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  • Sushant Singh Rajput memorial fund set up for students aspiring to study astrophysics

    Sushant Singh Rajput memorial fund set up for students aspiring to study astrophysics

    On Sushant Singh Rajput’s 35th birth anniversary i.e. January 21, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti has announced that a scholarship programme has been set up for students aspiring to study astrophysics at the Department of Physics at the University of California in the United States.

    “I am happy to announce that on the 35th birthday of bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams,” wrote Shweta on social media.

    “The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. Anyone who is interested in pursuing Astrophysics at UC Berkeley can apply for this fund.”

    “Grateful to the Angels who made it possible,” she added.

    Sushant fascination and interest in science and space is no secret. The actor, who was the owner of the highly advanced Meade 14’’ LX-600 telescope, had even bought a piece of land on the moon in the region called the ‘Mare Moscoviense’ or the ‘Sea of Moscovy’. In an interview, his co-star Bhumi Pednekar revealed that Sushant would carry his telescope to his outdoor shoots so he could see the stars everywhere.

    Earlier, Sushant’s family had announced that they would set up a foundation in his name – the Sushant Singh Rajput Foundation. It would honour his memory and legacy by providing support to young talents in cinema, science and sports – three fields that were close to Sushant’s heart.

    Shweta also wished her late brother by sharing baby pictures of him and their mother.

    “This smile can melt every heart. Happy Sushant Day,” said Shweta. “Happy Birthday my little brother. I hope you always stay happy wherever you are! Love you.”

    Besides the fund, it has also been reported that a road in south Delhi will soon be named after Rajput as the area’s civic body has cleared a proposal for it.

    Read more – Sushant Singh Rajput’s death has highlighted India’s frantic press and the inside world of Bollywood

    Meanwhile, Sushant’s friends, colleagues and other members of the entertainment industry including Kriti Sanon, Preity Zinta, Rajkummar Rao, Kiara Ali Advani, Parineeti Chopra and Shraddha Kapoor celebrated the late actor’s life by sharing photographs, memories and moments from his life.

  • ‘-65 Celcius temperature’: Nepali climbers overcame ‘treacherous’ conditions to make history on K2

    Nepali climbers who made history at the weekend by becoming the first to summit the world’s second-highest mountain in winter told on Wednesday how they battled hurricane-force winds and freezing temperatures to achieve the record.

    The triumphant 10-man team was plucked from Base Camp on the 8,611-metre K2 — known as the “savage mountain” — by a Pakistan Army helicopter and flown to the Shigar Valley, a gateway to the mighty Karakoram range.

    Wearing traditional woollen hats and festooned with garlands, the climbers were received as heroes on the first leg of their journey back home.

    “This winter we came here with the hope that we were going to make this happen,” said Nirmal Purja, one of the leading members of the team and a former Gurkha and British special forces soldier.

    “The weather conditions were really, really horrendous, the temperature was up to minus 65 degrees Celsius — there were hurricane [strength winds] but 10 climbers from Nepal managed to make it happen.”

    One of the climbers told AFP how he almost missed out on making history, briefly giving up in the tough conditions.

    “At camp four I had actually quit, but when I made the radio call […] he didn’t answer,” Mingma Gyalje, known as Mingma G, who had attempted the record last year, told AFP. “I couldn’t leave my team alone like that so when he didn’t answer, I decided to try again.

    “Normally when someone doesn’t answer a call you feel offended, but in this case I am thankful.”

    Despite being famed for their climbing expertise, there has never before been a Nepali climber on a first winter ascent of a peak higher than 8,000m.

    Nepali guides — usually ethnic Sherpas from the valleys around Mount Everest — are considered the backbone of the climbing industry in the Himalayas for bearing huge risks to carry equipment and food, fix ropes, and repair ladders.

    The climbers had been spread across different expeditions at the start, but formed a new group in order to claim the summit in Nepal’s name on Saturday, singing the national anthem as they reached the top.

