Current Final

Author: News Desk

  • Kashif Zameer accused of attempting to kidnap YouTuber

    Kashif Zameer, famed for defrauding Turkish actor Engin Altan Düzyatan has allegedly made an attempt to kidnap YouTuber Ali Virk.

    According to reports, Kashif went to Hafizabad to meet Virk and tried to kidnap him there. However, the YouTuber jumped out of a moving car to save himself and injured himself severely in the process.

    Talking about the incident, Virk said: “Kashif came to meet me in the garden and tried to kidnap me but I jumped out of the car.”

    As per details, Virk resides in Turkey and Zameer stayed there with him for a few days when he visited Turkey last year. Reports have suggested that Virk has evidence against Kashif regarding his deal with Engin which is why Zameer tried to kidnap him.

    Virk further said that Kashif had asked him to visit him in Lahore several times but when he refused, Kashif came to Hafizabad. Virk also alleged that Kashif visited him with the intention of murdering him.

    Kashif has been involved in a controversy regarding a deal with Diriliş: Ertuğrul star Engin Altan Düzyatan.

    In December 2020, when Engin Altan visited Pakistan, he was hosted by Zameer in Lahore. Later, it was reported that Zameer struck a deal worth one million dollars with the Turkish actor but paid only half of it.  Zameer, later trashed the rumours saying that Engin had assured him that the deal will not be disbanded.

    However, on February 16, Düzyatan, in a statement said, that he no longer represents Zameer’s Chaudhry Group of Industries as brand ambassador.

  • ‘Tea is fantastic’: Ali Gul Pir releases music video on fallen trees in ‘Balakot Airstrike’

    The name Abhinandan rings a bell on both sides of the border — and while the Subcontinent is still arguing over who came out on top after a military face-off in 2019, rapper-vlogger Ali Gul Pir has released a song on it.

    Read more – ‘Tea is fantastic’: Pakistan Twitter has not forgotten Abhinandan

    Titled Chaar Darkht, the song is a humorous tribute to the four trees Pakistan lost in the Balakot airstrike. He sings about fantastic tea and fallen trees while gyrating in a forest in the video.

    “This is our celebration of Pakistan’s Peace Gesture, Diplomacy, and Goodwill. We will celebrate it as Fantastic Tea Day, where we stand by our decision of returning Wing Commander Abhinandan and averting a nuclear confrontation,” said the rapper.

    He also mentioned having a lot of respect for men in uniform, regardless of which side of the border they were on.

    “We have all the respect for armed personnel from any country, who risk their lives for the security and prosperity of their nations; whether they’re from Pakistan or not,” he added, reiterating that returning a captured pilot and encouraging peace was a sign of courage and victory on his country’s end.

    “While war-mongering media outlets may think of this as our weakness, we perceive it as our strength, henceforth we now celebrate 27th Feb as ‘Fantastic Tea Day’.”

    Soon after the song released, appreciation poured in for the rapper on social media.

    Meanwhile, hashtags like #HappyAirStrikeDayIndia, #BalakotAirStrike, #Abhinandan and #SurpriseDay are trending on Twitter Pakistan. Australian journalist, Dennis also jumped in on the occasion and is celebrating the World’s Biggest Tea Party.

    https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1365555840363552769?s=20

    In February 2019, Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan, who was captured by Pakistan after his MiG 21 Bison aircraft was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force jet, was handed back to his country as a gesture of peace at the Wagha Border.

    A video was then released by Inter-Services Public Relations showed the officer conversing with military officials in a congenial environment and acknowledging that he has been treated well. “I hope you like the tea?” a Pakistani officer had asked him, to which Abhinandan replied that: “The tea is fantastic, thank you.”

    Pakistan was hailed across the world for demonstrating responsible behaviour and averting a nuclear confrontation.

  • Maryam welcomes Hamza upon release from jail

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz welcomed Hamza Shehbaz, her cousin and Punjab Assembly opposition leader, along with hundreds of party workers outside Adiala Jail.

    On Thursday, the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted bail to Hamza Shehbaz in a money laundering case and ordered the authorities to immediately release him. Hamza spent 20 months in jail without conviction.

    “Sher Aya sher Aya [The lion is coming],” the workers chanted slogans as Hamza Shehbaz came out of Kot Lakhpat jail.

    Maryam Nawaz took to Twitter and shared her selfie with Hamza Shehbaz with Marriyum Aurangzeb sitting in the background.

    Earlier, Maryam lashed out at Imran Khan, saying his party leaders aren’t even ready to cast votes. She said that the prime minister will not come back to power again if he gets ousted.

    Maryam Nawaz said that PTI was now fleeing from re-election as their rigging has been exposed. She also paid tribute to Hamza Shehbaz, saying that the opposition leader of Punjab Assembly faced politically motivated cases bravely.

    Hamza was a worker of the party just like him, she added. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers, especially the women workers are excited and happy over release of their leader Hamza Shehbaz from Kot Lakhpat jail.

  • Imran Abbas reveals who he admires the most in the industry

    Imran Abbas has revealed who he “admires and respects the most” in the industry.

