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  • ‘It was a sarcastic post’: Danish Kaneria on ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ meme fiasco

    ‘It was a sarcastic post’: Danish Kaneria on ‘Meray Paas Tum Ho’ meme fiasco

    Danish Kaneria, who is only the second Hindu to play for Pakistan after his maternal uncle Anil Dalpat, was recently involved in a meme fiasco after the protagonist Danish (played by Humayun Saeed) in the blockbuster drama Meray Paas Tum Ho passed away in the final episode. Soon after the episode aired, people began to discuss the drama serial and its end on social media.

    Amidst all that, one social media user remarked that he was upset to hear about ‘Danish Kaneria’s’ death. Kaneria responded to the user saying that he is well and alive.

    Following that, on Thursday, Kaneria decided to hold an interactive session with his fans on the microblogging website and the hashtag #AskDanish began to trend on Twitter.

    A Twitter user couldn’t help but ask the Kaneria about the drama and Danish’s death. In response, the cricketer said that it was a “sarcastic post” and that he was not aware of the drama.

    Kaneria also answered a plethora of questions and appealed to the Pakistan Cricket Board to facilitate him in his comeback.

    If things were not clear enough already.

    He shared that Test Cricket is his favourite format.

    His love for Pakistan.

    Kaneria was all praises for Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    He even spoke about the controversy that followed when Shoaib Akhtar has claimed that he faced discrimination at the hands of a few Pakistani cricketers, who were reluctant to even eat with him because he is a Hindu.

    Kaneria, now 39, was found guilty of spot-fixing alongside Mervyn Westfield while playing for Essex against Durham in 2009.

    The leg-spinner was found to have convinced Westfield to concede 12 runs during the one-day game. Westfield was handed a four-month prison sentence and ECB banned him for five years.

    Kaneria admitted to spot-fixing in 2018 after six years of denial.

  • ‘Defamation’: Shehbaz moves London court against British journalist

    ‘Defamation’: Shehbaz moves London court against British journalist

    PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif has filed a defamation case in the London High Court against UK journalist David Rose and Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) – publishers of the Mail Online and Mail on Sunday for carrying “utterly false allegations” against him.

    According to a report in The News, Shehbaz’s lawyers, Alasdair Pepper and Antonia Foster shared the details of the defamation suit in a press conference at their office. The former chief minister of Punjab was also present.

    Pepper revealed that the defamation claim has been filed at the London High Court’s Queen’s Bench Division against the defendants DMGT and David Rose, author of the story. The case will go to a trial before a judge at the Royal Court of Justice in under a year as the minimum time to get a trial date is between nine months to a year.

    The lawyer elaborated they decided to approach the court after failing to get a substantive response from the newspaper in several months, despite repeated requests.

    He said that the article, which alleged that Sharif misappropriated UK taxpayers’ money in the form of DFID aid intended for the victims of the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, and the author’s “social media campaign” was “gravely defamatory” of Sharif.

    He asserted that DFID denied the allegations and labelled the claims as false proving that their client was not involved. The lawyer added that the article was part of a “politically motivated campaign” against the PML-N leader and that Sharif is renowned for his professional and personal ethics.

    In a statement, a DFID spokesperson had said, “The UK’s financial support to ERRA over this period was for payment by results – which means we only gave money once the agreed work, which was primarily focused on building schools, was completed, and the work audited and verified.”

    Speaking at the press conference, Shehbaz said that he was determined to prove that the allegations against him were false, baseless and politically motivated to malign him, adding that it was clear that Rose was used by the PTI government as they granted him “exclusive access to some of the tempered results of a high-level probe ordered by Khan” including a “confidential investigation report” and unusual access to interview “key witnesses” held on remand in jail.

    The Daily Mail UK report, published on July 14, 2019, claimed that the paper was given exclusive access to some of the results of a high-level probe ordered by the government of Pakistan and it was also able to interview key witnesses held on remand.

    One of the witnesses had claimed that he laundered millions on behalf of Shehbaz’s family from a nondescript office in Birmingham without attracting suspicion from Britain’s financial regulators.

    The paper had also alleged that Shehbaz and his family were embezzling tens of millions of pounds of public money and laundering it in Britain.

    Shehbaz had served a first legal notice to the newspaper on July 26, alleging that David Rose’s report was “politically motivated”.

    Despite this, Rose had on multiple occasions thrown shade at Sharif for taking no action.