    “This was not by any means an individual effort — [it was] 10 brothers united like a family, like a brother, and everybody played a really, really important part,” said Purja, who in 2019 broke the record for being the fastest person to conquer every mountain on earth over 8,000m, completing the mammoth challenge in just over six months.

    “The message from here is, the world is going through [a] crisis right now — we have Covid-19, and more than that […] global warming.

    “I think the message is important, that if we all unite together we can make […] anything possible, and hence why the 10 of us worked together to make K2 possible.”

    Unlike Mount Everest, which has been topped by thousands of climbers young and old, K2 is a much tougher and lonelier place.

    Northern Pakistan is home to some of the world’s tallest mountains, including K2, in Gilgit-Baltistan.

    Nestled between the western end of the Himalayas, the Hindu Kush mountains and the Karakoram range, Gilgit-Baltistan has 18 of the world’s 50 highest peaks.

  • Newsletter- 21st January 2021, Thursday

    Newsletter- 21st January 2021, Thursday









    *|MC:SUBJECT|*

    Good morning *|MERGE1|*. it’s the 21st of January. They say Thursday is the best day to start a new habit because you are less likely to be busy with competing priorities like you do on Mondays. So pick a new habit and stick to it. The weather will be nice and warm in the major cities of Pakistan, but Peshawar will have some clouds. 

    Morning Meme

    A new President

    Yesterday, all eyes were on Joe Biden being sworn in as the 46th US President. #InaugurationDay was trending at No. 1 on Twitter in Pakistan. Check out the story below to find out the tweets that sum up the inauguration.
     

    Read

     Imran Khan accused of receiving funding from India’s BJP, Israel

    Political opponents per foreign funding ka ilzam lagana is the easiest tactic used by our politicians, and playing the same foreign funding card, PDM has accused Imran Khan of receiving funding from India and Israel.  

    Read on

    Drama Review

    Samiya se Samra, aur Moosa se Mikaal tak sab desi dramon mein parents apnay bacchon ki pasand kay huay khilaaf. Sab dramon ki aik jaisi stories se bore ho kar Ashar aur Ayesha hogaye confuse.

    Watch

    Jemima says Imran Khan took no money

    Opposition jo marzi kehti rahay but check out this video in which Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima is saying all the right things about our Prime Minister.

    Watch

    Exclusive: The All Girl musical band

    This local All-Girl musical band has taken over social media with a hit new track Mera Nahi Hai. We spoke to these four amazing women in their 20’s about how they are navigating their way through life whilst living their dreams.

    Read

    Fresh allegations of sexual misconduct emerge against Sajid Khan

    More than two years after Sajid Khan was first accused of sexual harassment and misconduct, Sherlyn Chopra has leveled fresh accusations against the Bollywood filmmaker, alleging he had flashed his genitals in front of her and asked her to feel his penis.

    Read On

    Sania Mirza recounts her COVID experience

    Sania Mirza has revealed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 in the beginning of the year.
    In a note posted to social media, the tennis champion said that though she is fine and healthy now, she wanted to share her experience.

    Read On

    Current Baba’s prediction

    You will miss all the work-related deadlines today so maybe today in the office you should focus more on getting things done rather than wasting your time scrolling through Food panda to decide what to order for lunch.

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  • Indian SC issues notice to ‘Mirzapur’ makers, Amazon Prime

    Indian SC issues notice to ‘Mirzapur’ makers, Amazon Prime

    The Supreme Court of India has issued notices to the makers and producers of the web-series Mirzapur and Amazon Prime Video.

    According to reports, a bench headed by Chief justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde admitted the plea and sought a response from the makers of the web-series and Over The Top (OTT) platform Amazon Prime Video.

    The petition sought a direction that the government of India set up a core screening committee for web series, films, or other programmes that are directly released on online platforms.

    The plea said, “The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting must make a certificate from a government authority mandatory before releasing any web series, movies, or program on OTT platforms.”

    “By showing such ridicules and shameless things on the name of a city/ district is the insult of approximately 30 lakh population and rich culture of Mirzapur,” added the plea.

