Tag: breaking

  • Health benefits of dates

    Health benefits of dates

    Dates are an essential part of the aftar spread in every Muslim household across the globe during the month of Ramzan. Opening your fast with a date is considered Sunnah and the Quran mentions the word 23 times which is why dry fruit holds an important place in the Muslim world. Apart from religious reasons, have you ever thought about why millions of people break their fast with a khajoor and how many health benefits it has?

    To understand more about this little goodness, The Current spoke to Lahore-based dietician and clinical nutritionist, Maria Nadeem Khan.

    Nutritional facts

    “Two dates are enough for fulfilling your nutritional needs,” said Maria, adding: “One date is almost 7 grams, and contains 20 calories, the same number of calories as one tablespoon of sugar. Hence you should be careful while consuming these and not over indulge.”

    “A date contains a number of different vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, folate (folic acid) which are essential for the body,” said Khan.

    Good for hair

    Dates also contain pantothenic acid which is very good for the hair.

    Helps to reduce blood pressure levels

    People with high blood pressure should incorporate dates in their daily diet, said Maria, explaining that fruit contains potassium which helps in lowering the blood pressure level.

    “Dates also contain a good amount of fibre, which helps people facing constipation issues,” she added.

    Can be used as a replacement for white sugar

    Talking about the best way to have dates, Maria said: “Though you can consume a date any way you want, you can also add it to a smoothie, in your oatmeal or even use it a natural sweetener, instead of using white sugar. Dates are a natural sweetener and can be used in many foods.”

    She also said that dates are very good for people whose sugar levels drops frequently.

    Courtesy: Al Jazeera

    Helps in weight loss

    Who would have thought but dates also help in weight loss.

    “Dates help speed up metabolism and when our metabolism speeds up it helps in losing weight,” said Maria, adding that dates also help flush out toxins from the body. This detoxication of the body helps aid weight loss.

    Reduces the risk of cancer

    “Polyphenols in dates helps to reduce the risk of cancer,” said Maria.

    Help you cope up with stress

    Dates contain Vitamin B6 that can improve the performance of the brain by helping the body make serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin (a compound present in blood platelets) regulates mood and norepinephrine (an organic chemical that functions in the brain) helps your body deal with stress.

    Research has shown that low levels of Vitamin B6 are linked to depression. When your brain is clear from stress, and in a good mood, then it is sharp and ready to learn.

    Which type of date should you take?

    Given that there are so many varieties of dates available in the market, we asked Maria which dates offer the most benefit to our bodies.

    “You can have any kind of dates,” said Maria. “But Ajwa is the best kind of date as it contains calcium and phosphorus which helps make our teeth and bones stronger.”

    Though dates are readily available in the market, we highly recommend dates from Dates Arabia, especially their Ajwa ones. Dates Arabia sources their products directly from Saudi Arabia and delivers fresh all over the country. They are also offering Ramzan deals to celebrate the holy month.

  • VIDEO: Sheikh Rashid shops at a Bakery in trademark ‘Awami Style’

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid on Thursday visited a Bakery for aftari shopping. In a video posted by a social media user, the minister can be seen inside a bakery.

    Talking to a someone at the bakery, Rashid can be heard saying: “Aftari ka saaman lene aye hain (I have come to buy stuff for aftari).”

    The minister can also be seen complaining about the salespersons at the bakery not taking money from him.

    Rashid bought ‘kalakand‘, among other things.

    Read more- Cuteness overloaded: Maryam’s toy shopping on video call with granddaughter goes viral

    Sheikh Rashid also posted clips of his visit on social media.

    Meanwhile, some social media users criticised him for not wearing his mask properly.

    In December 2020, Sheikh Rashid was appointed as the interior minister in the cabinet reshuffle by Prime minister Imran Khan. He is known for his ‘Awami Syle‘,

  • Bail granted to Shehbaz Sharif

    The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif. The bail was approved by the three-member bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi, Justice Alia Neelum and Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi. Sharif was first granted and then denied bail after a division bench issued a split decision on Sharif’s petition, sending the matter to the LHC chief justice for the nomination of a referee judge.

