Government to reopen NADRA offices from May 4

The federal government has decided to reopen the offices of the National Database and Registration Authority across the country from May 4.

A notification issued on Friday, May 1, stated that the orders were passed by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The interior ministry had closed down all NADRA and passport offices on March 20 as a part of the measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Following this, the authority had also extended the expiry date of all CNICs due to lapse between September 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. An online request could, however, be made.

Previously, SAMAA Digital had reported that NADRA hadn’t been following safety measures against the deadly virus adequately.

“We have thousands of visitors every day from different parts of the country who come for their CNIC issues and they all go through the process of thumb impressions via biometric machines, which could spread the virus,” an employee said.

Pakistan has reported more than 16,000 COVID-19 cases so far.



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Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion drop remix for coronavirus relief

Pop royalty Beyonce has teamed up with rap star Megan Thee Stallion to release a remixed version of the latter’s hit “Savage,” with the proceeds benefiting a disaster relief organization in Houston providing meals during the coronavirus pandemic.

The two superstar natives of the Texas metropolis dropped the track to much fanfare on social media, as people desperate for contact remain home-bound to halt the infection’s spread.

“listening to beyonce rap again is the closest thing to human touch i’ve felt in 8 weeks,” tweeted Aaron Edwards, co-host of the traveling show Pop-Up Magazine.

Megan Thee Stallion originally released “Savage” in March on her EP “Suga,” with the song quickly going viral on TikTok thanks to an accompanying dance challenge.

“Hips tik tok when I dance,” raps Beyonce in the new remix. “Left cheek, right cheek, drop it low and let it swang.”

The megastar also teased admirers by name-checking the platform OnlyFans with a loose suggestion she might start an account.

OnlyFans launched in 2016 as a hub for influencers and celebrities to charge a subscription fee for photos and videos, but it’s more commonly known as a hotspot for adult and pornographic content.

Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner said in honor of the artists’ contributions to battle coronavirus the city would soon honor them with “their own respective days.”

Beyonce had already donated six million dollars through her foundation to community organizations and mental health support in the hard-hit cities of Houston, New York, New Orleans and Detroit.

And in early April, Megan Thee Stallion announced a partership with Amazon Music to donate tablets to nursing home residents in Houston.

“I’m literally crying being from HOUSTON TEXAS this means EVERYTHING to me !!!!” wrote Megan Thee Stallion of her collaboration with Queen Bey.

“HOTTIES WE UP.”

Last summer the rapper soared to fame after releasing her album “Fever” and declaring the 2019 season “hot girl summer,” a phrase that became a trending meme and that Megan Thee Stallion later turned into a song featuring Nicki Minaj. 

Though she promised “we abt to have a SAVAGE SUMMER” in 2020, some twitter users feared confinement would dampen the prospect.

“rude for bey and meg to drop a song of the summer when we’re not even gonna have a summer,” tweeted journalist Jazmine Hughes.



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Government committed to protecting the rights of workers: PM Khan

The government is committed to improving the working and living conditions of labourers, said Prime Minister Imran Khan in his Labour Day message. We aim to provide them with better housing, education and health facilities, he remarked.

Our religion has also emphasized the principles of social justice and respect for the rights of people, the premier said on Friday. He added that labourers play an important role in economic development. The government will ensure that economic progress translates into prosperity for people from all sections of society.

President Arif Alvi, on the other hand, recognised the heroic effort made by the workers to fight for their rights. This day not only reminds us of the struggle of the workers but acknowledges their role in any country’s progress and growth.

He said that the government has launched the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Relief programme with the aim to help those in need.



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Animal Crossing offers digital getaway under lockdown

Millions of people are skirting global coronavirus lockdowns to stroll through public spaces, fly overseas and watch idyllic sunsets… in the virtual world of smash-hit video game “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

The leisurely land of Nintendo’s latest release has struck a chord with gamers around the world, many of them yearning for a virtual escape from the onerous restrictions on movement and social activity imposed to contain the infection.

The game sees players guide their digital personas around an uninhabited island, slowly transforming the landscape with a house, garden and eventually a thriving community of adorable cartoon animal neighbours. 

“Right now, watching news on TV can really be scary, but in this game, it’s just as if nothing is happening, it’s all quiet and peaceful,” said 28-year-old Kanae Miya, a Tokyo-based illustrator.

Australian high school teacher Dante Gabriele said he bought the game the day after its March release and had played it for more than 30 hours each week since, with social distancing rules keeping him housebound. 

“You can just play for an hour, or nine in a row, and that’s why it fits so well with the lockdown — you can fit it between meetings or play all day,” he told AFP.

Chopping wood, harvesting turnips and fishing in the ocean give players the resources they need to build their own fantasy paradise. 

Real-life friends can drop in to admire the day’s labours by booking an online plane ticket for their own characters, a welcome chance for social interaction at a time when regular human contact is often prohibited.

Some users say they have even adopted the game’s virtual island setting to stage dates organised through online dating platform Tinder, with the possibility of real-life romance stalled for now.

And with the virus prompting bans on public gatherings in Hong Kong, local pro-democracy activists sought to keep their movement’s momentum alive by staging a rally in the virtual world of the game.

Players directed their cartoon avatars to kick dirt onto images of the city’s unpopular political chief Carrie Lam, in a move that appears to have prompted digital stores in mainland China to stop selling copies of the game. 

Experts say the game has become something of a poster-child for a period when people feel the need to connect more than ever.

“There is a synthesis between this game and this time in history that will leave the two forever connected in the world of video games,” wrote Mat Piscatella of market research firm NPD. 

“A game designed around developing communities and forging connections was certainly the right game at the right time.”

New Horizons, the fourth title in the 19-year-old Animal Crossing franchise and the first to be released on Nintendo’s handheld Switch console, has smashed digital sales records in the weeks since its release.

It even displaced the latest instalment of Call of Duty — the blood-spattered combat simulation series that has topped Fortune magazine’s global sales lists for eight of the last 11 years — becoming the best-selling game in the US market, NPD data shows. 

The title had been hotly anticipated by gaming fans but sales exceeded expectations at a time when industry revenue has slowed, with consumers eagerly awaiting the next generation of rival Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox consoles on sale later this year.

The success has echoes of earlier triumphs by Nintendo, which has struggled to maintain market share against its competitors in recent years but still has a reputation for occasionally delivering tectonic shake-ups of the digital landscape. 

Four years ago it was with “Pokemon Go”, a smartphone-based game that became a worldwide phenomenon when it lured millions of people onto the streets for a virtual monster hunt. 

Laurent Michaud of French think-tank IDATE DigiWorld said New Horizons was testament to the game giant’s commercial strategy, which is built around in-house development and appealing to the better natures of its audience.

“They chose to think outside the box with innovation… but also by appealing to the child within us,” he said.



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Sindh minister promises to provide relief package to public transporters

Sindh government is soon going to announce a relief package for the public transporters, said Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah on Thursday.

“We won’t leave them alone,” he said. “A good package will be announced for them soon.” He even clarified that public transporters can’t be allowed to operated until the federal government lifts the lockdown. The National Coordination Committee will make the decision on lifting the lockdown and after that, we will see how to bring life back to normal, Shah added.

“The government always make such promises but it rarely ever follows through,” said a representative of the Motorcycle and Rickshaw Association. They have once again said that there is a big package for transporters.

Another member of the association said that they are giving the government two days to meet their promise. “If nothing is done, then all rickshaw drivers and their families will stage a protest outside CM House on Sunday,” he remarked. “We want some concrete action.”



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Australian police shoot man dead after stabbings in Pilbara

The man, armed with a knife, is reported to have injured several people in a WA shopping centre.

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Coronavirus: 'World is too fragile' - UN secretary general

António Guterres tells the BBC he has been "shocked but not surprised" by the coronavirus response.

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Coronavirus: Michigan lockdown protesters enter statehouse

Demonstrators rallied at the state's capitol as legislators voted on extending the state of emergency.

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Attock man murders friend over Rs10,000: police

A man killed his friend over Rs10,000 in Attock on Thursday night, the police said.

