Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Shah Rukh Khan slammed by right-wingers for visiting Hindu temple ahead of ‘Jawan’ release

    Shah Rukh Khan slammed by right-wingers for visiting Hindu temple ahead of ‘Jawan’ release

    Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was spotted along with his daughter Suhana Khan visiting Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Tirupati on Tuesday to offer prayers and ask for blessings ahead of the release of his action thriller ‘Jawan’.

    The news however was met with backlash from right-wing conservatives on social media. The extreme-right brigade condemned the Bollywood actor for what they said was using religious temples as props for movie promotions. Many accused the ‘Pathaan’ actor of making a mockery of religious places, calling for a ban on Muslim actors visiting Hindu temples.

    “Seriously? Why are we allowing our temples to be used as publicity props by non idolators ?” one user wrote.

    Another wrote:

    “Hindu temples are not places of tourism & publicity stunt. Such gimmicks must stop and Hindus must resist such Nautanki. If you wanna take the blessings of our gods & goddesses then simply accept the Sanatan Dharma & carry on with your Yatra & not Temple Run publicity stunts.”

    However, Bollywood actors have commonly visited temples before film releases to offer prayers for its success. Vicky Kaushal had visited the Siddivinayak temple in June to offer gratitude prayers after his film ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ became a box office success. Akshay Kumar visited BAPS Hindu Mandir in UAE to pray.

    Shah Rukh Khan has been vocal about his secular family, not asking his children to follow Islam or Hinduism.

    “We have never discussed Hindu-Muslim. My wife is Hindu, I am a Muslim and our kids are Hindustan. When they went to school, they had to write their religion. My daughter came to me once and asked ‘what is our religion?’ I simply wrote in her form that we are Indian, we do not have a religion.”

    Many praised the superstar for his massive respect for all religions

    https://twitter.com/srklover1994/status/1698780134101459020?s=20
  • Husband kills wife in front of minor child in Swat

    Husband kills wife in front of minor child in Swat

    A man shot and killed his wife in front of her minor son at Banar Chowk in Mingora, Swat, on Tuesday.

    According to Dawn, the woman, Naila Bibi, had filed a lawsuit seeking divorce from her husband Akhtar Ali, and was going to court along with her son when Ali shot her.

    As per witnesses, Akhtar Ali had been waiting for her to cross Banar Chowk, opening fire as soon as she arrived.
    Naila Bibi died on the spot.

    The news came to light when an extremely distressing picture taken by witnesses made rounds on social media in which the young child can be seen crying beside the bleeding body of his mother.

    The police responded to the incident, arresting the shooter. An FIR has also been registered against Ali, and an investigation has begun.

    The police claim that Naila Bibi was seeking divorce as she suffered domestic violence at the hands of her husband.

  • ‘Impressive, beautiful’: Social media lauds Shehzad Roy for introducing music education at Zindagi Trust school

    ‘Impressive, beautiful’: Social media lauds Shehzad Roy for introducing music education at Zindagi Trust school

    Is there anything Shehzad Roy can’t do? A phenomenal singer, pro at the youthful glow (we’re still convinced he’s a vampire) and a philanthrope working towards changing the education system of Pakistan are just proof that he’s the G.O.A.T.

    Recently the singer wowed social media with a new education initiative at his Zindagi Trust where students from working class families are given the best education. A clip, showing three young students playing violins in the music program of Fatima Jinnah government school, has gone viral.

    “This isn’t an elite private school,” the ‘Laga Re’ singer wrote. “It’s Fatima Jinnah government school adopted by @ZindagiTrust Here V also run a world-class music program in professionally designed studios. Young girls play everything from Beethoven to Eastern classical & there is no fee. We are driving change.”

    The short clip has recieved praise from politicians like Sherry Rehman and other social media users who attended institutions run by Zindagi Trust, confirming that the organisation was making sure their students are well provided for, and are giving them quality education.

    Digital Rights activist Hija Kamran wrote:

    “As an all-time fan of ZindagiTrust, I just want to say that this particular school can easily beat elite private schools based on how it looks, managed and taken care of. I miss the few mornings I spent here for work. Did you know that they also have their own vegetable garden?”

    Another user wrote:

    “I’ve been to the Fatima Jinnah School on two occasions: once to judge an inter-class dramatics competition (in which a Chacha Chakkan rendition was particularly delightful) and once to judge oratory. Roy and his team are doing such good work there—and they keep aiming higher!”

    Social media users lauded how the education initiative continued to take progressive steps that even private schools could not provide, and hoped more schools could introduce arts programs to their students.

