Entertainment
PPL denies plan to build ‘artificial island’, says work limited to safe drilling setup
- PPL says activity aimed at ensuring safe drilling operations in Sirani.
- Company describes initiative as first attempt to drill in such terrain.
- “Exploratory well is scheduled to be spud in March 2026.”
KARACHI: State-owned energy company Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) on Thursday rejected reports claiming it was reclaiming land from the sea to construct an artificial island for oil and gas exploration, saying that the project involved only preparatory work to enable drilling in a difficult marshland environment.
A day earlier, Bloomberg reported that PPL is reclaiming land from the sea to create a launchpad to ramp up oil and gas exploration.
The outlet quoted PPL’s General Manager Exploration and Core Business Development, Arshad Palekar, as saying that an artificial island would be created about 30 kilometres off the coast of Sindh, near Sujawal.
In a formal clarification, a copy of which is available with Geo.tv, the company said recent coverage about “reclaiming land from the sea to build an artificial island” was “misleading and does not fully reflect the technical scope and design of the project.”
PPL said the ongoing activity was aimed at ensuring safe and stable drilling operations in the tide-affected Sirani Block near Sujawal — an area that has remained largely unexplored because of severe accessibility and operational constraints.
“The activities underway relate to enabling safe drilling operations in a challenging marshy environment, rather than the development of a standalone offshore island,” the company stated.
Describing it as one of Pakistan’s first attempts to drill in such terrain, PPL said it had already completed 2D and 3D seismic surveys using specialised transition-zone equipment.
“Construction work is currently underway to facilitate drilling, including loading and offloading jetties and an access road linking the jetty to the well site,” it added.
Given the marshy subsoil and tidal conditions, both the access road and the well pad are being elevated by about nine feet. “This is essential to ensure operational continuity and mitigate the effects of low and high tides,” the clarification said.
“The well site lies nearly 30 kilometres from the mainland. A 17-kilometre natural water channel will be used to transport rig components and material via barges between the jetties, according to the company. The exploratory well is scheduled to be spud in March 2026,” the company concluded.
Islamabad has intensified its drilling efforts after US President Donald Trump expressed interest in the country’s oil reserves and a recent study indicated the presence of significant yet-to-be-found hydrocarbons in offshore basins.
The report comes weeks after Pakistan awarded 23 offshore exploration blocks to four consortia, comprising local and foreign firms.
The Ministry of Energy announced on October 31 that the country had held its first such bidding round in nearly two decades, awarding 23 of the 40 offshore blocks offered, covering approximately 53,500 square kilometres.
In July, US President Trump had said that his government concluded a deal with Pakistan, where the two countries will work together on developing Islamabad’s “massive oil reserves”.
“We are in the process of choosing the Oil Company that will lead this partnership,” he wrote in his post on Truth Social.
Entertainment
Field Marshal reaffirms commitment to fostering defence ties with Indonesia
- Indonesia’s defence minister meets Field Marshal Munir.
- Both sides underscore importance of defence ties.
- Indonesia’s air chief lauds professionalism of Pakistan’s forces.
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a strong and enduring defence relationship with Indonesia, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (Retd), Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia, called on Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters (GHQ), Rawalpindi, according to the military’s media wing.
The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and exploration of avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, the statement said. Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening institutional linkages, training collaboration, and defence industrial cooperation between Pakistan and Indonesia, it said.
The visiting dignitary lauded the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also expressed Indonesia’s desire to further expand defence ties with Pakistan across multiple domains.
The CDF reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to fostering a strong and enduring defence relationship with Indonesia, based on shared values, mutual respect, and convergence of strategic interests.
Pak-Indonesia defence deal near: sources
The visiting minister earlier called on Pakistan’s air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal that includes the sale of combat jets and killer drones to Jakarta, three security officials with knowledge of the meeting on Monday said.
The talks come as Pakistan’s defence industry moves forward with a series of defence procurement negotiations and looks to establish itself as a sizable regional player.
Indonesia’s defence ministry confirmed the meeting between Sjamsoeddin and Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
“The meeting focused on discussing general defence cooperation relations, including strategic dialogue, strengthening communication between defence institutions, and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields in the long term,” defence ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait told Reuters, adding the talks had not yet led to concrete decisions.
One source said the talks revolved around the sale of JF-17 jets, a multi-role combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, and killer drones designed for surveillance and striking targets.
The other two sources said the talks were in an advanced stage and involved more than 40 JF-17 jets. One of them said Indonesia was also interested in Pakistan’s Shahpar drones.
