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  • Jeremy McLellan riles up India with his latest Abhinandan tweet

    Jeremy McLellan riles up India with his latest Abhinandan tweet

    American comedian Jeremy McLallen who is also famous for his funny tweets has managed to rile up Indian social media users after posting an edited picture of himself with Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

    In the image posted on Twitter by Jeremy, the Indian pilot can be seen drinking the famous cup of tea given to him during his 60-hour capture in Pakistan in February last year, with the wreckage of downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Mig-21 fighter jet in the background.

    The tweet said, “Stay Home, Stay Safe”.

    The post sparked fury among Indian social media users but the comedian continued with his trolling. “Why are Indians messaging me saying he’s a hero. I know he’s a hero that’s why I gave him tea and took a picture with him,” he tweeted later.

    He then shared a screenshot of a message by an Indian Twitter user named Amit Kumar who asked McLellan if he (Jeremy) was a terrorist.

    McLellan was not done there. He proceeded to post another edited photo of himself with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Doctors worldwide are dancing as coronavirus patients recover

    As doctors and other healthcare workers continue to fight against COVID-19 on the frontlines and are treating patients around the world, they are also keeping the spirits high amid all coronavirus panic and fear. Doctors across the world are dancing to celebrate the recovery of their patients.

    Here a few video clips from different countries that will lighten your mood at least for some time.

    They are not only dancing, but people from different professions also applauding each other for their services in this difficult time.

  • Coronavirus lockdown: No crime reported in Rawalpindi since March 24

    Coronavirus lockdown: No crime reported in Rawalpindi since March 24

    No crime has been reported in Rawalpindi since the imposition of coronavirus lockdown on March 24, a report quoted police as saying.

    “The reason behind crime dropping to zero is that criminals fear the virus and also don’t want to put themselves at risk while numerous personnel of law enforcement agencies patrol the city,” police said.

    Saddar Division SP Rai Mazhar Iqbal said the crime rate, however, had started to decline before the lockdown was put in place. “Before the lockdown, the crime rate had already reduced by 70% to 80%,” he said, adding that the remaining 20% to 25% was taken care of by the lockdown.

    It merits a mention that Punjab remains the worst-affected by the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — as the number of confirmed cases on Tuesday reached 2,004.

    Sindh is trailing far behind with 986 cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 500 cases.

    Infections in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK)/Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Balochistan and Islamabad for now stand at 229, 202 and 83, respectively.

    As many as 55 coronavirus deaths and 429 recoveries had been reported in Pakistan by the time this report was filed.

  • Coronavirus: Improved air quality leads to breathtaking view of Kashmir from Sialkot

    With reduced industrial pollution and traffic due to coronavirus resulting in improved air quality across the globe, breathtaking views of Kashmiri peaks from Punjab’s north-eastern city of Sialkot — one of Pakistan’s most industrialised regions — have started doing rounds over social media.

    In the wake of COVID-19, lockdowns have had a dramatic impact on air pollution around the world. While lockdowns have emerged as a temporary but effective solution to the global pandemic, they also appear to be dealing with another pressing problem faced by citizens — suffocating pollution. As millions of humans stay home around the world, pollution is temporarily alleviating.

    While the mountains of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) could earlier only be seen from Sialkot after heavy rains — when the weather was super clean –, they can now be seen from the city as improved air quality leads to better visibility and clearer skies.

    Earlier, images of clear skies over China and California, and fish swimming in Venice’s canals also made their way to social media. While they are a glimpse of what it might look like if we take better care of the earth, none of it is likely to last.

    https://twitter.com/ikaveri/status/1239660248207589383

    Much of this temporary environmental reprieve will diminish once the economy picks back up again. And of course, no one should want to curb pollution and tackle climate change via a deadly global pandemic, given the grave health and economic impacts the crisis is creating.

  • Yasir Hussain, Iqra Aziz make protective suits for doctors

    Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain are preparing protective suits for the doctors and paramedical staff who are fighting against coronavirus on the frontlines.

    In a recent video on Instagram, Yasir could be seen stitching a protective suit for doctors with wife, Iqra. He also credited the initiative to the Pakistani designer Asim Jofa who provided them with a waterproof cloth.

    Iqra Aziz requested her followers to help the doctors.

    “We both have made this protective suit together and so can you. Please start stitching and sending in your help,” she said.

