radiofree.asia

Author: World News

  • PTA blocks TikTok, over failure to remove inappropriate content

    Social Media Desk/Web Desk:

    The first time the Chinese-owned popular video-sharing app was banned in Pakistan was in October 2020. According to the PTA, the decision was taken over complaints regarding indecent and immoral content.

    The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday again blocked access to TikTok, a popular video-sharing platform, for its failure to take down inappropriate content.

    “In light of relevant provisions of Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016, PTA has blocked access to TikTok app and website in the country,” the authority said in a brief statement.

    “The action has been taken due to [the] continuous presence of inappropriate content on the platform and its failure to take such content down,” the statement said.

    Last month, the app said that more than six million videos were removed from TikTok in Pakistan in three months.

    “In the Pakistani market, TikTok removed 6,495,992 videos making it the second market to get the most videos removed after the USA, where 8,540,088 videos were removed,” TikTok Pakistan’s latest transparency report said, covering January to March.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Eid-ul-Adha is being celebrated in Pakistan and India with religious fervor.

    Karachi, Pakistan,

    Muslims in other countries, including India and Pakistan, are celebrating Eid al-Adha today. Solidarity of the Muslim Ummah after the Eid prayers, Special prayers were offered for the security, development, prosperity and eradication of the Corona pandemic.

    Due to the Corona pandemic, Eid-ul-Adha is being celebrated in a limited way in some countries, including Pakistan and India. People also gathered for Eid prayers at the Jama Masjid in Delhi, India

     

    The temperature of many people was also checked on arrival at the Eid Gah to help determine if a person was infected by corona. In such cases, these people are told to return home and isolate. Under normal circumstances, Muslim families meet their relatives and friends on the occasion of Eid and offer Eid prayers together, but the Corona pandemic disrupted traditional Eid celebrations.

    Eid prayers were held in all cities, districts and villages of Pakistan, scholars highlighted the importance of the philosophy of sacrifice. After Eid prayers, special supplications were offered for the unity of the Muslim Ummah, security of the homeland, development, prosperity and eradication of the Corona pandemic.

    Supplications were also offered for the liberation of occupied Kashmir and Palestine and for the end of the ongoing strife in Muslim world. Animals are being sacrificed following the Abrahamic tradition after the prayers.

    On the occasion, special security arrangements have been made across the country under which a heavy contingent of police has been deployed outside mosques and Eid venues.

    This important festival of Eid-ul-Adha lasts for three days and for animals sacrificial.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Eid ul-Adha is being celebrated with religious fervor in New York.

    Brooklyn, New York City,

    The Muslim community offered Eid prayers in New York city.

    The main Eid al-Adha gathering in New York was held at the Makki Mosque in Brooklyn. Children, youth and elders attended Eid prayers.

    On the occasion, recitation of Holy Qur’an enlightened hearts with the praise of Allah Almighty after the Eid prayers, worshipers met Imam Qari Osama and after that,

    everyone hugged each other and congratulated Eid greetings.

    Corona vaccinations and easing of restrictions add colors to Eid festivities.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Shaheens offered Eid prayers in Manchester.

    Manchester, UK,

    The Pakistan cricket team offered Eid prayers in Manchester. Former skipper Sarfraz Ahmed led the Eid-ul-Azha prayers and also delivered the Eid sermon after which the players greeted each other with Eid wishes.

    The cricket team and PCB officials also took group photos and selfies as well.

    The national team prayed for the integrity and prosperity of the country.

    Eid prayers were offered by Captain Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Fakhr Zaman, coach Misbah-ul-Haq, Hassan Ali, Muhammad Hafeez, Shaheen Afridi, Emad Wasim and others.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Sri Lanka crisis deepens while Rajapaksa seeks second term.

    Colombo, Sri Lanka,

    Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced Monday he would stand for a second term, reversing a promise to only stay for five years, according to media reports.

    The 72-year-old nationalist leader told top media executives he needed more time to fix Sri Lanka’s worsening economic crisis, reports said.

