Category: Lifestyle

The lifestyle of millennials is underreported in our mainstream media. The Current’s lifestyle news covers social events and issues that are unique.

  • Khan Academy receives $5 million from Elon Musk

    Tesla CEO Elon Musk has donated $5 million to online learning organisation Khan Academy.

    In a YouTube video posted Monday, Khan Academy founder Salman Khan thanked Musk for the donation, which the Tesla CEO made through his Musk Foundation.

    “Elon, I hope you really feel good about this,” said Khan in the video. “This is going to allow us to accelerate all sorts of content. Our aspirations are all subjects — from kids to the early stages of college. This will accelerate our science content, allow us to do more early learning, allow us to make the software and the practice that much more engaging.”

    Founded in 2002, the Musk Foundation supports research in renewable energy, human space exploration, pediatrics and science and engineering.

    Read more – ‘Bijli aati hai?’: Twitter reacts to Fawad Chaudhry’s invitation to Tesla’s Elon Musk

    Khan Academy is a nonprofit that aims to “provide free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” Students worldwide can utilize Khan Academy videos, which are translated into more than 36 languages, and learn at their own pace. The resources — videos, practice exercises, and personalized learning dashboards — are also used by parents and teachers.

    As the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to turn to distance learning, many students and parents who struggled with the transition turned to Khan Academy for help, the organisation says.

    While many students may not recognise Khan by his face, millions of them know him by his voice, because of his video tutorials on subjects ranging from photosynthesis and calculus to the American Revolution.

    Khan Academy has over 120 million registered users, with up to 30 million students using the platform every month.

    “I view this type of investment in what we’re doing as really foundational for us to be able to build a multi-generational institution so that future Elon Musks of the world are also able to tap into their potential and help all of us up-level who we are as a civilization,” said Khan.

  • VIDEO: 50 rare Himalayan ibex spotted in Hunza valley

    As many as 50 rare Himalayan ibex, including females with their young ones, were spotted by officials of the World Wide Fund (WWF) near Khyber village in Hunza Valley.

    According to WWF, the Himalayan Ibex is found at an average altitude of 3,660 meters and they usually come down the mountain due to snow and in search of food in the winter season.

    Elaborating further, the animal rights body said: “The population faces numerous threats across its range in Pakistan, from habitat loss to illegal hunting, climate change, and lack of awareness about the species.”

    “Despite these challenges, a significant increase has been recorded in their population as a result of continued and concerted efforts of the local community, Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife Department and WWF,” it added.

    A survey conducted in 2019 by the government and local communities revealed that almost 1500 ibex were sighted in Ghulkin catchments in recent years.

    “The sighting of such a large herd is a welcome indicator of the conservation success of WWF in its fiftieth year in Pakistan,” expressed WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Programmes Rab Nawaz.

    VIDEO: Man in Chitral jumps into river to save baby Markhor from drowning

    The photographs of the ibex have been captured by photographers Nyal Mueenuddin and Imtiaz Ahmed.

  • Shaniera Akram heartbroken over plastic mess on the beach

    When it comes to cleaning the beach and making sure it is trash-free, Wasim Akram and Shaniera Akram are on the forefront. The two have endlessly campaigned and worked towards keeping the beach clean by mobilising the government, authorities and residents of the city.

    However, this time Shaniera is heartbroken over the fact that no matter how many times they clean the beach, it becomes a mess again.

    “Every six months, we make conscious efforts to get this place cleaned up,” wrote Shaniera in a post on social media post. “We work hard to ensure there is no plastic waste lying around and polluting our beaches. Yet, even after two days of a clean-up, there is even more plastic wastage than the last time.”

    “Seeing this is heartbreaking, not only because our efforts are not showing any results but also because this plastic waste will be our downfall,” said Akram further, urging everyone to “protect the environment, recycle and reuse your plastic products, reduce your contribution to plastic waste.”

    Later, in a tweet, Shaniera urged food giants of Pakistan to take making recyclable packaging for their products.

    Last week, Shaniera penned a love letter for Karachi and expressed her love for the city by praising its resilience and diversity and comparing it to an eagle that looks into the eye without fright and remains devoted to where it belongs.

