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  • ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    ‘I had a rift with her’: Atif Aslam opens up about fight with Asha Bhosle

    Superstar Atif Aslam has opened up about his experience in India and his tiff with legendary singer Asha Bhosle in the recent episode of Super Over with Ahmed Ali Butt.

    Butt questioned Woh Lamhe singer about his dispute with legendary singer Asha Bhosle, to which the artist replied: “I had a rift with her in the start because of the show which we were part of. It was not a very friendly relationship and it went on, for some time. However, her daughter was my fan which is why she called me and told me that my daughter asked me why I have issues with such a handsome man and that if she likes him can’t I like him as well? After that statement, I have forgotten everything and forgive you for everything you said, it was so big of her that it won my heart.”

    Replying to the question asked by the host if the rifts were scripted or real, Atif Aslam revealed that all of it was real and that the show had to stop recording in between for four to five hours due to these issues. However, they would continue recording after many requests of the producers and directors.

    On his experience in India: “To this day, there is some sort of acknowledgment about my work in India on Twitter or an artist from there puts up a status”, to which the host Ahmed Ali Butt added that Arijit Singh also appreciation Atif’s work in his concert. Atif agreed and said: “He really likes my music and I have heard that he also sings some of my songs on stage.”

    Atif also spoke up about Indian singer Palash Sen’s tweet in which he said: “According to me, the one singer-musician who has made the maximum impact on Bollywood’s music and most singers over the last 15 years, is this man. The awesome Atif Aslam. I say this with a lot of humility.”

    Atif Aslam reveals he isn't bothered, affected by Bollywood ban - Life & Style - Business Recorder

    The host further asked Atif how Bollywood has contributed to making him and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan megastars, to which the singer replied that he would first credit it to Pakistan since his album was first released in Pakistan and became a hit, after which Indian producer Mahesh Butt called him to work in India. He added: “Of course, they have a bigger reach. They marketed it really well. For instance, if someone’s hearing my music in Fiji, it’ll be because of Bollywood because they have a bigger reach.” 

  • ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    ‘Tu jata hoga, Kaam se kaam rakh’: Yasir Hussain blasts troll for criticisim over Toronto trip, Sajal Aly reacts

    Actor and director Yasir Hussain has hit out at a netizen for scrutinising him for attending Hum Awards in Toronto amidst flood crises in Pakistan.

    The social media user slammed Yasir for being in Canada while the country is battling the flood issue. The user also alleged Hussain of being a hypocrite.

    Yasir responded to the netizen by saying that, “I am here for work, like you must be going to your work place. Similarly how cricketers are playing cricket. Like cinema people are selling tickets.”

    Hussain concluded, “You also go, do your work.”

    A-list actress Sajal Aly was quick to react to Hussain’s post. The Alif star said, “Bilkul sahi (Totally right).”

    Last year Yasir slammed actress Nausheen Shah for her interview with Tabish Hashmi. The Jhooti actor took to social media and blasted the Dugdugi diva for bringing up the topic again in public domain.

    He has also warned her that next time he will upload the evidence on social media.

  • Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Maria B wants transgender’s rights act to be called ‘khwaja sira’ act, Twitter wants her to stop ‘commenting’

    Designer Maria B has once again landed in controversy for her transphobic comments. The designer took to Instagram stories to share her two cents about the recent debate on Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018, along with her sisters Najia and Aafia.

    In the video, Maria B expresses her concern about how the said act will affect her children.

    “The first thing that one needs to do is to identify what transgender means. Who is the most famous transgender in the world? Everyone knows about Kim Kardashian and her father. He was her father first and then her mother. His name is Caitlyn Jenner” said Maria.

    Maria said the Act was “transgenders” not for ‘khwaja sira’

    “No absolutely not, this Act was designed for the khwaja sira community. They are intersex people and there’s a massive difference between them and transgenders. On the Act that represents the marginalised community, after 70 years when we’re doing something for them, and transgenders have usurped their rights,” she said.

    People are criticising the designer for sharing her opinion about a marginalized community of which she herself is not a part. Take a look at the tweets:

    The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act of2018 has come under intense criticism from some sections of society during the past few weeks with two petitions also having been filed in the Federal Shariah Court against the Act.

    The Bill was enacted in the year 2018 to guarantee transgenders equal rights to education, basic health facilities , issuance of CNICs and passport and giving them a right to vote and contest elections.

    Earlier this year in August, Maria B complained about a trans activist being on the speaker’s panel at a talk in her son’s school.

  • Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    Pakistani rupee gains Rs3 against dollar in early interbank trading

    The Pakistani rupee maintained its stability on Wednesday, the second working day of the week, after regaining ground versus the US dollar on Tuesday in the interbank market.

    Details indicate that the value of the local currency relative to the US dollar increased by Rs3.32 and that it was trading at about Rs234. Data from Pakistan’s central bank show that the rupee ended the day at Rs237.02 on Monday.

