Too much happened and you blinked? We get it. From major headlines to moments you might’ve missed, here’s your quick scroll through everything that had Pakistan (and beyond) talking this week.
1. All We Know About The Gul Plaza Fire
A devastating fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza on MA Jinnah Road has now claimed at least 73 lives, with 82 people still missing, making it one of the city’s deadliest commercial tragedies in recent years. The blaze broke out late Saturday night on the ground floor of the decades-old building and rapidly spread upward, triggering multiple structural collapses and forcing officials to declare it a third-degree fire. Rescue teams, supported by over 20 fire tenders, snorkels, and Pakistan Navy assistance, continue operations amid extreme heat, toxic smoke, and unstable debris. Authorities suspect an electrical fault as the possible cause, while the Sindh government has ordered a full inquiry and set up helplines for families searching for loved ones as the operation continues.
2. Fire Erupts At Quetta Shopping Plaza After Gul Plaza Blaze In Karachi
A major fire tore through a busy shopping plaza on Quetta’s Prince Road in the early hours of January 20, 2026, engulfing at least 120 shops and causing massive financial losses just days after the deadly Gul Plaza blaze in Karachi. The fire, believed to have been caused by a short circuit, spread rapidly through the building, fueled by electrical infrastructure and combustible goods, making firefighting extremely difficult. Six fire brigade vehicles and four PDMA units were deployed, with crews battling thick smoke and intense flames for hours before bringing the blaze under partial control and beginning cooling operations. While no deaths have been confirmed, three people — including two firefighters — lost consciousness, and at least 15 individuals were rescued from the building as authorities ordered safety inspections and remained on high alert.
3. Fashion Firsts That Made Valentino Timeless
Valentino wasn’t just a designer who made beautiful clothes; he was someone who believed, almost stubbornly, in elegance, romance, and the power of dressing well even when the world was moving in the opposite direction. Born in Voghera, Italy, Valentino knew early on that fashion was his language. He trained in Milan before heading to Paris, where he absorbed the discipline of haute couture and the poetry of craftsmanship. But it was when he returned to Italy and opened his own house in Rome that his vision truly took shape — one rooted in Italian artistry, global ambition, and unapologetic glamour.
4. Spain Once Again Hit By Train Tragedy – What We Know So Far
Spain was rocked by a series of rail disasters in January 2026, beginning with a catastrophic high-speed train collision near Adamuz in Córdoba province on January 18, when two trains operated by Iryo and Renfe collided after one derailed, killing at least 41 people and injuring dozens in one of the country’s deadliest rail accidents in over a decade. Just two days later, a commuter train on Catalonia’s R4 line derailed near Gelida after crashing into a retaining wall that collapsed onto the tracks amid heavy rainfall, killing the train driver and injuring at least 37 passengers, several critically. A separate derailment on the R1 line the same night caused no injuries but heightened concerns. Spanish authorities have suspended multiple services, launched urgent safety inspections, and opened investigations focusing on infrastructure resilience and the impact of extreme weather, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed condolences and pledged full support to victims and rescue teams.
5. Interesting Facts About Chinese New Year Most People Don’t Know
More than just a holiday, Chinese New Year is a time to reset life itself. Every custom, from cleaning the house to avoiding certain actions, carries a symbolic purpose rooted in ancient beliefs. While the festival is widely celebrated around the world today, many of its most fascinating details remain little known. Here are five fascinating facts that reveal a deeper side of the festival.
6. All We Know So Far About The 11 Seized Lions Sent To Safari Park
An eight-year-old girl was seriously injured in Lahore on January 22, 2026, after a pet lioness escaped while being unloaded from a rickshaw and attacked her in a residential area, leaving her with head, ear and leg injuries. Wildlife authorities arrested the owners, who initially fled, and later seized 11 lions—including cubs—from a nearby factory, shifting them to Lahore’s Safari Park. A legal case has been registered under Punjab wildlife laws, which ban keeping big cats without a license, and the incident has renewed concerns about public safety, illegal exotic animal ownership and animal welfare in urban Pakistan. Keep reading.
7. The Beckham Family Drama Everyone’s Talking About
Brooklyn Peltz Beckham has publicly aired a deep family rift, accusing his parents—particularly Victoria—of prioritising “Brand Beckham” over genuine relationships, turning the famously polished family into a full-blown saas-bahu drama. The fallout, which intensified after his 2022 wedding to Nicola Peltz, includes claims of wedding-day humiliations, sidelining of Nicola, social media fallouts with his siblings, and a lifetime of performative perfection that left him anxious. While David Beckham has responded cautiously and Victoria remains silent, Brooklyn says stepping away brought relief—leaving the internet hooked on a feud that proves even the most image-perfect dynasties aren’t immune to a little masala.
That’s your Week in Rewind. Some stories will fade, others will grow — but for now, you’re all caught up.
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