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  • Eid 2023: Your guide to taking Instagram pictures like celebrities

    Eid 2023: Your guide to taking Instagram pictures like celebrities

    While scrolling through Instagram, we often wonder how celebrities look good in every single picture they post on social media. There is no denying that they have personal stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists to help them look good, but they also know how to pose to get their best pictures.

    This year, The Current has listed a few tips and tricks you can follow to get some gorgeous Instagrammable photographs in your Eid jora and tyaari.

    Stand in the centre

    If you are posing for a picture in front of a wall or building, try balancing equal spaces on both sides. It will make your picture aesthetically pleasing.

    Follow the rule of third

    The rule of third is not that technical as it sounds. It means you divide your image into the third both horizontally and vertically, and place your subject where the lines intersect.

    Smile

    Happy pictures are the best. Smiling for the camera will naturally make you look better on the camera and brighten up your image.

    Use Natural Night

    You do not need artificial lighting to get the best photos, go out in the sun and take pictures in natural light. The sun adds richness and warmth. If you don’t want to step out in this hot weather, use a window to your advantage and take a picture there.

    Don’t use too many filters

    Last but not least, don’t use too many filters as they can make your pictures look artificial and distort your features. Keep pictures as natural as possible.

    Happy Instagramming!

  • Best places to visit on Chand Raat for last minute Eid shopping

    Is it Eid the next day and you still haven’t managed to put together the perfect lewk? Our version of the Met Gala is on the nigh, so you need to know what are the best places to find something to add the extra spark. Whether you’re living in Lahore, Islamabad or Karachi, we have carefully selected a list of places you should definitely check out!

    Lahore

    Anarkali:

    Where will you find prettier jhumkay and bangles to give your look the spark it needs than a centuries old market? Located on Mall Road, its the perfect place to get mehndi, spend time with the family and also get some good food from nearby stalls.

    Liberty Market:

    Situated in Gulberg, it’s the perfect spot to find some good clothes at a low price or if you’re just looking for a place where the festivities for Eid have started. You’ll find good stores to purchase khussas, accessories or even mehndi stalls to get gorgeous henna patterns!

    Karachi

    Tariq Road: Featuring stores with some of the finest clothes, bags and shoes, this is the perfect spot to find a good last-minute addition to your Eid outfit.

    Dolmen Mall: Can’t find something because it is extremely expensive? Around Chand Raat, malls start introducing discounts on brands so this is the best time to find something to make your Eid look even better!

    Islamabad

    Centaurus Mall: On the day before Eid, a mela (fair) is set up at each famous mall, attracting large crowds of people looking for some fun places to celebrate the end of Ramadan and also find some good purchases at the last minute.

    F-10 Markaz:

    Best place to find any gifts you want to give your family members, and also rated by all Islamabadis as the best food spot in the city.

  • Judges mein bol chaal khatam, ghar se iftariyaan waapis kardi, claims journalist

    Senior court reporter Hasnaat Malik has claimed that the differences between the Supreme Court (SC) judges have reached the point of no return.

    Speaking to Journalist Absa Komal on Dawn News programme ‘News Eye’, the journalist said, “Bol chaal khatam ho gai hai, iftariyaan bheji judges ne aik dosry ke ghar woh wapis kardi gai “(They aren’t on talking terms, the judges even returned iftaris which they sent to each other’s homes).

    Malik also revealed that arguments have also taken place in person between the senior judges and that consensus is impossible at the moment.

    Hasnaat Malik said that seven judges are on one side while the other eight are on another, pointing out that the fight is about absolute power given to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial as one side wants to regulate his authority.

    He said that as of yet CJP has unquestionable power in the SC and he can do whatever he wants in cases or matters related to benches.

    It is pertinent to mention that questions related to the supreme power given to CJP Bandial were raised when election suo moto was taken by him despite the opposition by many senior judges including the next CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Since then it has been widely speculated that judges aren’t happy with CJP Bandial.

  • ‘Saddening’: Zulfiqar Bhutto tells international wildlife activists to stop the hate on Noor Jehan issue

    Ever since the poor condition of animals at Karachi Zoo, particularly the ailing elephant Noor Jehan, has gone viral on social media, local and international wildlife activists have slammed authorities for neglecting their charges.

    Several international activists have criticized Pakistani authorities for failing to care for Noor Jehan, sharing clips of the elephant lying on the ground. However, some tweets by international activists have ventured into the realm of racism.