The suspect, identified as Akbar, had lent Rs10,000 to his friend, Rizwan. Akbar, however, asked Rizwan to return the amount but he couldn’t pay him back. The suspect then called him to a deserted area and shot him. Rizwan died on the spot.

The suspect is still on the run while his accomplice has been arrested.



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Today’s outlook: Sindh in lockdown until Eid, petrol prices slashed

Here are some of the news stories we are expecting to follow today (Friday).

  • Sindh has decided to extend its lockdown until Eid. Some exemptions have been given but the public movement to remain restricted from 5pm to 8am. Sindh Information and Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah refuted reports that the coronavirus lockdown is being lifted in Sindh. He told the media on Thursday that the government’s priority is to save the lives of its people and for this, every measure will be adopted.
  • Sindh has implemented a strict restriction on movement from 12pm to 3pm on Fridays. All the people whose businesses have been given exemption won’t be allowed to operate during this time.
  • The government has slashed the prices of petroleum products for the month of May, with petrol going down by Rs15 per litre. The new price of petrol will be Rs81.58 per litre, according to a notification issued by the Finance Division.
  • At least140,000 tonnes of wheat, which was being carried in a truck from Ghotki to Karachi, has reportedly disappeared on the way. The wheat has been valued at Rs4 billion. The matter has been sent to the anti-corruption department for investigation.
  • ICYMI: Asad Qaisar, the national assembly speaker, has tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, he confirmed in a tweet. “I have placed myself in quarantine at home,” Qaisar said, requesting the people to adopt precautionary measures against the virus. You can read the story here.


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Former cricketer Saleem Malik calls for equal law for players

Pakistan’s former Test captain Saleem Malik has said that many players would find themselves in hot water if the findings of the inquiry against retired fast-bowler Ata-ur-Rehman come out in the open.

“The same law should be in place for everyone,” Saleem said while speaking in Samaa TV program Awaz. “I was acquitted by the courts after fighting my case for eight years. I was previously exonerated in an inquiry by former Supreme Court of Pakistan judge GA Ibrahim before a high court judge gave the decision against me. I believe that I should be treated in the same way as other cricketers are.”

Related: Saleem Malik asks authorities to drop lifetime ban

He added that the side was divided into groups led by former fast-bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis who wanted to lead the side. “Former PCB chief Arif Ali Khan Abbasi asked me if I wanted to take the reins.  I took the job and went on to win every series during my tenure. From that moment on, rifts began to take place. I was left alone and conspiracies began to take place.”

Related: Saleem Malik apologises to fans, wants to return to cricket

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Khalid Mehmood  said that harsh punishments would have been handed to the players who were named in the match-fixing inquiries if the claimants had stuck to their statements in the inquiry.

He went on to say that that the 1999 World Cup squad that reach the final was extremely good and even Imran Khan said that it was better than the one which won the tournament back in 1992. “The side was the best team in the tournament and they were playing extremely well. Losing matches to weak teams was surprising undoubtedly and I even mentioned that before. Losing the competition after beating India in ODIs was disappointing. Pakistan were on top of their game when they reached the final at Lord’s. They adopted the strategy of batting first at the venue but some thought that they should have bowled first since it had rained the day before. The bowling unit was so strong that they could have troubled Australia on a wet pitch.”



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Coronavirus: Seven million Afghan children risk hunger - report

The coronavirus outbreak poses a "perfect storm" for the war-ravaged country, warns Save the Children.

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Coronavirus: How can I help?

Giving blood, writing a diary, or reading a story to your friends' children are just some of the options.

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Are ‘anti-virus’ cars in China just a gimmick?

Car brands are looking to tap into the country’s heightened health concerns to help kick-start flagging sales.

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Coronavirus: Northern Territory first in Australia to lift major restrictions

The Northern Territory lifts major social restrictions in a test case for the rest of the nation.

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Coronavirus: Armed protesters enter Michigan statehouse

Several senators reportedly wore bulletproof vests as armed demonstrators looked on from the gallery.

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Nigerian drummer Tony Allen dies aged 79

Nigerian drummer Tony Allen, who created Afrobeat with Fela Kuti, dies aged 79, his manager says.

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Coronavirus: Gulshan Ewing's death adds to care home tragedy

Gulshan Ewing rubbed shoulders with Hollywood legends, interviewing and partying with them.

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The worldwide race to make solar power more efficient

Scientists are working on better solar cells that will turn more of the sun's rays into electricity.

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How The Assistant exposes Hollywood's abuse silence

The movie which has roots in the exposure of power and abuse in the film industry after #MeToo.

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Quiz of the Week: On UFOs, lockdown loosening and more

How closely have you been paying attention to what's been going on during the past seven days?

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Africa's week in pictures: 24 - 30 April 2020

A selection of the week's best photos from across the continent and beyond.

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Coronavirus in Ghana: Online funerals, face masks and elections without rallies

Ghana is well known for its elaborate funerals and rowdy election campaigns so coronavirus is changing everything.

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Bollywood’s heartthrob Rishi Kapoor passes away at 67

Legendary actor Rishi Kapoor passed away at the age of 67 in Mumbai. He had been battling leukemia since 2018. He returned to India last year after treatment in the US.

Rishi’s brother Randhir said that he was taken to the hospital on Wednesday morning after he complained of breathing difficulties.

His death come a day after the passing away of another Bollywood legend, Irrfan Khan. Rishi and Irrfan also costarred in a film called D-Day in 2013.

The Bollywood star was known for his romantic roles in classics such as Saagar (1989), Naseeb (1981), Kabhi Kabhi (1976) and Chandani.

Rishi and his siblings are considered Bollywood royalty. Their grandfather, Prithviraj Kapoor cemented the family’s star status when he played the role of Emperor Akbar in the Bollywood classic Mughal-e-Azam (1960) starring Dilip Kumar and Madhubhala.

His father, Raj Kapoor, was another legend. Rishi’s son, Ranbir, and nieces, Karisma and Kareena, have also made a name for themselves in the film industry.  

Rishi aka Chintoo made his first appearance as a child actor in his father’s masterpiece Mera Naam Joker in 1970. He also made a special appearance as a child in ‘Pyaar Hua, Iqrar Hua’, in his father’s film Shree 420.

Three years later, he made his debut with Dimple Kapadia in Bobby, a teenage love story. After his big break, Rishi played the romantic hero in several films such as Prem Rog, Sargam (1979), Saajan ke Ghar (1994), Eena Meena Deeka and several others.

Rishi Kapoor did around 138 feature films with around 98 of them as a leading man. He was predominantly known for his romantic and dramatic roles and was the only actor of this genre to survive the reign of Amitabh Bachchan’s action and violence driven era for nearly two decades. From 2000 onwards he started doing supporting roles.

His wife, Neetu Singh, starred with him in 12 films (11 of them before their wedding) before she gave up films in 1980.

He had a unique distinction for having as many as 13 leading ladies make their debut opposite him, Pakistani actor and director, Zeba Bakhtiar, being one of them.

In 1991, he starred in Henna with Zeba Bakhtiar, which narrated the love story of a Kashmiri girl and an Indian man, who loses his memory after falling into a river that carries him to Pakistan.

In a Twitter Q/A in 2015, the actor revealed that he had visited Pakistan in 1990 while shooting Henna in Islamabad. He shared that he had visited Lahore, Karachi and his family’s hometown Peshawar.  

Rishi and Zeba worked together again a few years later in Mohabbat ki Arzoo. Actor Javed Sheikh co-starred with Rishi Kapoor in two films; Namaste London (2007) and Sadiyaan (2010). Singer and songwriter, Ali Zafar, also co-starred with him in Chashme Buddoor (2013).

Back in 2016, actor and singer Fawad Khan worked with Rishi in Kapoor & Sons as well.

According to a statement from the family, Rishi kept doctors and medical staff at the hospital entertained to the last.

“He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him,” said the family.  

Rishi is survived by his wife, Neetu, son Ranbir and daughter Riddhima.



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Tesla warns on shutdown as Musk calls for end to lockdown

The electric car company says forced shutdowns and limits on deliveries have clouded its forecast.

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Soldier, two women martyred in Indian firing along LoC

A soldier was martyred in unprovoked Indian firing along the Line of Control in the Kailer Sector of Azad Kashmir.

