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  • James Cameron reveals why Leonardo Dicaprio initially rejected classic blockbuster ‘Titanic’

    James Cameron reveals why Leonardo Dicaprio initially rejected classic blockbuster ‘Titanic’

    The Hollywood film Titanic is an absolute cult classic that created history at the box office. The blockbuster movie’s director James Cameron recently spilled the beans about his casting process for the film. James has a knack for spotting amazing actors for the roles in his movies. However, if Leo wouldn’t come through, there were no dearth of world-class actors for him. To be Jack Dawson in Titanic, Johnny Depp, and Matthew McConaughey among others were also in the race. Well, Johnny rejected it because of the long script and finally, Leo came through creating history.

    Titanic : 9 choses que vous ne connaissiez pas sur le film culte | Vogue France

    In an interview with People at the Golden Globes 2023, Avatar: The Way of Water director James Cameron revealed Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t want to become the leading man in his Titanic. He said, “He didn’t want to do a leading man. I had to really twist his arm to be in the movie. He didn’t want to do it. He thought it was boring. It didn’t surprise me, first of all, that he’s made a lot of authentic choices going forward. And secondly, I never doubted his talent.”

    Leonardo DiCaprio Nearly Lost Titanic Role After Refusing Screen Test - Variety

    Going further in the conversation, James explained how he had to fight for him and convince him to do the role. He even shared that he cannot imagine Titanic without Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. He said, “I think about that casting Leonardo and Kate in Titanic. Leo, the studio didn’t want him; I had to fight for him. Kate really liked him and then Leonardo decided he didn’t want to make the movie. So then I had to talk him into it. You think at any one of those places, if that had really kind of frayed apart, it would have been somebody else and it wouldn’t have been that film. I can’t imagine that film without him and without her.”

    Well, Titanic is in its 25th year and the movie’s re-release is doing rounds all over the news and the internet. Kate and Leonardo’s on-screen chemistry is something we all look forward to in our subconscious minds.

  • ECP says LG polls will be held tomorrow

    ECP says LG polls will be held tomorrow

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Saturday said the local government (LG) elections in Karachi and Hyderabad would be held on January 15 (tomorrow) as per schedule.

    The commission has rejected the demand of the Sindh government to postpone it over security threats to political leaders.

    It has also directed the Sindh government to ensure “foolproof preparations for peaceful elections”.

    ‘Threats to politicians’: Sindh govt once again asks ECP to delay LG elections

    Earlier in the day, the government asked ECP to delay the polls in Karachi and Hyderabad, citing “threats to various political leaders and workers of political parties” after warnings by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

    The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government sent a letter to the commission with polls set to take place in less than 24 hours. The letter mentions the threat and it is added that the Sindh cabinet had also expressed its concern with the non-availability of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces for static deployment at polling stations.

    The provincial government is repeatedly requesting ECP to delay the polls to calm down Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), which has warned that it will quit the coalition government if its grievances are not addressed before polls.

    ECP clears confusion; LG elections in Karachi, Hyderabad to be held on Jan 15

    On Friday, ECP said that the local government elections in Karachi, Hyderabad, and other districts would be held as scheduled on January 15.

    The ECP rejected the notification issued by the Sindh government last night.

    The decision was taken during a meeting of ECP headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and attended by all four members.

    Local government elections — scheduled for January 15 — will not be held in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Dadu, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced early Friday.

    The decision came after an emergency meeting of the PPP presided by party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and attended by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers and the district presidents of the party’s Karachi chapter, among others.

    In a press conference, Memon said that the decision was taken after the Sindh government withdrew a notification regarding the delimitations of the constituencies in Karachi after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) expressed reservations about it.

    “They (MQM-P) are our allies in the federal government and we take the concerns of our allies very seriously,” the minister said.

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vowed to “resist” the decision as they termed the delaying of the local body polls “unacceptable”.

    JI Karachi president Hafiz Naeem-Ur-Rehman termed the decision an “ambush” on Karachi and Hyderabad by PPP and MQM-P.

    “There will be a sit-in today at 3pm outside the Election Commission’s Sindh office,” JI Karachi President Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman had announced in a press conference, early Friday morning.

    PTI Sindh President Ali Zaidi said that the provincial government took the step as they were afraid of defeat.

    PTI leader Ali Zaidi, in a separate media talk on Friday morning also announced that the party will be holding a protest rally outside the Sindh Assembly at 4pm today.

