Mangoverse of Madness?
A fruit vendor from Attock, Pakistan has become the new darling of Indian publications for his extraordinary singing skills and his knack for bringing a hilarious twist to Shakira’s popular song ‘Waka Waka’.
A video of the man was posted by a meme account with the name Hamza Choudhary, amassing more than 400,000 likes, with fans writing down all sorts of hilarious captions.
“Shakira crying in the corner”, one user wrote.
It’s lovely to witness
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with Chinese officials during a rare trip to Beijing, as relations between the two superpowers continue to deteriorate. Blinken is the first man of his post to meet Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, since 2018. Both Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang described the talks, held on Sunday, as “candid and constructive”.
Representatives of the two states ‘seemed to agree on little beyond keeping the conversation [of diplomacy] going’ as reported by Reuters. They did not appear to make concrete progress on disputes that include Taiwan, trade, human rights and fentanyl.
According to the State Department, Blinken stressed the “need to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation,” thereby underscoring the importance of open communication channels to manage their competition.
Describing the US-China relationship as being at its lowest point since diplomatic relations began, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi said the root cause was the United States’ incorrect perception of China.
“We must take a responsible attitude toward the people, history and the world, and reverse the downward spiral of US-China relations,” Wang was reported to have said during the meeting, as released in a statement by China’s foreign ministry.
Xi Jinping hails ‘progress’
On Monday, Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Their meeting could be instrumental in facilitating a summit between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden later this year.
The visit reflects attempts from both states in ensuring disputes between the economic superpowers do not develop into outright conflict.
Xi praised the talks as “progress” between the two superpowers. Biden said he hoped to meet the Chinese leader again after their lengthy meeting in November, during the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia.
“I’m hoping that, over the next several months, I’ll be meeting with Xi again and talking about legitimate differences we have but also how there’s areas we can get along,” Biden said, as reported by The Guardian.
It is likely that the two leaders will be in attendance at the next G20 summit, which is to be held in New Delhi in September. Xi is also invited to travel to San Francisco in November, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
Yesterday, in Rajsthan’s Ajmer in India, a man, Mukesh, had reportedly murdered his father while he was drunk, during an argument that escalated over property division. According to the mother, the heated conversation began earlier in the day but had seemingly settled which is when she chose to depart the house. However, India Today reports that when the mother returned, she found her dead husband’s body and immediately reported to the police.
Baldev Ram, in charge of the Ansagar Police Station, revealed to the media that the authorities had taken swift action to arrest Mukesh, and were keeping him under custody as the investigation continues. The body of the deceased has been sent for a post-mortem examination.
According to video accounts of Pakistani survivors, Greek authorities deliberately sunk the vessel and provided no rescue efforts.
In the video, survivors can be heard saying: “They have done this [on purpose]. They have sunk it themselves.” The other added, “We did not sink for five days, so why would we sink now?”
They recounted that the ship’s engine had broken down, leaving them still for almost a week. “We did not drown even though our engine had [completely] shut down. [the boat] sunk because of the one-maund-rope they threw into the boat.”
In an investigation conducted by the BBC, many discrepancies were found in the statements released by the Greek authorities. For one, the coastguard claims that in the hours before the boat capsized, it was on a “steady course to Italy and not in need of rescue.”
However, analysis of the movement of other ships in the area suggests that the migrant boat was not moving for at least seven hours before the disaster. This corroborates eyewitness accounts of Pakistani survivors.
The UN has called for an investigation into Greece’s handling of the disaster. Greek authorities have not yet responded to the BBC’s findings.
FIA arrests 10 alleged traffickers
Calamity struck a migrant boat that capsized off the south-eastern coast of Greece last week on Wednesday, leaving hundreds of Pakistani migrants dead. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a high-level investigation to trace the human traffickers behind the incident. So far 10 alleged traffickers have been arrested in connection to the tragedy.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the suspected human traffickers from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and another one from Karachi airport who was attempting to flee abroad, Geo News has reported.