The ISPR announced Lance Naik Ali Baz’s death early Thursday.

The 34-year-old hailed from District Karak. He was martyred when Indian troops targeted Pakistan Army check posts in the Kailer Sector with heavy weapons.

Pakistan’s response reportedly resulted in heavy losses to the Indian side.

In the Rakchikri Sector, Indian troops deliberately targeted civilian settlements, killing a 16-year-old girl and 52-year-old woman.

A 10-year-old boy and 55-year-old woman were injured in the attack.



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NAB issues arrest warrant for Nawaz Sharif

NAB has issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister and PML-N founder Nawaz Sharif in a case of giving illegal concessions on plots in 1986.

Nawaz is accused of using his powers as Punjab chief minister in 1986 giving concessions to Jang Group and Geo TV owner Mir Shakilur Rehman on 54 plots in Lahore’s Johar Town.

The bureau has also filed a petition in an accountability court to declare Nawaz an absconder in the case.

In a statement, NAB said it has summoned the former prime minister multiple times but he hasn’t turned up even once to record his statements.

The PML-N founder in currently in London.



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Two men shot dead in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal

Two people were killed in firing in Karachi’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal Thursday morning.

The police have identified the victims are Wazir Ahmed and Zafar.

They have been unable to find any bullet casings at the crime scene. The police are in contact with the victims’ families and have begun their investigation.



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Coronavirus live updates: What you need to know in Pakistan

We will keep updating this story. Last update: 9:34am, Thursday, April 30, 2020.

Known case updates as of 9:34am, Thursday, April 30, 2020
Pakistan: 15,253
Islamabad: 297
Punjab: 5,827
Sindh: 5,659
Balochistan: 915
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 2,160
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 65
Gilgit-Baltistan: 330

Deaths from the virus as of 9:34am, Thursday, April 30,2020
So far, 335 people have died of the virus in Pakistan.
Islamabad: 4
Punjab: 100
Sindh: 100
Balochistan: 14
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 114
Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 0
Gilgit-Baltistan: 3

What should I do if I suspect I or someone in my family has coronavirus?
Don’t panic. There are government helplines you can call for help.
Sindh helplines: 021-99203443, 021-99204405.
Federal helpline: 1166
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa helpline: 1700
Balochistan: Two options given below
Call: 081-9241133-22
WhatsApp: 0334-9241133
Punjab: 0800 99 000

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Cough, fever, difficulty breathing, tiredness, loss of smell (reported in some patients)

Which authorities should I contact?
Your government helplines

What will they do?
They will guide you about the next steps. You will be connected to a doctor who will take your medical and travel history. You will be told whether you need to be tested or not.
If you need to be tested health authorities will send an ambulance your way to take you to a hospital isolation ward. Your contacts will be traced and also tested.

What precautions should I take to protect myself from COVID-19?

  1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  2. Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with you. The alcohol content should be 60% or higher.
  3. Wear a face mask in public places
  4. Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes
  5. Follow social distancing, keep a distance of at least one metre from other people
  6. Avoid large public gatherings
  7. Stay at home if you feel sick
  8. Disinfect workplace surfaces, door knobs, counters
  9. Cook food thoroughly

Where can I go to get tested?
Punjab:
All Divisional Headquarters hospitals
Lahore: Mayo Hospital, Expo Centre, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Shaukat Khanum and Chughtai Lab
Sindh:
Karachi: AKUH Karachi, Dow OJHA, Indus Hospital, SIUT, Chughtai Lab
Hyderabad: LUMHS Hospital
Khairpur: GIMS
KP:
Peshawar: Khyber Medical University, Hayatabad Medical Complex
Swat: Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals
Balochistan:
Quetta: Fatima Jinnah Hospital
Taftan: Mobile testing unit
Gilgit-Baltistan:
Skardu: CMCH
Gilgit: DHQ
Islamabad: PIMS, NIH
Azad Jammu and Kashmir:
Muzaffarabad: Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences

Isolation wards (Sindh):
1. AKUH Karachi
2.JPMC, Karachi
3.Dow OJHA, Karachi
4.Civil Hospital, Karachi
5. Liaquat Uni Hospital, Hyderabad
6. PMCH Nawabshah
7. Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas
8. GMMMC Sukkur
9. CMCH Larkana

Twitter handles to follow:

1. Zafar Mirza, State Minister of Health of Pakistan: @zfrmrza
2. National Institute of Health (NIH) Pakistan: @NIH_Pakistan
3. Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination: @nhsrcofficial
4.Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh: @SindhHealthDpt
5. Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister of Health & Population Welfare Sindh: @AzraPechuho
6. Sindh Governor: @Governor_House
7. Taimur Khan Jhagra KP Finance and Health Minister: @Jhagra
8. World Health Organisation Country Office in Pakistan: @WHOPakistan
9. UNICEF Pakistan: @UNICEF_Pakistan
10. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation: @DrTedros
11. Dr Yasmin Rashid Punjab Minister For Primary & Secondary Healthcare: @Dr_YasminRashid
12. Punjab Healthcare Commission: @PHC_Punjab
13. Health Department Punjab: @HealthPunjabGov
14. Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan MMIDSP: @mmidsp
15. Pakistan Antimicrobial Resistance Network (PARN): @PARNetwork
16. Aga Khan University; @AKUGlobal
17. The Indus Hospital: @indus_hospital



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Today’s outlook: Sindh CM discusses reopening markets with PM Khan

Here are some of the stories we are expecting to follow today (Thursday):

  • Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah will take Prime Minister Imran Khan into confidence over reopening shops and markets across the province. The reopened markets will have to follow SOPs.
  • Sindh Transport Minister Awais Qadir Shah will discuss SOPs with transporters for resuming public transport in the coming days. The meeting will be held at the Sindh Assembly building at 1:30pm.
  • The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has proposed a price cut of Rs20.68 per litre for petrol in its summary.
  • Imam-e-Kaaba Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais has said Masjid Al Haram and Masjid Al Nabawi will be reopened for worshipers soon. He said the Kaaba is being sterilised using latest technologies.
  • Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will head various meetings during his visit to Bahawalpur.
  • As of Thursday, Pakistan has reported more than 15,500 confirmed coronavirus cases.
  • ICYMI: An amendment to the National Accountability Ordinance has taken away the powers of the bureau chairperson to issue arrest warrants for suspects in corruption cases and investigate them for 90 days. Click here to read the full story.


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Rishi Kapoor: Bollywood's eternal romantic hero dies at 67

Veteran Bollywood actor Rishi Kapoor has died in Mumbai, aged 67, two years after being diagnosed with cancer

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US blacklists five Amazon foreign websites

The US government places some of the online shopping giant’s websites on its “notorious markets” list.

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US blacklists five Amazon foreign websites

The US government places some of the online shopping giant’s websites on its “notorious markets” list.

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Coronavirus: Trump says China wants him to lose re-election

The US president says Beijing faces a "lot" of possible consequence from the US over coronavirus.

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Coronavirus: Serena Williams among stars to compete in Mario Tennis tournament

Naomi Osaka and the Williams sisters will play and be live-streamed on Facebook's gaming platform.

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Harrison Ford investigated over LA runway incident

The US actor was piloting a plane that wrongly crossed a runway where another aircraft was landing.

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Coronavirus: Serena Williams among stars to compete in Mario Tennis tournament

Naomi Osaka and the Williams sisters will play and be live-streamed on Facebook's gaming platform.

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Coronavirus kills 70 veterans at Massachusetts care home

Officials are investigating if residents received proper medical care at the Massachusetts home.

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Irrfan Khan: The Bollywood star loved by Hollywood

Irrfan Khan's biographer, Aseem Chhabra, writes about the life of one of Bollywood's biggest stars.

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Coronavirus: Searching for truth behind Spain's care home tragedy

Families want to know why so many of their elderly relatives have died.

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Coronavirus: Japan's low testing rate raises questions

Japan's relatively low rate of virus testing raises questions about how it has tackled the pandemic.

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Training AI 'to translate mum's phone messages'

How African researchers are using the continent's languages to help spur innovation in Artificial Intelligence.

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Staging a 'socially distanced' boxing match

Inside the Nicaraguan boxing event that caught the world's attention during the pandemic.

