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  • Adnan Siddiqui pens a love letter for mangos

    Adnan Siddiqui pens a love letter for mangos

    Adnan Siddiqui has penned a love letter for mangos.

    “This post may cause readers to salivate and OD on mangoes,” wrote Siddiqui while sharing a video of himself, eating mangos on Instagram.

    “As a kid, I looked forward to summers despite the punishing heat and lethargy the weather is notorious for. Minor inconveniences as this was also the season of the best creation by Nature: mango—undisputed emperor of fruits. Not just because of its divine taste, mangos and summers hold a special place in my heart as both always remind me of my Abba. May Allah grant him higher place in Jannah. Ameen,” he added.

    Siddiqui went on to say: “Abba used to bring payti or carton of mangos and that was one day, none of us threw any tantrum at the dinner table because we knew a sweet bounty awaited us at the end of the meal. Right after finishing our food, we would hover around Abba, waiting for him to open the treasure chest. He would then gather all eight of us around him like mother hen, a huge bucket brimming with mangos in the centre. We would sit on the floor— a ritual reserved only for mangoes. Abba always believed that the fruit needs to be accorded due respect by cooling them in buckets filled with water and to be eaten, sitting cross legged on cold floor.”

    “Once everyone had settled, he would roll up his sleeves: cue that showtime is about to begin. He would then start cutting the fruit, juice dripping from his wrists onto his kurta pajama, handing one piece after the other according to seniority. Of course, being the youngest, my turn came the last by when I would have reached the tail end of patience. One bite into the succulent, juicy, ripe mango and all the wait seemed worth it. We got up only after finishing the entire bucket. No one cared about sugar, calories, gaining weight. It was only about savouring the simple pleasures of eating mangos,” he continued.

    “Such were those carefree days when you lived footloose and fancy free and ate with gay abandon.”

    Siddiqui also asked his fans if they had any childhood story of mangos.

  • Top five iconic high school movies with strong female leads

    Top five iconic high school movies with strong female leads

    Who doesn’t love a good high school movie? It’s got a hero, but what we love is that the women are the real star. It is set in a young, relatable world, and some of these are so iconic that they have truly stood the test of time. Shanzeh Chaudhry ranks her favourite movies with strong female leads, for The Current.

    1.Mean girls (2004)

    Of course, I’m going to start with the most iconic and original teen movie of all time. This movie is one of the first that displays the realities of being a teenage girl in high school. It’s narrated from the perspective of a girl who’s been homeschooled till she moves and starts going to school. Her experience isn’t what she expected, and entering “Girl World” is not as easy as it looks. The process from the innocent new girl to shiny hard plastic is a journey of backbiting, stealing boyfriends, and lying about the health bars that help you “lose weight”. The movie shows the process of how corrupt the high school system is and the lengths girls would go to fit in. Personally, I feel like the movie tried its best to give an idea of the full high school experience, which was accomplished, as it is the most popular teen movie, 17 years later.

    2.Shes the man (2006)

    This movie was honestly so inspirational that I just had to add it to the list. It relates to the common sexist attitude and expectations towards females. A girl with a passionate love for football will go to all most any lengths (no matter how absurd) to prove that women can play football just as good as men, maybe even better. Even if it means posing as her twin brother and trying out for a university soccer team. Despite the message, it was just a generally funny and entertaining family movie. We watch our main character, Viola, juggle between her double life of being a university boy and being the “lady” that her mother and society expect her to be. It promotes feminism and inspires girls to stand against society’s expectations if it means doing something they’re passionate about.

    3.A Cinderella story (2004)

    We’ve all watched the Disney classic “Cinderella”. In the animated version of the film, the main message it was trying to put across was to always be kind despite evil in the world. This version is a bit more modern and relatable to girls in their teens. Our main character, Sam, lives with her evil stepmother and sisters after her father dies in an earthquake when she is eight years old. She works for her stepmother in her father’s diner to save up to go to her “Dream college, Princeton”. She has a secret texting relationship with an anonymous guy, who we soon find out is the glamorous high school football star Austin Aims. They both bond over their dream of going to Princeton and all their problems and concerns for their future. Sams bravery and patience, despite her struggles, are really motivational and admirable. This movie really is a lovely romance, with a touch of nostalgia that really hits home.