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-oVan6DIGH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Read More: Asim Jofa delivers first batch of protective suits

    As coronavirus cases continue to grow in Pakistan, doctors across the country are requesting authorities and the government to provide them with proper protective equipment so that they are not exposed to the virus.

  • Indian court allows man to go out to buy food for cats amid strict lockdown

    The Kerala High Court approved permission to a petitioner on Monday to travel to get “Meo-Persian biscuits” for three of his cats amid the strict coronavirus lockdown in India.

    N Prakash who is an  owner of three cats, had moved the court after he was denied to travel by police to get food for his pets.

    According to the directives by the Kerala government, residents have to get a travel permit based on an affidavit for leaving their houses, even if  they have to go to buy essential food items.

    Prakash, stated in his petition, that “as a pure vegetarian, he could not cook non-vegetarian food in his house”. He said that he had applied for the travel pass online, but his application was rejected.

    Upon hearing the appeal, the judge said that the petitioner could go to buy cat food on the basis of a self declaration, along with a court order.

    He added that the court will pass a general order in this regard to cover situations like this.

  • Mani hits back at those labelling his charity efforts as ‘cheap publicity stunt’

    Mani hits back at those labelling his charity efforts as ‘cheap publicity stunt’

    In the past week, there has been a lot of debate over whether celebrities should be open about their charity efforts or not. While a lot of people were of the opinion that celebrities should keep it private, celebrities have opened up and said that the only reason they are sharing their efforts is because they want to inspire and motivate people to do the same.

    Salman ‘Mani’ Sheikh and his wife Hira Mani are among those celebrities who have been collecting and distributing ration bags among the needy. They have kept their fans updated throughout for which they received immense backlash on social media. Later, Mani hit back at the criticism saying “As pop culture celebrities when we share posts of our material wealth – our show ratings, our wardrobe, our holidays – it is labelled as ‘trending’. However, when we try to use our fame to do some good, it is unfairly being labelled as ‘cheap publicity stunt’.”

    Mani shared the process of how they started collecting donation bags and said that the only reason they shared it on Instagram was to create awareness and raise funds for their drive.

    “We put up pictures on Instagram so whoever knew anyone deserving could contact us and refer that needy family. However, after a week we started running out of funds and appealed to others to join in. We also encouraged fans to start similar donations in their areas because our reach was limited,” he continued adding that they received a lot of donations and a lot of brands started contacting them.

    Mani further said, “We didn’t put up pictures with the people who we were donating to, we didn’t show queues of deserving white-collar workers at our place. We don’t even go down to meet the people who come to our doorstep, so we don’t embarrass them and they don’t feel that we are doing it for publicity. And yet…we are disliked for it.”

    “We [will] continue with our mission. Here’s the quote that keeps us going and will keep all those who are helping the ones in need, to keep at it no matter what,” he concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pBCBDpmGY/

    In the accompanying video, Mani took viewers on a tour of the setup where the ration bags are being made. Mani said that each ration box can roughly last a week or two. He said that each box includes aata, milk, risk, pulses, soap and oil among other things.

    Earlier, Hira had also addressed the same concerns.

    “Main show off nahi ker rahi mere kia aukat bus ye picture laga kay app logaon ko bata rahi hun kay app sub bhe mere saath mill kay iska hissa bunien ya phir apni capacity main app khud se jo bhe ker saktay hain kerien please. Abhi madad kerien (I’m not showing off, I’m a nobody. The only reason I’m posting this picture is to encourage people to come together and help in whatever way they can),” the actor had written.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Wy-hyHxe8/

    Meanwhile, some celebrities had appealed to their followers to keep the identity of those receiving the donations private.

  • Tareen & sugar crisis: ‘Imran feeling betrayed, thinking he bet on the wrong horse’

    Tareen & sugar crisis: ‘Imran feeling betrayed, thinking he bet on the wrong horse’

    With the damning investigation report on the recent sugar crisis making headlines and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen being named as one of the people who allegedly benefited from the economic disaster, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, to whom Tareen has always been more than just a colleague, is feeling betrayed, The News has reported.

    Earlier this year, following the shortage of wheat flour in the country and the subsequent price hike, sugar had also gone missing from the market. Taking notice of the situation, the premier had formed a committee to find out those responsible for the crises.

