Ruble is crashing as new sanctions take effect

 

The currency of Russia sank overnight during trading as the ruble plunged in value against dollars.

Significance? The dive reveals that the ever-increasing number of restrictions of the U.S., the European Union and the United Kingdom will be a huge blow to Russia's economy -- which is the 11th largest in the world -- and its citizens and its people, causing an event that could ripple throughout the world financial system.

• The Russian central bank increased its interest rates from 9.5 percent to 20%, and announced a variety of actions in response on Monday.

Information: Shortly before midnight in New York the ruble was down more than 25 percent against the dollar according to figures from Fact Set
.

• Since the beginning of the year, the value of the dollar has fallen by more than 40%..

How does it work A hit such as this on a nation's currency is somewhere along the border between psychological and economic combat.

• It is threatening to wipe out much of the savings based on rubles in Russian banks.
• This will push the rates of inflation that are already high in Russia to a new high.
• This causes people to take out their cash in large quantities and then quickly attempt to convert it into more secure currencies, such as the euro, the dollar or cryptocurrency currencies. ( Runs on ATMs are already getting underway in Russia this weekend.)
• The rate of interest is soaring as investors across the globe are spooked by the thought that banks can lend money to other countries who use currencies that may become unusable.
• The high interest rates put the economic brakes forcing people out of work when prices rise and prices rise, a terrible combination of circumstances referred to as the stagflation.

Our thoughts:I feel real sympathy for Russian people who have to cope with this. They're suffering from an act of a dictator who is beyond their control.

What's on our radar: An economic shock that this magnitude will shake global markets, possibly in unpredictably ways. Investors seem to be preparing by shifting away from market risk and into the security of bonds issued by government.

• Futures markets point to the possibility of a fall in prices once trading begins from New York.
• The prices of U.S. Treasury bonds are significantly higher because investors are rushing to purchase what's generally regarded as the safest investment on the planet.

Flashback The possibility is not out of the the possibility that a financial institution like an investment fund for instance is not in a position to take on an event this massive. Remember that this was Russian state's bankruptcy in its 1998 bonds that destroyed the hedge fund Long-Term Capital Management and nearly triggered an economic crisis.

Ex-Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat reportedly died in a helicopter crash

An Indian Air Force Mi-17V5 helicopter carrying Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat crashed near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday. “An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident,” the Indian Air Force said in a tweet.

There were 14 people on board, including Rawat’s wife, security commandos, and the pilot.

#WATCH | Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Gen Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.

(Video Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/YkBVlzsk1J

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

Latest visuals from the spot (between Coimbatore and Sulur) where a military chopper crashed in Tamil Nadu. CDS Bipin Rawat, his staff and some family members were in the chopper.

(Pics Source: Locals involved in search and rescue operation) pic.twitter.com/miALr88sm1

— ANI (@ANI) December 8, 2021

The local military officers, who reached the location, we're told that local residents had taken two passengers who had suffered 80% burns to the hospital, ANI reported.

Search and rescue teams are checking nearby bases for more passengers.

More details are awaited.

Death toll rises to 77 from Turkey floods; 47 reported missing

At least 77 people have been killed and emergency workers continue to search for 47 others missing after flash floods swept through Turkish Black Sea provinces, authorities said.

The floods last week brought chaos as torrents of water tossed dozens of cars and heaps of debris along streets, destroyed buildings and bridges, closed roads and damaged electricity infrastructure.

At least 62 people died as a result of floods in Kastamonu province. Another 14 people died in Sinop and one in Bartin, the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said on Monday.

Forty-seven people were reported missing in Kastamonu and Sinop, it said.

AFAD said some 8,000 personnel, backed by 20 rescue dogs, are involved in the rescue and assistance efforts.

Drone footage showed massive damage in the town of Bozkurt in Kastamonu province, where rescue teams searched demolished buildings.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from affected areas, some with the help of helicopters and boats, AFAD said. About 40 villages remain without power.

Weather forecasters warned of further flooding because of expected heavy rainfall on Monday in Black Sea provinces to the east of the regions affected last week.

The heavy flooding came after Turkey endured a searing heatwave and as crews in the south were taming wildfires that raced across the country’s Mediterranean coast.

Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme events – such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms – as the planet warms.

Top 10 beautiful places to visit in Turkey.

                  

Turkey is full of bustling cities, fantastic markets, and turquoise seaside escapes. As a country spanning across both Europe and Asia, there are so many cities to see. Below is a list of the top 10 places to visit in Turkey.

1. Ankara

Often overshadowed by Istanbul, Ankara is the capital of Turkey! It is full of culture, markets, and steep cobblestoned streets. Enjoy exploring the many historic museums and the Kalesi (Ankara Castle). The Roman baths of Ankara are an extension of the castle. Spend some time walking through this open-air museum to get a feeling of what the 3rd century was like.

Get high above the city in the Atakule tower and admire the views. Roam through the huge green area of Genḉlick Park and find your way past the swimming pool, Ferris wheel, and miniature trains! After a different museum? Head just outside of Ankara to visit the Upside Down House!

2. Antalya

Spend the summer cooling off on the beachfront and the winter skiing in the mountains above! In this unique city, you can visit waterfalls, ancient ruins and find markets scattered throughout the winding streets.

Enjoy a stunning coastal walk from Antalya port to the Konyaalti beach. Here, soak up the Turkish rays at one of the dedicated beach clubs. Take a boat trip to discover waterfalls or enjoy a cable car ride to the peak of the mountain and admire the views.

3. Bodrum

Bodrum is a bustling town found on the coastal Aegean region of Turkey. Meander through the laneways, admire the street art, plants and blue framed windows. Enjoy the shopping in the Bodrum Bazaar and relax with a Turkish tea. Take in history at the Bodrum castle and look out upon the blue waters.

Climb uphill to find the restored ruins of 7 wooden windmills. Be sure to admire the accompanying panoramic view overs Bodrum. Once you have worked up a sweat, take a dip in the crystal clear coastline. Well known for the annual sailing competition, the Bodrum Cup, enjoy the expertise on a sailing trip! Anchor on quiet islands to swim, snorkel, or even a kayak around.

4. Canakkale

Home to the iconic Trojan Horse that Brad Pitt once mastered in the movie Troy, this cute seaport town is well worth a visit. Canakkale is full of quirky shops, delicious Lokma (a fried sweet dough), and plenty of seafront bars. It is the perfect mix between history and small city life.

A local Dolmuses (minibus) will take you to the grounds of the ancient city of Troy. Here lies the first known replica of the infamous Trojan Horse. Spend a morning exploring the preserved grounds of the ancient city. In the evenings, soak up the atmospheric waterside markets and watch the sunset over Kilitbahir Castle.

5. Cappadocia

Cappadocia is famous for its unique rock formations. Frequent volcanic eruptions, small earthquakes, and years of erosion formed one-of-a-kind, cone-shaped chimneys. The locals referred to these formations as ‘Fairy Chimneys’. Networks of homes and churches carved into the rock faces formed the underground cities we see today.

There is no better way to witness the Fairy Chimneys than a Hot Air Balloon Ride over the valley. At sunrise every morning, the sky is flooded with colored balloons. This magical experience can be witnessed from every rooftop and hill point around!

Throughout the day, quad bike around the valleys, crawl in the underground cities, and enjoy the sunset overlooking the valleys. Splayed with unique pottery and handmade markets, Cappadocia is a must-see when visiting Turkey!

6. Çeşme

Ḉeșme is a historic town surrounded by white sandy beaches. The old town is home to a stunning restored fortress and castle. Filled with markets and good food, it is a great place to soak up the local atmosphere.

Enjoy time swimming in the turquoise waters of Lica beach and feeling the sand between your toes. The surrounding hot springs ensure the water is a little warmer than elsewhere! Boat trips can be taken to the surrounding islands for more swimming and snorkeling adventures.

7. Ephesus

Ephesus was once the trade center of the ancient world. Wander back in time through the brilliantly preserved ruins of temples, amphitheaters, and historic gates. Ephesus is home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This spectacular temple is well preserved and can’t be missed.

Within easy reach of Selçuk and Izmir, the Ruins of Ephesus are a perfect day trip. Be sure to save time to explore the surrounding markets and lunch stops.