    Sharif was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a money-laundering case last year in September.

    Shehbaz Sharif’s son Hamza Shehbaz was released in February after spending 20 months in jail as the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probed money laundering accusations against him.

    While Shehbaz was incarcerated, a report in The News said that Maryam Nawaz, due to her hawkish stance, has gained popularity in the party and the public. Her control on the party is strengthened to such an extent that she has stopped “consulting him [Shehbaz] for political advice”.

  • TikTok is being sued for misusing data of millions of children

    TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDan could face a damages claim worth billions of pounds (dollars) in London’s High Court over allegations that they have illegally harvested the private data of millions of European children, Reuters has reported.

    That case will be heard next week and affected children could receive thousands of pounds each if the claim is successful.

    “TikTok is a hugely popular social media platform that has helped children keep in touch with their friends during an incredibly difficult year. However, behind the fun songs, dance challenges and lip-sync trends lies something far more sinister,” Anne Longfield, the former Children’s Commissioner for England told BBC.

    Longfield alleged that every child that has used TikTok since May 25, 2018, may have had private personal information illegally collected by ByteDance through TikTok for the benefit of unknown third parties.

    “Parents and children have a right to know that private information, including phone numbers, physical location, and videos of their children are being illegally collected,” she added.

    Read more- 10-year-old girl dies trying TikTok’s ‘blackout challenge’

    A TikTok representative said privacy and safety were the company’s top priorities and that it had robust policies, processes and technologies in place to help protect all users, especially teenage users.

    “We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend the action,” the representative said.

    Earlier this year in March TikTok was banned in Pakistan due to immoral content, but the ban was later lifted.

    The popular video-sharing app was banned for the first time in October last year. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had blocked TikTok after the company “failed to fully comply” with its instructions for the “development of an effective mechanism for proactive moderation of unlawful online content”. Later, the ban was lifted when the TikTok management assured authorities that it will block all accounts repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality.

  • Blast inside Serena Hotel’s parking area in Quetta

    Blast inside Serena Hotel’s parking area in Quetta

    At least three people have been killed and several injured, including two government officials, after an explosion in the parking area of the Serena Hotel in Quetta, as per media reports. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Initial reports say that the cause of the blast, which took place at 10:30 pm local time, has not yet been ascertained. Security forces have cordoned off the area. Rescue teams have arrived at the site of the explosion.

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that the Interior Ministry is in touch with the Balochistan Government.

    “Once details come in, the government will comment further on the issue,” said Fawad.

    According to journalist Ihsan Tipu, the attack was aimed at the Chinese Ambassador, who was reportedly staying at the hotel.

    Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed has clarified that the Chinese Ambassador was in the hotel but was not present at the time of the blast.

  • Asad Umar warns complete lockdown in major cities if SOPs not followed

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umair has warned that a complete lockdown in major cities of the country could be imposed if the public does not strictly follow COVID-19 SOPs.

    Addressing the media after chairing a session of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Umar hinted at the possibility of shutting down major cities of the country amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

    “Further restrictions will need to be imposed,” said Umar. “Let me make it clear, the level at which the virus is spreading and our hospitals are filling up, if we don’t act now, we will have no choice but to close down major cities.”

    “Presently, the number of patients on oxygen is more than 4,500 which is 30% more than than the first wave of the virus,” stressed Umar, adding: “Health facilities are under stress due to increasing number of positive cases which have now crossed 83,000.”

    Reiterating his warning, Umar said: “This is the last chance to follow SOPs and curb the spread of the virus otherwise we will not have any other choice but to close big cities.”

    Umar also said that the government has prepared a new set of guidelines and shared them with the provincial governments. They will be announced on Friday, April 23.