    Read more – When Aamir Khan hosted Humayun Saeed in Mumbai

    Sharing a picture of himself with Humayun Saeed from a recent trip to Turkey, Imran wrote: “Someone I respect, love and admire the most in our industry, mera bhai.”

    Commenting under Imran’s post, Ayeza wrote: “You two are my favourites. Amazing human beings.”

    “It’s an honour for me to work with such brilliant actors with the best heart,” she added.

    Responding to Ayeza’s comment, Abbas also praised the actress calling her “a gem of a person”.

    Earlier, Imran also shared a picture of himself with Turkish actor, Celal AL who played the character of Abdul Rehman Alp in Diriliş: Ertuğrul. Pakistani and Turkish actors have been spotted bonding in recent times.

    Meanwhile, Humayun is in Turkey to work on Pakistan and Turkey’s joint production Turki Lala. The Pakistani delegation comprising of Humayun, Adnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, producers Dr Kashif Ansari of Ansari Films and Dr Junaid Ali Shah met senior ministers in the Turkish government and discussed the upcoming series.

    Turki Lala is expected to go on floors soon. The plot of the upcoming venture is based on “Turki Lala who is considered to be one of the most glorious Muslim nationalists to have assisted Turkey during the Balkan War and World War I.”

  • Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ad

    Amazon rainforest plots sold via Facebook Marketplace ad

    Land grabbers are reportedly selling parts of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest through advertisements on Facebook.

    Facebook says that “we are ready to work with local authorities,” but they are not willing to take independent action of their own to halt the trade.

    “Our commerce policies require buyers and sellers to comply with laws and regulations,” the Californian tech firm added.

    Campaigners have also said that the government of Brazil is unwilling to halt the sales.

    “The land invaders feel very empowered to the point that they are not ashamed of going on Facebook to make illegal land deals,” said Ivaneide Bandeira, head of environmental NGO Kanindé.

    Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon is at a 10-year high. Now, Facebook’s Marketplace has become a selling site for grabbers.

    A journalist has recorded footage of a landgrabber, Fabricio Guimarães showing areas he is selling on Facebook.

    “There’s no risk of inspection by state agents here,” said Fabricio as he walked through a patch of rainforest he had burnt to the ground.

    Fabricio Guimarães land grabber

    The land illegally cleared and ready for farming is priced at $35,000.

    Fabricio is not a farmer. He has steady middle-class job in a city, and views the rainforest as being an investment opportunity.

    Another factor driving the illegal land market is the expectation of amnesty.

    One landgrabber revealed he was working with others to lobby politicians to help them legally own stolen land.

    “I’ll tell you the truth: if this is not solved with President Bolsonaro there, it won’t be solved anymore,” he said of the current government.

    A common strategy is to deforest the land and then plead with politicians to abolish its protected status, on the basis it no longer serves its original purpose.

  • ‘Wake up and clap’: PM seeks applause over plan to save Rs6,000 billion

    ‘Wake up and clap’: PM seeks applause over plan to save Rs6,000 billion

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, during an address in Lahore, took a jibe at the audience, comprising federal and provincial ministers, over their lacklustre, rather sleepy, response to his speech.

    Speaking about his government’s project to control the unplanned growth of Lahore, the PM said Central Business District (CBD) project at the Walton Airport site would help create much-needed wealth to pay off foreign loans.

    https://twitter.com/ReemKhurshid/status/1365272068095438852

    By shifting the Walton Airport from the centre of the city, the prime minister said, some much-needed Rs6,000 billion would be generated.

    The PM excepted clapping at his plan to save Rs6,000 billion, but the lawmakers and the cabinet members remained non-responsive to the PM’s potential super-saving plan. This prompted PM Imran to complain that the lawmakers did not even acknowledge such a mega project to generate wealth, asking whether they were up all night.

    The venue later continued resounding with applause as the prime minister narrated achievements of his government.

  • Multan Sultans clarify ownership status

    Multan Sultans has officially announced that the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) franchise is no longer owned by Ali Khan Tareen and Alamgir Tareen is now the sole owner of the #JanoobKiPehchaan.

    Read more – ‘Sorry Lala’: Haris Rauf apologises to Afridi for dismissing him

    “Pursuant to an agreement between the co-owners, the franchise has started it’s HBL PSL6 journey under the sole management of Mr Alamgir Tareen,” read an official statement issued by the team. “Internal process for the transferring of the ownership rights has already begun and all formalities shall be concluded soon.”

    “The Multan Sultans franchise appreciates the contributions made by Mr Ali Tareen during the last two seasons and the franchise will no doubt continue to benefit from his support,” it continued.

    “Meanwhile, Mr Ali Tareen intends to increase his focus on grassroots cricket development projects and the domestic cricket structure in particular in South Punjab,” added the statement.

    Earlier, journalist Umar Farooq Kalson had stated: “The Multan Sultans ownership consortium has been broken. Alamgir Tareen has taken over complete ownership of the franchise, with Ali Tareen no longer with the franchise in any capacity.”

