security and recognition they deserve. #mehmoodaslam #pakistaniactor #entertainmentindustry #FHMpodcast #PakistaniDrama #ArtistsRights #bulbulay

The future of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is still unclear as talks between key parties continue. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is pushing for a hybrid hosting model, which would allow India to play its games at neutral venues during events hosted by Pakistan. This proposal aims to resolve the ongoing issue between the two countries while ensuring both nations can participate in major ICC tournaments. The hybrid model, which both countries are considering, could be used for various ICC events until 2027, including the Women’s ODI World Cup in India and the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2026. Hosting the Champions Trophy is expected to bring significant revenue to PCB, although the ongoing debate, especially about India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan, has delayed the final decision. Despite these challenges, there is hope that the discussions will soon lead to an agreement, with the ICC likely making an official announcement shortly. The outcome of these talks is crucial for PCB’s finances, with the Champions Trophy set to bring in millions. #icccricket #championstrophy2025 #hybridmodel #pcb #indiapakistancricket #cricketnews #sportstalk