WhatsApp offers a tonne of features and has been around for more than a decade, making it one of the greatest messaging programmes accessible. However, there’s always space for improvement, and it appears that the platform is now introducing a new tool that will let users”undo” a “Delete for me” message.
Head of WhatsApp Will Cathcart tweeted about the new feature, saying that there is now a new option in WhatsApp that will undo a “Delete for me” message, bringing back the message and allowing users to either leave it as is or continue to “Delete for everyone.” Given that there was no ability to edit or bring back the message before this update, this ought to be a pleasant improvement.
WhatsApp has improved its app significantly over the past year by adding new features. The addition of voice messaging to the programme gave users a new means of communication in chat, making it one of the more significant additions. Emoji reactions in chat, sharing of larger files, and support for 32-person voice call groups were also added by the company.
The ability for Android users to move their WhatsApp data to an iOS device, which was perhaps one of the most requested features, was also introduced in 2022. Of course, these are only a few of the features that have been added over the past year, but there is no doubt that things have changed significantly and will do so in the future.
Amber Heard will pay Johnny Depp $1 million to settle their long-running legal battle, in which each accused the other of domestic violence.
The sum is a significant reduction from the $8.35 million she was ordered to pay after a six-week trial in Virginia earlier this year. The payment is expected to come from her insurance carrier.
In a statement, Depp’s attorneys said that he would donate the money to charity. His attorneys have previously said that the case was “never about the money” for Depp. In her own statement, Heard said she had “lost faith in the American legal system.” She also said that the settlement spares her the ordeal of further litigation and allows her to finally “emancipate” herself from their marriage.
Depp originally filed a $50 million defamation claim against Heard in March 2019 after she published an op-ed in the Washington Post in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”
At the trial in Fairfax, Va., each actor testified for several days, revealing lurid details of drug abuse and screaming matches. Their testimony was streamed live on YouTube and remixed endlessly on TikTok and Facebook. Heard alleged that Depp repeatedly assaulted her, choked her and once raped her with a liquor bottle. She often broke down in sobs during her testimony.
Depp, meanwhile, alleged that Heard was the aggressor in the relationship, and that he would try to retreat whenever she became violent. The couple had made audio recordings of their arguments during their marriage, and each side played clips they had selected to try to corroborate their accounts.
The seven-person jury ruled in Depp’s favor on three separate claims of defamation, awarding him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. The latter sum was knocked down to $350,000 to comply with a statutory cap.
In a small consolation to Heard, the jury also found in her favor on one of her three counterclaims, finding Depp liable for a statement made by his attorney in which Heard was accused of perpetrating a “hoax.” Depp was ordered to pay Heard $2 million, leaving a net judgment of $8.35 million in Depp’s favor.
The following month, Heard filed a notice of appeal, with her attorney citing “errors” made by the court. However, the “Aquaman” actor has now agreed to withdraw her appeal.
In a statement posted on Instagram announcing the decision, Heard made clear that “There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward” and blasted the U.S. legal system for turning her testimony into “entertainment and social media fodder.”
She also compared her experience of the U.S. legal system to the U.K., where Depp sued British tabloid The Sun in 2020 for calling him a “wife beater” in an article. Heard was a chief witness for The Sun. In that case, the judge called the allegations “substantially true” and found in favor of The Sun.
In a statement, representatives for Depp said they were pleased with the outcome, and emphasized that the jury’s verdicts still stands.
“We are pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter for Mr. Depp, who made clear throughout this process that his priority was about bringing the truth to light,” said Depp’s attorneys Benjamin Chew and Camille Vasquez. “The jury’s unanimous decision and the resulting judgement in Mr. Depp’s favor against Ms. Heard remain fully in place. The payment of $1 million – which Mr. Depp is pledging and will (actually) donate to charities – reinforces Ms. Heard’s acknowledgement of the conclusion of the legal system’s rigorous pursuit for justice.”
Heard first leveled her abuse allegations against Depp in 2016, in the course of her divorce from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star. She later received $7 million in a settlement and the couple agreed not to speak of the matter again, signing non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreements.