    During his 2019 election campaign, Rajapaksa said he would be a one-term president. He reaffirmed in March last year that one five-year term was sufficient to implement his ambitious manifesto, triggering a succession struggle within the powerful Rajapaksa family that dominates the government.

    Elections are not due until 2024, but Rajapaksa now says he needs five more years to implement his “Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor” manifesto after the economy contracted by a record 3.6 percent in his first year. The government has banned many imports because of a foreign currency crunch.

    Rajapaksa “declared on Monday that he would contest for a second term”, the pro-government website quoted him as telling media owners.

    Other Srilankan media also reported on the comments, which set off new speculation about the intentions of the ruling family.

    The elevation of the president’s youngest brother Basil, 70, as finance minister earlier this month was widely seen as a move to groom him for the presidency.

    Basil was thought to have edged out his nephew, Namal, the minister of sports and eldest son of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to be the next family leader.

    “Another U-turn and maybe this squashes Basil’s chances for the next presidency,” according to Jamila Husain, a deputy editor of the Daily Mirror newspaper, on Twitter.

    Since his election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa has tightened the family grip on power.

    With the entry of Basil, the cabinet now has five members of the ruling family.

    Eldest brother Chamal, 78, is minister of irrigation. Several Rajapaksa family members hold junior ministerial positions and other key posts.

    Basil was described as “Mr Ten Percent” in a 2007 US embassy cable published by the WikiLeaks organization, because of commissions he allegedly took from government contracts.

    He has denied any wrongdoing and inquiries failed to find any evidence to back charges he siphoned off millions of dollars from state coffers.

    Basil is a dual US-Sri Lankan citizen, but Gotabaya removed constitutional provisions which blocked him from standing in a parliamentary election last year.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Bulgaria claims unique position in Lavender farming.

    Muqeem Ahmed, UK,

    A country in northeastern Europe, Bulgaria, has increased the cultivation of lavender plant, which is used in cosmetics and perfumes, to more than demand of the world markets.

    Bulgaria has increased lavender cultivation 600% since 2010, spreading cultivation over 20,000 acres, surpassing world number one France. Bulgaria also surpasses 600 tons per year by increasing lavender oil production in 2020.

    According to the owner of Lavender’s cultivation company, Bulgaria is going to surpass France and claims the unique number one position in the world. However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, lavender oil, which was sold at hundred and twenty euros per kilogram in 2018, decline to sixty euros per kilogram in the global market last year and that’s because of its presence over global production, which has affected its selling price. Although the production from Central Bulgaria is world class, it produces high quality oil.

    In northeastern Bulgaria, new growers have cultivated uncertified varieties of lavender instead of growing grains and have failed to achieve world standards.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Eid-ul-Azha is being celebrated in Gulf Countries, including Saudi Arabia.

     Jeddah/Web Desk:

    Saudi Arab, USA, Japan, Indonesia, UK and Canada including EU and Gulf countries are celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, on Tuesday.

    Eid prayers have been offered at Masjid al-Haram, Makkah and Masjid al-Nabawi, Medina, following precautionary measures against the Corona epidemic, while sacrifices are being performed throughout Saudi Arabia following the Sunnah of Abraham. Special slaughterhouses have been set up in Mina, Makkah, Jeddah, Medina, and other cities in Saudi Arabia as well as UAE.

    It should be noted that Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated in many other countries including Pakistan and India on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Scientists Develop Pain-Free Saliva Test for Diabetes

    New South Wales/Social Media Desk:

    For diabetics, managing their blood sugar levels typically means pricking their fingers multiple times a day with a lancet and then placing a drop of blood on a testing strip. However, Australian scientists now claim that they have developed pain-free blood sugar testing for diabetics, a non-invasive strip that checks glucose levels via saliva.

    However, this latest test works by embedding an enzyme that detects glucose into a transistor that can then transmit the presence of glucose, according to Dr. Paul Dastoor, Professor at the University of Newcastle in Australia, who led the team that created it.

    Photo Courtesy: University of Newcastle /Reuters

    Doctor Paul and his team ply this research and invented such bio-sensors, which identify the amount of glucose in saliva.

