Tag: trending

  • JUI-F claims that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be the president of Pakistan

    JUI-F claims that Maulana Fazlur Rehman will be the president of Pakistan

    Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) claimed on Sunday that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will become the president of Pakistan whether the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) or Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) win the upcoming elections on February 8 next year.

    Currently, Dr. Arif Alvi is the head of the state under Article 44 of the Constitution, which allows the president to work in the absence of provincial and national assemblies, which were dissolved early this year in January and August, respectively.

    Alvi is the fourth head of state to complete his full term. The previous three presidents who completed their five-year terms were the fifth president Fazal Ilahi Chaudhry (1973–1988), the 11th president Asif Ali Zardari (2008–2013), and the 12th president Mamnoon Hussain (2013–2018).

    In an interview, JUI-F leader Hafiz Hamdullah said that if Fazlur Rehman can be the head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), then he can also be the president of the country as well.

    Hafiz Hamdullah also criticised PML-N and PPP for “keeping an eye” on Balochistan.  

    “Father-son and father-daughter duos keep an eye on Balochistan’s [politics], let’s see what results it bears [in future],” he said.

  • While bombs rain down on Gaza, viral videos show Israelis dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance tour’ film

    While bombs rain down on Gaza, viral videos show Israelis dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance tour’ film

    Social media has been outraged after several videos went viral on the internet where Israelis can be seen dancing to Beyonce’s ‘Renaissance Film’, playing in theatres this week. At the same time, Gaza is being bombarded with severe airstrikes.

    In the videos, Israelis can be seen dancing to ‘Break My Soul’, claiming it was the IDF’s new fight song against the Hamas. Twitter users expressed outrage at Beyonce’s silence on the on-going genocide, after several X (formerly Twitter) users have pleaded with her to pull the film from Israel.

    “THIS is why Beyonce not allowing her film to screen in Israel mattered . This is why- even if the location of screenings was out of her control (debatable) she should have at LEAST made a Pro-Palestine statement. Now a song about Black liberation is tied to a GENOCIDE.”

    Many expressed outrage on how Beyonce had the power to refuse this, but chose to let this happen.

  • World Health Organization’s annual report highlights growing threat of malaria due to climate change

    World Health Organization’s annual report highlights growing threat of malaria due to climate change

    World Health Organization (WHO) has released an annual malaria report which includes, for the first time, a dedicated chapter focused on the intersection of the disease with climate change. “We are at the crossroads of opportunities and challenges,” says the report.

    As described in the report, climate change is one of many threats to the global response to malaria. Millions of people continue to miss out on the services they need to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. Conflict and humanitarian crises, resource constraints and biological challenges such as drug and insecticide resistance also continue to hamper progress.

    The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted malaria services, leading to a surge in both incidence and mortality rates, exacerbating already stalled progress against the disease. The world is in danger of losing the fight against malaria, as cases of the disease rose by around 5 million year-on-year in 2022, exceeding global targets to contain it, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.

    Pandemic-related disruptions and extreme weather events linked to climate change have hindered the fight against malaria in recent years.
    Cases surged in areas where weather was most extreme.

    Floods in Pakistan last year, for example, led to a five-fold increase in malaria cases in the country, the report showed.
    Two new malaria vaccines, both of which are due to be available next year, provide some hope.

    But the report also showed a significant funding gap in the response. While $4.1 billion was invested in the global effort to tackle malaria in 2022, roughly $7.8 billion was needed, it said.

    Globally there were an additional five million malaria cases in 2022 over the previous year and five countries bore the brunt of these increases. Pakistan saw the largest increase, with about 2.6 million cases in 2022 compared to 500 000 in 2021.

  • When will ECP issue schedule of general elections in Pakistan?

    When will ECP issue schedule of general elections in Pakistan?

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) revealed on Friday that the eagerly awaited schedule for the general polls will be issued 54 days before the February 8 elections, as per Geo News.

    The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sikandar Sultan Raja, said during an informal discussion with journalists that the election body is diligently working on completing all prerequisites for the upcoming polls.

    In June, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government amended Section 57 of the Elections Act, empowering the ECP to set the general election date while defining a timeline of procedures from the announcement of the schedule to the polling day.

    CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja assured that the election schedule, appointment of returning officers (ROs), and district returning officers (DROs) will be announced promptly. He mentioned that updated constituency lists had already been released, and the ECP was proactively handling election-related responsibilities ahead of schedule.

    Despite concerns and speculations in political circles about potential delays in the already postponed polls, the ECP recently issued the final list of delimitation of constituencies for national and provincial assemblies, dismissing reports of possible delays.