    Another senior journalist Faizan Lakhani had shared the news and said: “Ali Tareen will now shift focus to Southern Punjab region.”

    The franchise came into existence in 2018 and since then, the side’s ownership was partnered by Ali-Alamgir and a few authoritative persons.

  • ‘Aakhir kitni khoobsurati kaafi hain?’: Sania Mirza calls for rethinking of ‘beauty standards’

    Sania Mirza has protested against ‘beauty standards’ set by the society and has called for them to be redone.

    Sharing an advertisement of a personal care brand which highlights false beauty standards set by society for women and how women are tested on the basis of those standards at the time of marriage, the tennis star said: “At 8 years of age, I heard people tell my parents ‘Don’t let her play out in the sun if she gets dark who will marry her’.”

    “How I wish I could go back in time and show this film then and ask aakhir kitni khoobsurati kaafi hain?,” she questioned.

    Mirza continued: “I am glad I stepped out in the sun because it made me who I am. The tan lines, the biceps, not meeting societal beauty standards, it was totally worth it.”

    The Indian tennis champion urged people to speak up against false beauty standards saying: “As a daughter of this country, I urge each one of us – parents, brothers, daughters, future-in-laws, to speak up and step up.”

    Mirza also shared the advertisement on her Twitter handle also with the caption: “Wish I had this film to show those who told me I wouldn’t find a husband if I got dark playing in the sun. Glad I have it now.”

    Earlier, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas has also said that she regretted promoting skin-whitening creams. 

    Speaking to Marie Claire, Chopra-Jonas had said: [Skin lightening] was so normalized in South Asia; it’s such a large industry that everyone was doing it. In fact, doing it is still a check [mark] when you are a female actor, but it’s awful.”

    “And it was awful for me, for a little girl who used to put talcum-powder cream on my face because I believed that dark skin was not pretty,” she said, adding that she hated being described as “dusky” by industry influencers and the media.

  • Fashion weeks have lost their charm, says HSY

    Fashion weeks have lost their charm, says HSY

    Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), in a recent interview with The Current, agreed that recent fashion weeks have lost their charm.

    Responding to a question on if he thinks fashion weeks have lost their charm, HSY said: “I do. Fashion weeks have lost their charm because everyone looks alike now. All shows are sticking to the same formula now.”

    “I think all shows should have a different identity because two shows with similar choreography, background and format would leave people bored,” he continued.

    “The spice in fashion is diversity,” added the designer.

    Read more – HBCW21: More stars than fashion

    When asked which fashion statement he thinks need to be thrown out of the window, HSY said: “A fashion statement is your self-reflection. If I tell you to throw something out of the window, then that’s not your self-reflection. I don’t believe in trends, trends are what you like.”

    “If you think a statement is good for you, do it,” he added.

    Later, while responding to a question on if the fashion industry is a toxic place, HSY said: “I’ve heard that working at a grocery store is also very toxic. I’ve heard that a fight between your aunts at home is also very toxic. I’ve heard that if two people get into a fight while changing a car’s tyres at a workshop, even that is very toxic.”

    “Toxicity is where you find it,” said the designer. “And peace is where you find it. If you find peace in where you are, it’s not [toxic].”

    “I think people should talk less and work more,” he added.

    Meanwhile, HSY also shared that he does not tire of dressing Reema because “she is not only beautiful but she is also very appreciative”.

    HSY, during the interview, also gave a tour of his new studio in Lahore, shared details of his fan moment with Tom Cruise, and opened up on how he deals with controversies when people pass unwarranted statements during his talk shows.

    Watch the complete interview here:

  • ‘Creepy’ or ‘magical’: With deepfake, you can reanimate anyone

    ‘Creepy’ or ‘magical’: With deepfake, you can reanimate anyone

    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and advance editing software have made it difficult to differentiate between real and fake content and it is enough to shatter the sense of reality.

    Telephone scams, catfishing schemes and social media trolling campaigns can all be launched with such fakery, and they can create equally unexpected consequences.

    People are taking fake content to the next level with this new technology. Recently, a TikToker used deepfake to mimic Tom Cruise, and it is shocking how well the video replicated his famous laugh.

    @deeptomcruise

    Sports!

    ♬ original sound – Miles Fisher

    A few things can tell that it is not Tom Cruise. First, the voice is quite different; especially the lip-syncing is a bit off at some points as you can hear the real Tom Cruise in this video.

    There are glitches in the movement tracking and lighting in the content, especially in the golf video where the sunglasses disappear, and his mouth morphs for a frame or two.

    Even with small glitches of technical details, it is difficult to differentiate between fake and real.

    Recently a genealogy site MyHeritage has launched a tool where you can upload any picture, especially old ones to animate faces with deepfake technology of dead relatives. They have acknowledged that some people might find this feature “creepy” but others might consider it “magical”.

    We used deepfake technology on Gen. Ziaul Haq to test the feature

    The company deliberately avoid using speech feature in the creation to avoid “deepfake people.” The government of the United Kingdom (UK) is planning to pass legislation on this technology.

    The Law Commission is considering proposals to make it illegal to created deepfake videos without consent.