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  • You won’t be able to guess which Pakistani politicians are on TikTok

    You won’t be able to guess which Pakistani politicians are on TikTok

    TikTok isn’t only popular among the general public but also among Pakistani politicians too. Many leaders from across the political spectrum are now officially present on the video-sharing app.

    Despite being banned several times in the country, TikTok remains one of the most popular social media apps among internet users. It’s no surprise then that our politicians are making their way to the wildly popular app. Any guess, who do we have on the first spot?

    1- President Dr Arif Alvi

    President Dr Arif Alvi has a verified account on TikTok with 10,000 plus followers. The president’s account handle is @dr.arifalvi.

    2- Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari

    Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has recently joined TikTok and managed to gain 2500 plus followers so far. His account handle is @bbzppp.

    3- Zulfi Bukhari

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Zulfi Bukhari, with a verified account, has 7000 plus followers. He goes by the handle of @sayedzbukhari

    4- Hina Parvez Butt

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Hina Parvez Butt has a following of 120,000 plus people. Her account handle is @hinaparvezbutt.

    5- Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan

    PTI’s Fayaz ul Hassan Chohan has more than 130,000 followers on Tiktok. His account handle is @fayazulhassanchohan.

    6- Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal

    PTI’s Mian Aslam Iqbal has the most followers among politicians with 180,000 plus TikTokers following him. He uses the handle @mmaslamiqbal on TikTok.

    So, when are you making your account on TikTok?

  • We ain’t the same’: Nora Fatehi slams Jacqueline Fernadez amidst legal battle?

    We ain’t the same’: Nora Fatehi slams Jacqueline Fernadez amidst legal battle?

    Bollywood actor-dancer Nora Fatehi recently filed a defamation case against fellow actor Jacqueline Fernandez before a Delhi court, according to Indian media, as the Canadian-Moroccan actor believes Fernandez made defamatory statements in order to destroy her career. Both actors were questioned in a money laundering case filed against supposed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

    According to The Indian Express, Fatehi’s plea said that the Race 3 star made defamatory imputations” due to malicious reasons with an intent of “destroying her career to further her own interests.” The plea also included media houses that published the details about Fatehi’s connection with the extortion case.

    The publication said that Fatehi’s plea included Fernandez’s written statement where she had said that she was “falsely implicated by ED while celebs such as Nora Fatehi who had received gifts from Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar had been made witnesses.”

    Actor Nora Fatehi Sues Jacqueline Fernandez In Rs 200 Crore Extortion Case

    “Jacqueline Fernandez sought to criminally defame the complainant in order to destroy her career to further her own interests, since they are both working in the same industry and have similar backgrounds, amongst other reasons,” Fatehi’s plea read.

    The petition claimed that Fatehi lost out on a lot of opportunities such as a Dubai-based concert and 10 city tours in the US and Canada after the allegations made by Fernandez. It mentioned that she had to renegotiate a settlement with a brand at 50 percent of her original fees.

    Amidst the ongoing legal battle, Nora shared a cryptic post on her Instagram stories, which is being touted by netizens as a dig at Jacqueline.

    She wrote, “My parents didn’t raise me to take advantage of people. My intentions will always be pure. We ain’t the same.” She also added a smiling face emoji with her post.

    As far as the claims by Fernandez are concerned, Fatehi denied receiving any gifts from the alleged conman and said the only time she had ever spoken to him was when his wife made her speak to him over the phone at an event.

    In the plea, she acknowledged an iPhone and a handbag from Gucci that she received as gifts from Chandrashekhar’s wife, Leena. About a luxury car, Fatehi said that a payment was made for directing a movie and it was her brother-in-law who was approached by Chandrashekhar, instead of her.

    A Delhi court was due to hear arguments on charges against Fernandez but adjourned the hearing to December 20th.

  • World’s largest cylindrical aquarium with 1,500 exotic fish bursts in Berlin

    World’s largest cylindrical aquarium with 1,500 exotic fish bursts in Berlin

    A giant aquarium containing a million litres of water in the lobby of the Radisson Blu in Berlin has burst, flooding the hotel and nearby streets.

    The “AquaDom,” which was 14 metres (46 feet) high and contained 1,500 tropical fish, has been dubbed the largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium in the world.

    According to Reuters, two people were injured by the glass.

    Police said there had been “incredible” damage. The video showed an empty tank, water pouring into the lobby, and debris strewn everywhere.

    Guests have been moved out of the hotel following the incident at 05:50 (04:50 GMT).

    The front doors of the Radisson Blu are now hanging into the street, distorted at an angle by the pressure of the exploding tank, and a pile of rubble is in front of them.