8. Izmir

Izmir is full of street markets, many spots to enjoy a Turkish Tea and fresh air by the seafront. Kermeralti is a bustling market area for both tourists and locals. Wander through the town to admire the Konak square and a beautiful clock tower. Continue along the promenade to the Konak Pier, a great place for food, drinks, and a great view.

Find the Agora amongst the Open Air Museum of Izmir and walk through the well-preserved historic site. Furthermore, Izmir is the perfect base for exploring other small historic cities such as Ḉeșme, Alacati, Ephesus, and Pamukkale.

9. Pamukkale

Pamukkale is the natural ‘Cotton Castle’ where Mineral-rich waters drip down the white mountainside to create stunning blue-filled terraces. Legend has it these thermal pools have healing powers, so why not test it with a quick dip? Be sure to remove your shoes when visiting the area to avoid unnecessary erosion of the historical site.

Climb up the hill to explore the Hierapolis. It is arguably one of the best-preserved and most impressive amphitheaters in Turkey and often free of other tourists!

10. Istanbul

Istanbul is full of scenic rooftop restaurants and bars surrounding the many mosques. Spend the day getting lost in busy street markets and taste hundreds of local teas and herbs at the spice markets. Soak up the culture inside the 17th Century Blue Mosque. And don’t miss the Hagia Sophia, an impressive cathedral built in AD 537.

Istanbul is separated by the Bosphorus Strait which splits the Europeapean side from the Asian side. Enjoy a scenic boat tour along the Bosphorus while looking out across Europe and Asia! Istanbul is a must-see when visiting Turkey.

PSL 6 Opening Ceremony Live

 PSL 6 OPENING CEREMONY LIVE 

The Pakistan Super League on Friday declared the timetable for the "greatest party in Pakistan" set to happen tomorrow in Karachi. 

Alluding to the initial function of PSL's 6th version, the post said the sparkling occasion will start at 6:45pm on Saturday. 

The setting was reported before by Pakistan Cricket Board as the National Stadium. 

"The initial four services were held at the Dubai International Stadium while the 2020 opening function was organized at the National Stadium Karachi and a similar scene will play host to the 2021 service," the PCB said. 

The stars to perform will incorporate Atif Aslam, who will make his PSL opening service debut, while rapper Imran Khan, and model Humaima Malik will be available close by the PSL 2021 song of devotion stars — Naseebo Lal, Aima Baig, and Young Stunners. 

The primary match, between Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators, will start just after the service, at 8pm.

Prince Charles receives COVID-19 vaccine

 

LONDON — Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

The prince’s Clarence House office says the 72-year-old heir to the throne and his wife, Camilla, 73, received the inoculations as part of the government’s drive to offer a first dose of the vaccine to the most vulnerable people in the population, including everyone over 70, by Feb. 15.

Further details were not provided.

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, received their shots last month.

Kate Middleton’s skills are no match for Meghan Markle’s unattainable talent

 Kate Middleton has been getting contrasted with Meghan Markle since the time the last entered the image. 

Regal analysts are gauging the two against each other by and by, guaranteeing the Duchess of Cambridge comes up short on the abilities levels that her sister-in-law has. 

Hosts of Royally Obsessed digital broadcast, Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie analyzed the two imperial spouses and their abilities. 

Fiorito said: "They asked who had been the best help during the pandemic, and Kate composed, in particular penmanship, 'William'. I really enjoyed that her content wasn't so awesome." 

"It was so swoopy, and still felt exceptionally exquisite to me. I generally consider Meghan and her calligraphy." 

"That feels entirely impossible. She unquestionably took exercises and rehearsed a great deal. It's something I clearly couldn't imagine anything better than to do in my extra time. Something that I like about Kate's is that it isn't so incredible," she proceeded to say. 

Bowie ringed in, saying: "It resembles cursive and everything except not awesome. There are certainly penmanship specialists that could enlighten a ton regarding somebody from their composition. I couldn't imagine anything better than to perceive what they say about Kate's."

Why many still believe Prince Charles isn't Prince Harry's real father

                             

Many royal fans have been quite dubious about Prince Harry’s parentage owing to the string of affairs that Princess Diana had during her marriage to Prince Charles.