    Pakistan started the COVID-19 vaccination drive of people in the age group 50-59 today (April 21). Registrations for those 50 and above commenced on March 30. Those who haven’t registered can send their CNIC number to 1166 to register or can register online.

    Pakistan is experiencing the third wave of coronavirus with the situation worse than it was during the first wave. According to the NCOC, 5499 new cases and148 deaths were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.

  • Alia Bhatt praises Pakistani rapper Muhammad Shah

    Ali Bhatt has appreciated and praised Pakistani rapper and comedian Muhammad Shah for a rap video he made on her.

    Titled Alia, the video is part of the rapper’s What if… series and shows him use references to the actor’s various films to create a beat. Shah, through the video, also expresses his desire to get to know Bhatt, asking her to “come a little closer,” but not too close because of the pandemic.

    In the credits at the end of the rap, Shah, while giving credit to his team, has also thanked Alia’s father Mahesh Bhatt.

    Read more – Alia Bhatt creates waves with ‘gangsta’ act in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ teaser

    Appreciating the rapper’s hard work, Alia said: “Bohut hard,” in response to which Shah said: “I love you.”

    Earlier, Shah had also made three videos for Hania Aamir. When Shah’s first video did not grab Hania’s attention, he made another one on which Hania asked Shah about his plans on the 16th of that month. The 16th never came and a heartbroken Shah made a third video, hoping to catch Hania’s attention again.

  • ‘We are stuffed in one room like animals’: British Pakistanis complain about quarantine facilities

    British Pakistani travellers who are isolating at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Hotel near Heathrow Airport have registered a protest against the poor facilities given to them at the quarantine facility, Geo News has reported.

    According to details, authorities at the quarantine facility are not providing enough meals to 19 quarantined families with people protesting against the non-provision of food at the time of sehri and aftari.

    “It’s a basic human rights issue. People have not received food for the three meals that were contractually supposed to be provided to the families. The food that has been delivered has not been on time. Moreover, we are in the midst of the Holy Month of Ramazan. There are people who have fasted without receiving any food at all,” said Hasnain Sheikh, while describing the situation in a video message.

    He said that the purpose of making the video was to call to the attention of UK government authorities towards the conditions of returning travellers. Expressing that such conditions are unacceptable, Sheikh said that people staying at the facility have paid a hefty sum for their quarantine living arrangements for 10 days.

    https://twitter.com/MurtazaViews/status/1383776694612283394

    “More promises and assurances are being given via hotel security, but our plea needs to be heard. This is a human rights crisis and I hope the government pays attention,” said Ghulam Sayyadain, another individual stuck at the hotel.

    Member of another quarantined family Abdullah Inayat told media outlets that his son had a bout of food poisoning after eating a meal at the centre.

    “My family was forced to eat cold food and was not facilitated at all,” said Abdullah. “We are stuffed in one room like animals. We have paid more than £3,500 only to quarantine and have been deprived of even the basic facilities. For a family of five to live in a medium-sized room is unhygienic and there are dangers to [our] health.”

    On the other hand, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Hotels providing managed quarantine facilities are able to accommodate the vast majority of people’s requirements and are obligated to provide guests with three meals a day, access to WIFI, welfare and health support.”

    Earlier this month, Pakistan was added to England’s “red list” amid concerns about the spread of new COVID-19 variants.

    As per new COVID related rules introduced by the UK government, those who have visited or passed through a country where travel to the UK is banned must quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine hotel.

  • Kartik Aaryan ousted from ‘Dostana 2’ after alleged fallout with Karan Johar

    Dharma Productions has announced that they will be recasting for their upcoming film Dostana 2 due to “professional circumstances”. Dostana 2 is the standalone sequel to the highly popular 2008 film Dostana starring John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra and Abhishek Bachchan. Karan Johar had announced the sequel in June 2019, revealing that Janhvi Kapoor and Kartik Aaryan were cast in the lead roles.

