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Sri Lanka cricket team to continue Pakistan tour

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Sri Lanka cricket team to continue Pakistan tour


Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, November 11, 2025. — AFP 

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board on Wednesday confirmed that the ongoing Pakistan tour will continue as scheduled after several players expressed desire to return home over security concerns.

In a statement, the SLC clarified that if any player wants to return to Sri Lanka despite the assurance, he will be replaced in a bid to ensure the continuation of the ongoing series without interruption, but the player would have to undergo a formal assessment by the cricket board over his actions.

The statement comes after at least eight Sri Lankan cricketers expressed reluctance to continue playing the ongoing three-match ODI series, followed by a T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe, due to security concerns, a Sri Lankan official told AFP.

The players have expressed fears for their safety following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad, which killed 12 and wounded 27 outside a court. The victims included lawyers and petitioners who came to the court.

The Sri Lankan cricket board, in the statement, said the team management had informed the board earlier in the day that some members of the national squad had requested to leave Pakistan.

The board said it had immediately engaged with the players, assuring them that all safety concerns were being addressed in close coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and relevant authorities.

The board directed all players, support staff, and team management to remain in Pakistan and proceed with the tour as planned.

However, SLC clarified that if any player or team member still chose to return home, replacements would be sent promptly to ensure the series continues without disruption.

The cricket board also warned that any player or staff member who defies the directive would face a formal review after the tour’s conclusion, with disciplinary action to be decided accordingly.

Following the reservations expressed by the Sri Lankan cricketer, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said security around the visiting team had been increased following the attack.

To addresses the concerns, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Interior Minister, is meeting the Sri Lankan team to brief them about the security arrangements in place, sources revealed.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by six runs in the opening one-day international in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, a game that went ahead despite the suicide attack in the twin city of Islamabad.

The remaining matches are scheduled to take place on Thursday and Saturday, also in Rawalpindi.

PCB chief meets Sri Lankan envoy

The development came hours after the Sri Lankan High Commissioner expressed satisfaction over the security of its national men’s team following a meeting with Naqvi in Islamabad.

The satisfaction was expressed during his meeting with Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, the cricket board said in a statement on Wednesday.

Both team managers, PCB Chief Operating Officer Sameer Ahmed, the Islamabad chief commissioner and the Islamabad police chief were also present on the occasion, according to the statement.

PCB Chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (right) meets Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera in Islamabad on November 12, 2025. — PCB
PCB Chairman and Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (right) meets Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear Admiral (R) Fred Siriweera in Islamabad on November 12, 2025. — PCB

‎During the meeting, the chief commissioner and the IGP Islamabad gave a detailed briefing on the security being provided to the Sri Lankan team.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said that the players of the Sri Lankan cricket team are “our state guests and all necessary measures have been ensured for their foolproof security.”

He emphasised that providing a safe environment to the visiting players is the top priority of the government.

The Sri Lankan high commissioner, in response, expressed solidarity with the government over the attack and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements made for the team.





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See Hailey Bieber’s Valentine Day tribute for Justin Bieber

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See Hailey Bieber’s Valentine Day tribute for Justin Bieber


See Hailey Bieber’s Valentine Day tribute for Justin Bieber

Hailey Bieber gave fans a rare peek into her Valentine’s Day celebrations with husband Justin Bieber, sharing a light-hearted and affectionate moment that kept things personal and understated.

The Rhode founder posted to her Instagram Stories on Saturday, revealing a handwritten note that read, “You are my forever Valentine,” finished with a red kiss mark. 

She followed it with a close-up snap of chocolate-covered strawberries, suggesting the couple marked the day with a cosy, low-key treat rather than anything over the top.

Source: Instagram/haileybieber
Source: Instagram/haileybieber

Hailey, 29, and Justin, 31, have been married since 2018 and are parents to a son, Jack Blues, who is just over a year old. 

While the couple tend to keep their family life private, Hailey’s Valentine’s Day posts offered a gentle snapshot of their relationship at home.

Away from the holiday romance, Hailey also found herself in the spotlight last week after stepping out at the Sydney premiere of Wuthering Heights

The model turned heads in a plunging, completely sheer black lace gown by Saint Laurent. 

Hailey also leaned into romance in another way ahead of Valentine’s Day by sharing a post suggesting that her bond with Justin is written in the stars. 

On Friday, Feb. 13, she reposted a picture from an astrology-focused meme account highlighting their zodiac signs. Born on Nov. 22, Hailey is a Sagittarius, while Justin, who turns 32 on March 1, is a Pisces.

The post showed the couple in PDA, with “Sagittarius” written above Hailey and the phrase “a Pisces who takes them places and lets them be wild” across Justin. 

The post, which explored how different signs connect with Sagittarius in relationships, was captioned, “Which sign is our valentine this year #sagittarius #zodiac #astrology #explore #horoscope.”

Hailey liked the post and reshared the image, which was originally taken on holiday and had appeared in a black-and-white Instagram photo dump she shared back in November. 

At the time, Justin reacted simply, commenting, “Oh my f—in god.”

