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  • Here are four reasons why K-drama ‘See You In My 19th Life’ should be on your watch list

    Here are four reasons why K-drama ‘See You In My 19th Life’ should be on your watch list

    Among the recent stream of K-dramas that have arrived on Netflix, we highly recommend that you check out ‘See You In My 19th Life’. Based on the popular webtoon comic by the same name, the series follows Ban Ji Eum (played by Mr Queen’s Shin Hye Sun) as a woman who has a secret: she has had at least 19 past lives, remembering all of them even though she doesn’t know why and how it started. In her 18th life, she meets a young boy Moon Seo Ha (played by Yumi’s Cells Ahn Bo Hyun) when they are children, but her life is quickly cut off because of a horrifying car accident. Now reborn with a new face in her 19th life, Ji Eum is determined to trace down Seo Ha, and also meet others in her journey to understand her ability.

    With its gorgeous story telling and moving performances of Hye Sun and Bo Hyun, we should give our followers a list of reasons why they must absolutely check out this drama.

    1. Heart tugging and gorgeous story telling

    The series really activates your tear ducts from the first episode when it touches upon themes like childhood abuse, trauma and loneliness, while exploring the lives of both Seo Ha and Ji Eum as they navigate dealing with adulthood while overcoming the abuses they suffered as children.

    2. Perfect for all those who love Korean fantasy dramas, especially the mortal x immortal relationship

    If you’re a fan of Korean fantasy dramas like ‘Goblin’, ‘The Legend Of The Blue Sea’ and ‘Doom At Your Service’, which all revolved around a relationship between an immortal being with magical powers who falls in love with a human being, then this is definately your kind of drama. The trope is reversed where this time, the woman is the one with magical powers, doing all in her power to make the mortal man, her long lost lover, come back to her and fix their torn relationship. With their undeniable chemistry and how they help each other heal from past wounds when they were tragically torn apart, will definitely keep you hooked to this drama.

    3. Shin Hye Sun is captivating as a free-spirited and confident female lead

    Hye Sun has outshined in several dramas in the past like Mr Queen but this is the drama where she proves that her talent is unmatchable. The female lead Ji Eum is a headstrong and fearless woman, whose many talents compel her to becoming a cash cow for her leecherous father, who keeps coming to her for money despite abandoning her. But most importantly, how Ji Eum connects and eventually consols the loved ones she had abandoned when she died in her past life, and how she unabashedly seeks to protect and heal Seo Ha, is what makes her a compelling female lead.

    4. Ahn Bo Hyun moves audience with his heart tugging performance as the shy and lovable male protagonist.

    Bo Hyun had previously played second leads in dramas like ‘Her Private Life’ and ‘Yumi’s Cells’ but it is with ‘See You In My 19th Life’ where he really makes the audience wail with how he plays Seo Ha. A troubled man who is dealing with the grief of losing his mother and later the love of his life, a disability that makes him the brunt of bullying by his father and step mother, it is how charming and versatile Bo Hyun is with the way he plays the character, and also how he matches the powerhouse Hye Shin, truly making this Netflix’s top rated Korean dramas.

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  • Audiences are all praise for last episode of ‘Jhoom’

    Audiences are all praise for last episode of ‘Jhoom’

    Geo Television’s serial ‘Jhoom’ has turned into a hit, with Hashim Nadeem’s writing and Ali Faizan’s direction garnering accolades.

    A 7th Sky Entertainment presentation, Jhoom features the love story of a couple with a sizable age difference. Haroon Kadwani plays the character of angry young man Aryaan while Zara Noor Abbas is playing the character of the hardworking and mature Doctor Maryam. Audiences became immediate fans, with each episode of the drama garnering more than 10 million views on YouTube.

    The last episode of the drama has aired and fans were in rapture, saying that the last episode made them cry with Maryam and Aryaan. Many fans were of the view that Aryaan should have not forgiven Maryam because she didn’t stand by his side when he needed her the most but mostly fans loved the happy ending.