    4.The Princess Diaries (2001)

    ‘Mia Thermopolis’ is your average high school teenager, who can’t speak in public to save her life and dreams of a car for her sixteenth birthday. Her life takes a twist when her long-lost grandmother shows up and turns out, she’s the Queen of a tiny country called “Genovia”. Which, yes, makes Mia a princess! After her father (the king) passed away a year before, Mia is the only rightful heir to the throne. All this information comes crashing into Mia’s life, changing it completely. Suddenly, the girls who would once make fun of her and the boy who practically didn’t even know she existed, started trying to weasel their way in her life. She has to go through a series of “Princess training courses” but most importantly, she has to decide if she’s going to take on the role of “Princess” and as “Future Queen of Genovia”. Mia’s sarcastic and witty personality definitely adds a comedic touch to the movie. It really seems like every girl’s dream; to wake up one normal day and find out you’re the princess of a whole country! We watch as Mia transforms from a regular introverted American girl to high-class royalty!

    5.She’s All That (1999)

    High school star, Zac Siler is forced to go to extreme lengths to protect his reputation after getting dumped by his cheerleader girlfriend. He makes a bet with his friends to turn Laney Boggs, “the introverted weird girl”, into prom queen in just six weeks. After a lot of convincing Zac finally get Laney to go out with him. What started off as a silly bet turned into a blossoming romance. We watch how slowly Laney opens up to the world and how Zac realises that popularity isn’t everything. It’s a classic case of opposites attract. They both show each other a different perspective. I personally love how we slowly see the characters develop and along the way spark a romance that they didn’t expect at all.

  • Why influencers are supporting OTG in biwi gone case?

    Why influencers are supporting OTG in biwi gone case?

    Lose your weight turns into losing your wife

    What is the fuss about?

    A 28-year-old man from Karachi got divorced as his wife claimed that he was not the person she got married to.

    Mr Cheema, a resident of Karachi, was working in a multinational company. He has been recently transferred to his company’s office in Lahore for a three-month project.

    He weighed almost 135 kgs and wanted to surprise his wife on his return to Karachi with a massive bodyweight loss.

    He subscribed to a low carb meal plan from an international health meal chain in Lahore, called On the Go by AK (OTG).

    His dedication to avoid Lahori food and strictly follow his diet plan transformed his body.

    As a man with a better physique and appearance, he was ready to surprise his wife after three months. But to his surprise, he was not allowed to enter the house. His wife failed to recognise him and said: “This is not the man who married me.” A huge drama was created and everyone in the neighbourhood also witnessed it.

    The residents reported that the husband took the insulting remarks from his wife personally, and his aggression escalated beyond control. The fight led to a divorce.

    Mr Cheema filed a lawsuit against On the go by AK (OTG) as he held the company responsible for his divorce.

    A representative from OTG has discredited the information of a lawsuit, claiming no such action was taken by their client.

    OTG claimed that the client was provided with a healthy weight loss diet to lose weight for which they have been successful. Losing 40 kgs in three months was the highest weight loss by a client in such time, OTG mentioned.

    Celebrities and the meme community have urged followers to subscribe to a meal plan from OTG as a protest against such people in society.

    Many A-listers influencers use our High-end meal plans to stay in shape but never have we seen such drama in the past.

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otg.byak/

    Website: https://otgbyak.com/https://otgbyak.com/

  • Boris Johnson marries fiancee Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony

    Boris Johnson marries fiancee Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has married his fiancee Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony on Sunday.

    “The Prime Minister and Ms Symonds were married yesterday afternoon in a small ceremony at Westminster Cathedral,” a Downing Street spokesperson said in a statement.

    “The couple will celebrate their wedding with family and friends next summer.”

    Known for his colorful love life, 56-year-old Johnson wed Symonds, 33, in front of close friends and family, the Mail on Sunday and The Sun newspapers first reported.

