Soon after Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and actress Sonakshi Sinha’s fake wedding photo went viral, the Dabangg star reacted to it on Instagram. Sonakshi has reacted to a post on an Instagram page, calling it plain dumb for people to believe it.
Reacting to one such post, Sonakshi Sinha commented, “Are you so dumb that you can’t tell the difference between a real and a morphed picture.” The post, shared on the subreddit Bolly Blinds n Gossip, shows the screenshot of the original picture with Sonakshi’s comment on it.
Since the last few days, a bizarre picture of the duo has been doing the rounds on social media. In the photograph, both the actors could be seen exchanging wedding rings while a thick line of Kumkum rested on Sonakshi’s scalp.
Both of them were seen smiling brightly while participating in the ceremony, instantly triggering the rumour that they have gotten married through an intimate ceremony in the city.
The Russian government has officially blocked Facebook and has restricted Twitter in the country.
The regulator, Roskomnadzor, said there had been 26 cases of discrimination against Russian media by Facebook since October 2020, including restrictions in recent days on state-backed channels like RT and the RIA news agency, Reuters has reported.
Meta’s head of global affairs Nick Clegg said the company would continue to do everything it could to restore its services.
“Soon millions of ordinary Russian will find themselves cut off from reliable information, deprived of their everyday ways of connecting with family and friends and silenced from speaking out,” he said, in a statement posted on Twitter.
Meta in a blog said it was working to keep its services available “to the greatest extent possible” but it had stopped showing ads to users in Russia and barred Russian advertisers from running ads anywhere in the world “due to the difficulties of operating in Russia at this time.”
Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, in a video message, has revealed that all three suspects involved in the suicide blast inside an Imam Bargah in Peshawar have been identified by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police and investigation agencies.
He said the police and agencies are closing in on the suspects and they would be arrested in the next two to three days.
Earlier, the minister hinted at the involvement of foreign forces in the attack.
A suicide bomb attack hit Peshawar resulting in 63 deaths on Friday.
According to CCTV footage of the attack, a man dressed in a traditional shalwar kameez shot two policemen as he entered the mosque.
AFP reported that the militant Islamic State group had claimed the suicide bombing. According to reports, the investigators are checking the biometric data of people who had recently entered Pakistan from Afghanistan.
Pakistan women’s cricket team will face their first match against arch-rival, India in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World Cup. The match will take place at the picturesque Bay Oval, New Zealand on Sunday. The match will start at 6 a.m PST.
The captain of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team, Bismah Maroof is confident and optimistic about all her teammate’s performances.
While talking with fast-bowler, Diana Baig, Bismah said, “We have been putting in the hard yards since our camp is in Karachi, and now is the time to deliver. The atmosphere of the team is very good. I am optimistic that we will do very well in the World Cup.”
Bismah also shared her excitement for the first match against India in an interview.
She said, “It is our first match of the tournament and we want to win it so we gain the momentum. In such tournaments, it is very important to start good and carry the moment, and, of course, that increases the significance of the first match. I am sure we will be able to meet expectations from us.”
Bismah has made a comeback with this ICC tournament after she became a mother of a daughter, Fatima in December 2020. She is leading the cricket team for the first time in ICC ODI Worldcup.
The British government called off National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf’s United Kingdom (UK) visit on Friday without giving a reason, reportsThe News.
According to a report, the visit was called off because of Pakistan’s policy towards the Russia and Ukraine war.
Previously, the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Islamabad issued their reply to Pakistan’s neutral response after United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, saying that Pakistan should condemn Russia. In response, the spokesman for the Foreign Office (FO) Asim Iftikhar said, “We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised.”
While replying to a query that the NSA visit cancellation was linked to the expression of its reservations about the rejoinder to the EU envoys, Iftikhar termed it “baseless”.
In the UNGA emergency session on Wednesday, Pakistan abstained from voting to censure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also heads the feared Haqqani Network, was photographed openly for the first time Saturday at a passing-out parade for new Afghan police recruits.
“For your satisfaction and for building your trust… I am appearing in the media in a public meeting with you,” he said in a speech at the parade.
Before the Taliban’s return, Haqqani was the most senior of the three deputies to leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Haqqani heads a powerful subset of the Taliban blamed for some of the worst violence of the past 20 years.
The Haqqani Network, founded in the 1970s by Jalaluddin Haqqani, was heavily supported by the CIA during the Mujahideen war against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is believed to be in his 40s, is his son and succeeded him following his death in 2018.
Sirajuddin was blamed for the deadly 2008 attack on Kabul’s Serena Hotel that killed six people, as well as at least one assassination attempt against former Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
He is reported to have been the target of several US drone strikes — in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and in the rugged terrain between them that is the heartland of the Haqqani Network.
He was also credited as the author of a New York Times opinion piece in 2020 titled “What We, the Taliban, Want”, sparking controversy that the newspaper had given “terrorists” a public platform.
Pakistani A-listers Saba Qamar and Naumaan Ijaz are set to feature in the latest Zindagi original series “Mrs & Mr Shameem”. Touted to be an “unconventional love story”, the show will premiere globally on ZEE5 on March 11.
The series is directed by filmmaker Kashif Nisar, who has helmed dramas like Raqeeb Se and O Rangreza.
