Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hina Pervaiz Butt, in a recent talk show, revealed that she graduated from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) with a GPA of 3.98.
The Current posted a midnight question asking people what their GPA was in university and here is how people responded to the question.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has denied the news that chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari have been invited to attend the oath-taking ceremony of US President-elect Joe Biden on Jan 20.
The denial came a day after a media outlet reported that the PPP chairperson would be attending the inauguration ceremony of the US president-elect and leave for the US on January 18 on a four-day visit. It was being reported that the PPP chief would also meet the US senators.
The report was also denied by PPP senior leader Farhatullah Babar, saying there was no truth to the reports of Bilawal going to the US.
There were little chances of Bilawal attending the ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will only be attended by 1,000 people and most of the celebrations will be held online.
Joe Biden, the Demoracts nominee, was elected as the president in November by defeating incumbent president Donald Trump. Trump had refused to accept the result and contest it in various courts — most of the pleas were dismissed by the judges.
His refusal to accept the result and provocative speeches also resulted in an assault on The Capitol by the far-right supporters last week. These people stormed the building to stop the certification of Biden.
The police and the National Guard managed to evacuate the building after four hours and imposed a curfew. Subsequently, Trump asked his supporters to remain calm and announced that he would support the peaceful transition of power.
Immediately after the certification, the White House released a statement from Trump in which he pledged an “orderly transition” on Jan. 20 when Biden will be sworn into office. Since then, the US president has attracted permanent bans on Twitter and Facebook for inciting violence.
I’m not going to introduce you to a member of The Current today, mostly because I want to introduce her when her video goes on this week. Most of you guys already know who she is since, “Where’s Urooj” is one of the most common messages we get when we go live from our office.
Today we start off the newsletter is what I believe is the most important issue of all. The #MeToo movement has given courage to a lot of voiceless victims of sexual abuse and harassment and I am always hopeful that we in Pakistan, also take this seriously. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s aide Ziaullah Bangash has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman hailing from Kohat. She has asked PM to take notice. Bangash has denied these claims but if we are to make our country safe for women, the government must investigate this incident. Will it? I don’t know and am doubtful but at this point, we can also report the incidents, keep them alive and hope that the government protects its women.
We know Zulfi Bukhari to be someone who is PM Khan’s very good friend and in Quetta he tried to ‘protect’ the PM by asking what the PM would gain if he came to visit the Hazara mourners. His statement created quite a controversy. Ever wonder who he is and why he is so close to the PM? Here is what you need to know. When I met him for the interview we did about a year ago, he took time to loosen up and talk about who he was but once he did, he seemed charming and quite upset at the ‘propaganda’ about his private life.
We all know how the Indian media is used as a propaganda tool by the Modi regime. Well, it’s not something new — as was uncovered by the EU’s DisinfoLab in the ‘Indian Chronicles’. Well, the Indian media has been exposed once again for the lies it peddles. Many Indian media outlets had to apologise for airing a doctored video of Pakistani analyst and former diplomat Zafar Hilaly about the Balakot airstrike. Well, at least they apologised for once!
Here is a video I never thought would be possible. In a viral clip, we see a desi mom asking Boom Boom Afridi if he is indeed Shahid Afridi. “Aray baita idhar aao. Yeh larkiyan keh rahi hain tum Shahid Afridi ho. Aik picture to lelo?” Well, Lala did take a picture with them! The video is hilarious. We also interviewed Lala a year ago when he was promoting his foundation at different universities in Lahore. In the immense crowd of Boom boom-obsessed students, there wasn’t anyone who didn’t recognise him.
You might not recognise a new actor acting in a web series on Pakistan’s first Urdu OTT platform Urduflix. But it is none other than our very own TikToker Hareem Shah who has decided to get into acting. This one might not be one to miss.
I’ll admit I love memes just as much as anyone else and these memes on Whatsapp’s new privacy policy cannot be missed.Also, are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes, the weather isn’t going to be much different tomorrow in the city you’re in. That might just be a good thing!
Until tomorrow!
Marium
Current Baba’s Prediction
Today, you will spot your crush or the love of your life. Magar kisi aur kay saath!
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A Turkish delegation comprising of Diriliş: Ertuğrul executive producer Kamal Tekdin and actor Celal Al recently visited Pakistan where they met Prime Minister Imran Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, Shehryar Afridi, Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui. According to details, the two countries are working together on a joint production to strengthen ties and people-to-people contact.
Sharing pictures from their visit on social media, Humayun wrote that “it was an absolute pleasure to host our Turkish guests”, adding that he and his “friend Adnan Siddiqui are absolutely thrilled to be bringing to you the biggest project ever in collaboration with Kashif Bhai and our Turkish brothers.”
