Author: newsdesk

  • Sehar Mirza addresses criticism of her wedding without groom

    Sehar Mirza addresses criticism of her wedding without groom

    Sehar Mirza, sister of famous Pakistani TikToker Jannat Mirza, has responded to criticism about her wedding celebrations and nikah without a groom present there.

    TikToker and social media star Sehar Mirza said in an Instagram post and story that those who criticized the ‘virtual wedding’ should find happiness in others’ joy.
    Sehar Mirza wrote in her story, “This message is for those asking where the groom is and saying these ceremonies were a waste of money. The groom will come soon.”
    “These events were for me, not for the boys. After getting married, I had to leave for my husband’s house. I didn’t want to stay.”
    “When my husband arrives we will have bigger celebrations,” the TikToker wrote.

  • Zainab Abbas questions Shoaib Malik on fitness after third marriage

    Zainab Abbas questions Shoaib Malik on fitness after third marriage

    Shoaib Malik, the middle order batting all-rounder for Pakistan who recently got married, opened up during the mid-inning break in the Pakistan Super League 2024 sixth match between Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings. Sports journalist Zainab Abbas praised Shoaib Malik for his fitness and congratulated him on his marriage during the innings break.

    “You’re looking even fitter after getting married. What’s the secret,” Zainab asked, to which Shoaib Malik replied: “Eat clean, work hard and enjoy whatever you do.”

    Malik faced harsh criticism on social media for his recent marrige with Sana Javed, following his divorce from Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza, without making any formal announcement of his split or divorce.

  • Indian Sikh woman marries Sialkot man after embracing Islam

    Indian Sikh woman marries Sialkot man after embracing Islam

    Jaspreet Kaur, a Sikh woman of Indian origin currently residing in Germany, has married a man from Sialkot, Pakistan, after embracing Islam on the hands of senior parliamentarian Hafiz Sahibzada Hamid Raza at Jamia Hanfia in Sialkot.

    Kaur was given the Muslim name Zainab after she married Ali Arsalan.

    The administrators of Jamia Hanfia said the bride’s parents were Indian nationals but they lived in Germany. Zainab also resides in Munich.
    Her father’s name is Singara Singh, a resident of Ludhiana.

    The woman came to Pakistan on January 16 for a pilgrimage. She has been issued a single-entry visa valid till April 15, reported the Express Tribune.
    She holds an Indian passport obtained in Germany. She married Ali, a resident of Sialkot, after falling in love abroad.

    Express Tribune has reported that Ali had invited her to Pakistan.

    The administrators said more than 200 non-Muslims have embraced Islam at the hands of Sahibzada Hamid Raza and his father.

  • Indian actress Rakul Preet Singh marries Jackky Bhagnani

    Indian actress Rakul Preet Singh marries Jackky Bhagnani

    Bollywood stars Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani have gotten married in a glittering ceremony in Goa, with family and close friends present at the ceremony.

    The bride and groom looked happy in love in their coordinating wedding outfits in the photos shared on social media.

    Rakul Preet Singh posted pictures with her husband on her Instagram account, captioning them ‘Now and Forever Mine.’

    Besides Rakul Preet, actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra, as well as Varun Dhawan and his wife Natasha Dalal, also joined the celebration. Bhumi Pednekar even shared the picture with the couple and wished them luck.

  • More than half of world’s population could face measles outbreak by end of 2024: WHO

    More than half of world’s population could face measles outbreak by end of 2024: WHO

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that if urgent measures are not taken, more than half of the world’s countries may face a measles outbreak by the end of the year.

    During a press conference in Geneva, WHO said that many countries have not been vaccinating against measles this year.“What we are worried about is this year, 2024, we’ve got these big gaps in our immunisation programmes and if we don’t fill them really quickly with the vaccine, measles will just jump into that gap,” stated Natasha Crowcroft, a senior technical adviser on Measles and Rubella.

    She called for urgent action to protect children, saying there was a “lack of commitment” by governments given competing issues like economic crises and conflict.

    According to data from the World Health Organization, last year measles cases worldwide increased by 79 percent.

    Death rates are higher in poorer countries due to weaker health systems, Crowcroft said, adding that outbreaks and deaths were also a risk for middle and high-income countries.

  • Public health concerns mount as essential drug prices increase

    Public health concerns mount as essential drug prices increase

    The interim government announced on Wednesday a price adjustment affecting 146 essential drugs, aligning with the decision made by the federal cabinet on February 1, 2024.

    The Ministry of National Health Services and Regulations issued a notification invoking its authority under Section 36 of the Drug Act 1976, stating that all drugs and biological substances not included in the National Essential Medicines List are exempt from Section 12 of the act in the public interest.

    This decision stems from a federal cabinet meeting chaired by interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on February 1, 2024. The move, categorised under hardship, was endorsed based on the recommendation of the National Health Services Ministry. The ministry highlighted the escalating costs of raw materials for drug manufacturing in the global market.

    Officials from the National Health Services Ministry and the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) informed the cabinet that citizens could report medicine unavailability through the pharmaceutical industry regulator’s online portal.

    Primarily targeting vital medications like those for cancer treatment, vaccines, and antibiotics, the decision, communicated through a drug price hike notification, was based on a proposal from the Drug Regulatory Authority, suggesting price increases for 262 medicines. However, the government opted to implement adjustments for 146 medicines crucial to saving lives.

    According to Brecorder, among the medicines listed for price increments, pharmaceutical companies are tasked with adjusting the prices of 116 medications.

