The most anticipated awards in Bollywood. the IIFA awards, took place in Dubai with a lot of celebration and joy. The creme de la creme of the Indian entertainment industry showed up dressed to the nines, including celebrities like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan and Farah Khan.
There were entertaining performances with Hrithik Roshan shaking a leg with Vicky Kaushal on his 90’s hit ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena’, Anil Kapoor’s captivating opening speech, Abhishek Bachchan and Kaushal driving audiences to hysterics with their infectious energy and charisma.
Among the films that won accolades at the festive night, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ reined as the star of the evening as Alia Bhatt walked home with the Best Actress award while Hrithik Roshan was awarded Best Actor for his performance in ‘Vikram Vedha’.
Here is a complete list of the winners from last night:
Best Actor: Hrithik Roshan for ‘Vikram Vedha’
Best Actress: Alia Bhatt for ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’
Best Actress In Supporting Role: Mouni Roy in ‘Brahmastra Part One: Shiva’
Best Actor In Supporting Role: Anil Kapoor in ‘JugJugg Jiyo’
Best Director: R Madhavan in ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’
Best Original Story: Jasmeet K Reen and Parveez Sheikh for ‘Darlings’
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Monday paid tribute to United Nation (UN) peacekeeping forces. “On the occasion of International Day of UN Peacekeepers, we pay tribute to the 75 years long history of UN Peacekeeping. As a top troop contributor since 1960, over 200,000 Pakistani men & women have served with valour in 46 UN Peacekeeping Missions in all parts of the world 168 of our bravest have sacrificed their lives in this noble cause,” Bilawal wrote in his tweet.
“Over 4,300 peacekeepers including female officers are serving with distinction under UN flag today. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that peacekeeping remains an effective mechanism for int’l peace & security,” the foreign minister added.
168 of our bravest have sacrificed their lives in this noble cause. Over 4,300 peacekeepers incl female officers are serving with distinction under UN flag today. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that peacekeeping remains an effective mechanism for int’l peace &…
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 29, 2023
The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is being observed today to highlight the role of the force in world peace.
Over the past 75 years, United Nations Peacekeepers have saved countless precious lives for global peace and security.
This day commemorates the efforts of the United Nations to eliminate human suffering, establish a situation of lasting peace and order in countries with wars and internal conflicts.
Warning: this article contains spoilers about the final episode of ‘Succession’. Don’t read if you haven’t seen it.
Welp, it’s all over. On Sunday, the finale episode of the dark comedy ‘Succession’ aired on HBO, leaving fans blown away by the finale. For the past four years, the show explored the conflict within the Roy family, as patriarch Logan Roy decides to step down, leaving siblings Kendall, Siobhan and Roman to decide who should control the entertainment giant.
After a conflicting season showing the death of the patriarch, more heartbreaking confessions, fights and plotting to grab control over the empire, in the end the winner was *drum roll*…
Tom Wambsgans and his wife, Siobhan Roy.
How did we come to this conclusion? The finale episode opens with the Roy siblings conflicted over the streaming giant GoJo’s aquisition of Waystar Royco, with Kendall (played by Jeremy Strong) wanting to kill the deal but Shiv (played by Sarah Snook) plotting with GoJo’s founder Luke Matsson (Alexander Skarsgard) to finalise the deal, in exchange for being made CEO.
Before the deal is finalised, a heartbreaking feud takes place between the siblings, with Kendall begging Roman and Shiv to make him the CEO, as was promised to him as the eldest son of the family. Roman Roy (played by Kieran Culkin) instead mocks Kendall for having adopted children, and says that their father would have wanted Shiv to take the CEO position because she is the one pregnant with her biological child. Shiv also threatens to reveal Kendall’s crime for murdering a waiter in Season One.
When the deal is finalised, Kendall walks to a river, looking horrified as he stares at the horizon. Roman visits a bar and orders a martini, while Shiv joins her husband in the backseat of the car, and both of them look incredibly tense which proves that they never loved each other.
Twitter users had mixed opinions about whether the finale provided a satisfying conclusion or a butchering of its iconic characters.
