Current Final

Category: Lifestyle

  • Loch Ness Monster quest embarks on its largest search

    A significant high-tech quest is about to launch in Scotland with the aim of unearthing the enduring mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, as reported by BBC.

    The search, slated for August 26 and 27, marks the most considerable effort since the extensive study carried out by the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau in 1972.

    The Loch Ness Centre and a group of passionate volunteers collectively known as Loch Ness Exploration are spearheading the ambitious project, aiming to utilize cutting-edge technology, including drones equipped with infrared cameras and hydrophones for detecting unusual underwater sounds.

    The use of these high-tech tools in the pursuit of the mythical creature, popularly known as Nessie, signifies a level of sophistication not seen in previous searches. Volunteers will also watch from safe vantage points onshore, scanning the water for any signs of the reputed beast.

    Interest in the Loch Ness Monster was sparked in the 1930s when Aldie Mackay, a hotel manageress, reported seeing a creature that resembled a whale, with the loch’s water “cascading and churning” around it. Despite the absence of concrete evidence, the legend has held a firm grip on the public’s imagination, with the myth tracing its roots back to the middle ages.

    In addition to the search effort, the organizers are also offering trips on the loch during the month’s investigation for those willing to participate in this intriguing quest.

  • Transgender activist Zaakraa’s story takes sinister turn, wipes all previous posts

    Transgender activist Zaakraa’s story takes sinister turn, wipes all previous posts

    TRIGGER WARNING: discussion of abuse, torture, homophobia

    Zaakraa has wiped out all of her social media posts, and posted a video saying she didn’t mean what she said previously, and had said it because she had anxiety.

    “I had uploaded my last video on the recommendation of someone, and at that point I was panicking and severely depressed. I am sorry for everything, and for insulting anyone.”

    Meanwhile, transgender activists Hina Baloch and Mehrub Moiz Awan have alleged that Zaakraa has been ‘kidnapped’ by the facility after she made public allegations of suffering abuse, torture and beatings while she stayed there.

    Mehrub Moiz revealed she was on the phone with Zaakraa for eight seconds when she heard screaming and a voice saying: “Dr Imran is here.”

    Hina Baloch requested friends from Lahore to spread the word so she may be found.

    Soon after Zaakraa took to Instagram, deleting her previous videos.

    A transgender activist who goes by the name Zaakraa has appeared back online after disappearing from social media for six months.

    She has posted videos on her Twitter and Instagram page, stating that her parents forced her to take conversion therapy at the Focus Life Rehabilitation Centre, detailing the torture and abuse she was subjected to at the hands of the doctors.

    In the video, Zaakraa says that for three months, she was stripped naked, beaten, and slapped by staff when she refused to eat because of her eating disorder. She also revealed that Dr Samina, who was present at the clinic, would question why Zaakraa was so invested in Aurat March, and other issues related to women. Another psychiatrist, Dr Imran, was informed by Zaakraa’s sister about his bisexuality. He berated the activist for his support for Aurat March and Moorat March.

    https://twitter.com/BubblesKhanum2/status/1688117427241095168?s=20

    The Current reached out to Zaakraa for a statement. She responded as follows:

    “I want Focus Life Rehab to be held accountable.”

    Zaakraa also shared pictures on her social media account of the doctors who she says were responsible for the torture and abuse during the time she was there.

    https://twitter.com/zaakraaaa/status/1688171062243315712?s=20

    We have reached out to Focus Life for a statement, and will update the article with their response.

    Prominent transgender activists like Mehrub Moiz Awan have expressed outrage on social media and called for the organisation to be shut down.

  • TW: Father beats daughter with metal bar for wearing makeup to school in UK, daughter saves him from jail sentence

    TW: Father beats daughter with metal bar for wearing makeup to school in UK, daughter saves him from jail sentence

    Hussein Alinzi, 59, was arrested in the United Kingdom last year on charges of battering his 15-year-old daughter on the morning she was to take a GCSE English exam.

