Apart from English and French, Mandarin and Punjabi were Canada’s most widely spoken languages. About 4.6 million Canadians (12.7%) speak a language other than English or French predominantly at home. Mandarin and Punjabi are spoken predominantly at home by more than half a million Canadians each.
More than a hundred thousand people each speak Yue (Cantonese), Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, Persian languages, Urdu, Russian and Korean at home as per the 2021 census.
According to the 2021 census, which was announced on August 18th, Urdu was at the seventh spot out of the top 12 non-official spoken languages in Canada.
In 2021, 520,000 Canadians spoke Punjabi at home, and 530,000 spoke Mandarin at home. According to the census, 290,000 people speak Arabic while 160,000 speak Urdu at home.
Meanwhile, conventional estimates indicate that the number of Pakistani-origin Canadians is a lot more than the official numbers. According to an official of the Pakistan High Commission in Ottawa, around 500,000 to 600,000 Pakistanis reside in Canada.
Bilkis Bano, an Indian Muslim woman who was gang-raped in the 2002 Gujarat riots, said that her peace has been taken away after the Gujarat government released her 11 rapists on Monday. Her rapists were released on August 15, i.e. Independence Day of India. They were convicted in 2008.
She has requested the government to reverse the decision.
“How can justice for any woman end like this? I trusted the highest courts in our land. I trusted the system, and I was learning slowly to live with my trauma. The release of these convicts has taken from me my peace and shaken my faith in justice,” said Bilkis in her statement.
“My sorrow and my wavering faith are not for myself alone but for every woman who is struggling for justice in courts,” she added.
“No one enquired about my safety and well-being, before taking such a big and unjust decision… Give me back my right to live without fear and in peace. Please ensure that my family and I are kept safe.”
What happened with Bilkis Bano?
At the age of 21, Bilkis Bano was five months pregnant when she was brutally gang-raped in 2002 in Gujarat.
The 2002 Gujarata riots are considered one of the worst anti-Muslim riots in India that saw nearly 2,000 people — mostly Muslims — killed.
On March 3, 2002, Bilkis and her family members were attacked by about 30 people armed with sickles, swords, and sticks. Among the attackers were the 11 accused men.
Deepika Padukone began her journey with Om Shanti Om in Bollywood and there was no going back. She was the lucky one as her big Bollywood debut was with Shah Rukh Khan. Ever since, the actress has been a part of some remarkable projects like Piku and Bajirao Mastani amongst others.
During a recent interview, Deepika revealed that she was suffering from depression some years ago and was suicidal at times. However, the signs and symptoms were recognised at the right time and she fought back bravely.
Opening up about when she was suffering from depression, Deepika said, “I give all the credit to my mother for recognising the signs and symptoms because it just happened out of the blue.”
She went on to add, “I was on a career-high, and everything was going well, so there was no reason or no apparent reason why I should’ve felt the way I was feeling.”
“But, I would break down for no reason. There were days when I just didn’t want to wake up, I would sleep because sleep for me was an escape, I was suicidal at times,” she said.
During the interview, the ‘Cocktail’ actress said that she used to behave normally in front of her parents. As her parents, who live in Bengaluru, visited her most often.
Further, she said, “Even now when they visit me, I always put on a brave front that everything’s okay. You always want to show your parents that you are fine.”
Earlier this year, Padukone was asked by Filmfare magazine about the worst advice she’s ever received. Reacting to the same, the Gehraiyaan diva said, “I was told to get breast implants. I was all of 18 and I often wonder how I had the wisdom to not take it seriously.”
When asked about the best advice, the Cocktail star answered, “Shah Rukh (Khan) gives good advice and I got a lot from him. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I got from him was to always work with people you know you are going to have a good time with, because while you are making a movie you are also living life, making memories, and creating experiences.”