    Many fans are already demanding a second season while others were sad that the drama ended early.
    Read audience comments about the ending:

  • ‘Outrageous’: Arooj Aftab slams US magazine for racist review of album

    ‘Outrageous’: Arooj Aftab slams US magazine for racist review of album

    Pakistani-American Grammy winning singer Arooj Aftab has taken to Twitter to slam US based music magazine Down Beat for its racist review of her new album ‘Love In Exile’, released in March 2023. The ‘Mohabbat’ singer shared screenshots of the review written by the music critic John McDonough, who said the album had “Urdu chants” and then wrote “maybe music should not be a universal language.”

    Aftab shared a clip of the review on her Instagram, criticising the critic as a “fossilised white man” who was allowed to publish his racist views.

    “What’s monotonous is fossilized white men having platforms and safety to publish their racist views”

    ‘John Mcdonough’s unapologetic racial prejudice and Islamophobia is deeply troubling and quite frankly should get him fired @downbeat_mag I can’t believe this even went to print.”

    The ‘Udheero Na’ singer further wrote:

    “If you are having trouble understanding the outrage because you’ve never had to think about any of this before. He says he is ‘obliged’ for the ‘sake of diversity’ THAT IS INSANE. And he reduces what is a new contemporary jazz music album to CHANTING. Only because we are brown people and he does not believe we are allowed to exist in a contemporary music space. We are only meditation, yoga, chanting and Bollywood. And then he says music is not a universal language. I have never seen this many problematic words strung together so well in a short sentence.”

    Vijay Iyer, an Indian-origin musician, who collaborated on the album with Aftab, lent his support to the Grammy winner by tweeting, “This is what passes for okay in jazz journalism. Love to my dear sis Arooj”.

    Down Beat magazine responded to both Aftab and Iyer’s criticism by writing that Mcdonough didn’t like the album but the rest of the editors did which shouldn’t subject him to so much public humiliation:

    “Three other DB reviewers LOVED this record, as do I. John McDonough doesn’t. OK. It doesn’t fit his definition of jazz — period — hence the term “diversity.” He has no other malice. No one should be cancelled for so little. — @frankalkyer, DB editor”

    However, Aftab pointed out that intolerant and racist behavior should not be shrugged off as “having an opinion”.

    “Frank, we appreciate all the love for this record, but these lines you printed are racist. To not like the record and offer criticism is one thing. But he wrapped it in race by pointing out “diversity,” wrote Aftab.

    Social media users had also lent their support to Aftab, and criticised the magazine editors for publishing such racist views

    https://twitter.com/CJIsWingingIt/status/1679257587756179457?s=20

  • Hareem Shah says she’s looking for Shehzad Akbar in London

    Hareem Shah says she’s looking for Shehzad Akbar in London

    Hareem Shah has said in a video that she came to London to seek answers from former accountability chief government, Shehzad Akbar, about why he tried to ruin her life and why he asked Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government to arrest her in a money-laundering case.

    Hareem Shah said that she will question Akbar about why he misused his power, when he was a powerful person in Pakistan in Imran Khan’s government.

    The Tiktoker was referring to a 2022 video leak, in which she was seen showing thousands of pounds to the camera and claimed that she brought this money from Pakistan without facing any issue.

    After that, Shehzad Akbar ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to start a money-laundering case against Hareem Shah. The FIA also wrote to the NCA against the Tiktoker.

    Shah said, “It’s karma that Shahzad Akbar has run away from Pakistan and is now hiding in London. I have information that he has assets in London and is hiding here to avoid corruption cases in Pakistan. Shahzad Akbar wanted me deported from London. He wrote to the UK authorities to get me arrested to put me in trouble. He did everything to ruin my life, but look what has happened to him.”

    She has also said that Shehzad Akbar is an arrogant man who ruined many lives when he was working in Imran Khan’s government.

  • Bitcoin surges to 13-month high as US judge rules in favour of Ripple

    Bitcoin surges to 13-month high as US judge rules in favour of Ripple

    Bitcoin reached its highest price in almost 13 months this year on Friday, fueled by a significant legal triumph for the crypto industry. A US judge ruled that Ripple Labs did not violate federal securities law by offering its XRP token on public exchanges. Bitcoin initially surged to $31,818 before settling around $30,935 on Friday.

