Author: newsdesk

  • Hamza Ali Abbasi is writing a book on God

    Hamza Ali Abbasi has announced that he is in the process of writing a book on religion and God.

    The actor said that he hopes to complete it by June 2021.

    “Will be a little inactive on social media because of that,” shared Hamza.

    In November last year, Hamza announced that he is taking a break from acting to focus on his spiritual journey and get a better understanding of Islam.

    “I had this divine revelation some time back, that all that I am doing in this world will end the moment I die,” Hamza said in a video message, adding that death is inevitable.

    “All these trophies, all these accolades will not bring me any good on the day of judgment when I meet my Maker. I have decided that I want to leave everything that might be a hurdle when it comes to making my matters easier on the day of Judgment.”

    Hamza later clarified that he is only taking a break from acting and will continue to make videos and use his voice and popularity to spread the message of Islam and inspire others to undertake this spiritual journey.

    The actor turned evangelist also often shares his thoughts and understanding of religion on social media. He also takes out time to interact with his followers and other social media users and explains them things they do not understand.

    He also encourages people to “rise above sectarian and political biases and see Islam for [what] it really is”.

  • Titanic II is preparing to sail in 2022

    Titanic II is preparing to sail in 2022

    Titanic II, a nearly identical replica of the doomed ship, might make its maiden trip in 2022, giving fans a chance to experience the journey themselves.

    According to reports, Australian businessman and politician Clive Palmer is behind the initiative. Work on the ship recently restarted after a financial dispute with the Chinese government stopped development back in 2015. The idea for the ship was first floated in 2012.

    The new ship will be an identical copy of the ship, which sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg. It will have the same cabin layout, public areas, swimming pool, Turkish baths, and a grand staircase as the original ship.

    Titanic II will also be equipped with plenty of life boats and will have modern navigation and radar equipment to avoid any disaster.

    When construction is completed, there will be nine floors and 840 cabins, and passengers will have their pick between first, second, or third-class tickets. The first sailing is scheduled to take place in 2022.

  • Eighth Pakistan player in New Zealand tests positive for corona

    Eighth Pakistan player in New Zealand tests positive for corona

    An eighth member of Pakistan’s cricket squad has tested positive for coronavirus as the team undergoes quarantine in Christchurch, New Zealand health authorities said Wednesday.

    The health department said there was one new confirmed case among the squad and a further two members were being investigated, adding to the seven who previously tested positive over the past week.

    The department said the team would not be allowed to train together until doctors were confident it would not lead to more coronavirus cases.

    Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield issued the team with a “final warning” last week for flouting social distancing protocols at their hotel.

    No further breaches have been reported since.

    Two of the original six cases last week were subsequently found to be historical, meaning they were not infectious, while the other four were active. A seventh member of the squad tested positive on Saturday.

    The 53-member tour party, led by skipper Babar Azam, arrived in Christchurch on November 24 for two weeks of quarantine which is mandatory for all overseas arrivals in New Zealand.

    All tested negative before leaving Lahore for the five-match tour, which is scheduled to begin with a Twenty20 international in Auckland on December 18.

    New Zealand has largely eradicated community transmission of coronavirus recording just 1,704 cases and 25 deaths in a population of five million.

  • KYA BOLA? (Dec 2): ‘Darakht Kahan Gye?’, ‘Hakoomti Writ Khatam’, ‘Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa’

    KYA BOLA? (Dec 2): ‘Darakht Kahan Gye?’, ‘Hakoomti Writ Khatam’, ‘Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa’

    Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on Dec 2, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.

    Darakht Kahan Gye?

    Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmad has taken notice of the PTI government’s billion tree project. Daily Jang quoted the CJP as saying: “Billion tree project ki tehqeeqaat karain gy…Kaya sary darakht Bani Gala mai laga diay.”

    Hakoomati Writ Khatam

    JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has been quoted by Dunya News as saying: “Hakoomti writ khatam… PDM kisi kisam ky muzakaraat nahi kary gi. Agla lahema-e-amal 8 December of PDM ijlaas mai teh ho ga.”

    Awam Ki Hifazat Ky Lye Jalsa

    PTI leader Andleeb Abbas said that government allowed PDM to organise jalsa in Multan. “Hum ny logon ki jaan-o-maal ki hifazat karni ha, chahy wo corona sy ho ya takhreebkaari sy. Aur jo in ki dando wali takhreebkaari thi hum ny us sy awam ko bachaya aur un ki hifazat ky lye jalsa hony diya.”

