Top stories you might've missed this Eid: Pakistani passport woes, Indian expat’s tragic death, Mahira’s love confession and more

Eid may be over, but the stories that broke during the holidays are still making waves. From a major passport cancellation drive involving thousands of Pakistanis to a tragic scuba diving accident that shook Dubai’s Indian expat community, the past week brought a mix of controversy, sorrow, and surprise. Mahira Khan opened up about love, while a Dubai school amazed with its homegrown harvest. Add to that whirlwind weather in Sharjah, a new UAE lottery, big-ticket dreams, and Lidl’s entry into Dubai’s chocolate craze — here’s your snapshot of the most talked-about headlines you might’ve missed this Eid.

Thousands of Pakistani citizens deported from abroad due to their involvement in begging and other unlawful activities, have been identified for passport cancellation. The government officials informed the Senate Committee of Pakistan that the process of canceling the passports of 7,873 such individuals is already underway. Read more…

What happens when you put two of Pakistan’s most beloved screen icons—Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed—back together for a romantic comedy? You get undeniable charm, a whole lot of teasing, and candid confessions about love, heartbreak, and why rom-coms are harder to pull off than people think. Read more…

What can a school do with just 50 square metres of land for a garden? At GEMS Our Own Indian School (OIS) in Dubai, it turns out they can even produce over 100,000kg of fruits and vegetables a year. In a city known for skyscrapers and sand, this school in Al Quoz has turned its limited open space into a flourishing farm. Read more…

“I like women,” says Norman Reedus with a grin — and it’s not a throwaway line. In a testosterone-heavy genre where female leads often get sidelined, The Walking Dead star is refreshingly unbothered about taking a backseat to Ana de Armas in Ballerina, the latest spin-off from the sleek, stylised John Wick universe, out in UAE cinemas now. Read more…

Video of a whirlwind kicking up dust in the internal part of Sharjah went viral on social media on Saturday evening. Rain continued to fall across Sharjah during the Eid Al Adha weekend, with forecasts indicating that more showers are expected through Monday. Read more…

Tragedy struck an Indian expat family enjoying the Eid Al Adha holidays in Dubai as one of the family members allegedly died during a fun scuba diving session on Friday. The deceased has been identified as Issac Paul Olakkengil, a 29-year-old civil engineer. Read more…

If you have got Dh5 and a lucky hunch, you could walk away with up to Dh2,500, thanks to The UAE Lottery’s newly launched ‘Pick 3’ daily draw game, announced on Wednesday. For just Dh5 per ticket, players can choose three numbers between 0 and 9 and stand a chance to win one of three prizes — Dh425, Dh850, or the top prize of Dh2,500. Read more…

Missed out on the Abu Dhabi Big Ticket jackpot and consolation prizes again? Don’t worry, Big Ticket is back this month with sizzling surprises, easier entries, bigger promotions and more chances to win. Read more…

Twelve years after the skiing accident that changed Michael Schumacher’s life, those closest to him have begun to cautiously speak out — and the message is quietly heartbreaking. Read more…

The Dubai Chocolate phenomenon is gaining new momentum as German discount supermarket chain Lidl announces the launch of its own version on Friday, June 13. The move places Lidl in direct competition with Trader Joe’s, which gained traction earlier with its $3.99 bar. Read more…

Air Karachi, Pakistan's new private airline, is set to launch domestic flight operations soon. The airline has officially received its Regular Public Transport (RPT) licence from the Civil Aviation Authority.  Read more…