    Alinzi accused his daughter of deceiving him to secretly meet a boy, and of wearing makeup. The girl has reportedly put on makeup to hide the bruises the father inflicted on her the night before.

    Alinzi was charged with beating his daughter with a metal bar right up to the point where she lost consciousness. However, she later tried to sit for the exam but was immediately taken to the A&E after she complained of dizziness and nauseau.

    The teenager reported to her teachers and the police that her father subjected her, on numerous occasions, to beatings and threats, reportedly saying, “I will run you over”, “I will kill you,” and “I hope you die.”

    Medics reported there were 14 injuries on the girl’s body along with a bite mark on her left temple.

    However, Alinzi, who works as a delivery driver, has avoided jail time after an eight month prison sentence was suspended for 18 months after the girl gave an emotional plea in court. He is also required to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 25 days of rehabilitation activity days.

    “I initially didn’t want to provide a statement or evidence as I did not want to cause further pain to my family,” the girl said in a statement.

    “When my father was arrested, I felt safe that he was not here, but sad that he was not home.”

    ”My Mum struggles to look after my younger brother and I felt guilty that I bought shame on my family. I love my Dad and I can see that his attitude has now changed. This has made me realise how people can actually change.

    ”Since he has not been living with us, I have become more independent. My brother needs to live with his Dad, and he needs him back.

    “I actually feel happy as all this has changed him, it has made him realise what can and can’t do.”

    During the sentencing, Judge Mr Recorder Peter Wright KC spoke to Alinzi, reminding him to be kinder towards his children:

    “You’re the father of a big family of which there ought to be pride rather than shame, but that shame has been bought on your family by your conduct.

    “You have not behaved like a father should to his children, you behaved like a monster to them.

    “She should have been expected to be loved and protected by you, not assaulted and abused. She lived her life in fear of you, enduring your physical conduct towards her. You are a bully, and what you did was not protecting your child.

    “Your conduct was unforgivable and indicates your will for a combination of fear and violence. This is not acceptable, it is inexcusable and shameful.

    “She is now left with the emotional scar of now being the cause of you becoming separated from the family. This is a feeling that is natural for a child, but she is blameless.”

  • India landing on the moon makes us miss Fawad Chaudhry and his wadaa

    India landing on the moon makes us miss Fawad Chaudhry and his wadaa

    India’s space agency has shared pictures of their spacecraft Chandrayaan-3, as the rover gets closer and closer to the surface of the planet. BBC revealed that by August 23, Chandrayaan’s rover and lander are due to reach the surface of the earth. It was released from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota in the Andhra Pradesh state on July 14.

    This would be the second time after thirteen years that the country has launched a spacecraft to the moon. The first time was in 2008 after which the discovery of the presence of water molecules in the moon’s atmosphere was made.

    Scientists from the Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) spoke to the media, stating that Chandrayaan-3 was in “good health”, adding that this was the third time in succession that ISRO had successfully injected a spacecraft into a lunar orbit.

    If the mission is successful this would make India the first country to perform a controlled soft landing near the south pole, and the fourth country after USA, China and the former Soviet Union to achieve a soft landing on the moon.

    Congratulations to India but we do remember how a certain promise was made by the former Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry, whol announced in a tweet in 2019 that by the year 2022, Pakistan will send their first person to space. He even mentioned that selection for the project was to begin by Feb 2020 after which 25 people will be selected. Kya hua tera wada, wo qasam wo iraada?

  • Rizwana torture case: Judge’s wife claims Rizwana never worked for her, says she wants to commit suicide

    Rizwana torture case: Judge’s wife claims Rizwana never worked for her, says she wants to commit suicide

    An Islamabad court has on Tuesday reserved verdict on appeal to grant physical remand of Somia Asim, the wife of a civil Judge accused of torturing Rizwana.

    During the hearing, the police requested the court for the suspect’s physical remand for further investigation. The defense lawyer argued that the police have been investigating since Somia Asim got arrested, and emphasizing that she has nothing to do with it.