  • ‘I am not just hopeful, I am certain’: Kakar on elections

    ‘I am not just hopeful, I am certain’: Kakar on elections

    Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has confirmed that general elections will be held in the next three to four months, adding that polls are “certain”.

    To a question about his plan of action if the caretaker Prime Minister gets an extension, he told a local TV station that he could see the country going to polls in the next three to four months, The News reported on Wednesday.

    “I think within a few months… a few months can be translated into three, three-and-half or four…that needs to be seen…this will conclude and we will go to the electoral process,” he commented.

    On asking the same question on elections, he replied, “I am not just hopeful; rather, I am certain”.

    He stated that because of the short time, the caretaker government is giving priority to policy matters to make the journey of the future government smoother.

  • This BTS member and his dad silently donated to poor families across South Korea

    This BTS member and his dad silently donated to poor families across South Korea

    Not just a hero on the stage but a hero behind the scenes as well

    BTS’s band member Jimin and his father Park Hyun-soo have been playing an important role in providing groceries for low-income families across South Korea. Since September 2020, Hyun-soo has been using the name ‘Ramyeon Fairy’ to deliver donations in Busan, where he provided at least 100 tuna gift sets and 5,250 boxes of ramyeon to struggling families. He has made a total of eight contributions to households across Nam-gu, which can be valued up to 75.95 million Korean won.

    On August 5, Hyun-Soo visited the Nam-gu district office to donate five million Korean won under his son Jimin’s name and also personally delivered boxes of ramen to the office. An official source shared with the Korean media organisation SBS:

    “[Jimin’s father] asked us to use the items to ensure that no one in need goes hungry. He personally loaded the boxes of instant noodles onto the truck and left them at the district office.”⁠

    Jimin himself is also a charitable icon. In 2021, he donated a 100 million won to polio patients, and then another 100 million won to UNICEF Korea to aid children and families struggling from the earthquakes of Syria and Turkey. Among other donations, the ‘Like Crazy’ star pledged 1200 new desks and chairs to the Busan High School of Arts and then gave away 100 million won to the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education.

    Kindness must be a common quality among the Korean pop band because it’s not just Jimin, but also other members like Namjoon, who aren’t afraid to give back to the community with what they earned. In 2019, on September 12, when the icon turned 25 years old, he donated 100 million Korean won to The Seoul Samsung School, a specialised institute for deaf children, for music education. In June 2020, the group won praise when they donated $1 million to the human rights organisation ‘Black Lives Matter’.


  • Rising debt levels: Pakistan’s national debt surpasses Rs61 trillion

    Rising debt levels: Pakistan’s national debt surpasses Rs61 trillion

    The federal government has witnessed a substantial increase in its total debt, which has surged to nearly Rs62 trillion. This significant escalation is primarily attributed to the government’s strategic borrowing from both domestic and foreign sources, a measure aimed at covering the fiscal deficit.

    According to The News, data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reveals that as of July 2023, the total debt of the government stands at Rs61.75 trillion. This figure reflects a substantial year-on-year increase of 22.11 per cent, compared to Rs50.57 trillion recorded in July 2022. Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the government’s debt exhibited a 1.49 per cent increase from Rs60.84 trillion in June 2023.

    The surge in the debt burden can be predominantly attributed to the government’s reliance on domestic and foreign borrowing mechanisms to address fiscal deficits.

    Breaking down the composition of the debt, data from the central bank highlights that a significant portion of Rs39.02 trillion is domestically sourced, representing a notable year-on-year growth of 24.08 per cent. This domestic debt comprises Rs29.59 trillion in long-term debt and Rs9.29 trillion in short-term debt. The remaining Rs22.73 trillion is external in nature.

    By the close of July 2023, the government’s long-term debt had escalated by 24.44 per cent year-on-year to Rs29.59 trillion when compared to the figure of Rs23.78 trillion recorded in the same period a year earlier. In parallel, short-term debt exhibited a substantial year-on-year increase of 27.14 per cent as opposed to Rs7.31 trillion in July 2022.

  • Better than the Oscars: here are 55 celebrities who attended Beyonce’s birthday show

    Better than the Oscars: here are 55 celebrities who attended Beyonce’s birthday show

    When the Queen summons her subjects, they appear at once!

    Beyonce’s successful Renaissance Tour recently performed at Los Angeles’ SoFi stadium on the same day the singer turned 42. Previously, the singer requested her followers who attended the show to mark the occasion by wearing silver, the color of the astrological sign Virgo. It wasn’t only the hardcore Bee hive fanbase, but celebrities from all over Hollywood, who attended the birthday show. From Diane Ross to Katy Perry, here are all the A-list celebrities who attended the birthday concert.

