Category: Uncategorized

  • Coronavirus: Pakistan reports 1,378 recoveries as fatalities fall down to 7pc

    As the number of coronavirus deaths in Pakistan hit 100 on Tuesday, the country also reported what was its 1,378th recovery — maintaining recoveries’ triumph over fatalities like also seen even in the worst-hit parts of the world, including the United States (US), Italy and Spain among other countries.

    As per the details, Pakistan jumped from 1,026 recoveries on Sunday to 1,378 two days later while the total number of infections stood at 5,782 by the time this report was filed.

    On April 12, the country had reported that a bit over a thousand patients had recovered from the novel coronavirus — COVID-19.

    According to reports, the development had put the number of fatalities in Pakistan at a mere 8 per cent against 92 per cent recoveries out of the total number of closed cases.

    At the same time, the US had reported 40 per cent fatalities while those in Italy and Spain stood at 37 per cent and 21 per cent, respectively.

    The death to recovery ratio on Tuesday, however, improved further not only in Pakistan but also in the worst-hit US.

    According to the details of closed cases by Worldometers, Pakistan now has 93 per cent recovered patients while the US has 61 per cent with a slight improvement against Sunday’s 60 per cent.

    In additional good news, the two hardest-hit European countries have maintained their number of recoveries as even two days later, the percentage of recoveries in Italy and Spain still stands at 63 and 79, respectively — with no surge in the percentage of fatalities among closed cases.

    While the improvements still aren’t good enough, they come following a sudden spike in coronavirus infections and fatalities across the globe, which has led to countries being forced to make efforts aimed at dealing with the global pandemic.

  • Quiz: Which show/drama should you be watching during self-isolation

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  • People choosing not to donate? PM’s coronavirus relief fund gets only Rs225m in 11 days

    People choosing not to donate? PM’s coronavirus relief fund gets only Rs225m in 11 days

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran’s Khan coronavirus relief fund, which was set up in March to assist the government in mitigating the impact of the global pandemic, seems to not have attracted generous donations as it has received only Rs225 million within the first 11 days — since March 30.

    According to data shared by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Ehsaas Programme, as of April 10 — the date of the last update — the total amount in the fund stood at Rs225 million.

    Analysts say that a possible explanation for this low figure lies in the fact that a number of private organisations and individuals are actively participating in relief activities themselves, having fewer reasons to donate to the PM’s fund.

    It, however, isn’t the first time when such a programme has received disappointing responses. The dams fund created by PM Imran and the Supreme Court (SC) to collect $12 billion for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha and Mohmand dams was excessively promoted on multiple media forums, but could only gather Rs12 billion, including over Rs1.7 billion from overseas Pakistanis.

    Meanwhile, the premier has appealed to overseas Pakistanis to donate generously to help the government cope with the ongoing health crisis in the country.

    In a video message released Monday, he noted that the entire world was struggling against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The lockdown has adversely affected the world economy, resulting in growing poverty across the globe, especially in developing countries like Pakistan, he said. 

  • VIDEO: Hunger forces man in India to share milk with stray dogs

    VIDEO: Hunger forces man in India to share milk with stray dogs

    A man and a pack of stray dogs are seen in a scramble for milk spilt on a road in Agra in stomach-churning visuals that speak volumes on the desperation of India’s poorest during the nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

    The image is from Monday morning on Agra’s Ram Bagh Chauraha when a large milk container overturned, sending a stream of milk down the road, just 6 km from the Taj Mahal. NDTV’s Kamal Khan tweeted the heartbreaking video.

    A pack of dogs was joined by a man who is seen trying to scoop up as much of it as he could in a small earthen pot.

    The 21-day day lockdown announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month, that is widely expected to be extended once it ends on Tuesday, has pushed hundreds of thousands of people across India into poverty and hunger.

  • Harbhajan Singh’s wife responds to backlash, clarifies why Singh supported Shahid Afridi

    Harbhajan Singh’s wife responds to backlash, clarifies why Singh supported Shahid Afridi

    Harbhajan Singh’s wife, Geeta Basra has responded to the trolling he received by Indians after he extended humanitarian support to Shahid Afridi’s foundation amid coronavirus crisis.

    Speaking to Hindustan Times, Geeta said, “Harbhajan knows what his country means to him and doesn’t want to explain an act of humanity. He lives for India and will die for India. His country will always come first. Whenever he has played cricket, he did it with his heart. And everyone knows what India means to him.”