    The hotel’s damage was inspected by Berlin’s mayor, Franziska Giffey, who compared the tank explosion to a tsunami.

    She expressed relief that it had occurred so early in the day, noting that if it had occurred an hour or so later, the lobby and the street outside would have been crowded with guests, many of whom would have been children.

    Since the aquarium was updated two years ago, visitors can use a clear-walled lift inside. The hotel advertises that some of its rooms have views of it.

    More than 100 firefighters were present, according to Berlin’s fire department, while the cause of the accident is still unknown.

    The hotel’s interior was allegedly searched by rescue dogs to find any potential victims, but none were found.

    Police warned locals to drive carefully as “massive amounts” of water was gushing into the streets nearby.

    According to a police source who spoke to the local media, there is no proof that the break was caused by a targeted attack.

    There were more than 100 distinct fish species in the aquarium.

    On Friday, the attraction posted a notice on its website asking guests to reschedule their tickets due to a temporary closure of the attraction.

    The largest cylindrical aquarium in the world, AquaDom received the Guinness World Record after it debuted in December 2003.

    Its construction reportedly cost about €12.8 million (£11.2 million) at the time.

  • This clothing brand’s new campaign is creating awareness about reading your Nikkahnama before signing it

    This clothing brand’s new campaign is creating awareness about reading your Nikkahnama before signing it

    Clothing brand Generation, in collaboration with Centre For Human Rights, has launched a campaign to create awareness about the legal aspects of a Nikkahnama and the importance of reading it before signing.

    One of the posts talk about the legal aspect of officiating a Nikkah. “Your Nikkah can be officiated by any adult, a cleric, your favourite aunt, your best friend or whoever you choose and trust to have your best interests at heart can officiate your Nikkah and it will be legal and binding according to Pakistani law.”

    Another post reads about the little known fact about the bride’s right to encapsulate special conditions in the Nikkahnama.

    “Did you know? As the bride entering a marriage, you can add any sort of special conditions to the Nikkahnama, they could be as cute as going on a vacation every few months or as serious as reserving the right to education and continue working after marriage. Pakistani law also empowers you to ask for delegated right to divorce, a much simpler process in comparison to Khula.”

    “However it is imperative to not have the section crossed out in your Nikkahnama.”

    The campaign also talks about the groom’s right to enter special conditions.

    The campaign is being lauded by most people. However, it is also getting criticism from some sections of society for unconventional thinking. One social media user criticised the campaign, saying, “Women can not officiate a Nikkah.

  • It will be easy to take legal action against IK if he dissolves assemblies: PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    It will be easy to take legal action against IK if he dissolves assemblies: PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal, has said that if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan dissolves provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) it will be easy for law enforcement agencies to take action against him if they want to.

    Talking to Geo News’ programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath‘, the minister warned the PTI chief, accusing him of using the provincial assemblies as his “shield”.

    Iqbal said, “Imran Khan has made these provincial governments his shield, when he is afraid of arrest, he either runs to Peshawar or Lahore.”

    “But if Khan dissolves these assemblies and the law wants to take him in its hand, it will be easy to do so,” he stated.

    Commenting on Khan’s announcement on the matter of PTI’s Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) resignations, the federal minister said that even if they are saying it, they are still living in parliamentary lodges.

    On Wednesday, Khan announced that he would give the date for the dissolution of Punjab and KP assemblies on December 17 (tomorrow) at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk.

  • Shariat court orders Ministry of Human Rights to establish Child Protection Centre for Trans Kids

    Shariat court orders Ministry of Human Rights to establish Child Protection Centre for Trans Kids

    The Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC), Dr Syed Muhammad Anwar, directed the Ministry of Human Rights to establish a specialised protection center for transgender children.

    A two-member bench of FSC including Chief Justice Anwer and Justice Khadim Hussain Sheikh heard a petition regarding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018.

    During the hearing on Thursday, the Chief Justice remarked that the human rights ministry appeared insincere in the provision of rights to transgender children.
    The committee will include Rabiya Javeria Agha, Chairperson of the National Commission for Human Rights, Zamurd Khan, the Chairperson of Sweet Homes, representatives of the Akhuwat Foundation and leaders of the transgender community.

    The Court also ordered that a progress report be submitted on the establishment of the Child Protection Centre.

    During the hearing, Rabiya Javeria Agha, while briefing the honourable court about existing child protection mechanisms, said that there is already a child protection center in the Capital.