    The weekend nuptials were a surprise development, after reports earlier this week said the couple had sent out “save the date” cards for a wedding on July 30 next year.

    The pair got engaged in December, 2019, and have a one-year-old baby son, Wilfred. Their original plans to marry last year were delayed by the pandemic.

    Political colleagues sent congratulations to the couple as the news became official Sunday.

    “I think it’s a wonderful thing for both of them that they have made their marriage vows to one another,” senior minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News.

    Around 30 guests attended Saturday’s service — the maximum currently allowed under coronavirus rules — in central London, after being invited at the last minute, according to the Mail on Sunday.

    A small number of church officials were involved and Downing Street aides were not informed, sources told the paper.

    Symonds arrived at the lunchtime nuptials in a limousine and wore “a stunning long and flowing white dress” but chose not to wear a veil, it added.

    There were no descriptions of Johnson’s attire, with the mop-haired British leader infamous for his often dishevelled appearance.

    He had four children with his previous wife, lawyer Marina Wheeler, before they split in 2018. The couple only finalised their divorce last November.

    Johnson also reportedly has a daughter born as the result of an affair.

    When elected in 2019, he became the first prime minister to live at Downing Street as part of an unmarried couple.

    Symonds, a former head of communications for the Conservative Party who has not been married before, gave birth to their son just weeks after Johnson left intensive care as he recovered from a severe case of coronavirus.

    Meanwhile, he is only the second British prime minister to marry while in power, and the first in nearly two centuries. The last was Robert Jenkinson in 1822.

  • Hamid Mir will not be hosting ‘Captial Talk’ tonight

    Hamid Mir will not be hosting ‘Captial Talk’ tonight

    Senior Journalist and anchorperson Hamid Mir, who hosts prime time show ‘Capital Talk’ on Geo News, has been taken off air. Many believe Mir has been asked to go on leave because of this speech.

    Mir confirmed the news on Twitter. “Nothing new for me. I was banned twice in the past. Lost jobs twice. Survived assassination attempts but cannot stop raising voice for the rights given in the constitution. This time I’m ready for any consequences and ready to go to any extent because they are threatening my family.”

     Human rights bodies condemned the indefinite ban on Hamid Mir.

    Journalists tweeted in solidarity with Hamid Mir.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry tweeted that it is up to the broadcasters to decide which programme to air. “We have nothing to do with the internal decisions of media organisations. All broadcasters are responsible for making their own policy under Article 19 of the Constitution.”

    Several politicians took to Twitter to condemn this ban.

  • Ayeza Khan reveals the one actor she ‘can’t wait’ to work with

    Ayeza Khan reveals the one actor she ‘can’t wait’ to work with

    Ayeza Khan has revealed the one actor she “can’t wait” to work with, in an Instagram story.

    Ayeza shared a series of posts about different actors of Pakistan on her Instagram stories and wrote what she thinks about their old work and her secret desire about working with them.

    Sharing a clip of Marina Khan from Tanhaiyaan, Ayeza wrote: “Marina Khan I can’t wait to work with you.”

    Ayeza also shared an old clip of Humayun Saeed from a drama, saying: “Humayun Saeed no one can take your place in the showbiz industry.”

    “I have learned a lot from you guys and still learning,” wrote Ayeza while sharing photos of Fahad Mustafa and Amina Sheikh’s drama Main Abdul Qadir Hoon.

    She also shared a clip from Abrar-ul-Haq’s song Preeto and praised Sunita Marshall, saying: “Sunita Marshall this was the first time I saw you on TV and you looked beautiful and of course this song was my favorite by Abrar sir.”

    Ayeza, who came in limelight after Pyarey Afzal, and after that, she reached another level of fame from Meray Paas Tum Ho and Chupke Chupke was her recent hit. She also shared in a live session on her Instagram that she soon will be seen in an upcoming drama serial La Pata which will be set on floors by next month. She also shared that stars like Sarah Khan, Ali Rehman Khan and Gohar Rsheed will be the part of this project.