Together for nearly eight years, the Biebers continue to share glimpses of their relationship in subtle ways, blending quiet family moments, public appearances and playful nods to their connection as Valentine’s Day came around once again.





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Maya Hawke, Christian Lee Hutson tie knot in Valentine’s Day Ceremony

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Maya Hawke, Christian Lee Hutson tie knot in Valentine’s Day Ceremony


Maya Hawke, Christian Lee Hutson tie knot in Valentine’s Day Ceremony

Maya Hawke and Christian Lee Hutson have officially tied the knot, exchanging vows in a romantic Valentine’s Day ceremony in New York City on Feb. 14.

The couple said “I do” during a low-key but star-studded wedding, marking a meaningful milestone in a relationship that began as a long friendship. 

According to PEOPLE, the ceremony took place in the city they both call home, with close family and friends in attendance.

For the special day, Hawke wore a white wedding dress with a classic ball gown silhouette, paired with a lace veil and an oversized, feathery white coat that added a winter-ready touch. 

Hutson kept things timeless in a black tuxedo, complete with a white shirt, vest and a floral boutonniere.

Hawke’s parents, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, were both present to support their daughter. 

Thurman was photographed in a light blue, floor-length look with matching shoes, while Ethan Hawke wore an all-black ensemble and was seen holding his daughter’s bouquet as he walked alongside her. 

He later walked Hawke down the aisle. Also attending was Hawke’s brother, Levon Roan Thurman-Hawke.

Several of Hawke’s Stranger Things castmates were spotted at the ceremony, including Finn Wolfhard, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink and Natalia Dyer, underscoring just how personal the celebration was for the actress.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests made their way to a reception at The Players Members Club, where the celebrations continued for hours.

The wedding comes after years of creative and personal collaboration between Hawke and Hutson. 

The pair were friends for four years before their relationship turned romantic while working together on Hawke’s 2024 album, Chaos Angel.

Speaking on The Zach Sang Show in June 2024, Hawke praised the foundation of their relationship, saying, “I cannot recommend highly enough dating your friends. It’s the best.”

Hutson subtly confirmed their engagement last year during a radio interview when Hawke was referred to as his “fiancée,” replying simply, “Yeah.” 

Not long after, Hawke was photographed in New York wearing a diamond ring, fuelling further speculation.

Music has remained central to their bond. 

Hutson has appeared on Hawke’s albums Moss and Chaos Angel, while Hawke features on his most recent release, Paradise Pop. 10, and even joined him on stage during parts of his 2025 tour. 

Reflecting on their partnership, Hawke previously said Hutson had been “so encouraging” as she grew into her identity as a musician.

Now married, the couple’s Valentine’s Day wedding feels like a fitting next chapter for two artists whose friendship, creativity and romance have grown hand in hand.





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Global pandemic of ‘shrinking attention span’

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Global pandemic of ‘shrinking attention span’


Global pandemic of ‘shrinking attention span’ 

Attention span refers to the duration for which a person can maintain concentration on a single task, activity, or stimulus.

Being a crucial part of humans’ cognitive functioning, it influences how we learn, work, and interact with the surroundings.

The shrinking attention span is more like a global pandemic that has affected every individual on the planet directly or indirectly. Research shows that the average attention span of a human is only 8.25 seconds which is less than that of a goldfish (9 seconds).

This is considered one of the most documented cognitive shifts of the 21st century. Research led by Dr Gloria Mark at the University of California, Irvine, has traced the average duration of focused attention on digital screens over the 20-year period.

The research found that in 2004, the average attention span was approximately 150 seconds which reduced to 75 seconds in 2012. Recent data from 2012 reveals that this figure has decreased to 75 seconds. While in 2024, the average attention span has plummeted to just 47 seconds.

This suggests a broader restructuring of the human cognitive baseline. The decline is primarily linked to the disruption between two main attention systems i.e., the involuntary system (reacts to external stimuli) and the goal-oriented system (enables sustained focus).

Digital platforms especially social media are engineered to trigger the involuntary system via constant notifications, vibrant visual cues, and algorithmic unpredictability. This constant trigger systematically fatigues the prefrontal cortex (region of brain responsible for executive function and impulsive control).

How does the human brain shift attention?

With each instance of attention shifting, “switching cost” occurs. It refers to the measurable reduction in performance particularly slower reacting times and increased errors that usually happen when the brain shifts attention from one task, rule, or mental set to another.

As human brain works as a serial processor, it can’t multitask in the literal sense. Rather, it engages in rapid task-switching. To process each switch, it requires several minutes for the brain to regain its focus.

In a digital environment dominated by short-form content, where a user consumes different content of 15-to-30-second videos in a single session, the brain remains in a continuous state of partial attention.

This continuous state prevents the human’s cognitive system from entering a flow state, a condition where the brain can develop deep engagement that’s required for complex problem solving and creative synthesis.

Additionally, the constant push to check notifications from social media platforms activates the sympathetic nervous system that keeps the body in a state of low-level “fight or flight” mode.

The psychological stress response, measured by high heart rate and perceived stress levels, contributes to the modern epidemic of digital burnout and generalised anxiety. 





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