Owing to the late Princess of Wales’s affair with British Army officer James Hewitt, many believed that Harry’s red hair were a clear sign that Prince Charles may not be his real father.

However, there happens to be no truth to the claims as Hewitt cleared the air himself and shot down all rumours about him being Harry’s father.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he had said: “When I first met Diana, Harry was already a toddler. I can understand the interest, but Harry was already walking by the time my relationship with Diana began. Admittedly, the red hair is similar to mine, and people say we look alike.”

Joe Biden Oath Ceremony: How To Watch And All Other Details

US President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the 46th President and 49th Vice-President of the United States today, January 20. Ms Harris will make history as America's first woman, first Black and first person with south Asian roots to take the office of the Vice President.

Joe Biden, 78, will take the oath on his 127-year-old family Bible, which will be held by his wife, Dr Jill Biden, news agency PTI reported.

The Inauguration will take place amid a deadly coronavirus pandemic that has infected over 2.4 crores Americans and killed 3.9 lakh patients so far. The ceremony comes days after an unprecedented storming of the US Capitol building, which is the seat of the US Congress, by pro-Trump supporters who took over the building, leading to the evacuation and lockdown of the Capitol and five deaths.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in on the West front of the US Capitol building, the official Inauguration website has announced. "After they take their oaths of office, President-elect Biden will deliver an inaugural address laying out his vision to defeat the pandemic, build back better, and unify and heal the nation," it said.

Joe Biden has also invited top Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders to a bipartisan prayer session at church before his inauguration, people familiar with the plans said, reported news agency AFP.

All you need to know about Biden-Harris Inauguration today:

Inaugural Ceremonies

The Inaugural ceremony will begin with an invocation and the singing of the national anthem at 8:30 pm today. The ceremony will also include the Pledge of Allegiance, poetry reading, musical performances and a benediction ceremony. Biden and Harris will be sworn in keeping in mind the pandemic situation and the "top priority will be keeping people safe and healthy while honoring and resembling American inaugural traditions", the office website bideninaugural.com said.

Where to watch

Officials have urged Americans to refrain from traveling to Washington for the oath-taking ceremony. The ceremony will be streamed on all major US news networks and on bideninaugural.com. The ceremony can also be viewed on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch along with on Amazon Prime Video, Microsoft Bing, NewsNow from Fox, AT&T U-verse (Channel 212/1212 in SD/HD) and AT&T DIRECTV (Channel 201).

"The Livestream, hosted by award-winning entertainer and advocate Keke Palmer, will feature a special message from Dr Jill Biden," the office website bideninaugural.com said.

UNHCR to impart primary education to 61,500 refugee children

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP): United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) would enroll 61,500 refugee children during the year 2021, providing them access to primary education.

The children would impart education in 137 schools of 54 refugee villages set up across the country, said UNHCR Pakistan report.

UNHCR had been providing access to primary education to Afghan refugees from the past four decades.

At the outset of their arrival, some 96 percent of the refugee population was living in camps and villages and emergency education was provided on-site, said the report.

Only 32 percent of the registered refugee population resides in 54 villages throughout the country, while the majority (68 percent) was living in urban and semi-urban areas alongside their host communities.

At the end of 2019 there were still 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan, out of which 500,000 children are in school going age.

Many of these children had been accessing Pakistan’s national education system.

Available data suggests that more than 20 percent of refugee children that are enrolled in schools attend Pakistani public schools, followed by Afghan and Pakistani private schools, it added.

The UNHCR education strategy will demonstrate the importance of burden-sharing with government and support the absorption capacity of schools to mitigate the impact of refugee children’s inclusion within the national education system.

For the past 40 years UNHCR has and will continue to, fully fund the refugee education programmes over 146 schools in the refugee villages (103 schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 35 in Balochistan, 8 in Punjab) catering for the education needs of some 56,000 children.

UNHCR continued to assist students in obtaining a quality education through the provision of textbooks, learning material and uniforms alongside scholarship support to those seeking higher education.

UNHCR also provided financial assistance for the salaries of 1,319 teachers, education advisers and supportive staff.

