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  • VIDEO: Bilal Ashraf makes his favourite healthy chocolate snack

    VIDEO: Bilal Ashraf makes his favourite healthy chocolate snack

    Quarantine and self-isolation has brought out the inner chef in all of us. While the rest of us Google recipes for fun but fattening foods, Bilal Ashraf is sticking to his healthy regime.

    The actor, who recently sported an amazing six-pack in the song Dharak Bharak (Superstar), shared a video of himself making healthy chocolate peanut butter balls in the kitchen. Bilal said that while working on Superstar he developed a habit of eating healthy and one of the snacks that he really liked during that time was these chocolate peanut butter balls.

    The recipe for the chocolate balls is very simple. You’ll need almond flour, cocoa powder, peanut butter, honey, salt and a processor.

    Watch the video for the complete recipe and the process.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-otey9lN38/

    Meanwhile, Mahira Khan had a few suggestions for Bilal.

    Are you trying this healthy snack or will you stick to your favourites?

  • Shoaib Akhtar pokes fun at Saqlain Mushtaq after his daughter gives him a makeover

    Shoaib Akhtar pokes fun at Saqlain Mushtaq after his daughter gives him a makeover

    Legendary British-Pakistani cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq recently got a makeover from his young daughter and the proud dad was not afraid to post a video of himself showing off his daughter’s makeup skills.

    Saqlain’s daughter had not only used turquoise eyeshadow and pink lipstick on her dad but also made him into a redhead with a wig.

    Showing off his look, Mushtaq in the video said, “She is a makeup artist. We are in quarantine. A couple of years back, she did my makeup and I put it up on Twitter and you guys really liked it. And today she forcefully said to me she wants to play with me again and she brought all my new get up and did my makeup and my new wig, my new get up. Are you happy? She is very happy and we all are very happy. Stay at home, stay safe, look beautiful and enjoy with your loved ones.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pt_bRH1S7/

    Most Twitter users lauded Saqlain for being a good sport.

    Meanwhile Shoaib Akhtar decided to poke fun at Mushtaq, as well as Wasim Akram who was also recently spotted sporting a wig.

    “Look what Quarantine has done to some people. Sigh,” joked Akhtar.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rGigVnLRi/

    However, our national bhabhi, Shaniera Akram was quick to hit back at Akhtar. Shaniera posted a funny picture of Akhtar, adding that this was taken before quarantine.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rkM80jR9Q/

    Earlier, Shaniera had also posted a video of Wasim getting his hair done by their daughter Aiyla.

    Are girl dads the best?

  • Jeremy McLellan riles up India with his latest Abhinandan tweet

    Jeremy McLellan riles up India with his latest Abhinandan tweet

    American comedian Jeremy McLallen who is also famous for his funny tweets has managed to rile up Indian social media users after posting an edited picture of himself with Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

    In the image posted on Twitter by Jeremy, the Indian pilot can be seen drinking the famous cup of tea given to him during his 60-hour capture in Pakistan in February last year, with the wreckage of downed Indian Air Force (IAF) Mig-21 fighter jet in the background.

    The tweet said, “Stay Home, Stay Safe”.

    The post sparked fury among Indian social media users but the comedian continued with his trolling. “Why are Indians messaging me saying he’s a hero. I know he’s a hero that’s why I gave him tea and took a picture with him,” he tweeted later.

    He then shared a screenshot of a message by an Indian Twitter user named Amit Kumar who asked McLellan if he (Jeremy) was a terrorist.

    McLellan was not done there. He proceeded to post another edited photo of himself with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  • Doctors worldwide are dancing as coronavirus patients recover

    As doctors and other healthcare workers continue to fight against COVID-19 on the frontlines and are treating patients around the world, they are also keeping the spirits high amid all coronavirus panic and fear. Doctors across the world are dancing to celebrate the recovery of their patients.

    Here a few video clips from different countries that will lighten your mood at least for some time.

    They are not only dancing, but people from different professions also applauding each other for their services in this difficult time.

  • Coronavirus lockdown: No crime reported in Rawalpindi since March 24

    Coronavirus lockdown: No crime reported in Rawalpindi since March 24

    No crime has been reported in Rawalpindi since the imposition of coronavirus lockdown on March 24, a report quoted police as saying.

