Author: newsdesk

  • Influencer who ate only fruits died of malnutrition, friends say

    Influencer who ate only fruits died of malnutrition, friends say

    Zhanna Samsonova, a vegan social media influencer who touted her diet of just “fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies and juice,” has passed away, her mother has confirmed.

    The 39-years-old, who used the same surname D’Art on social media, was based in Phuket, Thailand, however media reports have said that she was touring South East Asia at the time of her death. She passed away on July 21 in Malaysia after seeking medical help for an unknown condition.

    Her friends have alleged that she died of malnutrition as a result of her only-fruit diet. “You don’t need to be a doctor to understand where this will lead,” a friend was quoted by Newsflash.

    Another of her friends also recalled seeing her “exhausted, with swollen legs,” a few months before her death. “They sent her home to seek treatment. However, she ran away again. When I saw her in Phuket, I was horrified,” they said.

    On her social media pages, Zhanna would promote a raw consisting mainly of fruit and seeds. Her mother has said that the family is waiting for the death certificate for an official cause of death, however, she suspects Zhanna died of a “cholera-like infection”.

  • PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    PM Shehbaz has huge announcement for youth

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Youth Hub Portal’ has been launched on Thursday.

    The portal unites all of the initiatives the government has initiated to support the youth’s development.

    At the ceremony, Sharif gave his word that the government will use all of its resources and try everything in its power to empower young people.

    He claimed that through the initiative, easy-to-repay loans are given to high-achieving girls and boys so that they may support themselves. To date, 30 billion rupees in loans have been given to deserving, talented youth.

    The Premier pointed out that the government is also providing laptops to deserving students as part of the scheme, while millions of rupees worth of computers have already been handed to young people so they can pursue higher education.

    The current administration has allotted 80 billion rupees for youth development throughout the course of the current fiscal year.

    Shehbaz Sharif stated that young people can register on the Digital Youth Hub Portal to receive financial aid and benefit from government initiatives aimed at improving their well-being.

    Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs, said that the portal
    will integrate all the steps and programmes launched across the country for youth development.

  • Hajj pilgrims will be eligible to receive refund of up to Rs185,000, NA body told

    On Wednesday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony that each pilgrim who attended the Hajj under the government programme would receive a reimbursement of up to Rs185,000.

    The committee applauded Hajj preparations at its meeting in Parliament House, presided over by Syed Imran Ahmad Shah.

    The committee was informed that each pilgrim who performed Hajj under the regular scheme paid Rs 1,175,000. However, before their departure for Saudi Arabia, Rs55,000 was returned to each pilgrim.

    The pilgrims who went for Hajj under the hardship quota were asked to pay a deposit of Rs 1,120,000.

    The meeting was attended by MNAs Chaudhry Faqir Ahmed, Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jillani, Shagufta Jumani, Muhammad Anwar, and Shahida Akhtar Ali, as well as a special invitee (through a video link), Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

    Top officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, including the secretary and joint secretary (Hajj), were also in the meeting.

    The committee shared an optimistic outlook, hoping that good practises and ongoing efforts would keep giving advantages to the pilgrims in the days to come.

  • Ad-free entertainment: YouTube Premium launches in Pakistan at Rs479 per month

    Ad-free entertainment: YouTube Premium launches in Pakistan at Rs479 per month

    On Wednesday, YouTube announced the much-awaited launch of its premium and music services in Pakistan, bringing an array of exciting features to its users in the country. With these new offerings, viewers can now enjoy an uninterrupted and enhanced video-watching and music-listening experience.

    YouTube Premium, the flagship service, promises an ultimate viewing experience by allowing users to watch videos without being interrupted by pesky ads. Moreover, subscribers can continue watching their favorite content even while using other apps or with the screen locked.

    The service also facilitates the option to download videos for offline play, ensuring that entertainment is accessible even in areas with limited internet connectivity. Additionally, YouTube Premium subscribers gain access to YouTube Music Premium, a music service that offers ad-free music, background play, and the ability to download music for offline listening.

    In a statement, YouTube emphasised the significance of their premium service, which sets a new standard for video-watching convenience and ad-free enjoyment.

    The pricing for YouTube Premium is set at an affordable Rs479, which also includes a membership to YouTube Music Premium. For those looking to share the perks of Premium, YouTube offers the Premium Family Plan at just Rs899, allowing up to five members of a household to access the premium features.

    For the music enthusiasts, YouTube Music Premium is available at Rs299, offering an ad-free experience, background play, and downloads for music. Similarly, the Music Premium Family Plan comes in at Rs479, allowing families to share the enjoyment of ad-free music and music video streaming.