  • Pakistani farmers can now sell on a smartphone application

    Pakistani farmers can now sell on a smartphone application

    Pakistani farmers can now sell their vegetables directly to their potential buyers. A smartphone application has finally saved them from the ruthless discrimination of the middlemen in Sabzi mandi’s

    Omar Majid Warraich, founder of Agrim@art has created a smartphone application, more than 700 farmers have already registered on it. Moreover, this platform was sponsored by Karandaaz, an investment platform sponsored by the bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    The company launched in August last year, Agrim@art reported sales worth 5.5 million rupees ($36,000) in its first three months. They are predicting to have 2,000 farmers working with them by March 2020. Here is how this startup materialised into a viable business platform.

    Warraich turned to National Incubation Center (NIC) to get help in the execution process of his idea. NIC is a public-private partnership based in Lahore that helps entrepreneurs in launching new businesses. They have launched a number of really successful startups.

    Startups are certainly a game-changer for Pakistan. The widespread bribery, corruption, and an unfriendly regulatory environment is now being challenged with innovation. In addition, foreign investors are starting to take notice of the ultimate potential of our country.

  • It’s impossible to imagine life without them: Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa opens up

    It’s impossible to imagine life without them: Kobe Bryant’s widow Vanessa opens up

    Vanessa Bryant made her first public comment on Wednesday since the helicopter crash that killed her husband Kobe Bryant, one of their daughters and seven others, taking to Instagram to thank people for the global outpouring of support since the tragedy.

    She also announced the formation of a fund to help support the other families that were affected by the crash.

    “Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri. We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.”

    The Bryants would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary this April. They had four daughters including Gianna, the 13-year-old who died in the crash.

    “There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B77K8XWDY7O/

    It was the first statement from the Bryant family since the crash. The Los Angeles Lakers — the team that Bryant spent 20 years with, winning five championships — held a media availability Wednesday as well, the team’s first since learning of Bryant’s death.

    The Lakers were to play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, a game the NBA postponed out of respect to Bryant, the other victims and the grieving process. The Lakers will next play on Friday, at home against Portland.

    “I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them,” Vanessa Bryant wrote. “But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.”

    There has been no announcement on funeral or memorial plans yet for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. Vanessa Bryant asked for a continued respect of her family’s privacy as they begin to “navigate this new reality.”

  • Jahangir Tareen’s sugar mills post profit of Rs138.92 million in three months: report

    Jahangir Tareen’s sugar mills post profit of Rs138.92 million in three months: report

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stalwart Jahangir Tareen’s sugar mills have reportedly posted a profit after tax of Rs138.92 million — a 170% increase in gross profits in three months — as compared to a loss of Rs353 million recorded in the same period last year.

    According to media reports, JDW Sugar Mills Limited has announced its financial results for the first quarter that ended on December 31, 2019, which show that the revenue of the largest white sugar producer in the country went up by 61.45% to Rs13.19 billion during the first quarter as compared to Rs8.17 billion recorded in the same period last year.

    The sales have increased mainly due to an increase in average selling prices of sugar, molasses and carryover sugar stocks.

    The sugar division comprises three sugar mills units, JDW Unit-I, JDW Unit-II and JDW Unit-III in Rahim Yar Khan and Ghotki districts. It is one of the largest groups in the sugar sector and contributes approximately 15-17% of the country’s sugar production. It is also managing Sugarcane Corporate Farms over an area of 24,000 acres in Punjab and Sindh.

    While people allege that the government had a role to play in scoring Tareen these profits, it is pertinent to note that as of last week, a serious case of sugar shortage had emerged as the country already stumbled amid a wheat crisis.

    During the PTI government’s 15 months, sugar prices have shot up to as high as Rs64 a kilogram (kg). However, over the past week, the wholesale rate rose from Rs64 to Rs74 per kg and an acute shortage surfaced in the country. Last year, Pakistan produced 600,000 tonnes of sugar. Now, however, the wholesale rate of sugar is expected to reach Rs80 per kg, The News reported.

    Further, if the government does with sugar what it did with wheat-flour and does not halt exporting it, prices could reach up to Rs100 per kg in Pakistan.

  • ‘Tayyar Hain’ gets the ball rolling for PSL V

    ‘Tayyar Hain’ gets the ball rolling for PSL V

    With less than a month remaining to the ultimate sports festival of the year, the Pakistan Super League, excitement levels are high. What makes this PSL even more special is the fact that all the matches will be played in Pakistan and fans will be able to witness the match live in the stadiums.

    The PSL team officially kickstarted the event by releasing the anthem for this year’s edition. This year’s PSL track has been sung by Ali Azmat, Haroon and Asim Azhar with a special appearance by Arif Lohar. The track has been composed by Xulfi. The tune is catchy and full of energy but the highlight of the video has to be Asim and Haroon dancing. They seem to light up the mood even more with their moves.