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Coronavirus: Why the fashion industry faces an 'existential crisis'

"No-one wants to buy clothes to sit at home in," as Next's chief executive Simon Wolfson puts it.

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Coronavirus: Why so many US nurses are out of work

At a time when many healthcare workers are risking their lives, some face pay cuts and job loss.

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How will airlines get flying again?

When passenger planes start flying again, the world of air travel will be very different.

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SHC seeks details of licences issued to wine shops

The Sindh High Court wants to know what conditions wine shops have to meet to get a licence to sell liquor.

The Excise director said that they are allowed to open wine shops in non-Muslim neighbourhoods. The court was hearing a petition against licences given to liquor shops.

The court has asked the Sindh government and excise department, among others, to submit their replies in the case by May 11.

A reply has also been summoned from the owner of a wine shop.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that the respondents should present details of other similar cases heard by higher courts.



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Versatile Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan passes away

The international film industry lost a star today as actor Irrfan Khan took his last breath in Mumbai, India, at the age of 54. The actor had spent the last two years fighting a battle against cancer.

In 2018, the actor posted on Twitter to say that he was diagnosed with an endocrine tumour, a rare illness affecting cells that release hormones into the bloodstream, according to the BBC.

Born on January 7, 1966 in Jaipur, Sahabzade Irfan Ali Khan went to the National School of Drama on a scholarship before moving to Mumbai to pursue a career in acting.

For more than 30 years, the Bollywood star entertained cinemagoers. He started his career from Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay! in 1988 and Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990) starring Shabana Azmi. He spent the following decade establishing himself as a versatile actor, starring in films such as The Warrior, Maqbool (based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth), Life in a metro, Nair’s film based on Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, Wes Anderson’s Darjeeling Limited and A Mighty Heart, a film based on the Daniel Pearl case, starring Hollywood’s Angelina Jolie as Mariane Pearl.

Khan also starred in the Hollywood blockbuster Slumdog Millionaire (2008) starring Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor and Farida Pinto.

Khan was one of the only Bollywood actors who transitioned well into Hollywood. After starring in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, Khan went on to secure roles in Life of Pi (2012), The Amazing Spider Man (2012), Jurassic Park (2015) and Inferno (2016). Khan’s last film Angrezi Medium (2020) was a sequel to his film, Hindi Medium (2017) which also starred Pakistani star Saba Qamar.

On Wednesday morning, there were rumours circulating online that the actor had passed away. His manager issued a statement and said that Khan had been admitted to the ICU because of a colon infection. Later, the actor’s team confirmed that he had passed away.

In a statement shared with the press, his manager said: “I trust, I have surrendered; these were the some of the many words that Irrfan expressed in a heartfelt note he wrote in 2018 opening up about his fight with cancer. And a man of few words and an actor of silent expressions with his deep eyes and his memorable actions on screen.”

He added that it was “saddening that this day, we have to bring forward the news of him passing away. Irrfan was a strong soul, someone who fought till the very end and always inspired everyone who came close to him”.

“Surrounded by his love, his family for whom he most cared about, he left for heaven abode, leaving behind truly a legacy of his own. We all pray and hope that he is at peace. And to resonate and part with his words he had said, ‘As if I was tasting life for the first time, the magical side of it’.”
The actor is survived by his wife and two sons.



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Australia’s David Warner believes England tour will be canceled

Veteran batsman David Warner believes Australia’s upcoming limited-overs tour of England will be scrapped because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australians were scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20 matches against England in July, although changes to the English country cricket season now make that impossible.

There was speculation the tour could be delayed until September but Warner was doubtful it would go ahead.

“At the moment it’s highly unlikely we’re going to go over there given what’s happened in England,” Warner told cricket.com.au.

He said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s infection with COVID-19 showed the gravity of the problem in the host nation.

“He’s back up on his feet now and that’s fantastic news, but there’s a lot more to this than just sport being played,” Warner added.

Australia have already cancelled a two-Test tour of Bangladesh in June, and a limited-overs home series against Zimbabwe is also in doubt.

Australia are due to host the T20 World Cup in October-November, for which the International Cricket Council has said it is “exploring all options”.

Cricket Australia is particularly keen to go ahead with a Test series against India due to be played after the T20 tournament, warning this month it could lose hundreds of millions of dollars if it was scrapped.



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Reinvent the reel: Hollywood mulls new measures to restart shooting

Movie moguls, directors and lawyers are searching for radical solutions to reopen Hollywood as soundstages gather dust and studio profits slide weeks after cameras stopped rolling due to coronavirus.

The film industry has been on lockdown in California since mid-March following strict stay-at-home orders, with movie and television shoots particularly exposed to the pandemic because of the large casts and crews required.

But even as politicians mull a gradual easing of restrictions, insiders say Tinseltown’s sky-high costs — and liabilities — mean filmmaking could look very different to what came before, and be many months away.

“It’s impossible to make a ‘Star Wars’ or a Marvel movie tomorrow morning,” said Nicolas Chartier, Oscar-winning producer of “The Hurt Locker.”

“Logically, there’s too much liability and there’s too much fear,” agreed fellow producer Stephen Nemeth (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”)

“I can’t see a movie like ‘Dune’ getting produced now. I can’t see another epic film like ‘Mad Max’ — these films are 250 crew members and 250 extras. We just can’t control it.”

Though California has been praised for its pandemic response, the movie industry heartland has still recorded 45,000 cases, disproportionately centered around Los Angeles.

As such, insurance companies refuse to cover future production halts caused by on-set coronavirus outbreaks — delays that could cost millions on blockbuster projects.

“Coronavirus waivers” signed by employees have been touted as a way to protect studios from lawsuits, but are unproven particularly where A-list stars are involved.

Replacing crowd scenes with computerized background actors is another option being explored, but “would cost a fortune,” said Chartier.

“In my opinion, the big movies as we knew them — to the extent that they’re ever going to be back as we knew them — won’t be until there is an actual vaccine,” added Nemeth.

‘Moral dilemma’

One possible interim solution is temperature, virus or antibody tests for those entering sets.

On-set social distancing is being trialed in Sweden and Denmark, where production has resumed on sterilized soundstages, and studios are discouraged from hiring over-70s or those with health conditions.

Steven Soderbergh, director of prescient 2011 pandemic thriller “Contagion,” is leading a taskforce to explore similar options in Hollywood.

But those restrictions are far from practical on crowded film sets, and could lead to discrimination and other dangers, warned producers Jean de Meuron and Elena Bawiec.

“The crew that are most vulnerable is the ‘below-the-line’ crew — the gaffers, the grips, the electric, the camera,” said de Meuron. 

“You can’t put six-feet distance… the focus puller is right next to the camera operator, they’re within a couple of inches from one another.”

“How are you going to change that?”

Crews of workers “who have tested positive for antibodies and bring certificates” could become a reality, suggested Bawiec.

“But are there going to be people who are going to go and get themselves infected on purpose, so that they could have the virus and then be immune? 

“It’s a moral dilemma.”

‘For peanuts’

Filmmakers are being forced to experiment with new locations, techniques and even genres which lend themselves to a locked-down world.

Most involve dramatic downsizes. Nemeth is planning to shoot a movie at his home in the Hollywood Hills, where he can house a skeleton cast and crew throughout a brief shoot.

“We could have hyper-regional, hyper-close productions… it would work in Silver Lake, in Malibu, in Hollywood Hills,” he said, referring to local movie hotspots. 

“I’m doing it and I promise you I’m not the only one.”

Chartier intends to make a film “for peanuts” shot via Zoom or Skype in which four couples discuss a murder.

“The actors will film themselves at home, with their own clothes and no makeup,” he explained.

Hollywood lore is filled with heroic filmmakers who overcame huge obstacles to shoot great movies, but Chartier is not getting carried away.

“Either it will be a good script and the story will be good and it will be interesting, or we will get bored after 15 minutes and… too bad!”



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Abbottabad traffic policemen to no longer perform 14-hour duty

A shift system has been introduced in the Abbottabad traffic police department under which the policemen will now be on duty for seven hours instead of 14.

Hazara DIG Jameelur Rehman addressed a police ceremony and said they have shifted many officers from VIP duties to help manage traffic in the Hazara Division.