    According to the notification issued by the ECP, the National Assembly (NA) has a total of 266 seats; 60 seats are reserved for women and 10 for religious minorities.

    Balochistan has a total of 20 NA seats, including 16 general and four reserved seats for women; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 45 general NA seats and 10 reserved seats for women; Sindh has a total of 75 NA seats, of which 61 are general and the remaining 14 are reserved for women.

    On the other hand, considering population, Punjab is a big province, and it has 141 NA seats, of which 32 are reserved for women. The federal capital has three general NA seats, with no reserved seat for women.

    Article 106 pertains to the constituencies of the four provincial legislatures. According to this article, Balochistan comprises 51 general seats, with 11 reserved for women and three for non-Muslims, making a total of 65 seats.

    In the case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are 115 general seats, along with 26 reserved for women and four for non-Muslims, bringing the total number of seats in the legislature to 145.

  • ‘Fine line between enforced disappearances and self-disappearance’, says Sarfraz Bugti

    ‘Fine line between enforced disappearances and self-disappearance’, says Sarfraz Bugti

    Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, while addressing the issue of missing persons in Pakistan, stated that the assemblies in the country represent “legitimate voices” for separatists expressing their perspectives.

    During an interview with DawnNewsTV program Doosra Rukh, Bugti delved into the complexities of missing persons cases, shedding light on the challenges faced in resolving them.

    Bugti’s comments come against the backdrop of an ongoing missing persons case being heard by the Islamabad High Court.

    On November 29, the court issued a warning that a case might be filed against the caretaker prime minister and others if they did not facilitate the reunion of missing Baloch students with their families.

    He also emphasized the delicate nature of the missing person issue, stating, “We have a commission on this matter, and it has resolved around 85 per cent of cases.”

    The commission was established in 2011 to trace missing persons and fix responsibility on the individuals or organizations responsible for it.

    In the interview aired on Friday, Minister Bugti pointed out the fine line between “enforced disappearances and self-disappearance”, highlighting that the commission had encountered cases with surprising details.

    “There were cases wherein people left their homes after a domestic dispute, and it transpired weeks later that they had left home themselves.”

    He also noted instances where individuals lost their lives in “encounters” with security forces.

    Minister added, “Then there are cases in which suspects are absconders required by a court, and their families submit pleas claiming their family member as missing to avoid court [action].”

    He remarked that such cases had been reported and documented.

  • In anticipation of Gunjal, we recommend you watch these three dramas starring Ahmed Ali Akbar

    In anticipation of Gunjal, we recommend you watch these three dramas starring Ahmed Ali Akbar

    The thriller mystery film ‘Gunjal’ is set to release in a few weeks and Ahmed Ali Akbar is about to take on a challenging role that will completely change the way the entertainment industry has seen him. The actor is will essay the role of journalist Shahbaz Bhatti who investigates the events surrounding the death of prominent child labor activist Iqbal Masih.

    If you, like the rest of us, are anxiously waiting for the arrival of the movie, we recommend you watch some amazing projects he did in the past. We’re listing down some dramas that definitely show the range and seductiveness of Ahmed.

    1 Yehe Raha Dil (2017)

    Yes, we know the first drama that comes to your mind is ‘Parizaad’ but please don’t pay dismiss this series. Ahmed proves his chemistry with Yumna is superior to any other we’ve seen, and deserves more coverage. Even years past its release, fans are not over the amazing chemistry between the two and are still hoping that there’s a chance we might get another drama with the two of them and yes, we’re absolutely standing with this.

    2 Idiot (2023)

    Mansha Pasha and Ahmed were terrifyingly good in the thriller ‘Lal Kabootar’. They once more left audiences in awe with their roles in ‘Idiot’. Ahmed’s character questions the traditions and values of society, for which he is regarded as an ‘idiot’, saying things other people are too afraid to say.

    3 Parizaad (2021)

    Now coming to the drama that turned everyone into an Ahmed Ali Akbar fan. He stars as Parizaad, a man who sets out on a journey to understand the meaning of life, while coming across different people on his path. Since its release two years ago, the message of the drama and how brilliantly Ahmed carried the drama are still on point.

  • PTI and Army are on the same page, says Zulfi Bukhari

    PTI and Army are on the same page, says Zulfi Bukhari

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Zulfi Bukhari said on Saturday that his party and the Pakistan Army are still on the “same page.”

    Zulfi Bukhari also stated that PTI is ready to talk with all the political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

    While engaging with journalists in London, Bukhari discussed the party’s strategy for participating in the upcoming general elections, set to take place on February 8 next year.

