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  • Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ad

    Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ad

    Land grabbers are reportedly selling parts of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest through advertisements on Facebook.

    Facebook says that “we are ready to work with local authorities,” but they are not willing to take independent action of their own to halt the trade.

    “Our commerce policies require buyers and sellers to comply with laws and regulations,” the Californian tech firm added.

    Campaigners have also said that the government of Brazil is unwilling to halt the sales.

    “The land invaders feel very empowered to the point that they are not ashamed of going on Facebook to make illegal land deals,” said Ivaneide Bandeira, head of environmental NGO Kanindé.

    Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon is at a 10-year high. Now, Facebook’s Marketplace has become a selling site for grabbers.

    A journalist has recorded footage of a landgrabber, Fabricio Guimarães showing areas he is selling on Facebook.

    “There’s no risk of inspection by state agents here,” said Fabricio as he walked through a patch of rainforest he had burnt to the ground.

    Fabricio Guimarães land grabber

    The land illegally cleared and ready for farming is priced at $35,000.

    Fabricio is not a farmer. He has steady middle-class job in a city, and views the rainforest as being an investment opportunity.

    Another factor driving the illegal land market is the expectation of amnesty.

    One landgrabber revealed he was working with others to lobby politicians to help them legally own stolen land.

    “I’ll tell you the truth: if this is not solved with President Bolsonaro there, it won’t be solved anymore,” he said of the current government.

    A common strategy is to deforest the land and then plead with politicians to abolish its protected status, on the basis it no longer serves its original purpose.

  • ‘Wake up and clap’: PM seeks applause over plan to save Rs6,000 billion

    ‘Wake up and clap’: PM seeks applause over plan to save Rs6,000 billion

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, during an address in Lahore, took a jibe at the audience, comprising federal and provincial ministers, over their lacklustre, rather sleepy, response to his speech.

    Speaking about his government’s project to control the unplanned growth of Lahore, the PM said Central Business District (CBD) project at the Walton Airport site would help create much-needed wealth to pay off foreign loans.

    https://twitter.com/ReemKhurshid/status/1365272068095438852

    By shifting the Walton Airport from the centre of the city, the prime minister said, some much-needed Rs6,000 billion would be generated.

    The PM excepted clapping at his plan to save Rs6,000 billion, but the lawmakers and the cabinet members remained non-responsive to the PM’s potential super-saving plan. This prompted PM Imran to complain that the lawmakers did not even acknowledge such a mega project to generate wealth, asking whether they were up all night.

    The venue later continued resounding with applause as the prime minister narrated achievements of his government.

  • Multan Sultans clarify ownership status

    Multan Sultans has officially announced that the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise is no longer owned by Ali Khan Tareen and Alamgir Tareen is now the sole owner of the #JanoobKiPehchaan.

    Read more – ‘Sorry Lala’: Haris Rauf apologises to Afridi for dismissing him

    “Pursuant to an agreement between the co-owners, the franchise has started it’s HBL PSL6 journey under the sole management of Mr Alamgir Tareen,” read an official statement issued by the team. “Internal process for the transferring of the ownership rights has already begun and all formalities shall be concluded soon.”

    “The Multan Sultans franchise appreciates the contributions made by Mr Ali Tareen during the last two seasons and the franchise will no doubt continue to benefit from his support,” it continued.

    “Meanwhile, Mr Ali Tareen intends to increase his focus on grassroots cricket development projects and the domestic cricket structure in particular in South Punjab,” added the statement.

    Earlier, journalist Umar Farooq Kalson had stated: “The Multan Sultans ownership consortium has been broken. Alamgir Tareen has taken over complete ownership of the franchise, with Ali Tareen no longer with the franchise in any capacity.”

    Another senior journalist Faizan Lakhani had shared the news and said: “Ali Tareen will now shift focus to Southern Punjab region.”

    The franchise came into existence in 2018 and since then, the side’s ownership was partnered by Ali-Alamgir and a few authoritative persons.

  • ‘Aakhir kitni khoobsurati kaafi hain?’: Sania Mirza calls for rethinking of ‘beauty standards’

    Sania Mirza has protested against ‘beauty standards’ set by the society and has called for them to be redone.

