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  • Bollywood stars step in to support India’s battle against COVID

    Bollywood stars step in to support India’s battle against COVID

    Bollywood bigwigs including Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Sunil Shetty among others have stepped in to support India in the battle against COVID-19, donating money and collecting resources, and urging citizens to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.

    Here is a list of those who have offered help:

    Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna

    Bollywood’s power couple, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna donated 100 oxygen concentrators and urged everyone to do whatever they can to help fight COVID-19.

    “Wonderful news – Dr Drashnika Patel and Dr Govind Bankani of London Elite Health through Daivik Foundation are donating 120 oxygen concentrators and as Akshay and I have managed to get our hands on 100 as well, we have a total of 220,” wrote Twinkle on social media. “Let’s all do our bit.”

    Khanna also shared that she was in a ‘bit of a hole’ for some time as her family was facing health issues. Kumar recently recovered from COVID after getting treatment at a Mumbai hospital.

    Previously, the couple had sent out monetary aid to various initiatives and contributed towards the welfare of policemen, hospital staff, frontline workers, and even daily wage workers of the film industry.

    Meanwhile, former cricketer Gautam Gambhir revealed that Kumar also donated Rs 1 crore to his foundation for coronavirus relief including food, medication and oxygen.

    Suniel Shetty

    Shetty has also arranged oxygen cylinders to bridge the shortage in India. He has launched an initiative urging his fans to contribute to ‘Mission MillionAir’ in an effort to provide free oxygen to those who can’t afford adequate healthcare in India.

    Ayushmann Khurrana

    Khurrana and his wife Tahira Kashyap have donated to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s Relief Fund to help aid people crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

    In a note posted on social media, Khurrana thanked each and every person who has constantly inspired the couple to contribute more towards helping people ravaged by the health crisis.

    “We have been in the eye of the storm since last year. This pandemic has broken our hearts, made us endure pain and suffering like never before, showed us how solidarity with one another can make us handle this humanitarian crisis,” read the couple’s statement.

    “Today, again, this pandemic asks us to show fortitude, resilience and mutual support. People, across India, have stepped forward to do as much as possible for each other and Tahira and I thank each and every individual who has inspired us to do more,” it added.

    Khurrana and Kashyap requested more Indians to step forward and help aid people in need.

    Salman Khan

    Khan restarted his food trucks to distribute food packets among the frontline workers in Mumbai.

    Sonu Sood

    Actor Sonu Sood is leading the charge, transporting sick patients, providing medication and encouraging people to get vaccinated as the coronavirus death toll crosses 200,000 in India. Sood, who also fought off the virus, took to his Instagram to urge more people to come forward and help those who are suffering due to COVID-19. He posted a screen recording of his phone that shows the actor has been getting messages from people asking for help continuously. He says he is trying to help as many people as possible. “The speed at which we get requests across the country. Trying my best to reach out to everyone. Everyone…Please come forward. We need more helping hands. Do your best to the best of your capabilities,” he wrote.

    Kirron Kher

    Kher, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, stated she had allocated Rs10 million from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) to purchase ventilators for COVID-19 patients by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh.

    Meanwhile, others like Ajay Devgn, Katrina Kaif, Sidharth Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan, Kunal Kapoor, Mira Rajput and Bhumi Pednekar have been using social media to amplify the voices of those in need.

    India passed 200,000 COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday, becoming the fourth country to do so, as it battles a devastating second wave of infections.

  • Prince Harry’s exit had been a long time plan of another member of the royal fam

    Prince Harry’s exit had been a long time plan of another member of the royal fam

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s sudden exit from the Royal family and move to California sent waves of shock across the world leaving royal fans baffled and shocked.

    Interestingly, renowned royal biographer, Angela Levin told talkRadio that Prince Harry actually quit being a member of the royal to do something Prince Charles had always wanted for a long time. Levin claims that Harry’s farewell to royalty was actually a selfless attempt to “cut the monarchy down in the future and save cash so that people be worth the money they paid for taxes”.

    “This is something Prince Charles had wanted as well,” added Levin, explaining that the Queen does not approve of the “cutting down the monarchy”. According to Levin, the Queen very rigid when it comes to changes especially ones involving monarchy restructuring.

    Levin even referred to the Queen’s lifelong attempt to hold the Royal family together as nothing more than a “sentimental gesture”.

    She said that all that would change when Charles assumes the throne and the new slimmed down royal family will include only Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, and his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and their three children.

    Those not in the smaller, inner circle may have to enter the public workforce to support themselves financially and could lose their patronages or titles.

    The news comes amid rumours that Prince Harry might cancel his upcoming trip to the UK in July after the “very, very cold reception” he received from the royal family at Prince Philip’s funeral.

    A royal expert has claimed that Harry may also reconsider his return for the unveiling of a statue of his late mother Princess Diana.

    “Some quarters of the family did give him a frosty reception and perhaps that did shock him somewhat,” Russell Myers told talkRADIO, adding the birth of Harry and Meghan’s second baby could provide a “convenient excuse” not to “face the family”.