  • Kavaan no longer world’s ‘loneliest elephant’, finds new friends in Cambodia

    Kavaan no longer world’s ‘loneliest elephant’, finds new friends in Cambodia

    Islamabad Zoo’s lone elephant Kavaan arrived in Cambodia on Monday, where he was taken to his new home, a wildlife sanctuary. Cher, who had long campaigned for his release, was on the tarmac at the airport of Cambodia’s second-biggest city Siem Reap to greet Kaavan along with Buddhist monks, who performed rituals on his arrival.

    According to details, Kavaan has already made himself at home in Cambodia and can be seen making new friends and socializing with female elephants.

    “Kavaan is already socialising with neighbours: beautiful female elephants,” shared Press Officer at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Neth Pheaktra.

    Similarly, animal rescue organisation Four Paws shared a beautiful picture of Kavaan interacting with fellow elephants in the sanctuary.

    Kavaan was first brought to Pakistan in 1985 as a gift from Sri Lanka when he was only a year old. Since then he was living at Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad with his partner Saheli, who died in 2012. After Saheli’s death, Kaavan became alone and was dubbed as the world’s loneliest elephant. In 2016 he caught the attention of Cher, who along with other animal rights activists fought a long legal battle for his release and transfer.

    He was airlifted from Islamabad to Cambodia in a Russian cargo plane.

    “Kaavan was eating, was not stressed, he was even a little bit sleeping, standing leaning at the crate wall. He behaves like a frequent flyer,” said Kavaan’s best friend vet Dr Amir Khalil, while sharing details of his flight.

    “The flight was uneventful, which is all you can ask for when you transfer an elephant,” he added.

  • Cabinet sets aside $150m for corona vaccine

    As the world inches closer to the COVID-19 cure, the federal cabinet has approved a grant of $150 million to procure coronavirus vaccine amid a surge in infections across Pakistan.

    This was announced by Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Dr Faisal Sultan along with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz while giving details about decisions taken by the cabinet in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Meanwhile, the government has also decided to administer the vaccine to people in phases. In the first phase, the health workers and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to the infection, will be innoculated, followed by other ages group.

    According to the minister, the government has already approached a few companies to procure the potential vaccine and an initial conversation has been started with them.

    On November 4, it was learnt that the health ministry had recommended purchases of potential coronavirus vaccines under last-stage trials and allocation of $100 million in funds for its advance booking. The request was subsequently approved by the prime minister and was sent to the cabinet for final approval.

    Commenting on the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) recent public rally in Multan, Faraz urged the opposition not to play with the lives of people for “its personal gains”, saying the second wave of coronavirus was at its peak in the country. He said public rallies are banned to protect people from the coronavirus and the government will deal with the violators legally.

    The number of coronavirus cases is on the rise in Pakistan. Over 5,000 localities across the country have been put under ‘smart lockdown’ by the government to contain the soaring tally. On the other hand, the violation of anti-virus precautionary measures are continued, as people disregard the use of mask and social distancing in public and private places.

  • Newsletter – 1st December 2020, Tuesday

    Newsletter – 1st December 2020, Tuesday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Today is the 1st day of the last month. The unforgettable 2020, which has been so far filled with elbow-bump greetings, lockdowns, Zoom family gatherings and over-washing the groceries, is almost over. There will be cold, sunny days throughout major cities in Pakistan.
     

    Morning Meme

    The Opposition’s Jalsa: Aseefa Zardari is “pretty cool”

    Yesterday’s jalsa in Multan was attended by political bigwigs, including PML-N’s Maryam Nawaz, and PPP’s Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, who was attending in place of her brother Bilawal Bhutto. The star of the jalsa was undoubtedly Aseefa, whose attendance and way of speaking reminded many on social media, of her mother Benazir Bhutto. 

    So many people were talking about her likeness to Benazir that Ali Tareen, son of PTI’s Jahangir Tareen, called Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari “pretty cool”, in response to which he was offered to join PPP by a PPP supporter. The next jalsa will be held in Lahore on December 13.
     

    Read on

    COVID stats in Pakistan you need to know 

    The government has imposed 5082 smart lockdowns, with at least two million people under lockdown. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is in complete lockdown, while 1459 smart lockdowns are in place in Punjab, 206 in Sindh, 182 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 3205 in Islamabad and 30 in Gilgit Baltistan.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the National Positivity Ratio has reached 8.53%. Sindh has reported the highest positivity ratio at 14.04%, followed by Balochistan at 11.95 %, Islamabad at 6.62% and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 5.57%. In Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan, the positivity rate is 4.84% and 3.43% respectively.
     