There were some users who felt that the show had effectively destroyed the relationship between the Roy siblings.
you know what’s the worst of all? the relationship between the roy siblings is totally broken, beyond repair and to see that happen after scenes that showed so much affection and intimacy between them… it was hard#Succession#SuccessionHBOpic.twitter.com/b3bHEVfzHe
Some also grieved for Kendall, who had been fighting since the start of the show to take control of the company, but then was stripped away from everything because of Shiv.
the guy we saw for 4 seasons who was groomed to be king since he was 7 got the crown stripped away from him is now left with no kids, no wife, and no purpose, absolutely heartbreaking #Succession#SuccessionHBOpic.twitter.com/ceXfE3u9ue
I literally would have rather seen shiv get hit by a bus than give up and become some vessel for men to harvest power out of her husband her potential offspring she became everything she wanted to avoid and for what
But for others, Shiv’s sacrifice ultimately made her the hero of the show, because her sacrifice prevented her brothers from following the same fate of their abusive father. Some users pointed out how Shiv sacrificed her power to help free her brothers from the hurt and abuse they endured, by resigning herself to the role of mother and wife to a man she did not love.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Monday postponed the hearing of the Election Commission of Pakistan’s petition asking the top court to reconsider its April 4 order of holding elections for Punjab Assembly on May 14.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, comprising of Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, heard the case.
The hearing was adjourned after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan informed the court that the law amending the Supreme Court Rules has come into effect and was signed by the President. As per the law, judicial decisions made under Article 184 III of the Constitution can now be appealed.
“Judgments and orders made prior to commencement of this Act. The right to file a review petition shall also be available to an aggrieved person against whom an order has been made under clause (3) of Article 184 of Constitution, prior to commencement of this Act.”
“Judgments and orders made prior to commencement of this Act. The right to file a review petition shall also be available to an aggrieved person against whom an order has been made under clause (3) of Article 184 of Constitution, prior to commencement of this Act”,says new law. pic.twitter.com/J0VTnUUgFB
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen can now file new review petitions on their disqualifications within 60 days.
The bill becoming law after the President signed it has taken the legal fraternity and media by surprise.
The Chief justice termed the development as 'interesting'.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar appeared on Geo News programme Jirga on Sunday where he discussed politics and the economy.
While talking about the possibility of negotiating with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Dar said that negotiations with Imran Khan can be held if he took “corrective measures: apologises to the nation, admits his mistake and promises not to do anything like May 9 in the future.”
The minister claimed that before May 9, when violent protests broke out, the government had “sincere intentions” when it talked with PTI, with the two parties reaching an agreement on all issues other than the election date.
Separately, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that there is no space for negotiations with PTI in current circumstances.
“There used to be an environment and agenda for holding parleys on any issue. But the existing atmosphere is not suitable for talks,” he said while talking to reporters in Lahore. Imran Khan on May 27 constituted a seven-member negotiation committee for talks with the incumbent government over elections.
After a video showing an alleged altercation between models Hasnain Lehri and Nirma Jacob at the Texpo Fashion Week went viral on Saturday, Lehri has come up with a response.
In the video, the female super model can be seen distraught after Lehri allegedly physically and verbally assaulted her, demanding that event organisers take her safety seriously.
Several models and influential designers like Kamiar Rokni, Eman Suleman and Zara Peerzada have taken to social media to condemn the incident, and demanded that the abuser be held accountable for his actions.
Now in a statement to Express Tribune, Lehri has denied that he physically assaulted Jacob:
“I categorically deny all accusations of physical altercation and abuse. I come from a very respectful family, we aren’t the kind of people who would get into an issue as petty as this.”
He went on to explain how the events had unfolded, which began when Jacob bumped in to him during the ramp walk:
“During the crossing at the ramp, Jacob hit my shoulder. We went backstage and she walked towards me, asking me to learn how to walk on the ramp. This resulted in an argument and she brought my deceased father into the conversation.”
He added that there were witnesses like organisers Tehmina Khaled, Tehmim and choreographer Nubain Ali, to whom Lehri had gone to raising concern, and they had told Lehri that Jacob was known for her unprofessional behavior with other models.
Lehri revealed how the fight had started `”When the show was done, I packed my bag, readying to leave; Nubain approached me and asked me what the issue was. As Nubain and I were discussing, this is when [Jacob] returned and started the argument again,” Lehri went on. “She then told me to f–k off, and I said it back. That’s when she took out her phone and started recording me.”