Pakistan calls for placing endangered Islamic monuments in India on UN’s Roster of Religious Sites

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20 (APP): Pakistan has highlighted the threat posed by state-sponsored extremist Hindu groups to thousands of Islamic monuments in India, and called for including those religious shrines on the U.N.’s Roster of Religious Sites.

Speaking at the launch of the UN program on the protection of religious sites from terrorist attacks, Ambassador Munir Akram described as “most dangerous” the threat posed by state-sponsored violent nationalist ideologies and movements.

“Their programme is to eliminate the heritage and legacy of Islam in India through the destruction of Islamic shrines and monuments and the transformation of India’s Muslims into second class citizens, or non-citizens,” the Pakistani envoy said.

“This ominous neo-fascist plan commenced with the criminal destruction of the historic Babri Mosque in Ayodha by BJP-RSS zealots in 1992,” he said, pointing out that the Indian Supreme Court had acquitted the criminals who destroyed it.

“Far from being punished,” Ambassador Akram added, “they were given the site of the demolished Babri Mosque to construct a Hindu temple.” And, “shamefully”, the foundation stone of the temple was laid by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first anniversary of India’s latest siege in occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

“Like the Babri Mosque, there are thousands of Muslim Islamic religious shrines and monuments which are threatened by the Hindutva fanatics,” he said.

“The OIC has repeatedly called on the Government of India to take immediate steps to ensure the protection of the over 3,000 mosques and Islamic Holy sites across India and the protection of India’s beleaguered 180 million Muslims who have been mercilessly massacred in numerous large and small pogroms.”

Ambassador Akram pointed out that the terrorism of hate does not stop at India’s borders, and was being perpetrated in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and against Pakistan.

Pakistan, he said, has been a victim of consistent terrorist attacks: in 2009, over 40 people killed in a Mosque attack in Rawalpindi; in 2013, 127 died in twin suicide bombing at a Church in Peshawar; in 2015, 15 innocent Pakistanis died in a Church attack in Lahore; and in 2017, 90 people lost their lives in an attack on a Sufi shrine.

“We have ample evidence that the attacks by the UN-designated terrorist group, the TTP and JuA, are being sponsored by Indian intelligence agencies,” he said, adding that evidence has been shared with the Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee, with the hope it would take appropriate actions.

“Pakistan will do whatever it takes to defeat terrorism and the designs of our enemy with a comprehensive, whole of government and whole of society strategy,” Ambassador Akram said in conclusion.

Tuesday’s launch event was organized by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), in partnership with the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and INTERPOL, and in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

Last heir to Ottoman throne passes away at 90

 

Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu, the last heir to the throne of the now-defunct  Ottoman Empire, passed away late Monday at the age of 90, the family said in a statement.

“Father of our family and the Ottoman dynasty, our uncle Prince Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu passed away in Syria’s Damascus,” Nilhan Osmanoğlu, a member of the family said in a tweet. “May his soul rest in peace,” She added.

Sultan Abdülhamid Han torunu Osmanoğlu hanedan reisi şehzade Dündar Efendi Şam’da hakkın rahmetine kavuşmuştur.

İnna Lillâhi ve İnnâ İleyhi Raciûn

— Nilhan Osmanoğlu (@NilhanOsmanoglu) January 19, 2021

Osmanoğlu, was living alone in Damascus where he was born after his parents were expelled from Turkey upon the abolition of the caliphate in 1924. His wife Yüsra Osmanoğlu had died in 2017. The descendants of the Ottoman dynasty living in Turkey long sought to bring the fragile dynasty member from Syria, which cut off ties with Turkey amid the ongoing war. Osmanoğlu is the grandson of Prince Mehmet Selim Efendi, son of Abdülhamid II, the legendary Ottoman sultan credited with prolonging the survival of the Ottoman Empire, which was well past its glory days in the last years of the 19th century. As the oldest member, he was the head of the family of sultans' grandchildren since the 2017 death of Osman Bayezid Osmanoğlu, the son of Ibrahim Tevfik, who was the grandson of Sultan Abdülmecid I.

The Ottoman dynasty's descendants were forced to scatter around the world after the collapse of the empire and they were sent into exile starting from 1924.