  • Govt issues special permits for Houbara hunting to Dubai royals

    The government has reportedly issued special permits to seven-members of Dubai’s royal family to hunt the internationally protected Houbara bustard during the 2020-21 hunting season.

    As per details, the permit has been issued to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and six other members of the ruling family including the crown prince, deputy ruler and finance and industries minister, deputy police chief, an army official, two other members of the royal family, and a businessman.

    The hunting permits were reportedly issued by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself who earlier opposed the hunting of rare bird, while in opposition.

    It is pertinent to add here that local citizens are not allowed to hunt the migratory bird wrongly prized as an aphrodisiac and classified as vulnerable by conservationists.

    Read more – Illegal falcon trade on the rise in Pakistan

    Talking about the hunting of the Houbara bustard Muhammad bin Naveed, an animal rights activist and member of Friends of Islamabad Zoo said: “Houbara bustards have become an unfortunate tool for so-called diplomacy with our Arab allies where again we are using animals and their lives to play politics.”

    He further added: “No government in the past or now has stood up to the killing of Houbara bustards by Arab royal families simply because they pay a lot to be here and contribute to the local economy. I think we, as a nation, and our Arab allies need to think if such activities have any place in the 21st century and why we are using animals to propagate outdated traditions that are not even a part of our culture.”

    Earlier in December 2020, it was reported that at least 18 Saudi and Qatari royals, including Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, will visit Pakistan to hunt the rare houbara bustard after the confirmation of their special hunting licences.

  • ‘No jeans, tights, makeup’: Hazara University issues new dress code for students

    The Hazara University in Mansehra has issued a new dress code for students, faculty members and administrative staff.

    According to the notification issued on January 6, female students have been advised to wear abaya/scarf/dupatta in neutral colours without any decorative material. They have also been asked to wear shalwar qameez with dupatta or chaddar.

    Jeans, tights, t-shirts, shorts with jeans or tights, heavy makeup and jewellery have been banned at the university, while female students have also been advised against carrying heavy hand bags.

    Read more – New policy of Bahira University prohibits male, female students from sitting together

    The notification further recommends a dress code for male students which includes, dress pants with dress shirts, dress shoes with socks, shalwar qameez, and warm caps in the winters.

    Shorts, cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind/jewellery, long hair, ponytails, and un-presentable bread have been strictly prohibited for the male students, according to the notification.

    Furthermore, staff and faculty members have been advised to wear “neat, clean and presentable dress and black gown during lectures”.

    “Cut-off/toran/skin-fitted jeans, chappals/sleepers of any kind and jewellery are strictly not recommended for faculty members and staff,” reads the notification.

    Wearing ID cards at all times has also been made compulsory for both students and faculty members.

    Though the new recommendations by Hazara University are being strongly criticised on social media, Spokesperson for the KP government and adviser to CM on Information Kamran Bangash, while talking to Gulf News, welcomed the step saying: “This will end the dress competition between the students and teachers, helping the poor students and their parents. It will also help them focus on their studies.”

  • Lahore among ‘places to love in 2021’

    Lahore among ‘places to love in 2021’

    Lahore has been listed among the world’s most-loved cities by the New York Times.

    The New York Times recently published a piece in which the publication asked people about the places that delighted or comforted them in 2020. While it received more than 2000 suggestions, only 52 of them got the chance to be featured in the publication’s article. According to the American daily, Lahore is among the most-loved cities for its food, culture, and historical architecture.

    “Especially in winter, this city nourishes you. It opens its arms to you, then feeds you and wraps you in a hug,” wrote the author while expressing the beauty of the city.

    Lahoris are admired for their hospitality and the city is loved for its rich historical architecture.

    Other tourist spots on the list include Andros of Greece, Lebanon’s Beirut, Romania, Siberia, Jordan’s Wadi Rum and Kaliya Dhrow, India.

    It is pertinent to add there that even Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan couldn’t resist saying “Lahore, Lahore hai” during his visit to the city.