    Through this test, more than 46 billion diabetic patients around the world will be free from the painful tests for examining glucose amounts in the body. It is to be noted that saliva has the same amount of glucose as in blood, although the idea of testing saliva for diabetic patients has emerged in recent years.

    The project secured A$6.3 million in funding from the Australian government to establish a facility to produce the test kits should clinical trials be passed and will start working from this year and its first-ever consignment will be on the market in 2023.

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Emojis finally have a voice

    San Francisco/Social Media:

     According to Facebook, every day, people send more than 2.4 billion messages with emojis on Messenger. Emojis add color and vibrancy to Messenger chats all over the world, and people rely on them to say what words can’t.

    On World Emoji Day, Facebook messenger has launched soundmojis. Soundmoji is a next-level emoji that send short sound clips in a Messenger chat, ranging from clapping, crickets, drumroll, and evil laughter, to audio clips from artists like Rebecca Black and favorite TV shows and movies.

    To check out Soundmojis, head to your Messenger app, start a chat, tap the smiley face to open the expressions menu, and select the loudspeaker icon. From there, you can preview and send your favorite Soundmojis again and again.

    https://messengernews.fb.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Soundmoji-MSGR-1920×1760-2.mp4?_=1

    Facebook is confident that this feature will upsurge its popularity. Users will be able to send soundmojis during chat and can be helpful in marketing. Facebook Messenger has launched an entire Soundmoji library to choose from, which will be updated regularly with new sound effects and famous sound bites.

     

     

     

     

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Kabul: Rockets land near presidential palace during Eid prayers

    Kabul/Web desk:

    Rockets fired at around 8:00 am (0330GMT) on Tuesday were heard across the heavily fortified Green Zone that houses the presidential palace and several embassies, including the US mission.

    According to the spokesperson on interior ministry Mir Wais Stanekzai, at least three rockets landed in the Afghan capital ahead of a speech by President Ashraf Ghani marking the start of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha.

    “Today the enemies of Afghanistan launched rocket attacks in different parts of Kabul city; all the rockets hit three different parts. Based on our initial information, we have no casualties. Our team is investigating” said the spokesperson.

    The attack interrupted an outdoor gathering for prayers in the palace compound attended by President Ashraf Ghani, television images showed. The prayers continued amid the sound of explosions, however, minutes after the attack, Ghani Ghani began an address to the nation in the presence of some of his top officials from an outdoor podium, broadcast on local media.

    Insecurity has been growing in Afghanistan, largely drove by fighting in its provinces as foreign troops withdraw and Taliban insurgents launch major offensives, taking districts and border crossings. Unlike some previous years, the Taliban did not declare a ceasefire during the Eid holiday this year.

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • APHO Independence Day celebrations and Eid Mela at Eisenhower Park, NYC

    Eisenhower Park, New York City,

    The Americans of Pakistani Heritage Organization (APHO) celebrates the Independence Day of Pakistan and organize Eid Mela at Eisenhower Park. APHO’s Wasim Syed, Zameer Chaudhry and Ali Mirza are the organizers of the event. The celebration began with the Pakistani and American national anthems.

    There is almost a month to go for Pakistan’s 75th Independence Day; but the preparation for the celebrations in New York by Pakistani community on full swing and it seem to be celebrated just after some days.

    Pakistani community and American officials were also present to celebrate Independence Day in full splendor. US officials also congratulated Pakistani community on the occasion of Independence Day.

    Atmosphere of New York echoed with slogans of “Long live Pakistan” The different cultures of Pakistan were also highlighted through dance performances in the event.

    The festival also featured concerts. Singers Naeem Abbas Rufi and Mahesh Shah gave their brilliant performances.

    The spectators cheered a lot.

    Various stalls including barbecue were also set up on the occasion.

