Category: Uncategorized

  • Taylor Swift surprises fans with a new album ‘Evermore’

    Taylor Swift surprised fans with a new album titled Evermore, her second album of this year, saying “we just couldn’t stop writing songs.” Evermore comes less than five months after Swift’s eighth studio album Folklore.

    The award-winning singer described the 15-track album as a “sister record” to Folklore, which she produced entirely during the coronavirus lockdowns and released unexpectedly in July. Folklore, a change of style that showed an indie-folk sensibility, earned Swift some of the best reviews of her career as well as triggering six Grammy nominations, including for the coveted album of the year.

    “To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” Swift wrote on Thursday. “I’ve never done this before. In the past, I’ve always treated albums as one-off eras and moved onto planning the next one after an album was released. There was something different with Folklore. In making it, I felt less like I was departing and more like I was returning.”

    “I loved the escapism I found in these imaginary/not imaginary tales. I loved the ways you welcomed the dreamscapes and tragedies and epic tales of love lost and found in your lives. So I just kept writing them,” she added.

    The mysterious William Bowery, who Swift last month revealed was a pseudonym for her British actor boyfriend Joe Alwyn, is also credited as a co-writer on the new album.

    Evermore features collaborations with alternative artist Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner, guitarist with indie rock band The National

    Taylor also dropped the music video for its lead single ‘Willow’, which she directed herself.

    In the YouTube chat before the album’s premiere, Swift revealed the meaning behind the visual. “One scene represents how I feel about fame,” she said.

  • Newsletter – 11th December 2020, Friday

    Newsletter – 11th December 2020, Friday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Morning subscriber. Today is Friday, 11th December. The weather in Karachi and Quetta will be sunny, while light rain is expected in Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore. This week a lot is happening in Lahore. At one side Maryam Nawaz is roaming around the city, giving out Jalsa’s invitation. While on the other hand, ‘Ertugrul’ has come to Lahore.

    Morning Meme

    Jalsa invitation by Maryam Nawaz

    Did Maryam Nawaz come to your neighbourhood yesterday? Details kay mutabiq she is going around Lahore to invite people to the December 13 Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally. Unho nayy kaha kay aab waqt agaya hai to “get rid of the incumbent government once and for all”. 

    “The PML-N has served this country and InshaAllah it is the PML-N that will serve it now,” she said, prior to departing from the Sharif family’s Jati Umra residence. She gave addresses at Shanghai Bridge, Ichhra and Lohari. 

    Are Justin Bieber and Bilal Khan buddies? 

    Pakistani Musician Bilal Khan seems to be spending most of his quarantine making new friends from the West. Unki recent Instagram video post k mutabik, his newest friend is none other than worldwide singing sensation Justin Bieber. Oh and not to forget that recently, Bilal has also released a new single, featuring Pakistani-Canadian YouTuber Zaid Ali T and his wife Yumnah Ali. 

    FAQs with The Current’s tech guy

    Head over to our page to catch our Tech-guy replying to some of your questions related to improving communication skills, selecting a career path and starting a business. Let us know if you have any other questions you want to ask him.
      

    Read on

    ‘Ertugrul’ is in Lahore!

     

    Engin Altan Düzyatan, or you may know him as Ertugrul, is in Lahore for a short visit. Details kay mutabiq, the actor is in Pakistan “at the invitation of a private business company”. But there’s a piece of bad news for his admirers. Due to a surge in coronavirus cases in the country, he may not be able to meet his fans. 

    Read on

    Current Baba’s prediction

    I know you have been saving for the new year’s party but you know what? Ek bohat bara kharcha is on its way, just hope k ye saal ka akhri kharcha ho.

    HEY, WAIT A SECOND PLEASE. 
     
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  • Upcoming Pakistani dramas on our radar

    Upcoming Pakistani dramas on our radar

    With several Pakistani dramas coming to an end soon, TV channels have started dropping teasers and promos of their upcoming releases. Four new dramas with brilliant casts and directors are expected to hit our screens in the coming weeks and we are looking forward to them.

    Read more – ‘Jalan’ continues to be a cringefest

    Dunk

    Starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Sana Javed and Naumaan Ejaz in the lead, Dunk is about sexual harassment in universities and colleges. The first promo of the drama dropped to a mixed response but we’re going to hold our thoughts and opinions till we watch the first few episodes.

    Pehli Si Mohabbat

    The drama will mark Maya Ali and Sheheryar Munawar’s return to the small screen after a long break. From the BTS and first looks, the drama promises to be an intense love story and I am definitely looking forward to this. It has been written by Faiza Iftikhar and directed by Anjum Shehzad of Khaani fame.

    Maya, in a recent interview, revealed that the drama will not have “typical saas-bahu fights and affairs in it”.

