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  • PTI spokesperson slammed after implying reduced prices of ‘Shoop Noodles’ shows less inflation

    PTI spokesperson slammed after implying reduced prices of ‘Shoop Noodles’ shows less inflation

    Spokesperson to the Finance Minister, Muzzammil Aslam has shared a screenshot of a message he received from a departmental store. In the message, the supermarket offered reduced prices of a few local commodities.

    Muzzammil while sharing the tweet wrote, “Everyone is talking about inflation but on the other hand, the prices of local commodities are continuously decreasing. Isn’t this an open contradiction?”

    He shared some prices of local products which lowered their prices.

    Netizens slammed the spokesperson for sharing reduced prices of ‘Shoop Noodles’ on Twitter which shows less inflation in Pakistan.

    A netizen replied in the same manner, “Everyone is talking about that the country has no gas but on the other hand, we are doing so much gaslighting every day. Isn’t this an open contradiction?”

    
    
    https://twitter.com/AliMaken/status/1483705646503579655

    Another user added, “It is a Simple Demand-Supply Crisis.”

    Another netizen questioned the intelligence of the person who appointed him as a spokesperson.

    Some users have expressed extreme disappointment with the government’s spokesperson.

  • Global tourism won’t return to pre-covid levels until 2024

    Global tourism won’t return to pre-covid levels until 2024

    With the highly contagious Omicron variant in the picture, global tourism arrivals have further been affected, and will not return to the pre-pandemic levels until 2024, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) said on Tuesday.

    The highly contagious Omicron variant, though mild, will “disrupt recovery” for 2022. Last year in 2021, tourism saw a four percent growth over 2020, according to the Madrid-based UN agency’s World Tourism Barometer.

    Meanwhile, tourism revenue in 2020 was 72 percent lower than that in 2019.

    “The pace of recovery remains slow and uneven across world regions due to varying degrees of mobility restrictions, vaccination rates and traveller confidence,” the UNWTO said in a press release.

    In Europe and the Americas, foreign visitor arrivals increased by 19 percent and 17 percent in 2021, respectively, when compared to 2020.

    In the Middle East, however, arrivals declined by 24 percent in 2021, while in the Asia-Pacific region, they were 65 percent below the 2020 levels, and 94 percent lower than pre-pandemic levels.

    The statement said tourism professionals “see better prospects” for this year after turbulence in the early months because of the Omicron wave.

    Many countries are highly dependent on tourism and are eagerly awaiting a return to normal.

    “The economic contribution of tourism in 2021 (measured in tourism direct gross domestic product) is estimated at $1.9 trillion (1.68 trillion euros), above the $1.6 trillion in 2020, but still well below the pre-pandemic value of $3.5 trillion,” the statement noted.

  • Bilawal offers to rejoin PDM but has some conditions

    Bilawal offers to rejoin PDM but has some conditions

    Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that there is now a high probability of the Opposition parties working together in the future.

    The PPP chairperson while talking to reporters outside the Parliament House on Tuesday said, “If they [Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)] are ready to withdraw their stance on the issue of en-mass resignations and consider my proposal of bringing a no-confidence motion, then certainly there is a possibility that we can work together.”

    He said all parties have to play their role. “We have to dislodge the government, no matter the number of marches we have to take.”

    He said his party’s reservations regarding the prices of essential commodities being multiplied due to the mini-budget had proved correct as Pakistan had already been facing an economic crisis before the mini-budget, which has now led to a historic price hike, unemployment, and poverty. “People are being crushed under this burden,” he said.

    Bilawal Bhutto along with former Prime Minister (PM) Yusuf Raza Gilani, said that they protested inside and outside the Parliament against the mini-budget. They were promised that tax will not be imposed on a few items, but that was false as well.

    “The people of Pakistan are demanding that we take to the streets against this government and our CEC has decided that we will take to the streets on February 27,” added Bilawal.

  • Shahid Afridi comments on Virat Kohli’s decision of resigning as Test captain

    Shahid Afridi comments on Virat Kohli’s decision of resigning as Test captain

    A day after India’s 2-1 Test series defeat against South Africa, Virat Kohli took to social media platforms and announced his resignation as Test captain. Many believe that Kohli still could have continued at the position for few more years. However, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi does not agree. According to him, Kohli made the right decision as an individual is not able to cope up with much pressure after a certain stage.

    Read More – Anushka’s love message for Virat after Test captaincy resignation, Bollywood stars react

    Afridi believes Kohli has made a good decision to step down from the captaincy as it provides an opportunity for him to focus on his batting. Kohli had been struggling to perform up to his usual standards over the past couple of years.