Read Heard’s full statement below:
“After a great deal of deliberation I have made a very difficult decision to settle the defamation case brought against me by my ex-husband in Virginia. It’s important for me to say that I never chose this. I defended my truth and in doing so my life as I knew it was destroyed. The vilification I have faced on social media is an amplified version of the ways in which women are re-victimized when they come forward. Now I finally have an opportunity to emancipate myself from something I attempted to leave over six years ago and on terms I can agree to. I have made no admission, this is not an act of concession. There are no restrictions or gags with respect to my voice moving forward. I make this decision having lost faith in the American legal system, where my unprotected testimony served as entertainment and social media fodder. When I took before a judge in the U.K., I was vindicated by a robust, impartial and fair system, where I was protected from having to give the worst moments of my testimony in front of the worlds media, and where the court found that I was subjected to domestic and sexual violence. In the U.S., however, I exhausted almost all my resources in advance of and during a trial in which I was subject to a courtroom in which abundant, direct evidence that corroborated my testimony was excluded and in which popularity and power mattered more than reason and due process. In the interim I was exposed to a type of humiliation that I simply cannot re-live. Even if my U.S. appeal is successful, the best outcome would be a re-trial where a new jury would have to consider the evidence age. I simply cannot go through that for a third time.”
She added, “Time is precious, and I want to spend my time productively and purposefully. For too many years I have been caged in an arduous and expensive legal process, which has shown itself unable to protect me and my right to free speech. I cannot afford to risk an impossible bill – one that is not just financial but also psychological, physical and emotional. Women shouldn’t have to face abuse or bankruptcy for speaking her truth, but unfortunately it is not uncommon. In settling this case I’m also choosing the freedom to dedicate my time to the work that helped me heal after my divorce; work that exists in realms in which I feel seen, heard and believed and in which I know I can effect change. I will not be threatened, disheartened, or dissuaded by what happened from speaking the truth. No one can and no one will take that from me. My voice forever remains the most valuable asset I have.”
Amber concluded by saying, “I’d like to thank my outstanding appellate and original trial teams for their relentless hard work. I want to thank everyone who has supported me and I turn my attention to the growing support that I felt and seen publicly in the months since trial, and the efforts have been made to show solidarity with my story. Any survivor knows that the ability to tell their story often feels like the only relief. I cannot find enough words to tell you the hope your belief in me inspires. Not just for me, but for all of you.”
Restaurant owners and traders condemned the national energy conservation plan the government announced yesterday, warning that it will create more problems rather than solutions.
Under the National Energy Conservation Plan, the government has announced that all restaurants and markets shall be closed by 8 pm, while the timing for wedding halls will be limited to 10 pm.
President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran, Ajmal Baloch, urged the government to reconsider the decision, stating that it might bankrupt traders as they purchase the most expensive electricity during the timings 6pm to 8pm.
“The government, before defaulting the country, will bankrupt all traders.”
Rizwan Irfan, the President of the Karachi Electric Dealers Association, said while lamenting the policy. He pointed out that traders were facing problems due to electricity and gas load shedding, stressing that such a decision might cause merchants to start protesting in the streets.
The President of the All Pakistan Restaurants Association, Athar Chawla, has called the national energy conservation plan a “counterproductive” approach to ressolving the energy crisis in Pakistan. In a letter to the Minister of Defence Khwaja Asif, who had unveiled the plan at a press conference on Tuesday, he asked that the policy be reconsidered because of how much it could harm restaurants.
“All restaurants carry an inventory of perishable items, which is to be kept in cold storage 24 hours a day and seven days a week, another major electricity consuming machinery are air-conditioners which are already off due to winter season,” he said.
The letter also urged the minister to consider the losses restaurants suffered during Covid-19, and mentioned that almost 50% restaurants suffered losses due to the present economic situation:
“Any further restriction will aggravate the situation resulting in huge unemployment and loss of revenue for the government.”
The letter requested that the government allow restaurants to operate their dine-in function till 1 am, and food delivery to function 24/7.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed disappointment over the ban on university education for women in Afghanistan. “I’m disappointed by the decision that was taken today,” he said on a visit to Washington.
The Taliban on Tuesday banned women from universities in Afghanistan. The statement was made by the minister of higher education, who stated that it will go into effect right away.
“You all are informed to implement the mentioned order of suspending education of females until further notice,” said the letter signed by the minister for higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem. The letter was issued to all government and private universities.
Despite the fact that the international community has on multiple occasions made the education of girls a key demand for any future recognition of the Taliban administration, the group has barred Afghan girls from going to school beyond the seventh grade. Moreover, they have restricted women and girls from working and have limited their travel unless accompanied by a close male relative.