    The rupee has recovered a total of Rs5.65 over the last two working days thanks to the most recent intraday increase.

    Despite disastrous floods wrecking Pakistan’s economy, the rupee came close to hitting a record low of Rs240 versus the dollar but was unable to do so following many encouraging signs.

    According to Zafar Paracha, General Secretary of the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP), the market appears to be reacting to the arrival of PML-N leader Ishaq Dar and the announcement that he will succeed Miftah Ismail as finance minister.

  • Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Putin grants Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, who disclosed top secret US surveillance

    Edward Snowden, a former security expert who exposed top-secret American surveillance programmes and is still wanted by Washington on espionage charges, was granted citizenship by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

    In order to avoid punishment, Snowden, who considers himself a whistleblower, left the United States and has been residing in Russia since that country gave him refuge in 2013.

    In a decree that Putin signed, Snowden, 39, was one of 72 foreigners who received citizenship.

    His attorneys stated at the time that he was filing for a Russian passport without renunciating his American citizenship when he was given permanent status in 2020.

    The state-run news agency RIA Novosti was informed on Monday by Snowden’s attorney, Anatoly Kucherena, that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, is also in the process of seeking for Russian citizenship. In 2014, Mills accompanied Snowden to Moscow. In 2017, they got married, and now they have a son together.

    Additionally, Kucherena stated that because of Snowden’s lack of combat experience, he would not be subject to the partial military mobilisation that Putin ordered last week to support Russia’s waning war in Ukraine. Putin claimed that only individuals with prior experience would be called up for partial mobilisation, but there have been several stories of other people receiving summonses, including those detained during anti-mobilization protests.

    According to CNN, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to comment on Snowden’s new passport, and instead referred questions to the prosecutors seeking his extradition. “Soc, since I believe there have been criminal charges brought against him, we would point you to the Department of Justice for any specifics on this,” Jean-Pierre said.

    Snowden’s revelations were the largest security breach in American history as it exposed the top-secret NSA programme PRISM’s use of surveillance and the collection of a wide spectrum of digital data.

    Putin stated in a documentary directed by American Oliver Stone in 2017 that he did not view Snowden as a “traitor” for disclosing official information.

    “As an ex-KGB agent, you must have hated what Snowden did with every fiber of your being,” Stone says in the clip.

    “Snowden is not a traitor,” Putin said. “He did not betray the interests of his country. Nor did he transfer any information to any other country which would have been pernicious to his own country or to his own people. The only thing Snowden does, he does publicly.”

    Snowden justified his decision to submit a dual citizenship application in 2020.

    “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our son. That’s why, in this era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship,” Snowden wrote on Twitter at the time.

    “Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of America we love — including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited,” Snowden added.

  • Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    Miftah Ismail responds to a follower, reveals which restaurant he will visit when back in Karachi

    After resigning from the post of Finance Minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader, Miftah Ismail, can’t wait to get back to dine at his favourite restaurants in Karachi.

    Miftah took to Twitter on Sunday and announced his resignation.

    Where many commended and congratulated Miftah for his dedicated work as finance minister, a follower questioned him about which restaurant he would like to visit once back in Karachi.

    Miftah replied, “I am going to visit Zahid, Idris & Javed Nihari houses, Al-Kebab, Ghaffar and Meerut Kebab, & Gola at Dhoraji. Many choices fortunately.”

    Karachi is Miftah Ismail’s hometown.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PML-N leader and Senator, Ishaq Dar, is coming back home to Pakistan after almost five years. It is being reported that Dar will take over the finance ministry from Tuesday (September 27).

  • ‘Donald Lu kisko paigham de raha tha?’ Khan asks crowd as they answer ‘neutrals, neutrals’

    ‘Donald Lu kisko paigham de raha tha?’ Khan asks crowd as they answer ‘neutrals, neutrals’

    The crowd attending a speech by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan at Government College (GC) burst out into chants of “neutrals” when the former Prime Minister talked about how he was removed from power. Neutrals is an euphemism for the military establishment.

    Khan questioned the crowd, “Who did the United States (US) diplomat Donald Lu ask to remove me from power?”

    The crowd in response started chanting, “neutrals, neutrals”.

    Khan once again asked them to repeat what they were chanting.

    The response was still the same and the PTI chairman appreciated them by saying “You have passed the first test.”

    After Khan’s address, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and condemned the Vice-Chancellor of GC University for desecrating an educational institution by organising a jalsa on the premises.

    “Using a seat of learning for political hate-mongering is a crime that should not go unpunished,” tweeted Maryam, adding, “Strict action must be taken against Vice Chancellor Government College Uni for desecrating an educational institution by lending it to a Fitna & organising his jalsa on the premises.”

  • Khan claims more audio leaks of Maryam Nawaz are on the way

    Khan claims more audio leaks of Maryam Nawaz are on the way

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan reacting to the audio leaks of Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders including Vice-president Maryam Nawaz, has said that Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja should resign from his post.