    At the end of the ceremony, Americans of Pakistani Heritage also awarded the Pakistani community with an award for outstanding services.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Hajj: 60,000 fully vaccinated pilgrims flock to Mount Arafat

    Web Desk:

    Amidst strict health measures, only sixty thousand pilgrims were converging at Maidan-e-Arafat on Monday to perform the main ritual of Hajj “Waqoof-e-Arafat”. They listened to the sermon delivered from Masjid-e-Nimra and performed Dhuhr and Asr prayers together. Meanwhile, the annual ritual to change Ghilaf-e-Kaaba was held at Masjid al-Haram on Monday.

    Photo Courtesy: thenews.com

    After sunset, they will perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers together and will leave for Muzdalifah where they will stay for a night. After offering Fajr Prayer at Muzdalfa, they will leave for Mina for the remaining Hajj rituals.

    Photo Courtesy: Reuters

    This year pilgrims had to observe social distancing and wear face masks on Mount Arafat. Only 60,000 Saudi citizens and residents aged 18 to 65, who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus and do not suffer from chronic diseases, were selected for the annual pilgrimage. Thousands of face-masked pilgrims performed the annual Hajj pilgrimage to atone for their sins, expressing hopes for peace and an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.

     

     

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Plastic that completely bust-up in Sunlight and Oxygen

    Web Desk:

    Researchers have found a way to make sure plastic waste doesn’t linger on our planet for long and actually splits and degrades in just a week when exposed to sunlight and oxygen.

    According To the Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology have developed an eco-friendly plastic that decomposes in non-toxic materials, leaving behind zero environmentally damaging traces of plastic.

    This adaptable plastic is made up of organic polymers and will remain in its original form until the sunlight contacts. When exposed to sunlight and oxygen, it starts reacting with oxygen present in the air and starts decomposing into harmless material. This whole process is completed within a week. In the process, it also releases a byproduct, naturally occurring succinic acid. However, researchers are of the belief that this can be reused commercially in pharmaceuticals or food.

    With its unique molecular structure, this novel plastic won’t really be perfect for soda bottles or shopping bags as it remains stable only in the dark without oxygen.

    it can be used in the making of electronics, smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers where it starts to decompose after being considered junk and result in lesser e-waste.

    It is to be noted that every year used electronic appliances create tons of electronic waste. According to the United Nations report, the global E-waste monitor 2020, last year 5billion 36 million tons of E-waste has been produced which can’t be destroyed.

    Researchers are working on ways to make this plastic usable. However, they state that commercial availability of this is still years away.

    The research has been published in the Journal of American Society.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Taliban establish monopoly and imposes government by force, says Zalmay Khalilzad.

    Afghanistan,

    US Special Representative for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad stated in an interview with a foreign newspaper, that for peace in Afghanistan, we have made it clear to Taliban that we and many other countries will not recognize those who form governments by force and will not provide any support.

    Two issues were important for reaching an agreement for stability, development and peace in Afghanistan and that is acceptable to Afghan people and has the support of neighbors, donors and other countries around the world, it requires understanding political issues and prioritizing public opinion, Zalmai added.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Former Governor of Sindh Mumtaz Bhutto passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. 

    Karachi,

    Mumtaz Bhutto, a cousin and close aide of former prime minister and PPP founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, passed away at his residence in Karachi.

    Bhutto’s spokesperson Ibrahim Abro said the political personality, who had also served as the governor of Sindh prior to becoming its chief minister, has been ill.

    His body will be sent to Larkana at 6pm for funeral prayers, according to spokesperson.

    Bhutto, after developing differences with the PPP, had formed his own party, the Sindh National Front (SNF). In 2017, he announced the merger of the SNF with the PTI.

    Earlier, Bhutto had aligned the SNF with the PML-N before the 2013 elections. However, both parties parted ways after Bhutto developed differences with the PML-N.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Leading actress Naila Jaffery passed away

    Karachi, Pakistan,

    Leading actress of showbiz industry Naila Jaffery has passed away. According to the details, she was suffering from a deadly disease, cancer for a long time.

    Naila Jafari’s brother Atif Jafari said that her sister’s funeral prayers will be offered later today in Defense Phase II and burial will be held at Army Cemetery on Kala Pul.