    Legendary singer Diane Ross serenaded the ‘Halo’ singer on stage by singing Happy birthday for her

    ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’ stars Kim, along with her daughter North, Khloe Kardashian and Kris Jenner all styled to the theme and attended the concert.

    ‘Abbott Elementary’ creator Quinta Brunson along with ‘The Bear’ star Ayo Edebiri shared snaps of their car ride to the concert.

    ‘Part of me’ singer Katy Perry had downed a silver gown along with a pink lip and shared videos of Beyonce performing with her daughter Blue Ivy on stage.

    Kerry Washington and the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle snapped a picture together as they are seen at the front row of Beyonce’s show.

    Lupita Nyong’o was pictured along with her sister Fiona as she attended Beyonce’s birthday show along with ‘Queer Eye’ star Kamaro Brown.

  • Flight takes U-turn after passenger gets severe diarrhoea

    Flight takes U-turn after passenger gets severe diarrhoea

    A Delta Air Lines airplane was flying from Atlanta to Barcelona when two hours into the journey, they were forced to turn around because of a “biohazard issue” after one of the passengers developed severe diarrhoea.

    In an audio posted on X (formerly Twitter), allegedly from air traffic control, the pilot can be heard telling that a passenger had diarrhoea “all the way through the airplane, so they want us to come back to Atlanta,”

    As per the BBC, the plane was cleaned and flew to Barcelona the next day.

    Delta confirmed in a statement to Insider website that the plane had to take a u-turn to Atlanta due to a “medical issue” on board and because the plane had to get cleaned:

    “Delta Flight 194 from Atlanta to Barcelona returned to Atlanta following an onboard medical issue.

    “Our teams worked as quickly and safely as possible to thoroughly clean the airplane and get our customers to their final destination. We sincerely apologise to our customers for the delay and inconvenience to their travel plans.”

  • Second consecutive decline: Gold price drops by more than Rs6,000 per tola

    Second consecutive decline: Gold price drops by more than Rs6,000 per tola

    The price of gold in Pakistan fell for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, as the rupee depreciated against the US dollar. The price of 24 karat gold decreased by Rs6,300 per tola (11.66 grammes) and Rs5,402 per 10 grammes, to settle at Rs232,800 and Rs199,588, respectively.

    The decline in gold prices was in line with the fall in the international market, where the price of gold fell by $9 to settle at $1,931 per ounce. The gold rate has been volatile in Pakistan recently due to political and economic uncertainty, and high inflation.

    The price of silver also fell by Rs100 per tola and Rs85.74 per 10 grammes, to settle at Rs2,800 and Rs2400.5, respectively.

    The depreciation of the rupee against the dollar is the main reason for the decline in gold prices in Pakistan. When the rupee weakens, gold becomes more expensive for buyers in Pakistan, who have to pay more rupees to buy the same amount of gold.

    The political and economic uncertainty in Pakistan is also a factor that is contributing to the volatility of gold prices. Investors are unsure about the future of the country, and they are looking to gold as a safe haven investment. This demand for gold is pushing up prices.

    The high inflation in Pakistan is also making gold more expensive. When inflation rises, the value of the rupee decreases, which makes gold more expensive for buyers in Pakistan.

    Overall, the gold rate in Pakistan is expected to remain volatile in the near future due to the factors mentioned above.

  • Fact check: Is the viral Virat Kohli fan Pakistani?

    Fact check: Is the viral Virat Kohli fan Pakistani?

    After the highly anticipated cricket match between India and Pakistan on Saturday in Sri Lanka, a video went viral where a girl, allegedly a Pakistani, was seen saying that she was a huge fan of batting maestro Virat Kohli. When the video went viral, several Pakistani social media users slammed the as fake, saying that the girl’s accent was not typical of the country.

    The woman in question is indeed from Pakistan, and is fluent in Saraiki, the language of South Punjab. A user shared multiple videos where she could be speaking in both Saraiki and Urdu both.

    Her official Tiktok account is Khaani, where she can be seen showing her Pakistani passport and has the same yellow nail polish as well as the flags of both India and Pakistan painted on her cheeks as in the viral video.

    @lovekhaani ✈️ Babar Aur Kohli #srilanka #khaani ♬ original sound – Khaani
    @lovekhaani #khaani ♬ original sound – Khaani