  • Rare photos that reveal the unseen side of things

    Rare photos that reveal the unseen side of things

    With time, a monotonous daily routine can numb even the most enthusiastic people. The world, however, is a lovely place, full of excitement and interesting things in every corner. Here are some rare photos of absolutely common objects to make you rediscover their beauty and maybe even expand your horizons.

    1. This is how Chinese soldiers maintain their posture

    2. What an Eclipse looks like from space

    3. Sperm whales (The largest toothed predators on Earth) do not have teeth in their upper jaw but sockets that their lower teeth fit into

    4. A strawberry’s surface as seen in an electron microscope

    5. This is what an elephant’s tail looks like up close

    6. The inside of a space suit

    7. A globe for blind people

    8. You can see every organ in the glass frog

    9) Tiger’s skin when shaved

  • Pakistani truck art flies high

    Pakistani truck art flies high

    Pakistan’s renowned truck art will move from the highways to the skies, as a flying academy has decorated a two-seater Cessna aircraft using the colourful technique.

    In recent times, Pakistan’s colourful truck art has grown increasingly popular in the West. With elaborate and flamboyant motifs, Pakistani truck art has inspired gallery exhibitions abroad and prompted stores in Western cities to sell miniatures. In fact, UNESCO has been using this unique art blended with indigenous motifs to communicate messages on girls’ education in Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    “We want to show the world that Pakistan is not all about Financial Action Task Force and terrorism issues; it’s a very diverse country and a land of opportunities,” says Imran Aslam Khan, chief operating officer of Sky Wings, a flight training organisation.

    He also plans to paint other aircraft, with the aim of promoting tourism in Pakistan.

    Read more – Did you know Pierre Cardin also designed uniforms for PIA?

    “The world is familiar with our truck art representation; now, with this aircraft, our colours will fly in the air. We are really excited,” said Haider Ali, the artist painting the aircraft.

    Ali who is now 40, has been decorating trucks since his childhood. He was trained by his father and now he is one of the most prominent such painters in Pakistan.

    He also hopes to paint an Airbus or Boeing aircraft in the future, saying an opportunity to work on such gargantuan planes would truly be a learning experience.

  • Did a Saudi billionaire really marry her Pakistani driver?

    Did a Saudi billionaire really marry her Pakistani driver?

    Social media is abuzz with the ‘news’ of a marriage between an alleged Saudi billionaire, Sahoo bint Abdullah Al-Mahboob, and her driver who hails from Pakistan.

    The video of the wedding wherein the couple could be seen exchanging rings has garnered thousands of views on social media. Some news websites also featured the story, without checking the veracity of the claims, using this video that’s undated.

    However, a quick Google search shows that Sahoo bint Abdullah Al-Mahboob, who apparently owns hotels in Mecca and Madina as per the rumours, is not a real person. The viral post also claimed that her net worth was $8bn and that she also owned properties in France and other countries.

    Her name doesn’t show up anywhere except the news sites and the Youtube videos that were circulating the news of the marriage. Also, there were no reports of the wedding in the Saudi press about a purported marriage between a driver and a billionaire.

  • IKEA might not really be coming to Pakistan

    Pakistan’s ambassador to Germany, Dr Mohammad Faisal, on Thursday tweeted claiming that IKEA, a multinational conglomerate that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, is coming to Pakistan.

    But soon after the news was announced in the media, the ambassador deleted his tweet and did not reply to queries sent to him regarding the development either.

    To add to the surprise, Profit reported, relevant ministries in the country were also unaware of the development. Officials at Board of Investment (BoI), the premier investment promotion agency of Pakistan working under the administrative control of the Prime Minister’s Office, mandated to promote and facilitate both local and foreign investment was also unaware of the development.

    The official claimed that there was no development, not even at the initial stage, regarding investment by IKEA.

    Similarly, the Ministry of Commerce, and officials at both the offices of adviser to prime minister on commerce and investment as well as secretary commerce were also unaware about the development.

    The official spokesperson at Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) said that no application for the registration of the company was received by the commission.

    However, SECP’s website shows the registration of a company IKEA TRADING (HONG KONG) LIMITED in 2006, at CRO Karachi. As per the SECP’s record, another firm in the name of IKEA SUPPLY AG SWITZERLAND was registered in Karachi in 2015.