Traffic has increased due to which it is not possible to perform duty for 14 hours, DIG Rehman said. “Now, their duty has been changed and they will be on duty for seven hours.” Many officers were complaining that it was becoming impossible for them to work 14 hours at a stretch, he added.

They have also hired 48 new personnel, 10 ticketing officers and two lifters.



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Test captain Azhar Ali auctions memorabilia for coronavirus relief funds

Pakistan’s Test skipper Azhar Ali is auctioning his cricket memorabilia to raise funds for the people being affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

The base price for the items has been set at Rs1 million.

Earlier, Pakistan and Islamabad United cricketer Rumman Raees had raised just over Rs1 million after auctioning some of his cricket equipment and memorabilia.



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Irrfan Khan: Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi actor dies

The Bollywood star, known for roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Jurassic World, has died aged 53.

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Coronavirus: A new way of dating during lockdown

Omar Mehtab looks at how online dating is being reinvented in these times of social isolation.

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Gallery robot helps people experience art from home

The telepresence robot is helping people who would not be able to visit to experience the gallery.

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Mansha thinks she won’t win daughter-in-law of the year award

Actor Mansha Pasha forgot her future mother-in-law’s birthday and is sure she won’t win the daughter-in-law of the year award.

In a post on Instagram, the Laal Kabootar star said that she had lost track of the dates due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She said that she would try to make it up to her.

The actor got engaged to lawyer and social activist Jibran Nasir in an intimate ceremony with family and friends in December last year.

Pasha donned a pink lehnga choli by Omrose paired with silver jewelry. Her groom-to-be wore a white shalwar kurta with double Ajrak, each of different design.

Their relationship was confirmed via social media when a copy of their engagement invitation card began circulating. Rumours of a relationship began in 2018 when a video of them dancing together at a friend’s mehndi circulated on social media.



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Governor Imran Ismail says he’s not showing any coronavirus symptoms

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, says he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

“I feel fine and am not symptomatic,” the governor told SAMAA TV anchorperson Nadeem Malik on Tuesday. He had appeared on the show via video link.

Fever, tiredness and a dry cough are common symptoms of the virus, however, some patients have also reported aches, nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea.

Governor Ismail only showed a few symptoms on Sunday, after which he got himself tested and the result came back positive.

He said he is in self isolation at his home where he spends most of his time in an old office and interacts with his family at a distance in the lawn.

Thirty of Governor Ismail’s friends and family members he had interactions with got themselves tested and all the results came back negative.

The governor suggested Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should get himself tested because he spent some time with him while planning different programmes.

He also urged President Dr. Arif Alvi to undergo a test since he had met numerous people while holding talks on congregations during Ramazan.

As of Wednesday, 5,291 known COVID-19 cases have been reported in Sindh and nearly 14,800 country-wide.



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Bismah disappointed by shared points ruling for scrapped India series

Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Bismah Maroof expressed her disappointment with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to share points for the scrapped ODI series against India.

India qualified for the 2021 Women’s World Cup after the sport’s governing body declared that the points from a cancelled series against Pakistan would be shared.

The series, part of the ICC Women’s Championship, was not played after India’s governing body, the BCCI, said it could not get government clearance to host Pakistan with tensions rising between the neighbours.

“It was disappointing because the results could have been different,” Bismah said in a press conference via video link. “The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should file an appeal over the decision.”

Speaking on staying fit amid the coronavirus lockdown, the skipper said that the players are following a fitness plan given to them by the board.

The batswoman added that she hasn’t thought about retirement just yet and will keep playing till she is fit. “I have complete support of my husband and in-laws on this matter.”

She went on to say that she was a fan of Indian captain Virat Kohli’s batting.

Bismah, speaking on Sana Mir’s retirement, said that her services towards the game should be honoured as she is a legend.



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Hiking trails reopened in Islamabad under strict SOPs

A bit of good news for hikers and nature lovers in the capital: Islamabad has decided to reopen its hiking trails.

The trails had been shut down during the lockdown imposed in the country to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

However, as restrictions are being eased, the district administration of the city issued a notification for hiking trails to be reopened for public. Sports grounds will remain closed.

According to the order, residents can hike while strictly following the rules of social distancing. A six feet distance has to be maintained between people at all times.

Residents expressed their delight over the decision and said everyone could protect themselves from the virus if social distancing is practiced in daily life.

The notification held the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation and the environment directorate responsible for ensuring government SOPs are followed.



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Pakpattan officials seize 81,000kg of hoarded wheat in 13 days

The district administration of Pakpattan has seized 81,000 kilogrammes of hoarded wheat in the last 13 days, according to the police.

Amid the coronavirus lockdown and Ramazan, hoarders across the country have sprung into action and are creating an artificial wheat shortage in the market to earn greater profits.

In a crackdown against this, the police in Pakpattan sealed 41 mills in the district where wheat was stocked.

“The seized wheat has been handed over to the army,” a police officer said. FIRs have been registered against mill owners at multiple police stations in the district.

The suspects are on the run.

The government recently passed a new ordinance against hoarders and profiteers under which those found guilty will be sent to jail for three years and charged a penalty of Rs50,000.



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Zahid Ahmed shares details of horrific nose job

Pakistani actor Zahid Ahmed is known for taking on challenging roles, ever since his debut in Alvida. But recently he was being noticed for something else: a bad nose job.

In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, the actor shared his horrific rhinoplasty experience. He went under the knife two years ago.

“I want to tell everyone today about one thing: how did I commit this stupidity, ingratitude, selfishness and this sin,” said Ahmed.

He said that the soul made him many wrong things and he became very ungrateful and did not like the shape of his nose. He added that he felt this this was a “defect”.

According to the actor, he developed a complex when he was doing great in his career. He said that he felt that the left side of his face didn’t look good on the camera.

“I’d see an impact on my performance when the camera was at a certain angle. I felt that the left side of my nose was different from the right side of my nose. So whenever the angle would switch to that side, I’d get very conscious and nervous about it,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed added that he would request directors to avoid shots where the left side of his face was shown. He told fans that his “directors used to recommend that I should work more my performance than to think about such baseless things.”

The actor claimed that he thought of undergoing rhinoplasty, a plastic surgery of the nose which is performed by thousands of people in the world.

He shared that he was told that it would take six months for the nose to heal but that is when his worst nightmare came to life.

“Maybe it was because I did not take good care of it [nose] post-surgery or maybe Allah did not approve of it. My case turned out to be a complete disaster and it is the reason that I am making this video,” said Ahmed.

He remarked that his nose job was so bad that his social media account were flooded with comments and messages about what happened to his face. “One should not talk about their sins, but this was something that could not be hidden anymore,” said Ahmed.

Ahmed revealed that after six months, his nose was in the worst shape possible and he had to go under the knife again to fix the damage. The second surgery took him a year to heal. “My nose is still nowhere near the original but thanks to Allah that there were no hurdles in my work and in my career,” said Ahmed.

“The reason of this video is to make you realize that things can go wrong.” He urged fans to think before going for any body modifications.  

He concluded the video by requesting fans to not change their features as “Allah made you perfect”. He also thanked his doctor, Arafat Javed, for helping him fix his nose.



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Luxembourg plans to test entire population for COVID-19

Luxembourg plans to test its entire population for the coronavirus before the end of next month, at a rate of 20,000 per day, its government said today.

The Grand Duchy of 600,000 people is compact, landlocked and relatively wealthy but the plan to track the epidemic is an ambitious step up from the 39,000 tests conducted so far.

Some 3,729 cases have been confirmed among Luxembourg residents and cross-border workers affiliated to its health system and 88 people have died in the outbreak.

“We’ll have tested the whole population of the country within a month,” Claude Meisch, minister for research and higher education, told reporters on a video conference.

Students and teachers have already been invited to one of the country’s 17 testing stations in preparation for reopening schools next week.

“Get tested! It’s an important contribution towards allowing us to live more freely in the weeks and months ahead,” said the head of the emergency test program, Professor Ulf Nehrbass.

The nationwide test plan is expected to cost €40 million (RM189 million) and each resident has already received five surgical masks to help prevent new infections as its lockdown rules are phased out. 