    Wildlife activist and artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto addressed international criticism in an Instagram post, reminding critics that despite government negligence, corruption and limited facilities, it was Pakistanis who stepped up to provide resources and raised calls to shut down the zoo and provide treatment for Noor Jehan.

    “In a country as poor as ours – many have poured their hearts and soul into caring for Noor Jehan. Doctors from Agha Khan are attending to her wounds as we speak. Their first non-human patient. Yes she was cruelly neglected like many of the animals in the zoo are now. But it was Pakistanis who highlighted their suffering. Form Paw Pakistan to local activists. It was Pakistanis who advocated for the animals in the zoo.

    Don’t blame the mahoots who are also victims of a cruel hierarchy. Don’t blame the volunteers staying up day in and day out – sacrificing the time they could be spending with their own families.”

  • ‘How could anyone be in favor of ending such a life’: Yashma Gill against euthanizing Noor Jehan

    Actor Yashma Gill shared a video clip of her visiting Karachi Zoo to see the facility’s ailing elephant Noor Jehan, whose condition is growing worse day by day.

    Karachi Zoo has been slammed by animal right activists for neglecting the animals under its care. Noor Jehan’s prolonged illness and mishandling of her ailment led to national outrage on social media.

    Gill discussed her experience of watching the elephant fight for her life:

    “As I stood before Noor Jehan, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of admiration for her unrelenting spirit. Despite her illness, she remains hopeful and determined, a true symbol of resilience. Her eyes hold a gentle yet unwavering gaze, a testament to her will to live. Her sheer strength and perseverance were truly inspiring, leaving me with a renewed sense of hope and optimism.”

    Gill rejected eeports that the elephant will be euthanized as her illness shows no improvement, asking authorities to keep fighting hard for Noor Jehan and give her the best possible chance at life:

    “For me, the answer is clear – we must do everything in our power to give her a chance to heal and recover. No matter how difficult the road ahead may be, we owe it to Noor Jehan to give her the best possible chance at life. After all, where there’s a will, there’s always a way.”

    Read her complete post here:

    Anoushay Ashraf had also joined the growing cry to shut down Karachi Zoo when she shared a clip of herself visiting elephant Noor Jehan and talking to the wildlife expert Maira over there.

    Celebrities like Hamza Ali Abbasi, Arooj Aftab and Ayesha Noor had joined the rallying cry to shut down zoos across Pakistan, by sharing how the animals suffering in cages are deprived of the natural habitat and are not given the proper facilities they need to survive:

    Arooj Aftab had re shared a clip of her interview with The Current, and in the caption she said that authorities could build much better entertainment facilities for children:

    The ‘Maula Jatt’ actor had shared pictures of the lions in Karachi Zoo, who were suffering from starvation and neglect, and demanded that authorities shut down the zoo and transport the animals to proper shelters.

  • Heist at Toronto Airport: thieves swipe $15 million worth of gold and valuables

    Heist at Toronto Airport: thieves swipe $15 million worth of gold and valuables

    In a theft of an unusually big scale, thieves have managed to steal CA $20 million (USD $15m) worth of gold from a cargo terminal at Toronto’s main international airport on Monday.

    This is the biggest gold heist since July 2019, when a theft of $30 million occurred at an airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. According to Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn, the container carrying the gold arrived on a flight on Monday evening, but he did not disclose its origin.
    The cargo of the plane carrying the gold, was transferred to a holding facility. However, according to Inspector Duivesteyn, the container carrying the gold was unlawfully taken and reported as missing right after the unloading process.

    “An aircraft arrived here at the airport in the early evening. As per normal procedure, the aircraft was unloaded and cargo was transported from the aircraft to a holding cargo facility,” he said.

    It is uncertain whether the stolen gold is still within the country’s borders. According to The Ottawa Sun, the gold may have been transported from a mine in Northern Ontario to Toronto on behalf of one of the banks. The authorities have not confirmed whether the perpetrators were professional criminals or not, but the investigation is continuing.

    The Toronto Sun claimed that organized criminal gangs are suspected of being responsible for the heist.

  • Fear of operation at Zaman Park: Bushra Bibi writes letter to PM Shehbaz and interim CM Naqvi

    Former First Lady Bushra Bibi has written a letter to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and interim Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi.

    It is being reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s wife has sent the letter through her lawyers to the premier and caretaker CM due to fear of a government operation in Zaman Park on Eid.

    The letter states that a court order has been issued in the matter of the government conducting an operation at Imran’s Lahore residence. It further adds that a plan has been hatched to misinterpret the court order, while reminding the recipients that an operation has been conducted in the past despite court orders. The document warns that if an operation takes place in Zaman Park on Eid, then higher courts will be approached.