    Furthermore, Somia while giving her statement to the court, shared that she has been facing a lot of criticism and pressure, even though she has not been proven guilty yet. She said that she’s a mother of three and with the current circumstances she feels like committing suicide.

    Stating that she is being given a “media trial”, Somia also complained about media coverage while she is being brought to the court, to which the judge replied that it doesn’t matter because she is fully covered and no one could see her face.

    The judge also inquired about the victim’s health. Rizwana’s sister apprised the court that she is doing better and has been shifted out of the ICU.

    Later, the court reserved the verdict.

    On Monday, the main suspect Somia Asim was arrested from the court after her bail plea was rejected.

    The court went on to issue an arrest warrant against Somia Asim, the wife of a civil judge, after she presented herself in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Farrukh Farid.

    During the court hearing, Asim’s lawyer claimed that she had appeared before the JIT and proclaimed her innocence. He stated that police records did not indicate any instances of violence committed by Asim. In addition, the defense attorney maintained that Somia had tried to send the minor girl back multiple times and had eventually handed her over to her mother.

    However, the plaintiff’s lawyer contested the claims, stating that Rizwana, aged between 13 and 14, had been repeatedly subjected to torture. According to him, employing a minor is an illegal act in itself. He pointed out that the civil judge and his wife should have been aware of this illegality. He further claimed that there were allegations of blackmail against the girl’s parents.

    He questioned how parents could cause such severe injuries to their own daughter and pointed out that the medical report of the girl had not been challenged by defense lawyers.

    The plaintiff’s lawyer questioned the basis on which the accused was seeking an extension of her bail. He argued that if women are granted bail in such grave cases, it would lead to societal decay.

    The shocking incident of severe torture on a teenage maid allegedly perpetrated by the wife of a civil judge in Islamabad has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The victim, a resident of Sargodha, was shifted to Lahore General Hospital, prompting an investigation into accusations against the judge’s wife.

  • Shaadi season abhi tak chal raha hai? Pakistani woman marries Indian man virtually

    Shaadi season abhi tak chal raha hai? Pakistani woman marries Indian man virtually

    Ye konsa shaadi ka jadoo hai jo Pakistan mein khatam nahi ho raha? Lagta hai sirf KPK nahin hai jahan kay paani mein kuch hai. Another cross-border wedding took place on Sunday when a woman from Karachi, Ameena, married Arbaaz from India, as reported by the Hindustan Times.

    Arbaaz comes from the Indian city of Jodhpur. He is related to Armeena. An Indian outlet reported that a previous family member had also married a woman from a neighboring country.

    Arbaaz’s father Mohammad Afzal spoke to the local media, telling them that the ceremony was held in a simple way in a virtual ceremony.

    “A grandson of mine is a chartered accountant, who is married to a girl from Pakistan. Seeing their happiness, Ameena’s family asked our son’s hand in marriage, which we accepted,” the father gushed about the wedding.

    Arbaaz revealed to the media that his wife would be applying for a visa, and said that the ceremony was held online otherwise they would have to obtain visas twice.  “I didn’t marry in Pakistan as it would not be recognised and we would have to remarry on reaching India.”

    Previously, an Indian woman named Anju travelled to Pakistan, to marry her lover Nasrullah, after meeting him on Facebook.

    READ MORE: Anju weds Nasrullah: Bride’s father breaks all ties

    Afterwards a string of marriages sprung up on the news, including women from Chile, China and Mexico, all travelling within the same month to marry the Pakistani men they met on social media.

    READ MORE: Dir-Zara? Indian woman flies to Upper Dir to marry Pakistani man

  • Muslim man shoots Hindu girl before killing himself after families don’t give marriage permission

    Muslim man shoots Hindu girl before killing himself after families don’t give marriage permission

    Trigger warning: murder, death

    Muhammad Asif Brohi, a Muslim resident of Hyderabad, has reportedly killed himself after firing at Gauri Kohli, a Hindu girl he wanted to marry.

