Dua Lipa is one of the biggest stars in the music industry today with her iconic looks as well as bops like ‘Levitating’ and the Barbie soundtrack ‘Dance the night’. The BBC reports that the Albanian-English pop star has revealed she wasn’t always so sure she would end up working in the entertainment industry because of her heritage, as well as her name.
“From a young age, I had the dream to be a pop star but it never seemed like something that was actually possible,” the ‘New Rules’ singer shared. “I’ve been a new girl all my life.”
“There was always the idea of being from two places at once,” the ‘Barbie’ actress continued. “I understood the duality of my heritage from an early age. People would always ask where my name is from. I was really proud of it, but when I was younger I wished my name was, say, Hannah — something ‘normal’ and English.”
But these insecurities didn’t hold the superstar back, making her more determined to pursue a career in music, and influencing her decision to move back to London at the age of 15 to give her GCSE’s while her family moved to Kosovo, and shared a flat with the daughter of family friends:
“I was quite determined,” recalled Dua. “I didn’t feel I had the same opportunities in music as I had in London. I was driven. My dad says I’m very hard to say no to!”
She revealed how at the age of 17, after finishing her studies she set her mind on making it in the music industry:
“I was really persistent. I just started writing a lot, worked with a producer. I was 17. I was offered a publishing deal but [producer] Felix told me to go to a lawyer, who said, ‘Don’t sign that deal!’ They then helped me get into the studio.”
Dua Lipa is set to star in the upcoming Greta Gerwig film ‘Barbie’ which has Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in main roles.
Anchor Muhammad Junaid made the country proud when he became the first ever Pakistani journalist to participate in the Boston Marathon and the London Marathon, a feat he completed in a week.
In the Boston Marathon, held on April 17 in Eastern Massachusetts, Junaid completed the run in 3 hours, 36 min and 38 seconds. He participated along side other Pakistani-Americans like Salman Khan, Hamid Butt, Prem Kumar, Aamad Butt and Shariq Samad. Dr Salman & Hamid Butt are Abbott 6 Start Finishers.
Whereas in the London Marathon, which Junaid finished in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds, he ran alongside others Pakistani or Pakistani origin marathons runners. Sadiq Shah, Faisal Shafi, Semeena Khan, Danish Raza, Prem Kumar, Farrukh Sadiq, Dr Jehanzeb Mughal, Danish Elahe, Imran Aleem & Ammar Mumtaz were also among them.
Saqid Shah, a Quetta born and currently a Karachi resident made history at the London Marathon by completing the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 20 seconds, becoming the fastest Pakistani runner in London Marathon. He appeared on the Geo News show ‘Geo Pakistan’, along with Muhammad Junaid.
The Current reached out to Junaid to chat about his recent accomplishments, and how running become one of his favorite hobbies, and the Geo News anchor gave us some interesting insights.
Q. You mentioned in your bio that you previously participated in the Boston Marathon. Is running your passion?
Junaid: I started more organised and focused running a few years ago and ran marathons in Karachi and Istanbul. Women and men of the running community realised that the number of Pakistanis in International marathons is very limited and we decided to train to run them. Every marathon has its own value but running Boston marathon can be any runner’s biggest dream. I collaborated with Pakistani Americans & partnered with South Asian Circle of Hopkinton through Hopkinton Board in Massachusetts to run Boston Marathon and open paths for more South Asians in future. It’s an achievement for South Asians in USA and Pakistanis here.
Q. Winning this race seems like an impossible task, so how did you train for this marathon? Especially considering that you’re a Karachi food lover.
Junaid: The goal is to finish the marathon in a good time, preferably faster than your previous time, for any marathon runner 70 KM per week is considered a standard mileage. Per week can vary for everyone, but yes you have got be careful with food. Protein is most important in that because it helps make and repair cells, which are critical for growth and development. So yes chicken, yogurt, milk, eggs, cheese, seafood, nut butters and then good carbs like wholegrain items, sweet potato, brown rice, and lots and lots of water, in my experience anyone involved in sports should avoid carbonated drinks because of the amount of processed sugar in them.
Q. You met politicians like MP Zarah Sultana who congratulated you for your prestigious win! How did that feel?
Junaid: For the Boston Marathon, Pakistani-American Shahid Ahmed Khan, who is currently a member of US President Joe Biden’s prestigious President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts (PACA), Irfan Nasrullah, and the President of South Asian Circle Ruta Upalekar and her team’s role was significant in helping me prepare for the marathon. From Pakistan, it was nearly impossible without support of Geo News. London Marathon was a collaboration for me with the Pakistani-British Journalist Saima Mohsin to raise funds for Scope, a UK charity working mainly for people with disabilities and facing cost of living crises. In that collaboration, we met British Pakistani MPs Naz Shah and Zarah Sultana, who are an inspiration for many and they assured us of their support to work in order to send more Pakistanis of all genders in world sports specially London Marathon.