    On Saturday, the inquiry report on sugar crisis had named PTI bigwig Tareen, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Moonis Elahi and a relative of then minister for national food security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar as the beneficiaries of the price hike.

    On Sunday, PM Imran had said that he was waiting for the detailed forensic reports, slated to come out on April 25, before taking any action against those responsible and on Monday he had reshuffled the federal cabinet which saw Bakhtiar being replaced. Tareen was also removed from the Agriculture Task Force among other changes.

    Soon after the reshuffle, reports claimed that the premier was “feeling betrayed by once his closest aide Tareen”, who, despite having been disqualified by the apex court, was given the informal role of deputy PM to help the PTI government deliver.

    “Tareen was given immense power, informally, to reform the agriculture sector, his choice men were appointed in the cabinet as well as in the bureaucracy both in the Centre and Punjab. But, it all ended up not only in failures but caused major scandals of wheat and sugar,” the report said and further claimed that Tareen had “thoroughly disappointed Imran, who now thinks that he had bet on a wrong horse”.

    The latest reshuffle in the cabinet and bureaucracy, these report said, was a clear message for all and sundry both within the PTI and in the government that Tareen was out and so was his influence. “With these changes, the PTI Jahangir Tareen group meets its end.”

    It also said that what happened on Monday was not the climax and “a lot will happen after April 25 when the Sugar Commission will submit its report on how the sugar mafia operates”.

    “There will be criminal proceedings, possible arrests and institutional actions by [the] FBR [Federal Board of Revenue], SECP [Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan] etc,” it added.

  • Coronavirus: Top judge slams PTI govt, says ‘nothing being done on ground’

    Coronavirus: Top judge slams PTI govt, says ‘nothing being done on ground’

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed has rebuked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government for its “insufficient” measures to contain the new coronavirus, declaring that “nothing is being done on ground”.

    The top judge’s remarks came as COVID-19 infections in Pakistan crossed 3,500 with at least 52 deaths on Monday.

    Hearing an appeal against the verdict announced by the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the CJP directed the government to grant bail to low-risk under-trial prisoners (UTPs) during the pandemic.

    At the outset of the hearing, he said that the government had closed the out-patient departments (OPDs) of all hospitals, leaving no place for patients to seek treatment at such a crucial time.

    “Hospitals have been closed when we need them. Up till now, 10 hospitals with 1,000 beds each should have been made operational,” he said.

    “Everyone is talking about funds, no one is doing anything. The public has been left at the mercy of God,” he remarked. The chief justice also criticised the government’s efforts to encourage people to stay indoors in order to curb the spread of the disease.

    The attorney general (AG) said that the federal government is taking best possible measures to fight the deadly contagion. He further stated that another report, apprising about the situation in the country has also been submitted before the court.

    The top judge said that Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari filed a reply that the Peshawar High Court has ordered the release of 3,200 prisoners.

    The AG replied that no such verdict was given by the (PHC), adding that the human rights minister might be mistaken.

    The chief justice also questioned the competence of State Minster for Health Dr Zafar Mirza, saying that he is just being given coverage on media on a daily basis.

    The top court remarked that no one has come from the Defence Ministry. “The court needs to inquire about what the Defence Ministry is up to,” the SC remarked.

    To this, the AG responded that no one from the ministry was summoned yet.

    On Saturday, senior lawyer Khawaja Haris had urged the top court to reconsider its decision of revoking the IHC ruling. In a set of recommendations submitted to the apex court, Haris said that the IHC had announced the verdict in line with the law due to the ongoing crisis.

    He had said that it is imperative that measures are taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

  • British PM Boris Johnson shifted to ICU

    British PM Boris Johnson shifted to ICU

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved to intensive care after his coronavirus symptoms worsened.

    “Over the course of this afternoon, the condition of the Prime Minister has worsened and, on the advice of his medical team, he has been moved to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital,” a spokesperson for No 10 Downing Street said in a statement.

    “Since Sunday evening, the Prime Minister has been under the care of doctors at St Thomas’ Hospital, in London, after being admitted with persistent symptoms of coronavirus.

    “The PM has asked Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is the First Secretary of State, to deputise for him where necessary.”

    “The PM is receiving excellent care, and thanks all NHS staff for their hard work and dedication,” the spokesperson added.

    On Monday, Boris Johnson tweeted that he had gone to the hospital last night, on the advice of my doctor.

    “I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms. I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe,” he had written.