The sources did not share any discussions about delivery timelines and the number of years a proposed deal would span.
The Pakistani military’s public relations wing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Entertainment
Glen Powell attends Golden Globes afterparty with beau Michelle Randolph
Glen Powell and Michelle Randolph gave their romance a quietly public moment following the 2026 Golden Globes, stepping out together at an afterparty that also included Powell’s parents.
The appearance marked a notable milestone for the couple, who have been keeping their relationship largely low-key since romance rumours first surfaced late last year.
Powell, 37, attended the 83rd annual Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 11, with his parents, Cyndy Powell and Glen Powell Sr., as his guests.
While Randolph, 28, did not walk the red carpet with him, she was later spotted joining the trio after the ceremony.
According to E! News, Randolph was seen getting into a car with Powell and his parents following the awards show, before the group headed to a Golden Globes afterparty together.
Photos shared the next day showed Powell smiling as he walked slightly ahead of Randolph while arriving at the bash.
The actor wore the same midnight blue Brunello Cucinelli tuxedo and matching bow tie he had donned earlier that evening.
Randolph opted for a black gown featuring cutouts near her midriff, pairing the look with a black handbag and wearing her blonde hair down in soft curls.
The outing came about two months after the pair were first spotted together in Austin, Texas, where Powell lives.
Randolph has been spending time nearby while filming Landman in Fort Worth.
In early December 2025, Us Weekly confirmed that the two were seeing each other casually.
“They started seeing where things would go around October and have been trying to keep it under the radar for almost two months now,” an insider explained at the time, adding that the pair were “having fun.”
As their connection grew, Powell and Randolph were seen together in Miami before traveling to St. Bart’s to ring in the New Year.
“They traveled together and Glen invited her on the trip,” a source told Us Weekly, noting that the timing worked out because Randolph also had mutual friends attending.
The insider added that the couple “are dating” but were “keeping things casual and low-key” heading into the new year.
According to the source, “Glen is very into her and they are having a lot of fun,” pointing out that the two share common ground by working in the same industry.
The insider also said Powell thinks Randolph is “so beautiful and is smitten,” while describing Randolph as “very reserved,” adding that Powell “brings out the fun side in her.”
Their Golden Globes afterparty appearance, especially alongside Powell’s parents, suggested the relationship may be moving forward naturally, even as the couple continues to keep things relaxed and largely out of the spotlight.
Entertainment
Glen Powell reacts to being compared to late legend Robin Williams
Glen Powell is embracing comparisons to the late Robin Williams as his new Hulu series Chad Powers continues to spark conversation ahead of its release.
The actor addressed the buzz while attending the 2026 Golden Globes in Beverly Hills on Sunday, Jan. 11, making it clear he sees the comparison as an honour rather than pressure.
Powell, 37, stars in Chad Powers as Russ Holliday, a former star quarterback whose career collapses after a costly mistake during a national championship.
Years later, Holliday attempts a comeback by disguising himself as “Chad Powers” to walk onto the struggling South Georgia Catfish football team.
The transformation involves heavy prosthetics, a creative choice that has led many viewers to draw parallels with Robin Williams’ iconic performance in Mrs. Doubtfire.
Speaking on the red carpet, Powell acknowledged the comparisons while expressing deep admiration for the legendary actor.
“Robin Williams was one of the greats,” Powell said.
“He really made movies that were fun in terms of the joy they gave people, but they also had a lot of heart. He figured out that duality.”
The comment reflected Powell’s appreciation for Williams’ ability to balance comedy with emotional depth, something audiences see echoed in Chad Powers.
Williams famously portrayed a divorced father who disguises himself as a Scottish housekeeper in the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire.
He died by suicide at age 63 on Aug. 11, 2014, at his Paradise Cay mansion in San Francisco, after struggling with an undiagnosed case of Lewy Body Dementia, a debilitating brain disorder.
While Chad Powers is fictional, the character has real roots.
Former professional football player Eli Manning originally created Chad Powers during a 2022 episode of ESPN’s Eli’s Places.
In the viral segment, Manning underwent professional hair and makeup to disguise himself as a walk-on quarterback at Penn State.
Powell later explained how the show expanded on that idea, telling Good Morning America, “We took that concept and that inspiration and have doubled down on the prosthetics, updated it, improved it, new model, new Chad, and we’re making a hell of a show here.”
As anticipation builds, Powell’s reaction suggests he understands why the comparisons exist, and why being mentioned alongside Robin Williams is something to be grateful for, not shy away from.
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