  • ‘Not afraid’; PML-N ready to rock n poll

    ‘Not afraid’; PML-N ready to rock n poll

    The Punjab Assembly is soon to be dissolved and it seems like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is ready for polls despite Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) recent political victory in the province.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah while talking to the media said the party is ready for the polls which will be held within 90 days after the dissolution and they will fully participate in the campaign.

    He termed the dissolution of assemblies undemocratic. He said earlier the democratic process was derailed with the imposition of martial laws, and now a political dictator is trying to derail it.

    The minister said that the National Assembly, as well as Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, would remain intact until August this year.

    Similarly, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the Punjab chief minister’s summary about the dissolution of the assembly would be treated as per law. He said the PML-N is not afraid of elections.

    Meanwhile, Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique met Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif at his residence and discussed political issues.

    It has also been reported that a telephonic conversation between Shehbaz and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif took place and Nawaz asked PM Shehbaz to direct Punjab Governor Baligur Rehman to tackle political matters in the province.

    On Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed a summary for the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. A day later, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has prepared a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

  • Apple CEO Tim Cook requests and receives a 40% salary cut

    Apple CEO Tim Cook requests and receives a 40% salary cut

    Apple chief executive Tim Cook will see his annual salary package trimmed by up to 40 per cent this year.

    According to reports, Cook asked for a reduction in pay after receiving criticism from shareholders.

    He received a total “target compensation” from Apple’s compensation committee of $49 million for 2023.

    According to details, a global economic slowdown and supply chain issues caused the iPhone manufacturer’s shares to drop precipitously in 2022.

    “The Compensation Committee balanced shareholder feedback, Apple’s exceptional performance, and a recommendation from Cook to adjust his compensation in light of the feedback received,” Apple said in a filing with a US financial watchdog.

    Still, Cook’s annual basic salary will remain unchanged at $3 million, as well as a bonus of up to $6 million.

    The biggest difference in his salary package is how he will be awarded shares in the company.

    The company granted him $75 million worth of shares in 2022, half of which were based on how well Apple performed on the stock market.

    For this year his stock award target has been slashed to $40 million, with three-quarters of that dependent on share performance.

    The target for Cook’s compensation for 2022 was $84 million, although his actual total pay for last year was $99.4 million. That figure included $630,600 in personal security costs and $712,500 for his use of a private jet.

    Earlier, Apple shareholders were asked by a top investor advisory group to vote against Cook’s pay package.

    In a letter to investors, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) said there are “significant concerns” over the “design and magnitude” of the package.

    According to reports, Cook’s pay was surprisingly 1,447 times more than the wage of an average Apple employee.

    Cook became Apple’s chief executive in August 2011, just weeks before the death of co-founder Steve Jobs.

    The 62-year-old’s personal wealth stands at around $1.7 billion, according to Forbes.

  • Here’s how chicken prices surpassed beef prices for the first time in Pakistan

    Here’s how chicken prices surpassed beef prices for the first time in Pakistan

    Owing to a major shipment that has been stuck at Port Qasim in Karachi for several months, chicken prices have sharply increased and surpassed beef prices (with bones) for the first time in thirty years.

    A shipment of soybean seeds worth $100 million was halted in October 2022 at Port Qasim in Karachi. These oilseeds were designed to be crushed rather than planted. One of the main components of the edible oil used in Pakistan is the liquid that is produced when the seeds are pressed.

    Being one of the biggest importers of palm seeds, soybeans, and other oilseeds from nations like Malaysia, Pakistan is heavily dependent on these oilseeds to meet its demands for edible oil. But because they are also used as cattle feed, these oilseeds serve yet another crucial role in the food chain.

    The solid parts of the seeds are left behind when oilseeds like soybeans are pressed to produce edible oil. Then, “oil cakes” made from this fiber- and protein-rich material are fed to cattle and birds as food.

    The majority of these livestock’s “meals” up until 2015–16 were made from locally obtained cotton seeds. Since they are more nutritive than cotton seeds, soybean meals have gained popularity in recent years. Pakistan consumes 2 to 2.8 million tonnes of these meals each year.

    This indicated that when the soybean shipments were stopped at the port, the poultry business was also shocked in addition to the edible oil industry. Feed for chickens was suddenly unavailable, and prices began to soar.

    Since Pakistan is a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol for Biosafety, the environmental ministry was authorised to halt the exports of genetically modified soybean seeds at the port.

    Several issues arose with this. First of all, despite widespread scaremongering, GMOs have never been proven to be dangerous for human consumption. Second, these oilseeds weren’t intended to be planted solely for the purpose of extracting edible oil and as a component in the poultry industry.

