Author: newsdesk

  • IPL match rescheduled after two KKR players test positive for COVID-19

    IPL match rescheduled after two KKR players test positive for COVID-19

    The Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), scheduled to take place today (Monday) has been postponed after two players tested positive for COVID-19.

    According to details, spinner Varun Chakravarthy and seamer Sandeep Warrier from the Kolkata squad tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, the rest of the KKR squad has tested negative but are currently in isolation.

    Chakravarthy had recently left the IPL bio-bubble for a shoulder scan, which could have led to him being exposed to the virus.

    The event is currently being played behind closed doors and is due to end in late May.

    Read more – Pat Cummins donates $50k for COVID-hit India

    India on Monday reported more than 300,000 new coronavirus cases for a 12th straight day, taking its overall caseload to almost 20 million, as scientists predict a peak in infections in the coming days.

    With 368,147 new cases over the past 24 hours, India’s total infections stand at 19.93 million, while total fatalities rose by 3,417 to 218,959, according to data released by the health ministry.

    Medical experts say real numbers across the country of 1.35 billion may be five to 10 times higher than the official tally.

    Meanwhile, BCCI has also confirmed the rescheduling of the match.

    “IPL reschedules KKR-RCB match slated for May 3, 2021, after 2 KKR players test positive. Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were found to be positive in the third round of testing in the last four days. All other team members have tested negative for COVID -19,” states a release. 

    “The Medical Team is also determining the close and casual contacts of the two positive cases during the 48 hours prior to collection of the sample that returned the positive test results.  The BCCI and the Kolkata Knight Riders prioritise the health and safety of everyone involved and all measures are being taken in that endeavour,” it adds.

    Later it was reported, three members of the Chennai Super Kings’ IPL contingent – chief executive officer K Viswanathan, bowling coach L Balaji and a bus cleaner – have also tested positive for COVID-19. It is understood that the rest of the group, which is currently in Delhi, has tested negative. The results emerged after the latest round of testing on Sunday.

    It must be noted that the ICC T20 World Cup is also scheduled to take place in India later this year.

  • Politicians, journalists mark #WorldPressFreedomDay

    World Press Freedom Day is observed every year on May 3 and this year’s theme is ‘Information as a Public Good’. To mark the day, politicians, journalists and other key figures have stepped forward to call for freedom of press and media.

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was also among those who marked this day. In his message, Guterres urged all governments to do everything in their power to support a free, independent and diverse media.

    Politicians and journalists from Pakistan including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry and Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information and culture Firdous Ashiq Awan also shared messages to mark the day and paid rich tributes to journalists.

  • VIDEO: Two officers escape firing from robbers

    VIDEO: Two officers escape firing from robbers

    In a horrific video doing the rounds on social media, the dashcam footage shows the intense moment of survival of two private security members who escaped straight gunshots from gang members attempting to loot a cash-in-transit van.

    The event took place in South Africa, and the members of the private security company survived because of the bulletproofing of the van.

    As per details, they were transporting money in a truck in the northern city of Pretoria on April 22 when they were attacked by robbers.

    In the three-minute-long video, a security officer is driving with a colleague and both are wearing bulletproof vests. Suddenly, a round of gunshots was fired and the window on the driver’s side partially shattered from the bullet’s impact.

    The officers remained calmed and composed, and the one on the driving seat carefully manoeuvred the car out from the traffic. When he got the chance, he ramped up the van into the robber’s car.

    Meanwhile, the officer can be heard saying: “They’re going to shoot.” He then instructs his colleague in the passenger seat to pull out his rifle.

    The officers attempt to reach out to their colleagues for help, with the driver saying: “Phone Robbie, phone Josh, ask them where they are.”

    “The suspects fired several shots at the CIT vehicle in an attempt to stop it during a high-speed chase,” police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed on Friday.

    “The driver of the CIT vehicle managed to evade the robbers for a while but later stopped in wait for the robbers. The robbers fled without taking any money. No arrests have yet been made,” added Naidoo.

    Photos of the scene show the seriously damaged white security van, which appears to have been shot from the side and the front. It is unclear whether there were any deaths or injuries.

  • Shahveer Jafry throws Zoya Nasir, Christian Betzmann a surprise dholki

    Shahveer Jafry recently surprised Zoya Nasir and Christian Betzmann with a dholki.

    “Surprised these beautiful people by throwing a surprise dholki for them,” said Shahveer while sharing a picture from the event.

    Zoya and Christian also shared pictures from the celebration on social media, thanking Shahveer and their other friends for arranging the surprise dholki.

    Shahveer also vlogged the entire event. Watch the video below:

    Zoya and Christian got engaged earlier this year in February. The news of their engagement came just a few days after Christian announced that he has converted to Islam.

