Author: newsdesk

  • Govt to start vaccinating people above 30 from tomorrow

    Head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has announced that the government will start vaccinating people above the age of 30 from tomorrow (May 22).

    “In today’s NCOC meeting, it has been decided to open up vaccination for 30 years and older starting tomorrow,” said Umar in a tweet.

    “The messages for those who are being scheduled will go out today,” he added.

    The NCOC on May 21 announced that on May 20,194,421 vaccines were administered across Pakistan and the total number of vaccine administration is 5,151,043, till now.

    Pakistan’s vaccination drive began on March 10 with priority given to healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60. Later, vaccinations for those aged 50-59 started on April 21 and the registration for ages 40-49 started on April 27, and on May 16, the the registration for 30 plus commenced.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Services also released a vaccine safety profile to encourage people to get themselves vaccinated. As per the details, out of 3.8 million doses, only 4, 329 reports of side effects were received as of 15 May.

    Furthermore, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Faisal Sultan in a tweet stated that only six serious events of the vaccine has been reported.

  • ‘Forget Nawaz-Zardari; what is your govt doing?’ Shahid Afridi lashes out at PM Khan

    ‘Forget Nawaz-Zardari; what is your govt doing?’ Shahid Afridi lashes out at PM Khan

    Cricket legend Shahid Afridi believes that Prime Minister Imran Khan is ‘stuck in the system.’

    Talking to The Current, Shahid Afridi said that the government should focus on its own performance rather than focusing on what past governments did or did not do.

    “Why is the Prime Minister always saying he will not give anyone an NRO. If the state institutions and judiciary are independent, let them do their work.” Afridi added that the government needs to show what it has done so far instead of just targeting Opposition leaders.

    Afridi made this comment in an interview on ‘Samaa TV show, ‘Sawal’, saying that when PM Khan used to speak before becoming the Prime Minister, the entire nation would stand up in favour of Khan, but now all he does is give explanations.

    https://twitter.com/taimoorze/status/1394932459708600320

    Advising the PM, he said that the premier should now leave Zardari and Nawaz Sharif. Since the past two and a half years only talks about them where ever he goes.

    He stressed that Khan should become the change for which people voted for him in 2013 and 2018.

  • Jewish employees at Google urge CEO to support Palestinians

    Jewish employees at Google urge CEO to support Palestinians

    A group of Jewish diaspora wrote a letter to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Google Sundar Pichai and urged him to support the people of Palestine against Israeli military human rights violations.

    The group, Jewish Diaspora in Tech, describes itself as a community of members working in the technology industry.

    In an internal letter sent to the chief, the group said the community is concerned about the latest situation, and we as “Jews do not endorse the views of those who have written to you seeking to garner support for exclusively pro-Israel and pro-Zionist actions.”

    Rockets fired in Israel

    “When we Jews ourselves speak out against the barbarism and oppression of Palestinians by the Zionist regime, that means Palestinians People have been going through a rough time,” read the letter.

    They further objected “to the conflation of Israel with the Jewish people [and] affirmed that anti-Zionism is not antisemitism.”

    Hamas firing rockets towards Israel

    Reportedly, the group that wrote the letter formed last year against pro-Israel attitude in Google’s official employee resource group called Jewglers.

    According to reports, people in “the group were supporting pro-Israel discussions and expressing Zionist views. It is unethical, and having such discussions is creating an unsafe space for others in the group.”

    So far, almost 250 people have signed the letter online that was sent to the chief of Google.

  • Lady Gaga reveals she was raped by a music producer at 19

    Lady Gaga reveals she was raped by a music producer at 19

    Lady Gaga has opened up about being raped and left pregnant when she was only 19.

    Speaking on the first episode of Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey’s The Me You Can’t See series featuring mental health issues, Gaga revealed she was raped at the age of 19 by a music producer who threatened to burn her music if she refused to undress.

    “I was 19 years old, and I was working in the business, and a producer said to me, ‘Take your clothes off,’” she recalled. “I said no and I left, and they told me they were going to burn all of my music. And they didn’t stop.”