    The statue of Princess Diana was commissioned to mark the twentieth anniversary of her death and recognise her efforts for her country and those across the world. It will be installed in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021, marking what would have been her 60th birthday. The statue had been commissioned by Harry and William two years ago and at this stage, it is one of their only joint ventures.

  • Asim Azhar urges students to sit home, cancel parties after exams postponed

    Asim Azhar, who had backed students on multiple occasions and rallied for their exams to be cancelled, has now urged them to cancel all parties and get-togethers and sit home till COVID ends. The Federal Government on Tuesday had announced that all exams have been cancelled till June 15 in view of rising coronavirus cases.

    “Mubarak bacho,” wrote Asim, after the news of the cancellation came.

    “Ab khuda ka waasta hai parties aur get togethers bhi cancel karna apne aur ghar baithna until we’re done with COVID,” he added.

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Tuesday had announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle. Students had long been demanding the government to cancel exams arguing that their study schedules had been disrupted due to COVID-19 and that they had been unable to prepare for the exams.

    Other celebrities including Mehwish Hayat, Adnan Siddiqui and Falak Shabir also appreciated the government’s decision to cancel exams.

    Meanwhile, Aijaz Aslam is disappointed that government is not considering the option of grade assessment.

    “What a mess this examination process has become,” remarked the actor.

    After the cancellation of exams, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media. Students are arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are demanding Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) and School Assessed Grades (SAGs).

  • Students accuse Shafqat Mahmood of ‘destroying careers’, demand resignation

    After Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood announced on Tuesday that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media.

    Students are arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are demanding Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) and School Assessed Grades (SAGs). On the other hand, some are even proposing other ways of promoting the students without exams.

    https://twitter.com/dauddogar/status/1387313554647363585

    https://twitter.com/ahmedhaseeb48/status/1387315787459928065

    https://twitter.com/RajaAliuzZaman2/status/1387304518354935808?s=20

    Pakistan is currently experiencing a deadly third wave of COVID-19 with fears of an India-like situation. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 5292 cases and 201 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

  • William, Kate play with sheep, drive tractors

    William, Kate play with sheep, drive tractors

    After going through a depressive period following Prince Philip’s death and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton headed out to the countryside, driving to a lush green farm in County Durham, where they took a sustainable farming tour. The visit took place two days before the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary.

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also met the farmers’ nine and seven-year-old daughters who described the encounter as “nerve-wracking” as they didn’t expect the royal couple to be this kind.

    According to the couple’s official Instagram account, Kensington Royal, Kate and William took turns riding a GPS-controlled tractor, discussed mental health issues arising due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and talked about future targets for sustainable farming to address climate change issues.

    They were also shown some of the tools used at the farm including grass monitoring, land rotation and feed sampling to improve productivity and ensure that they are able to give back to the environment and increase their sustainability.

    Their second visit of the day was to a local youth project Cheesy Waffles Project which benefitted from donations from the couple’s Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund in 2011. The project supports children, young people and adults with additional needs aged 7 to 35 from across County Durham.

    During their trip there, Kate and William, tried their hand at golf and took part in an art project.

    Meanwhile, the Queen also undertook her first public engagement since Prince Philip’s funeral holding two virtual meetings from Windsor Castle with the Ambassador from Latvia and the Ambassador from Côte d’Ivoire.

  • ‘Absolute rubbish’ – Govt reacts to ex-FIA chief’s accusations

    ‘Absolute rubbish’ – Govt reacts to ex-FIA chief’s accusations

    Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability Shahzad Akbar have denied serious allegations levelled by ex-FIA director general (DG) Bashir Memon.

    Reacting to Memon’s statement, wherein he had accused PM Imran among others of framing Justice Qazi Faez Isa and major political player, the premier’s adviser on accountability Akbar vehemently rejected the same.

    He said Memon had committed “slander” and said he had directed his lawyers to initiate legal action against the former head of the FIA.

    “Just seen absolute rubbish uttered by Bashir Memon on Shahzeb show. He was never called for any meeting with PM or myself on QFI (Qazi Faez Isa) issue, and there was no meeting with law minister and him as he claims,” he said in a tweet, “similarly he was never told to start any case against any specific individual. Only case referred to FIA was of sedition by the fed cabinet. I have instructed lawyers in personal capacity to initiate legal action for his slander.”

    Law minister Naseem said all allegations levelled by Memon were false and baseless, adding that he never spoke a word to the former DG FIA about Justice Isa. He also pinpointed that Azam Khan, Shahzad Akbar and Bashir Memon had never showed up at his office, contrary to Memon’s allegations.

    “PM Imran Khan, Azam Khan, or Shahzad Akbar never told me that they had a word about Justice Isa with Bashir Memon,” he added.