  • Iqra Aziz’s godh bharai dupatta has 100 special duas embroidered on it

    Iqra Aziz’s godh bharai dupatta has 100 special duas embroidered on it

    Celebrity couple Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain on Sunday announced that they are expecting their bundle of joy this July.

    Sharing beautiful pictures from Iqra’s godh bharai (baby shower) the couple shared the news with their fans and followers and asked them to pray for them.

    For the event, Iqra chose a gorgeous purple and orange outfit by Fahad Hussayn and the designer has revealed that the dupatta had a special message on it for the mother-to-be. As per details, 100 special messages and prayers in Urdu have been crafted on the embellished dupatta with a floral design.

    In a conversation with Dawn Images, Hussayn recalled Aziz reaching out to him when she was planning her godh bharai.

    “I loved that she was having a godh bharai rather than a westernised bridal shower,” said the designer. “She told me that she wanted to wear something that she could pass on to her child and we started working on a concept. I asked her to come up with a list of 100 duas, which she did with the help of Yasir and her mother.”

    Hussayn then designed 100 different flowers and the messages were embroidered around them.

    “[The duas are] all the wishes she has for her child. If it’s a girl, she wants to pass this dupatta on to her and if it’s a son, then to his wife,” shared Hussayn adding that the list includes advice like “ilm sub say bari daulat hai” (knowledge is the greatest wealth) and “logon ke saath bhalai karo gay toh log bhi tumharay saath bhalai karein gay” (be kind to others and they will be kind to you).

    The organza dupatta was paired with a simple peshwas and gharara in chiffon worked with sacha gota.

    Hussayn also shared that Iqra allowed him to decid the colour himself.

    Iqra was recently featured in Hussayn’s fashion music video Mera Jora that was released earlier this year. Incidentally, the video was filmed shortly after Aziz discovered that she was expecting.

    “I am very happy for her. She’s an extremely genuine person and this is a very happy time for her. She may be at the peak of her career but she’s also prioritising her family life,” said the designer. “I think more than anything else, the coronavirus has made us all realise the importance of being surrounded by family.”

  • Facebook will now ask iOS users to allow data tracking for ‘better ads experience’

    Facebook will now ask iOS users to allow data tracking for ‘better ads experience’

    As per details, Facebook has started urging iPhone and iPad users to allow data tracking. The social media giant said that users should allow this for a better and personalized ads experience.

    Apple recently decided to ramp up privacy of its users, and gave users an option if they want to allow social media applications to track their data.

    Both companies are in some sort of war with each other, a war that has been raging for more than one decade now.

    The founder and CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg recently termed Apple Inc. as the biggest competitor, and he said that the new privacy policy of Apple will cause “damage to the business of millions of users.”

    The very next day CEO of Apple Tim Cook, during a data privacy conference in Brussels, said: “If a business is built on misleading users, on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reforms.”

    The battle focuses on a unique device identifier on every iPhone and iPad called the Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA). Companies that sell mobile advertisements, including Facebook, use this ID to help target ads and estimate their effectiveness.

    With the latest iOS 14 update, each app that wants to use the tracker will have to seek permission from the user. Consequently, it will make the mobiles ads less effective.

    Facebook has already started warning investors that these changes will affect the business, and now the company is testing the effects of the new updates.

    Besides, form today when users will open the app, they will see a message box that will tell users why they must allow Facebook to track their data.

    “Allow Facebook to use your app and website activity?” and claims that Facebook uses that information to “provide a better ads experience.” It will then offer users a choice between “Don’t Allow” and “Allow.”

    No matter which selection users make on the Facebook prompt, if they choose not to allow tracking on the Apple pop-up, that choice will be final, and Facebook will honour it.

  • VIDEO: Watch Firdous Ashiq Awan humiliate an Assistant Commissioner

    VIDEO: Watch Firdous Ashiq Awan humiliate an Assistant Commissioner

    Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan visited a Ramzan Bazaar in Sialkot on Sunday. Dr Awan was inspecting the quality of food items at various stalls.

    In a video doing the rounds on social media, Dr Awan asks Assistant Commissioner (AC) Sialkot Sonia Sadaf to explain why there was ‘third-class quality’ food at a stall. When Sonia Sadaf asked her to try the food at another stall as the fruit must have gone bad due to the weather, Firdous told AC Sialkot that it was her duty to check the quality of the goods.

    https://twitter.com/sabihulhussnain/status/1388873441072369666?s=21

    “You are getting paid for the work and it is your duty to keep a check on things here,” Awan shouted at AC Sialkot. She also asked the AC which shameless person appointed her. At this, Sonia Sadaf left the Ramzan Bazaar. Firdous was seen shouting: “Now go sit in your VIP drawing room.”

    Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik condemned Firdous Ashiq Awan for her use of bad language at the AC.

    Maryam Nawaz tweeted: “Government officials are not your personal employees. Such treatment is reprehensible.”

