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  • ‘Man-eating’ tiger sentenced to a lifetime in captivity

    ‘Man-eating’ tiger sentenced to a lifetime in captivity

    A tiger accused of killing three people will spend the rest of its life in captivity, Indian officials said Sunday, saying the big cat was “too dangerous” to be allowed to roam free.

    According to AFP, the five-year-old male predator, also blamed for attacking cattle, had embarked on a trek more than 500 kilometres (310 miles) long from western Maharashtra state to central India’s Betul district in Madhya Pradesh state in 2018.

    “We gave it several chances to re-wild but it habitually went into human habitations,” said Madhya Pradesh’s chief wildlife warden, S.K. Mandal.

    “The only option left was to put it in captivity to ensure both the tiger and humans are safe.”

    The tiger — dubbed the “vagabond” or “nomad” by some local media — was first trapped in December 2018 after its long journey and held in captivity for two months.

    The big cat was eventually fitted with a tracking collar and shuttled between a tiger reserve and a national park.

    Officials however said it repeatedly strayed and hunted near human settlements, attacking cattle and endangering humans.

    Finally the tiger was tranquilised and sent to a zoo in Madhya Pradesh capital’s Bhopal on Saturday.

    Officials said the decision to capture the adult tiger was taken a few months ago, but was delayed due to the novel coronavirus lockdown.

    “It will take sometime for him to adjust to the new environment. We will be monitoring his behaviour,” Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park director, Kamlika Mohanta shared.

    “As of now it will remain in solitary confinement. A decision to put it on display at the zoo or send it to a (fenced) safari will be taken later.”

    Human encroachment on tiger habitats have increased in recent decades in the nation of 1.3 billion people, leading to deadly conflicts with the animals.

    Nearly 225 people were killed in tiger attacks between 2014 and 2019, according to government figures.

    More than 200 tigers were killed by poachers or electrocution between 2012 and 2018, the data showed.

    India is home to around 70 percent of the world’s tigers. Last year, the government said the tiger population had risen to 2,967 in 2018 from a record low of 1,411 in 2006.

  • Malala Yousafzai graduates from Oxford

    Malala Yousafzai graduates from Oxford

    Malala Yousafzai has officially graduated from the University of Oxford in a virtual graduation ceremony.

    The activist was also part of the popular lineup in YouTube original, ‘Dear Class of 2020’ – where Michelle Obama, Beyoncé and more stars came together to celebrate the graduates.

    YouTube posted a 12-second clip of Malala from the special virtual commencement ceremony.

    Inspirational leaders, celebrities and YouTube creators were there to celebrate graduates at the virtual commencement event.

    Other than the Obamas and Malala, popular K-Pop band BTS which brought the Dear Class Of 2020 YouTube event to a roaring close with a 12-minute performance of three-hit songs.

    Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Shawn Mendes, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift also joined the event.

  • Indian man spends two days in jungle after entry to quarantine centre denied

    Indian man spends two days in jungle after entry to quarantine centre denied

    A labourer returned from Chennai, spent two days in jungle after allegedly being denied entry to the quarantine centre, and village in Odisha’s Ganjam district of India.

    Barik Nayak reached his village after travelling on a train and then a bus. However, when he reached his village, the local residents did not allow him to enter the village.

    According to Nayak, he spent two days in the jungle near his village after the Sarpanch and local administration did not help him get admitted to any quarantine center.

    Later, the police took him to a nearby quarantine centre.

  • Imran govt for tightening of noose around necks of ‘sugar daddies’

    Imran govt for tightening of noose around necks of ‘sugar daddies’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan’s aide on accountability Shahzad Akbar has unveiled a comprehensive action plan outlined by the government to take to task the “sugar daddies” identified by the sugar inquiry commission as well as for an overall overhauling of the regulatory framework which had all the while “been in cahoots with the sugar mills”, Geo reported.

    “Imran Khan was given a mandate for accountability in 2018. His 22-year political struggle has been for the same. For accountability of the powerful and influential. This was a big test for that mandate,” said Akbar, during a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Shibli Faraz.

    Referring to the all parties conference called by the PPP in Punjab, Akbar went on to say, “This is not an all parties conference, it is an all sugar daddies conference.”

    Akbar said that no matter how powerful a person is, no matter the party they belong to, or however wealthy, “no exceptions can be made” for anyone, and this was the line of inquiry followed by the probe commission.

