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  • Love in the time of war: Ukrainian couple gets married amid attacks

    Love in the time of war: Ukrainian couple gets married amid attacks

    A Ukrainian couple got married at Kyiv’s St Michael’s monastery with air raid sirens in the background, as Russia attacked Ukraine on Thursday.

    Talking to CNN, the bride said: “That was very scary. It’s the happiest moment of your life, and you go out, and you hear that.”

    Previously, their wedding was scheduled to take place on the terrace of a restaurant in front of Dnieper River in May. However, they had to change their plans as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. They decided to get married as early as possible because of the uncertainty of the future.

    Yaryna Arieva, 21, works as a deputy in the Kyiv City Council, and her partner, Svyatoslav Fursin, 24, is a software engineer. They met each other in October 2019 during a protest in Kyiv.

    The married couple is ready to join Territorial Defence Centre to defend their country. Yaryna Arieva said, “We have to protect it. We have to protect the people we love and the land we live on.”

    “I hope for the best, but I do what I can to protect my land,” she added.

    “We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that,” said the bride who wants to be with her partner while defending their country, Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military invasion by sea, land, and air on Thursday.

    According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Russian troops are targeting civilian and military zones with their strikes.

    According to the head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, more than 50,000 citizens in Ukraine have taken refuge in Poland and Moldova. While some have taken shelters in the subway stations and basements.

  • ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    ‘I am here’: Ukrainian President Zelensky tells citizens during Russian invasion

    Street fighting has reportedly broken out in Kyiv, as the Russian troops have reached the capital after less than three days of fighting, reports Al Jazeera.

    Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that Ukrainian forces have been able to mount a strong defence against the Russians.

    In the early hours of Saturday, Zelensky released a video outside his office in the capital city. He said, “I am here. We will not lay down the weapons. We will defend our state. This is our land our country, our children and we will defend all of that.”

    The Ukrainian president has turned down an offer by the United States (US) government to evacuate the country. “I need ammunition, not a ride,” he remarked.

    Ukrainians have been advised to take shelter. Around100,000 people are believed to have left their homes.

    US officials believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own. The Biden administration has also imposed sanctions on Russia.

    On February 23, Putin allowed Russian forces to invade Ukraine.

    Zelensky, in a tweet, called for Ukraine to be granted European Union (EU) membership. He said he had discussed “further effective assistance” as well as “the heroic struggle of Ukrainians for their free future” with European Council President Charles Michel.

  • ‘Making Pervaiz Elahi chief minister is not our priority’: Nawaz Sharif’s spokesperson

    ‘Making Pervaiz Elahi chief minister is not our priority’: Nawaz Sharif’s spokesperson

    Mohammad Zubair, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and spokesperson for party supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, said that it could not be the PML-N’s priority to hand over the Chief Minister (CM) seat to Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi in Punjab.

    Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Zubair said, “There are still many things that have yet to be agreed upon.”

    “Discussing the option of handing over CM Punjab portfolio to Pervaiz Elahi doesn’t mean that the PML-N leadership has decided on this,” said Zubair.

    “Ousting the incumbent government is in the interest of the country and we [Opposition] are completely agreed on it,” said the PML-N spokesperson.

    Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has said that in the meetings with former President Asif Ali Zardari, Chief of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman, and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif, several things were discussed and shall be revealed at the right time.

    Shujaat also said that poor people would stop trusting politicians if they were just busy in political meetings. Economic conditions should be given utmost importance.

    Earlier it was reported that the Chaudhry brothers presented their Charter of Demands to Zardari.

    The PML-Q has asked the Opposition for the Chief Ministership in Punjab and stated that no compromise will be made on anything less than that.

    In case of getting Chief Ministership, the PML-Q has assured the success of in-house transformation in Punjab and Centre.

  • More than 25,000 women abducted in Punjab in three years, police records reveal

    More than 25,000 women abducted in Punjab in three years, police records reveal

    According to police records, 25,099 women were abducted in Punjab between 2019 to 2021. As per details, 6,571 cases of abduction of women were registered in 2019, 8,129 cases were registered in 2020 and 10,399 cases of abduction of women were registered in 2021.

