Category: Uncategorized

  • TikTok beats Facebook to become second most-downloaded app in world

    TikTok beats Facebook to become second most-downloaded app in world

    TikTok, a video-sharing social networking app, has beaten Facebook to become the second most downloaded app in the world in 2019. The platform owned by China-based ByteDance came second to Whatsapp in terms of downloads.

    As per market analyst Sensor Tower’s ranking, both TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin amassed a total of 740 million downloads in 2019. The reports consist of worldwide downloads for Google Play Store, iPhone and iPad. They, however, did not include data from Apple apps, pre-installed Google apps and Android downloads from third-party stores based in China.

    The company is making efforts to monetize the app, it had a successful year in terms of revenue grossing over $176.9 million in 2019.

  • Deepika Padukone delivers heartening speech on mental health at Davos

    Deepika Padukone delivers heartening speech on mental health at Davos

    Deepika Padukone is on a mission to make the world a better place.

    After standing in solidarity with students of New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) who were protesting after masked assailants wielding batons and iron rods attacked the university leaving more than two dozen injured, she delivered a powerful speech on mental health at the the World Economic Forum in Davos. The actor received the Crystal Award at the annual event for her work on spreading awareness about mental health.

    The actor spoke about her mental illness journey at the event saying she had a love-hate relationship with it, and highlighted that depression and anxiety were common illnesses that could be treated.

    “My love and hate relationship with this has taught me a lot and I want to tell everyone suffering from this that you are not alone.”

    “Depression is a common, yet serious illness. It is important to understand that anxiety and depression is like any other illness and treatable. It was experience with this illness that encouraged me to set up Live Love Laugh,” she said, while speaking about her foundation. Deepika was diagnosed with depression in 2014.

    Highlighting the impact mental illnesses have people and on the economy, she said, “One trillion dollars is the estimated impact of depression and mental illness on the world economy. In the time it has taken me to accept this award, the world has lost one more person to suicide”.

    Padukone, who received the award on Martin Luther King Jr Day, also quoted the civil rights activist in her acceptance speech.

    “For in the words of Martin Luther King, everything that is done in this world is done with hope,” she said.

    Padukone started voicing her opinion on the importance of mental health through her foundation The Live Love Laugh Foundation in June 2015.

    Through the program, the actor launches nationwide awareness as well as destigmatisation campaigns. The foundation raises awareness about adolescent mental health disorders and organises training sessions, research and lecture series that feature some of the best known thinkers and achievers.

    Padukone was last seen in biographical drama Chhapaak, which she also produced. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the movie is based on real-life acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, who was attacked in 2005 at the age of 15.

  • VIDEO: Fawad calls out Firdous on ‘illiterate’ remarks regarding Buzdar

    VIDEO: Fawad calls out Firdous on ‘illiterate’ remarks regarding Buzdar

    In what appears to prove the rumoured rift between certain leaders of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has called out Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan for her “illiterate” remarks regarding Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar.

    The SAPM had said that those criticising CM Buzdar were criticising Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan and it would be “the premier’s failure if the provincial chief executive of Punjab failed”.

    “Why?” Fawad said while quoting Awan on a private media outlet’s talkshow Monday night. “I’d say it is an illiterate comment,” he said, to which the anchor asked if the minister was sure about what he was saying regarding a colleague.

    “Whoever says such a thing… it’d be a dumb thing to say,” Fawad maintained, adding that Buzdar was to held accountable for his performance and PM Imran for his own.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    To this, the anchor said that the premier was accountable for both his performance and that of CM Buzdar.

    Continuing to train guns at the Punjab CM, Fawad urged Buzdar to step aside, and said the federal government could not deliver effectively without the support of the provinces.

    Raising questions over the performance of the Punjab government, the minister said that they had made promises with the people of change and accountability and good governance ahead of general election, but unfortunately nothing had changed in Punjab.

    He maintained that around 62 per cent of the total budget went to provinces but they were not delivering appropriately. Fawad added that the federal government was doing whatever it could for the masses.

  • VIDEO: Özil congratulates Pakistani couple holding Arsenal banner at wedding

    VIDEO: Özil congratulates Pakistani couple holding Arsenal banner at wedding

    German professional footballer and Arsenal star Mesut Özil has congratulated the viral Pakistani couple that held an Arsenal banner at its wedding while also making the hand gesture that Özil makes each time he scores.

    Sharing the viral video on his official Twitter handle, the German footballer wrote:

    “Congratulations to this @Arsenal Pakistan couple Inam ul Haq and Arooj Talat Khan! Btw nice celebration in the end. All the best for you two! #wedding#YaGunnersYa#M1Ö [sic],” he tweeted.

    ARSENAL VS CHELSEA:

    Meanwhile, midweek Premier League actions sees Chelsea host Arsenal as part of Matchday 24 with both clubs coming off of disappointing results last Saturday.

    Chelsea enters in fourth place with a 12-3-8 record but just lost 1-0 at Newcastle on a last-minute goal. Arsenal, meanwhile, was held to a draw at home against Sheffield United and enters this game in 10th place, struggling for any type of consistency.

    These two teams just met on December 29, with Chelsea coming back with two late goals to win 2-1 at Arsenal in Mikel Arteta’s home debut as coach of the Gunners.

  • Cricket fans can now buy PSL 5 tickets online

    Cricket fans can now buy PSL 5 tickets online

    Tickets for the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) are now available for sale. The tickets are also available online at www.yayvo.com.

    With one month to go before the fifth edition of the cricket festival comes to Pakistani grounds, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced ticket prices and purchase details.

    All 34 matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League will be played in Pakistan with Karachi to host nine matches, Lahore 14 matches, Multan three matches and Rawalpindi eight matches from February 20 to March 22.