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A Red revolution in Karachi for 50 paisas a week

In the late 1960s, my father Marghoob Raza earned Rs125 a month as Chief Medical Technologist at Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi. His salary was not much but he would religiously dedicate two rupees a month on his reluctant love affair: revolution.
For 50 paisas each, he would buy weekly magazines Al Fateh, Nusrat and Lail-o-Nahar, which were a major source of propagation in those days. The mandate of these periodicals was to state the “party line” on contemporary local, national and regional political and economic issues in unequivocal terms. They were especially popular with the assembly of believers of Marxist ideology as their diction or language was inspired by Lenin and Mao. They were run by revolutionaries such as Irshad Rao and Hamza Wahid and attracted accomplished writers such as Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Syed Sibte Hasan.

The cover of Zulfqar magazine with Benazir Bhutto in 1978. Credit: Mansoor Raza

The left wing movement inspired middle class youngsters as it gave space to dissent to those who wanted to rebel against the state-sponsored narrative. Indeed, the late 1960s and 1970s were a time of populist politics and agitation, trade union activism and taking ideological positions.
I was introduced to these magazines through my father whose days were filled chasing the aspirations of a struggling head of a lower middle class household. His spare time was, however, filled with the revolutionary poems of Faiz and Josh. My first introduction to this literature was benign and limited to their cover drawings and sketches. It was only later, when I became a student activist that my second proper introduction gained more meaning from between the covers. When I joined the National Students Federation at NED University of Engineering and Technology my father’s magazines provided the ammunition with which I could articulate my position and fortify my logic to propagate a new world view. Needless to say, like all other emotional attachments, this one too was blind and ruthless.
When my student life ended, like all other young idealists I too lost the fervor for revolution as life presented challenges more selfish and myopic in their essence but just as necessary and evil to deal with. And so this cherished stockpile of 300 magazines, shorn of their utility, were archived in the attic.
It was only decades later, in 2015, when my sister and I decided to dispose of the house that I realized something needed to be done with this treasure trove which now, (after the demise of both parents) carried great nostalgic value. So I scanned all of them.
The coronavirus proved to be a blessing in disguise and during the lockdown I was able to put together the first of the series. This document is based on the sketches and covers of those 275 magazines. It is my hope that this series of publications will prove useful for students of political sciences or anthropologists. They can be referred to and cited for fair use without permission.

If anyone wishes to get in touch with Mansoor Raza for the 323-page document please email him at mansooraza@gmail.com
Raza is visiting faculty at Program of Development Studies, Department of Architecture and Planning, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi. His areas of interests are urban issues, societal and demographic changes in Pakistan.



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Coronavirus: This is what reopening in US looks like

Barber shops, tattoo parlours, beaches and restaurants reopen in Georgia.

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Petrol prices to drop from May 1, says Hafeez Sheikh

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Hafeez Sheikh has said the price of petroleum products will drop from May 1.

“Once the cost of petroleum products decreases, the cost of traveling and investment in the energy sector will be reduced as well,” Dr Sheikh said while speaking to a private news outlet Tuesday.

On March 25, the federal government announced that it would be reducing the prices of all petroleum products by Rs 15 per litre for three months.

This continuous price reduction is happening because US oil prices have been nose diving ever since the coronavirus pandemic broke out as companies are failing to store more oil due to lack of demand.

The finance aide added that a fresh budget, the ‘corona budget’, will be presented in the first week of June and will help all business sectors to revive their profits.

“The government won’t be hard on documenting the economy so that businesses can also propel,” he said.

“The coming two to three months will be hard financially, and for that we want private companies to play their role.”

Dr Sheikh added that the country will have to increase its exports, provide more investment opportunities and get in touch with other countries to deal with the financial losses it has suffered due to the lockdown.



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US panel wants India on religious freedom blacklist

A US government panel on Tuesday called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a “drastic” downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is virtually no chance the State Department will follow its lead on India, an increasingly close US ally.

In an annual report, the bipartisan panel said that India should join the ranks of “countries of particular concern” that would be subject to sanctions if they do not improve their records.

“In 2019, religious freedom conditions in India experienced a drastic turn downward, with religious minorities under increasing assault,” the report said.

It called on the United States to impose punitive measures, including visa bans, on Indian officials believed responsible and grant funding to civil society groups that monitor hate speech.

The commission said that Modi’s Hindu nationalist government, which won a convincing election victory last year, “allowed violence against minorities and their houses of worship to continue with impunity, and also engaged in and tolerated hate speech and incitement to violence.”

It pointed to comments by Home Minister Amit Shah, who notoriously referred to mostly Muslim migrants as “termites,” and to a citizenship law that has triggered nationwide protests.

It also highlighted the revocation of the autonomy of Kashmir, which was India’s only Muslim-majority state, and allegations that Delhi police turned a blind eye to mobs who attacked Muslim neighborhoods in February this year.

The Indian government, which has long been irritated by the commission’s comments, quickly rejected the report.

“Its biased and tendentious comments against India are not new. But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels,” foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.

“We regard it as an organization of particular concern and will treat it accordingly,” he said in a statement.

The State Department designates nine “countries of particular concern” on religious freedom — China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The commission asked that all nine countries remain on the list. In addition to India, it sought the inclusion of four more — Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.

Pakistan, India’s historic rival, was added by the State Department in 2018 after years of appeals by the commission.

In its latest report, the commission said that Pakistan “continued to trend negatively,” voicing alarm at forced conversions of Hindus and other minorities, the abuse of blasphemy prosecutions and a ban on the Ahmadi sect calling itself Muslim.

India’s citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for minorities from neighboring countries — but not if they are Muslim. 

Modi’s government says it is not targeting Muslims but rather providing refuge to persecuted people and should be commended. 

But critics consider it a watershed move by Modi to define the world’s largest democracy as a Hindu nation and chip away at independent India’s founding principle of secularism.

Tony Perkins, the commission’s chair, called the law a “tipping point” and voiced concern about a registry in the northeastern state of Assam, under which 1.9 million people failed to produce documentation to prove that they were Indian citizens before 1971, when mostly Muslim migrants flowed in during Bangladesh’s bloody war of independence. 

“The intentions of the national leaders are to bring this about throughout the entire country,” Perkins told an online news conference. 

“You could potentially have 100 million people, mostly Muslims, left stateless because of their religion. That would be, obviously, an international issue,” said Perkins, a conservative Christian activist known for his opposition to gay rights who is close to President Donald Trump’s administration. 

Trump has hailed Modi and himself called for a ban on all Muslim immigration to the United States when he campaigned for president. 

But for the first time in years, India has been facing substantial criticism in the US Congress.



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US coronavirus cases hit one million

The United States reported its millionth coronavirus case as hard-hit European countries took tentative steps towards lifting lockdowns, with masks mandatory in all German shops from Wednesday.

Excitement over a move towards normality in many places was tempered by fear of new outbreaks and growing evidence of the economic devastation wreaked by the pandemic.

The crisis has left tens of millions unemployed in the US, which has by far the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 fatalities — around a third of the global death toll of 214,000, according to an AFP tally.

Forecasts warn of the worst global recession in a century, with demand for goods gutted, and travel and tourism hammered.

British Airways became the latest airline to sound the alarm, saying it may have to cut its workforce by a third.

In Lebanon there were more immediate signs of economic crisis, with protesters confronting soldiers in defiance of a nationwide lockdown.

“I came down to raise my voice against hunger, poverty and rising prices,” Khaled, 41, told AFP, saying he had lost his job and could no longer support his three children.

Even a gradual return to everyday economic activity is “risky”, warned French Prime Minister Edouard Phillipe, despite an encouraging downward trend in virus deaths.

Shops, markets and selected schools will reopen from next month in France, with masks required on public transport and work-from-home orders in place for several more weeks.

From Wednesday, masks will be needed to enter shops across Germany. Face coverings were already compulsory on buses, trains and trams.

“We all need to take care that we don’t end up with more infections,” said Lothar Wieler, president of Berlin’s Robert Koch Institute for disease control.

Germany is being closely watched as data on infection rates showed mixed results.

Italy, Spain and France have been the worst affected European countries, with each reporting more than 23,000 deaths.