    Earlier, video of Naila Jaffery gone viral on social media in which she can be heard demanding financial help.

    “For the last six years, I [have been bound] with hospitals, as well as illness and cancer. I also have not had my second round of chemo either because of persistent infection and during this time I have wondered, ‘what if the government lends a hand in this? What if they set up some policies for older people from the arts and sports sector?” Naila demanded.

    She further added in her video,

    “When I initially joined PTV I would get royalties for re-run shows and while that amount was nowhere near enough, I still got something and liked having a stream of disposable income on the side. I have been confined to a hospital bed for six years now and while everyone has supported me, loved me, helped me, and motivated me I wish there was some way to gain royalties on some of my last re-run plays.”

    “While I understand that it might not look like a lot to many people, for people like me who stopped working years ago, this support becomes important. I request and demand that something is done for senior artists in the future since it’s become harder and harder for us to manage,” Naila requested.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • NYC, Kebab King Owner’s youngest son Danial, died in a road accident.

    Long Island, New York City,

    A prominent figure of Pakistani community and Kebab King Owner Shaukat Ali youngest son Danial Shaukat, died in a road accident at the age of 22 in Long Island, New York.

    Shaukat Ali was returning home with his family after attending chehlum of his elder brother Muhammad Ali at Kebab King Palace on Hampstead TurnPike, Long Island when Danial’s Scooty crashed.

    People from different walks of life in the community have expressed their heartfelt condolences to Shaukat Ali and his family over this horrific tragedy.

    Danial Shaukat’s funeral prayers will be offered at Hillside Islamic Center in New Hyde Park, Long Island afterward he will be buried in a native New York cemetery.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Heavy rains and flooding in Berlin, Brandenburg, including West Germany.

    Berlin, Germany,

    The Meteorological Department has forecast strong winds and more rain in Berlin and Brandenburg, including West Germany, from Friday to Sunday. Several houses also collapsed in the German state of North Rhineland-Palatinate. Lifts closed in hospitals, care homes and citizens being evacuated by helicopter. Troops have been called in to help.

    Police in West Germany have confirmed that more than 100 people have been killed and dozens missing after several houses collapsed due to heavy rains.

    According to police sources, deaths took place in the southern district of Bonn, which is located on banks of Rhine Canal. Police have described the situation in rural district as extremely dangerous.

    Dozens of people were stranded on rooftops in some areas and were safely airlifted. Houses were evacuated in areas around 50 meters of the river Ahr. The floodwaters have left rescue workers stranded in some areas. The German Meteorological Department had deployed troops in three western states to warn of heavy rains and storms. Two firefighters were killed during a rescue operation in the Sauerland area northeast of Bonn.

    Main business center and residents of the affected district of Düsseldorf have been instructed to evacuate. The railway system, motorways and other means of transportation have been severely affected due to flooding in the canals.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • WhatsApp: How to remove Archived box from the top

    Web Desk:

    WhatsApp has added a new Archived box on the top of the screen, which could be annoying for a lot of people. Now, you might be wondering why WhatsApp has added it on the top. So the answer to that question is very simple. WhatsApp doesn’t want you to forget that you have archived some chats.

    If you are seeing the Archived box on top of the screen, it means that all your archived chats will always remain hidden and you will never see a new message from archived chats. But you can always change that in the settings section after following a few simple steps.

     

    Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your smartphone and tap on the Archived box, which is now located on top of the screen. WhatsApp will then open all your archived chats.

    Step 2: Tap on the three-dotted icon. It is on the right of the “Archived” text. Tap again on “Archive settings.”

    Step 3: Disable the “Keep Chats Archived” option. After disabling it, the Archived box will disappear from the top of the screen.

    Disabling this option would mean that archived individual or group chats won’t stay archived when you receive a new message from that individual or group chat. If you want them to remain archived, then you shouldn’t disable the “Keep Chats Archived” option.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • 25 years old man lost his life due to electrocution

    Karachi, Pakistan/ Web Desk:

    In recent years, Karachi has suffered from some of the worst weather conditions experienced in Pakistan. Severe rains have caused floods and roadblocks in the city. The streets are filled with water. The roads are deteriorating and authorities are not stepping in to take charge of the situation.