    “The reason behind crime dropping to zero is that criminals fear the virus and also don’t want to put themselves at risk while numerous personnel of law enforcement agencies patrol the city,” police said.

    Saddar Division SP Rai Mazhar Iqbal said the crime rate, however, had started to decline before the lockdown was put in place. “Before the lockdown, the crime rate had already reduced by 70% to 80%,” he said, adding that the remaining 20% to 25% was taken care of by the lockdown.

    It merits a mention that Punjab remains the worst-affected by the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — as the number of confirmed cases on Tuesday reached 2,004.

    Sindh is trailing far behind with 986 cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with 500 cases.

    Infections in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK)/Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Balochistan and Islamabad for now stand at 229, 202 and 83, respectively.

    As many as 55 coronavirus deaths and 429 recoveries had been reported in Pakistan by the time this report was filed.

  • Coronavirus: Improved air quality leads to breathtaking view of Kashmir from Sialkot

    With reduced industrial pollution and traffic due to coronavirus resulting in improved air quality across the globe, breathtaking views of Kashmiri peaks from Punjab’s north-eastern city of Sialkot — one of Pakistan’s most industrialised regions — have started doing rounds over social media.

    In the wake of COVID-19, lockdowns have had a dramatic impact on air pollution around the world. While lockdowns have emerged as a temporary but effective solution to the global pandemic, they also appear to be dealing with another pressing problem faced by citizens — suffocating pollution. As millions of humans stay home around the world, pollution is temporarily alleviating.

    While the mountains of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) could earlier only be seen from Sialkot after heavy rains — when the weather was super clean –, they can now be seen from the city as improved air quality leads to better visibility and clearer skies.

    Earlier, images of clear skies over China and California, and fish swimming in Venice’s canals also made their way to social media. While they are a glimpse of what it might look like if we take better care of the earth, none of it is likely to last.

    https://twitter.com/ikaveri/status/1239660248207589383

    Much of this temporary environmental reprieve will diminish once the economy picks back up again. And of course, no one should want to curb pollution and tackle climate change via a deadly global pandemic, given the grave health and economic impacts the crisis is creating.

  • Yasir Hussain, Iqra Aziz make protective suits for doctors

    Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain are preparing protective suits for the doctors and paramedical staff who are fighting against coronavirus on the frontlines.


    In a recent video on Instagram, Yasir could be seen stitching a protective suit for doctors with wife, Iqra. He also credited the initiative to the Pakistani designer Asim Jofa who provided them with a waterproof cloth.

    Iqra Aziz requested her followers to help the doctors.

    “We both have made this protective suit together and so can you. Please start stitching and sending in your help,” she said.

    https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-oVan6DIGH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

    Read More: Asim Jofa delivers first batch of protective suits

    As coronavirus cases continue to grow in Pakistan, doctors across the country are requesting authorities and the government to provide them with proper protective equipment so that they are not exposed to the virus.

  • Indian court allows man to go out to buy food for cats amid strict lockdown

    The Kerala High Court approved permission to a petitioner on Monday to travel to get “Meo-Persian biscuits” for three of his cats amid the strict coronavirus lockdown in India.

    N Prakash who is an  owner of three cats, had moved the court after he was denied to travel by police to get food for his pets.

    According to the directives by the Kerala government, residents have to get a travel permit based on an affidavit for leaving their houses, even if  they have to go to buy essential food items.

    Prakash, stated in his petition, that “as a pure vegetarian, he could not cook non-vegetarian food in his house”. He said that he had applied for the travel pass online, but his application was rejected.

    Upon hearing the appeal, the judge said that the petitioner could go to buy cat food on the basis of a self declaration, along with a court order.

    He added that the court will pass a general order in this regard to cover situations like this.

  • Mani hits back at those labelling his charity efforts as ‘cheap publicity stunt’

    Mani hits back at those labelling his charity efforts as ‘cheap publicity stunt’

    In the past week, there has been a lot of debate over whether celebrities should be open about their charity efforts or not. While a lot of people were of the opinion that celebrities should keep it private, celebrities have opened up and said that the only reason they are sharing their efforts is because they want to inspire and motivate people to do the same.

