Author: newsdesk

  • Does this TikToker girl really look like Shoaib Akhtar?

    Social media users have found the former Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Akhtar’s lookalike in an Indian content creator Vinita Khilnani. The collage comparing the two celebrities is going viral and people are convinced that the two are each other’s doppelganger.

    Vinita Khilnani is a content creator and TikToker. Her recent video, ‘How our parents used to take pictures’ went viral on social media that resulted in people comparing her with Akhtar.

    Indian-American comedian is aware of the situation herself. She pasted her face in the cricketer’s photos and asked her fans about her resemblance with Akhtar on Instagram.

    “So everyone is saying I look like this man? @imshoaibakhtar – what do you think?” the Tiktoker wrote in the caption.

  • Terrorist involved in murder of four women killed in Waziristan operation: ISPR

    The security forces have killed a key militant leader who was involved in the killing of four women aid workers in North Waziristan, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement on Tuesday.

    Commander of militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Hassan alias Sajna was killed in a security operation in the restive district near the Afghan border, the army said.

    The statement said Sajna was involved in the Monday morning killing of four aid workers associated with a local women’s skills development program in Mirali, a town in North Waziristan.

    Security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in Mirali and killed militant commander Sajna of the TTP’s Hafiz Gul Bahadur group during an exchange of fire, it was quoted by Anadolu Agency as saying.

    Bahadur, who is believed to have been operating from Afghanistan, is leading his own militant group within the TTP.

    Sajna, the statement said, remained involved in terrorist activities against the security forces and civilians, including “bomb blasts, kidnapping for ransom, target killings, and extortion,” in addition to the recruitment of terrorists.

    North Waziristan — once dubbed the heartland of militancy — is one of seven former semi-autonomous tribal regions in Pakistan where the army has carried out a series of operations since 2014 to eliminate the TTP network.

    Successive operations have pushed the TTP towards neighboring Afghanistan and Islamabad claims the terrorist network has now set up bases across the border to attack Pakistani security forces.

  • Sindh MPAs to be suspended over dog bites, says SHC

    Sindh MPAs to be suspended over dog bites, says SHC

    A circuit bench of the Sindh High Court has come up with a rather novel solution to curb dog biting incidents in Sindh.

    According to Justice Aftab Ahmed, the lawmakers of the respective area will be suspended in case of a dog biting incidents.

    Responding to the judge’s remarks, the public prosecutor said that MPAs have nothing to do with dog biting incidents. To which the judge replied that it is the job of the MPAs to protect their constituents.

    The judge went on to add that the MPAs would also be barred from voting in the Senate election over the dog biting incidents. It also warned that the concerned officers would be penalised and their salaries would be suspended if such incidents continued to happen.

    During the hearing, the government officers also presented reports on which the court expressed discontent. The high court adjourned the hearing till March 16.

    In October, the SHC bench expressed displeasure over rising dog-bite incidents in the province and ordered that FIR be registered against the concerned municipal officer if any case would be reported.

  • Priyanka Chopra reacts to the meme fest on her Orb Dress

    Priyanka Chopra reacts to the meme fest on her Orb Dress

    Priyanka Chopra reacted to the meme fest on her Orb Dress and it is breaking the internet.

    The 38-year-old actress wore an orb dress by Halpern Studio recently, which started a meme fest on the Internet. Priyanka joined in and had a good laugh, each meme at a time.

    She also shared some of her favourite ones on her social media, adding a reaction for each of them on her Instagram stories. In the memes, Priyanka, wearing the quirky orb dress, as compared to things ranging from firecrackers and types of pufferfish to Pokemons and hot air balloons. Virat Kohli was also dragged into one of the memes while one user summed up Priyanka’s outfit in these words: “When mom says: ‘Boriya bistar samet aur nikal ja yahaan se’.”

    “This is too much,” Priyanka wrote in one of her Instagram stories while sharing more memes, she added: “They just keep getting better.” She wrapped the meme fest on Instagram with these words: “Thanks for making my day guys.”

    This is not the first time that the Desi Girl has captured the attention of netizens. Her look from the Met Gala 2019 also went viral when she opted for a silvery caged ensemble by Dior. The actor opted for dramatic makeup and let loose with some wild curls.

  • Director Qasim Ali Mureed to tie the knot with Sadia Jabbar

    Director Qasim Ali Mureed to tie the knot with Sadia Jabbar

    Pakistani director, Qasim Ali Mureed is all set to tie the knot with producer Sadia Jabbar.

    Qasim shared the news on social media, posting an animated photo of their wedding card on Instagram with a small caption: “Qasad,” a shorter version of Qasim and Sadia.

    A week ago Sadia posted her pictures on Intagram, buying jewelry for her wedding.

