Author: newsdesk

  • Turkish actor Burak Deniz visits India, expresses admiration for Bollywood actors

    Turkish actor Burak Deniz visits India, expresses admiration for Bollywood actors

    Turkish actor Burak Deniz is currently in India to attend the 23rd edition of FICCI Frames in Mumbai. Deniz, a Bollywood fan, has expressed admiration for Indian celebrities in different interviews.

    During a talk with India Today he was asked if he has watched Indian movies. Burak Deniz expressed admiration for Aamir Khan and said that he has watched PK and 3 Idiots. “Who doesn’t love Aamir Khan? He is an actor but more than that he is involved in a lot of other activities. He is very impressive and the greatest actor in the world! I have a lot of respect for him,” he said, adding that he would love to act in a Bollywood film. “I’ll need to learn Hindi first and how to sing and dance,” he jokingly said.

    Burak Deniz was also captured on video mimicking Shah Rukh Khan’s renowned hand gesture, known as his signature pose. The video shows a host instructing Burak on how to execute the pose, but before he could finish the lesson, Burak seemed to grasp the reference and effortlessly performed the gesture.

    —-Video link—

  • AJK man legally transfers thousands of kanals to Maryam Nawaz

    Zahid Hussain, a man hailing from Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), handed down his land spread across thousands of kanals to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz via a legal procedure.

    He said that Maryam can use the land for whatever purpose she sees fit.

    On the legal deed, which has been shared on Twitter, the man stated, “I, Zahid Hussain, s/o Wilayat Hussain, hereby declare that I am of sound mind and have voluntarily decided to bequeath all the lands I possess, whether 50,000 kanals or 32,000 kanal, to Maryam Nawaz, d/o Nawaz Sharif, without any coercion or pressure from anyone”.

    Moreover, the affidavit stated that the PML-N leader is now the owner of 50 per cent of the property, excluding approximately 50 kanals which is the inheritance of Hussain’s children and other heirs, in the life of Mazhar (possibly an heir of Hussain). According to the man, she will be the owner of 100 per cent of the property, excluding the same as above, after Mazhar’s death.

    Reacting to the news, Maryam Nawaz said that it is “very touching”.

    “OMG! Why would he do that! It is very touching though,” Maryam wrote on Twitter.

  • Rawalpindi, Islamabad residents forced to buy low-quality flour at exorbitant prices

    Rawalpindi, Islamabad residents forced to buy low-quality flour at exorbitant prices

    Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are paying exorbitant prices for low-quality flour due to the poor performance of the District Food Department. The officials in charge have failed to take concrete steps to prevent smuggling and hoarding of flour, despite lip service and paperwork.

    As a result, locals are forced to pay more for flour than in any other city in the country. Dealers have hoarded ‘Atta’ and are selling a 15-kilogram bag for Rs2,300 to Rs2,650, while ‘Chakki’ owners are selling 1-kilogram ‘atta’ for Rs180 to Rs200. The price of a 20-kilogram ‘atta’ bag has reached Rs3,200 to Rs3,500 in retail shops.

    The Utility Store Corporation (USC) has resumed providing subsidized flour, but the quality is poor. The District Food Department and flour mill owners are working together to supply unhygienic flour at high prices. The department is not taking action to stop smuggling or control profiteers and hoarders, playing on both sides of the wicket.

    According to The News, District Food Controller (DFC) Hasan Nazir has admitted to a flour shortage in Rawalpindi and has written to the Secretary of Food (Punjab) to issue special permits for wheat supply. He assures the public that the ‘atta’ crisis will be resolved within weeks, and they are working to stop wheat smuggling, with over 600 wheat-filled vehicles stopped en route to Afghanistan.

    However, corrupt officials within the District Food Department are involved in wheat smuggling to Afghanistan via Torkham, and only ten vehicles are being stopped to show performance in the media while the officers let 90 vehicles go. The corrupt officials have several pending cases against them in the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Rawalpindi, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

    Despite Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif claiming a bumper wheat crop this year, residents are struggling to afford basic necessities due to the inflated price of flour. The Punjab government has set the price of 40-kilogram wheat at Rs3,900, but owners are violating this order and selling it for Rs5,400 to Rs6,000 in Rawalpindi. The situation is dire, with many struggling to afford basic necessities due to the inflated price of flour.