    “It’s fine in my opinion. Virat has played enough cricket and led the team well. And I believe this is the correct decision. There comes a stage where you can’t handle pressure, and because of it, your own performances get affected. So, I think he has captained for a long time and at a great level. As a batsman, it’s time he enjoys his cricket,” Afridi said on Samaa Tv.

    The incredible batter has been unable to score an international century since 2019.

    The 33-year-old cricketer will be seen in action against South Africa in the upcoming ODI series. The batter was rumored to miss the ODI series but he later confirmed his availability for the series.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’m going to fight it out with this woman’, Sharmila Faruqi slams Nadia Khan for trolling her mother

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’m going to fight it out with this woman’, Sharmila Faruqi slams Nadia Khan for trolling her mother

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Sharmila Faruqi has slammed Nadia Khan for making a video with Sharmila’s mother, in which the morning show host can be seen mocking Sharmila’s mother while sarcastically praising her makeup.

    Nadia Khan can be seen praising Sharmila’s mother, Anisa for her makeup, jewelry, and clothing. Nadia asks Anisa where she has learned to do her makeup to which Anisa replied, “Sharmila” referring to her daughter.

    The Current reached out to Sharmila to ask her what happened and what legal action is she going to take against Nadia Khan.

    Sharmila Faruqi, while talking exclusively with The Current expressed her anger saying, “I inboxed [Nadia] and said it is very shameless of you to do this.”

    To which Nadia, as per Sharmila, replied, “There is nothing wrong in this. I have not asked anything wrong and I have not done anything wrong. Stop using harsh words with me.”

    Sharmila continued by saying, “She is shameless and heartless and it’s very very unfortunate,” adding, “I have a lot of respect for people in showbiz, they work really hard.”

    She then said that her mother is a very “simple woman.” She said that she lost her father and her mother lost her husband three months ago. My mother was at Saboor Aly’s wedding.”

    “She [Anisa] is trying to survive without her husband,” she said adding, “You [Nadia] don’t have anything else to do so you want to get publicity and ratings by making such videos,” said Sharmila.

    Sharmila further said, “Even if there was someone else in place of my mother, I would have taken action.” The PPP leader added that it is very unfortunate that we have stopped respecting our elders in society.”

    Sharmila also shared details about what legal steps she is taking. “I’m taking this to the head of cyber crime. I’m going to write them officially today and I’m going to take it to every forum. This is not how things are done.”

    “You can not use women or anyone else or even men to ridicule them, just for the sake of your own publicity, and free publicity,” she stated, “I as a woman, as a mother as a daughter will not tolerate this.”

    “I’m going to fight it out with this woman.” She added that even if she has to file a petition in court, she will do it.

    “This is not what we are, this is not what we are taught and this is not our upbringing,” she concluded.

    We have out to Nadia Khan for her comment to which she said that she will post her reply soon.

    Watch what Nadia did here.

  • Video: Yasir Nawaz shocks Nida Yasir with revelations on Alizeh Shah and Mathira

    Video: Yasir Nawaz shocks Nida Yasir with revelations on Alizeh Shah and Mathira

    Director and actor Yasir Hussain appeared alongside Faysal Qureshi, Amar Khan and Nazish Jahangir on his wife Nida Yasir’s morning show, where he made some candid statements.

    Yasir surprised Nida with his answers on two specific questions.

    When the host asked the Dil Mom Ka Diya star that if he could be born as a female actor then whom would it be? Yasir was quick to answer that he would like to born as Alizeh Shah, he added that she is very good looking and has beautiful eyes.

    Alizeh Shah (@AlizehShah_) / Twitter

    When Nida asked him that if he was a caller phone operator then which celebrity would he like to talk to? The Nadaaniyaan hero stated that his choice would be Mathira.

    Mathira - Top 10 Sizzling Photos to Leave You Speechless!

    Nida burst into a laughter following his answer and also expressed her shock with funny expressions and a pause.

    ALSO READ: ‘Jesa wo behave karega waisa hi me karungi’: Alizeh Shah breaks silence on Yasir Nawaz’s statement

    ALSO READ: ‘Yasir ke scenes katwaye, dur bithwaya, badtamizi ki’: Naveed Raza makes blasting revelations about Alizeh Shah

    ALSO READ: Yasir Nawaz shared his worst working experience with Alizeh Shah, Feroze Khan jumps in to support the latter

  • Shehbaz Sharif, Shaukat Tarin test positive for Covid-19

    Shehbaz Sharif, Shaukat Tarin test positive for Covid-19

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif has tested positive for Covid-19 again.

    Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has also tested positive for coronavirus 

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) official Twitter handle shared the news.

    The PML-N president, had last tested positive for COVID-19 in June 2020.

    Shehbaz is currently isolated at home and resting as per his doctor’s advice.

    Pakistan is currently battling a fifth wave of the pandemic with a current positivity rate up to 9.5 percent and 5472 positive case of the coronavirus.

  • ‘We want to engage’: Fawad Chaudhry offers conditional friendship to the Opposition

    ‘We want to engage’: Fawad Chaudhry offers conditional friendship to the Opposition

    The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership on Tuesday appeared to want to befriend the Opposition and want to reconcile amidst tensions.

    Informa­tion and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry, while addressing a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting, said, “We want to engage the opposition on important national issues like electoral and judicial reforms and the appointment of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.”

    Accompanied with Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Chaudhry said that the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Asad Qaisar and the Prime Minister (PM) himself had invited the Opposition to negotiate on these three issues.

    However, Fawad said that despite constant efforts to engage the Opposition on the government’s reform agenda, they were only interested in formulating conspiracies and trying to topple the government.

    It is pertinent to state here that the Opposition has shown interest in talks with the government, provided the premier himself participated in the talks.

    Fawad categorically said that PM Khan would not sit with any Opposition leader, including Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

  • Six Muslim students wearing hijab banned from Indian college, forced to sign false statements

    Six Muslim students wearing hijab banned from Indian college, forced to sign false statements

    A group of muslim students at a college in the southern Indian state of Karnataka were stopped from attending classes for weeks after the principal refused to allow them to wear headscarves in the classroom.

    “When we arrived at the door of the classroom, the teacher said we cannot enter with the hijab,” one of the students told Al Jazeera

    “She asked us to remove it.”

    The college is a government-run women’s college in Udupi district of India’s Karnataka state in the south. The students were forced to sit outside the classroom because the college administration alleges they are “defying the rules” since hijab is not part of the uniform.

    The girls told Al Jazeera the hijab is “part of their faith” and wearing it is “their right guaranteed under the law”.

     The girls have been marked as absent since December 31 despite visiting the college daily.

    “We are not going to budge, no way,” Aliya Assadi, who is a part of the group, told Al Jazeera.

    A photo has gone viral on social media of the students clad in hijab and college dresses sitting on the steps outside their classroom.

    “It is because of this photo that our issue got highlighted in the media,” said Assadi.

    Their protest has riled up the college administration which, according to the group, forced them to write a letter accepting they missed the classes by staying home on their own.

    “We tried to refuse but the principal and the teachers threatened us that they would ruin our careers,” Muskan Zainab, another student, told Al Jazeera.

  • Moin Khan addresses Mohammad Hasnain’s ‘nice throw, mate’ bowling controversy

    Moin Khan addresses Mohammad Hasnain’s ‘nice throw, mate’ bowling controversy

    Former Captain of Pakistan Cricket Team and the Head Coach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Quetta Gladiators Moin Khan has addressed Mohammad Hasnain’s bowling action controversy after his action was reported by the on-umpires of the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL).

    Hasnain will get his bowling action test done in Lahore today (Wednesday) to see whether his action comes within the permissible 15-degree limit.

    “Sometimes these things are done to bring players under pressure. He [Hasnain] has been playing all over the world for the past five to six years and no such thing was reported,” Moin Khan told Samaa TV.

    “Maybe, he tried to change his action to improve his bowling which resulted in this problem,” he added.

    “Otherwise, I think he is a very fair action bowler and I don’t think it will affect his participation for Quetta Gladiators in PSL this season.”

    The Hyderabad-born pacer’s action came under the radar on January 15 in the match against Sydney Sixers.

    Read More – VIDEO: Wow triple wicket maiden in Mohammad Hasnain’s first over in BBL

    During the first innings, he hurled a shape bumper that Moises Henriques found it hard to face and there was a heated exchange as Moises remarked ‘nice throw, mate’, implying his action to be illegal.

    The result of the bowling action test could take up to 14 days which means Hasnain’s availability for the first few matches of the PSL 7 is not going to be affected. Having said that, if his action comes out to be illegal then he would be suspended from bowling any further in any form of cricket until he fixes his action.

    The seventh edition of the PSL is set to begin from January 27 while the first match will be played between the defending champions Multan Sultans with former winners Karachi Kings.

    Taking to former Pakistan cricketer and bowling coach Waqar Younis said he did not find any issue with Hasnain’s bowling action when he was the coach of national team.