Q. These initiatives are wonderful but sadly such things have not taken place in Pakistan. Should Pakistani politicians also start setting up running marathons, now that petrol prices are soaring and we’re looking for cheaper ways to travel?
Junaid: Pakistan does not have any international standard running events so far but Shoaib Nizami and other partners are working to organise Pakistan’s first internationally recognised marathon, Karachi Marathon, this year, which can help people here to get first hand experience of running an official marathon.
Junaid revealed that currently he is gearing up along side other Pakistani marathon runners to participate in the upcoming Berlin Marathon being held on September 24, where 50 runners from Pakistan are expected to participate.
Besides the fact that Pakistanis are underrepresented at these races, the number of women runners is even less but the running community is trying to change that. Last year, at London Marathon, Kaukab Sarwar and Hira Diwan ran in the race for TCF with the help of a friend of Pakistan, Mike Nithavrianakis. It is expected that a bigger number of women will be participating in Berlin Marathon this year. Hira Diwan, who is a British Pakistani, has run four world major marathons including New York & Chicago.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has concluded his tour of Saudi Arabia and is set to return to London.
The former Prime Minister, who was accompanied by his daughter and Senior Vice President of his party, Maryam Nawaz, will fly back to the British capital where he has been living since 2019 after leaving Pakistan for medical treatment. Maryam Nawaz, however, is expected to return home on Wednesday around midnight.
Nawaz was in the Kingdom from April 11 on the invitation of the Saudi royal family. His meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made headlines back home, especially given that Maryam Nawaz was a part of it.
During his stay, Nawaz also performed Umrah and also visited the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).
Speculations were rife among political circles that Nawaz might come back to Pakistan after almost three years of living abroad. However, the Sharif family never confirmed the rumour.
Claim: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has reached Saudi Arabia from London to perform Umrah.
A fake screenshot was shared by multiple Twitter accounts that passengers have refused to travel with Nawaz in the same airplane.
The screenshot was taken from 7News and it has the name of the reporter Rana Waheed.
Fact: However, the news turned out to be old and the reporter himself clarified that this has nothing to do with Nawaz’s recent visit to the Kingdom.
In a tweet, he said, “This news and screenshot are old. I left 7news three years ago, and now I am working in PNN as a special correspondent.”
یہ خبر پرانی ہے سکرین شارٹ بھی میں گزشتہ تین سال سے سیون نیوز چھوڑ چکا ہوں میں بطور نمائندہ خصوصی پی این این میں کام کر رہا ہوں لحاظ نواز شریف کے حالیہ دورہ سعودی عرب سے اس خبر سے کوئی تعلق نہیں یہ خبر فیک ہے @waheedsahafihttps://t.co/7UldB8UVoP
Activist, screenwriter and producer Jemima Khan has shared a picture of two unidentified men who were caught trying to break into her London flat a few days ago. Khan asked her followers to identify the men so they could be reported to the police.
Speaking to Geo News, Khan said that she had immediately called the police and a report was registered with Scotland Yard.
“And then these two guys captured on camera trespassing a few weeks later in the day,” Khan revealed about the men whose pictures she had shared online.
This is not the first time Khan’s house has been targeted by critics, as last year she shared a picture of the protests organized by PMLN supporters outside her home, who were targeting her and two children, Suleiman and Kasim, with anti-semitic slurs.
Protests outside my house, targeting my children, antisemitic abuse on social media…. It’s almost like I’m back in 90s Lahore. #PuranaPakistanpic.twitter.com/0R2YOPcQrJ
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz was given VIP protocol upon her arrival in Islamabad,Dunya News reported on Friday.
According to media reports, the security plan was designed under the supervision of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Parliament Lodges through which 16 security personnel, including police and FC, were appointed outside the are where Maryam Nawaz was staying.
Security personnel were strictly prohibited from using their mobile phones during duty hours. The Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) was also tasked with managing parking and traffic flow outside Parliament Lodges during Maryam Nawaz’s stay.
On January 3, Maryam was appointed as the party’s “Chief Organiser” and “Senior Vice President”. Later, she returned to the country from London, to take charge of her new responsibilities after a three-month absence.
Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz have been given instructions by party supremo Nawaz Sharif to lead rallies and meetings ahead of the upcoming general elections in Punjab.