    According to Pakistani Media, an incident of electrocution claimed the life of a young man in the Hussainabad area. The body of the deceased was found floating in the rainwater alongside his motorbike.

    Police said the tragic incident took place when Raheel, a shopkeeper, was on his way to a hospital in Karimabad to visit his wife after finishing the day’s work at his shop. They said he was on a motorcycle when he was electrocuted in the Hussainabad Food Street within the limits of the Azizabad police station. Raheel’s wife gave birth to a baby boy shortly after her 25-year-old husband apparently died.

    According to Azizabad SHO Farrukh Hashmi, it is yet to be ascertained whether the victim died of electrocution or he died after falling off the motorcycle. He said the management of the power supply company, K-Electric, was called after the accident; however, the management said the pole was not owned by the company but belonged to the town.

    The grieving family said they would approach the police for the registration of a case after the funeral prayers and burial.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Veteran actress Sultana Zafar passes away

    WebDesk/ Social Media desk:

    Veteran actress Sultana Zafar passed away in the USA last night. Miss Zafar lost the battle against life at the age of sixty-six. She used to run a boutique in America.

    While not much is known yet about the circumstances of her death and the cause remains unknown, the news was confirmed by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) on Twitter.

    “Another gem lost. Veteran Actress Sultana Zafar passed away in the USA. She was a big name in the Pakistani drama industry… May her soul rest in peace,” read the tweet.

    Sultana Zafar was a legendry and veteran actress of Pakistan and was a big name in the Pakistani drama industry. The actress has worked in various prominent dramas and managed to gather worthy recognition through her projects. Her notable work was Tanhaiyyan, Uroosa, Akhri chattan, and many other TV drama serials. Sultana Zafar’s unique Hyderabadi style and language were loved by all.

    May Allah bless her soul with eternal peace and grant her high ranks in Jannah. Ameen

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • India continuously violates 4th Geneva Convention in Kashmir says Moazzam Khan.

    Muqeem Ahmed, UK,

    A virtual parliamentary conference on Kashmir Martyrs’ Day was held in London, capital of United Kingdom. Conference organized by Jammu and Kashmir Khud-Iradiat movement International and the Youth Parliament of the Rifai Institute.

    The conference was addressed by Federal Minister Syed Fakhar Imam, British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn, MP Debbie Abrahams, Andrew Gwynne, Paul Bristow, Syed Faiz Naqshbandi, Raja Nabazat Hussain and High Commissioner of Pakistan Moazzam Ahmad Khan.

    Pakistani High Commissioner said in his address, that India was committing serious human rights violations in Kashmir and Indian forces have been kidnapping, torturing and martyring youths for decades.

    While crack down on journalists and banning political activities, India was continuously violating Fourth Geneva Convention and was deliberately changes demographic structure of the region, High Commissioner added.

    The speakers condemned violation of human rights of Kashmiris by Indian occupying forces and called on International community to play their full role in implementing UN resolutions.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Brooklyn Democratic Party celebrates NYC, Mayoral Primary election victory.

    New York City,

    Rodney Beckett, Executive Committee Chairperson of Brooklyn Democratic Party, celebrates the victory of Brooklyn Borough President and New York City mayoral candidate Eric Adams in the Democratic primary election.

    The event was attended by US officials, Democratic mayoral candidates, Assembly members, Ayatollah Allama Dr sakhawat hussain sandralvi, Imam Ahmad Ali and others from the Muslim community.

    On the occasion, tribute were paid to Frontline health workers for services rendered during Corona Pandemic and online fundraising was also completed for various organizations of Health Workers, Paramedics and Nurses.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Journalist killed while covering clash between Afghan forces and Taliban, Reuters.

    Spin Boldak, Afghanistan,

    Journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed on Friday while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan, an Afghan commander said, Reuter’s reported.