    The PIL was filed by Sujeet Kumar Singh, a resident of Mirzapur, who said the web-series makers had shown Mirzapur as a city of goons and adulteress. The show, which was released on Amazon Prime Video on November 16, 2018, explores crime, murder and general lawlessness in a typically dysfunctional fictional town in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. Its second season was released in October 2020.

    The plea has made the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Excel Entertainment Private Limited and Amazon Prime Video as parties in the case.

    The court’s notice comes two days after an FIR was registered in Uttar Pradesh (UP) against the creators of Mirzapur for hurting “religious, social and regional sentiments” and “damaging social harmony”.

    The FIR was filed by local journalist Arvind Chaturvedi who alleged that the Amazon Prime Video show hurts religious, social, and regional sentiments and damages social harmony. Chaturvedi also claimed that the series has hurt religious beliefs and feelings by focusing on abusive and illicit relationships. It is pertinent to add here that Chaturvedi has also written a book on the life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Chaturvedi also accused the makers of spoiling the image of UP and presenting the city of Mirzapur in a poor light. He claimed that the web series shows abusive content, incest, and illicit relations.

    Meanwhile, Amazon Prime is also under fire for its recently released political drama Tandav. The show is facing backlash for its portrayal of Hindu Gods and it has been alleged that the show depicts them in a poor light. Several BJP leaders have called for a complete ban on the show.

    Tandav creator Ali Abbas Zafar on Tuesday announced that the cast and crew of the show has decided to implement changes in the series in order to pacify viewers who have been hurt because of the content.

    Zafar shared an official statement from the cast and crew of Tandav on Twitter and asserted that the team had no intentions to hurt or offend the sentiments of any caste, race, community, or religion.

    “We have the utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead,” read the statement.

  • Trash on Everest to be turned into art to highlight mountain’s garbage problem

    Trash on Everest to be turned into art to highlight mountain’s garbage problem

    Trash collected from Mount Everest is set to be transformed into art and displayed in a nearby gallery, to highlight the need to save the world’s tallest mountain from turning into a dumping site.

    Used oxygen bottles, torn tents, ropes, broken ladders, cans, and plastic wrappers discarded by climbers and trekkers litter the 8,848.86 metre (29,032 feet) tall peak and the surrounding areas.

    Tommy Gustafsson, project director and a co-founder of the Sagarmatha Next Centre – a visitors’ information centre and waste up-cycling facility – said foreign and local artists will be engaged in creating artwork from waste materials and train locals to turn trash into treasures.

    “We want to showcase how you can transform solid waste to precious pieces of art … and generate employment and income,” Gustafsson told Reuters. “We hope to change the people’s perceptions about the garbage and manage it.”

    The Centre is located at an altitude of 3,780 metres at Syangboche on the main trail to Everest base camp, two days’ walk from Lukla, the gateway to the mountain.

    It is due for “soft opening” to locals in the spring as the number of visitors could be limited this year due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, Gustafsson said.

    Products and artwork will be displayed to raise environmental awareness, or sold as souvenirs with the proceeds going to conservation of the region, he said.

    Trash brought down from the mountain or collected from households and tea houses along the trail is handled and segregated by a local environmental group, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, but the task in a remote region that has no roads is a huge challenge.

    Garbage is dumped or burned in open pits, causing air and water pollution as well as contamination of soil.

    IN PICTURES: Nepali mountaineers first to summit K2 in winter

    Phinjo Sherpa, of the Eco Himal group involved in the scheme, said under a “carry me back” initiative, each returning tourist and guide will be requested to take a bag containing one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of garbage back to Lukla airport, from where the trash will be airlifted to Kathmandu.

  • Adnan Siddiqui, Sheheryar Munawar lambast Cannoli owners for mocking manager’s ‘English’

    Adnan Siddiqui, Sheheryar Munawar lambast Cannoli owners for mocking manager’s ‘English’

    Sheheryar Munawar, Adnan Siddiqui, and Ahsan Khan among other celebrities have slammed the owners of Cannoli Café Soul in Islamabad, Uzma, and Diya, for mocking and ridiculing their restaurant manager for his English speaking skills.