    Salman ‘Mani’ Sheikh and his wife Hira Mani are among those celebrities who have been collecting and distributing ration bags among the needy. They have kept their fans updated throughout for which they received immense backlash on social media. Later, Mani hit back at the criticism saying “As pop culture celebrities when we share posts of our material wealth – our show ratings, our wardrobe, our holidays – it is labelled as ‘trending’. However, when we try to use our fame to do some good, it is unfairly being labelled as ‘cheap publicity stunt’.”

    Mani shared the process of how they started collecting donation bags and said that the only reason they shared it on Instagram was to create awareness and raise funds for their drive.

    “We put up pictures on Instagram so whoever knew anyone deserving could contact us and refer that needy family. However, after a week we started running out of funds and appealed to others to join in. We also encouraged fans to start similar donations in their areas because our reach was limited,” he continued adding that they received a lot of donations and a lot of brands started contacting them.

    Mani further said, “We didn’t put up pictures with the people who we were donating to, we didn’t show queues of deserving white-collar workers at our place. We don’t even go down to meet the people who come to our doorstep, so we don’t embarrass them and they don’t feel that we are doing it for publicity. And yet…we are disliked for it.”

    “We [will] continue with our mission. Here’s the quote that keeps us going and will keep all those who are helping the ones in need, to keep at it no matter what,” he concluded.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pBCBDpmGY/

    In the accompanying video, Mani took viewers on a tour of the setup where the ration bags are being made. Mani said that each ration box can roughly last a week or two. He said that each box includes aata, milk, risk, pulses, soap and oil among other things.

    Earlier, Hira had also addressed the same concerns.

    Main show off nahi ker rahi mere kia aukat bus ye picture laga kay app logaon ko bata rahi hun kay app sub bhe mere saath mill kay iska hissa bunien ya phir apni capacity main app khud se jo bhe ker saktay hain kerien please. Abhi madad kerien (I’m not showing off, I’m a nobody. The only reason I’m posting this picture is to encourage people to come together and help in whatever way they can),” the actor had written.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Wy-hyHxe8/

    Meanwhile, some celebrities had appealed to their followers to keep the identity of those receiving the donations private.

  • Tareen & sugar crisis: ‘Imran feeling betrayed, thinking he bet on the wrong horse’

    Tareen & sugar crisis: ‘Imran feeling betrayed, thinking he bet on the wrong horse’

    With the damning investigation report on the recent sugar crisis making headlines and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen being named as one of the people who allegedly benefited from the economic disaster, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, to whom Tareen has always been more than just a colleague, is feeling betrayed, The News has reported.

    Earlier this year, following the shortage of wheat flour in the country and the subsequent price hike, sugar had also gone missing from the market. Taking notice of the situation, the premier had formed a committee to find out those responsible for the crises.

    On Saturday, the inquiry report on sugar crisis had named PTI bigwig Tareen, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Moonis Elahi and a relative of then minister for national food security Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar as the beneficiaries of the price hike.

    On Sunday, PM Imran had said that he was waiting for the detailed forensic reports, slated to come out on April 25, before taking any action against those responsible and on Monday he had reshuffled the federal cabinet which saw Bakhtiar being replaced. Tareen was also removed from the Agriculture Task Force among other changes.

    Soon after the reshuffle, reports claimed that the premier was “feeling betrayed by once his closest aide Tareen”, who, despite having been disqualified by the apex court, was given the informal role of deputy PM to help the PTI government deliver.

    “Tareen was given immense power, informally, to reform the agriculture sector, his choice men were appointed in the cabinet as well as in the bureaucracy both in the Centre and Punjab. But, it all ended up not only in failures but caused major scandals of wheat and sugar,” the report said and further claimed that Tareen had “thoroughly disappointed Imran, who now thinks that he had bet on a wrong horse”.

    The latest reshuffle in the cabinet and bureaucracy, these report said, was a clear message for all and sundry both within the PTI and in the government that Tareen was out and so was his influence. “With these changes, the PTI Jahangir Tareen group meets its end.”

    It also said that what happened on Monday was not the climax and “a lot will happen after April 25 when the Sugar Commission will submit its report on how the sugar mafia operates”.

    “There will be criminal proceedings, possible arrests and institutional actions by [the] FBR [Federal Board of Revenue], SECP [Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan] etc,” it added.