    “They didn’t stop asking me, and I just froze and I… I don’t even remember,” she added.

    Months later, the sexually assaulted singer was left pregnant without any support from the harasser.

    “I [couldn’t] feel my own body,” she recalled. “First I felt full-on pain, then I felt numb, and then I was sick for weeks after.”

    “I realised that it was the same pain that I felt when the person who raped me dropped me off pregnant on a corner, at my parents’ house, because I was vomiting and sick. Because I had been being abused, and I was locked away in a studio for months,” shared Gaga.

    The singer burst into tears when describing that the trauma hit her years later when she won an Oscar Award in 2019. Gaga said that she experienced a “total psychotic break” because of her delayed traumatised response.

    Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, refused to name her perpetrator.

    “I understand this #MeToo movement, I understand that some people feel really comfortable with this, and I do not,” said the singer. “I do not ever want to face that person again.”

    Lady Gaga is one of the stars to be featured in The Me You Can’t See series which is co-produced by Harry and Oprah and airs exclusively on Apple TV+.

  • Despite a ceasefire, Israel ruthlessly attacks worshippers at Al-Aqsa

    Despite a ceasefire, Israel ruthlessly attacks worshippers at Al-Aqsa

    Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which was announced early Friday morning, Israel ruthlessly attacked worshippers at Al-Aqsa during Friday prayers.

    Israel fired rubber bullets and shelled both Masjid Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock, Islam’s third holiest site.

    It is being reported that children and women have been hurt by the tear gas while praying.

    PTI’s official Twitter handle lashed out on the barbaric violence by Israel calling out their act as a ‘massacre’.

    Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killed at least 243 Palestinians, including 66 children, in 11 days and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished territory. On the Israeli side, 12 people, including two children, were killed.

  • VIDEO: Pet lion cub attacks boy in Karachi

    VIDEO: Pet lion cub attacks boy in Karachi

    A pet lion cub attacked a 10-year-old boy in Karachi’s residential area.

    A video that is widely circulating on social media shows a lion suddenly attacking a young kid as he walks by, despite having a leash tied around its neck.

    The boy was taken to a nearby hospital where he has been declared to be out of danger.

    The police have arrested a security guard and a man identified as Saad. The lion’s owner has allegedly escaped and has been identified as Usama. The police are conducting raids to arrest him. A case will be registered after police arrest the owner.

    Read more – Kashif Zameer beats pet lion

    Talking to Samaa, the investigating officer said: “Usama is involved in the illegal trade of wild animals,” the investigating officer said. The suspect’s brother was taking the animal to his friend’s house when the incident took place.

    “Usama has escaped along with the lion,” the officer added.

    According to wildlife conservator Javed Mahar, the case has been taken up by the Sindh Wildlife Department. An inquiry is in progress and legal action will be taken.

    As per reports, police have received information that the owner of the lion and the boy have reached a compromise and that the owner of the lion did not have a permit to keep the animal. 

  • Yasir Hussain hits back at trolls telling Mahira Khan to wear a dupatta

    Yasir Hussain hits back at trolls telling Mahira Khan to wear a dupatta

    While many are appreciating Pakistani celebrities for raising their voice for Palestine, others have their priorities displaced and are moral policing Mahira Khan for not wearing a dupatta to the pro-Palestine protest outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

    Yasir Hussain and Ahmed Ali Butt stepped forward to defend their colleague and hit back at trolls moral policing Mahira for not wearing a dupatta.

    “Bohot achy,” remarked Hussain sarcastically. “You get your summer looks with shorts and Mahira should wear a dupatta in the heat of May.”

    “Get out of clothing and talk about real issues,” asserted Yasir, adding: “Khuda ka khof karo (Fear God).”