Stellar performances
Both Saba and Naumaan have gotten into the skin of their characters, essaying their roles to perfection. A special mention to Naumaan for not making his character a caricature with over the top nuances or dramatic body language. Even supporting cast members are impactful and promising going by the trailer.
Theme
The theme of the series is a trailblazer for Pakistan, the male protagonist is an effeminate man, supposedly from the Queer community who has been presented as colourful and brave rather than a victim. Also their is an angle of an illegitimate child which has been dealt with maturity.
Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India said the upcoming drama marks the continuation of their collaboration with Zindagi to present “real and relevant stories but with a twist”.
“It’s an unconventional love story explored through a new lens as it shatters age old gender roles and boundaries defined by the society. It also has a stellar team behind it, and we are excited to bring this forth to our viewers across 190+ countries,” Kalra said in a statement.
Shailja Kejriwal, Chief Creative Officer, Special Projects, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. said “Mrs & Mr Shameem” aims at “redefining the meaning of true love” and challenges society’s preconceived gender biases.
“It is an uncommon bond of two people based on nothing superficial,” she added.
According to director Kashif, the show follows the story of Shameem, who “embodies effeminate traits” while Umaina, played by Qamar, is “outspoken and bold in her ways”.
“Despite their significant personality differences, there develops a beautiful bond between them of love, respect and companionship”.
It is written by Sajjad Gul (Saji), who said the series is a “contemporary story” which traces the journey of Umaina and Shameem discovering love in its “unusual ways”.
“The show challenges the gender barriers that exist in society. We hope that the audience connects with the story as it presents a fresh perspective on love,” the writer added.
Actor Faryal Mehmood has opened up on her divorce with Daniyal Raheal in her latest interview. The Enaaya diva said: “The reason why I didn’t want to talk about it is that it’s not just me who is involved.”
“I don’t want to talk about my ex-husband and his family, who are also prominently involved in the media. Whatever happened between the two of us, I would never want to dish out the details of it.”
“It’s our personal lives, don’t say mean things about it. It happened because it was bound to happen, you know. It’s fine.”
However, the actor complained of being tagged as ‘divorced’ when she wasn’t. “When the rumors about us separating blew up on the internet, we were actually together and fine. They just branded us as a divorced couple.”
Furthermore, Faryal disclosed of still getting messages from people pitying for her, but she said to have been at ‘a good point in life’ and is ‘thriving’.
“I left for Italy after that, it was so much fun. I was excited about the future prospects. It’s not that sad. I still get messages about how I apparently look full of remorse in my pictures. ‘Your eyes look so sad,’ people often say. And I always wonder, how is that possible because I am thriving!” She added further.
Earlier on Ahsan Khan’s show she confirmed her divorce, “Yes, it’s true. I mean, I am single but this isn’t something to be discussed,” she detailed.
Veteran actor of Pakistan film and drama industry, Masood Akhtar has passed away this Saturday morning. He was suffering from lung cancer for a prolonged time. His treatment was undergoing in a private hospital in Lahore. He aged 82 years old.
His funeral will be held after Asr’s prayers at Usman Block, Gulshan-e-Ravi.
He has worked in multiple dramas including Punjabi dramas on Pakistan Television. He has acted in around 170 Pakistani films. He was also associated with Lahore Arts Council.
Pakistan has given “Pride of Performance” for his exceptional contribution to the entertainment industry.
Punjab Governor, Mohammad Sarwar has also offered his condolence on the loss of the legendary artist of Pakistan, reports The Express Tribune.
He said, “Masood Akhtar will always be remembered for his contributions to the entertainment industry of Pakistan. The void he has left can never be filled.”
He added, “With his roles, the late actor always aimed to right the wrongs in society. I pray he receives the highest rank in Jannatul Firdous and may God give his family the patience and strength to bear the loss.”
Punjab Chief Minister, Usman Buzdar also gave his condolences to the versatile actor.
“Akhtar was a versatile actor. He was always convincing onscreen and made several contributions to the field of entertainment. His serials and the characters he played will always be remembered by fans,” he said.
Hollywood actor Daniel Craig has garnered a huge fan base over the years for his famous character in the James Bond series and all the 007 films featuring him.
For the unversed, Daniel appeared as the secret agent 007 in over five movies- Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time To Die. The last one was released in September last year and was heavily affected due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown imposed in most parts of the world.
During the promotion of his film Spectre when he opened up about the problematic qualities in the character James Bond. Speaking to Rudiger Sturm for The Red Bulletin, the actor highlighted how misogynistic Bond has always been. “Many men admire Bond for his way with the ladies. But let’s not forget that he’s actually a misogynist.”, Craig said.
When the interviewer highlighted that James Bond has become slightly chivalrous over the years, as a response, Daniel Craig said, “That’s because we’ve surrounded him with very strong women who have no problem putting him in his place.”
The actor also corrected Rudiger Sturm’s observation that James Bond is now getting attracted to older women. “I think you mean the charms of a woman his own age. We’re talking about Monica Bellucci, for heaven’s sake. When someone like that wants to be a Bond girl, you just count yourself lucky!”, the actor said.
Daniel Craig also made it clear in the interview that there is nothing that one can learn from the character James Bond, according to him. “Surely he must have a couple of inspirational personality traits. Let’s not talk these films up as some kind of life-changing experience. Bond is what Bond does. Bond is very single- minded. He takes his own course. And that’s simple, which is great.”, he concluded.