    “You will feel that you have heard or seen this story, because there’s a love story as evident from the title Pehli Si Muhabbat, and everyone has experienced their first love story. Some people find their first love and some people live with keeping it in their hearts,” she shared.

    Raqs-e-Bismil

    Raqs-e-Bismil will see Sarah Khan and Imran Ashraf share the screen together for the first time. A fresh pairing is always intriguing and given that both are brilliant actors, I am sure this drama will be a treat. From the teasers, the drama appears to be intense and uncomfortable. According to the makers, the drama “follows the soulful story of a conservative and conformist family who adhere to strict family values”. Raqs-e-Bismil will also see Hadiqa Kiani make her television debut.

    It is expected to air on Hum TV by the end of the month.

    Amanat

    A multi-starrer drama, Amanat will feature Imran Abbas, Urwa Hocane, Saboor Aly, Haroon Shahid, Saba Hamid, Sheheryar Zaidi, Babar Ali, Asad Siddiqui and Gohar Rasheed.

    According to Imran, Amanat is a “circumstances-based love story”, while producer Sana Shahnawaz says it is “a family drama with love, romance and all other elements audiences wish to see in our dramas.”

    Which drama are you looking forward to the most?

  • VIDEO: Engin Altan says ‘Lahore Lahore Hai’

    VIDEO: Engin Altan says ‘Lahore Lahore Hai’

    Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan arrived in Lahore on Thursday for a short visit “at the invitation of a private business company”.

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Friday, the star of Diriliş: Ertuğrul revealed that he had signed some new projects in Pakistan, adding that he was set to become the brand ambassador for a private textile company. He also said that this visit was the first of many more to come.

    Talking about the popularity of series in Pakistan, the Turkish actor said it was a “great pleasure” for him that Prime Minister Imran Khan praised the drama series and recommended his countrymen to watch it.

    “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Imran Khan for praising Diriliş: Ertuğrul,” said Engin at the press conference. “It was a big drama series based on an Islamic story.”

    Sharing details about how his visit is going, Engin said: “I know Pakistani people love me. I am also aware about the natural beauty of the country,” adding that he would love to visit the mountains the North.

    He also said that he enjoyed tasting Pakistani food and that it was “very delicious, but much too spicy”.

    When asked if he would consider working in Pakistani dramas, Engin responded: “Why not! I would love to work in a Pakistani drama or film, given the right opportunity. If the script is good then why not.”

    Engin also showed off his Urdu vocabulary by saying “Shukriya” and “Lahore, Lahore Hai“.

    Altan landed in Pakistan on Thursday upon the invitation of a business company Chaudhary Textiles with who he has reportedly signed a contract worth Rs 17 crores. Pictures of his visit have been going viral on social media.

    Photo Credits – Asad Bukhari

    Often described as the Turkish Game of Thrones, Diriliş: Ertuğrul is being aired on the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Set in 13th century Anatolia and based on the struggle of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I – the founder of the Ottoman dynasty, Diriliş: Ertuğrul has been trending in the country ever since its first episode aired on the first of Ramzan.

    In an exclusive interview with The Current, Senator Faisal Javed Khan had revealed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had gifted the drama series to Pakistan as a goodwill gesture.

    Earlier in September, Cavit Çetin Güner, who plays Dogan Alp the series also visited Pakistan and spent a few days in Islamabad.

  • Lahore’s popular Butt Karahi sealed after Maryam compliments their food

    Lahore’s popular Butt Karahi sealed after Maryam compliments their food

    Lahore admin has sealed Butt Karachi, Lakshmi Chowk, for violating coronavirus SOPs after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz ate there along with her party leaders following the conclusion of a rally in the area.

    The police have also registered cases against Maryam, PML-N leaders, and at least 200 other people. Two cases have been registered at the Gawalmandi police station, and one each at the Mozang police station, Ichra police station, and Lohari Gate police station.

    The cases were filed in response to the rally that was taken out by Maryam from Jati Umra to Data Darbar. The aim of this rally to galvanise supporters ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) jalsa in Lahore on Sunday.

    Earlier, a video of Maryam Nawaz eating ‘karahi’ had gone viral on Twitter. As she had her food, a large number of people could be seen in the background trying to get a glimpse of the PML-N leader.

    The video clip was shared on Facebook and Twitter on Thursday. On Twitter, it also got the attention of the PML-N leader, who retweeted it with a caption, “Kamaal karahi thi.”

    Maryam had spent several hours canvassing supporters in Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday. The PDM leadership said it will take ‘big decisions’ at the jalsa, which probably includes mass resignations. 

  • PM appoints Sheikh Rasheed as interior minister

    PM appoints Sheikh Rasheed as interior minister

    In another reshuffle in the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Imran Khan has appointed Sheikh Rasheed as the interior ministry while Brig (r) Ijaz Shah, who had held the portfolio of the interior ministry, has been named as the narcotics minister.