    Ahmed Ali Butt also schooled trolls attacking Mahira, saying: “Jin logo ko dupatta nazar nahi aya unko aqal kahan se nazar ai ge? Sharam apni nazar main dhoondo, aurat kay libas main nahi. #growup”

    Meanwhile, Sheheryar Munawar, Ayesha Omar, Sanam Jung among others celebrities were spotted at the protest. Yasir could not attend the demonstration due to his surgery after suffering a hand injury. 

    Yasir protested, however, with a Palestinian flag on his bandage.

    Mathira also defended Mahira, saying: “It’s the mindset that needs to be changed. Stop being so sex hungry in your mind, stop it!!”

    Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced a ceasefire on Friday in Gaza after 11 days of violence, Al Jazeera has reported.

  • ‘Only gloom remains in Gaza’: Pakistani celebs react to ceasefire in Gaza

    Adnan Siddiqui, Faysal Quarishi and Iqra Aziz have reacted to the ceasefire in Gaza after 11 days of violence, saying more needs to be done.

    “Guns have fallen silent, mothers are searching for children, children for their homes,” wrote Siddiqui on social media. “The dust has settled. Only gloom remains in Gaza.”

    “Ceasefire but at what cost? I search for answers,” added the actor.

    Quraishi also shared his opinion on ceasefire saying, “A ceasefire is welcome but a lot more needs to be done.”

    “Palestine has been an open-air prison for countless people,” remarked the actor. “Every single day they have been witnessing continuous crimes against humanity with no control on staples like water and electricity.”

    “All Palestinians, Muslims, Jews or Christians need to be freed once and for all,” said Quraishi further, adding: “If the world does not take a stand now, we will keep on witnessing Kashmir and Gaza story repeated for all times to come.”

    Iqra Aziz also shared her thoughts on the situation, saying: “I pray we never face anything like this again. This was inhumane.”

    “I pray for all the lives lost in the past 11 days and hope for a better future,” expressed Iqra.

    Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced a ceasefire on Friday in Gaza after 11 days of violence, Al Jazeera has reported.

  • Gaza’s largest bookshop destroyed by Israeli airstrikes

    Gaza’s largest bookshop destroyed by Israeli airstrikes

    Gaza’s largest bookstore was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday. Established in 2008, the shop housed thousands of books, including the largest collection of English literature in Gaza, and was also part of a publishing house that focused on Palestinian writers.

    Defending the attack, the Israeli military claimed that the strike was intended to destroy Hamas tunnels.

    The two-story bookshop was built 21 years ago and was one of the Gaza Strip’s largest sellers of books for children, students, academics and anyone else who loved to read. He also printed books and published stories written by local authors.

    “The books may be under rubble but that will not stop us,” writer Nada Abu Mideen told The National. “We will keep writing to show the world that we deserve life.”

    Read more – Eleven children receiving trauma care killed in their homes by Israeli airstrikes

    A GoFundMe has also been set up to help rebuild the store.

    This wasn’t the only bookstore that was destroyed in Gaza this week. Others, including the Iqraa library, were also either completely or partially destroyed.

    Bookstore owner Shaban Aslim can be seen holding back tears as he is interviewed in front of the rubble.

    “The bookstore was like my soul,” said Mansour, 53, who was born in the Gaza Strip and said that he had built this bookstore by starving himself.

  • CM Buzdar to meet JKT group today

    CM Buzdar to meet JKT group today

    Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar will meet members of the Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group today to hear their grievances.

    Talking to the media, Punjab MPA and JKT group member Nazir Chohan said they would meet the chief minister and tell him about his “faults”.

    “The purpose of our meeting is the betterment of the province. Punjab’s affairs are being run by the bureaucracy.” Chohan added that while the MPAs have elected Buzdar as the chief minister, he did not get them elected.

    Earlier, PTI MNA Raja Riaz had claimed that CM Buzdar is ready to address the reservations of the Tareen group.

    Riaz claimed CM House Punjab had contacted him and said that he expects to meet the chief minister soon.

    These development come after Jahangir Tareen announced that his supporters had decided to form a separate group after the Punjab government initiated vindictive actions against them. However, he clarified that this was not a forward bloc and all members of the JKT group are still part of PTI.