  • Rare show of unity as PTI calls out Indian FM for remarks about Bilawal

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Twitter strongly called out Indian Foreign Minister (FM) S. Jaishankar after he used undiplomatic language for Pakistan and its FM Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari post an important moot of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

    In a media conference, a visibly rattled Jaishankar called Bilawal a “promoter, justifier and spokesperson of a terrorism industry.”

    “Victims of terrorism do not sit together with its perpetrators to discuss terrorism,” he said, adding that “as a member of SCO, Bilawal was treated accordingly.”

    PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry put aside political differences to respond that the Indian FM should be ashamed for passing such remarks.

    “Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the war against terrorism, now the foreign minister of a Hindu extremist group, who is involved in the worst terrorism against its own citizens, should be ashamed of himself for speaking such nonsense.”

    Similarly, Zulfi Bukhari called this a petty act and reminded India of its values.

    He pointed out, “Whatever happened to mehman bhagwan hota hai? Or has that idea gone down the drain just like a secular India.”

    When Bilawal returned back to the country, he held a press conference to brief members of the media about his visit. He also responded to the remarks made by India’s FM, saying that he can’t do anything if their hatred has risen this much.

    Asking if he ever sat with any terrorist, Bilawal was of the view that India not only wants to declare every Muslim a terrorist but also him.

    The minister added that Pakistan itself is a victim of terrorism and is against any appeasement with terrorist organisations.

  • ‘Of course’: Bilawal confirms he shook hands with Indian FM but no bilateral engagement held

    ‘Of course’: Bilawal confirms he shook hands with Indian FM but no bilateral engagement held

    Pakistani Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who just wrapped up his visit to Goa, said that he did shake hands with his Indian counter partner S. Jaishankar at a dinner that was held in an unofficial capacity.

    During an interview with India Today, Bilawal said, “In all our unofficial engagements we always shake hands and we had dinner conversations amongst other foreign ministers but we did not hold a bilateral engagement.”

    Earlier, when both ministers greeted each other in front of the media they didn’t shake hands and this created headlines in India.

    Clearing up the confusion, Bilawal said that his aim to visit India was to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). “Unless India reviews the action it took on August 5, 2019 (abrogation of Article 370), Pakistan is not in a position to engage bilaterally with India.”

    When pointed out by a journalist that “Pakistan can’t sponsor terror directed against India”, the minister, taking a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said “This wolf whistling around the word terrorism which is ultimately an Islamophobic wolf whistle not only to whip up Hindu sentiment in India but also to brow beat Pakistan, that might be election strategy for some but not effective terrorism strategy”

    The Pakistani foreign minister said the country wishes to quell terrorism “not because India said it or the Indian government said so, but because we want to end this menace”. He said terrorism has caused the “largest number of casualties” in Pakistan among any of the other SCO countries.

    “India will have to explain what Kulbhushan Jadhav, a state actor, a navy commander, was doing in Pakistan carrying out terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil. Does that not come under cross-border terrorism?” he asked.

    Bilawal also reminded Indian Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai that Pakistan is the only country on Earth that has completed two Financial Action Task Force (FATF) objectives.

    He said that it is not productive for India to continue accusing Pakistan of sponsoring terror activities.

    Pointing out that India violated bilateral agreements and international agreements on Aug 5, 2019, by revoking the special status of Jammu Kashmir, Bilawal Bhutto also mentioned the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombing where around 70 people, mostly Pakistanis, were killed. “We are yet to see any justice,” he reminded Sardesai.

    He repeatedly said that both India and Pakistan have different perspectives on terrorism, adding that Pakistan is “willing to engage with any concerns that India might have but India will also have to address our concerns.”

  • Yasir Hussain thinks Pakistanis have become too cool to appreciate their artists

    Yasir Hussain thinks Pakistanis have become too cool to appreciate their artists

    In an Instagram story, actor Yasir Hussain has said that Pakistanis have become too cool to appreciate their own artists, referring to singer Ali Sethi not being appreciated enough for his performance at Coachella.

    “Diljit too went to Coachella and everyone in India was appreciating him. This is also a big achievement for a Pakistani artist. But, as usual, we did not appreciate it,” wrote Yasir.

    Ali Sethi performed at this year’s Coachella festival on April 16. Sethi sang his smash hit Coke Studio song Pasoori.