    Sharing an advertisement of a personal care brand which highlights false beauty standards set by society for women and how women are tested on the basis of those standards at the time of marriage, the tennis star said: “At 8 years of age, I heard people tell my parents ‘Don’t let her play out in the sun if she gets dark who will marry her’.”

    “How I wish I could go back in time and show this film then and ask aakhir kitni khoobsurati kaafi hain?,” she questioned.

    Mirza continued: “I am glad I stepped out in the sun because it made me who I am. The tan lines, the biceps, not meeting societal beauty standards, it was totally worth it.”

    The Indian tennis champion urged people to speak up against false beauty standards saying: “As a daughter of this country, I urge each one of us – parents, brothers, daughters, future-in-laws, to speak up and step up.”

    Mirza also shared the advertisement on her Twitter handle also with the caption: “Wish I had this film to show those who told me I wouldn’t find a husband if I got dark playing in the sun. Glad I have it now.”

    Earlier, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas has also said that she regretted promoting skin-whitening creams. 

    Speaking to Marie Claire, Chopra-Jonas had said: [Skin lightening] was so normalized in South Asia; it’s such a large industry that everyone was doing it. In fact, doing it is still a check [mark] when you are a female actor, but it’s awful.”

    “And it was awful for me, for a little girl who used to put talcum-powder cream on my face because I believed that dark skin was not pretty,” she said, adding that she hated being described as “dusky” by industry influencers and the media.

  • Fashion weeks have lost their charm, says HSY

    Fashion weeks have lost their charm, says HSY

    Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), in a recent interview with The Current, agreed that recent fashion weeks have lost their charm.

    Responding to a question on if he thinks fashion weeks have lost their charm, HSY said: “I do. Fashion weeks have lost their charm because everyone looks alike now. All shows are sticking to the same formula now.”

    “I think all shows should have a different identity because two shows with similar choreography, background and format would leave people bored,” he continued.

    “The spice in fashion is diversity,” added the designer.

    Read more – HBCW21: More stars than fashion

    When asked which fashion statement he thinks need to be thrown out of the window, HSY said: “A fashion statement is your self-reflection. If I tell you to throw something out of the window, then that’s not your self-reflection. I don’t believe in trends, trends are what you like.”

    “If you think a statement is good for you, do it,” he added.

    Later, while responding to a question on if the fashion industry is a toxic place, HSY said: “I’ve heard that working at a grocery store is also very toxic. I’ve heard that a fight between your aunts at home is also very toxic. I’ve heard that if two people get into a fight while changing a car’s tyres at a workshop, even that is very toxic.”

    “Toxicity is where you find it,” said the designer. “And peace is where you find it. If you find peace in where you are, it’s not [toxic].”

    “I think people should talk less and work more,” he added.

    Meanwhile, HSY also shared that he does not tire of dressing Reema because “she is not only beautiful but she is also very appreciative”.

    HSY, during the interview, also gave a tour of his new studio in Lahore, shared details of his fan moment with Tom Cruise, and opened up on how he deals with controversies when people pass unwarranted statements during his talk shows.

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • ‘Creepy’ or ‘magical’: With deepfake, you can reanimate anyone

    ‘Creepy’ or ‘magical’: With deepfake, you can reanimate anyone

    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and advance editing software have made it difficult to differentiate between real and fake content and it is enough to shatter the sense of reality.

    Telephone scams, catfishing schemes and social media trolling campaigns can all be launched with such fakery, and they can create equally unexpected consequences.

    People are taking fake content to the next level with this new technology. Recently, a TikToker used deepfake to mimic Tom Cruise, and it is shocking how well the video replicated his famous laugh.

    @deeptomcruise

    Sports!

    ♬ original sound – Metaphysic.ai

    A few things can tell that it is not Tom Cruise. First, the voice is quite different; especially the lip-syncing is a bit off at some points as you can hear the real Tom Cruise in this video.

    There are glitches in the movement tracking and lighting in the content, especially in the golf video where the sunglasses disappear, and his mouth morphs for a frame or two.

    Even with small glitches of technical details, it is difficult to differentiate between fake and real.