The 10 suspected traffickers are “presently under investigation for their involvement in facilitating the entire process” according to Chaudary Shaukat, an official from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Condemned Pakistanis
Last week in the early hours of Wednesday morning, a migrant boat capsized off the Southern Peloponnese while on its course to Italy from the Libyan town of Tobruk. The Guardian reported most of the victims were men from Pakistan and Afghanistan. More sinister details have since emerged from witness accounts.
According to witnesses, the Pakistanis onboard were ‘forced below deck’ where they had far less chance of surviving a capsize. The Observer also reported that crew members were maltreating the Pakistanis below deck when they would appear in search of fresh water or tried to escape.
The number of Pakistani lives lost is estimated to be around 298. 135 of them are reported to be from the Kashmir region. Greek authorities have yet to release a confirmation on Pakistan’s death toll.
Mismanagement and alleged cover-up
Many questions have been raised since witness accounts spread across global news, specifically about the role of Greek authorities in the tragedy.
On Friday, two days after the accident, a spokesperson of the Greek government claimed that their assistance had been refused by the migrant boat after they threw a rope to the vessel to “stabilize and check if it needed help.” This contradicted the coastguard’s earlier statements that it had kept a ‘discreet distance’ from the boat.
According to a witness interviewed by CNN, Greek authorities were seen towing the vessel with ropes, but since the ropes were tied in the “wrong places”, the boat capsized.
The witness, Tarek Aldroobi, had three relatives on board. He told CNN, “Their boat was in good condition and the Greek navy tried towing them to the beach but the ropes were tied in the wrong places,” Aldroobi said. “When the Greek navy tried pulling them it caused the boat to capsize.”
Nikos Alexiou, a spokesman for the coastguard, defended their response. He said their patrol boat only used a small rope to stabilize itself while it was close to the migrant boat, and that they were unable to tow it.
In an interview with CNN, Alexiou explained: “Regretfully there was movement of people, a shift in weight probably caused by panic and the boat capsized. As soon as we got there, we started our rescue operation to collect those who were in the water.”
In a report by The Guardian, Maurice Stierl, from the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies at Osnabrück University in Germany, responded to the coastguard’s defense: “What caused the sudden shift in weight? Was there a panic on board? Did something happen during the attempt to provide them with something? Or was it towed? And due to this towing, did the boat go down?”
According to Stierl, EU countries ‘weaponise time’ by delaying rescue as long as they can. “They have managed to build in delays into European engagement at sea. They’re actively sort of hiding, in fact, from migrant boats, so that they are not drawn into rescue operations. We can see how a strategy is being created, that slows down –actively and consciously slows down – rescue efforts,” Stierl explains.
Questions arose over whether the Greek coastguard should have intervened earlier, as government officials confirmed patrol boats and cargo ships had been shadowing the migrant vessel since Tuesday afternoon.
A visionary Indian man has ingeniously crafted a remarkable electric scooter that defies convention by featuring only a single wheel, embodying his innovative approach to transportation.
The entire captivating journey of building this extraordinary self-balancing electric scooter has been meticulously chronicled in a captivating video shared on the Creative Science YouTube channel.
The video commences with the creator sketching the initial blueprint of the scooter on cardboard, meticulously refining the design and making necessary adjustments before commencing work with durable metal sheets. Transferring the meticulously finalised cardboard design onto a substantial metal sheet, the skilled individual deftly cuts out the required components, which are then skillfully welded together, culminating in the creation of the wheel’s arch.
To ensure optimal stability, the scooter boasts a wider wheel embedded with a cutting-edge hub motor. Additionally, the ingenious inventor fabricates a comfortable seat using sturdy metal sheets, ingeniously incorporating a cleverly concealed storage compartment beneath it to house the scooter’s vital battery pack.
Drawing inspiration from the vintage designs of yesteryears, an exquisite metal fairing is meticulously fashioned. Complementing the ensemble, the handlebar and headlamp unit are borrowed from an existing scooter, while a robust bracket ensures the wheel’s secure placement, and a custom-fabricated metal pipe serves as the elegant rod for the handlebar.
Once the meticulous structural work reaches its completion, a crucial self-balancer sensor is meticulously integrated into the scooter. This sophisticated sensor plays an indispensable role in maintaining optimal stability, enabling the audacious scooter to effortlessly remain upright, defying expectations with its singular wheel.
