Category: Uncategorized

  • France’s Macron calls for ceasefire

    France’s Macron calls for ceasefire

    French President Emmanuel Macron has become the first Western leader to call on Israel to cease attacks on Gaza and killing civilians.

    In an interview with the BBC, Macron said, “These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed,” he said. “So there is no reason for that,” he added. “So we do urge Israel to stop,” he added

    He stressed that France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas and recognises Israel’s right to protect itself, however, “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza.

    “I hope they will,” the French president said when asked if he wanted other leaders – including in the United States and Britain – to join his calls for a ceasefire.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Macron’s comments with a swift rebuke, asserting that world leaders should condemn Hamas, not Israel.

    “These crimes that Hamas [is] committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,” Netanyahu said.

    Referring to the humanitarian conference on Gaza held in Paris, Macron said that all governments and agencies present at that summit had a clear conclusion that, “there is no other solution than first a humanitarian pause, going to a ceasefire to protect all civilians having nothing to do with terrorists”.

    Macron also remarked that “De facto – today, civilians are bombed – de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop,” he said.

  • TikTok influencer Megan Rice converts to Islam after starting Quran Book Club during Gaza genocide

    TikTok influencer Megan Rice converts to Islam after starting Quran Book Club during Gaza genocide

    TikTok influencer and writer Megan Rice went viral on social media when she began a World Religon book club to read the Holy Quran in light of the ongoing genocide of Gaza. In a video, the activist explained the purpose of the club was to combat Islamophobia, racism and understand the significance behind why Palestinian people hold the Quran and its teachings so close to them. This book club included celebrities like rapper Kehlani.

    @megan_b_rice Replying to @Sabrina #quran #discord #theworldreligionbookclub #islam ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

    Now Megan Rice uploaded a video announcing she had converted to Islam after a viral video showed her taking the Shahada.

    In a recent video uploaded on her TikTok account, Megan slammed the users telling her to be mindful about her decision because embracing Islam would mean more conservatives would come after her. In her video, Megan criticised such users and shared the purpose of her club was to educate everyone about Islam as well as other religions. She only chose to convert to Islam after she found its teachings resonating with her own personal beliefs.

    @megan_b_rice

    Y’all I’m just trying to get everyone to love eachother! DASSIT!!!

    ♬ original sound – Megan Rice

  • ‘For every Hamas member killed, how many have you created’: Elon Musk’s take on Gaza has left Twitter dumbfounded

    ‘For every Hamas member killed, how many have you created’: Elon Musk’s take on Gaza has left Twitter dumbfounded

    If Elon Musk has understood it, no one has any excuse to ‘both sides’ what is happening in Gaza.

    It seems the glitch in the matrix finally happened when an interview clip of Elon Musk went viral where he was seen discussing the situation in Gaza. The CEO of X (formerly Twitter) started by saying that Hamas committed the atrocities of October 7 to initiate an aggressive response from the Israeli military, and also rally the cause of Muslims worldwide. He further goes on to say Israel shouldn’t fuel hatred by citing that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”, stressing that Israeli forces should provide facilities to the people in Gaza like medical aid, food, water to ensure that the violence ends.

    “For every Hamas member you killed how many did you create?” Elon questioned”…And it’s safe to say that if you killed somebody’s child in Gaza, you’ve made at least a few Hamas members.”

    We’re not going to applaud Elon, who has a history of problematic behavior, over a small statement, but we have to say that the crisis in Gaza isn’t so complex or confusing that even someone like Elon can understand. Never did we think there would come a day when social media users would agree with Elon Musk.

  • Arooj Aftab bags two nominations at the Grammy Awards

    Arooj Aftab bags two nominations at the Grammy Awards

    The nominations for this year’s Grammy awards were announced on Friday night and among the nominees was Pakistani-American singer Arooj Aftab. Aftab was nominated under ‘Best Alternative Jazz Album” for her album ‘Love In Exile’ as well as for the category ‘Best Collaborative Music Performance’ for her single ‘Shadow Forces’.

    Arooj shared a screenshot of the nominations on her Instagram stories.

    She shared another picture with singers Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily and wrote: “Congratulations on the Grammy nomination! Here we go again.”

    In 2022, Arooj became the first ever Pakistani to win the Grammy award under the category of ‘Best Global Performance’.

  • Bilawal believes, PML-N, MQM alliance will benefit PPP

    Bilawal believes, PML-N, MQM alliance will benefit PPP

    Commenting on the electoral alliance recently formed between Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), asserted on Friday that the coalition would prove advantageous for his party in the upcoming general election.

    Earlier this week, PML-N and MQM-P, former allies of the PPP in the Centre, declared their intention to collaborate in the upcoming general elections. This alliance has the potential to influence election outcome in urban areas of Sindh.

    The development occurred amidst the escalating war of words between the PPP and PML-N, following the announcement by the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct elections in the country on February 8, 2024.