    The attempted murder- suicide took place after the families of both the boy and the girl objected to their desire to marry.

    According to Tribune, the woman is currently in critical condition in the hospital after surviving a bullet injury. Brohi killed himself by firing a bullet through his head, police have confirmed.

    Officials stated that Brohi’s body had been handed to his family after post-mortem, while Kohli has been shifted to Liaqat University Hospital.

  • TikToker Mahek Bukhari and mother Ansreen found guilty in murder case

    TikToker Mahek Bukhari and mother Ansreen found guilty in murder case

    British-Pakistani TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari and her mother Ansreen have been declared guilty at a Leicister court for the murder of a man who died in a car crash.

    The deceased, Saqib Hussain, had threatened to expose details of the long-running affair he had been having with Ansreen.

    During the trial, the jurors were told that the social media influencer had set a trap for Hussain on the night he died, inviting him to their house, where they were going to give him the £3,000 he had spent during the relationship. When Hussain was driving to the house with his friend Hasim Ijazzuddin, they were ambushed and then chased by two cars.

    The men driving those vehicles were Karwan, 29, and Jamal, 23. Both were cleared of murder charges but were convicted of manslaughter.

    Ijazuddin’s car split into two pieces and caught on fire after colliding with a tree on Six Hills junction on the A46.

    After the verdicts, Deputy Inspector Mark Parish of Leicestershire Police spoke to the press, calling this a “callous and cold blooded attack.”

    “After setting Mr Hussain and Mr Ijazuddin up, chasing them at high speed and then ultimately ramming their car off the road, none of the defendants made any attempt to help the victims or to call for help.”

    “Instead, they drove on and then even drove back past the collision site.”

  • Crocodile kills footballer who jumped in river in Costa Rica

    In a tragic turn of events, a well-known Costa Rican football player, Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, popularly known as Chucho, has been killed by a crocodile.

    Chucho dived off a bridge into the Canas river in a spontaneous act that turned fatal, according to police reports.

    The 29-year-old footballer was in the company of a friend and a cousin at the time of the incident. Despite their attempts to discourage him from jumping into the crocodile-infested river, Chucho went ahead. Eyewitness footage shows the terrifying moments of Chucho battling the crocodile as it hauled him away.

    Local villagers made desperate attempts to save the footballer by attacking the crocodile. However, the beast did not loosen its grip. Videos shot after the attack show the massive reptile swimming in the river while still holding onto the footballer’s body.

    In a last-ditch effort, villagers shot and killed the crocodile to recover Chucho’s body. Despite the prohibition on killing protected species, including crocodiles, in Costa Rica, it remains unclear if any charges will be filed against the locals.

    Local police quoted by the Daily Mail stated, “All efforts were made to rescue the body of the deceased person without causing damage to the reptile, but it was not possible.”

  • Novel bacteria strain holds potential to curtail malaria transmission

    Novel bacteria strain holds potential to curtail malaria transmission

    In a promising stride against one of the world’s most deadly diseases, scientists have accidentally discovered a naturally occurring bacterium, TC1, that could impede the transmission of malaria from mosquitoes to humans, according to BBC.

    The groundbreaking finding came to light at a research facility in Spain, supervised by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The researchers stumbled upon the phenomenon while conducting experiments on mosquitoes related to drug development.

    The team noticed an unexpected result: a group of mosquitoes remained free from malaria parasites. Further analysis led to the identification of a bacteria strain, TC1, existing in the natural environment, which seemed to halt the growth of malaria parasites inside the mosquito’s gut.

    The bacterium proved to be resilient, persisting throughout the mosquito’s lifespan and notably reducing its parasite load by up to 73%.
    This unexpected helper produces a molecule known as Harmane, which hinders the early development stages of the malaria parasite within the mosquito.

    Malaria continues to devastate populations globally, claiming around 620,000 lives each year, primarily among children under the age of five. While vaccines are in progress, their implementation in Africa remains in the nascent stages.