Precise installation of the sensor is of utmost importance, ensuring accurate calibration and steadfast security. The wires from the wheel are diligently connected to the sensor, while an additional set of wires establish a vital link between the sensor and the throttle cable.
With the technical aspects artfully completed, the protective panels are deftly removed, and the entire scooter embarks on a transformative painting process. Beginning with a meticulous primer, the scooter is then adorned with a radiant yellow hue, instantly captivating attention.
To ensure safety and comfort, any sharp metal edges on the scooter are conscientiously concealed with carefully placed piping. Despite its unconventional appearance, this remarkable scooter functions with remarkable finesse, thanks to the flawlessly integrated sensor that effectively safeguards against any untoward tipping forward or backward.
It is worth noting that the creator’s exceptional achievement was accomplished without relying on advanced modern technologies, proudly showcasing their remarkable ingenuity in crafting this awe-inspiring, home-built marvel.
TRIGGER WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT
A Shalimar Express bus, en route to Lahore from Islamabad, via M2 motorway, overturned near the Salt Range on Saturday.
At least ten people have been declared dead while the rescue operation is still underway. Injured people have been admitted to the trauma centre at Kallar Kahar, women and children among them.
The cause for the accident was overspeeding, as reported by PNN News. According to a witness, the bus was overspeeding at a turn when it broke through the barrier separating the highway. The bus flipped over onto the side of the hill, near Kallar Kahar.
According to another witness, there were up to 20 passengers in the bus with rescue operations underway to retrieve those still stuck inside.
A man has been sentenced to jail by a court in Bahawalpur for marrying for a second time without the permission of his first wife, Geo News has reported.
The Pakistani state observes a punishment of up-to a one year sentence and a fine for men that take up second wives without the written consent of their first wife.
The first wife filed an application in the court against the second marriage of the husband. The family court of Bahawalpur sentenced him to six months in prison and fined him half a million rupees.
While pronouncing the verdict, the court said that the accused will have to serve two more years of imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine.
Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in India’s Gujarat on Thursday, largely sparing the coastal areas of Sindh in Pakistan. Due to swift evacuations ordered by Senator Sherry Rehman and executed by army forces, the inundated areas saw no loss of human lives.
Forecasted to be hit hardest by the storm was the fishing port of Keti Bandar. According to an official from the Sindh provincial irrigation department, Keti Bandar suffered “zero damage”. Some shops have reopened in the city as intruding seawater has started receding. Fishermen have gradually started returning to Keti Bandar, anxious to make up for the several days of lost income.
Biparjoy made landfall as a Category 1 cyclone, after weakening from its initial Category 3 status while it was in the Arabian Sea. Biparjoy further weakened into a cyclonic storm and was expected to become a depression by Friday evening, according to the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
Life in Sindh is returning to normal, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Shops and markets have gradually reopened in Thatta and Karachi Commissioner ordered the resumption of examinations and other education-related activities from June 17.
The authorities also lifted the ban on going out into the sea.
However, fishermen were advised to refrain from venturing out into the open sea until the system ends on Saturday (today).
A woman in Gujarat India has named her one-month-old daughter ‘Biparjoy’.
The family of the baby girl was in a shelter house in Jakhau in Kutch district, when she named the child after the cyclone. They are among thousands of Indians evacuated to safer locations due to the storm.
The name ‘Biparjoy’ was coined by Bangladesh. It means disaster or calamity in Bengali.
The reasoning behind naming cyclones is pretty simple. The storm is either given a code or a name, and it’s simpler to remember a name than a string of letters, numbers, or technical terminology.
A case was registered against a National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) police inspector at the Daska Saddar police station for allegedly raping a woman. However, the woman has now taken back her complaint saying that she was not raped.
The First Information rape (FIR) stated that the woman who belonged to Lahore, went to Daska for personal work.
The woman had earlier said in the FIR that she was waiting for a rickshaw when a motorway vehicle came to her and offered to drop her to her destination.
The woman claimed that the inspector, who is named in the FIR, sent other police officers away and then raped her.
The woman in a statement before the magistrate has now withdrawn her accusation of rape.