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  • Iraqi female TikTok star shot dead: officials

    Iraqi female TikTok star shot dead: officials

    A gunman on a motorbike shot dead a well-known Iraqi social media influencer known as Om Fahad outside her Baghad home on Friday, Iraqi security officials told AFP.

    An unidentified attacker shot Om Fahad in her car in the Zayouna district, a security official said, requesting anonymity because he was not cleared to speak to the media.

    Another security source said the attacker appeared to have pretended to be making a food delivery.

    Om Fahad had become known for light-hearted TikTok videos of herself dancing to Iraqi music wearing tight-fitting clothes.

    In February 2023, a court sentenced her to six months in jail for sharing “videos containing indecent speech that undermines modesty and public morality”.

    The Iraqi government launched a campaign last year to clean up social media content that it said breached Iraqi “morals and traditions”.

    An interior ministry committee was established to scour TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms for clips it deemed offensive.

    Several influencers have since been arrested, according to authorities.

    Despite years of war and sectarian conflict after the 2003 US invasion to overthrew Saddam Hussein, Iraq has returned to a semblance of normality.

    But civil liberties — for women, sexual minorities and other groups — remain constrained in the conservative society.

    In 2018, model and influencer Tara Fares was shot dead by gunmen in Baghdad.

  • ‘Members of TTP are in contact with me’, Barrister Saif wants dialogue with banned group

    ‘Members of TTP are in contact with me’, Barrister Saif wants dialogue with banned group

    Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information, has once again reiterated the need to start a dialogue with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the country reels from a surge in terror attacks.

    Saif stated that the recent significant loss of lives on “both sides” should prompt Pakistan to opt for a peaceful way to get out of this mess.

    “We must consider the possibility of dialogue if terrorists are willing to renounce terrorism. The situation must be approached realistically. Lives are being lost on both sides, and the only way to halt this is to pursue peaceful means. This does not imply any form of surrender to the terrorists.”

    The statement comes a few days after CM KP Ali Amin Gandapur also said that the country needs to open a dialogue with terrorists because “Whatever we have done has gained us nothing.”

    The Advisor also revealed that the terrorists are in contact with him, “Members of the TTP have been in contact with me, discussing their issues. At times, when the TTP has issues with the Pakistan army, they communicate it through me.”

    Social media reactions were mostly critical of Barrister Saif.

  • Mohsin Naqvi criticised for allowing security bikes on Margalla trails

    Mohsin Naqvi criticised for allowing security bikes on Margalla trails

    Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi recently ordered the launch of ‘Marghalla Trail Patrol’ to provide security on the trails that zigzag across the hills. The decision has been widely criticised by netizens for its potential to harm the wilderness of the trails.

    Naqvi said in a tweet, “We’re launching the Margalla Trail Patrol to secure the beautiful trails of Margalla, especially for the safety of foreigners who love exploring them. Our tri-pronged security cover includes Trail Motorcycles, mounted Police (horses), and foot patrolling.” The minister even shared pictures of patrol police.

    Renowned journalist Gharida Farooqi responded by pointing out how the motor vehicles will violate the wilderness and climate protection concept. She wrote, “Wrong decision to introduce motor vehicles to Margalla Hills Trails. Basically against the preservation of wilderness and climate protection concept. This must be reversed.” Gharida demanded, “Protect and save Margalla Hills”. In the end she added that “safety of everyone is vital alike; be they [are] locals or not.”

    Netizens also jumped in the debate as another user agreed with Gharida by posting, “True. Safety matters”

    Social media climate activist Dawar Butt shared his two cents by posting , “So, Motorcyclists are banned in the National Park because it disturbs wildlife, but Motorcycle mounted security guards constantly patrolling the national park are fine?”

    Urban development specialist Momin Sheikh’s had a cynical response as he said, “This is the first time I’m seeing a country introduce petrol motorbikes on a hiking trail inside a national park. Who says we don’t innovate, we are the world leaders in horrible ideas”

    Another user pointed out that Rangers are already appointed in Margallas. It could have been better had they been empowered more by the government.

    Others pointed out that bikes will being noise and air pollution in the trails.

  • ‘Baat hogi tou sirf army chief aur DG ISI say’: Shehryar Afridi

    ‘Baat hogi tou sirf army chief aur DG ISI say’: Shehryar Afridi

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shehryar Afridi claimed on Friday that his party will soon hold dialogue with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) instead of talking to individuals who he believes were rejected and reached parliament through Form 47.


    Afridi gave his statement during an interview with the Geo News show Naya Pakistan when he was asked for his opinion on how to achieve political stability in the country.
    The PTI stalwart criticized the PML-N led government, claiming that they are a group of “rejected people” who are being “controlled remotely” and got into parliament through “Form 47”. He also accused the ruling parties of being “backed by the establishment”.
    Responding to calls for reconciliation, he said that there was no benefit for the former ruling party to hold dialogues with the “people rejected by the nation”.

    “My leader doesn’t want any NRO. We want dialogue for the betterment of Pakistan,” Afridi said, adding that PTI founder Imran Khan wants to engage all stakeholders for a better country.

  • Woman hides two kilos of cocaine in false hair braids

    Woman hides two kilos of cocaine in false hair braids

    A woman who was carrying two kilos (4.4 pounds) of cocaine in false hair braids has been jailed for 18 months in the French Caribbean territory of Guadeloupe, a regional customs official said Friday.

    The 24-year-old woman from Guyana was caught at an airport in March, said Olivier Fouque, regional customs director.

    The cocaine was in “tubes hidden in false braids,” the official said. The woman was jailed for 18 months and fined 30,000 euros, he added without giving more details.

    Fouque cited the woman as an example of new ways being used to get drugs into France’s Caribbean islands after the introduction of tougher airport checks.