    Sharing his thoughts on the incident, Adnan Siddiqui in a long note posted to Instagram said that he “wish[es] someone had taught them basic courtesy”.

    “The joke’s on them because they just exposed their class, rather lack of it,” said the actor. “Do yourself a favour and find a cure for your colonial hangover.”

    Similarly, Munawar condemned the behaviour of the owners, writing: “Seems like an exaggerated scene out of a 90’s movie, where the mean rich kids pick on the protagonist, making fun of his humble background.”

    “Shame,” he added.

    Expressing his outrage, Ahsan Khan said: “I find it very distasteful that even in today’s world we demean people who work for us just because they can’t speak English.”

    “Such pretentious snobs,” added the actor.

    Ahmed Ali Butt, Sarah Khan and Mushk Kaleem also expressed their distaste over the incident and criticised the disgraceful remarks by the two women.

    Mushk also reminded her followers of the time when Iman Aly had passed a “condescending statement about the current models of our industry.”

    Meanwhile, the owners later issued an apology, saying that they “are saddened and appalled by the reaction of the people, how they have misconstrued our banter with a team member”.

    Social media users, however, are not buying their “fake apology” and have criticised them further for being tone deaf and arrogant.

  • Ahad Raza Mir opens up on nepotism

    Ahad Raza Mir opens up on nepotism

    Ever since the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, there has been a lot of debate on nepotism in the film and entertainment industry. While the debate did not gain a lot of traction in Pakistan, it is still being discussed. Ahad Raza Mir, whose father Asif Raza Mir is an established actor, recently discussed the topic on Anas Bukhash’s talk show.

    Talking about his childhood, Ahad, who grew up in Canada, said that his father always kept him away from the limelight.

    “When I moved back to Pakistan in 2009, I had no idea what this industry was like,” said Ahad.

    The actor went on to say that the reason behind this was probably that his father wanted him to make his own independent decisions and not be influenced in any way.

    “He just wanted me to live my life,” said Ahad. “He himself is the same outside as he is indoors, it’s not like he becomes a star as soon as he walks out of his house. So I guess he never wanted it to get to my head.”

    Ahad then went on to say how there are people who think his presence and success in the industry has everything to do with his father.

    “There will always be that criticism that you’re an actor because your father was an actor. But no, I never knew he was and I went to university, studied, worked professionally in Canada for many years and I think I was just fortunate when I came to Pakistan,” said the actor.

    He continued: “My career started doing well and people said it’s cause I’m a star kid. But there are doctors whose kids are doctors, there are generations in the army and generations in politics, no one bats an eye. But as soon as there’s a child of an actor who starts doing well, everyone starts yelling ‘nepotism’.”

    It is pertinent to add here that Ahad, who debuted in 2017 with Sammi, has several successful projects to his credit including Yakeen ka Safar (for which he bagged a Lux Style Award for Best Actor), Ehd-e-Wafa, and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. He also won the prestigious Betty Mitchell Award for his performance in Hamlet in Canada.

    During the conversation, Ahad also opened up about his childhood, his decision to move back to Pakistan and marry young.

    “I think it was good, pretty normal, kind of hectic because I moved between Pakistan and Canada, so I guess sometimes identity is a challenge,” said Ahad when asked about how his life was while growing up.

    Speaking of his relationship with his parents, Ahad said that he is very close to his parents.

    “My mom is my best friend and with my dad, there’s this respect factor, not that there’s any formality, but I’m good friends with my dad too,” he said.

    Ahad is married to his Yakeen ka Safar co-star Sajal Aly. The two tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Abu Dhabi in March 2020.

    Meanwhile, Ahad is reportedly all set to step in as executive producer for upcoming film Kalasha.

  • Osman Khalid Butt points out the difference between harassment and flirting

    Osman Khalid Butt points out the difference between harassment and flirting

    Osman Khalid Butt used a viral meme to educate people on the difference between harassment and flirting.