    Meanwhile, social media is flooded with Sadia’s pictures, enjoying her Mehndi, wearing a Mayun dress.

    Qasim is well-known in the Pakistani entertainment industry. He has directed various blockbuster dramas such as Prem Gali, Angan, and an upcoming movie Tich Button. Qasim was married to famous model Fia Khan and has a daughter Amelia with his ex-wife. After the couple got separated, Fia married a Turkish guy in Germany.

    Sadia is also a famous film and TV producer with projects like Balu Mahi and Prem Gali respectively, in her bucket list.

  • Teenager kidnaps self to skip work

    Teenager kidnaps self to skip work

    A 19-year-old man in the United States tried to skip work by faking his own kidnapping.

    The boy Brandon Soules faked his kidnapping in order to skip work but his stunt did not last long as the police found out the truth and arrested him for false reporting.

    According to details, on February 10,  local police found Soules with his hands tied and mouth stuffed with a cloth. After being ‘saved’ by the police, the teenager claimed two men tied him and hit him till he fell unconscious. He further said that the two men drove him in a car and released him in the area where the police found him.

    The police found out that the entire episode was fake and the youth made up the whole story himself. During the investigations, the teen confessed to his actions. Soules accepted that he made up the story because he was trying to get out of work.

    Brandon’s plan to escape work has now landed him in jail and seems like he will be spending considerable time away from work due to the charges of false reporting against him.

  • Speaker Asad Qaiser lauds Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment

    In a move welcomed by child rights organisations, the National Assembly on Tuesday passed The ICT Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Bill prohibiting corporal punishment in the capital, setting punishments for people physically punishing children.

    Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser lauded singer Shehzad Roy for his efforts against corporal punishment.

    The proposed law will cancel out the provisions of Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code, which allows physical punishment “for the benefit” of the child by guardians and teachers.

    Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code:

    Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860 (No XLV) allows parents, teachers and other guardians to use moderate and reasonable corporal punishment as a means to correct the behaviour of children below 12 years of age.

    The bill was tabled by PML-N MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz. It will become a law after the Senate passes it and the president signs it.

    Last year, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) suspended Section 89 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and banned the practice of corporal (physical) punishment by parents, guardians and teachers on children. The decision was announced after singer-activist Shehzad Roy filed a petition in court to ban the use of violence to discipline children.

  • ‘Multiple’ army officials complicit in terrorist Ehsanullah Ehsan’s escape, says ISPR DG

    ‘Multiple’ army officials complicit in terrorist Ehsanullah Ehsan’s escape, says ISPR DG

    Pakistan Army spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that former Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan mouthpiece Ehsanullah Ehsan had managed to escape the custody with the help of “more than one army officials”.

    According to a report in Independent Urdu that quotes Gen Iftikhar, the military is in the process of fixing responsibility in the case. “The details of the proceedings [against the accused] would be shared with the media soon,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief said in a conversation with the reporters of foreign media outlets.

    Last week, a Twitter handle, now suspended, allegedly operated by Ehsanullah Ehsan threatened Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. Malala had responded to the tweet, asking the military’s media wing and PM Imran as to how did the Ehsan even escape.

    The government had denied that the account belonged to the infamous terrorist, but Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Malala, asserted that it was the Twitter handle of the ex-TTP spokesperson. Ehsanullah had also confirmed this in an audio message to BBC Urdu, saying his account was suspended over threats to Malala but he would come back with a new Twitter handle soon.

    However, the ISPR DG told reporters that he doesn’t think the account belonged to the ex-TTP spokesperson. “The attempts are being made to arrest the Taliban spokesperson, but at present, we have no idea where is he hiding,” he was quoted by the outlet as saying.

    Ehsan is infamous for issuing claims of carrying out TTP attacks and has been linked to some of the country’s most deadly incidents of terror. These include the massacre of children at Army Public School (APS) Peshawar, bombing at a park in Lahore on Easter in 2016, and the targeting of Malala.

    He surrendered to authorities in 2017 and later gave interviews to a Pakistani TV channel, leading to criticism and controversy that a terrorist was given airtime. It angered many in the country who believed he was being pampered by authorities after years of helping lead a violent insurgency. Ehsan mysteriously escaped custody last year, which, according to SAMAA, was also confirmed by the army.

  • PM offers Sri Lanka to join CPEC, says trade links vital to eradicate poverty

    PM offers Sri Lanka to join CPEC, says trade links vital to eradicate poverty

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday invited the Sri Lankan businessmen to invest in Pakistan, saying trade connectivity among the countries of the Asian sub-continent was vital for poverty alleviation.

    Addressing the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Trade and Investment Conference held in Colombo which he jointly chaired with his Sri Lanka counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa, Imran proposed establishing trade links, as existed among the European countries, for the prosperity of the Asian sub-continent.

