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  • Rihanna apologises for including Islamic Hadith in fashion show

    Rihanna apologises for including Islamic Hadith in fashion show

    Rihanna has apologised for including a recording of an Islamic verse in a song played during a fashion show for her lingerie brand Savage x Fenty. According to details, the song Doom by producer Coucou Chloe included a remix of a Hadith narration when played during a segment of the show. The singer received immense backlash from the Muslim community for her irresponsible act.

    Sharing her apology to her Instagram stories, the 32-year-old thanked the Muslim community for highlighting the issue and apologised for hurting their sentiments.

    “I’d like to thank the Muslim community for pointing out a huge oversight that was unintentionally offensive in our Savage x Fenty show, I would more importantly like to apologise to you for this honest, yet careless mistake.”

    “We understand that we have hurt many of our Muslim brothers and sisters and I’m incredibly disheartened by this! I do not play with any kind of disrespect toward God or any religion and therefore the use of the song in our project was completely irresponsible!,” she continued.

    “Moving forward we will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. Thank you for your forgiveness and understanding,” she wrote.

    The song’s music producer also Chloe apologised for the “offence caused by the vocal samples used” in her song and said that they are in process of removing the song from all streaming platforms.

    https://twitter.com/coucou_chloe/status/1313137644226908162?s=20

    Rihanna had ignited backlash after she used a song that included sacred Islamic verses during her second Savage x Fenty lingerie fashion show. During the show, which streamed on Amazon Prime on Friday, lingerie models had danced to the song Doom. The song, released in 2017, includes a remix of a hadith narration about the end of times and judgment day.

    After the news came to light, Feroze Khan expressed his outrage over the matter and tweeted: “You are filth Rihanna.”

    Read more – Feroze Khan invites Kangana Ranaut to Pakistan for tea

    However, after the singer apologised. Feroze deleted his tweet and accepted her apology.

  • ‘Ignorant’ Imran: Many… many… things PM Imran said he ‘didn’t know about’

    ‘Ignorant’ Imran: Many… many… things PM Imran said he ‘didn’t know about’

    With Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry saying that Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan had no idea about the sedition case against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bigwigs, including ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, netizens have sprung to action to remind the people of things “ignorant Imran” said he “didn’t know about”.

    Former PM Nawaz and his loyalists, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and three former military generals, were on Monday booked for “conspiring against the state” after the deposed premier’s fiery speeches against the government and state institutions.

    “The PM didn’t know anything about the case. When I brought it to his attention, he expressed extreme displeasure,” Fawad tweeted after Twitterati called out the government for going after political leaders on sedition charges.

    With Fawad’s claims making headlines, netizens didn’t hold back and started reminding each other of all the times PM Imran, during interviews or in statements, said he did not know about occurrences on his watch as the country’s chief executive, as well as things the premier should have known about.

    PETROL PRICE HIKE:

    Imran came under fire after his government jacked petrol prices by Rs25 per litre with his approval, but he was quoted by reports as saying that he did not know anything about it.

    UIGHUR MUSLIMS’ PLIGHT:

    Despite overwhelming evidence of systematic suppression of Uighur Muslims in China, the PM, during an interview with a foreign media outlet, said he had no idea about what was happening in China’s Xinjiang region.

    MATIULLAH JAN’S ABDUCTION:

    A vocal critic of the Imran Khan-government and the military establishment, journalist Matiuallah Jan, was abducted earlier this year. With condemnations by journalists and activists pouring in from around the world, the government said it didn’t know anything about what was alleged to be a brief but illegal detention by security agencies.

    DEVALUATION OF RUPEE:

    As United States dollar (USD) started gaining value against the Pakistani rupee (historic Rs142 in the inter-bank market) soon after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government took reins of the country, the premier and his aides on finance were quoted as saying that they knew nothing about it.

    The PM reportedly said he was unaware of devaluation of rupee.

    THAT’S NOT ALL:

    Since coming to power over two years ago, the premier and his minister have repeatedly said that they didn’t know how bad the economy was.

    They have time and again being criticised for feigning ignorance over the state of affairs and accusing their predecessors of looting the masses.

    It was also highlighted by senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former Sindh governor in an opinion piece from February 2019.

  • VIDEO: Coronavirus patient Trump spotted gasping for breath

    VIDEO: Coronavirus patient Trump spotted gasping for breath

    United States (US) President Donald Trump has officially been discharged from Maryland’s Walter Reed Medical Center following his coronavirus diagnosis and is back at the White House.

    Upon his return, Trump removed his mask for a photo op, despite still being very much infected with the highly contagious disease. However, it was not a pretty scene.

    Pictures and videos show the US president climbing a set of stairs at the White House and gasping for breath.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Though his doctors concede he is not yet “out of the woods” in his fight against COVID-19, Trump has framed the disease as in the past, “Now I’m better and maybe I’m immune? I don’t know. But don’t let it dominate your lives.”