    She continued, “This goodwill gesture was to help Afridi, with whom they have played cricket and have years of friendship. Afridi is doing his bit for his country. They tried spreading the word to their fans all over the world, inspiring more people to support his good work.”

    “Let’s not bring religion or anything else into this. Even the virus isn’t making any discrimination. They would’ve done the same if anyone from any of the other teams like West Indies or England would’ve sought help,” Geeta added.

    Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh had earlier this month faced massive criticism for supporting Afridi in his fight against coronavirus.

    Both players in a video message had urged people to contribute and called on other cricketers in the two countries to make similar appeals. However, their own people had trolled them and called them out for offering their help to Pakistanis.

    Yuvraj, at that time, had responded to the matter by saying, “I really don’t understand how a message to help the most vulnerable gets blown out of proportion! All I tried to achieve was to help people in our respective countries by providing healthcare. My intention was not to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

    However, the spinner Harbhajan, kept silent on the issue. The bowler’s wife has now spoken up on why his husband decided to not respond to the criticism.

  • Teenager in India attempts to smuggle friend in a suitcase

    Teenager in India attempts to smuggle friend in a suitcase

    When his apartment complex banned all visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak and a strict lockdown in place, a teenager in Mangalore, India attempted to smuggle his friend inside his building in a suitcase.

    According to a report in Gulf News, the teenager stepped out of the building on a scooter, with a huge suitcase and returned with his friend inside of it.

    The matter came to light when the suitcase moved while being taken into the apartment complex. The people at the apartment grew suspicious and eventually told the security guards and the building association. The suitcase was opened and the building authorities were shocked to find the teenager’s friend inside it.

    The authorities reported the matter to the police who then called the parents of the two youngsters.

    The teenager’s family told the police that he lives alone in the apartment. The teenager also told the police that he had made several requests to the building authorities and appealed to them but representatives said that such appeals were never made.

  • Mushk Kaleem calls out Iman Aly for her ‘condescending statement’ on current models

    Mushk Kaleem calls out Iman Aly for her ‘condescending statement’ on current models

    Iman Aly’s unfiltered responses on Iffat Omar’s show continue to spark outrage.

    Model Mushk Kaleem, who late last year also walked the ramp at the Milan Fashion Week for Italian designer Stella Jean, recently called out Iman for her “condescending statement about the current models of our industry.”

    “According to her, the models who are working in our industry right now don’t have ‘adequate general knowledge’,” wrote the model.

    “I’m appalled that someone I’ve grown up admiring and revering would make such a statement,” she added.

    Iman’s casual remarks on the show had earlier also stirred controversy. The model turned actor had first claimed that Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees had first been offered to her. She further said: “90% of the movies made in Pakistan today are still offered to me first. But I only take the scripts I fall in love with. If I don’t like the lines, it feels like work, like slavery.”

    In another segment, Iman had remarked Humayun Saeed would be a “doodh dahi bechnay wala” (dairy product salesman) if he was not an actor. She also labelled Fawad Khan as a “failed standup comedian” and Mehwish Hayat a “cosmetologist’s assistant.” She also said that Mahira should have stayed a VJ.

    For those who don’t know Kaleem is a business graduate from the Institute of Business Academy. She worked at a corporate firm before joining the fashion industry as a model. Over the year, she has become a regular at all fashion shows across Pakistan, opening and stopping the show for many renowned designers. Kaleem has also modelled for Élan’s latest lawn collection.

    Meanwhile, Iman is gearing up for the release of Tich Button in which she will be sharing the screen with Feroze Khan, Farhan Saeed and Sonya Hussayn. The film was expected to hit screens on Eid-ul-Fitr but the coronavirus outbreak appears to have halted the release.

  • ‘They are our friends’: Shaniera Akram asks followers not to hate on chipkalis

    Chipkali (lizard) season is upon us. Every now and then we see a lizard scutter across the wall giving us mini heart attacks.

    Over the weekend, two celebrities Sarwat Gillani and Armeena Khan shared experiences of their run-in with these animals, prompting Shaniera Akram to urge everyone not to hate on these ‘innocent lizards’.

    Following Shaniera’s tweet, a leading media outlet reported that Shaniera and Armeena were involved in a public spat, Armeena said that she loves Shaniera and admires her for her efforts.

    https://twitter.com/ArmeenaRK/status/1249654717304705024?s=20

    On the other hand, Twitter also had a lot to say about Shaniera’s tweet.

    https://twitter.com/kaalakawaa/status/1249605288300351494?s=20

    Read more – Totkay to get rid of lizards

    Meanwhile, here’s what happened when a lizard jumped out of a plant Sarwat Gilani

    sarwat

  • HSY opens up about losing two friends to COVID-19

    HSY opens up about losing two friends to COVID-19

    Pakistani fashion designer Hassan Shehryar Yasin aka HSY, who used to host a popular talk show with celebrities, has recently started holding live Instagram sessions with celebrities keeping in the mind the current coronavirus lockdown.