The Jawani Phir Nahi Ani actor then thanked the authorities responsible for making this collaboration possible.
“I would like to especially thank Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi as well as our esteemed ministers Mr Shibli Faraz and Mr Shehryar Afridi who have pledged their full support in bringing this historic project to life.”
Saeed reinstated that the upcoming venture “will be shot in and feature actors from both countries.”
“Here’s to the beginning of a new chapter in Pak-Turkey friendship,” he concluded.
According to a press release by the PM’s office, the meeting between the two parties discussed in detail the proposed television series being created in collaboration between Pakistan and Turkey on the Khilafat Movement among other future projects and the lost glory of the Pakistani entertainment industry.
PM Khan, during the meeting, emphasized on showcasing the golden era of Muslims’ Rule in the subcontinent in dramas and films to apprise the youth about that golden age and to foil negative propaganda and designs.
The PM said that the Pakistani film and drama industry needed to work for the promotion of local culture to apprise western-influenced youth of their indigenous values and to protect them from social evils, adding that the Pakistani film and drama industry will flourish by producing quality content. This will also provide a substitute for the superficial and glamourized broadcast content to the youth.
Meanwhile, producer Tekdin said that the Turkish team is very happy over Pakistan’s cooperation in this project, which will highlight cultural commonalities between the two countries.
The Prime Minister assured the Turkish team that his government will provide full cooperation in this regard.
Meanwhile, Diriliş: Ertuğrul’s Nurettin Sönmez (Bamsı Beyrek) and Ayberk Pekcan (Artuk Bey) also arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday along with a 20-member delegation including Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
If there is someone who truly knows how to stay in the headlines without even trying, it is Kamran Akmal.
The cricketer, who was recently “shocked and disappointed” with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for ignoring him, has been sharing videos of himself training and working out at the gym to demonstrate his fitness.
All was going well for Kamran until he posted a video of himself doing hip thrusts while his trainer Zeeshan stood on him. Soon after the video was posted, Twitter couldn’t get enough of Kami Bhai and his workout. Check out some of the reactions below:
@KamiAkmal23 Happy Birthday Kami & joyous returns. Need to talk to you. The video you posted on your account doing Barbell Hip Press there was much leaving me concerned. We need to rectify. You are role model for many. Only correct technique should be promoted. My respects.
Someone has put this video on Facebook as well and nearly every second comment is about what if the feet of the dude on top slip a bit. https://t.co/qIsDRtoIVm
— C:HaveYouTriedTurningItOff&On¿ (@GhostOfDiaby) January 12, 2021
Some social media users couldn’t help poking fun at senior journalist Ansar Abbasi by tagging him and asking him to take action. Abbasi had earlier been criticised for urging Prime Minister Imran Khan and Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz to take notice of a woman exercising on state-owned Pakistan Television (PTV) News.
British-Pakistani actor Riz Ahmed has revealed that he is married. While initially, the actor did not share the name or details about his wife, he later revealed that he married US novelist Fatima Farheen Mirza, who is a New York Times best-selling author whose books include A Place for Us.
Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ahmed shared how he met Mirza in New York while preparing for his latest film.
“She’s an amazing novelist. We met so randomly while I was preparing for this role, for Sound Of Metal when I was in New York,” said the 38-year-old actor. “We both sat down at the same table in the cafe where we both turned up to write. We were both jostling over the same laptop plug points, like a very modern way of meeting.”
“And we struck up a friendship and reconnected down the line. But it’s weirdly like one of the many things about preparing for this role that was so special, it just brought a lot of goodness into my life,” he continued.
“Obviously I met Fatima for the first time and met so many people in the deaf community that have become friends. There’s just something about this whole period around this film that was kind of life-changing,” he added.
Ahmed had first revealed that he was married during a BBC podcast Grounded With Louis Theroux. In the podcast, the actor had shared that he hadn’t been married for “very long” and is currently residing in North California because that’s where his wife’s family is from.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve ever mentioned it in an interview,” Riz had said. “So, congratulations on this incredibly exciting scoop.”
“I don’t really feel it’s generally that relevant [his private life], so I don’t delve into my personal life or dating history. I guess I don’t feel like it’s that necessary to go, ‘Hey, here’s everything that’s happening in my life’,” he added.
Ahmed recently won the Best Actor award at the Gotham Awards for his performance in Sound Of Metal. In his acceptance speech, Riz paid a rich tribute to the late Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, by quoting a lesson Khan gave to his son Babil.
“Surrender to the dance of uncertainty. It feels like a wobbly time. If we can wobble together we may find each other dancing,” said Riz, quoting Khan.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, who welcomed their baby girl on Monday, have sent gifts to photographers along with a personalised note in which they requested them not to take pictures of their little one.