    In an official statement, the Johar-led production house said: “Due to professional circumstances, on which we have decided to maintain a dignified silence – we will be recasting Dostana 2, directed by Collin D’Cunha. Please wait for the official announcement soon.”

    Rumours of Kartik Aaryan leaving Dostana 2 have been doing the rounds on social media for several days. While there was no confirmation from anyone, sources close to the development revealed that after having shot for 20 days, Aaryan didn’t give further dates to the film due to a clash in schedule.

    “After numerous queries from Kartik’s talent agency KWAN, Dharma failed to get the schedule dates. There’s Janhvi and Lakshya trying to accommodate dates amid their juggling schedules,” stated a report, adding that Johar has decided to never work with Kartik in the future.

    “The team was a mess after a point. Dharma Productions have now decided to officially not associate with Kartik ever in future,” added the report.

    Other reports have suggested that Kartik had creative differences with the director of the film which caused tension between the two prompting Dharma to replace the actor.

    Aaryan’s ouster from the project will reportedly cost Dharma a whopping Rs 20 crores.

    Read more – Kartik Aaryan pays 0.5 crores to airlift Lamborghini from Italy

    On the other hand, rumours are abuzz that there has been a fallout between Kartik and Johar.

    According to Pinkvilla, Kartik expressed his displeasure with the second half of the script after shooting for 20 days, irking Karan.

    Another report said that Johar became fed up with Kartik for not giving dates and giving other projects like Ram Madhvani’s Dhamaka more importance.

    “For the longest time, Kartik gave a genuine reason of the COVID-19 pandemic to not start the shoot. He wanted to ensure safety so Karan didn’t push him much. But when he shot for Dhamaka, Karan was upset. They had an indoor meeting where Karan expressed his disappointment,” a source told the media outlet.

    He added: “Kartik later got upset with the banner when they gave Shashank Khaitan’s Yoddha to Shahid Kapoor. Although Shahid soon quit, they never approached Kartik for the role. Furthermore, since Kartik’s dates were not available for Dostana 2, Karan decided to go ahead and start Mr Lele with Vicky Kaushal and Janhvi Kapoor from April. The moment Kartik got to know about this development he informed the production house that the only dates available for Dostana 2 this year will be April onwards.”

    “Karan understood what Kartik was doing and quickly reprimanded him for the same. He was genuinely upset with Kartik as Janhvi had to pick between Dostana 2 and Mr Lele,” said the source, adding: “The last we heard, Karan and Kartik are not speaking a word to each other.”

    To add more fuel to the fire, it has emerged that Johar has unfollowed Kartik on Instagram shortly after the announcement. However, Kartik continues to follow Johar on the picture-sharing app.

    Meanwhile, Rajkummar Rao and Vicky Kaushal are reportedly being considered for the role Kartik was supposed to play.

    Earlier, Kartik had expressed his excitement over the film saying: “The evolution is from one Dostana to the other. Dostana one that released in 2008 and the Dostana 2 that’s releasing in 2020, you will see that the representation is accurate, non-caricaturish and on point, talking about sexuality in a way that will not make you cringe while watching it.”

    Aaryan made his Bollywood debut with Luv Ranjan’s Pyaar Ka Punchnama in 2011.

  • Bismah Maroof takes a break from cricket to welcome baby

    Bismah Maroof takes a break from cricket to welcome baby

    Captain of the Pakistan national women’s cricket team Bismah Maroof has announced that she is taking a break from cricket due to her pregnancy.

    “I am delighted to announce that I am entering a new chapter in my life as motherhood beckons,” wrote Maroof on Twitter. “I would like to wish the Pakistan women’s team the very best as I take an indefinite break from cricket.”

    “Request for prayers and support,” she added.

    Earlier, Maroof had also withdrawn from the tour to South Africa in January due to family reasons. Javeria Khan had led the team in her absence.

    Maroof had gotten married to her cousin Abrar Ahmed in November 2018. This is their first child.