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.

  • Man attempts to sell India’s ‘Statue of Unity’ on OLX to raise funds to fight coronavirus

    Man attempts to sell India’s ‘Statue of Unity’ on OLX to raise funds to fight coronavirus

    A case was filed against an unidentified person in Gujarat, India for putting up an online advertisement to sell the Statue of Unity for ₹30,000 crores to meet the government’s expenses for hospitals and medical infrastructure to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

    According to details, the world’s largest statue, which is located in Kevadia Colony of Gujarat, was put up for sale in an OLX ad.

    “Emergency! Selling Statue of Unity because of urgent money required for the hospitals and healthcare equipment,” read the ad.

    The Statue of Unity authorities took an action after a local newspaper published a report about the ad, filing a complaint against the unknown individual.

    “An unknown person, with a malafide intention to defame the government had put up the Statue of Unity for sale on OLX, despite not being authorized to do so,” a release signed by Nilesh Dubey, Assistant Commissioner, Statue of Unity stated.

    The release also criticized OLX for not verifying the ad before posting it on the website. Police said they were trying to locate the source of the listing on OLX to determine who was behind the ad and bring him/her to book.

    The memorial to Sardar Patel, at 182 metres, is the world’s tallest such structure, ever since it was inaugurated in October 2018. It has been a major tourist attraction in India until it was closed for the public on March 17 as a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus.

  • ‘Corona cake’ in Gaza is keeping spirits up

    Palestinian baker Eyad Abu Rezqa cooked up an idea and created a ‘Corona Cake’ which is spreading fast in Gaza.

    The head of the Al-Nada bakery in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza has made a ‘corona cake’ showing a woman wearing a blue face mask, aiming to remind people of the importance of social distancing.

    As per reports, he first shared the design on social media and now a lot of people are ordering them each day in the impoverished Palestinian enclave.

    “Straight away it got great interest, customers starting saying ‘I want that cake’,” Abu Rezqa told AFP.

    “Every day our clients’ demand for the mask cake is increasing.”

    He stressed he was not depreciating the risk of the deadly disease which has killed more than 50,000 people but trying to keep spirits up while promoting awareness.

    The staff making the cakes are wearing protective clothing, Abu Rezqa pointed out.

    According to health authorities in the Hamas-run strip., Gaza has 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far and all of them are in isolation.

    Like much of the world, authorities have urged to practice social distancing to try to prevent the spread but have not yet closed non-essential businesses.

  • Organisations that collect and distribute ration bags

    Organisations that collect and distribute ration bags

    Everyone’s lockdown story is not the same. While some of us are lucky enough to be spending this time at home with our family, for others such as daily wage labourers it is a matter of life and death because they are unable to feed their families.

    We can help them in this difficult time by providing them with food and other essentials. The Current has listed a few organisations that are collecting and distributing ration bags.

    Rizq

    Rizq, a social organisation set up by LUMS alumni, Huzaifa Ahmed, Musa Aamir and Qasim Javaid, has initiated a national movement called Ehsaas Karo. Through this movement, Rizq aims to mobilise resources from individuals, corporates, companies, philanthropists and foundations to fulfil the hunger needs of those most affected by this crisis. For Phase 1 of the campaign, the organisation is targeting to support 10,000 affected families by providing them monthly food supplies.

    Website: https://sharerizq.com/en

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Rizq.Sharefood/

    The Robin Hood Army

    The volunteer-based group, made up of students and young professionals gets surplus food from restaurants to the less fortunate people at orphanages, old-age homes and public hospitals.

    Number: 021-38693111, 03008861164

    Email: pakistan@robinhoodarmy.com

    Ideas 9

    Ideas 9 is an organization led by some professionals to promote peace, social justice, interfaith harmony, against terrorism and injustice. In this time, they are contributing to society by distributing rations bags.

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ideas9.org/

    Salman Sufi Foundation

    The Lahore-based Foundation is providing rations to daily wage workers in poor neighborhoods.

    Number: 0308 2935454

    Al Khidmat Foundation

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/alkhidmat.org/

    Saylani Welfare Trust

    The NGO is based in major cities across Pakistan and provides food to labourers and other underprivileged classes.