    The original meme showed a man and woman indulging in PDA with the caption: “The difference between harassment and flirting is your financial position.”

    Butt cut out the latter part of the caption, writing: “The difference between harassment and flirting is CONSENT.”

    Earlier, Osman had schooled a troll by explaining the difference between intimacy and sex to him.

    Meanwhile, the actor is currently shooting for his upcoming drama Chupke Chupke with Ayeza Khan and Mira Sethi. The comedy-drama, which is expected to go on-air in Ramazan, is being directed by Danish Nawaz.

  • Twitterati slam Cannoli owners for ‘non-apology’

    After the owners of Cannoli Café Soul sparked outrage for mocking their manager for his English speaking skills, they issued an apology which reeks of privelege and arrogance.

    In an official statement, the café said: “We are saddened and appalled by the reaction of the people, how they have misconstrued our banter with a team member.”

    The owners explained that the video showed “casual gup shup” between the owners and their team, adding: “This video depicts the gup shup between us as a team, and is never meant or taken in a hurtful or negative way. If anyone was hurt or offended we apologise, however that was never our intention.”

    The statement further said: “We are not required to prove or defend ourselves as kind employers. Our team has been with us for a decade, that should speak for itself.”

    “We are proud Pakistanis who love our language and our culture,” the statement concluded.

    However, social media users are not buying Cannoli’s apology, with some wishing they had never issued one.

    One user had predicted the entire apology statement.

    https://twitter.com/MirTharkiMir/status/1352214340087279619?s=20

    https://twitter.com/Shehzad89/status/1352231146638225421?s=20
  • ‘Ichhra looking hairpiece’: Nabila receives flak for ridiculing local makeup artist’s work

    ‘Ichhra looking hairpiece’: Nabila receives flak for ridiculing local makeup artist’s work

    Nabila is at the receiving end of flak for leaving “bitter” comments and mocking a makeup artist Fatima Nasir’s work.

    Commenting on Eman Suleman’s post, in which the model had shared pictures from a recent shoot, Nabila wrote: “Great idea, executed badly, especially the Icchra looking hairpiece. When the subject is so beautiful it’s a sin to not up to our game.”

    While Nabila’s comments appear to be well-intentioned, her choice of words did not sit well with the makeup artist and model.

    Defending Nasir, Eman wrote: “I think it’s a job well done, better than any parlour could have done.”

    Instead of ending the debate there, Nabila continued her criticism saying: “In my opinion, the hair finish looks too synthetic and takes away from the regal styling.”

    “Obviously we can choose to be reactive or grow from criticism. I prefer the latter,” added the makeup maestro.

    At this point, Fatima jumped in to defend her work and explained the process behind the hairdo.

    “It’s a lot easier to just criticise someone’s work don’t you think?,” she questioned, to which Nabila replied: “I see you choose to react and defend. All the best.”

    During the exchange, Fatima pointed out to Nabila that it was wrong of her to use the word ‘Ichhra’ to describe her work.

    “Sorry if I hurt you, but false empathy can be interpreted as false flattery in my dictionary. If I were you, I would investigate how I can improve my finishing skills. But you are not me. Let’s leave it at this,” concluded Nabila.

    Soon, models Farwa Kazmi and Rehmat Ajmal also jumped in to defend Fatima and called out Nabila for her comments.

    “It’s sad to see such a condensing and wicked comment coming from a very senior artist who has been in the industry for 35 years. One can only claim their right to criticise when they also praise the work others do,” wrote Kazmi.

    Similarly, Ajmal wrote that the senior makeup artist’s comments were “quite disgusting and off-putting”.

    Farwa further wrote: “If I were you, I would write my opinion and leave my suggestion in a polite way without attacking the artist, the work and the locality which would have been well received.”

    “But you aren’t me, you are Nabila. Let’s leave it at that,” she added.

    Nabila had earlier come under fire when she had demanded for salons to be opened when coronavirus cases were at an all-time high in Pakistan.