    The romance between the two former allies ended after the PDM-led coalition government completed its term in August, and both the PPP and PML-N locked horns over election-related issues.

    During an interaction with journalists in Safari Park, they PPP chairman said: “We worked hard to make him [Shehbaz Sharif] prime minister. It was the need of the hour.”

    He emphasised that the decision was intended to address the ongoing political and democratic crisis in the country. The PPP leader highlighted that, during the government led by the PDM, his party contributed to the betterment of Sindh.

  • Indonesia: Chief Justice dismissed over decision in favor of the President’s son

    Indonesia: Chief Justice dismissed over decision in favor of the President’s son

    A judicial panel in Indonesia has dismissed the Chief Justice of the country over allegations of conflict of interest. It was reported that Chief Justice Anwar Usman gave a verdict in favour of President Joko Widodo’s son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

    Last month, Chief Justice who happened to be the President’s relative, gave a ruling regarding the age limit of vice-presidential elections, a decision critics saw as favouring him to a great extent. The controversy led to an outrage resulting in his dismissal by the panel of judges in the top court.

    The judicial panel found him guilty of violating the ethical code of judges as he is the brother-in-law of the president and should have remained neutral but he could not recuse himself.

    The panel was asked to investigate the conduct of judges amid public outcry after they ruled that the minimum age requirement of 40 need not apply to election candidates who had previously held elected office. The ruling was made just days before the start of registration for the 2024 election. The 36-year-old, already serving as a mayor of Surakarta city, was able to register for the election of the vice president.

    The panel has decided that Justice Anwar can serve as one of the nine judges of the court but must not take part in any election-related cases in the future as those fall under a conflict of interest. The rest of the eight judges have also been reprimanded by the panel.

    Criticism against the decision stemmed from the public seeing the step as part of Widodo’s aim of forming a dynasty by appointing his son the the vice-president. He himself has completed two terms and has not backed any candidate formally for upcoming elections.

  • More than 50 per cent of housing units damaged: What we know about day 35

    More than 50 per cent of housing units damaged: What we know about day 35

    Tens of thousands flee northern Gaza on Thursday

    The UN’s humanitarian office’s (OCHA) reported that more than 50,000 people fled Northern Gaza towards the south whereas in the north, hundreds of thousands are struggling to survive with minimal amounts of water and food.

    The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has opened two shelters and is now hosting 582,000 displaced Palestinians in 92 facilities in the south amidst overcrowdedness.

    Israel does not ‘seek to govern Gaza’

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an interview to Fox News in which he said that the Israeli army will proceed with its offensive in Gaza until Hamas is “eradicated”.

    “Nothing will stop that,” he added.

    He also asserted that there will be no ceasefire unless the hostages held in Gaza are freed. Instead, he announced four-hour “pauses” in fighting in Gaza.

    “The fighting continues against the Hamas enemy,” he said. “But in specific locations, for a given period of a few hours here, a few hours there, we want to facilitate the safe passage of civilians away from the zone of fighting.”

    Human rights groups, however, have asserted that the “pauses” are not enough, and that an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian aid is the need of the hour.

    243 more Palestinians killed in Gaza in 24-hour period

    The UN humanitarian affairs office reported that two Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon in addition to 243 Palestinians.

    More than 50 per cent of housing units wrecked

    The media office of Gaza has revealed that Israeli attacks have led to the destruction of more than 50 per cent of housing units across Gaza — around 40,000 housing units.

    Moreover, about 32,000 tons of explosives have dropped since October 7.

    Al Jazeera reports that according to the government media, the “estimated preliminary losses in the housing sector and infrastructure” are approximately $2bn each.

    War’s effect on Palestinian economy

    The UN Development Program has released a report revealing that as a month has passed since Israel began its attacks on Gaza, Palestinian gross domestic product (GDP) was expected to have declined by about 4.2 percent in contrast to pre-war estimates for 2023 — a loss of about $857m.

    It has been estimated that if the war continues for another month, the loss would increase to 8.4 percent of GDP, or $1.7bn whereas in third month it would rise to 12.2 per cent of GDP, or $2.5bn.

    Additionally, around 390,000 jobs have been lost — 182,000 in Gaza and 208,000 in the occupied West Bank.

    Poverty is also expected to rise 20-45 percent, depending on the duration of the war.

    Credits: Al Jazeera

  • Find out when Tere Bin season 2 is coming to your screens

    After a critically acclaimed first season, ‘Tere Bin’ is set to make a big comeback. The producer behind the hit series, Abdullah Kadwani, has announced the series is set to release on Friday, December 29, the perfect way to start the new year.