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/saylaniwelfare/

    Al-Jannat Foundation

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlJannatFoundationPak/

    Akhuwat

    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AkhuwatOfficial/

    Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for Covid-19

    You can donate directly to the government and your donations can be used by the state to manufacture protective equipment for the doctors and essentials for hospitals or to provide a cash stipend to the most vulnerable.

    Bank of Pakistan

    Account No: 4162786786

    Swift Code: NBPAPKKAMBR

  • Lahore’s Defence and Cantt report majority coronavirus cases

    Lahore’s Defence and Cantt report majority coronavirus cases

    Majority of the coronavirus cases being reported in Lahore are from the Defence and Cantt areas of the city, an official of Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has revealed.

    As per reports, Director Pperations at PDMA Nisar Ahmed said, “These people from the posh areas usually have a travel history and they are continuing their kitty parties and not practicing social distancing.”

    According to the provincial government’s daily statistics of those tested positive in the city, six people are “not traceable”.

    Ahmed, however, denied the information. “I don’t think that is true,” he said, adding that the Punjab government is using cellphone data and artificial intelligence to trace people, once they enter the province.

    “We can trace the travels of each one of the 11 million people in Lahore.  Anyone who leaves the airport, we know exactly where there they went, where they stopped and for how many minutes. This state-of-the-art technology is being used in Punjab for the first time,” he explained.

  • Hand care in the time of corona

    Hand care in the time of corona

    Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all of us are constantly washing our hands. Our use of handwash, soap bar and hand sanitisers has gone up manifold. And all that excessive washing has not been kind to the skin on your hands which is becoming dry and/or patchy.

    While this does not mean that you stop washing your hands regularly, we recommend some tried and tested tips to ensure that your hands don’t become dry and wrinkly in this pandemic though it is advisable to follow these tips after the pandemic too.

    Exfoliate your hands

    Just like the skin on our face and body, the skin on our hands can benefit big from a weekly or bi-weekly exfoliation. Exfoliation can help slough off dead skin cell buildup, which will appear more prominently on your hands due to excessive hand washing or use of hand sanitisers. Wet your hands with lukewarm water, and massage a small amount of the scrub over both of your hands, working in circular motions. Rinse it off with warm water, and apply a hand cream.

    We recommend: Scoop O Scrub’s Frosted Hand & Foot Scrub

    This scrub is peppermint flavoured made with the finest sugar, essential oils and carrie oils. Use it two times a week — preferably before going to bed — so that the flakes on your skin are gone and you wake up to soft hands. Scoop O Scrub have two other hand & foot scrubs also — Hibiscus and Sea Breeze.

    Moisturise

    Use moisturising hand creams or lotions every time you wash your hands. Keep a lotion or hand cream near your sink. If applying lotion gets tiresome, at least do it 4-5 times a day.

    We recommend: Conatural’s Ultra Moisturising Organic Hand & Nail Cream

    We have used this cream and it really makes a difference. It is uniquely blended with Organic Aloe Vera and enriched with Organic Sweet Almond, Jojoba and Sunflower seed oils and Vitamin E. It is very good for dry and rough hands and prevents moisture loss, leaving them soft and supple.

    Massage your hands

    Massage your hands at night for at least three-five minutes to let the goodness of the moisturiser soak in. For very rough hands, mix your moisturiser with a bit of Vaseline so that they are protected all through the night. You can also use baby oil or any other essential oil for a hand massage.

  • Government launches Covid-19 information service on WhatsApp

    Government launches Covid-19 information service on WhatsApp

     The Federal Government has launched a ‘Coronavirus Information Service’ on Whatsapp to deliver updates about the coronavirus pandemic.

    According to the Prime Minister’s Office, people can get all information about the coronavirus, latest statistics and nearest labs by sending a message writing ‘Hi’ at 00923001111166.

    The Coronavirus Information Service will deliver information in Urdu and six regional languages, including Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi and Kashmiri.

    On Tuesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the formation of youth force and public fund during his address to the nation to fight coronavirus pandemic across Pakistan.