    As part of its commitment to the student community, YouTube offers a Premium Student Plan at a discounted price of Rs329. Eligible students can access the Premium service with all its features, making their entertainment experience even better. The Music Premium Student Plan is also available at a reduced rate of Rs149 for students who love uninterrupted music streaming on the web and Android devices.

    This launch comes at a time when YouTube’s presence in Pakistan has been growing exponentially. According to Google’s country head for Pakistan, the number of YouTube channels with over one million subscribers has increased by an impressive 35 per cent, reaching a total of 400. Additionally, there are now 6,000 channels with more than 100,000 subscribers, reflecting an annual growth of over 30 per cent.

    With the introduction of YouTube Premium and Music services in Pakistan, users can now enjoy a seamless and immersive experience while exploring their favourite videos and music. The new services are expected to garner significant popularity and add to YouTube’s already robust user base in the country.

  • Humayun Saeed reveals Shah Rukh Khan once told him Pakistani films should release in India

    Humayun Saeed reveals Shah Rukh Khan once told him Pakistani films should release in India

    Humayun Saeed spoke with Indian publication Bollywood Hungama where he talked about his hit drama ‘Mere Pass Tum Ho’ which is set to release on Zindagi across India. The actor also opened up about his memory of working next to Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan back in 2005, when the two performed together for the Zee Cine Awards.

    Saeed revealed that the Bollywood Badshah was incredibly sweet, treating the actor with a lot of respect because Humayun was not sure about how the performance should take place. Khan also told Humayun that he felt Pakistani dramas should be released in India:

    “There was a lot of excitement when I met Shah Rukh. He was very sweet to me. We were in his room and he made me sit with him and discussed Indian and Pakistan films with me. That time there was a Mehreen Jabbar and a Shaan film in the theatres and SRK was talking about them. He said that Pakistani films should be released in India and vice versa. He made me comfortable. Since I had just come the previous day to the sets, I did not know exactly what to do. Shah Rukh said ‘main sambhal lunga.’ The overall moment was very special.”

    Actor Adnan Siddiqui also gave an interview to Indian Express where he said that there should be no boundaries when it comes to art, and also felt that Pakistani audiences were much more tolerant compared to Indian ones.

    “Art has no boundaries, but artistes have a certain boundary, which shouldn’t be there. There should be healthy cultural exchange. I believe that the kind of tolerance–pardon me for being so blunt–but our tolerance, in comparison to Indian audience is much higher. We accept Indian artistes, Indian cricketers, we accept everything good about India. But when this thing goes across the border, it becomes very political. I don’t know why.”

  • NA continues hasty legislation despite outrage

    NA continues hasty legislation despite outrage

    According to the report filed by Amir Wasim in Dawn, the National Assembly (NA) approved 12 more bills on Wednesday.

    Along with debates over legislation, the NA saw a verbal altercation between Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf and South Waziristan MNA Ali Wazir when the legislator accused Pakistan’s intelligence agencies of “installing” the Taliban government in neighboring Afghanistan and demanded that those responsible for bringing the Taliban back to Pakistan be held accountable.

    The angry speaker warned the MNA not to talk about sensitive matters related to Pakistan’s security forces, and then switched off the mic for Ali Wazir, declaring his words “anti-Pakistan”.

    During the passage of the bills, members of different allied parties in the coalition government complained that the PML-N didn’t take them into confidence in the matter of the bills.

    Some members were also concerned about a bill passing amendments to the Secrets Act, granting powers to intelligence agencies to raid and detain common citizens without warrants.

    Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch has also said that BNP-M doesn’t want to be part of this hasty legislation. PPP lawmaker Shahida Rehmani and JUI-F’s Aliya Kamran were also against the passage of the bill.

  • Social media shocked at sudden take down of popular Facebook group Soul Bitches

    Social media shocked at sudden take down of popular Facebook group Soul Bitches

    Social media users were left shocked on Wednesday when they discovered that popular community group Soul Bitches has been taken down from Facebook without any warning.

    Soul Bitches was a popular community group on Facebook where women from all over Pakistan could share their stories and seek refuge in situations of abuse or domestic violence.

    In a statement to The Current, the co-founder Rabeeya revealed that the platform gave no warnings before abruptly shutting down the group:

    “Facebook didn’t get any prior warning! They just took it down. I am working with meta to get it back up.”

    On Soul Bitches’ Instagram page, a statement was posted explaining what had happened.

    “We deeply regret to inform you that Facebook has unexpectedly deleted or disabled our beloved Soul Bitches page. We want you to know that we’re tirelessly working to understand the reasons behind this action to get our cherished platform back up and running,” the post read. “We want you to know that we are tirelessly working to understand the reasons behind this action and to get our cherished platform back up and running.”

    The co-founder of the group, Rabeeya, shared a post on her Instagram stories, where she thanked social media users for their support.