    The second-largest token, ether, experienced its most successful session since March on Thursday. Similarly, XRP, which the US judge declared legally tradable on public crypto exchanges, skyrocketed by 73 per cent on Thursday and maintained most of these gains on Friday.

    The favorable legal ruling and market performance have triggered optimism among industry experts. Matthew Dibb, the Chief Investment Officer at crypto asset manager Astronaut Capital, remarked that the regulatory landscape is evolving and recent developments indicate positive changes lie ahead.

    Justin d’Anethan, Head of Business Development in Asia at Keyrock, a digital assets market maker based in Hong Kong, believes that the court’s decision sets a potentially influential precedent, offering much-awaited regulatory clarity to Ripple stakeholders.

    In response to the ruling, major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Coinbase and Bitstamp resumed trading XRP on their platforms. Binance.US also announced the re-enablement of XRP trading on its exchange.

    The market reaction was particularly encouraging for Coinbase, which had been sued by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for alleged securities law violations. Following the Ripple case ruling, Coinbase’s shares surged by almost 25 per cent on Thursday as investors hoped for a favorable outcome in their own legal battle.

    This landmark case represents the first victory for a cryptocurrency company in a lawsuit initiated by the SEC. Although the ruling pertains to this specific case, it has generated optimism among crypto investors, who believe that other cryptocurrencies may also avoid being classified as securities.

    However, the positive sentiment was somewhat tempered by reports from the Wall Street Journal indicating that Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has undergone substantial layoffs in recent weeks. According to an insider, the ongoing layoff process could result in a workforce reduction of over a third for the exchange.

  • ‘I ain’t done yet’: Vasay Chaudhry leaves Mazaaq Raat

    ‘I ain’t done yet’: Vasay Chaudhry leaves Mazaaq Raat

    Television host and actor Vasay Chaudhry has announced on Saturday on his Instagram account that he was leaving the comedy talk show ‘Mazaaq Raat’ after hosting it for seven years.

    Chaudhry thanked fans for supporting him as the host for 7 years and 10 months, making it clear that the departure was not the end of his journey, as there was more to come.

    “After 1235 shows,7 years & 10 months, 2500 plus guests.. my journey with MAZAQRAAT comes to an End.I would like to thank ALL the guests who gave me the honour of interviewing them. Amazing Talent that I got to work with like Aman ullah Khan ( late) , Mohsin Abbas,Aun ali khan,Sakhawat Naz, chand Baral, akram Uddas, Aima Baig, Hina Niazi, Hiba,Rukhma and Ayesha. All the team that was behind the camera, especially Sanwal ( late), haseeb and Tayyab.

    I will always be indebted to Mian Amir Mahmood Sb ( chairman Dunya Tv ) for not even ONCE telling me how to do the show or interfering in the slightest possible way.

    It would never have been possible without our viewers. Wherever Urdu and Punjabi could be understood they sent us their love ,no matter which country they were in. THANK YOUUU.This show would always be super special to me because it was liked by my late father as well.So many guests that are not in this world today, and they gave me so so many memories to cherish.

    We always tried to make it a family show for the South Asian audiences. A show that you could enjoy with the whole family. At times, we might have failed, BUT the intention was always positive and clean.

    I would also like to wish Luck to who so ever that comes in after me. Please show the same love and admiration that you showed me. We all just try to entertain you.”

    Long time fans praised the actor’s skills in the comments, stating that they would miss seeing him on the iconic comedy show.

    One user wrote: “It was one of my most favourite shows. And the main reason behind liking the show was obviously YOU. Kher good luck for your new ventures! you have done a great job.”

    Another user wrote:

    “Na krein vasay Bhai. Ap jesa diversity phr kahan se mily ge? Aisy host kahan milein gay? This good bye is so heart breaking ”

    Read his full statement here:

  • Govt implements Rs4.96 per unit power tariff hike, aims to collect Rs3.28 trillion from consumers

    Govt implements Rs4.96 per unit power tariff hike, aims to collect Rs3.28 trillion from consumers

    The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) announced a significant increase of Rs4.96 per unit in the electricity base tariff for the fiscal year 2024, in response to a demand from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This adjustment will result in the government collecting Rs3.281 trillion from power consumers across all distribution companies.

