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.

  • 9-year-old Pakistani girl sets Guinness World Record for arranging fastest periodic table

    A nine-year-old Pakistani girl has set a new world record becoming the fastest and youngest in the world to arrange the chemical elements of the periodic table in the shortest possible time.

    Natalia Najam, hailing from Lahore achieved the Guinness World Records title after arranging all elements of the periodic chart in just 2 minutes and 42 seconds on July 18, 2020. She broke the previous record of an Indian professor by 7 seconds.

    Najam broke the record of an Indian economics professor Meenakshi Agarwal who completed the same task in 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

    In an interview Najam’s parents shared that she has not received formal schooling and has been educated at home. 

  • 99-year-old woman sets world record as oldest active pilot and flight instructor

    A 99-year-old California woman is now in the record books as the world’s oldest active pilot and flight instructor.

    Robina Asti gave her final flight lesson Sunday for a flight academy at Riverside Municipal Airport.

    Robina said she wanted to show that seniors are strong, vital, and can still contribute.

    “I love getting people to experience what it’s like to lift off this Earth,” she said. “It is so good.”

    She took student Brandon Martini with her. The previous record-holder, an Iowa man, flew at age 98. Robina has been teaching people how to fly for decades.

  • IN PICTURES: Hajj 2020

    IN PICTURES: Hajj 2020

    The five-day annual Hajj pilgrimage began in Makkah, Saudi Arabia on Wednesday with strict measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

    A downsized Hajj, this year the number of pilgrims have been drastically reduced to 10,000 from last year’s 2.5 million making it perhaps the safest Hajj ever. In past years, pilgrims have faced a host of viral illnesses, with some falling sick and developing respiratory diseases after mingling with large crowds and staying in cramped pilgrim camps where social distancing was unheard of.

    The kingdom has put strict safety protocols in place with a mandatory quarantine that began on Tuesday. According to details, pilgrims had to undergo COVID-19 tests before arriving in Mecca. They are required to wear masks and maintain social distance at all times. Attendees were also given elaborate amenity kits that included sterilised pebbles for the ritual Stoning of the Devil (rami), disinfectant, masks and a prayer rug, according to the Hajj ministry.

    Several health facilities, mobile clinics and ambulances are also available on hand while workers continuously clean and disinfect the holy site, in uniforms resembling those of hospital staff.

    Saudi authorities initially said only around 1,000 pilgrims residing in the kingdom would be permitted for Hajj however, local media later reported that as many as 10,000 will be allowed to take part.

    Some 70% of the pilgrims are foreigners residing in the kingdom, while the rest will be Saudi citizens.

    Check out pictures from this year’s first-ever ‘socially distant’ Hajj below:

    The first group of female pilgrims praying in the Grand mosque in the holy city of Makkah at the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Saudi labourers put the new Kiswa, the protective cover that engulfs the Kaaba, made from black silk and gold thread and embroidered with Holy Quran verses
    The first group of pilgrims enter the Kaaba at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah at the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Pilgrims perform Zuhr and Asr Prayers at Arafat
    A Muslim pilgrim gets his temperature checked before boarding a bus heading towards Makkah on the first day of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
    Workers disinfect the ground outside the Grand Mosque
    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOUEukpK5R/

  • Zobia Meer Case: Mother forgives son who physically, verbally abused her

    Arsalan Qureshi’s mother, whom he physically and verbally tortured, has forgiven him for his doings. In a video posted to social media, she said that she has forgiven her son and does not want any legal action to be taken against him.

    In another video, Arsalan along with his wife apologised to his mother for his actions, adding that depression and stress was the reason behind his actions because he had faced loss in his business.

    A few days ago, a video posted by a girl, Zobia Meer went viral on social media in which her brother Arsalan Meer, could be seen verbally and physically abusing his mother.

    The incident sparked outrage on social media and many people including celebrities, journalists and social activists demanded justice for Zobia Meer and her mother. Later, Arsalan was arrested for thrashing his mother and sought forgiveness for his wrongdoings.

  • Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal offers financial support to juice seller boy who topped in matric

    Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal offers financial support to juice seller boy who topped in matric

    A 16-year-old juice seller from Multan, Muhammad Huzaifa topped in his matriculation exam scoring 1050 marks out of 1100 last year.

    Huzaifa is the only breadwinner of his family and had to work as a fruit juice seller to take care of his family. Reportedly, the boy was offered a scholarship at a private college but he could not leave his job at the time.

    People on social media cannot stop praising Huzaifa for his efforts and hard work.

    After the post went viral on social media, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal reached out to the boy and offered him financial support for his higher education and his family.

    Managing Director of Bait-ul-Mal, Aon Abbas Buppi took to Twitter to announce that they would financially support the boy and his family so Pakistan doesn’t lose this bright student.

  • Teenage boy, friends allegedly gang rape kitten in Lahore

    Teenage boy, friends allegedly gang rape kitten in Lahore

    A kitten died after a 15-year-old boy along with his friends allegedly gang-raped it repeatedly for over a week. 

    According to a viral social media post by an animal shelter, which has also widely been shared by other animal organisations and the general public, the kitten was adopted by the family of the boy who abused it many times until she died after suffering from crushed internal organs.

    The posts revealed that the kitten couldn’t sit, walk, eat or sleep due to the pain and trauma. “The culprits used shopping bags for the act which were left inside the poor cat,” the posts claimed.