    According to Reuter’s, Afghan Special Forces had been fighting to retake the main market area of Spin Boldak when Siddiqui and a senior Afghan officer were killed in what they described as Taliban crossfire, the official told Reuters.

    Siddiqui had been embedded as a journalist since earlier this week with Afghan Special Forces based in the southern province of Kandahar and had been reporting on fighting between Afghan commandos and Taliban fighters.

    “We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region,” Reuters President Michael Friedenberg and Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni said in a statement published on Reuters web site.

    “Danish was an outstanding journalist, a devoted husband and father, and a much-loved colleague. Our thoughts are with his family at this terrible time.”

    Siddiqui told Reuters he had been wounded in the arm by shrapnel earlier on Friday while reporting on the clash. He was treated and had been recovering when Taliban fighters retreated from the fighting in Spin Boldak.

    Siddiqui had been talking to shopkeepers when the Taliban attacked again, the Afghan commander said.

    Reuters was unable to independently verify the details of the renewed fighting described by the Afghan military official, who asked not to be identified before Afghanistan’s Defence Ministry made a statement.

    Siddiqui was part of the Reuters photography team to win the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for documenting the Rohingya refugee crisis.

    Since 2010, Siddiqui’s works was covering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Rohingya refugee’s crisis, the Hong Kong protests and Nepal earthquakes.

    Taliban fighters had captured the border area on Wednesday, the second-largest crossing on the border with Pakistan and one of the most important objectives they have achieved during a rapid advance across the country as U.S. forces pull out Reuters publicized on its Web Site.

     

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Twitter launches reply control access

    Twitter always works on different features for better usage. Microblogging website Twitter has announced a new feature through which users can control their tweets and their replies. To minimize the reply on tweets, the microblogging website introduces this feature in 2020 in which they have made certain modifications.

    Users before a tweet can choose who can reply to their tweets, hence they can permit a specific group of people to reply according to their preference.

    In a blog, shared on Twitter, product management director Suzanne Xie stated that users will be given three options before tweet:

    On opting for the first option, anyone is free to reply to tweets.

    The second option will allow only the followers to reply.

    And, the third option allows only mentioned or selective users to reply.

    According to the blog, this feature is introduced to improve the conversation and to protect the tweets.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Ice creams and sweets are not the only reason for diabetes

    In an interview with the VosaTv program health talk, health expert Gauri Junnarkar explained the risk factors of diabetes and myths related to it.

    According to Junnarkar, genetics, poor diet, unsanitary lifestyle and stress are the main elements for diabetes.

    Regarding the question about myths and misconceptions, Junnarkar said that eating sweets and ice creams can’t be the only reason for diabetes. Along with an unbalanced diet, obesity, unhealthy lifestyle, genetics and stress are the main risk factors for diabetes.

    In a query, concerning the symptoms of diabetes and the long-term complications of untreated diabetes, Junnarkar insisted on a yearly physical checkup that can identify diabetes in the initial stages.

    If diabetes will remain untreated it has a long-term impact on internal organs. It can impact on eyes, nerves, kidneys, or heart. If it affects organs like the heart or kidney, mostly that can’t be treated or reversed back.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Former President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain passes away

    Arsalan Mamnoon, his son, told the media that his father had been hospitalized for the last two weeks to receive medical treatment for cancer.

    He was diagnosed with cancer in February last year and was under treatment at a private hospital in the city for some days where he breathed his last, according to his former coordinator and PML-N Sindh’s additional secretary general Chaudhry Tariq.

    According to PML-N Sindh Information Secretary Khawaja Tariq Nazir, the Funeral prayer of the former president will be offered at Sultan Masjid in Karachi’s DHA Phase-V on Thursday after Asr prayer. Subsequently, the burial will be held at the DHA Phase-VIII graveyard.

    Hussain, a prominent politician belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was first appointed as Sindh governor prior to 1999’s military coup d’état.

    Hussain served as the 12th President of Pakistan between September 2013 and September 2018. He had replaced Asif Ali Zardari and was succeeded by Arif Alvi.