    One of the worries was that since hens were being fed with these GMO oilseeds, the ‘harmful consequences’ from these GMOs would eventually move into the chickens and reach the populace, according to Food Security Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema.

    This argument has a flaw in that Pakistani poultry has been fed oilseed diets made from GMOs since at least 2005. Cottonseed meals, which are generated by genetic modification in Pakistan, are a significant component of the poultry diet.

    As things stand, a sizable portion of the population no longer has access to one of its main sources of protein because of the skyrocketing price of chicken. Mutton and beef prices have risen faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) during the last few decades.

    According to Profit, only chicken costs increased more slowly than the CPI during this entire period, making it the only protein source. With chicken now costing more than beef on the open market, the population’s nutritional impact might be affected in the long run.

  • Khan wants PML-Q to merge with PTI

    Khan wants PML-Q to merge with PTI

    In a meeting with journalists yesterday, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the PML-Q should merge with the PTI but discussions have yet to take place on this.

    Looking relaxed and quite confident after pulling off Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly and the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, Khan praised Moonis Elahi and said he stood by the PTI despite pressure by powerful quarters. “Moonis is a forward-looking young man and he could see PTI’s political future and was able to convince the older leadership of his party.”

    Khan also praised Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi for having withstood threats and other pressure. He said that even his own members had a lot of offers, especially women MPAs, but they refused and stood by their party when it came to the vote of confidence.

    Khan said that fighting with the establishment is madness. On reconciliation with the army, Khan said that it is possible and he is willing to forgive the establishment and move on, whether it is the case of Azam Khan Swati or Shahbaz Gill or other things that took place since the vote of no-confidence against him because he genuinely believes that the military is the most organised institution and has the resources to stop smuggling of dollars, help in the crackdown against corruption and other things.

    Khan recalled the army’s assistance and work during the Covid pandemic, in polio vaccination campaigns and in controlling locusts. He also said that the military establishment only needs direction by the leaders. Their role can be very positive when they move in the right direction. To a question by this reporter on whether the military would get more space to meddle in politics if more role is given to it, he said that it cannot end overnight but leaders have to make sure that a direction is set on how to use the military to establish rule of law. Per him, only the military can take the country out of the current quagmire if it works with all political stakeholders.

    Khan said that the military can establish rule of law and no institution should be above the law. He said that he was not willing to sit with the PDM because they are looters who want an NRO, which basically means they want to be above the law. He said they have no stakes in the country as their assets are stashed abroad, which is why they can also be pressurised by outside powers.

    Talking about Balochistan and former FATA, Khan said he believed in political solutions and not military solutions.

    On being asked (by this reporter) about the crackdown against the media during the PTI’s tenure, Khan said he had nothing to do with it. “I have always taken the legal route when I have had problems with the media. I have a lot of tolerance for media criticism.”

    The PTI chairman was very confident that after the dissolution of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, the PDM would be left with no choice but to go for general elections. Khan believes that the current establishment will not support the government given the economic crisis. “If this government continues till August, Pakistan will be worse off than even Sri Lanka.”

    Khan said that whatever economic growth was achieved during the PTI tenure had all been undone by the PDM in less than a year.

  • Sri Lanka to reduce army by a third as financial crunch tightens

    Sri Lanka to reduce army by a third as financial crunch tightens

    In response to criticism that military spending exceeded the budgetary allotments for healthcare and education in 2023, Sri Lanka on Friday announced a plan to cut the size of its military in half by 2030 in order to create a technically and tactically sound and well-balanced defence force.

    The country will slash its army by a third to 135,000 personnel by next year and to 100,000 by 2030. “The overall aim of the strategic blueprint is to broach a technically and tactically sound and well-balanced defence force by the year 2030 in order to meet upcoming security challenges,” the statement quoting the state minister of defence Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon said.

    The share of the defence sector in Sri Lanka’s total expenditure peaked in 2021, at 2.31 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), but fell to 2.03 per cent last year, according to Colombo-based think tank Verite Research.

    In early December, Sri Lankan media outlets announced that the Sri Lankan Army had decided to reduce troop numbers by 16,000.

  • Update: Apartment where Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide finally gets a tenant

    Update: Apartment where Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide finally gets a tenant

    Late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s sea-facing Mumbai home located at Carter Road gets its first tenant after almost a gap of three years, reports. The apartment now belongs to an NRI who will be renting it out at the cost of INR 5 lakh per month along with a security deposit of INR 30 lakh.