    The court also expressed concern about the treatment meted out to transgender kids by their families. The court noted that in most cases the families abandoned these children and they were then influenced by predators and mafia which led them to become sex workers.

  • Elon Musk disables Twitter Spaces after clash with journalists

    Elon Musk disables Twitter Spaces after clash with journalists

    Twitter Inc.’s live audio platform, Twitter Spaces, is down after many journalists who had just had their accounts suspended learned they could still participate in it.

    Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, announced late on Thursday that the company was resolving an old fault and that the audio service “should be working tomorrow.”

    Earlier, Musk’s network suspended journalists for seven days, including those from CNN, the Washington Post, and the New York Times, for allegedly leaking the whereabouts of his private jet.

    Drew Harwell of the Washington Post and Matt Binder of Mashable, two of the suspended reporters, joined BuzzFeed News reporter Katie Notopoulos on Twitter Spaces to discuss the sudden wave of suspensions.

    They could no longer post new tweets and their old ones were no longer viewable, but they could still interact with other users on the Spaces site.

    Musk also joined the session after it attracted thousands of listeners to bluntly state that anyone who doxxes—gives another person’s personal location information—will be suspended. The journalists said that they had not posted any real-time flight data, as Musk alleged, but by then the billionaire had quit the call.

    The live session drew more than 40,000 listeners at its peak.

  • ‘So Sick’ Shaniera Akram calls out Feroze Khan for driving with his child in lap

    ‘So Sick’ Shaniera Akram calls out Feroze Khan for driving with his child in lap

    Social Activist, Shaniera Akram took to Instagram stories to call actor Feroze Khan for driving with his minor in his lap.

    Akram, in a series of Instagram stories talked about the dangers involved while driving with a minor.

    “If your child survives, chances are they will have hit their head so hard they will have a brain injury for life. Why, WHY would anyone ever even risk that? Your child doesn’t know what’s right, but you do! Don’t be an idiot, children are not TOYS!” she said.

    She also clarified that she has nothing against celebrities. “But if and when they blatantly do dangerous things that puts children’s lives at risk and post them doing it its not ok and I can not ignore it. If you are in the public eye, you have a responsibility to the public. You actions influences fans to think what you are doing is ok. Putting your life and children’s lives at risk is not ok EVER!” 

  • ‘Will not join politics after [the] two-year bar nor afterwards’: Gen Faiz Hameed

    ‘Will not join politics after [the] two-year bar nor afterwards’: Gen Faiz Hameed

    Former Director-General (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), General (retd) Faiz Hameed clarified that all speculations about his joining politics or leading the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were false. “I will not join politics after two-year bar nor afterward,” he categorically said, reports The News.

    On Thursday, a video of the former spy chief went viral on social media, showing the General attending a gathering in his native village Latifal in Chakwal. An unidentied person, addressing the gathering, praised the retired general for his services in the military and for all he did for the development of the area. The speaker requested the retired Faiz Hameed to join politics and play a role in the development of the country.

    “We will be with you throughout, and we practically want you to join politics and serve the people like you did when you were in service. We want that once you join politics, people should know that you are back and are helping the people way more than they can imagine,” said the unknown man in the video. The retired General, who is seated on a sofa, smiles back.

    Lt Gen (retd) Faiz had retired from service after General Asim Munir took command of the Pakistan Army as the chief of army staff.

    The former DG ISI had requested early retirement after the prime minister had approved Gen Asim Munir and Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza’s elevation to the four-star rank.

    His application for early retirement was approved on December 2 after the Defence Ministry forwarded his request to the premier.

  • Punjab Food Authority slaps school canteens with hefty fines for selling low-quality food items

    Punjab Food Authority slaps school canteens with hefty fines for selling low-quality food items

    Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed a school canteen for using reused oil, slapped 97 canteens with hefty fines, and issued warning notices for improvement to more than 400 others during a province-wide inspection drive against the school canteens.

    Food safety teams inspected 632 school canteens, including 220 in Lahore, 176 in Rawalpindi, and 236 in Multan, on the directives of PFA DG Mudassar Riaz Malik.

    According to The News, PFA teams also visited numerous cafeterias and canteens in Lahore Gulberg for inspection under the supervision of its director general. The authority imposed an emergency prohibition order on a school canteen since it was using reused oil and violating the Punjab Pure Food Regulations.

    According to Mudassar, PFA has classified the food items being sold in schools into three categories: red, yellow, and green.

    In order to protect children’s bones and prevent them from contracting fatal diseases, he said, PFA prohibited coloured snacks, unhealthy cola/carbonated and energy drinks, gutka, betel nuts, and ice-lollies from being sold in school canteens.