Blog

  • Priyanka Chopra reportedly defies lockdown rules in London to visit the salon

    Priyanka Chopra reportedly defies lockdown rules in London to visit the salon

    Priyanka Chopra Jonas has come under fire for defying lockdown and COVID-19 rules in London and visiting a salon. The United Kingdom has been put under total lockdown once again after a new strain of the coronavirus, more lethal than the first, was detected.

    PC, who was shooting for Text For You in London was stranded there due to the lockdown rules. According to reports, she visited a salon in Notting Hill with her mother Madhu Chopra. Spas and salons do not come under basic necessities and after pictures of her visit were widely circulated on social media, they caught the attention of the cops and authorities.

    As per details, the cops reached the salon and confronted the owner. Giving a verbal warning to the owner, they urged them to follow SOPs.

    When then Quantico star was confronted, Priyanka said that she had a valid reason to visit the salon. She had to colour her hair for her upcoming film and the salon was opened only for some private appointments. She was not fined because she was out for work purposes.

    Later, in an official statement, the actor’s spokesperson said Priyanka visited the salon for the purpose of the film and the exemption paperwork allowing her to be at the facility was provided to the police.

    “Following government guidance, Priyanka’s hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations.

    “Film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces that are carried out in line with government guidelines. The exemption paperwork legally permitting her to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied,” the spokesperson added.

    Read more – ‘Remove Priyanka Chopra as goodwill ambassador,’ Mazari writes to UNICEF director

    Meanwhile, the police, in a statement issued said: “Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a COVID breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill.”

    “Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to other sources of advice. No fixed penalty notices were issued.”

    Priyanka has some major Hollywood projects lined up back-to-back. She has The White Tiger up for release on Netflix this month and is currently shooting for a romcom Text For You. She is reportedly also part of Matrix 4 and has officially announced the sequel to We Can Be Heroes.

  • Hazaras agree to call off protests, bury bodies after PM, COAS promise to visit families

    Hazaras agree to call off protests, bury bodies after PM, COAS promise to visit families

    The week-long protests across Pakistan, especially Quetta, in the wake of the killing of Hazara coal miners in Mach have been called off following the successful negotiations between the government and families of the slain miners.

    Federal Minister Ali Zaidi and National Assembly Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri said that the government has agreed to accept the demands of the protesters and the army chief and the prime minister will visit the families of the victims after the last rites.

    Geo reported the leader of the Shuhada Action Committee Agha Raza as saying: the protests had been organised for the sake of the heirs of the deceased and were now being called off with their consent. Subsequently, the protesters in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad also started disbanding late in the night.

    On Friday, PM Imran Khan had drawn flak for saying the Hazara protesters were “blackmailing” him. According to the PM, the government has accepted all demands of the protesters, but their demand that they will not bury their dead unless the prime minister visits them is akin to blackmail.

    Balochistan’s Shia Hazara community had been protesting for the past six days in the freezing temperature of Quetta, refusing to bury their dead, in the wake of the murder of 11 miners in Mach, Bolan. On Sunday, 11 miners were kidnapped from their compound and killed by the armed men.

    The attack was claimed by the Islamic State. The protesters had demanded that the PM visit them personally and give them security assurances or they would not end their protest.

  • Man ‘books entire flight’ to avoid COVID-19

    Man ‘books entire flight’ to avoid COVID-19

    An Indonesian man booked an entire flight to keep himself and his wife safe from COVID-19.

    Richard Muljadi, a Jakarta-based socialist and his wife shared pictures of themselves sitting in an empty aircraft on social media. The couple was travelling from Jakarta to Bali on a Batik Air flight.

    Though Muljadi did not reveal how much he paid for the private flight, he said that it was “still cheaper” than a private plane.

    “After I’d booked as many seats as possible, it was still cheaper than chartering a private jet,” read the caption of one the photos.

    Richard said that he and his wife, Shalvynne Chang, were “super paranoid” about getting infected with the virus.

    “Had to make sure no one else (was on) this flight. We ain’t flying unless it’s just us,” he said in another caption.

    Lion Air Group, which operates Batik Air, confirmed Richard and his wife were the only passengers on the flight. However, the company added that Richard had only booked two tickets in his name, contradicting his claim.

  • Internet flooded with memes after WhatsApp privacy policy update

    Internet flooded with memes after WhatsApp privacy policy update

    After WhatsApp updated its privacy policy that states the company will now be sharing the customer data with Facebook and it is mandatory for the users to accept the privacy if they want to continue using the app, memes on the subject took over the internet.