    At least 11 of the president’s aides or allies have either contracted the virus or — in the case of his daughter Ivanka — are working from home. Entire suites of offices sit vacant as Trump’s aides work to isolate him in the residence and out of the West Wing.

  • VIDEO: Women attacked by shopkeeper for making him show too many clothes

    VIDEO: Women attacked by shopkeeper for making him show too many clothes

    Police have arrested shopkeepers who were abusing women in Hyderi Market, Karachi for not buying anything after making him unfold too many clothes from the stack.

    According to details, the incident took place in a cloth shop located in Karachi’s famous Hyderi market. The seller got angry at the women and started physically assaulting them after a heated argument.

    The female buyers also beat up the shopkeeper and slapped him while the shopkeeper pushed the woman down.

    Police after being informed about the incident reached there and arrested the shopkeeper. However, the victims refused to register a first information report (FIR) against the shopkeeper.

    Video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ze62ryHs70
  • Imran govt likely to rid PIA of Rs500 billion debt

    Imran govt likely to rid PIA of Rs500 billion debt

    The federal cabinet is likely to take a decision regarding the hefty Rs500 billion debt burden on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

    According to reports, PIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Marshal (r) Arshad Mahmood Malik will brief the federal cabinet, scheduled to meet today (Tuesday), about restructuring reforms introduced in the national carrier to make it self-sustainable “without seeking financial help from the government”.

    “Even with operational profits, the airline will not not be able to come out of the financial quagmire,” reports quoted sources as saying. “The burden of debt servicing is unsustainable.”

    They said the cabinet would also be briefed on the airline’s foodservice division (FSD), technical ground service (TGS), base management of the engineering department, revenue enhancement strategies, human resource restructuring, financial restructuring, and measures pertaining to Precision Engineering Complex (PEC).

    The PIA management has been evaluating the possibility of giving a management contract of food services at Karachi and Islamabad. While this will not generate much in terms of cost-saving, it will definitely improve product quality and customer satisfaction.

    Similarly, the PIA management has been evaluating the possibility of giving an operation and management contract for technical ground service.

    Reports said the airline is also evaluating different options to get out of the courier business which was launched by PIA in 2003. It has been considering outsourcing or partnering options for Speedex.

    Moreover, they added, the airline is tackling revenue enhancement strategies, route rationalisation, product improvement, yield enhancement, enhanced focus on corporate business, network optimisation, ancillary revenue, codeshare of the alliance to expand the network, revamping of web business portal and offering special packages for online users and reduction in distribution cost by implementing HITIT portal plus.

  • Aunts murder 2-year-old nephew over ‘jealousy’ with brother’s wife

    Aunts murder 2-year-old nephew over ‘jealousy’ with brother’s wife

    Two women were arrested in Uttar Pradesh, India for allegedly murdering their two-year-old nephew over “jealousy” with his mother. They killed their nephew and hid his dead body in the wardrobe after covering it with a blanket.

    As per reports, the child had gone missing and on September 29, the family approached the local police station and registered a case for “missing person”.

    Later that night, the toddler’s body was recovered from the wardrobe and taken to a hospital where doctors confirmed the death and determined asphyxiation (the state or process of being deprived of oxygen) to be the cause behind his death.

    “The matter was investigated and the two aunts were questioned based on evidence indicating their involvement. The two women have confessed to killing the child and have been arrested,” stated police officials.

    The incident took place when accused Pinki, who is married and is the elder sister of co-accused Rinki, had visited her parent’s house. 

    Both siblings, around 30 years of age, told police that they were upset with the child’s mother Sapna, the wife of their brother, over her attitude towards them, according to the police.

    They were also “jealous” of Sapna as their brother always supported her and often taunted the sisters on various issues, giving rise to hatred among them that led to the extreme step by the duo, the police said.

    They added that an FIR has been filed against them at the Surajpur police station.

     

  • Quiz – How well do you know Prime Minister Imran Khan?

    Quiz – How well do you know Prime Minister Imran Khan?

  • Shirakat animations — a way towards progressive thinking and self-analysis

    Shirakat animations — a way towards progressive thinking and self-analysis

    Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Shirakat works on human rights, especially women’s rights in Pakistan.

    The NGO has recently released some animated videos addressing different social issues, including harassment, discriminatory behaviours, sexual abuse and domestic violence against women, to change mindsets and dismantle patriarchy and stereotypes that equally affect both men and women.

    The videos’ topic, script, voiceovers and colourful animations are put together rather well, which keep viewers engaged throughout the videos. The videos have subtitles and are also being explained via sign language.

    Talking to The Current, Shirakat Executive Director Bilquis Tahira said that the project’s main focus is to convey messages like how the brought up of daughters and sons develop a certain mindset and then the behavior and reaction of both men and women accordingly construct our society.