    Condolences poured in soon after the news broke out on social media. Politicians belonging to various parties expressed grief and condolences at the passing of the former president.

    President Dr. Arif Alvi and Sindh Governor Imran Ismail expressed deep grief over the sad demise. While offering heartfelt condolences on the sad demise, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said,

    “May Allah blesses his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen.”

    Expressing his deep shock and grief, PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif called the former president an epitome of grace, humility, and nobility.

    “Pakistan has lost a great public servant and PML-N an elderly statesman. My heartfelt condolences go to his family,” he wrote on his official handle.

    PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz, while offering condolences to Hussain’s family, said he was a sincere man who served Pakistan with utmost sincerity.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • Video of Man riding with goat on motorbike gone viral.

    Karachi, Pakistan,

    A bizarre video viral on social media in which a man could be seen riding a motorbike with a goat sitting on the vehicle’s fuel tank. It looks like the goat was purchased for Eid-ul-Adha.

    In the video, which was uploaded to Facebook user, a man wearing a peach-colored shalwar kameez could be seen riding a bike on a rather busy road. A white goat could be seen sitting with him on the fuel tank of the bike, leaning against the rider.

     

    Although it’s not clear in which city the video has been shot, the uploader captioned it with words like “only in Pakistan” and “tabdeeli.”

    Social media users showed mixed reactions when they saw the video. While most found it funny and amusing, others said that it was “dangerous” for the animal.

    “Because of people like these, pillion riding gets banned in Pakistan,” one user jokingly wrote.

    “The goat seems to be enjoying the ride,” chimed in another user.

    One user also wrote the ride could be potentially dangerous for the animal as it could fall off the motorbike.

    “Omg, it can hurt the poor animal if it falls off! Very dangerous.”

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • More corruption charges on Aung San Suu Kyi.

    Myanmar,

    Myanmar’s junta authorities nominated Aung San Suu Kyi on more corruption charges, her lawyer said on Tuesday, adding to charge sheet that could see the Nobel laureate jailed for more than a decade.

    A mass uprising in Myanmar against the military’s February coup has been met with a brutal crackdown that has killed more than 890 civilians, according to a local monitoring group.

    Suu Kyi, 76, who is under house arrest, is already on trial for sedition, illegally importing walkie talkies and flouting coronavirus restrictions during elections last year, her party clean sweep and won.

    She will face four more charges of corruption, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters on Tuesday, adding to those she already faces over claims she illegally accepted $600,000 in cash and around 11 kilos of gold.

    Her legal team has yet to see “the first information reports and other documents”, he said, adding that the charges would be heard by a court in the second city of Mandalay from July 22.

    Tuesday’s hearing on charges Suu Kyi violated Covid restrictions was adjourned, as no prosecution witnesses showed up, Khin Maung Zaw said.

    On Monday a prosecution witness failed to testify after becoming infected with the coronavirus.

    Infections are spiking in Myanmar, with the State Administration Council as the military junta calls itself reporting more than 5,000 new cases on Monday, risen up from fewer than 50 per day in early May.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.

  • 3 Pakistanis, 9 Chinese workers died as bus plunges into ravine in Upper Kohistan.

    Kohistan, Pakistan,

    Three Pakistanis and nine Chinese nationals were killed on Wednesday in Upper Kohistan when the passenger bus got an unfortunate accident, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

    The bus plunged into a ravine “after a mechanical failure, resulting in leakage of gas that caused a blast”. “Further investigations are underway,” foreign affairs ministry’s said in a statement.

    The ministry disclosed that Chinese workers and accompanying Pakistani staff were proceeding to their work place for an ongoing project. Local authorities are providing all the support to the injured.

    “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with Chinese Embassy for coordination and facilitation,” said MoFA.

    The foreign office aslo said Pakistan have great importance to the safety and security of “Chinese nationals, projects and institutions in Pakistan”.

    The bodies and injured have been shifted to the Rural Health Centre Dasu. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Arif had also said that an investigation is being conducted into the incident.

    This post was originally published on VOSA.