  • ‘Chupke Chupke’ memes take over the internet

    ‘Chupke Chupke’ memes take over the internet

    Hum TV’s Chupke Chupke, starring Osman Khalid Butt, Ayeza Khan, Mira Sethi, Asma Abbas, Tara Mahmood, Aymen Saleem, Farhan Ali Agha, Ali Safina and Arsalan Naseer among others, has become a hot favourite with the audiences this Ramzan. While the drama itself is a comedy, it has also given memers a chance to showcase their talent and add to the humour.

    Here are a few memes giving us a good laugh.

    https://twitter.com/mominaak_/status/1384238587273613321?s=20
    https://twitter.com/Chupkechupkey/status/1384575500455194627?s=20

    Read more – Osman Khalid Butt defends ‘Chupke Chupke’ for ‘presenting ghar damads in negative light’

    Written by Saima Akram Chaudhry of Suno Chanda fame, Chupke Chupke has been directed by Danish Nawaz.

  • Aamir Liaquat responds to allegations of third marriage

    Aamir Liaquat responds to allegations of third marriage

    Aamir Liaquat has shut down all rumours of a third marriage, saying that he has only one wife and that is Syeda Tuba Aamir.

    Read more- Bushra Iqbal says Aamir Liaquat divorced her over the phone

    Liaquat made these remarks after a video of actor and model Haniya Khan claiming to be his emerged on social media a few days ago. Khan also claimed that she attempted suicide five times and accused Tuba of using black magic on her. She also alleged that Liaquat turned her family against her.

    Responding to the allegations, Liaquat in a video message said: “Everyone complains about talkative women, but no one marries a mute woman. Everyone wants to marry a woman that can speak.”

    “I only have one marriage, which is with Tuba,” he added, before going to recite some poetic versus.

    Meanwhile, in an interview with a local YouTube channel, Liaquat asserted that he does not have a third wife, saying: “I came to know this family when they came to the Parliament Lodges. I helped by giving them Rs 25000 for groceries.”

    Liaquat also accused Haniya of being mentally ill saying: “Agar aik aadmi ko mohabbat ho gae hai mujh se to me kia karskta hun (If someone has fallen in love with me what can I do).”

  • Did you know Priyanka Chopra’s mother is a fan of Sheheryar Munawar?

    Did you know Priyanka Chopra’s mother is a fan of Sheheryar Munawar?

    Sheheryar Munawar has revealed that Priyanka Chopra’s mother was a fan of his acting in the drama Kahi Unkahi.

    Read more – Sheheryar Munawar reacts to his viral interview with ‘The Current’

    Recalling the time when he worked with Chopra on a project in 2015, Munawar in a recent interview, said that Priyanka called him during the shoot and told him that her mother is a fan.

    Munawar shared that he was blowing out her hair for the shoot when she called him by his name.

    “I instantly died when I realised she knew my name,” laughed Sheheryar. “She then said, ‘My mother is a fan of you’. And I was like ‘huh’? She said yeah, she’s in the vanity, would you join me there for a bit? She wants a picture with you.”

    “My play Kahi Unkahi was airing on Zee Zindagi [at the time] and Chopra’s mother found me cute as a child,” said Sheheryar further.

    “It was very interesting,” he added, remarking that he was surprised how Chopra’s mother wished to meet a guy who at the time was running around the sets, fetching water bottles and sweeping the floors.

    “I was so shocked when it was happening but Priyanka was so sweet about it. She said Sheheryar obviously I know you, my mother is a fan, come with me to the vanity,” he said, adding how there was strict security on the sets and to cross the boundary to make it to the star’s vanity was rare.

    “But they were both so sweet, we clicked a few pictures, and there was that,” he added, concluding the story.

    “Later, I was the blower guy again when we shot an ad campaign with Sonam Kapoor,” said Munawar, laughing.

    Read more – Sheheryar Munawar hits back at troll who called him ‘ghareebon ka Bradley Cooper’

    During the interview, Munawar also revealed that he was once interested in becoming a cricketer and practised a lot for it but didn’t pursue it further.

  • Govt cancels all exams until June 15

    In lieu of rising cases of COVID-19 Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Tuesday announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15.

    “O’ and A’ Level exams have been cancelled and will now take place in the October-November cycle,” said the minister in an announcement.

    “Exams of Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 which were supposed to begin from the end of May have been delayed further,” added the minister. “No board exams will be held till mid-June (June 15).”

    He also added that another meeting of the NCOC will decide in the third week of May to decide whether these exams will be postponed further or not.

    The minister also took time to answer the questions of students :

    #ImranKhanCancelExams and #ImranKhanJawabDou were among the top trends on Twitter from the past few days as National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and the Government of Pakistan refused to cancel this year’s O’ and A’ Level exams and went on to take the exams as scheduled.

    Pakistan is currently experiencing a deadly third wave of COVID-19 with fears of an India-like situation and students argued that the exams not only pose a risk to their health but they have also been unable to prepare for them because of school closures. The high courts in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi also dismissed students petitions.