    Senator Azam Swati, whose portfolio has been given to Ijaz Shah, will replace Sheikh Rasheed as the railways minister.

    Meanwhile, Hafeez Sheikh, who was serving as PM’s aide on finance, has been inducted in the cabinet as a federal minister for finance. Sheikh is not a member of parliament, but the PM can appoint “an unelected individual as a minister for six months under Article 91(9) of the Constitution”. He took oath as a federal minister earlier in the day.

    “A Minister who for any period of 6 months is not a member of the National Assembly shall, at the expiration of that period, cease to be a Minister and shall not before the dissolution of that Assembly be again appointed a Minister unless he is elected a member of that Assembly,” reads Article 91(9).

    Earlier, the Islamabad High Court had ruled that a special assistant or PM’s aide cannot head a public body without being an elected member of parliament. After this decision, Sheikh was unable to head the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) meeting.

    This is the fifth time Prime Minister Imran Khan has reshuffled the federal cabinet since assuming office in 2018.

  • Yasir Hussain welcomes Ertuğrul at Lahore airport

    Yasir Hussain welcomes Ertuğrul at Lahore airport

    Ever since the star of Diriliş: Ertuğrul Engin Altan Düzyatan arrived in Pakistan on Thursday, Yasir Hussain has been at the receiving end of jokes and memes. However, the actor in his true style enjoyed the jokes and even welcomed Engin to Pakistan. Engin arrived in Lahore for a short visit “at the invitation of a private business company”.

    Sharing the news of Engin’s arrival, Yasir wrote: “Welcome to Pakistan”.

    Later when he was boarding a flight back to Karachi from Lahore with wife Iqra Aziz, Yasir took a selfie at the airport and captioned it: “Ertuğrul mery peechay, main Ertuğrul k peechy. Too much fun.”

    Saheefa Jabbar Khattak, with whom Yasir had stayed with during his time in Lahore, also shared a picture of him and Iqra at the airport while seeing them off and said: “Yasir agar Aaaartugul milay toh Khawaja Saab ka paigaam dena, kehna Ai-Wallah.” Khawaja Sahab is Saheefa’s husband.

    Earlier, Ahmed Ali Butt had also tagged Yasir in a meme which made the actor laugh.

    Yasir has often found himself at the receiving end of flak with his comments on Turkish actors and dramas. When Diriliş: Ertuğrul had initially aired in April, the actor had likened Turkish dramas to ‘landay k kapray’.

    “Landy k kapray aur Turkey k dramay, dono hee local industry ko tabah kardein gay,” the actor had said.

    Later, the actor was reported to have likened Turkish actors to ‘kachra‘ (garbage). According to details, Yasir while sharing a picture of ‘Pakistani Turgut and Pakistani Ertuğrul’ had commented: “Inko koi nahi poochega (no one will give them any attention). Kyunke ghar ki murgi daal barabar or bahar ka kachra bhi maal barabar,” insinuating that Pakistanis do not appreciate local talent enough.

  • Video of Maryam enjoying ‘kamaal karahi’ goes viral

    Video of Maryam enjoying ‘kamaal karahi’ goes viral

    A video of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President Maryam Nawaz eating ‘karahi’ at a Lakshmi Chowk restaurant in Lahore has gone viral on Twitter.

    A large number of people can be seen in the background trying to get a glimpse of the PML-N leader, who is seen enjoying her food along with other party leaders.

    The video clip was shared on Facebook and Twitter on Thursday. On Twitter, it also got the attention of the PML-N leader, who retweeted it with a caption, “Kamaal karahi thi.” 

    Maryam had spent several hours canvassing supporters in Lahore ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally at Minar-e-Pakistan on Sunday. The PDM leadership said it will take ‘big decisions’ at the jalsa, which probably includes mass resignations. 

    Meanwhile, the prime minister has said that the government will not stop the opposition from organising a jalsa in Lahore, but cases will be registered nonetheless. He said the government never shied away from a national dialogue.

    On Wednesday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf senior leader Shireen Mazari alleged that the PDM, a joint opposition alliance, is receiving foreign funding. The federal minister had claimed that a lot of people who are part of the PDM have received “a lot of foreign funds”. She, however, couldn’t provide any proof.

    “If we get the evidence […] but when we receive hardcore evidence, then it will become the responsibility of the government to take action,” she had.

  • Newsletter – 10th December 2020, Thursday

    Newsletter – 10th December 2020, Thursday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Morning subcriber. Today is Thursday, 10th December 2020, and we wish a very happy birthday to Pakistan’s greatest squash player Jahangir Khan. Do you know that he had poor health when he was little tou doctors nay unko sports khelnay say strictly mana kia tha. But his determination led him to become a brilliant squash player and at one point in his life, he played 555 consecutive squash matches, without losing in any of them! Just a little dose of morning inspiration for you.