Activist Shaniera Akram recently posted a screenshot of actor Feroze Khan driving with his child in his lap to reiterate how such an act can be life-threatening. The post instantly made rounds on social media, with many people chiming in on the discussion about road safety. Defending his action, Khan has now responded to Akram on the same.
Taking to Instagram, the actor shared a video of Khabib Nurmagomedov, a popular Russian MMA fighter wrestling with a brown bear. Referring to the fighter, Khan said, “World’s number one fighter! Glad he didn’t listen to you [Shaniera] or your father while being trained or would’ve wasted his talent.”
Khan then noted how he’s much more knowledgeable about cars and safety rules than Akram. “I’m part of the Pakistan Professional Racing Fraternity for the past two years. I understand the sensitivity a lot more than you can,” he shared.
Moving on, the Habs actor shrugged off Akram’s concerns, letting her know that he still has all the support. “Let me do me, and you do you. You’re heard and ignored. I’m back to business,” concluded Khan.
Upon seeing Khan’s reply, Akram also posted an Instagram Story requesting the actor to stop sending videos with ‘animal cruelty’. “I have no idea what this means, please refrain from sending me sick, cryptic animal cruelty videos.”
Once again taking a dig at the Money Back Guarantee actor, Khan then let Akram know that she would never truly understand his stance. “I have already requested Wasim bhai to translate. You wouldn’t get it, requires strength and understanding,” replied the Tich Button actor.
The Khaani star also addressed his followers to stop believing anyone on the internet. He said, “Don’t listen to just any Tom, Dick, and Neira [Shaniera]. You all know what I mean. Focus means focus.”
Farhan Saeed’s Alleged Jibe
Amidst Feroze-Shaniera’s feud, Khan’s Tich Button co-star Farhan Saeed posted a cryptic message, “Do not argue with Jahil (illiterate), he will bring you down to his level and then beat you with his experience.”
Many netizens believe that this post is directed toward Feroze.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) may give the post of Chief Minister of Punjab to Pakistan People’s Pakistan (PPP) as the party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari campaigns in Lahore to get the seat, reportsGeo News Urdu.
According to the media outlet, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat has favoured PPP in this matter.
In case of consensus, the Punjab Assembly (PA) speaker and deputy speaker candidates would be from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Zardari has also started considering names for the CM chair, including PPP Punjab parliamentary leader Hasan Murtaza, former Premier Yousuf Raza Gillani’s son Ali Haider Gillani and Usman Mehmood.
However, the final decision will be made jointly by Zardari, Chaudhry Shujaat and Nawaz Sharif.
The development comes forth as the no-confidence motion against incumbent CM Pervaiz Elahi gains steam. Elahi, however, remains seemingly ahead in numbers in the provincial assembly with the support of 190 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs).
Apart from Elahi, a separate no-trust motion was also submitted against PA Speaker Sibtain Khan and Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi.
The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved funding for five projects totaling $1.692 billion on Tuesday in order to support those residing in Sindh, Pakistan’s flood-affected areas.
According to Geo, out of the five initiatives, three support rehabilitation, home reconstruction, and the restoration of crop production for vulnerable populations, according to a statement released by the World Bank. Two of the three projects have a combined value of $500 million, while the third is worth $292 million.
“Sindh was the province worst affected by the 2022 floods. There were huge damages to the housing, health, and agriculture sectors and people lost their livelihoods. Beyond the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged houses and infrastructure, our engagement in the flood response effort is an opportunity to strengthen resilience, and reform institutions and governance structures”, said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan.
The “Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project,” which will cost $500 million, will prioritize creating short-term livelihood opportunities and enhancing the province’s ability to respond to emergencies.
“The project will help restore and improve critical irrigation and flood protection infrastructure, water supply schemes, roads, and related infrastructure. At least 2 million people—approximately 50 per cent of whom are women—in the most flood-affected districts will benefit from the restoration and the resilient reconstruction of critical infrastructure”.
About 100,000 households will get short-term financial support through a community-level cash-for-work program.
“The $500 million Sindh Floods Emergency Housing Reconstruction Project will support owner-driven and multi-hazard resilient reconstruction of core housing units. A housing subsidy will provide reconstruction and restoration grants for 350,000 housing units (almost 20 per cent of the total housing rehabilitation needs for Sindh). Cash grants will be provided for houses with structural damage to partially finance reconstruction or restoration. “
To increase access to water and sanitation, twin pit latrines and simple rainwater collection systems will also be provided.