    “This project is on GBV (Gender-Based Violence) prevention. We have made this to engage women’s voices because most perpetrators of domestic violence are men and the victims are women. And we believe that we will have to change the behaviors of both men and women or boys and girls equally because they live in the same society”, she said.

    “We have used this medium of animation because the videos are short and interestingly represented to give the message of positive masculinity also so that people can use these short video messages for self-analysis.”

    “We do not say that this project will completely change the mindset of the people but these short videos are based on real stories and we have obviously crafted those but these are the incidents that normally happen. The goal is to make people think about their behaviours, men and women both to analyse that should they be reacting like this in a certain situation.”

    She added: “We have chosen the topics from our previous 20 years’ work on violence against women. We have understood the pattern of abuse, how an abuser is not stopped, how an abuser’s behaviour is constructed and how the community enhances his behaviour.”

    Read: “““““Tips to raise kids in line with Islamic values

    Speaking about the need to develop progressive thinking in our coming generations, she said, “If we start teaching our children from an early age that we all are humans, everybody has equal rights regardless of their gender. If we start changing the behaiovurs from their childhood so we can be more peaceful as a society. If kids are seeing negative messages from society and they also watch these positive messages, then they get to see the positive side also. They can relate to these stories and bring change in their behaviours.”

    Shirakat believes that the main focus of developing progressive thinking should be on the younger generation and particularly on kids.

    They run an ‘Early childhood care programme’ and have concluded from their experience that “the earlier you catch them the better”. Working on children’s thinking is more convenient, long-lasting and can be more powerful.

    The Current also talked to Wakhra Studios who are behind the animations in this project. The team told The Current that they keep in mind the demographics and psychological aspects of society and its members.

    “We try to keep them short with fewer dialogues and more animations so that it is more attractive and understandable. We have also added key messages at the end of the videos so that every person can understand it.”

    They said that while making these, they keep in mind that no stereotypes are reinforced or communicated via these videos and sentiments of any part of the community are not hurt.

    Answering how much time did it take, they revealed that normally it takes 1.5 to 2 weeks to make an animated video with a duration of three minutes, from the script to the final video

    The project comprises of 24 videos and Shirakat has posted 11 videos on their page yet. You can watch the videos on their Facebook page.

  • Sheheryar Munawar reveals he ‘seriously messed up his shoulder’ in a bike accident

    Sheheryar Munawar reveals he ‘seriously messed up his shoulder’ in a bike accident

    Sheheryar Munawar has finally revealed why he was missing the past few weeks. Turns out the actor had a bike accident and “seriously messed up his shoulder”. Ouch!

    Sharing pictures of himself in the hospital, Sheheryar shared: “So about two months back, I had taken a trip up North, and while riding my motorbike from Gilgit to Hunza I got into an accident.”

    “If it wasn’t for my helmet/protective gear it could have been much worse,” he added. “I had seriously messed up my shoulder (a dislocation, torn muscles, and ligaments) and had to fly to London for surgery. I was operated upon a month and a half back.”

    Sheheryar further said that he is “now out of my sling and fully mobile and up to no good again”.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CF9GNiankrb/

    EXCLUSIVE: Take a sneak peek into Sheheryar Munawar’s diary

    The actor also shared a video his friend made of him riding the bike right before his accident. He also warned his followers that some images in the post might be graphic so viewer discretion is advised.

    Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery.

  • Three ex-army generals, Azad Kashmir PM among Nawaz loyalists booked for ‘conspiring against state’

    Three ex-army generals, Azad Kashmir PM among Nawaz loyalists booked for ‘conspiring against state’

    Deposed prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, three former army generals, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister (PM) Raja Farooq Haider, as well as over a dozen other Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) loyalists, have been booked for “conspiring against the state and its institutions”.

    As per the details, a First Information Report (FIR), a copy of which is available with The Current, was on Monday registered against the PML-N supreme leader among others at Shahdara police station in Lahore, in which sections 120 A and B, 121 A and B, 123 A and B and 124 A and B have been imposed, among other provisions.

    The text of the FIR stated that Nawaz had conspired against Pakistan’s prestigious institutions by making provocative speeches while being in London. The purpose of those speeches was to declare Pakistan a “state of hooligans”, the FIR claimed.

    Among some prominent PML-N leaders nominated in the FIR were Maryam Nawaz, former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Zubair, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Saira Afzal Tarrar and others, The Express Tribune reported.

    The three former generals are Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qayyum and Lt Gen (r) Salahuddin Tirmizi.

    A day earlier, Captain (r) Muhammad Safdar — the son-in-law of the PML-N supremo — was booked under sedition charges for “provoking the people against the state and its institutions”.

    While the PML-N has strongly reacted to the FIR, saying that it shows the government has been left “baffled”, the AJK premier says his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi “must be feeling elated”.

    “As an anti-India Kashmiri, I’m worried about my future now,” he tweeted.