    The designer recently had a session with actor Osman Khalid Butt in which they discussed the pros and cons of interacting with fans amid lockdown and also addressed the mental effect it has on them. During the session, HSY revealed that two of his friends had passed away abroad due to COVID-19.

    It all started when Butt talked about how the lockdown is affecting his mental health. He said, “I started beating myself lately for not taking up the opportunities I could when I had the time. When the lockdown began I wanted to be productive at home but now it’s getting to me. People who work hard really need to take it easy on themselves because this situation is not normal. We are under lockdown and it’s okay to be depressed.”

    To this HSY replied, “Everyone is going through the same, I spoke to Shehryar Munawwar and Mawra Hocane the other day and both of them were tired of the negativity, the negative comments of the public and for not being able to work.”

    He then urged people to be kind to themselves and others. “I also lost two of my friends from coronavirus, one of whom was New York and no one knows. But it is pointless talking about that with anyone here. But all these people not taking the situation seriously and pulling others down need to stop.”

    The designer also shared a trick he uses to calm himself down in such stressful situations.

    “It’s the rule of five. I count five things around me that I can see, four things around me that I can hear, three things around me that I can feel, two things around me that I can smell and one thing that I can taste. Once I do this I feel calmer and more thankful.”

  • ‘Disgruntled’ Aleem Khan to be re-inducted to Punjab cabinet days after ‘contacting PML-N’

    ‘Disgruntled’ Aleem Khan to be re-inducted to Punjab cabinet days after ‘contacting PML-N’

    After a break lasting over a year, senior member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Punjab minister Aleem Khan, who according to reports was “disgruntled” ever since a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation was launched into his assets, is making his way back to the provincial cabinet, coincidentally days after he contacted the rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    As per the details, the development comes after a meeting between Aleem and Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar on the behest of Prime Minister Imran Khan, which had followed a telephonic conversation between the “disgruntled” PTI leader and PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah to  discuss the fast-changing political scenario, especially in Punjab.

    Sanaullah had immediately brought the conversation to the attention of party chief Shehbaz Sharif, who had reportedly told him to wait for orders regarding befriending Aleem for any changes in the provincial house where the PTI sits on the treasury benches following a neck-and-neck with the PML-N and owing to the support of Chaudhrys of Gujrat’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML) as well as independent lawmakers.

    Sources had last week informed The Current that the PML-N leadership would assess all political options but was likely to keep a safe distance from “segments of PTI allegedly involved in the wheat or sugar crises” and who had allegedly made billions through government subsidies and subsequent price hike.

    When contacted, PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah had confirmed having a detailed telephonic conversation with Aleem and that the two discussed the current political situation in the country. To a question, he had said it was too early to say if the PML-N and the disgruntled PTI group led by Aleem would put in any efforts to bring in-house changes in Punjab because his party had a principled stance in that respect.

    “First we want electoral reforms and then we seek fresh general elections but there can be an interim arrangement till the completion of these goals,” Sanaullah had said, adding that if someone said that Aleem had the support of only 20 to 25 PTI lawmakers in the Punjab Assembly, they would be underestimating him.

    “I personally know his real strength among the ranks of the PTI.”

    The little telephonic conversation between the PML-N and disgruntled PTI leader had followed a meeting between PML-N’s Khawaja brothers and Punjab Assembly speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi — an important ally of the PTI government in Punjab.

    With reports claiming that the fate of PTI’s Buzdar administration in Punjab was hanging in balance, it has been learnt that Aleem would soon be re-inducted to the provincial cabinet.

    “It was quite obviously an attempt to keep Aleem and friends from joining hands with the PML-N for any changes in the Punjab Assembly,” sources said and added the PML-N, however, seemed confident about the bond it was forging with the PML to turn tables on the ruling party.

    While Aleem has neither confirmed nor denied claims regarding his re-induction to the cabinet, The Current has learnt that he will be handed back his previous position of senior minister or “de facto provincial chief executive” along with the reins of the Local Government Department.

    He is also likely to be given the control of the Punjab Food Department and an additional charge of the Planning and Development (P&D) Department, sources said and added that Aleem will be administered oath within a day or two.