    Reaction on sexual abuse allegations against Babar Azam

    Pakistan Cricket Board Director of Media and Communications Samiul Hassan nay kaha hai kay the sexual violence allegations against Captain Babar Azam are a personal matter and the board won’t be commenting on the issue. 

    The board’s spokesperson was responding to a question posed by an Urdu daily after a damning press conference by the alleged victim, Hamiza, who claims to be Babar’s schoolfellow and neighbour.

    Press say baat kartay huye the Lahori woman claimed that the young cricketer tricked her into believing that he loved her and would marry her.
     

    Read on

    Blue dragon spotted

    You won’t believe what washed up on a beach in South Africa. Around 20 shell-less, dragon-like creatures known as Blue Dragons, were spotted on a beach near Cape Town. And they look like they have come straight out of a fantasy or a sci-fi movie. 

    They are also called ‘the most beautiful killer in the ocean’ because they feed on venomous aquatic creatures and kill with a sting that can cause nausea and pain. While they look a lot like mini dragons, they also have features of a bird, lizard, and octopus.
     

    Current Baba’s prediction

    You haven’t wanted to take a break from work jitna you want to today. Shaid you need some good sights and sounds ya phr some new faces and places. Maheenay ka pehla din hai so MIGHT BE the day for you!

     

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  • Shah Rukh Khan spotted sporting a new look for upcoming film ‘Pathan’

    Shah Rukh Khan was spotted outside Yash Raj Studios sporting long locks, reportedly his new look for upcoming film Pathan.

    Pictures of the actor which have gone viral on social media show him with his long hair that half-tied at the back. Even at 55, the actor was looking dapper in a white t-shirt and denim jeans paired with sneakers.

    As per reports, Deepika Padukone will reunite with him for the film. The actress made her Bollywood debut opposite SRK in Om Shanti Om and has gone on to star with him in several films including Chennai Express and Happy New Year.

    Pathan is being directed by Siddharth Anand and also stars John Abraham. The film marks SRK’s comeback to the big screen after a hiatus of more than two years. His last release was Zero in 2018 which was a commercial and box-office flop.

    The film is expected to release by the fall of next year. Although the film’s official release date has not been announced yet, rumours and reports say that the film will most likely be released on October 2, 2021

  • Death by suicide killed more people in October than COVID-19 in Japan

    At least 2,153 people committed suicide in Japan in the month of October while the total number of deaths from COVID-19 is 2,087, according to the latest statistics shared by the government of Japan. As per Japan’s National Police Agency data, the number of suicide cases increased to 2,153 in October from 1,805 in September.

    The data also revealed that COVID-19 has taken a disproportionately higher toll on women than men. Suicide among women increased by almost 83% last month compared to the same month the previous year. In comparison, male suicides rose by approximately 22% over the same time period.

    Layoffs, social isolation and anxiety triggered by the pandemic are said be the key causes behind the surge in suicide rate.

    Japan is one of the few developed countries that release suicide data frequently and has the world’s second-highest suicide rate after South Korea but the suicide rate in the country was declining until the pandemic.

    Unlike, most countries impact of COVID-19 has not been very severe in Japan but the country’s existing mental health crisis has been made worse because of the pandemic.

    Earlier this year, the United Nations issued a warning that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could create a global mental health crisis. According to a survey conducted by World Health Organisation, the demand for mental health services has increased worldwide. The survey also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% countries.

    Meanwhile, WHO has also recommended all adults to do a minimum of 150 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week, even more, for well-being and mental health in the COVID-19 era. It has also recommended children and adolescents to include an average of one hour of daily physical exercise into their routines and limit time in front of electronic screens.

    People of all ages must compensate for growing sedentary behaviour with physical activity to ward off disease and add years to their lives, it added.

  • FBR achieves five-month tax target

    FBR achieves five-month tax target

    The Federal Board of Revenue has collected Rs1.690 trillion during the first five months (July-Nov) of the fiscal year 20-21, collecting Rs17 billion more than the collection target set for the required period.

    According to media reports, the overall collection could further increase to Rs1.694 billion after book adjustment.

    Profit reported that the department had collected Rs350bn revenue in November, witnessing a growth of 4.4 per cent against last month’s 3.7 per cent.

    According to a report in Express Tribune, the five-month target was set at a low level, which was equal to 33.7 per cent of the annual target and considered very low.

    The report claimed that the FBR could not achieve the monthly target for the fourth successive month and the five-month target was achieved only due to the better performance of Pakistan Customs.

    It is pertinent to mention that the government had fixed Rs4.963 trillion as tax target for the current fiscal year after consultation with the International Monetary Fund.