    “Exciting news for fans of “Tere Bin”! The highly anticipated announcement of “Tere Bin Season 2″ is set for Friday December 29, 2023.. Get ready for more heartwarming moments .. Mark your calendars for this eagerly awaited revelation. InshALLAH, it’s going to be fantastic & I promise you would love it…”

    The Geo Entertainment drama series stars Yumna Zaidi and Wahaj Ali as two complete opposites who fall in love. Meerab is a headstrong, fearless woman whose dream is to become a lawyer. Her family has arranged her marriage to Murtasim, a member of a conservative, land owning family where women are different from Meerab’s fiery nature. Despite them being opposites, the two keep falling in love with each other.

    Abdullah Kadwani announced the sequel to the drama in July in a group picture with Yumna and Wahaj. He thanked the fans for their dedication and love that turned ‘Tere Bin’ into a success.

    “Tere Bin phenomenal journey comes to an end achieving unprecedented milestones in the history of Pakistani entertainment. We thank Almighty ALLAH for making #TereBin the biggest blockbuster❤️. I and Asad Qureshi extend our heartfelt gratitude to audiences worldwide for their immense love and support towards our creation.
    A big shout out to the visionary leadership of Asad Qureshi, who has been the driving force behind #TereBin‘s remarkable success.
    Hats off to the outstanding performances of Wahaj Ali and Yumna Zaidi, who have brilliantly portrayed the lead characters in #TereBin. Their extraordinary talent & magical on-screen chemistry ❤️❤️have mesmerised the viewers, making Murtasim and Meerub’s story even more unforgettable …
    A heartfelt shoutout to the director Siraj ul Haq and the writer Nooran Makhdoom for their exceptional direction & storytelling that kept us hooked till the very end.
    We are also honored to have worked with the legendary actor Bushra Ansari & our other star cast members in this drama … Their remarkable portrayal of characters has added depth and richness to the narrative …
    We feel that it is essential to acknowledge the relentless efforts and dedication of the remarkable teams at Geo Entertainment and 7th Sky Entertainment. Well done Team Geo & Team 7th Sky … Your combined brilliance has paved the way for this unforgettable drama to touch the hearts of billions.
    To our incredible cast, crew, and every individual who poured their heart and soul into making #TereBin a true masterpiece, we extend our deepest gratitude.
    And now, in response to the overwhelming love and support from our amazing audience, we are thrilled to announce that we will be launching #TereBin Season 2! Stay tuned for more exciting updates and details …”

  • In U-turn, US admits Gaza deaths likely ‘higher than being cited’: US official

    Barbara Leaf, a senior Biden administration official said the death toll in the Gaza Strip is possibly significantly “higher than is being cited” — marking a U-turn in what critics called US policy to underplay the deaths. .

    Previously, President Biden and other pro-Israel Congress members questioned the death toll reported by the Health Ministry in Gaza, deeming it an exaggeration and doubting their accuracy as they allegedly operate under Hamas.

    “In this period of conflict and conditions of war, it is very difficult for any of us to assess what the rate of casualties are,” she said on Wednesday during the hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “We think they’re very high, frankly, and it could be that they’re even higher than are being cited.”

    “We’ll know only after the guns fall silent. We take in sourcing from a variety of folks who are on the ground,” she added. “I can’t stipulate to one figure or another, it’s very possible they’re even higher than is being reported.”

    Leaf, however, sided with Biden’s decision to hold back on pressuring Israel to a cease-fire as the administration is urging Israel to agree to humanitarian pauses for recovery of some captives, exit of foreign nationals, and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

  • Fiza Ali wants you to know even divorced couples can remain on good terms

    Fiza Ali wants you to know even divorced couples can remain on good terms

    Actress and television host Fiza Ali has made an important point on how couples can remain good friends and still choose to end their marriage together.

    Speaking on the morning talk show ‘Good Morning Pakistan’, the actress opened up about her divorce and feeling disheartened by the way her colleagues discussed her ex-husband Fawad Farooq. Fiza said she left acting after feeling upset with how mutual friends of the couple would backbite about him to her, even though there was no bad blood between the two when they separated.

    “Whatever issues I had with Fawad, it doesn’t give an outsider the right to step up and abuse him in this manner. Especially when I haven’t said anything about him, as a friend why are you backbiting about him?”

    Fiza said misbehaviour shown by people was something she couldn’t handle, especially how friends kept urging her to open up about how she suffered during her marriage, when the two remained close after their divorce.

    “I was never abused or beaten during my marriage, Fawad was not that kind of person! There can be several reasons why a couple can end their marriage and it doesn’t solely mean abuse was innvolved.”

    We’re happy to see Fiza being upfront about this issue because too often, Pakistani society loves assuming that the only time a couple should end their marriage is when there is abuse involved. Getting a divorce shouldn’t only be offered as an option in such circumstances, because there are several reasons why couples can feel incompatible and chose to divorce.

    Fizza’s statement is also extremely important for audiences to remember that every person is entitled to their privacy. Rather than making assumptions on her behalf and jumping the gun, learn to leave others alone and mind your business!