    “Transparency is of utmost importance when it comes to accountability. Before we take action over whatever matter is being pursued, it must be put before the people. That is why the report was made public,” said the premier’s aide.

    He said the public, farmers, as well as industrial experts had been consulted over an “action matrix” that was developed.

    Akbar said that the PM had approved three sets of actions during a meeting in Bani Gala earlier in the day, which he then proceeded to delineate.

    These actions form the first set of actions approved by the premier and consist of the punishments to be given as well as the recovery mechanism to be enacted.

    Within the broad category, seven major actions, including investigation of subsidy scandal, investigation of income and sales tax fraud, evasion and benami transactions, investigation of cartelisation, inquiry and investigation of export proceeds, loan defaults, write-offs and sale of pledged stocks, investigation of corporate fraud, investigation of potentially fake exports to Afghanistan and money laundering, and breach of provincial laws, were recommended.

  • Are Punjab’s hospitals ready to continue dealing with COVID-19?

    Are Punjab’s hospitals ready to continue dealing with COVID-19?

    An additional burden has been placed on hospitals due to the sharp increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases across the country, including Punjab where the number of coronavirus cases is way past 38,000 and is likely to cross the 40,000 mark by tomorrow (Tuesday).

    But while Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid says the “situation is still not alarming” and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza says authorities have “ample resources to deal with coronavirus patients so far”, here’s what the situation in the country’s most populous province looks like:

    No. of Hospitals No. of Beds No. of HDUs (High Dependency Units) No. of Ventilators
    249 9644 944 568

    The Punjab government has allocated 249 hospitals for COVID-19 patients with 9,644 beds, of which 53 hospitals (21.2%) are private. According to data provided to The Current by Punjab Health Department, 7,346 beds are vacant so far across the province as most people are choosing to quarantine themselves at home amid reports of the dreadful conditions at government facilities.

    While the availability of beds is not yet an issue, other necessities do not seem up to the mark.

    As per estimated stats, almost 2,272 (7.3%) patients in the province are admitted to different hospitals. Of the total 2,272, at least 497 (21.8%) patients are in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) or HDUs, which means they are in a critical condition.

    Almost 1,500 beds were allocated by the government for ICUs and HDUs, of which 473 (30%) are at private hospitals, or so the authorities claim.

    When contacted by The Current, Lahore’s Shalamar Hospital, which according to official claims is supposed to be treating at least five coronavirus patients, refused to share any details pertaining to treatment or costs, saying no infected persons were being treated by the hospital. The response received from Sargodha’s Central Hospital was not that different either, even though the government claims to have mandated it to treat at least three patients.

    By the time this report was filed, 21% of patients admitted to hospitals were reported to be critically ill. If a mere 5% of patients visiting hospitals need HDUs or ventilators, within the next two weeks, the healthcare system of the country’s most populous province could collapse, suggests the current number of life-saving facilities available in Punjab.

  • Karachi police arrests TikTokers for impersonating a whole police station

    Karachi police arrests TikTokers for impersonating a whole police station

    The Karachi police has taken strict action against TikTokers who used an entire police station set up as a prop in one of their recent videos.

    As per reports, Gulistan e Jauhar police raided the area of Pehlwan Goth where the studio was set up and the TikTok video filmed.

    The studio had a fake police station setup with Tiktokers wearing fake uniforms. There was even a fake jail cell.

    Read More – Punjab govt’s decision to create coronavirus awareness through Tiktok has the internet divided

    The police have registered a case against the TikTokers and sealed the studio until further notice.

    TikTok is a video-sharing social networking application that is used to create short lip-sync, comedy, and talent videos.

  • Ushna Shah gets a lesson on Pakistani female singers from Hadiqa Kiani

    Ushna Shah gets a lesson on Pakistani female singers from Hadiqa Kiani

    Ushna Shah is in the spotlight again for sharing an “unpopular opinion” related to female singers in Pakistan. In a now-deleted tweet, Ushna shared how she felt that Aima Baig and Quratul Ain Balouch are the “only incredible female vocalists” that we have.

    She later also commented on Sahir Ali Bagga’s track which he composed with Hadiqa Kiani, saying, “Putting this on record, should’ve taken Aiman Khan for the vocals,” adding that the current track “ruined my visuals.”

    Social media assumes that Shah wanted to tag Aima Baig instead of actor Aiman Khan. 