  • Man arrested for eating a snake, claims ‘kept COVID-19 at bay’

    Man arrested for eating a snake, claims ‘kept COVID-19 at bay’

    A man from India’s Tamil Nadu ate a dead snake to “protect” himself from contracting the COVID-19.

    The  50-year-old Vadivel was arrested and charged with a fine of Rs 7,000 after he posted a video of him eating a poisonous snake on social media.

    He claimed that snakes are good antidotes to Covid-19 and keep the deadly virus at bay.

    As per reports, the man caught the reptile in a field and killed it before eating it.

    ‘Mouse plague’ in Australia: Mice crawl into beds and bite residents

    A forest officer in Madurai district said the agriculture worker had been prompted to eat the snake by other people. He had been drunk at the time of the incident.

    Fortunately, the man didn’t bite into the venom glands of the snake, identified as a common krait, a species of highly venomous reptiles native to the Indian subcontinent.

    Its venom consists of powerful neurotoxins that can even be fatal for humans if not treated. The reptile had been found dead in a drain, the forest officer said.

    Warning: This video contains graphic content.

  • VIDEO: Flight returns after bat seen flying in business class cabin

    VIDEO: Flight returns after bat seen flying in business class cabin

    An Air India flight from New Delhi to New York City had to return back to New Delhi shortly after takeoff as a bat started flying around the cabin in business class of the plane.

    Once the plane was back at the Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, the staff contacted the wildlife department.

     “On arrival, it was learnt that crew members saw a bat inside the cabin,” the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials told news agency ANI.

     “Wildlife staff were called to catch and take away the bat. The aircraft landed safely at around 3:55 am and later it was declared Aircraft on Grounded (AoG).”

    Read More: Man ‘books entire flight’ to avoid COVID-19

    The plane reportedly underwent a complete fumigation, after which the bat’s body was found from the business class cabin.

    “The probable reason/cause may be loading vehicles like those for catering,” an Air India official told Business Today. “All the time rats/bats come from their vehicle.”

  • ‘PPP and ANP have left PDM’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    ‘PPP and ANP have left PDM’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

    General Secretary of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, said that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) have left PDM. “Now their paths are separate.”

    “There are eight parties in PDM and they will continue to do their work. The doors of PDM are open for every party that will follow the manifesto and decisions of PDM,” added Abbasi.

    Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that leaders of the fragmented anti-government alliance appear to be “confused and divided”.

    Bilawal further added that PPP was not part of the meeting held on Saturday, yet PDM is still following the manifesto that was presented by the PPP when PDM was formed.

    “We can have positive feelings for each other and wish everybody good luck. Everybody has the right to do Opposition politics in accordance to their own manifesto and ideology,” said the PPP chairman.

    He made these remarks while addressing a press conference with ANP leaders in Charsadda on Sunday.

    PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that the PPP and ANP were not discussed in the PDM meeting, as they are not part of the alliance.

    “They [PPP] can still contact the PDM leadership and apprise them about their intentions. But it is not something that we will waste time over anymore during PDM meetings,” said Maulana Fazl.

    

    
			
    
		
    
		
	
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    18-year-old Pakistani girl allegedly killed in Italy for refusing to marry
    
			
    An 18-year-old girl of Pakistani origin in Italy is believed to be killed by her family after refusing an arranged marriage. Police in Italy are searching for the body of the girl named Saman Abbas who has been missing since May 5, AFP has reported.
    

    Lieutenant Colonel Stefano Bove of the Carabinieri police has said that the girl’s parents, an uncle and two cousins, are under investigation for murder, adding that all are supposed to have taken part in the crime.
    

    Saman Abbas, who lived in the northern town of Novellara, reportedly refused to come to Pakistan to marry her cousin.
    

    “Saman, tonight you are not alone and you will never again be alone,” Mayor Elena Carletti said in a video posted on the local news website Reggioonline.
    

    In May, Mayra Zulfiqar 24-year-old girl was found dead in Lahore, who had arrived in Pakistan with her parents about two months ago to attend a family wedding. Prior to her brutal murder, she had asked police for protection after accusing a man of abducting her at gunpoint.