    Check out some of the most hilarious ones below:

  • ‘Kasautii Zindagi Kay’ star accused of fraudulently marrying Pakistani-American woman

    ‘Kasautii Zindagi Kay’ star accused of fraudulently marrying Pakistani-American woman

    Kasautii Zindagi Kay star Cezanne Khan has been accused of fraudulently marrying a Pakistani-American woman. However, the actor has denied the claims, saying that the marriage certificate has been ‘morphed’.

    According to reports, the woman Aisha Pirani came forward with the allegations after Cezanne, earlier this week, announced that he has been in a relationship for the past three years.

    In an interview, Pirani, who is a US citizen of Pakistani descent, said that Cezanne ‘used’ her to obtain a green card, and filed for divorce promptly after receiving one.

    “I don’t care if he gets married 50 times over now, but why is he hiding the fact that he was married earlier? He cheated on me and used me to obtain a green card in the US and lived off my money. The moment he got the green card, he filed for divorce,” Pirani told The Times of India, sharing pictures of them along with a marriage certificate. The couple was reportedly married from 2015 – 2017.

    Sharing details about their marriage, Aisha said that Cezanne was the reason for her divorce from her first husband.

    “I had some issues in my first marriage and that’s when Cezanne started showing affection towards me when I met him at my husband’s house in Mumbai,” she said.

    According to Aisha, Cezanne moved in with her in her US home after she divorced her husband and shuttled back and forth between US and Mumbai.

    “He hid our marriage from his mother saying she wouldn’t approve of it, being an orthodox woman, who would want a younger daughter-in-law,” stated Aisha. “I let the matter go since I was in love with him, until the second year of our marriage when he began chatting with his former girlfriend. When I objected, he started fighting with me.”

    Aisha also claimed to have written to the US Immigration authorities, and Mumbai police in January and March 2020 in which she alleged that Cezanne has two passports, both of which have a different date of birth. Aisha added that Cezanne started sending her abusive messages after her complaint, which she has saved.

    Rubbishing Aisha’s story, Cezanne said: “I was never married to her. This is a case of an obsessive fan. It’s irrelevant to talk about such people. She is just trying to gain publicity through me.”

    He further said: “She is the sister of my cousin’s wife who lives in Karachi, that’s how I know her. I have no idea about any marriage certificate.”

    “She morphs a lot of stuff. She has been posting messages on social handles for two to three years and my fans have been asking me whether all this is true,” he added.

    He went on to say the woman’s ‘obsession’ was ‘going overboard now’.

    “The fact that she was married to me and we are now divorced is her fabrication. I haven’t said anything to her because I know she is obsessive,” he said.

    Earlier this week, the actor, best known for playing Anurag Basu in the original Kasautii Zindagii Kay, announced that he will tie the knot soon.

    “She is someone special and I am dating her for the past three years. She is from Amroha (Uttar Pradesh). I am in a happy space with her and looking at tying the knot soon. We had planned to get married by the end of 2020 but postponed it owing to the pandemic. We will tie the knot this year,” he had revealed.

  • It’s a wrap for Saba Qamar’s ‘Manjogi’

    It’s a wrap for Saba Qamar’s ‘Manjogi’

    Saba Qamar who was shooting for her upcoming project Manjogi has shared a picture from the last day of shoot with her co-star Agha Mustafa Hassan.

    “It’s a wrap!”, wrote Saba in caption.

    Expressing her delight of working with Mustafa, Qamar wrote: “It was lovely working with you. You’re such an amazing co-star! Sada khush raho.”

    Reposting the photo, Agha said praised Saba, saying that working with her “has been the best experience of my career thus far.”

    Manjogi is an upcoming web series expected to release on Zee5. The web series has been directed by Kashif Nisar and written by Saji Gul.

    The drama will reportedly challenge traditional gender roles.

    The cast of the web series includes Saba Qamar, Naumaan Ijaz, Uzma Hassan, Gul-e-Rana and Agha Mustafa Hassan. The web-series has been shot in different areas of Lahore.

  • ‘They need your shoulder to cry on’: Momina Mustehsan requests PM Imran to visit Machh mourners

    ‘They need your shoulder to cry on’: Momina Mustehsan requests PM Imran to visit Machh mourners

    Pakistani singer, Momina Mustehsan has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Machh mourners.

    In a tweet addressed to PM Imran, the Baari singer wrote: “The nation mourns in solidarity with our Hazara kin.”

    “It is crucial to show solidarity at this hour – regardless of conspiracies, those responsible and those trying to politicize,” said Mustehsan, requesting PM Imran to reconsider his stance.

    “Please do not wait for them to bury their deceased, they need your shoulder to cry on,” she added.

    “Honorable Prime Minister, all eyes are on you. The entire nation is well aware of the persecutions faced by Hazara community for far too long,” said Momina further. “They are one of us and we are one of them.”

    Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, PM Imran had urged the protesters not to “blackmail the premier” because “anyone will be able to blackmail the PM then”, including the Pakistan Democratic Movement.