    Recently a genealogy site MyHeritage has launched a tool where you can upload any picture, especially old ones to animate faces with deepfake technology of dead relatives. They have acknowledged that some people might find this feature “creepy” but others might consider it “magical”.

    We used deepfake technology on Gen. Ziaul Haq to test the feature

    The company deliberately avoid using speech feature in the creation to avoid “deepfake people.” The government of the United Kingdom (UK) is planning to pass legislation on this technology.

    The Law Commission is considering proposals to make it illegal to created deepfake videos without consent.

  • ‘Tea is fantastic’: Pakistan Twitter has not forgotten Abhinandan

    On Feb 27, 2019, Pakistan shot down an Indian plane and captured its pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan and Twitter hasn’t forgotten it. The retaliation was in response to Balakot strikes that India conducted in Pakistan to destroy an alleged terror camp in Balakot, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

    To mark the downing of the Indian plane, Pakistan had announced to celebrate ‘Surprise Day’ on February 27 as a tribute to the retaliatory attack by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) after India’s Balakot airstrike.

    On Feb 27, 2019, the PAF carried out Operation Swift Retort and shot down two Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft and dropped bombs within the compounds of Indian military facilities in occupied Kashmir – as a warning to the country’s belligerent neighbour.

    The Pakistani military had lived up to its promise to ‘surprise’ India in wake of any misadventure, saying that ‘uncalled-for aggression’ from the Indian military  ‘would not go unpunished.

    PM Imran Khan also congratulated the entire nation on the second anniversary of Pakistan’s response to India’s military adventure.

    MEMES GALORE:

    The capture of the pilot and his subsequent video released by Pakistan has become a butt of many a joke: ‘Tea is fantastic’ most famous among them. Abhinandan was freed by Pakistan on March 1 as a peace gesture, but he has left many meme trends in his wake.

    So today, Twitter is buzzing with Abhinandan-related trend again. ‘HappySurpriseDayIndia’, ‘WorldsBiggestTeaParty’, ‘Abhinandan’, and BalakotAirstrikes topped Twitter on the second anniversary of India’s defeat in the dog fight.

    https://twitter.com/Quratulain_abru/status/1365403958920044553
  • I Wanted Him To Be The Father Of My Children

    I Wanted Him To Be The Father Of My Children









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Hey, *|MERGE1|*.  It’s Friday, February 26th.Weather today will be cloudy in Quetta and it will be sunny in other major cities while residents of Islamabad will enjoy some drizzle.

    Today is the beginning of a wonderful trip called a weekend.

    Spend it awesome!

     

    Laila-The Current 

    Morning Meme

    Pakistan to remain on FATF’s grey list

    Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to keep Pakistan in the grey list till June 2021. Pakistan has implemented 24 out of the 27 points of the action plan.

    Open ballot in Senate polls: What do legal experts have to say?

    Show of hands or secret ballot? The Supreme Court has observed that matters related to ballot secrecy had been left to the parliament and would be decided by it. In this regard, The Current reached out to lawyers Reema Omer and Muhammad Ahmad Pansota to have their opinion on the matter.

    Read on

    Tech Review 

    One of Pakistan’s most popular apps, #FoodPanda took the country by storm when it became the leading #FoodDelivery platform. However, in recent times, there have been complaints against the alleged #Exploitation by the #DeliveryService. We speak to a #Vendor and a #Customer who were affected by the service and find out reasons why issues are creeping up, in this week’s Tech Review.

    Watch

    Yasir Hussain vs Nausheen Shah: Who said what?

    Yasir hussain said ke unhon ne apni shaadi me Nausheen Shah ko invite nahin kia tha and she came as an uninvited guest , jispe Nausheen replied ke Yasir ne unhe khud call kar ke invite kia tha. 

    Read On

    I wanted him to be the father of my children.

    Shaadi ke bad pehle interview me Sadaf and Shahroz opened up about their relationship and about how they both met. Interview mein Shahroz said ke he liked Sadaf’s morals and Sadaf said ke Shahroz ko dekhne ke baad she knew ke she wanted Shahroz to be the father of her children.