    The PM also urged the Sri Lankan government to become part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), saying joining the Belt and Road Initiative could open up new avenues for Sri Lanka with an opportunity to establish trade links with the Central Asian states via Gwadar.

    The PM, who is in Colombo on a two-day official visit, said political stability in the region by maintaining good relations with neighbouring countries would ensure a business-friendly environment.

    He said Pakistan and Sri Lanka could explore the idea of generating wealth through joint business activities and diverting the wealth to alleviate poverty. Imran offered the Sri Lankan businessmen to explore the immense opportunities offered by the government of Pakistan in the form of ease-of-doing business. He said his government would welcome and facilitate investment from the island nation.

    The PM mentioned that as Pakistan and Sri Lanka both suffered the brunt of terrorism in the past, their journey together towards development could make a difference. He expressed intent for Pakistan to learn from Sri Lanka’s advanced tourism industry and mentioned that he made the tourism minister part of his delegation to explore the area.

    Imran said Pakistan has a lot of undiscovered sites of religious tourism, including the Gandhara civilization. He added that a recently discovered 40-feet-long Sleeping Buddha could be of special interest for Sri Lankan tourists.

    In an effort to maintain good relations with neighbouring states, Imran Khan recalled his offer to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir dispute. To encourage trade ties with neighbours, he said, “maintaining amiable relations and living like civilized nations must be a priority”.

    Imran Khan emphasized that with 1.3 billion people, the South Asian region needed to resolve its mutual conflicts through dialogue for sustainable prosperity.

    On Tuesday, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations in diverse areas, including trade, investment, science and technology, and culture, as Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the Sri Lankan counterpart to become part of the CPEC.

    “My visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relationship [with Sri Lanka], especially trade and economic ties through enhanced connectivity…,” Prime Minister Imran Khan said while addressing a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa after holding one-on-one and delegation-level talks.

  • Tiger Woods suffers multiple leg injuries in single-car accident in Los Angeles

    Tiger Woods suffers multiple leg injuries in single-car accident in Los Angeles

    Tiger Woods was recovering from a major surgery on his right leg Tuesday evening at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center after being involved earlier in the day in a “high-speed” single-car accident outside Los Angeles.

    According to reports, Woods suffered “comminuted open fractures” to both the upper and lower portions of his tibia and fibula in his right leg, as well as damage to the ankle bones and trauma to the muscle and soft-tissue of the leg, according to an update released via his social media accounts on Tuesday night. A comminuted fracture is when a bone breaks into more than two pieces, and an open fracture suggests bone broke the skin.

    As part of the surgical procedure, Woods’ right leg was stabilised by inserting a rod into the tibia. Screws and pins were used to stabilise the bones in the foot and ankle. A surgical release of the covering of the muscle was also performed to relieve pressure due to swelling.

    Woods was the sole occupant of a 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV when he headed northbound on a downhill, windy portion of Hawthorne Ave., a two-lane road in Rancho Palos Verdes. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Woods was driving at a “relatively greater speed than normal” when his vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of the road at approximately 7:12 a.m. before veering off the road entirely and onto a hillside. A neighbour called 911 to alert authorities of the accident, and Woods was conscious when they arrived on the scene.

    Personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the interior of the vehicle Woods was driving remained intact. That, combined with the fact that Woods was wearing a seatbelt, allowed him to escape what “otherwise would have been a fatal crash,” according to Villanueva.

    There was no evidence of impairment, according to the sheriff’s department, and Woods was reportedly calm and lucid when authorities arrived at the scene.

    Woods’ longtime agent, Mark Steinberg, released a statement after the initial report of the crash, which occurred about 30 miles west of where Tiger grew up: “Tiger Woods was in a single-car accident this morning in California where he suffered multiple leg injuries. He is currently in surgery and we thank you for your privacy and support.”

    Woods, 45, was in California for a two-day content shoot with Golf Digest/GOLFTV after serving as host for the Genesis Invitational, which finished on Sunday. Pictures surfaced on social media of Woods smiling with Dwayne Wade and David Spade at Rolling Hills Country Club on Monday, but with his movement still restricted from the back procedure he had just a few months ago, he did not hit balls or play any holes. The shoot involved Woods giving on-course lessons to a number of celebrities, but he mostly provided instructions and hit a few putts. He was in good spirits on Monday but did not arrive at the course for the second day of shooting.

    Taking to Twitter, former US President Barack Obama wrote: “Sending my prayers to Tiger Woods and his family tonight—here’s to a speedy recovery for the GOAT of golf. If we’ve learned anything over the years, it’s to never count Tiger out.”

    On Sunday, Woods told a publication that he was waiting for the results of an upcoming MRI before he could ramp up practicing and training for a return to competition.