    The sources revealed that a broker named Rafique Merchant confirmed that the house is finally renting out. He revealed that the owner of the house contacted him regarding the matter a few months back. “We have found somebody (a tenant). We are in the final stage of talks with the family to finalize things. People are now relaxed about it (Sushant’s death) because they say it has been a while.”

    Rafique talked about the process of finding tenants for the apartment, and said: “People are scared to move into this flat. When prospective tenants would hear that this is the same apartment where he died, they would not even visit. Nowadays, people are at least visiting the flat as the news of his death has become old. Yet, the deal is not getting finalized.”

    “The owner is also very particular and doesn’t want to come down on the rent. If he does, it’ll be sold quickly. Since he’s selling it at the market price, tenants prefer buying some other flat of a similar size in the same area since it would come without the baggage of controversy that this flat is associated with, revealed the broker.”

    Sushant Singh Rajput's Sea-Facing Bandra Home is Up for Rent at Rs 4 Lakh Per Month

    Merchant further disclosed: “The clients are informed in advance that this is where Sushant used to stay. Some people don’t mind the history and want to go for it. But their friends and family members discourage them from going ahead with the deal. Now, the owner is very clear that he doesn’t want to rent out the flat to a film celeb, no matter who or how big he or she is. He wants to hand over the flat to a corporate person.”

    As per Pinkvilla, Sushant Singh Rajput moved into this four-bedroom apartment in 2019, he was living there on a rent of INR 4.5 lakh per month. 

  • ‘Kacha kaam nahin karna chaahiye tha’: Nawaz Sharif called Rana Sanaullah 3 times

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif called Interior Minister President Rana Sanaullah three times to discuss the Vote of Confidence that his party initiated in the Punjab Assembly.

    According to a news report, Nawaz said to Sanaullah that the Punjab Parliamentary Committee should have shown responsibility, those who took responsibility should not have done a poor job.

    The report further states that Rana Sanaullah said that on the assurance of the members of the parliamentary committee, the party changed their position, and was adamant about its position that the Punjab assembly should be dissolved.

    It is pertinent to mention here that Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi took a vote of confidence from the House, after which Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman withdrew the notification to suspend Elahi.

    Last night, Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly. He advised Governor Punjab Balighur Rehman to dissolve the assembly.

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry announced the CM’s decision and said that if governor Punjab fails to dissolve the assembly within 48 hours, it will be dissolved automatically.

    Fawad also said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be dissolved “day after tomorrow”.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    CM KP has prepared summary for dissolution of assembly: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    CM KP has prepared summary for dissolution of assembly: Fawad Chaudhry
    
			
    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senior Vice-President Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has prepared a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly..
    

    Talking to the media, Fawad revealed that Khan and his cabinet were scheduled to visit the PTI Chairman Imran Khan in Lahore but were unable to do so due to bad weather
    

    “We spoke to them on the phone,” he said. “They have prepared the advice to dissolve the KP assembly”.
    

    About the dissolution matter of the Punjab Assembly, the PTI leader asked the Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman not to wait for “48 hours” and urged him to dissolve the assembly immediately so that the process for the formation of an interim set up in Punjab be initiated.
    

    Earlier, it was reported that CM KP is expected to meet Khan today (Friday) in Lahore.
    

    The chief minister along with his cabinet was set to arrive in Lahore at the directions of his party chief.
    

    According to ARY News, Imran Khan would announce that the assembly will be dissolved by tonight. 
    

    However, Special Assistant to CM Mahmood Khan on Information Barrister, Muhammad Ali Saif, said that the dissolution of the KP Assembly will take place after the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly.
    

    He said that a summary will be sent to KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali to dissolve the assembly. According to him, there is no problem in KP, but they would wait for the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly first.
    

    He added that after the dissolution of the KP Assembly, a letter will also be written to the Leader of the Opposition— Akram Khan Durrani— for the appointment of a caretaker chief minister.
    

    On the other hand, KP Governor Ali has said that he still stood by his stance that assemblies should not be broken.
    

    On Thursday, Punjab CM Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.
    

    In a brief one-line advice addressed to Governor Rehman, Elahi said: “I Pervaiz Elahi, chief minister of Punjab, hereby advise you to dissolve the provincial assembly.”
    

    

    


    

    

    

    Speaking to the media after Elahi’s meeting with Imran, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that “if the governor does not accept the advice then, the assembly is automatically dissolved after 48 hours.”
    

    He said that a letter would be sent to former Punjab CM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Hamza Shehbaz in the next two days for finalising an interim government in Punjab, adding that elections would take place in the next 90 days.