    Addressing students at Government College University in Lahore on Monday, Khan said that the audio leaks had made it clear that CEC Raja was a “Servant of the Sharif household”.

    After the audio leaks, the CEC should resign if he has even an ounce of shame, said Khan. “But he doesn’t [have any shame], so we will have to make him resign,” he told the students gathered there to listen to him.

    Khan also alleged that the CEC had blocked the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) on the instructions of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari.

    “I kept on trying to introduce EVMs for three years […] But this man, on the instructions of Nawaz and Zardari, who rely on false votes, did not allow EVMs,” he claimed.

    He continued that in the coming days, there would be more “episodes” in audio leaks saga.

    “I am hearing that a [recording] will surface where Maryam will tell abba jee [Nawaz] that the election commission has said they will disqualify Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case and that there is no need to worry,” he said.

    “This is the [state of the] election commission.”

    Earlier today, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry had termed the slew of audio recordings a “major security lapse” and demanded a “thorough investigation” to expose those responsible.

    He said that the PM Office is unsafe from cyber attacks, adding audio files up to 340 hours were leaked but no institution was aware of it.

    “We [PTI] spent a lot of money to provide the latest equipment to agencies.”

    He claimed that the government is in talks with hackers and purchasing data that was put up for sale on the dark web.

    “The hacker has said that the explosive audio is yet to be released,” Fawad said.

    On Saturday, September 24, alleged audios of PM Shehbaz and other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders leaked online.

    In one of the audio clips, PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz allegedly can be heard complaining to her uncle [PM Shehbaz] about Finance Minister Miftah Ismail.

    The second clip allegedly concerns a conversation between PM Shehbaz, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Law Minister Azam Tarar, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and former National Assembly (NA) speaker Ayaz Sadiq about the resignations of PTI MNAs. The audio is said to be a recording of a cabinet meeting.

    Party leaders can be allegedly heard discussing whose resignations from PTI will be accepted. Moreover, the leaders can be heard saying that the final decision will be taken by PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif who is in London.

  • Apple to manufacture iPhone 14 in India

    Apple to manufacture iPhone 14 in India

    As the tech behemoth shifts some of its production away from China, Apple Inc. announced on Monday that it will produce its newest iPhone 14 in India.

    J.P.Morgan analysts predict that by 2025, Apple may relocate a quarter of its iPhone production to India.

    At an event earlier this month, the company unveiled the newest iPhone 14, emphasising safety improvements over glitzy new technical features—with the exception of a new watch designed with adventure in mind.

    “The new iPhone 14 lineup introduces groundbreaking new technologies and important safety capabilities. We’re excited to be manufacturing iPhone 14 in India,” Cupertino-based tech giant said in a statement.

    The analysts predict that Apple would shift roughly 5 per cent of iPhone 14 production to India starting in late 2022. India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world, after China.

    In a report last week, JPM analysts predicted that by 2025, Apple may produce one in every four iPhones in India.

  • PSX witnesses recovery as KSE-100 index surpasses 41,000-mark

    PSX witnesses recovery as KSE-100 index surpasses 41,000-mark

    The week started off well for shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), with analysts attributing the rise to the Pakistani rupee’s robust rebound, which was supported by a drop in global oil prices.

    By 10:45 AM, the benchmark KSE-100 index had risen 411 points, or 1.01 per cent, to 41,031 points.

    The PSX had optimistic activity in early trade, according to Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corporation, as a result of a higher rupee and the impending appointment of a new finance minister, which is expected to stabilise economic uncertainties.

    At 10 AM, the Pakistani rupee was trading at Rs235.5 per US dollar, up Rs4.15 from earlier today.

    Furthermore, Ishaq Dar is scheduled to return to Pakistan today and take charge as Pakistan’s finance minister. Senior PML-N officials met Miftah Ismail on Sunday after he submitted his resignation. Dar’s appointment as finance minister was announced by Nawaz Sharif and PM Shehbaz, according to a statement issued following the meeting.

    Amir Shehzad, the director at First National Equities Limited, concurred with Mehanti’s assessment, stating that the sentiment that built in anticipation of Dar’s return and the optimism that the situation would get under control was the main driver of the index’s advances and a reason for increased investor confidence.

    The industry with the greatest potential to raise the index’s point total, according to Shehzad, is cement.

    Raza Jafri, Head of Research at Intermarket Securities, stated that the KSE-100 was recovering as a result of a number of factors, including lower oil prices, the West’s apparent willingness to consider Pakistan’s requests for debt restructuring, and the belief that Senator Dar might be able to control the PKR.

    No negative political developments over the weekend are also fostering positive sentiments, he continued.

    In light of the terrible floods, which are estimated to have cost $30 billion in losses, PM Shehbaz had last week made a plea to the globe and wealthy nations for an immediate debt relief.