    In another tweet, the PML-N leader said asked Dr Awan to apologise to Sonia Sadaf.

    PTI’s Usman Dar also came out in support of the AC saying he was apologetic for the unfortunate incident which took place.

    “I personally know Assistant Commissioner Sonia Sadaf, she is a responsible and capable officer. The role of women in the governance system of our society is very welcome and should be appreciated.”

    Both Dar and Firdous hail from Sialkot.

    Hasaan Khawar tweeted,

    “Publicly scolding civil servants can get you brownie points but will take a toll on the morale of those who have to execute your policies.”

    https://twitter.com/hasaankhawar/status/1388876534283448321
  • COVID-19 oral pill could be ready by year-end, says Pfizer CEO

    COVID-19 oral pill could be ready by year-end, says Pfizer CEO

    US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Bourla has said that the company’s anti-viral oral pill for coronavirus is in early-stage trials and could be ready by the end of the year.

    According to reports, the company, which developed the first authorised COVID-19 vaccine in the US with German drugmaker BioNTech, began an early-stage clinical trial for testing a new antiviral therapy for Covid-19 in March.

    The medication is part of a class of medicines called protease inhibitors and works by inhibiting an enzyme that the virus needs to replicate in human cells.

    Read more – Cleric believes COVID vaccine makes people ‘gay’

    “If clinical trials go well and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it, the drug could be distributed across the US by the end of the year,” Bourla told CNBC.

    Protease inhibitors are used to treat other viral pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis C, the report said.

    Last month, the pharmaceutical giant asked the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) for its Covid-19 vaccine to include children ages 12 to 15.

    The request to expand emergency use comes just days after Pfizer released data demonstrating its vaccine was 100 per cent effective and well-tolerated by the younger group.

    Pfizer is also working on its vaccine for 6-month to 11-year-old children.

    A recent study, published in the journal Science, showed that a single dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines against Covid may boost immunity against the Covid-19 variants, only in people who were previously infected with the deadly virus.

    In people who have not previously been infected and have so far only received one dose of vaccine, the immune response to variants of concern may be insufficient, the study indicated.

  • VIDEO: PM Imran drives in without protocol, interacts with street vendors in Islamabad

    VIDEO: PM Imran drives in without protocol, interacts with street vendors in Islamabad

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan paid a surprise visit to different areas of Islamabad and interacted with the general public, specifically with small vendors on the streets.

    According to the statement issued by the PM Office, “PM Imran Khan drove to public places in Islamabad without any security and protocol. The PM visited G-11 Markaz and talked to vendors.”

    On his visit, he asked about the condition of business amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He instructed them (vendors) to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to curb the spread of COVID-19.

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan at street vendor stall

    In addition, PM drove the car in the capital because he also wanted to see the arrangements done by the local administration for Ramzan.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan driving around in ICT to check arrangements done by local administration

    People expressed happiness on seeing the premiere among them without any protocol. Besides, PM visited the Sewerage Plant I-9 and Korang Cricket Ground in the federal capital.

    PM visited the Sewerage Plant I-9 and Korang Cricket Ground in the federal capital.

    Amid the pandemic, business activities and routine life is disrupted. The government of Punjab has also imposed a smart lockdown in all major cities of Punjab.

    Pakistan reported 4,414 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country’s Covid-19 tally to 8,29,933.

    The country’s death toll climbed to 18,070 after 113 more people succumbed to the deadly disease.

  • Kangana Ranaut thinks Ali Gul Pir is funny

    Kangana Ranaut thinks Ali Gul Pir is funny

    Not that we didn’t know but Kangana Ranaut thinks that Ali Gul Pir is funny.

    Responding to Pir’s video in which he hilariously recreated Kangana Ranaut’s recent video, the actor said: “At least you’re funny and made me laugh.”

    “Well we might disagree on many things but at least we can laugh together,” said Pir replying to Ranaut.

    In the original video, Kangana had lashed out at the international media calling their coverage on India’s COVID-19 strategy “disturbing.” Kangana also called out many prominent journalists including Rana Ayyub and Barkha Dutt for questioning the government’s response.

    Read more – Kangana defines ‘porn singer’ for Ali Gul Pir

    The actor further said that the liberals were “degrading the country” with their criticism on the government’s response.

    Meanwhile, India has reported a record number of cases with 392,488 new cases in the last 24 hours, pushing the total count to 19.56 million. So far, the virus has killed 215,542 people.

    Indian hospitals, morgues, and crematoriums have been overwhelmed as the country has reported more than 300,000 daily cases for more than 10 days straight. Many families have been left on their own to scramble for medicines and oxygen.

    Nearly 10 Indian states and union territories have imposed some form of restrictions, even as the federal government remains reluctant to impose a national lockdown.

    The eastern state of Odisha became the latest to announce a two-week lockdown, joining Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal. Other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, have either imposed night curfews or weekend lockdowns.