Rana Sanaullah met the father and daughter in London where Nawaz briefed the two senior members of the party on what their roles would be.
Nawaz instructed the interior minister to mobilise party workers in the province for the upcoming elections. Moreover, PML-N leaders also held consultations on party appointments in Punjab and on inter-party elections.
The federal minister and Maryam Nawaz both are expected to land back home on January 28.
Taking to Twitter, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb wrote: “There has been a change in the time of PML-N’s senior vice president and chief organiser Maryam Nawaz’s return home. Maryam Nawaz sahiba will now reach Lahore at 3:50pm on Saturday, January 28.”
پاکستان مسلم لیگ(ن) کی سینئر نائب صدر اور چیف آرگنائزر مریم نواز کی وطن واپسی کے وقت میں ردوبدل ہوا ہے۔ مریم نواز صاحبہ اب 28 جنوری، ہفتے کی سہہ پہر 3 بجکر 5 منٹ پر لاہور پہنچیں گی۔
On January 12, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly. Elections are now set to take place in the province within the next three months.
Maryam Nawaz likely to return back on January 22
Earlier, it was reported that Maryam is likely to return to Pakistan on January 22.
According to media reports, the senior leadership of the party decided on Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s return to the political fray while her father, Nawaz Sharif, has given her essential tasks related to the PML-N mobilisation.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif will be visiting Punjab and meeting senior leaders.
It is pertinent to mention here that PML-N senior vice president Maryam Nawaz underwent throat surgery in Switzerland. She travelled to Geneva from London where she stayed with her father and brothers.
Junaid Safdar, the son of Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz, has reached Lahore on Thursday night.
It was reported earlier this week that Junaid was shifting permanently to Pakistan to assist his mother in her party’s political activities.
Taking to Instagram, Junaid wrote, “I am not interested in Pakistani politics, for now. I have only moved to Pakistan to fulfil the responsibilities owed to my mother and family. I will be assisting my mother in her work and family matters but I will not be taking part in politics,” he added.
“Side note: Kya baat hai Lahore ki thand ki [Nothing can come close to Lahore winters]. Have really missed this!” added Junaid.
On January 2, Maryam Nawaz was appointed the Senior Vice President of PML-N. She will also take on the responsibility of reorganising the party.
According to news reports, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday left London for a week-long trip to Geneva.
Prime Minister (PM) and President of the Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Maryam Nawaz Sharif as the “Senior Vice President” of the party.
On Tuesday, a notification regarding the appointment was shared by the Information Minister and PML-N leader Marriyum Aurangzeb. In a tweet, she also said that Maryam Nawaz has been authorised to re-organise the party at all functional tiers/levels as the “Chief Organiser”.
نوٹیفیکیشن پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر شہباز شریف کے دستخطوں سے جاری ہوا شہباز شریف نے @MaryamNSharif مریم نواز شریف کو پارٹی کا ‘چیف آرگنائزر’ بھی مقرر کر دیاپارٹی کی تنظیم نو کی ذمہ داری مریم نواز شریف کو سونپ دی گئی مریم نواز شریف تمام سطحوں پر پارٹی کو ‘ری-آرگنائز’ کریں گی pic.twitter.com/BfKv1TIeGg
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also came forward to congratulate Maryam, saying that PM Shehbaz took the decision in consultation with party supremo Nawaz Sharif.
Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, has been serving as the vice president of the party since 2019.
In another development, Nawaz Sharif directed his party to start a mass mobilisation campaign for upcoming general elections, reports The News.
Sharif had issued important instructions to the political team of his party in Lahore and asked them to start preparing for general elections and confront the PTI and its allies.
Last month, former Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) Ayaz Sadiq claimed that Nawaz would return to Pakistan in January 2023.
In November 2022, the PML-N-led collation government issued a diplomatic passport to Nawaz Sharif, who has been living in London since 2019 following an illness in jail after then prime minister Imran Khan had permitted him to go abroad for medical treatment.
Federal Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has started preparations to welcome home party supremo Nawaz Sharif.
Sanaullah has claimed that the former Prime Minister would return to the country to lead PML-N’s election campaign the day election schedule is announced.
The interior minister reiterated that general elections in Pakistan will be held in October next year as the government refused to succumb to pressure through dissolution of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies.
Sanaullah dared Imran Khan, the Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to stop vacillating and dissolve KP and Punjab assemblies. He reiterated that polling will be held within three months.
“We will beat you in Punjab elections, and you will not find any place to hide your face,” he challenged PTI chief.