    Additionally, the government is actively working on raising gas rates, as the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has already determined a 45-50 per cent increase in gas prices on June 2, 2023.

    The implementation of the power tariff hike is scheduled to commence on July 1, with the tariff rising to Rs29.78 per unit from the current rate of Rs24.82 per unit.

    Customers utilising time-of-use (ToU) meters will be charged up to Rs49.35 per unit. During peak hours from 5pm to 11pm, they will pay Rs49.35 per unit, while during non-peak hours, the charge will be Rs33.03 per unit.

    This decision has imposed an additional burden on the residents of Karachi, as Nepra has also raised the monthly fuel charges adjustment for the month of May by Rs1.44 per unit, which will be reflected in the billing for July.

    However, the increase in the base tariff will be implemented differently for various categories. Some categories will experience a lower increase, while for others, the increase may reach up to Rs6 per unit, depending on the government’s decision.

    The power regulator has determined an average increase in the base tariff of Rs4.96 per unit. Apart from the new base tariff of Rs29.78 per unit, end consumers will also be required to pay a financing cost surcharge of Rs3.23 per unit from July 1.

    This surcharge aims to generate Rs335 billion to address the power sector’s debt and liabilities, which currently amount to Rs2.6 trillion. Furthermore, consumers will continue to pay the Tariff Rationalisation Surcharge of Rs0.47 per unit.

    Within the base tariff increase of Rs4.96 per unit, the payment for capacity charges has risen to 70 per cent, equivalent to Rs3.472 per unit, while 30 per cent accounts for energy prices.

    The new base tariff increase has been calculated considering a dollar value of Rs287, an inflation rate of 17 per cent, and a 7 per cent growth in electricity generation. As a result, consumers will pay capacity charges totaling Rs1.874 trillion, compared to Rs1.251 trillion in 2022-23.

    Unfortunately, the end electricity consumer in Pakistan is being burdened with additional costs to compensate for ongoing inefficiencies in the power sector, in addition to paying for the actual cost of electricity. These costs include tariff rationalisation charges, financing cost surcharges, electricity duty, PTV license fee, GST, income tax, extra tax, further tax, and sales tax.

    In reality, consumers are paying 31 per cent above the actual cost of electricity in the form of surcharges, duties, and taxes. Electricity Duty, a provincial duty, is levied on all consumers, ranging from 1.0 per cent to 1.5 per cent of Variable Charges. General Sales Tax (GST) is charged at a rate of 17 per cent on all consumers under the Sale Tax Act 1990.

    Income Tax is applicable to non-taxpayer consumers at varying rates depending on the tariff and electricity bill amount, and commercial consumers pay 5 per cent on bills up to Rs20,000 and 7.5 per cent on bills exceeding Rs20,000. Further tax of 3 per cent is charged from all consumers without a Sales Tax Return Number (STRN), except for domestic, agriculture, bulk consumers, and street light connections.

    The increase in power tariffs was a necessary requirement imposed by the IMF to provide financial assistance to Pakistan. The IMF has consistently urged the government to raise tariffs and eliminate power subsidies as part of its efforts to reduce the country’s fiscal deficit.

    However, Nepra attributes the tariff increase to factors such as low sales growth, rupee devaluation, high inflation, exorbitant interest rates, and the addition of new capacities.

  • Masood suicide case: Recordings of calls with lenders reveal pressure on victim

    Masood suicide case: Recordings of calls with lenders reveal pressure on victim

    Following the suicide of Muhammad Masood, a victim of online loan sharks, his last voice note and conversations with the representative of the online loan lenders have revealed the pressure and emotional strain the deceased person was going through.

    Lahore Rang has shed light on the final days of the man who borrowed money to pay his children’s school fee.