    Morning Meme

    PDM receiving foreign funding, claims
    Shireen Mazari

    While talking exclusively to Dawn News on Sunday, Shireen Mazari nay kaha kay a lot of foreign funding is being received by the people who are involved in the opposition coalition. However, she didn’t elaborate where the funding is coming from. “[I have] heard that a lot of evidence has been found that funding, encouragement is being sent..”    

    Isay pehle hee, PDM Chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, flanked by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, addressed a press conference following a meeting between the three to inform the media that the rally, to be held at Minar-e-Pakistan on December 13, will be held “at all costs”.

    Is Donald Trump in contact with the aliens?

    Do you believe that there is life outside this planet? No? But a former Israeli space security chief, Haim Eshed, believes that aliens exist! He said that they have an “underground base in the depths of planet Mars” and the US government is in contact with them. 

    He doesn’t have much proof, but when asked why he chose to reveal this information now, he said, “If I had come up with what I’m saying today five years ago (when he was still working as the head of pace security), I would have been hospitalized.”

    Youtube vlogger Shahveer Jafry gets engaged

    Kal Pakistani larkiyoun kay liye afsos ka din tha, as their crush, Shahveer Jafry got engaged to Ayesha Beig in Islamabad. The event was attended by Shahveer’s close celebrity friends including Noor Zafar Khan and Sham Idrees. Head over to the full story to see his engagement pictures.
     

    Read on

    Pornhub bans downloads after child abuse allegations

    Pornography website Pornhub has outlined new measures against illegal content on its platform, such as allowing only identified users to upload content on the website. The step was taken after New York Times reported that many videos posted on the site were depicting child sex abuse and non-consensual violence. There will also be a ban on the downloading of videos because anyone can repost the video clips repeatedly.
     

    Read on

    Current Baba’s prediction

    Sometimes the truth can be hard to hear, as you’ll discover this afternoon when you will get a text message from your mobile service saying mauziz sarif apkay account ka sara balance khatam ho chuka hai. Balance recharge krwayain.

    HEY, WAIT A SECOND PLEASE. 
     
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    Here’s how: 

    • Through your phone, add us by hitting the “Kabob,” (the three dots in upper right-hand corner). Then click “move to,” and select “primary inbox.”
    • If you’re using a desktop just drag and drop the email into primary as shown in the video below. (You can also do this on your phone if you open your email in your browser). Easy.

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  • Men with COVID-19 three times more likely to need intensive care than women: study

    Men with COVID-19 three times more likely to need intensive care than women: study

    Men infected with COVID-19 are three times more likely to require intensive care than women and are at significantly higher risk of dying from the virus, scientists said Wednesday.

    Researchers analysed over three million confirmed coronavirus cases from 46 countries and 44 states in the US between January 1 and June 1, 2020.

    They found that the risk of Sars-Cov-2 infection was the same for women and men, as “exactly half” of the confirmed cases were male patients.

    But men are almost three times more likely than women to be hospitalised in an intensive care unit and are 39 percent more likely to die from the virus, the study said.

    “These data may help doctors to recognise that sex is a risk factor for severe disease when managing patients,” co-author Kate Webb told AFP.

    “Sex is an under reported variable in many studies and this is a reminder that it is an important factor to consider in research,” the Cape Town University researcher said.

    The trend is global – aside from a few exceptions – and can mostly be put down to biological differences, researchers said.

    “Sex differences in both the innate and adaptive immune system have been previously reported and may account for the female advantage in Covid-19,” the authors said.

    Women naturally produce more type I interferon proteins that limit the abnormal immune response known as a cytokine storm, believed to play a role in provoking severe forms of Covid-19.

    The “female” oestradiol hormone may also help women to fend off grave forms of the virus, as it boosts the response of T cells – which kill infected cells – and increases the production of antibodies, the study said.

    “In contrast, the male sex hormone testosterone suppresses the immune system,” the authors noted.

    Sex-based differences in co-morbidities associated with severe Covid-19 may put men at outsize risk, they wrote in the study, published in Nature Communications.

    But data to account for the role of other medical conditions is lacking, they added.

    In addition, the authors noted the similarity in the proportions of women and men with hypertension and diabetes globally, “the most common reported comorbidities in hospitalised Covid-19 patients.”

    The findings may have implications for future vaccines, the authors said.

    Webb noted previous vaccines to other infections have shown differences in response between women and men.

    “It is still to be determined whether the same will be true for Sars-CoV-2 vaccines,” Webb said.

    “But we hope that our paper highlights the need to include sex as a variable when considering vaccine research.”