    According to the PM, the government has accepted all demands of the protesters, but their demand that they will not bury their dead unless the prime minister visits them is akin to blackmail. “If they’ll bury their deceased, I will then visit them,” said the PM.

    Earlier, Malala Yousafzai also requested the Prime Minister to visit Machh mourners.

    Meanwhile, the Oscar winner filmmaker, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy criticised PM to give preference to Turkish filmmakers over Machh mourners.

  • Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    Three men sentenced to death over blasphemous posts

    An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad has sentenced three men to death over blasphemous posts on social media.

    The verdict was reserved in the case on Dec 15, 2020 after a four-year long trial.

    ATC judge Raja Jawad Abbas, while announcing the verdict, said the prosecution succeeded in proving its case against the accused.

    All three accused, Abdul Waheed, Rana Noman Rafaqat and Nasir Ahmed, have been found guilty, the ruling pronounced.

    A 10-year imprisonment sentence and Rs100,000 fine was also awarded to a professor, reported Geo.

    Blasphemy is a sensitive topic in Pakistan. Rights advocates have long been demanding a reform of the controversial laws, introduced by military dictator General Ziaul Haq in the 1980s.

    Human rights groups say blasphemy laws are often misused to persecute minorities or even against Muslims to settle personal rivalries. Such accusations can end up in lynchings or street vigilantism.

  • ‘It’s better to be single and happy than marry the wrong person, says Navin Waqar

    ‘It’s better to be single and happy than marry the wrong person, says Navin Waqar

    Navin Waqar, in a recent Instagram interaction, opened up about her choice of staying single.

    Waqar, who shot to fame with Humsafar, was married to Azfar Ali. The couple parted ways in 2015, after three years of marriage. Since then Navin has chosen to stay single.

    Navin, while talking about her relationship status, said: “There is nothing wrong in staying single.”

    “It is one of the most important phases in a woman’s life where she is independent, where she is getting to live her dreams, achieve her goals, live life to the fullest,” she continued.

    Navin also expressed that she is frustrated with never-ending questions related to her marriage.

    “So many aunties ask me when I am getting married. And my usual reply to them is that it is better to be single and happy than marry the wrong person.”

    She further advised women to not listen “to any kind of trash talk that comes your way”.

    “Understand that life is a gift and you are on this earth to do beautiful and amazing things and you do not have to get married in order to achieve that,” said the actor. “If anybody who is single right now, I think its a great time to make a bucket list and achieve all the things you want.”

    “Single girls do not let it get to you,” she added. “Enjoy your life.”

    Navin was recently seen in ARY Digital’s Bewafa alongside Ali Rehman Khan and Ushna Shah. She is currently playing a prominent role in Hum TV’s horror series, Chalawa.

    Besides Navin, Mehwish Hayat had also said that a woman can be totally happy without marriage and children.

    “Let’s not let society dictate the way we want to lead our life,” Mehwish had said. “I have come to realise that it is possible for a girl in her early 30’s to be totally happy without being married and with children. It’ll happen when it will and not to some timetable.”

  • Consensus on moon sighting? New Ruete Hilal Committee chief for joining forces with Fawad Ch

    Consensus on moon sighting? New Ruete Hilal Committee chief for joining forces with Fawad Ch

    In a first, the newly appointed chief of Ruete Hilal Committee, Maulana Abdul Khabir, has expressed his willingness to adopt scientific knowledge in moon-sighting “within the limits of Shariah”. 

    According to Dawn, Khabir made the remarks during a meeting with Federal Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry who had over the past year made headlines for his tussle with former committee chief Mufti Muneebur Rehman over the Islamic calendar and moon sighting.

    The meeting came after Fawad informed Khabir about setting up observatories in Islamabad for moon sighting. 

    “In this modern age, every problem has been solved with the help of scientific knowledge and only nations that use science are making progress. Islam and science are not contradictory but the importance of knowledge in Islam distinguishes it from other religions,” the publication quoted Fawad as saying.  

    The minister reportedly assured Khabir of full cooperation, adding that his office would support the committee to reach consensus with the help of science. 

    Earlier, Muneeb had opposed Fawad’s offer to use technology in moon sighting and expressed dismay over the minister developing a five-year lunar calendar containing all dates of Islamic events in Pakistan, including Ramzan, Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha and Muharram. 

    The new chairperson, however, has expressed willingness to cooperate and even asked the federal minister to make every effort to take Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai on board to reach a nation-wide consensus on moon sighting. 

    Mufti Popalzai, of Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan mosque, had also opposed use of science and latest technologies. 

    Maulana Khabir has said he would also like to bring the committee on a visit to the ministry to brief them on the importance of scientific research and how it could benefit all, reports say.