In 1952, female members of the dynasty were granted amnesty and the men were allowed to return to Turkey in 1974. Yet, few returned to Turkey as most of them had already built new lives after living abroad for decades. Osmanoğlu's father, Mehmed Abdülkerim Efendi, had settled in Beirut, Lebanon, during the exile of the dynasty's members, before he moved to Damascus where he died in 1935, survived by his two children and wife. Dündar Abdülkerim Osmanoğlu's brother Harun returned to Turkey in 1974 and resided in Istanbul. Eighty-eight-year-old Harun Osmanoğlu will now be the new head of the Ottoman family.

KURULUS OSMAN EPISODE 42: RELEASE DATE AND TIMES FOR INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES

 

When the Turkish series ‘Kurulus Osman’ premiered in late-2019, not many of us thought it would become one of the biggest historical dramas in the world. 

The first season was watched by millions of fans in almost every corner of the world and season 2 is proving to be just as popular.

Fans are now counting down to the next chapter in the Kurulus Osman story; but what date and time do we expect season 2 episode 15 release online?

KURULUS OSMAN EPISODE 42: RELEASE DATE

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 will release online with English subtitles on either Wednesday, January 20th or Thursday, January 21st depending on your location.

The series will be on a short break this week but will return next week at the typical time of 8 PM on ATV.

KURULUS OSMAN EPISODE 42: PACIFIC TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 11 AM and 1 PM (PST) on Wednesday, January 20th.

EPISODE 42 PREMIERE: CENTRAL TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 1 PM and 3 PM (CST) on Wednesday, January 20th.

KURULUS OSMAN EPISODE 42: EASTERN TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 2 PM and 4 PM (EST) on Wednesday, January 20th.

KURULUS OSMAN EPISODE 42: BRITISH TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 7 PM and 9 PM (GMT) on Wednesday, January 20th.

KURULUS OSMAN  EPISODE 42: PAKISTAN TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 11 PM and 1 AM (PKT) on Wednesday, January 20th.

EPISODE 42 PREMIERE: INDIA TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 11:30 PM and 1: 30 AM (IST) on Wednesday, January 20th.

EPISODE 42 PREMIERE: AUSTRALIA TIME

Kurulus Osman season 2 episode 15 is expected to release online between 4:30 AM and 6:30 AM (ACDT) on Thursday, January 21st.

Occupying Palestine is rotting Israel from inside. No Gulf peace deal can hide that

More than a quarter of a century after Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shook hands on the White House lawn, Israel has managed to turn its occupation of Palestinian territory from a burden into an asset. What was for so long a liability – the flagrant violation of international law – has now become a valued commodity. Understanding this development is key to explaining why the Israelis are making peace with two distant Gulf states but not their closest neighbors, the Palestinians – without whom there can be no real peace.

Human rights abuses persist in Burundi despite new gov't: UN

Human rights abuses including rape, murder and targeting of the country's youth persist in Burundi despite a change of government, a new United Nations report has revealed.

The report, released on Thursday, looks at the period preceding and following the May election of retired general Evariste Ndayishimiye, a member of the governing party who came to power after the 15-year rule of Pierre Nkurunziza.

Nkurunziza, who became president in 1995 after the country's 12-year civil war, was elected for a third term in 2015 in a poll largely boycotted by the opposition.

At least 1,200 people were killed and more than 400,000 displaced during the ensuing unrest between April 2015 and May 2017, according to the UN.

Trump called 'demented' after blaming 'blue states' for coronavirus death toll

 

President Donald Trump is facing backlash after blaming blue states for the coronavirus death toll during a press briefing at the White House on Wednesday.

"So we’re down in this territory," Trump said, pointing to a graph that the White House first unveiled in the spring which showed two estimated ranges of possible death tolls depending on efforts to slow the spread of the virus. "And that’s despite the fact that the blue states had had tremendous death rates. If you take the blue states out, we’re at a level that I don’t think anybody in the world would be at. We’re really at a very low level. But some of the states, they were blue states and blue state-managed."