    A recording of Mr Masood’s last message to his loved ones state, “I could neither be a good father, a good husband nor a good son. I’m under debt as I took loan and it’s all piled up with interest now. That’s the reason why I’ve been requesting you to sell the house, but you refused. The loan lenders have made my life miserable. I had no other option. Please forgive me. Keep my phone powered off for at least a month and then hand it over to Muneeb after throwing away the sim cards. I’m so sorry. Masood.”
    The 42-year-old was being incessantly harassed and threatened by the loan lenders. In one recording, a representative of the loan sharks can be heard blackmailing Masood, hurling threats, adding female members of the victim’s family to the call and insulting them along with him.
    In one recording he could be heard telling Masood to kill himself. His exact words were, “Get on video call with me right now and shoot yourself.” To which the poor man replied that he will.
    The victim’s brother has filed a complaint with the cybercrime wing of the Federal Investigation Agency, seeking justice for Muhammad Masood.

    Pakistan 24 has reported that two offices of such illegal companies have been sealed by the FIA, during raids carried out in the light of the mobile records of Masood.

  • Aleeza Arshad, daughter of Arshad Sharif, makes debut as reporter

    Aleeza Arshad, daughter of Arshad Sharif, makes debut as reporter

    Aleeza Arshad, the daughter of slain journalist Arshad Sharif, has entered the field of journalism as a reporter.

    Aleeza decided to enter the profession because she was inspired by her father’s passion for investigative journalism.

    Her decision to choose journalism as a profession has been welcomed by admirers and colleagues of her late father, who was killed in 2022 by unknown gunmen in Kenya.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shehbaz Gill shared Aliza’s TV report on his Twitter account and expressed best wishes for her future.

    Social media users also welcomed Aliza to the realm of journalism.

  • AI instructors to teach Harvard students next year

    AI instructors to teach Harvard students next year

    Harvard University, one of America’s most prestigious and expensive colleges, is planning to introduce an AI-powered teaching assistant to instruct students in its popular introductory coding course.

    Professor David Malan, who oversees the course, explained that the use of AI in the syllabus aligns with the course’s history of incorporating new software. He stated that the introduction of a ChatGPT AI teacher is a natural progression in their teaching methods. The aim is to eventually provide students in the CS50 course with software-based tools that can support their learning individually, ensuring a 1:1 teacher-to-student ratio.

    Professor Malan mentioned that they are currently experimenting with both GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 models, as reported by Harvard’s newspaper, the Crimson. However, developers and software engineers outside the Ivy League have encountered difficulties integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4 into their workflows.

    Some have raised concerns about the algorithmic co-worker’s coding abilities, perceiving a decline in quality compared to earlier versions. The AI’s software skills have been described as inferior, exhibiting superficial responses and inadequate coding prompt answers.

    Considering the significant cost of a four-year degree from Harvard, estimated at around $334,000 for the 2022-23 academic year, students who are paying for their education will likely expect the CS50 staff’s experimentation with ChatGPT to be thoroughly refined by September.

    CS50 is highly regarded and widely accessed through Harvard’s online learning platform, edX, which was established in partnership with MIT in 2012. The universities sold edX to educational technology company 2U for $800 million in 2021, ensuring its operation as a public benefit entity that offers courses for free auditing.

    Professor Malan acknowledged that early iterations of AI programs like ChatGPT may occasionally underperform, but expressed his confidence in the AI teaching assistant’s ability to streamline tasks and reduce the time spent on assessing students’ code. This, in turn, would allow teaching fellows to focus on more meaningful, interpersonal interactions with their students, resembling an apprenticeship model.

    Reflecting on the purpose of education, Professor Malan emphasised the importance of critical thinking for students, urging them to exercise discernment when processing information, regardless of its source.

    In summary, Harvard University intends to leverage AI technology by introducing a ChatGPT-powered teaching assistant in its CS50 course. While challenges have been encountered with the latest ChatGPT-4 model, Professor Malan and his team are committed to refining the AI’s performance.

    The goal is to enhance the learning experience for students and enable teaching fellows to allocate their time more effectively, fostering meaningful interactions. This development aligns with Harvard’s commitment to providing quality education through its online learning platform, edX, which remains accessible to a wide audience.