  • Nawaz Sharif, Maryam meet Saudi Crown Prince

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif along with his daughter Maryam Nawaz met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations and the current problems faced by Pakistan.

    The meeting was confirmed by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, she said: “The leaders discussed further improving Saudi-Pak brotherly relations and solutions to the issues Pakistan is facing. Nawaz Sharif expressed his good wishes for the Saudi leadership.”

    Nawaz and his family are currently in Saudi Arabia, where they performed Umrah.

    The Sharif family reached Saudi Arabia on April 11 on the invitation of the royal family. The former Prime Minister (PM) is visiting Saudi Arabia after six years.

    According to media reports, Saudi’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz invited Nawaz — who is considered close to the royal family — and Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom as a gesture of goodwill.

    It is also speculated that Nawaz may come to Pakistan after winding up the tour of Saudi, however, there has been no official confirmation yet.

  • Oh, Punjab walon, Fawad Chaudhry suggests Buzdar can become chief minister again

    Oh, Punjab walon, Fawad Chaudhry suggests Buzdar can become chief minister again

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Fawad Chaudhry has said that he will be surprised to see Usman Buzdar as Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab again, however, he stressed that the decision will be up to the party chairman, Imran Khan.

    Talking to Journalist Kashif Abbasi on ARY News programme ‘Off the Record’, Fawad said: “What can I say,” when asked if Buzdar is the leading candidate for the slot. Chaudhry repeated himself again, saying that the decision will be made by Imran Khan.

    The PTI leader didn’t seem happy when asked that why he didn’t get a Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) party ticket from Imran Khan.

    It was revealed that senior leadership of the party, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hammad Azhar, and Fawad, didn’t get party tickets for the upcoming Punjab election although it was widely speculated that they wanted one. Meanwhile, according to Fawad, both former CMs of Punjab, Pervaiz Elahi and Usman Buzdar, were given a ticket.

    “We should have gotten them”, Fawad said when asked about tickets. He also agreed that there are many party members who want to apply for the Punjab CM candidacy including Hammad Azhar and Shah Mahmood.

    Shahbaz Gill, who also didn’t get a MPA ticket, said that he and other leaders including Fawad and Hammad submitted papers for the provincial assembly, however, Khan decided not to give them tickets.

    However, he accepted Khan’s decision wholeheartedly, saying “I am not with Khan for the ticket and not for the position.”

    Khan’s social media focal person Azhar Mashwani also came forward to reveal that “many former federal ministers and MNAs of PTI wanted to contest elections on the Punjab Assembly seats as well.”

    However, according to Azhar, Khan decided that the “federal team will remain in the federation.”

  • No more blue ticks for Twitter users who don’t pay for verification

    No more blue ticks for Twitter users who don’t pay for verification

    On Thursday, Elon Musk’s social media platform followed through on its promise to eliminate blue verification checks from accounts that don’t pay a monthly fee. The blue checks have been removed from the accounts of many prominent public figures and celebrities on Twitter, including Oprah Winfrey, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Pope Francis, and Donald Trump.

    The purge came after Musk introduced Twitter Blue, a paid service that aims to democratize journalism and empower the people’s voice. Before Musk ended the verification system, roughly 300,000 users had the blue check mark, which helped differentiate real public figures from impostors and protected against fake news.

    Following the change, some users, such as Stephen King, still have the blue check mark but claimed not to have paid for the new service. Musk responded to King’s tweet with “You’re welcome namaste” and revealed that he’s “personally paying for a few [accounts].” Musk has been attempting to increase Twitter’s revenue by offering subscription and premium services since buying the social media company for $44 billion last October. Musk previously described the system that assigned the check marks as “corrupt and nonsensical.”

    Twitter began tagging users with a blue check mark roughly 14 years ago. After Twitter Blue’s introduction, numerous fake accounts emerged, including some impersonating Musk’s Tesla and SpaceX. Twitter temporarily suspended the service days later. The cost to display the verified check mark under the new service ranges from $8 per month for individuals to $1,000 per month for organisations.

    Politicians and official bodies have also been affected by the Thursday purge, with concerns raised that the public will be unable to identify which Twitter accounts provide information about natural disasters. US Senator Brian Schatz tweeted, “There really ought to be a way for emergency managers to verify that they are real on this website or imposters will cause suffering and death.” According to digital intelligence platform Similarweb, only 116,000 accounts signed up for Twitter Blue last month.