According to photographer Viral Bhayani, Anushka and Virat sent a box of goodies which includes sweets, dry fruits and chocolates to him and his team. The gift box also included a message for the photographers, written in Hindi and English which read: “We want to protect the privacy of our child and we need your help and support.”
“While we will always ensure that you get all the content you need us featuring us, we would request you to kindly not take or carry any content that has our child,” it added.
Earlier, Anushka had slammed a photographer and publication for capturing and posting her Virat’s private moment.
Taking to Instagram, Sharma had posted the picture taken by the photographer and wrote, “Despite requesting the said photographer and publication, they still continue to invade our privacy.”
“Guys! Stop this right now,” she had added.
Speaking to Vogue Magazine, Anushka had said that she wants to raise her child away from media attention as she does not want to “raise brats”.
“We’ve thought about it a lot. We definitely do not want to raise a child in the public eye—we don’t plan on engaging our child in social media,” the actor had said. “I think it’s a decision your child should be able to take. No kid should be made to be more special than the other. It’s hard enough for adults to deal with it. It’s going to be difficult, but we intend to follow through.”
Meanwhile, veteran Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has praised the photographers for accepting and respecting the couple’s request, adding that the photographers had been very kind to her also when her children were younger.
Iqra Aziz and Yasir Hussain never shy away from expressing their love for each other on social media and fans always enjoy their online romance. In their latest exchange, the couple indulged in an online banter about each others’ picture taking skills.
In an Instagram story, Iqra shared that when she asks her husband to take a photo of her, he does not take it well and when she takes a picture of him, it’s always perfect.
In reply to her post, Yasir said, “Shame on you. All the good photos of you are taken by me not Tapu Jaberi[Javeri].”
The couple recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary.
Netflix has announced it will release more than 70 movies this year across comedy, drama, family and other genres, a lineup that underscores the streaming service’s growing prominence in the film business. It added that it plans to release a new movie every week for the entire year of 2021.
Sharing the news on their website, Netflix said: “This year’s line-up will surprise and delight cinephiles across the globe with films from award-winning filmmakers, including Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog), Paolo Sorrentino (The Hand of God), and Adam McKay (Don’t Look Up).”
“We’re bringing you a year of films filled with more of the things we know our members love – zombies (Army of the Dead), cowboys (The Harder They Fall,Concrete Cowboy), and high school romance (including the culmination of the To All the Boys and The Kissing Booth trilogies).”
“We’re re-introducing you to teen screams (Fear Street trilogy, There’s Someone Inside Your House), turning your favourite books into films (The Woman in the Window, Munich, The Last Letter from Your Lover), bringing you more adrenaline-pumping blockbusters (Red Notice, Sweet Girl, Kate) and giving your family a reason to say yes to watching films together (YES DAY, Back to the Outback, Finding ‘Ohana).”
“Netflix will bring you a new movie every week featuring the biggest stars including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sandra Bullock, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Meryl Streep, Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, Gal Gadot, Dave Bautista, Naomi Watts, Jake Gyllenhaal, John David Washington, and Octavia Spencer.”
The Netflix pace of releasing more than one film per week dwarfs that of other Hollywood studios. Disney, by contrast, currently plans to debut roughly two dozen movies this year in theatres and on its Disney+ streaming service, including four Marvel Studios films and two from Pixar.
The Netflix 2021 schedule includes 18 dramas, nine thrillers, eight animated films and eight romances.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released its documentary titled ‘Chiragh-e-Rah: Beacons on the Path of Glory’ that highlights the role played by the country’s security forces in the socio-economic development of Pakistan’s remote areas.
According to the military’s media wing, the documentary underlines the role played by Pakistani security forces in the socio-economic development of remote areas along the western borders.
The security forces measured the threats and countered the nefarious designs head-on with a comprehensive strategy. The essence was to achieve enduring peace reinforced with a population-centric and community-driven developmental approach, through stabilisation of the western zone by defeating insurgency; concurrent mainstreaming and education of youth to make them useful members of the society, read an Instagram post by the ISPR.
“Having addressed the menace of fear, terrorism and uncertainty, a new era of development and progress has been launched with the assistance of the government,” it read.
“May it be: • Communication infrastructure like roads, tunnels and bridges to connect these remote areas to main cities. • Establishment of modern and progressive education system for the youth of the area. • Women empowerment initiatives. • Providing basic health facilities, provision of clean drinking water • Encouraging economic activities through promoting local industries • Mineral resources and tourism, providing sports grounds and other facilities for healthy and positive activities and to promote local talent • Restoration of law and order, establishing writ of the government. The documentary highlights that; the day is not far when these areas will be at par and in pace with other developed parts of the country.”