    According to the police, in the last three years, suspects involved in only eight cases of abduction have been convicted. Furthermore, 5,947 cases are still under investigation while challans of 5,157 cases have been submitted to the courts.

    As per the police records,13,901 cases of abduction of women were withdrawn because the abducted women said that they had left by choice. Moreover, 94 women have not been traced yet.

    Earlier this month, a report published in The News said that in the last six months 2,439 women were raped, 9,529 were kidnapped, while 90 women were killed in the name of honour in Punjab.

  • Two men arrested for smuggling money in Quetta

    Two men arrested for smuggling money in Quetta

    Two men were arrested by the police at Quetta International Airport for attempting to smuggle money to Dubai. The suspects made a failed attempt to smuggle 171,500 Saudi Riyal (Rs8 million) to Dubai, Samaa has reported.

    They were trying to smuggle the money through a private airline. The investigation was carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) cybercrime circle.

    An FIR has been registered against Sami Ullah and Naimat Ullah and they have been moved to jail. The money has been seized by the police.

    Only a certain amount of money is allowed to be carried by overseas travellers under the law.

  • Aurat Azadi March in Islamabad to be held on March 6 instead of 8

    Aurat Azadi March in Islamabad to be held on March 6 instead of 8

    The Aurat Azadi Jalsa in Islamabad will be held on March 6 instead of March 8.

    March 6 is a Sunday, which is why the date has been changed to make it “easier and more accessible for all women, especially working-class women, to attend the Aurat Azadi Jalsa”.

    “To strengthen and sustain feminist unity, the Aurat Azadi Jalsa will now take place on Sunday, March 6th 2022, from 2pm-6pm,” tweeted the official Twitter account of Aurat Azadi March Islamabad.

    “We are firmly committed to continue this struggle until our emancipation from all forms of patriarchal oppression. We are dedicated to this movement to protect our right to life, to achieve peace and progress, to ensure dignity and equality for all, and to establish a people’s democracy and egalitarian society in Pakistan.”

    International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 around the world, and Aurat March (Women’s March) takes place in different cities of Pakistan to mark this day. However, Aurat March in Lahore and in Multan will take place on March 8.

  • Food ban to be lifted from domestic flights: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

    Food ban to be lifted from domestic flights: Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority

    The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) will lift the ban on food services on domestic flights from March 1, ARY News has reported.

    The ban was imposed on January 15, due to a rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. The ban was imposed on both domestic and international flights. However, the ban on international flights has not been lifted yet.

    The spokesperson of PCAA has said that passengers still need to follow precautionary Covid-19 measures during travel.

    As per the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 1,207 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours while 14 people lost their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Name underpass after Qalandars’ star David Wiese in Lahore, demand Twitterati

    Name underpass after Qalandars’ star David Wiese in Lahore, demand Twitterati

    After David Wiese’s all-round performance last night in the Eliminator 2 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2022, Twitter is flooded with praises for the South African-born Namibian cricketer.

    Wiese produced a sensational performance in the final overs of each of the two innings of the PSL 7 Eliminator 2 against Islamabad United in front of a packed to capacity Lahore crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday night to guide his side to a six-run win and a place in the PSL 7 final.

    Weise turned the game on its head with the bat as he scored 26 runs off the final over of the Qalandars innings bowled by Waqas Maqsood. Waqas also conceded a wide, leaking 27 runs in the over as Qalandars went from a seemingly below-par 141 for seven to 168 for seven total in a matter of six balls.

    Weise remained undefeated with his explosive 28 off eight.

    The Qalandars all-rounder then conceded just one run off the four balls of the final over he bowled as Mohammad Wasim Jnr was run out and Waqas brilliantly caught in the deep by Abdullah Shafique as United were bowled out for 162 with two balls to spare.

    The whole crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore was chanting David Wiese’s name after his prolific all-round performance. Twitter too demanded an underpass in his name.

    https://twitter.com/syedalishahrvkh/status/1497279918538993668?t=lg9W_bLXGwkHrJKwQm9iQA&s=19
    https://twitter.com/imharis_10/status/1497301951947714570?t=AIx0HnSGGS9llcMsKyvdXA&s=19

    One of the Twitter users named Liberty roundabout of Lahore after David Wiese.