    He emphasised that omitting PTI from the forthcoming elections will not enhance the political and economic stability of Pakistan.

    “It seems like the elections will not take place until PTI is finished,” said Bukhari, adding that the party will not accept the elections if they are held in “certain circumstances.”

    Former prime minister Khan and his political party have consistently advocated for fair competition. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed the party to organise internal polls, which took place today in the absence of Khan.

    During these intra-party elections, the former chief designated his legal advisor, Barrister Gohar Khan, as his successor.

  • Elon Musk thinks visiting Gaza “seems a bit dangerous”

    Elon Musk thinks visiting Gaza “seems a bit dangerous”

    Elon Musk was invited by Hamas to witness the destruction in Gaza, in the light of his visit to Israel earlier in the week. The controversial owner of X (former Twitter) responded to the invitation by posting online that it “seems a bit dangerous there right now, but I do believe that a long-term prosperous Gaza is good for all sides.”

    The invitation from senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan came on Tuesday. Hamdan called on Musk, who recently met Israel’s prime minister and president, to also visit Palestine and acquire a more rounded perspective.

    “We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility,” Hamdan said in a press conference in Beirut. “Within 50 days, Israel dropped more than 40,000 tonnes of explosives on the homes of defenceless Gazans,” the official added.

    Elon went to Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog earlier in the week. “It was jarring to see the scene of the massacre,” said Musk later in an X Spaces conversation with Netanyahu, adding Israel has “no choice” but to eliminate Hamas.

    Musk’s Israel visit was roundly criticised by users of his platform, coming on the heels of what was perceived as an anti-Semitic tweet he had posted earlier.

  • Number one song in Israel calls for murder of Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa

    Number one song in Israel calls for murder of Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa

    A hip hop song ‘Charbu Darbu’, trending on Israel’s Youtube and Spotify charts, is advocating to kill Palestinians in Gaza, and saying supermodel Bella Hadid, singer Dua Lipa and adult film star Mia Khalifa, all vocal supporters of Palestine, should be killed.

    Written and performed by Ness Van Stilla, the title means ‘swords and strikes’ in Syrian Arabic, referencing to raining hell down on the Hamas.

    The song refers to Hamas as the Binlical Amalek, promising to obliterate them. The chorus calls for the IDF’s combat units to destroy all of Gaza.

    The song ends with a list of names whom the singers promise to obliterate as they are enemies of Israel including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa and Mia Khaifa.

    “Every c*nt’s last day will come/ Bella Hadid, Dupa Lipa, Mia Khalifa!”

    Journalist Ahmed Eldin shared a clip of an article by The Times Of Israel on his Twitter account.

  • Israel knew about Hamas’ October 7 attack, claims New York Times

    Israel knew about Hamas’ October 7 attack, claims New York Times

    A recent report by The New York Times published on November 30 reveals that a blueprint containing the details of the October 7 attack by Hamas was in the knowledge of Israeli officials, however, they dismissed it as aspirational.

    Ronen Bergman and Adam Goldman, both stationed in Tel Aviv, claim to have reviewed the classified 40-page document, code-named ‘Jericho Wall’ by the Israeli authorities.

    The Times team, who reviewed the translated document, stated that it does not point out the exact date for the attack but lays out the detailed methodical assault designed to invade the Israeli region around Gaza. “Hamas followed the blueprint with shocking precision,” reports The New York Times.

    The document was circulated among top intelligence officials in Israel more than a year ago but they deemed it beyond Hamas’ capabilities. The Times team sheds light on the doubtful approach of the Israeli intelligence. “It is not yet possible to determine whether the plan has been fully accepted and how it will be manifested,” read a military assessment reviewed by The Times.

    However, it is not confirmed if Prime Minister Netanyahu saw the document or not.

    The research also explains that a colonel in the Gaza division brushed off the warning made by an analyst who claimed that Hamas conducted military exercises as per the content of Jericho Wall, according to encrypted emails viewed by The Times.

    The article goes on to explain the glaring similarities between the attack by Hamas and the intelligence report of the Jericho Wall.

    While the October seven attack has been dubbed the deadliest attack in Israel’s history and the Israeli military has accepted that they failed to protect their state, it has netizens wondering if the Israeli authorities deliberately let it happen to have an excuse to attack Gaza.

    However, there are some criticising the government of Israel for putting the life of so many at risk and benefitting from the situation to the fullest.

    White House Correspondent for ABC News has informed on Twitter that a senior official at the White House has denied to have any knowledge about the Jericho Wall document.