    PM Khan said Corona Relief Tiger Force will be made of young doctors, drivers and people from any field which would be utilised to provide food and essential commodities to the areas likely to face lockdown. The force will also guide people to self-isolate inside their houses.

  • Sindh govt directs schools to only charge fees monthly

    Sindh govt directs schools to only charge fees monthly

    All schools and educational institutions in Sindh have been ordered to charge monthly fees from their students instead of issuing quarterly or bi-monthly challans, a notification issued by the government reads.

    The provincial government has directed private schools to give full salaries to the teaching and other school staff on time.

    “None of the staff will be terminated during this period as well,” the notification added.

    If any schools defies the rules, their registrations will be suspended or cancelled.

    The schools have been shut down and a lockdown has been imposed across the province to prevent the spread of coronavirus

  • Think the bridal masks were just a meme? Think again

    Think the bridal masks were just a meme? Think again

    The coronavirus outbreak has drastically changed our lives and has put a halt to our social activities including our favourite past time: weddings.

    The spread of the virus has postponed or even cancelled many events. But amid all this, some programs have remained unchanged and a few people found a unique way to market their products. We have seen bridal masks memes on social media but who would have thought that this would go this far that some people will actually start making and selling them.

    These masks have zarri and dabka work on them and are being sold for two to three thousand rupees. We are truly living in strange times.

    https://twitter.com/SaharHGhazi/status/1241355421354463232?s=20
  • Fact Check: Does Sana Hashwani of ‘Sana Safinaz’ have COVID-19?

    Fact Check: Does Sana Hashwani of ‘Sana Safinaz’ have COVID-19?

    Claim: Sana Hashwani of the clothing brand Sana Safinaz has COVID-19

    Fact: Sana Safinaz verified through a public announcement on their Instagram that she did not contract the virus

    While dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is stressful enough, the misinformation and fake information that comes along with it is even more nerve-wrecking.

    Late last week, rumours were doing the rounds that Sana Hashwani, who is the co-owner of the fashion brand Sana Safinaz has been tested positive for the coronavirus. It was also being said that her daughter also has it and that the two attended a party despite knowing.

    Below is a screenshot of a message that was being circulated on social media.

    screenshot in social media circulation

    Following this, the brand posted an official announcement clarifying that the designer did not have the novel coronavirus and urged people not to spread misinformation. Sana’s medical reports were also shared as further proof.

    “Sana returned from the UK and took a test as a precaution so as to not endanger family members with compromised immunity,” the statement read. “She has tested negative but nonetheless placed herself under self-isolation as any sensible person returning from abroad should do at this time.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-C9G4IgJXL/?utm_source=ig_embed

    The brand also urged the public to be more careful while sharing information and passing on “unverified slander and gossip.”

    VERDICT: FALSE

  • Woman discovers she has been washing her hands with cheese

    Woman discovers she has been washing her hands with cheese

    A woman in the US accidentally washed her hands with a block of cheese for days after mistakenly thinking it was a bar of soap.

    Miley from Vancouver, Washington, became confused after realising her soap wasn’t foaming as usual, before she discovered it was in fact a lump of cheddar. She was trying to do her bit to stop the spread of coronavirus by thoroughly washing her hands with a bar of soap.

    Unfortunately, she instead succeeded in spreading some rather mature looking cheddar on her hands over the course of several days.

    Sharing her sorry tale on Reddit, Miley explained how the cheese ended up being mistaken for a bit of soap after it was left out of the fridge following a drunken late-night snack.

    Waking the next morning, she assumed that the lump was the remnants of a bar of soap. She also was keen to stress that she does actually keep a bar of yellow, unscented soap nearby for such use with the two evidently getting mixed up.

    “Just realised my soap wasn’t working because it’s literally a block of cheese,” she wrote.

    “I use a liquid soap for the dishes, bar soap like this is gentler on my hands after I do chores if that makes any sense [sic].”

    “It was a couple days of ‘Why isn’t this foaming?!’

    “I come to realise it was a dried-out square of Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese. I suspect I left it out when I was intoxicated and just forgot.”