Furthermore, the $292 million approved for the “Sindh Water and Agriculture Transformation Project” will enhance integrated water resource management, boost agricultural water productivity, and enable farmers who were impacted by the flood to resume crop production.
“More than 385,000 households (approximately 1.9 million people) are expected to benefit from the project. As an immediate response to the floods, the project will provide cash transfers to approximately 300,000 flood-affected farming households to help restore crop production through the purchase of seeds, fertilizer, and other critical inputs. In the medium term around 70,000 households will benefit from improved irrigation services and agricultural support that will help boost farming income. An estimated 14,000 households will receive direct financial benefits from the pilot smart subsidy schemes targeting small- and medium-sized farmers,” the WB said.
By improving access to and use of mother and child health services, the Sindh Strengthening Social Protection Delivery System Project ($200 million) will also boost the province’s social protection delivery system. As part of the project, the Federal National Database Registration Authority will be aligned and connected, and conditional cash transfers (CCTs) will be given to 1.3 million mothers and their kids to support better maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in the wake of service disruption caused by the floods.
The CCTs will be made available to Sindh’s bottom 15 districts, selected depending on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and will cover 65 per cent of the province’s total flood-affected areas. They are intended to help lessen the effects of the floods, particularly food insecurity, and to maintain access to maternal and child health services open.
The Sindh Integrated Health and Population Project have been granted $200 million by the lender. The project will assist in raising the standard and uptake of fundamental nutrition, and maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health care. Additionally, it will aid in the repair and reconstruction of health infrastructure that was harmed during the floods and impeded the provision of these services.
The initiative would enhance the population’s access to high-quality healthcare services in Sindh’s flood-affected settlements as well as in distant and peri-urban areas, particularly for women, girls, and children.
“The World Bank will continue to support the Government and people of Pakistan to recover from the recent flood emergency and strengthen long-term resilience to such climate-related shocks,” the statement concluded.
The Bank of England has unveiled designs for new bank notes featuring His Majesty, King Charles III. The new notes are expected to enter circulation in the United Kingdom by mid-2024.
Announcing the design for the first time in the run-up to the coronation in May, the UK central bank said the king’s portrait would appear on existing designs of all four of its polymer bank notes currently in circulation – £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Queen Elizabeth was the first and only monarch to appear on circulating Bank of England banknotes, starting in 1960. Notes issued by Scottish and Northern Irish banks do not depict the monarch.
King Charles will become only the second monarch in British history to feature on a bank note.
Actor Affan Waheed recently answered on Hassan Chaudhry’s The Talk Talk Show if he is dating co-star Sidra Niazi. The Do Bol star also explained why they were spotted together.
Affan stated that he frequently visited London to see his little nephew, and it was purely coincidental that Sidra was also in town at the same time, and they both met and took pictures.
He also said that Sidra is an old family friend of theirs, and they both knew each other before they were famous.
Last year when Waheed appeared on theThe Big Pick show, he revealed that because of his marriage rumours with Shehnai co-star Ramsha Khan, many people in his circle and even neighbourhood believed it.
“Women in my neighborhood visited my home and gave “Salami” (wedding token) of 5000 to my mother, fans are highly convinced about the marriage of Ramsha and me.”
Senior actor Shabbir Jan recently appeared as a guest on comedian Nadir Ali’s podcast where he spilled the beans on his live feud with morning show host Nida Yasir.
Jan said that it was a planned gimmick to garner television ratings. He said that yes the artists are paid for their appearances on these morning shows, but there has to be a limit for what they expect the guests to do on their show for ratings in return for the money.
The senior actor shared that Nida and other people from the ARY administration visited him and they were apologetic about what had transpired. He said that there should be a limit to what is happening in order to make people watch your show.
Shabbir Jan also refuted the rumours that ARY administration put a ban on calling him again after the whole incident. He also added that he generally gets angry quickly and it was his control that he only walked off the show.
Earlier on Nauman Ijaz’s show, G Sarkar, Jan revealed that Nida asked him a question about flirtation, and after his reply, she declared his answer was false.
Shabbir expressed his dislike and left the show. Talking about the show, he added “it was a stupid segment, you should know with whom you are talking and what exactly are you asking.”