    However, when Hadiqa Kiani found out about it, she responded to it by making a list of all the legendary female singers of Pakistan. 

    Aima Baig also jumped in to share her opinion and said that new talented girls should also be given a chance to fulfill their dreams. 

    Following the backlash, Ushna apologised to Kiani and said that she is “delirious and opinionated late night”.

  • Cynthia Ritchie denies working for intelligence; adds to allegations, drags PML-N through the mud

    Cynthia Ritchie denies working for intelligence; adds to allegations, drags PML-N through the mud

    American blogger Cynthia Ritchie has doubled down on accusation and claimed that she had been harassed by multiple political leaders during her time in Pakistan.

    In an interview with a local news outlet, she revealed detailed of alleged harassment by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) stalwarts Yousaf Raza Gillani, Makhdoom Shahabuddin and Rehman Malik.

    She said that after Osama bin Laden was killed, Malik, who was the interior minister at the time, asked her to visit the minister’s enclave to discuss her visa. She added that she agreed because some officials told her that “real business is done out of the office”.

    Cynthia said that when she visited the minister’s enclave, she was welcomed with flowers and was offered a drink. “About a drink and a half into my visit, I felt dizzy and the next thing I remember is he getting me to sit down and I was in his bed,” she claimed.

    She also claimed that Malik’s driver helped her dress up and told her that they wanted her to distance herself from the NGO she was working in since it was run by Azam Swati’s daughter and the politician had recently joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

    She said that the driver put 2,000 pounds into the car with her and made her take it with her. She added that the Malik also gifted her a mobile phone which was used to spy on her.

    She said that she was also harassed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and they stole her ‘Emerging Pakistan’ idea.

    She further said that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had been more civil and she has more respect for them than she has for the PPP.

    Responding to a question, Cynthia denied working for intelligence agencies.

    When the interviewer contacted Gillani and Shahabuddin, both denied the allegations.

  • The first look of Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa’s upcoming film is out

    The teaser poster of Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa’s upcoming film Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad is out.

    The lead cast of the film including Mahira and Fahad as well as the director of the film Nabeel Qureshi and producer Fizza Ali Meerza shared the poster on social media with the caption “Kabhi socha hai note per Quaid-e-Azam ki tasveer kyun hai (Ever thought why there is a picture of Quaid-e-Azam on the [rupee] note?”

    While the makers of the film did not share further details, Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad is expected to hit theatres on Eid ul Azha but given the current situation, it is unclear if the film will be releasing as per schedule. However, the shoot for the film has wrapped up and it is currently in the post-processing phase. Qureshi, while speaking to various media outlets, had earlier said that the team of the film is working on the film from home and they hope to release it as per schedule.

    As to what the film will be about, Qureshi had shared that the film will be a satirical action-comedy – something along the lines of their previous film Actor in Law.

    Read more – Fahad Mustafa says ‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’ will have ‘Mission Impossible type stunts’

    Following the announcement, fans began to speculate and share their thoughts on the upcoming film. Fahad personally responded to some of the answers.

    Meanwhile, members of the film fraternity sent their best wishes to the team of the film.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJhXK-nBhZ/

  • VIDEO: ‘Ertuğrul’ star Engin Altan sings ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’

    Ever since Diriliş: Ertuğrul aired in Pakistan on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the nation has been obsessed with the drama series and its cast. There has been a lot of heartwarming (and not so heartwarming) exchange between people of Pakistan and the actors of the series, many of who have sent their love to the country and its people.

    VIDEO: Ertuğrul wishes his Pakistani fans Eid Mubarak

    Recently a video of Engin Altan Düzyatan, who plays Ertuğrul in the hit series, singing Dil Dil Pakistan has gone viral on social media.

    “Mera apko salaam Pakistan,” adds Düzyatan.

    Known as Pakistan’s second national anthem, Dil Dil Pakistan was sung by the late Junaid Jamshed and released by Vital Signs in 1987.

    Salman Ahmad of Junoon also shared the clip on social media and said that he never imagined Ertuğrul to be singing it one day.

    Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on PTV Home. Pakistanis are loving the drama series and it has become a sensation in the country. According to PTV, 133.38 million people have watched the drama series from April 25- May 14. PTV’s YouTube channel has also registered an exponential rise in its viewership with 5.3 million subscribers and episodes trending every day on the social media platform.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed Khan revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.