    Last year, Pasoori became the most Googled ‘hum to search’ song of 2022. Ali Sethi and Shae Gill’s iconic track left behind chartbusters like BTS’ Butter, Siravali and Chaand Baaliyan.

  • Number 1; Pakistan soars to top of ICC ODI ranking for the first time

    Number 1; Pakistan soars to top of ICC ODI ranking for the first time

    Pakistan beat New Zealand by 102 runs on Friday in Karachi to take a 4-0 lead in the ongoing five-match One-Day International (ODI) series.

    After defeating the Kiwis in the fourth ODI, Pakistan have now climbed to the number one spot in the ODI team rankings for the first time since ICC officially recognised the rankings in January 2005. Pakistan has now risen above its previous best of January 2007 when the squad reached the number three spot.

    Pakistan were fifth on the ODI rankings before the series against New Zealand started, with a rating of 106 points.

    However, to remain on top, Pakistan will have to ensure a clean sweep, winning the fifth and final ODI on Sunday, 7 May. A loss in the final ODI will see them slipping back to No.3 and Australia reclaiming their No.1 ranking.

    Pakistan will also remain on top if they win the fourth ODI and the fifth match is abandoned or yields a no-result.

  • Pixel Fold: Google’s first foldable phone to be unveiled next week

    Pixel Fold: Google’s first foldable phone to be unveiled next week

    Google will be introducing its first foldable phone, called the Pixel Fold, during the Google I/O 2023 event next week. The phone has a full-size outer display, which folds out similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold devices. While specifications for the Pixel Fold have not been announced, leaked marketing materials and a hands-on video show a triple camera setup, including a periscope lens similar to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

    The Pixel Fold is expected to be a 5.8-inch phone that folds out into a 7.6-inch tablet, with a Google Tensor G2 processor paired with 12 GB LPDDR5 RAM. The phone is 10 ounces in weight and has the “most durable hinge on a foldable.” The outer display will measure 7.6 inches with a resolution of 2208×1840 pixels, with both panels capable of achieving a maximum refresh rate of 120 Hz.

    The rear camera setup will feature a 48 MP main shooter with an f/1.7 aperture, a 10.8 MP telephoto with five times optical zoom, and a 10.8MP ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture. While the official price has not been announced, it is expected to be over $1,700, similar to Samsung’s latest foldable, the Z Fold 4, which launched at $1,799.

    The Pixel Fold was expected to launch last year but did not make the cut for I/O in 2022. However, rumors about the launch have persisted, and Google has been focusing on teaching Android developers to make their apps operational on larger screens and foldable devices. In addition to the Pixel Fold, Google has also announced plans to launch a new Pixel device in India, likely the Pixel 7a.

  • Woman kidnapped as baby reunited with parents after 51 years

    Woman kidnapped as baby reunited with parents after 51 years

    A United States (US) woman who was abducted when she was only 22 months old, was found by her family 51 years later. The announcement was made by The Fort Worth Police Department after completing DNA tests of the woman.

    Melissa Highsmith was kidnapped in 1971 by her babysitter as a toddler. Highsmith did not know that she was kidnapped nor did she know her parents were looking for her as she grew up. She also went by the name Melanie Brown.

    Melissa’s family took the help of a website that enables users to locate family members and construct a family history through DNA. This eventually led them to a woman in Fort Worth who was known as Melanie Brown.

    “WE FOUND MELISSA!!!”announced the family on Facebook on November 22.

    She was then reunited with her parents and two of her four siblings.

  • Oops! Imran will be formally charged in Toshakhana case next week

    Oops! Imran will be formally charged in Toshakhana case next week

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will be inducted in the Toshakhana case on May 10 (Wednesday), a judge of the Islamabad District and Sessions Courts Additional Sessions decided on Friday.

    The court also summoned Khan on May 10 to appear in person before the court, rejecting both applications by Imran Khan while giving a verdict in favour of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    PTI’s lawyers argued that the court can’t directly hear the Toshakhana case. However, the verdict was served.

    Recently, Khan got an extension in bail from Islamabad High Court (IHC) in multiple cases.

    Toshakhana has been at the center of a political storm since 2021 when Khan was accused of hiding details of state gifts he received during his tenure. A case and an investigation pertaining to the same are currently going on.

    Last year, ECP disqualified the PTI chief as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the case after he was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).