    Last year there were 47 cases of people being detained for carrying cocaine and other drugs in their stomachs, according to the official.

    This year, there have been “one or two”, he added.

    France introduced tougher checks on flights in Guyana in 2022 and the tactic was extended to Guadeloupe and Martinique in March this year.

    Fouque said at least 30 “suspect” people had been turned away from flights at France’s Caribbean airports this year.

  • The curious case of PCB’S Abdullah Khurram Niazi

    The curious case of PCB’S Abdullah Khurram Niazi

    The Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) has set up a five-member committee to evaluate the abilities of its level one to four coaches, and also evaluate the support staff under the chairmanship of Director Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi, who has played a few first-class matches but is not familiar with coaching, Express has reported.

    The surprising thing is that two former captains of the Pakistan team, Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, former Test cricketer Asad Shafiq, former international cricketer and senior general manager of domestic cricket Junaid Zia will work under him as members of the National Cricket Academy in the evaluation committee.

    Director Nadeem Khan, head coach in charge of all coaches Haji Shahid Anwar and head of coach education department Shahid Mehboob were also not included.

    Misbah-ul-Haq is the former chief selector and coach of the Pakistan team, he is level three qualified in coaching. Azhar Ali has passed the level two coaching course from England, which was not recognized by PCB until a few years ago.

    Asad Shafiq has not taken any coaching course but has extensive experience in domestic and international cricket. On the other hand, Abdullah Khurram Niazi has been appointed to PCB on deputation from the bureaucracy. Fingers are being raised on the cricket board on the formation of the committee.

  • 37 million tonnes of debris in Gaza could take years to clear: UN

    37 million tonnes of debris in Gaza could take years to clear: UN

    There are some 37 million tonnes of debris to clear away in Gaza once the Israeli offensive is over, a senior official with the UN Mine Action Service said Friday (Apr 26).

    And unexploded ordnance buried in the rubble would complicate that work, said UNMAS’ Pehr Lodhammar, who has run mine programmes in countries such as Iraq.

    It was impossible to say how much of the ammunition fired in Gaza remained live, said Lodhammar.

    “We know that typically there is a failure rate of at least 10% of land service ammunition,” he told journalists in Geneva.

    “What we do know is that we estimated 37 million tonnes of debris, which is approximately 300 kilos of debris per square metre,” he added.

    Starting from a hypothetical number of 100 trucks, that would take 14 years to clear away, he said.

    Lodhammar was speaking as UNMAS launched its 2023 annual report Friday.

    The war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas erupted when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct 7.

    The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

    Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas, and its ensuing military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 34,356 people, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

  • Ab solar panels pr bhi tax lage ga? Awaam furious at govt

    Ab solar panels pr bhi tax lage ga? Awaam furious at govt

    The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has sent a summary to the Ministry of Energy, proposing to impose taxes on domestic and commercial solar panels.

    Geo reported that it has been proposed to collect a tax of Rs. 2000 per Kilowatt from domestic and commercial solar panels that are in use.

    Furthermore, the summary suggested that tax be levied on 12 Kilowatt solar panel grids. According to sources, Rs. 24,000 would be charged to customers who are using a 12-kilowatt solar panel.

    It is not clear as yet whether this tax will be a one-time expense or a monthly expense.

    The summary has been sent to the Prime Minister for approval.

    Social media reacted angrily to the news.

    Meanwhile, reportedly the rates of solar panels are also under consideration and if the summary is approved, NEPRA will be requested to reduce the rates of solar panels further.

  • Chinese girl diagnosed with ‘love brain’ after calling boyfriend 100 times in a day

    Chinese girl diagnosed with ‘love brain’ after calling boyfriend 100 times in a day

    An 18-year-old girl in China, Xiaoyu, was hospitalised after exhibiting obsessive behaviour towards her boyfriend. Doctors believe she may be suffering from borderline personality disorder ‘Love Brain’, Chinese media has reported.

    Xiaoyu’s odd behaviour began during her first year of university when she reportedly became overly dependent on her boyfriend, demanding constant communication and updates on his whereabouts, causing significant strain on the relationship as the boyfriend felt stifled.


    The situation got aggravated when Xiaoyu called her boyfriend over 100 times in a single day and he did not answer. She became extremely upset and began damaging household objects. Fearing for her safety, the boyfriend contacted the police.


    Officers arrived just as Xiaoyu was threatening to jump from their balcony. She was taken to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. While ‘love brain’ is not a term itself, it is used colloquially to describe this type of obsessive behaviour in romantic relationships.


    Dr Du Na, a doctor at the hospital where Xiaoyu was treated, explained that borderline personality disorder can sometimes co-occur with other conditions like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Dr Du also suggested that such conditions might be linked to unhealthy childhood attachments.


    Du did not disclose the cause of Xiaoyu’s illness, but said it often occurs in people who had not had a healthy relationship with their parents during childhood.


    Dr Du stressed that severe cases, like Xiaoyu’s, require medical intervention.

  • Baby girl born after pregnant mother martyred died

    Baby girl born after pregnant mother martyred died

    The daughter of a pregnant woman who was martyred in the Israeli attack at Rafah in the occupied Palestinian territory of Gaza, has also died.

    Last week, a pregnant woman, Sabrin Al-Sakini, her husband and three-year-old daughter were martyred as a result of the Israeli attack in the Rafah area of Gaza. The doctors saved the daughter of Sabrin Al-Sakini by performing an emergency operation and the new-born girl was named ‘Shaheed Sabreen’s daughter’.

    The doctors who took care of the baby girl said that the weight of the baby girl at the time of birth was 1.4 kg and that her condition was improving. However, according to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the newborn girl died yesterday and was buried next to her mother.

    More than 34,000 people have been martyred as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including more than 14,000 children and more than 9,000 women.