Discussing the aforementioned experiences, Deepika added, “Some [experiences were] public, some not so public. But in hindsight, I am grateful for those experiences. You don’t always walk into them knowingly. But eventually, you realise that all of life’s experiences teach you something. They give you clarity. They tell you a lot about who you are and give you perspective about the people around you.”
Meanwhile, Deepika will be next seen in Siddharth Anand’s directorial Pathan. She reunites with Shah Rukh Khan in it. She’ll be also seen in Anand’s Fighter, marking her first collaboration with Hrithik Roshan.
A recent Indian wedding left everyone in attendance in sheer shock, when the bride and the groom started fighting while sitting together at the mandap (a pillared hall or pavilion for Hindu rituals) during the ritual of feeding each other.
The video went viral on social media moments after being shared.
The video shows the bride moving her hand towards the groom to feed him. However, he stops her. This angers the bride and the couple ends up pushing and pulling each other.
The people around the couple tried to stop them from fighting. The groom throughout was smiling but did not eat from the bride’s hand.
Indian broadcaster Star Sports has decided not to make its famous ‘Mauka Mauka’ advertising series for the Asia Cup 2022 match between Pakistan and India.
According to reports in Cricket Pakistan, the ‘Mauka Mauka’ advertisement was made to make the Pakistan cricket team aware of their forgettable record against India in World Cups with the 1992 world champions failing to win even a single encounter.
The report further states that the ad has lost its relevance after India’s 10-wicket loss at the hands of the Babar Azam-led side during last year’s T20 World Cup in Dubai and therefore, the advertisement will not be aired anymore.
The arch-rivals — India and Pakistan — will face each other on August 28 at the Dubai International Stadium.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced last month that the Asia Cup 2022 will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from August 27 to September 11. However, Sri Lanka will still officially have hosting rights. The Asia Cup, which was last played in 2018, will be played in the T20 format, with nine teams participating.
Shoaib Malik and Shan Masood are not part of Pakistan’s batting squad while fast bowler Naseem Shah has replaced Hasan Ali.
Shoaib Malik is Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in Asia Cup. He has scored 907 runs in 21 matches with an average of 64.78.
Shoaib Malik was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 and scored 101 runs in the tournament with a match-winning knock of 54 on 18 balls against Scotland.
“It’s been 25 years but Pakistan has not found a replacement for Shoaib Malik,” said former Pakistani cricketer Aaqib Javed said in an interview.
Pakistan have dropped Shoaib Malik for the T20I Asia Cup 2022. Malik is the greatest middle-order batsman in T20I history, an under-rated bowler, and a spectacular fielder; guided many young Pakistan cricketers with his invaluable experience. Absolute legend, @realshoaibmalik.
What else Shan Masood needs to do to get selectors’ attention? He has consistently ticked all the boxes to get selected, but selectors consistently doing injustice to him. #InjusticetoShan
Shoaib Malik should have been included in Pak Squad for Asia Cup Pakistan’s middle order is incomplete without him we can’t rely on Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah we need senior pro like Malik who can play according to the situation and hit biggies when required #AsiaCup2022pic.twitter.com/ty5D75kp9t
Who said Shan Masood will be given a chance in the Netherlands tour??? WRONG! Shan’s form doesn’t mean anything to selectors, especially Mohammad Waseem..!
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup 2022: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir
India confirmed the death of a 22-year-old man from monkeypox in the southern state of Kerala. The death is India’s as well as Asia’s first death from the disease, reports Reuters. This is the world’s fourth known fatality from the disease.
Kerala’s revenue minister K Rajan said that the government isolated 21 people who had come in contact with the young man. He further said that the deceased displayed fatigue and fever.
According to the state’s Health Minister Veena George, the man’s family told the authorities that he had tested positive for monkeypox in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before returning to India.
The Indian federal health ministry stated that they had formed a task force to monitor monkeypox cases across the country.
Last month, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak of monkeypox a global health emergency. No case of monkeypox has been reported in Pakistan. However, 78 countries had reported more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox.
Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met and held meetings with his counterparts from Afghanistan, China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers’ meeting. However, it has been reported that Bilawal and Indian FM Dr S. Jaishankar avoided handshake and the two ministers sat away from each other.
⚪️ Highlights
FM @BBhuttoZardari led #Pakistan’s del to SCO CFM meeting. On margins of CFM, he held bilateral meetings with: ➖Afghanistan ➖China ➖Tajikistan ➖Kazakhstan ➖Uzbekistan & ➖Kyrgyzstan
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 29, 2022
Bilawal attended the SCO meeting (July 28th to 29th) in Tashkent and this is where both he and Jaishankar came together since the Pakistani foreign minister took charge.
It is pertinent to mention that the SCO meeting is being held in connection with the preparations for the SCO Heads of State meeting scheduled to be held in September.
On the international platform, Bilawal said that there are no plans of any meetings between Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers (PM) in September, adding that “both India and Pakistan are part of the SCO and the two countries are only engaged in the context of the broad-based activities of the organisation”.
The foreign minister said: “India is our neighbouring country. While one can decide on a lot of things, one cannot choose its neighbours, therefore, we should get used to living with them.”
Bilawal recalled that after 2019, constructive dialogue with India became difficult, while statements based on Islamophobia by Indian officials are further creating hurdles in dialogue.
‘What is our fault if Khan failed to boost ties with US?’
Reacting to Imran Khan’s criticism that said Pakistan and the United States (US) relation has weakened during the tenure of the coalition government, the foreign minister said, “There is no truth in Imran Khan’s claims.”
“Khan tried to strengthen relations with Washington when he was in power,” he said and asked, “What was their fault if he failed to boost ties with the US?”
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh’s recentnude photo shoot has landed the actor in trouble. The Mumbai Police on Tuesday registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh after an application was filed against Singh for “hurting the sentiments of women” through his “vulgar” photos.
#NoSpin | “Of course this is vulgar, we can see his (Ranveer Singh’s) ‘bum’, his video is with me he is completely nude in that video”: Vedika Chaubey, complainant on FIR against actor Ranveer Singh for nude photoshoot pic.twitter.com/6WS9zt4pBk
On Monday, according to The Hindustan Times, an office-bearer of a non-governmental organisation called Shyam Mangaram Foundation sought the registration of an FIR against the Bollywood actor. The complainant stated the actor hurt the “sentiments” of women and insulted their modesty through his photographs.
“Last week we saw many nude photographs were clicked in such a manner that any male or female will feel ashamed about it,” read the complaint.
It was submitted at the Chembur police station and the complainant demanded the registration of a case against the Ram Leela actor under the Information Technology Act and various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
On Thursday, July 21, Paper Magazine posted an interview with the Bollywood star that featured some nude pictures. Singh has often attracted attention for his bold fashion choices, but discarding clothes altogether has put him under the spotlight.
“It’s so easy for me to be physically naked, but in some of my performances, I’ve been damn f-ing naked. You can see my f-ing soul. How naked is that? That’s being actually naked. I can be naked in front of a thousand people, I don’t give a sh*t. It’s just that they get uncomfortable,” said Ranveer.
Twitter reactions to Ranveer’s nude photoshoot
Twitterati had befitting replies to Singh’s photoshoot.
China’s population is expected to start to shrink before 2025 as the country’s birth data showed that the number of new births in 2021 was the lowest in decades in several provinces. Currently, China is the most populous country with nearly 1.4 billion residents.
The head of population and family affairs at the National Health Commission said that China’s population is expected to start to shrink in 2021-2025.
In recent years, the population of the country has slowed significantly. According to the state-backed Global Times, the number of births in central Hunan province fell below 500,000 for the first time in nearly 60 years.
The change in China’s laws last year that allowed women to have three children has not helped the country in any way. Many Chinese women have argued that the change comes too late and they are facing problems like insufficient job security and gender equality.