Lehri went on to reveal that he asked Jacob four times not to record her, after which he had snatched the phone from her hands:
“This isn’t acceptable and I took her phone. That is all I did. I took the phone from her hand and kept it with me because she was recording me without my consent. She just wanted to show her side of the story. I wish I had taken out my phone and started recording how [Jacob] was misbehaving as well.”
Lehri denied that he had raised his hand on Jacob, and said Jacob and her friends were trying to intimidate him:
“With God as my witness, I can swear on the Holy Book that all I did was take her phone. I didn’t assault anyone, I didn’t physically abuse her. [Jacob’s] three friends teamed up against me. They will support her.”
Addressing the fact that he refused to give back Jacob’s phone, and the arrival of the police, Lehri revealed that the police could see that he didn’t assault the female model, which is why they had let him go:
“If I was in the wrong and the alleged physical assault did happen, why would the police let me leave? I was free to go. I respect my fraternity but [Jacob] is grossly manipulating the whole situation.”
The Government of Punjab has responded to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan’s allegation of female supporters of his party being harassed in jails.
“It’s not a surprise that one political party is spreading baseless lies about mistreatment of women in custody for attacks on public/military buildings,” a tweet from the official Twitter account of Punjab Govt read.
“Everyone in Punjab jails is being dealt with under relevant laws and the public should NOT believe in these lies. Law-enforcing agencies are making sure that all culprits of May 9 attacks are captured and tried as per applicable laws. No one should pay heed to yet another misinformation campaign by a political party.”
It’s not a surprise that one political party is spreading baseless lies about mistreatment of women in custody for attacks on public/military buildings. Everyone in Punjab jails is being dealt under relevant laws and public should NOT believe in these lies. Law-enforcing agencies…
— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) May 28, 2023
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, in a address to the nation on Sunday, claimed that he has received reports that women belonging to his party are being harassed in jails.
He requested the judiciary to take suo motu action against the arrests. While talking about the people leaving his party, Imran said that those quitting the party had been threatened and pressurised to do so.
A backstage video filmed at the Texpo Fashion Week, showing an alleged altercation between models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob has gone viral on social media.
According to sources, female model Nimra Jacob had been assaulted by Lehri, after which she can be seen demanding from show organisers to take models’ safety seriously. At one point in the video, Lehri is seen being restrained by a few men present backstage.
Pakistan’s top most fashion models Hasnain Lehri and Nimra Jacob involved in a clash following Texpo Fashion Show in Karachi. According to the eye witnesses, Lehri took Jacob’s mobile for allegedly filming him at the backstage and Jacob accused Lehri for raising a hand on her.… pic.twitter.com/HiRRM8I66C
— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) May 27, 2023
Since the video went viral, Jacob has addressed the incident on Instagram, demanding better treatment for models working in the fashion industry:
“You cannot mistreat me. You can’t bully me. And you surely will not put your hands on me without consequences. We, in the fashion industry, have seen too much abuse, disrespect, and complete, utter negligence for our safety to tolerate it anymore. I have no space in my heart for forgiveness when it comes to abuse, harassment, bullying, assault, etc. Without any plausible cause, threats were made at me. I was verbally abused, and physically assaulted. My property was taken and used to blackmail me. My female colleagues were harmed in the process of trying to protect me.
“This all happened at work,” the super model continued. “Where I made sure to bring it to the attention of the management that I was being threatened by the perpetuator before he even became violent. The management should have taken action the first time I mentioned concern for my safety. I’m lucky there were eye witnesses to this man’s horrific actions, there were people who witnesses it all. As traumatized as I am, I’m not standing alone.”
“I refuse to let anyone abuse, threaten, intimidate, or belittle my colleagues or myself in any way.
“Today I stand to let you know that I will call out these abusers, harassers, bullies for exactly who/what they are. Every single one of them. If we want the industry to be a safe space, we need to collectively take a stand and check disrespect at the door. We need to demand accountability for those who are supposed to ensure our safety at work. And demand zero tolerance for the perpetuators involved in spewing such violence and aggression at the workplace. I’m done with this toxic, abusive culture. No more! Enough is enough!”