Spain said restrictions would be slowly lifted over the next two months, while Italians will be able to exercise outdoors and visit relatives from next week — but hugs and handshakes will not be allowed.

Other nations from Russia to Nigeria also plan to ease lockdown measures, despite warnings from experts of a second wave of contagion if restrictions are lifted too hastily.

In Nigeria’s largest city Lagos, bus driver Taju Olonade told AFP the decision showed authorities had finally listened “to the cries of the people.”

“For almost one month I have not earned a penny,” he said. “I hope life will soon return to normal.”

More than three million people worldwide are known to have caught the respiratory disease that first emerged in China in December, but the actual figure is thought to be much higher as many countries only test the most serious cases.

US President Donald Trump has increasingly sought to blame China for the pandemic, but Beijing has pushed back fiercely.

“They have only one objective: shirk their responsibility for their own poor epidemic prevention and control measures,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday.

China’s outbreak appears to be under control with no new deaths reported for 13 straight days and confirmed fatalities around 4,600 — although much doubt has been cast on whether the numbers are accurate.

In Latin America, Brazil has emerged as a new hotspot with 5,000 deaths so far, while nine prisoners were killed in riots at a Peruvian jail after two inmates died from COVID-19.

Scientists are scrambling to develop treatments and a vaccine for the disease, with myriad studies under way — including one from the US Department of Homeland Security into how ultraviolet radiation destroys the virus.

Trump raised eyebrows last week when he used his daily national press briefing to ask whether light could become a medical treatment.

While that research has not yet been published, Indonesians are soaking up rays like never before in the hope that the tropical country’s plentiful sunshine will ward off the disease.

“I always avoided the sun before because I didn’t want to get tanned,” said Theresia Rikke Astria, a 27-year-old housewife in Indonesia’s cultural capital Yogyakarta.

“But I’m hoping this will strengthen my immune system,” she added.

The government has been warning about the dangers of skin cancer and calling for novice sun-seekers to slap on protection.

Meanwhile Britain issued a warning of coronavirus-related syndrome emerging in children — including abdominal pain and inflammation around the heart.

“What I would also stress is that it is rare. Although it is very significant for those children who do get it, the number of cases is small,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.



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Profile: Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa

Who is Lt-Gen (retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa. He has been made PM Imran Khan’s special assistant on information.



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Trump orders US meatpacking plants to stay open

As the pandemic squeezes US food supply, the president designates the plants critical infrastructure.

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Kamran Akmal surprised by harshness of Umar Akmal’s punishment

Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has said that he was surprised when he came to know that his brother Umar Akmal was handed a three-year ban for failing to report match-fixing approaches.

“I was taken aback upon hearing the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) verdict,” he said while speaking exclusively with Samaa TV. “I believe that the punishment was too harsh.”

Kamran said that they are waiting for the detailed verdict after which they will exercise their right to appeal against the ban, adding that they will avail every platform to seek justice.

The 38-year-old said that there are several examples in the past of more lenient punishments for such indiscretions. “It’s beyond my understanding as to why such a harsh punishment was handed to him.”

PCB’s legal expert Tafazzul Rizvi, speaking in a press conference via video link, has said that the cases of match-fixing, under which the Quetta Gladiators was found guilty, are different and not linked with each other. He went on to say that the cricketer could not save himself from a harsh punishment as his clarifications were not according to the anti-corruption code.

“A detailed discussion was held over the matter and the batsman has the right to appeal to an independent adjudicator,” he said.

The controversial batsman was banned on Monday from all forms of cricket for three years after pleading guilty to failing to report match-fixing approaches.



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Doctor advises people to isolate themselves two hours before iftar

When the clock strikes 4pm or 5pm, a few hours before iftar, that is the time when most people are at risk of losing their patience so it’s better if people spend them alone.

This is what Dr Taha Sabri, the director of the Taskeen Health Initiative, said on SAMAA TV’s morning show Naya Din on Tuesday.

The doctor believes that by evening, those who are fasting are very low on glucose and that is one of the reasons people often have arguments over petty issues. “Some people on roads are often seen arguing with people in Ramazan”, said Dr Sabri.

He remarked that the people who usually lose their temper in Ramazan should isolate themselves in the evening and spend that time reading the Holy Quran.

Speaking about observing Ramazan amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said lockdown is a huge obstacle in attaining the core purpose of the sacred month.



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Coronavirus: How New Zealand got its coffees and fries back

A strict and early lockdown has meant New Zealanders are back at cafes sooner than other countries.

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Here’s a list of must watch binge-worthy shows

If you still haven’t ‘finished’ Netflix, then we may have some suggestions for your viewing pleasure, especially if you don’t mind some subtitling action for good measure.

The list will entitle you to so some bragging rights with your updated knowledge on the pop culture of Denmark, Malaysia, Lebanon and South Korea. 

Rita
Rita follows the adventures of a primary school teacher in small town Denmark. As a beloved yet, misfit of a teacher, Rita experiences romance, family troubles, demons from the past and a terrible smoking habit.

A bit of a loose cannon, Rita does what and who she likes, whenever she wants. The series was immensely popular in Denmark, prompting Dutch and French adaptations. An US adaptation has also been commissioned. Watch the original before it happens. Also, viewer discretion is advised.

The Ghost Bride

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This is where the magic happens #ghostbride #netflixmy

A post shared by Kuang Tian (@kuangtian_00) on Apr 12, 2020 at 10:49pm PDT

If you thought the Pakistani rishta scene was bad, brace yourself for a story line about the wedding proposal from a dead man. Set in the 1890s of Malacca, the protagonist ‘marries’ the deceased son of a wealthy family in an attempt to escape poverty and help her family.

Taking ghosting in a relationship to the next level, the beautiful young bride finds herself embroiled in a murder and other other-worldly problems. The series is a Taiwanese-Malaysian joint production based on a Malaysian novel of the same name. 

Al Hayba

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الحلقة الثالثة من #الهيبة ‏ Part2 • • • • • • ‏‎‏@wamda.magazine @taimhasan @nadine.nassib.njeim @owisses @abdo_chahine @munawassefofficial @usf.iq ‏‎‏• ‎#تيم_حسن #تيم_الحسن #تيم_حسن_الهيبة #الهيبة_تيم_حسن_جبل_شيخ_الجبل_رمضان2017 #ملك_الهيبة #الهيبة #مسلسل_الهيبة #نيكول_سابا #ملك_الدراما_العربية #ملك_الشاشة_العربية #الهيبة #الهيبة2 #الهيبة_العودة #الهيبة_الجزء_الثاني #الهيبة٢#العودة #أفضل_ممثل_عربي #أفضل_ممثل_سوري #جنتل_الشاشة_العربية #مجلة_ومضة #ومضة #تيم_حسن_مسيرة_ابداع #الاكتساح_التيمي #جبل_شيخ_الجبل #taimhasan #alhaybeh #ramadan2018 #رمضان٢٠١٨ #رمضان_٢٠٢٠ #الرد #مسلسلات

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A crime drama set in a fictional town on the Lebanese-Syrian border, Al Hayba features clan politics as the main plot. Two opposing clans struggle over arms smuggling, family politics and complicated love lives.

All in all, it’s a drama with gorgeous leading ladies and gents. Originally released for Ramazan a few years ago for MBC, it is now available on Netflix. Just in time for Ramazan 2020.

Kingdom

Hold your breath for this one. It is a period, political, horror from South Korea. It is based on a web-comic series of the same name. A mysterious plague seems to have struck the land, one that brings the dead back to life as flesh eating monsters.

There is also political plotting and scheming to de-throne the heroic and handsome crown prince. 

Moving beyond Too Hot Too Handle and Money Heist, there is a whole new world of foreign TV shows and movies waiting for us. With the kind of subtitles, we may not have the patience for if we weren’t locked down.



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Doctors, nurses test positive for coronavirus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Seven doctors and seven nurses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday.

The pandemic has now started affecting people who have been fighting it on the front line. In one day, seven doctors, including four women doctors, tested positive for the virus.

According to KP Young Nurses Association General Secretary Fazal Maula, seven male nurses were infected by the deadly virus. Medical staff, ward boys and paramedics have also been affected, he added.