    Significantly, the government will now oversee the prices of 464 medicines included in the National Essential Medicines List, ensuring the accessibility of critical medications to the public.

    The government’s decision to deregulate drug prices grants pharmaceutical companies autonomy to adjust prices independently, marking a significant shift in pharmaceutical pricing governance that may reshape the healthcare industry’s landscape.

    As stakeholders assess the implications, concerns regarding affordability and access to life-saving medications emerge. While the government seeks to balance the viability of pharmaceutical companies with public health interests, the consequences of these adjustments warrant scrutiny and debate.

    However, following the cabinet’s approval of the price increase, a shortage of essential drugs was observed in both the wholesale and retail markets. Drug distributors and retailers attribute this to manufacturers awaiting formal notification from the Health Ministry regarding the price increase before releasing supplies to the market.

    This practice has resulted in significant patient suffering, as Mohammad Samiullah Awan, a drug retailer, highlights. While the notification’s issuance may ensure medicine availability, it further burdens already financially strained consumers grappling with price hikes.

  • PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets

    PSL 9: Multan Sultans defeats Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets

    In the seventh match of HBL Pakistan Super League 9, Multan Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars by 5 wickets and achieved their third consecutive victory in the event.

    Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi won the toss and decided to bat first.

    Lahore Qalandar’s inning

    Lahore Qalandars scored 166 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs, van der Dusen was prominent by scoring 54 runs.

    Apart from this, Fakhar Zaman scored 41 runs, Sikandar Raza scored 23 runs, Jahandad Khan scored 16 runs, while Sahibzada Farhan was out by scoring 2 runs. Abdullah Shafiq scored 6 runs and Braithwaite remained unbeaten by scoring 15 runs.

    For Multan, Muhammad Ali took 2 wickets, Abbas Afridi and Usama Mir took one wicket each.

    Multan Sultan’s innings

    Multan Sultans achieved the target of 167 runs against Lahore Qalandars for the loss of 5 wickets in 19 overs.

    Captain Muhammad Rizwan was prominent by scoring 82 runs while Iftikhar Ahmed played an unbeaten innings of 34 runs off 11 balls to bring success to the team.

    It should be noted that Lahore Qalandars lost both their matches so far while Multan Sultans won both their matches.

  • Gold rate increases to Rs215,200 per tola

    Gold rate increases to Rs215,200 per tola

    In Wednesday’s market update, the price of 24-karat gold exhibited an upward trend, surging by Rs750 per tola and reaching Rs215,200 per tola.

    The Karachi Sarafa Association noted a marginal gain in the price of 10-gramme 24-karat gold, which stood at Rs184,500, marking an increase of Rs644 from the previous session. Similarly, the price of 10-gramme 22-karat gold experienced an uptick, reaching Rs169,124.

    Global traders are currently anticipating the release of the US Federal Reserve’s meeting minutes on January 30 and 31. This event is expected to provide valuable insights into the economic outlook and potential policy shifts.

    Contrastingly, silver prices remained stable, with 24-karat silver maintaining a selling price of Rs2,580 per tola, and 10-gramme silver being traded at Rs2,211.93.

    It’s noteworthy that domestic gold concluded the previous week in the red zone, influenced by a downturn in international prices. Speaking of global trends, international spot gold hovered around $2,028, showing a 0.2 per cent change compared to the preceding session.

    Market participants are keenly awaiting the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January policy meeting, scheduled for release on Wednesday, which are anticipated to provide valuable insights into the central bank’s stance and potential future monetary policy adjustments.

  • Fake social media profile pretending to be Vidya Balan caught trying to take money

    Fake social media profile pretending to be Vidya Balan caught trying to take money

    How gullible do you have to be to believe a famous Bollywood actress will try to swindle you for money?

    According to Indian media reports, a fake account surfaced on Instagram under the name of Vidya Balan, offering jobs to people but demanding money in return.
     
    Mumbai police have filed an FIR against the unknown person behind the fake account.

    Balan, who has a large number of followers on social media, was concerned when the account popped up.
     
    Indian media reports state that police have initiated investigations into the fake social media account.

    Maybe the next time people will send money to a fake Salman Khan account offering them bodybuilding tips.

  • PSL 9: Karachi Kings defeats Peshawar Zalmi by 7 wickets

    PSL 9: Karachi Kings defeats Peshawar Zalmi by 7 wickets

    In the sixth match of Pakistan Super League 9, Karachi Kings defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 7 wickets thanks to Kieron Pollard’s brilliant innings.

    Kings captain Shan Masood won the toss and invited Zalmi to bat.

    Peshawar Zalmi’s inning

    Zalmi’s team looked in trouble from the start, Shoaib Malik dismissed Saim Ayub for zero, then Mohammad Haris scored 6 runs and was dismissed by Mir Hamza.

    On behalf of Peshawar Zalmi, captain Babar Azam was outstanding by scoring 72 runs, besides Tom Kohler Cadmore 2, Roman Powell 39, Asif Ali 23, Aamir Jamal 1, Lockwood returned to the pavilion by scoring 8 runs.

    Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali took three wickets each for Karachi Kings.

    Karachi King’s inning

    Karachi Kings easily achieved Peshawar Zalmi’s target of 155 runs in the 17th over, Kieron Pollard scoring 49 runs and James Vince 38 runs unbeaten. Kieron pollard inning included 4 sixes and 4 fours.

    Peshawar Zalmi has lost their two out of two matches in the ongoing PSL season 9.