Soon other notable fashion figures like designer Kamiar Rokni condemned the incident as well as toxic male behavior on his Instagram account, stating that he was standing in solidarity with female models:
“Toxic male behaviour needs to be addressed in the fashion industry. Violence against girls backstage at a fashion show is a new low. This cannot be allowed to happen again it is up to us to come together and make this a safe space for our girls. Our models are an invaluable part of our industry and we can’t stand around while they are abused.”
Model Fatima Ahsan, who was also spotted in the viral video, took to Instagram to address the incident, and demanded that show organizers and sponsors make safer environments for their models:
“So everyone’s been seeing videos from the show backstage and sending them to me, asking if I’m okay, thank you so much for your love and concern. I am fine. The incident took place with another model and could’ve happened to anyone. Luckily it didn’t escalate. But we live in a fragile country and today’s incident just reinforces how no one takes the woman’s side. We weren’t secure in the environment. And the men (except for 1 or 2), they either stood and watched or tried to brush our concerns under the table and get the women to retract. Later they said let them deal with it themselves, let’s leave. Yes, let’s leave the women by themselves in an already unsafe environment. No one in charge – none of the organisers – nobody took responsibility it was only the female models that came together and took a stand.
To all the men, show organisers, and everyone innvolved. Do better. You just walked away from injustice and we’ll remember that.”
Model Zara Peerzada called out the organisers who hire toxic men for their shows, and asked designers to stop being complicit:
“Stop hiring violent males to walk your shows, be in your shoots. It’s not complicated. How about when you see abuse taking place you address and intervene? It’s not complicated. Stop doing empowerment campaigns for women to sell your clothes when you don’t have an ounce of respect for them or their safety. It’s not complicated. This is not an isolated incident.”
Visual artist and designer Rehan Bashir called this a case that showed how “standards within the industry keep plummenting towards abysmal depths”, and expressed solidarity with female models
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has again stressed that he has no fight with the military.
Talking with journalists in Zaman Park, Khan said: “There is no fight with the army, this army is mine.”
Earlier, Khan said that he is ready to talk to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, however, he was of the view that the army chief treats him like his enemy.
Commenting on the mass departure of leaders from his party, Khan said, “I will give a big surprise in the coming days.”
Khan said some party leaders are leaving the party under compulsion while some have been exposed.
He also claimed that PTI will win the next general elections despite the desertions of party leaders.
In case of Imran’s disqualification, the PTI chief said, Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi would lead the party.
On Thursday, the federal government of Pakistan introduced rules to enforce the ‘Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Act, 2021’ throughout the capital city and territories, banning corporal punishment in public and private schools.
According to Dawn, the law was passed three years ago, however the rules were updated a couple of months ago and the act was finally launched on Thursday.
According to the act, teachers who are found guilty of inflicting violence on students will be punished through major penalities like compulsory retirement, dismissal from service or demotion to a lower post. Minor penalties include withholding promotion for a specific period or increment or financial advancement in accordance with the rules or orders pertaining to the service or post.
The law states:
“The child has the right to be shown respect for his personality and individuality and shall not be made subject to corporal punishment or any other humiliating or degrading treatment.”
Speaking at the launch at the Islamabad Model College for Girls in F-10/2, the Minister of Federal Education Rana Tanveer Hussain praised the act as a shift towards fostering a culture of non-violence and empowering the rights of children:
“Let us work together to implement these rules effectively and create an environment where every child feels safe and nurtured.”
Convener of the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights and Parliamentary Secretary Law and Justice, Mehnaz Akber Aziz, who was also present at the ceremony, discussed the significance of the rules towards improving the lives of children:
“The launch of the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment Rules is a testament to our commitment to ensuring children’s well-being and upholding their rights. These rules will provide clear guidelines and enforce strict measures to eradicate corporal punishment from educational institutions and child-related settings throughout Islamabad. I hope this will also incentivise the currently 2.4 million out-of-school children to head to schools.”
United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative Abdullah A. Fadil spoke on why corporal punishment must be outlawed in Pakistan:
“Corporal punishment can inflict immediate pain and suffering, and sadly may also cause irrevocable damage that can last a lifetime. We need to act now and put all our weight behind this act so that all children in Pakistan are able to learn and grow in a safe environment and are protected in a society which respects and upholds their rights and dignity.”