    The vet confirmed that the cat was abused but refused to write it on paper to avoid involvement in the case. 

    Upon inquiry, one of the culprits’ mother refuted the allegations and said, “My son hasn’t done this.”

    Meanwhile, the incident has sparked outrage and many people, including celebrities and journalists, have strongly condemned the incident, urging the authorities concerned to take action against the culprits.

    https://twitter.com/SQurien/status/1288208100256874496?s=20
    https://twitter.com/AminJingoist/status/1288360192418156545?s=20

    Meanwhile, government officials say no formal complaint has so far been lodged.

    Have something to add to this story? Let The Current know in the comments below.

  • DIG suspends traffic warden for making TikTok video while on duty

    An official of Islamabad Traffic Police was suspended for allegedly making a TikTok video during duty hours. Director Inspector General (DIG) Security/Traffic Islamabad, Sarfaraz Falaki suspended the traffic policeman and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

    According to details, Constable Yasir Aftab was on duty in Islamabad when he allegedly made a video while wearing a police uniform in an official vehicle and posted it on TikTok.

    Officials of Islamabad police immediately took action against Aftab after the video surfaced on social media and suspended the officer for violating rules and regulations of the force.

    Superintendent Police (SP) Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Khalid Rashid revealed that Aftab had been on leave but has been called in for the inquiry.

    According to the spokesperson, Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police Chief, Muhammad Aamir Zulfiqar Khan had ordered all the officers to stay away from social media while on duty.

  • Thai, British Airways to resume Pakistan flights from August

    Thai, British Airways to resume Pakistan flights from August

    Thai Airways and British Airways have decided to resume Pakistan flights from August after suspension due to COVID-19 spread.

    Pakistan aviation took to Twitter to announce that Thai Airways will be resuming its Pakistan operation from mid-August. The airline operates direct scheduled flights between Bangkok & Islamabad, Lahore Karachi.

    British Airways will also resume its flights from August between London Heathrow and Islamabad. This time it will be the only airline offering direct flights. In the beginning, there will be three flights per week.

    As per reports, the airlines wrote a letter to the Islamabad airport manager and asked for details of the arrangements before restarting flight operations.

    Authorities have been asked to give details about cleanliness arrangements at the airport and facilities available there to ensure the safe landing of the planes.

    “Ensure that fix bridges connected with the planes are safe to use”, the letter read.

    British Airways’ first flight to Pakistan, BAW-261 had landed at Islamabad International Airport from Heathrow, with 240 passengers on board on June 3, 2019, after a long gap of 10 years. 

  • Peshawar University’s watchman completes his M.Phil degree while on job

    Peshawar University’s watchman completes his M.Phil degree while on job

    A man, who was appointed as a watchman 20 years ago when he had only done his matriculation, has now completed his MPhil degree from Agriculture University Peshawar.

    Hailing from Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Noor Marjan still works as a watchman at the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Center at the University of Peshawar despite completing his research on ‘comparative analysis of tribal customs with customs of Hindu and Sikhs’.

    While speaking to Independent Urdu, Noor Marjan told that he originally started this job to take care of his family’s expenses and to fund his education and now he only wants to be hired in a position that fits his academic qualification.

    While hoping to get a better job, Marjan told that he sometimes gets very disappointed. “But I can’t give it up because if I give up, there is no other source of livelihood and my pension will be lost.”

    Marjan has also worked in numerous departments as a caretaker at the same university. He said that in 2014 he served as a Superintendent of Examinations for four years, after which he was given the duty of a clerk in a university hostel which he did well. But he is once again employed as a watchman.

    Appealing to the government and the university administration, Marjan said, “I request that I be given a duty according to my education.”

    ‘I have done M.Phil including B.Ed and M.Ed which is related to the field of education, so if I am not a lecturer then at least I should be given the duty of teaching assistant so that I can continue my education for the betterment of children.”

  • Punjab Textbook Board MD says hacker liked porn video from his Twitter

    Punjab Textbook Board MD says hacker liked porn video from his Twitter

    The chief of Punjab’s books and curriculum regulatory authority refuted accusations of inappropriate online activity and called it “a social media hack”.

    As per reports, Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) Managing Director Rai Manzoor Hussain Nasir took to Twitter to clarify the allegations made regarding inappropriate online activity. He issued a statement in which he said he fired at least 10 employees that were involved in “corruption” and “security breaches on my personal Twitter account”.

    Nasir said he was “accused of liking an immoral picture on Twitter and also of making inappropriate comments on photographs” after he banned at least 100 books on July 23.

    “I deny these allegations emphatically and maintain that I have been the victim of a social media hack. I am making every effort to secure my social media accounts going forward,” he added.

    He said that the PCTB under him had formed 30 committees to review a wide range of books.

    “The 100 books that have been banned contain blasphemous, objectionable content that is anti-Pakistan,” Nasir said, adding that the publishers of those books did not have the required No Objection Certificate (NOC).

    “Also during the past few days, I have dismissed 10 staff members in my office who had been involved in corruption,” he stated, adding that he shared the update as he believed it “to be connected to security breaches on my personal Twitter account”.

    Referring to the online activity on his Twitter account as an “obvious attempt at character assassination”, he said he would continue to lead the PCTB tasks responsibly.

    Last week, Rai Manzoor Hussain faced criticism for ‘liking’ a pornographic video on Twitter after the decision of PCTB of banning 100 books for containing ‘anti-national’ and ‘blasphemous’ content.