    Laal Kabootar director Kamal Khan has directed the music video which also features star cricketers including Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Rumman Raees, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood.

    According to the press release, “A total of 22 instruments have been used in creating Tayyar Hain, including indigenous instruments such as tumba, chimta, rubab and harmonium“.

    Listen to the song here:

    Meanwhile, the track received a mix response from the audiences. While some loved it, others didn’t like it at all.

    https://twitter.com/psychohun_/status/1222304818389274624?s=20
    https://twitter.com/SyedGF/status/1222206160318668801?s=20
    https://twitter.com/AyeshaKhan_9/status/1222209662583562245?s=20
  • Here’s the list of all places where you can buy PSL 5 tickets

    Here’s the list of all places where you can buy PSL 5 tickets

    The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 5 is scheduled to start from 20th February with the first match between Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United at National Stadium Karachi.

    And if you are planning to go to the stadium to watch the match of your favorite team. Here is the list of all express centers selling PSL 5 tickets.

    Tickets are on sale at all these TCS Express Centers. You can also buy from Yayvo.

    Each customer can buy up to 7 tickets per match on his CNIC so don’t forget to take your CNIC with you when you go to buy your tickets from a nearby Express Centers.

  • ‘JUI-F’s Mufti protecting Mansehra child molester’; family registers FIR

    ‘JUI-F’s Mufti protecting Mansehra child molester’; family registers FIR

    A chilling child abuse case takes a surprising turn as political party, Jamaet-e-Ulema-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F)’s leader Mufti Kifayatullah is accused of harbouring the child molestor and forcing the victim’s family to take back their accusation.

    The case took place in Mansehra in December, when a ten-year-old student was sexually abused by a madrassah teacher. According to the medical report, the child was sexually abused multiple times, the child’s eyes had bloody wounds and he had also been tortured. After the medical report the madrassah was sealed as the alleged molester went into hiding. Police said that raids were being conducted to find the alleged rapist.

    In an update on the case, the family of the victim filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Mufti Kifayatullah and Qari Abdul Maalik for trying to force the family to drop the case and for hiding the alleged abuser, Shamsuddin.

    The family has registered an FIR and is not giving up

    The family says that Mufti Kifayatullah threatened them to settle out of court or face the consequences. He also offered them money to settle the case. The family has refused and is asking for justice.

    READ MORE: Jemima Khan reacts to being called ‘Wiki’s’ cousin

  • Careem lays off over 150 employees

    Careem lays off over 150 employees

    Dubai-based Careem has laid off over 150 employees to cut down on costs due to financial constraints. The ride-hailing app’s co-founder and CEO Mudassir Sheikha in an interview confirmed the news and said “that cuts are being made to support its [the company’s] expansion strategy.”

    He further added, “The expansion will require cost-cutting that will involve the loss of five percent of existing roles and the reassigning of ten percent of staff to more critical technology development areas.”

    The layoffs come just three weeks after Uber completed $3.1 billion acquisition of Careem.

    An employee who was laid off spoke to MENAbytes, a leading tech news company in the Middle East, and shared, “Careem was a fantastic company but things started deteriorating after the deal with Uber was announced. The uncertainty hiked since the acquisition but I didn’t see this coming. We could have been informed earlier. It would have given us more time to look for an alternative but nevertheless it has been a good journey.”

    Another ex-employee remarked, “It is sad to see a company that used to have great culture and values, lose everything. It has become a highly political organisation where performance is not the criteria to progress anymore”.

    Uber, that now owns Careem, has also laid off over 1,000 people from its different teams across the world in a bid to cut down on costs. According to stats, it lost approximately $1.1 billion in the third quarter of 2019.

  • Sakoon sirf qabar mein?

    Sakoon sirf qabar mein?

    Dying has now become more expensive in Faisalabad.

    According to a report in Samaa News, digging a grave used to cost anything between Rs 4,000-5,000 but now costs at least Rs 10,000 and in some cases, prices have gone up to Rs 12,000.

    A resident of Faisalabad told the media outlet that while Prime Minister Imran Khan says peace is in the grave, “we can’t even get that because dying too costs so much now”.

    The price of getting a permanent grave (pakki qabar) made now costs something between Rs 25,000 and Rs 30,000.

    Recent rise in prices of essential items has already cost the public a lot; now you can’t even die in peace due to the rising costs of digging graves and getting a permanent grave.