New York, California, and New Jersey – all lead by Democrats– were among the states with the highest number of deaths from coronavirus. However, both Texas and Florida, which are Republican-led, are also in the top five states in terms of coronavirus deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. These five states also have the largest populations in the country and were the first to tackle major outbreaks of the virus, suggesting that there is no scientific coloration between the political party of state leaders and the spread of the virus.

Esra Bilgic Age, Instagram, Pictures & Biography | Ertuğrul

Diriliş: Ertuğrul, a Turkish historical fiction created by Mehmet Bozdağ. The drama is based on the history of the Muslim Oghuz Turks and takes place in the 13th century. It revolves around the life of Ertuğrul, the father of Osman I, who was the founder of the Ottoman Empire. It has been well received, particularly in the Muslim world. Right now, Pakistani men are going crazy for Esra Bilgic so we thought of doing an overview on her.

Prime Minister Imran Khan recommended Pakistanis to watch this phenomenally popular Turkish drama and emphasized to get all five of its seasons to be dubbed in Urdu so that people can learn something from the history of the Muslim world.

The drama got aired from the first of Ramadan this year and right after the first episode, social media was all storming with comments and reviews about the drama. With every new episode, the Pakistani viewers started falling in love not only with the drama but somewhat more to the actors and characters.

Engin Altan Düzyatan is playing the lead role in Diriliş: Ertuğrul as Ertuğrul Gazi and the other famous character of Halime Sultan is played by the gorgeous Esra Bilgiç. Although the story of this drama is unprecedentedly amazing in all aspects that it has made a magnetic connection with Pakistani viewers from the very first episode but a different thing has been observed in the response.

 All male Pakistani viewers have fallen in love with the beauty of Esra Bilgiç playing the role of Halime Sultan and all gathered upon her Instagram and Twitter profiles to treat their eyes with the epitome of Turkish beauty. The interesting thing was that all of them had already made up their mind that playing the role of an impressive Muslim girl by Esra Bilgiç means that she is the same way religious in her real life.

When the Pakistani viewers gathered on Esra Bilgiç’s social media profiles to stalk her, a sense of gloom prevailed over them after seeing her quite modern and bold in the pictures and couldn’t accept the difference in her reel & real life. Many of those Pakistani fans couldn’t resist commenting on her pictures by giving her long lectures on the following religion properly as she played and impressed as a Muslim girl in the play.

Well… this is quite strange and hilarious at the same time to observe how the drama has found a way to impact Pakistani viewers. Who had the knowledge that it will be Esra Bilgiç turning out to be impressive for the Pakistani male viewers not as that much of the historical background of drama story?

Taking it as something interesting, here we have some details about Esra Bilgiç all the fans from Pakistan must be looking for!

A little About Esra Bilgiç

Esra Bilgiç is a Turkish actress and a model, born on 14th of October, 1992. She is only 28 years old. She has studied at the Bilkent International University in Istanbul, Turkey.

Career of Esra Bilgiç

Esra Bilgiç starred in the TV series Diriliş: Ertuğrul telecast on TRT 1 from 2014. Her co-actors were Engin Altan Düzyatan and Hülya Darcan. Diriliş: Ertuğrul is about the heroic story of the father of Osman I, Ertuğrul, who turns a small tribe of Anatolya into a Sultanate.

Esra Bilgiç appeared as Halime Hatun in the series, but in 2018 she left Diriliş: Ertuğrul because of the changes in the new season; her character, however, died in 1281, and not as early as it was shown in the TV series.

Esra Bilgic also appeared in Bir Umut Yeter. In 2019, Bilgiç was asked to play a leading role in the film Adaniş Kutsal Kavga. The film will be released in March 2020. She is currently the female lead in the Turkish crime-drama TV series Ramo, with co-stars Murat Yıldırım.

Esra Bilgic won five awards as Best Female actress for Diriliş: Ertuğrul from the year 2014 to 2016. Her work in this series is being considered as remarkable of all times. She gained much popularity from this series and that’s the reason she has around 2.5 M followers on her Instagram.

Esra Bilgiç Personal Life

According to some reports, Esra Bilgiç began dating a professional Turkish footballer, Gökhan Töre, in 2014. The couple got married on 21 October 2017 and divorced on 17 June 2019.