    “Throughout its existence, this group had not only ralied for women’s causes but extended its compassion to animals as well. It was built for women navigating different circumstances, a space where friendships had forged, unwavering support, regardless of the highs and lows we encountered…The countless instances of being targeted, bullied, and made a spectacle of are not unfamiliar to us. We, as a community, fought those lows together to preserve the openness and freedom of Soul Bitches.”

    Social media users expressed their dismay at the shutdown of the website, lamenting how online spaces for women were shrinking rapidly.

    “People hated Soul Bitches,” one user wrote. “Because women exchanged stories & became smarter about what they should or shouldn’t tolerate. Women told each other about their legal rights. Women gave advice to those in need. The page empowered women. This is sad. Not shocking.”

    “Facebook is a toxic place for women,” tweeted Digital Rights Activist Hija Kamran. “But SB was a way to seek care, support & a sense of community for them. I’m not sure why the group must have been deleted, but it sure seems like an attack on women’s access to safe spaces on a deeply misogynistic platform.”

    The Current has reached out to the co-founders of Soul Bitches, as well as to Facebook for a comment and will update the story as soon as they respond.

  • PM Shehbaz says didn’t care about ‘taunts’ of being called establishment’s man

    PM Shehbaz says didn’t care about ‘taunts’ of being called establishment’s man

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he did not care about taunts labelling him “establishment’s man”.

    At the inauguration ceremony of the Barha Kahu bypass project in Islamabad, the Prime Minister said, “I was called the establishment’s man, but I did not care about those taunts […] I never met army chiefs for personal reasons; the only motive behind those meetings was to ensure that the establishment and governments take the country forward together.”

    Acknowledging that in his 38 year long political career, he met many army chiefs but only to ensure that, “Islamabad’s government and Rawalpindi’s establishment remain on the same page.”

    Mentioning rumors that he was close to former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and military dictator, the late General Pervez Musharraf, Shehbaz asked what did he get.

    “Nawaz Sharif was thrown into jail and so was I. He went to Attock, so did I. He went to Landhi jail, so did I. Nawaz Sharif was exiled, so was I. Even my family was exiled,” he commented.

  • Sending heart emojis to women online can land you in jail in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

    Sending heart emojis to women online can land you in jail in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

    In a surprising move, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have both passed laws that criminalise the sending of heart emojis via WhatsApp and other social networking sites, considering it an act of incitement to debauchery and harassment, respectively.

    According to Kuwaiti lawyer Haya Al Shalahi, individuals found guilty of sending heart emojis in Kuwait may face severe consequences. A conviction of this offence could lead to up to two years of imprisonment, along with a fine not exceeding 2,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

    Likewise, in Saudi Arabia, the consequences are equally harsh. Sending ‘red heart’ emojis on WhatsApp may result in a jail term ranging from two to five years, accompanied by a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals, as per Saudi law.

    Saudi cybercrime expert Al Moataz Kutbi highlighted that certain images and expressions used in online conversations, like red hearts, could be deemed harassment within the country’s jurisdiction. The act might lead to a lawsuit being filed by the aggrieved party, turning it into a serious offence.

    Moreover, for repeat offenders in Saudi Arabia, the financial penalty could escalate to a staggering 300,000 Saudi Riyals, coupled with a maximum imprisonment of five years.

    The rationale behind these strict measures is to combat online harassment and protect individuals from potentially harmful or inappropriate content shared through emojis. Authorities in both countries view such seemingly innocuous expressions as having the potential to incite indecent behaviour or cause emotional distress to recipients.

    As social media and messaging platforms continue to play a significant role in modern communication, governments are increasingly taking measures to regulate online interactions and enforce cyber laws. Individuals in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are now urged to exercise caution in their online communication to avoid potential legal consequences.

    It remains to be seen how these laws will be enforced and how they will impact digital communication practises in both nations. In the meantime, citizens are encouraged to be aware of these recent legal developments and adapt their online behaviour accordingly.

  • Sindh government initiates training women to drive pink buses

    Sindh government initiates training women to drive pink buses

    The Sindh government has decided to start a programme to train women to drive its pink buses, The News has reported.

    In the 10th board meeting of the Sindh Mass Transit Authority (SMTA) on Wednesday, provincial minister for Information and Transport Sharjeel Inam Memon approved the decision to train women to drive the pink buses in Karachi.

    According to the provincial minister, this initiative would not only be good for gender equality but also perfect in terms of women’s safety and security during their commutes.

    He also said that empowering women is the vision of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

    The introduction of an environment-friendly electric taxi was also discussed as aninitiative, as it would create a positive environmental impact and provide people with employment opportunities.

    The Red Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project was also discussed during the SMTA board meeting.