    The first batch of tickets were available for purchase starting at 8 pm Pakistan Standard Time Monday night via Yayvo. General sale of tickets will start on Tuesday, Jan 28 through TCS Express Centres across 38 cities of the country. Each customer can buy up to seven tickets per match on one CNIC.

    A dedicated 24/7 TCS helpline will also provide support to the customers throughout the ticketing process. In addition, a webchat customer support desk (www.tcsexpress.com) and a WhatsApp number (+92-316-112-3456) will remain active during this time to address requests.

    For the grand opening ceremony and
    opening match in Karachi that is on Feb 20, tickets have been priced between
    Rs1,000 to 6,000. The ticket price range for the final match on March 22, in
    Lahore, will be from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.

    The 2020 edition of the 20-over tournament kicks off on February 20 with defending champions Quetta Gladiators playing two-time champions Islamabad United at Karachi’s National Stadium. 

    Schedule with ticket prices:

  • Dacoits rob policeman’s house in Multan

    Dacoits rob policeman’s house in Multan

    Three thieves robbed the house of a police officer in Multan Monday night.

    As per reports, the suspects entered the house of ASP Arsalan Zahid and held his family hostage for three hours. They took Rs300,000 in cash and 12 tolas of gold from his house.

    A case has been registered at
    Mumtazabad police station and the further investigation is in progress

  • ‘Stop eating roti,’ ex-PM suggests as wheat crisis continues

    ‘Stop eating roti,’ ex-PM suggests as wheat crisis continues

    In a dig at the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker and former prime minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has suggested people to stop eating roti in order to bring the country out of the persisting wheat crisis.

    Speaking to journalists at the accountability court, where he was presented by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) scandal case against him, Abbasi said that people were only facing the consequences for electing the PTI to power.

    “What can they do other than not eating roti anymore?” he asked in response to a query regarding the wheat crisis that grips the country amid provincial and federal governments’ blame game.

    To another question about PM Imran Khan’s statement that his “salary wasn’t enough”, Abbasi said that the premier should give himself a pay raise.

    Earlier, an accountability court extended judicial remand of the ex-premier till February 4 in the LNG scandal. During the hearing, the court also sought report on the arrest warrant of absconder Shahid Islam from NAB.

    The judge remarked that indictment proceedings cannot be carried out due to one absconder.

  • Marriage called off after groom’s father elopes with bride’s mother

    Marriage called off after groom’s father elopes with bride’s mother

    Marriage plans of two youngsters were shattered after the groom’s father and the bride’s mother revived their young days’ love and both reportedly fled.

    According to Times of India, the incident took place in the Indian city of Surat where the marriage was scheduled for the second week of February, but the 48-year-old man and the 46-year-old woman, are nowhere to be found for 10 days now.

    While the man disappeared from his house in Katargam area, the woman left her house in Navsari. It is strongly suspected that they have eloped, leaving the families in an extremely embarrassing situation. Both families have filed missing persons’ report with the police.

    The bride and groom were preparing for their marriage for the past one year after they got engaged. They are from the same community and elders were taken into confidence before their engagement. However, the elopement barely a month before the marriage has left everyone shocked.

    The groom’s father, a textile businessman, who also deals in property, went untraceable around January 10. He is also a member of a political party and knew the bride’s mother since their younger years. They were neighbours in Katargam area and were good friends too, the report said.

    “They knew each other since they lived in same society. Some of their close friends informed us after they eloped that they had a relationship in the past too. However, the woman got engaged to her current husband,” said a relative of both the families.

  • Davos: Time Magazine issues special edition with PM Imran on cover

    Davos: Time Magazine issues special edition with PM Imran on cover

    Time magazine’s special edition on the World Economic Forum published January 20 features Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan along with four other world leaders.

    The annual summit of global movers and shakers kicks off in the Swiss resort of Davos on Tuesday and will last four days.

    Other leaders alongside the Pakistani premier included founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Europe’s Central Bank President Christine Lagarde.

    The magazine’s cover featured the five leaders sitting in a chair lift with the snow-covered Swiss Alps in the background. United States (US) President Donald Trump and young climate activist Greta Thunberg can also be seen sitting together on another chairlift in the background of the illustration.

    Meanwhile, Twitterati are not shying away from speculating what the cover of the special Davos issue is supposed to mean:

    PM Imran is expected to reach Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday for a three-day — January 21 to 23 — official visit, with his trip costing $68,000 due to austerity measures.

    PM Imran’s Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Zulfi Bukhari and other officials will accompany him to Davos, where he is expected to hold meetings with several world leaders, including US President Trump. During the visit, the premier will also meet foreign investors and inform them of investment opportunities in Pakistan.

  • ‘Salary not enough to pay for my expenses’ says PM Imran Khan

    ‘Salary not enough to pay for my expenses’ says PM Imran Khan

    Addressing the business community in Islamabad, Prime Minister Khan stated that the business community needs to pay taxes if the country is going to get out of the present economic crisis. He urged them to work with the government and help in collecting more taxes.

    He also said that people didn’t want to pay taxes because former rulers had looted the country and lost the trust of the people. “When leaders live lavishly on public expense, who will pay taxes?” he asked.

    Prime Minister House in Islamabad

    He said that he had slashed the expenses of the PM house by 40 percent and that he lived in his own home and paid his own expenses. “My salary is not enough to fulfil by own household expenses,” he said, adding that he did not start any business after becoming the Prime Minister and that the expenses of his foreign tours were 10 times less than previous rulers.

    PM Khan is leaving for Davos today where he will be speaking at the World Economic Forum.