    Read

    Missing out on the news?

    Did govt plan to arrest #RanaSanaullah during by-election in #Daska and #ECP announces re-election in NA-75 on March 18: Here is the recap of yesterday’s top news stories

    Watch

    Saman understands that covid is still very much here 

    Be more like Saman and wear your Mask and ignore Fahad like we all do

    On this Day: 26th February 
     

     

    Historic Oscar win for Pakistan

    Pakistani-Canadian director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, in 2012 became the first Pakistani to win an Oscar for her short-documentary Saving Lives. In her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to all Pakistani women.

    Current Baba’s prediction

    Today you will have a good hair day, don’t forget to take pictures. 

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  • MBS off the hook: US to impose sanctions, visa bans on Saudis over Khashoggi’s killing

    MBS off the hook: US to impose sanctions, visa bans on Saudis over Khashoggi’s killing

    The Biden administration will announce sanctions and visa bans on Friday targeting Saudi Arabian citizens over the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but it will not impose sanctions on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, US officials said.

    US President Joe Biden’s actions in the first weeks of his administration appear aimed at fulfilling campaign promises to realign Saudi ties after critics accused his predecessor, Donald Trump, of giving the Arab ally and major oil producer a pass on gross human rights violations.

    A senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the approach aims to create a new launching-off point for ties with the kingdom without breaking a core relationship in the Middle East. Relations have been severely strained for years by the war in Yemen and the killing inside a Saudi consulate of Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote columns for the Washington Post.

    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved of an operation to capture or kill dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a declassified US intelligence assessment released on Friday in a manner choreographed to limit damage to US-Saudi ties.

    “We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi,” the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in the report posted on its website.

    Importantly, the decisions appear designed to preserve a working relationship with the crown prince, even though US intelligence concluded that he approved the operation to capture or kill Khashoggi.

    “The aim is a recalibration (in ties) — not a rupture. That’s because of the important interests that we do share,” the senior Biden administration official said.

    The 59-year old Khashoggi was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct 2, 2018 and killed by a team of operatives linked to the crown prince. They then dismembered his body. His remains have never been found.

    The US Treasury Department will place sanctions on the former deputy Saudi intelligence chief, Ahmed al-Asiri, and will announce a sanctions designation on the Saudi Royal Guard’s rapid intervention force, the administration official said.

    The rapid intervention force, or RIF, was singled out in the declassified US intelligence report for its role in Khashoggi’s killing.

    The United States will also announce visa restrictions against more than 70 Saudi citizens as part of a new policy aimed at nations that carry out activities against journalists and dissidents beyond their borders, a second Biden administration official said. Such activities include efforts to suppress, harass, surveil, threaten or harm them.

  • Ahmed Ali Butt recounts harrowing experience with COVID-19 in a foreign country

    Ahmed Ali Butt has opened up and shared his struggle with COVID-19 while being stranded in a foreign country.

    “I have been in quarantine for a better two weeks of my life after getting covid +ve, in a country not my own and with people who didn’t understand me,” shared Butt in an Instagram story. “This has been the most isolated and challenging experience of my life as I didn’t have anyone. With Allah’s blessing, I had decent living and eating arrangements.”

    The actor further said: “The isolation was something that I wasn’t prepared for at all. Your mind has the tendency to be your best friend and your worst enemy and mine had a field day with me. These were not the best days I would like to remember from any part of my life,” adding that he wouldn’t wish this experience upon anyone.

    Butt then went on to say that the isolation and experience with COVID taught him to be grateful for his wife and family who helped him recover.

    “I am back in my country and with my wife and son and recovering. Thank you to all the people who found out and stayed in touch during my madness. It means a lot,” concluded the actor.

    Butt did not reveal in which country he was stranded.

    Meanwhile, Ahmed has a string of projects lined up. He was recently in the news for his international film debut, Phatte Dinde Chakk Punjabi for which he was shooting in the United Kingdom.

    According to details, the film is a comedy-drama directed by Smeep Kang and produced by Gippy Grewal. Other members of the cast include famous Punjabi movie stars Grewal, Neeru Bajwa and Anu Kapoor.