All of them have been quarantined. KP has reported a total of 1,984 COVID-19 cases so far.



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Cholera patient dies as Khairpur hospital ‘fails to treat him’

A 15-year-old boy was brought to Khairpur’s Faiz Ganj Hospital on Monday after his health deteriorated.

The staff and doctors, however, ran away from the patient thinking he had coronavirus and there was no one left to treat him, according to his family members. The teen was rushed to a hospital in Gambat where he passed away.

The doctors said that the patient was suffering from cholera.

The family, which hails from Nangar Khan village, has asked the authorities to help them get justice.



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Coronavirus: Top NYC doctor takes her own life

The father of 49-year-old Dr Lorna Breen says: "She tried to do her job and it killed her."

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Coronavirus: HSBC profits halved by pandemic fallout

The bank raised its expectations for bad loans to $3bn due to the impact of the pandemic.

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Rawalpindi Metro Bus employees stage protest, demand salaries

The ticketing employees of the Metro Bus service in Rawalpindi stepped out on the streets and protested against the non-release of two months’ salaries on Monday.

They claimed that ever since the coronavirus lockdown was imposed across the country and the transit service was shut down, their employers have not been paying them their salaries.

The workers chanted slogans and held banners outside the office of the service’s administration.

“Most of us boys are students living in hostels here,” an employee said. “If we are not paid, how will we pay for our expenses and also send money back home?”

The administration of the bus service, on the other hand, denied that a problem existed in Rawalpindi and blamed the Lahore office for the delays.



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Quetta doctor tests COVID-19 positive, requests people to stay home

Dr Noor Ullah Musakhail, the medical superintendent of the Fatima Jinnah Hospital in Quetta, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, he confirmed in a video message Monday night.

He urged the people to practice social distancing and take all preventive measures.

So far, 42 doctors have tested positive for the coronavirus in Balochistan.



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153 factories allowed to operate in Sindh

The Sindh government has exempted another 153 factories from lockdown restrictions, allowing them to operate but they will be bound to observe social distancing SOPs.

According to a notification dated April 27, these are export-oriented businesses for garments, textiles, and leather as well as tanneries. The provincial government has now allowed an overall 373 factories to operate under the lockdown.

These factories must adopt social distancing SOPs to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as notified by the Sindh government on April 14. In case a staff member tests positive for coronavirus, the factories have to provide details of all staff members present on the premises to the government, the notification said.

On March 23, the Sindh government imposed a lockdown across the province, closing all factories. After the lockdown extended, the business community, including exporters, requested the government to reconsider its decision and allow them to meet export orders. An extended lockdown would be devastating for the economy they said. In response, the government formed a committee on April 24 to address the concerns of exporters. The decision was taken after approval from the Trade Development Authority and Sindh Labor Department.



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SBCA to restart operation against illegal constructions

The Sindh Building Control Authority is expected to restart its operation against illegal constructions soon as the authority undergoes structural changes.

The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Director General Dr Nasimul Ghani Sahito.

The SBCA has decided to seal all illegal buildings through proper legal notice during the lockdown and staff members of the authority have been advised to not involve in any kind of brawl and fight with the building mafia, an officer who attended the meeting told SAMAA Digital.

The authority had suspended its operation against illegal buildings after the province went into lockdown on March 23 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Two SBCA officers said that illegal construction had started once again in Karachi during the lockdown as the local builder mafia took advantage of the current situation. The SBCA has decided to start its demolition operation once again against the illegal construction in Karachi, they added.

The director general, on the other hand, through an office order also directed all SBCA officers, who have been working on a detailment basis, to report to their original place of posting i.e. from where they are drawing their salaries from. He made it clear that none of the officers would work on Own Pay Scale (OPS) and deputation.

The bifurcation in various SBCA departments has been withdrawn, and it has been decided that the authority will work as per its sanction posts.

Former SBCA DG Iftikhar Qaimkhani had bifurcated different departments of the authority in 2018. These departments included structure, vigilance, town planning, licensing section from design, complaints, counter checking section regarding the illegal construction and record section.

Binish Shabbir has been posted as Structure Director, Samit Ali Khan is posted as Vigilance Director, Ali Ghufran as Town Planning Director, Irfan Haider Naqvi is relieved of the additional charge of Licensing Director.

The counter checking section no longer exists and the checking of all demolition work and quality control of public sale projects shall be the responsibility of the vigilance section.

The record section has been made a made of the Directorate of Research & Regulations and now comes under the control of Farhan Qaisar, the director of the department.

Two of the SBCA directors said the changes have been made because the new DG wants people to work according to the SBCA Budget Book—where the posts of every department/section have been mentioned.

They said the OPS officers, including assistant directors, who were recently promoted will return back to their original posts.

The DG, during the meeting, also stressed the need to increase the members of the Dangerous Committee. It was decided that the SBCA Dangerous Committee should also include representatives of the KMC, KDA, heritage department, Pakistan Engineering Council, town planner, and an architect from Pakistan Council of Architectures & Town Planning.



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Back at work, British PM warns against easing virus lockdown

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday made his first public appearance since being hospitalised with coronavirus three weeks ago, saying Britain was beginning to “turn the tide” on the outbreak but rejecting calls to ease a nationwide lockdown.

In a statement in Downing Street marking his return to work, looking thinner and with his trademark blond hair a little more unruly than usual, Johnson apologised for being away “for much longer than I would have liked”.

He thanked the British people for heeding more than a month of stay-at-home orders, saying their action had helped ensure the state-run National Health Service (NHS) had not become overwhelmed.

“That is how and why we are now beginning to turn the tide,” Johnson said, echoing his promise on March 19 that Britain could turn the tide on the outbreak in three months if people followed social distancing rules.

But more than 20,000 people have already died in Britain, not including deaths in care homes and in the wider community, making it one of the worst hit countries in the global pandemic.

Britain recorded 360 more deaths on Monday, its lowest daily toll since last month, and Johnson acknowledged growing demands for the lockdown to be lifted to reduce the economic impact, but insisted now was not the time.

“I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak, a huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS,” he said.

‘Refining’ lockdown measures

Johnson, 55, became the most high-profile world leader to contract COVID-19 one month ago.

He spent a week in hospital, including three nights in intensive care, admitting in a video message after he was discharged that things “could have gone either way”.

After a fortnight recovering at his countryside retreat of Chequers, he returned to Downing Street on Sunday night.

On Monday morning he chaired the daily government coronavirus meeting, “and will now be resuming full duties”, his spokesman said.

In Johnson’s absence, the government has faced increasing criticism over its response to the outbreak.

Healthcare professionals still complain about a lack of protective masks and gowns, while a target to test 100,000 people a day by the end of April looks hard to reach.

Most importantly, even as debate continues about whether Britain was too slow in ordering shops to shut and telling people to stay at home, Johnson must decide by May 7 whether to renew the measures.

After dire predictions from the Bank of England that Britain could face its worst recession in centuries, a senior Conservative MP, Graham Brady, said the economy must start moving again.

“If there is a question over whether something is necessary or not, I think we should err on the side of openness and trying to make sure that more people can get on with their lives and more people can get on with getting back to their jobs,” he told BBC radio on Sunday night.

‘A new normal’

But Johnson said this would only happen when the outbreak was under control, infection rates had fallen and issues of testing and equipment were resolved.

Even then, he said it would be a phased return in what Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab — who deputised for Johnson during his absence — has called a “new normal”.

The government could “begin gradually to refine the economic and social restrictions, and one by one to fire up the engines” of the economy, Johnson said.

He declined to give further detail but promised to be more transparent about the process and to work with opposition parties.

The government also changed the format of its daily press briefing, allowing the public to submit questions to ministers and experts.

The questions were chosen by an independent polling company and no advance notice was given to the respondents, officials said.

Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned in the briefing that it was “plausible” that a rare but dangerous inflammatory syndrome affecting children in Britain was linked to coronavirus.

“We have asked experts to look into it as a matter of urgency,” added NHS England medical director Stephen Powis.



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Former US President Bill Clinton admitted to hospital with fever

The 42nd president is at a Washington DC hospital, and is in "good spirits", according to a spokesman. from BBC News https://ift...