    Wiese bagged Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance.

    In post-match ceremony, he said: “That was an unbelievable game and unbelievable team effort. Fortunately it came off for me and I landed a couple of yorkers. It was meant to be. This game had everything. So many emotions out there. Thanks to the fans for coming out and supporting us.”

    He also took to Twitter to thank his fans for the support.

    Shaheen Shah Afridi took to Twitter to laud the team and efforts of players including Wiese, saying: “Absolutely fantastic display of team work, grit & determination. Special shout out to @David_Wiese, @HarisRauf14, @imabd28 & @ZamanKhanPak.”

    He added: “Come on guys, just one more game to go & I want you to enjoy every bit of it. #MeHoonQalandar #DilSe.”

    Lahore is set to play the final game against defending champions Multan Sultans on Sunday, February 27.

  • Shehbaz Sharif thanks those who want him to be PM

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif has said that he is thankful to those who have proposed his name for the slot of prime minister (PM).

     In an interaction with journalists on Friday, Shehbaz Sharif said, “I am thankful to those who have proposed my name for the slot of prime minister… but who says I am taking the office (as premier) for a year or so?”

    “The decision about the new prime minister in the wake of the success of a no-trust move will be finalised by (PML-N Quaid) Nawaz Sharif in consultation with Opposition parties.”

    Shehbaz Sharif, former President Asif Ali Zardari, and Chief of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) Maulana Fazlur Rehman met on Wednesday evening at the residence of the PML-N leader.

    After the meeting, it was reported that Shehbaz Sharif wanted someone from within the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as the prime minister while the PPP wanted Shehbaz Sharif to be the next prime minister, a proposal that he was reluctant to accept. They claimed that former president Asif Ali Zardari nominated Shehbaz Sharif as the prime minister while Shehbaz named PPP’s Khursheed Shah for the slot.

    The Opposition parties have also started signing the no-confidence motion against PM Imran Khan and the united Opposition claimed the support of 24 members of the ruling party.

  • Shahid Afridi lauds Shaheen Afridi for ‘great display of captaincy’

    Shahid Afridi lauds Shaheen Afridi for ‘great display of captaincy’

    Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has lauded Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi for a “great display of captaincy” after Qalandars reached the final of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    On Friday, David Wiese’s last-over heroics at the Gaddafi Stadium against Islamabad United took Qalandars to a six-run victory in the second eliminator of the tournament. 

    The do-or-die match between the two sides was a treat to the eye as both the teams fought for the slot in the final till the last moment.

    Taking to Twitter, Boom Boom Afridi posted photos of him watching the match between Lahore Qalandars and Islamabad United along with his friends.

    “Today I witnessed one of the best matches in the PSL history. Congratulations Lahore Qalandars on a well-deserved win!”

    https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/1497277439575216134

    Afridi also hailed Shaheen’s captaincy throughout the PSL 7 and wished good luck to the finalists.

    “Great display of captaincy by Shaheen throughout the tournament. Good luck to both of the finalist teams,” he wrote.

    Defending champions Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars will lock horns on Sunday for PSL 7 title.

    Earlier in December, Afridi had said that Shaheen did not pay heed to his advice regarding accepting the leadership role.

    Afridi had said: “I had advised Shaheen to wait for a year or two before accepting captaincy so that he can focus more on his bowling. But since he is also an Afridi, he didn’t listen to me.”

    “Having said that, I’m happy that he has decided to accept this responsibility and I hope that he proves me wrong,” the former skipper had said.

    Sultan’s skipper Mohammad Rizwan also congratulated Shaheen for reaching the Final.

    “What a thriller it was! Enjoyed every second of it. Congratulations @iShaheenAfridi & @lahoreqalandars for finals. You put everything into this,” he wrote.

    While commenting on Shadab Khan, he added: “@76Shadabkhan & @IsbUnited, keep your head high. I know k aap Himmat nahi haare ga (I know you will not lose hope) and will come back stronger. #LevelHai #PSL7.”