Category: Lifestyle

  • Mehndi designs to flaunt this Eid

    Mehndi designs to flaunt this Eid

    Girls, we know you’ll all be heading out to celebrate Chaand Raat soon. But is a chaand raat outing even complete without chooriyan (bangles) and mehndi? Here are some trendy mehndi designs you can flaunt this Eid.

    Arabic Mehndi

    Arabic mehndi is pretty and delicate and has spaced out patterns because of which it does not look overdone.

    Indian Mehndi

    Indian mehndi designs are full and crowded. It has packed patterns with thinner lines and tiny details. If you’re fond of mehndi, the Indian designs are for you.

    Pakistani Mehndi

    Pakistani mehndi designs are a cross between Arabic and Indian designs with flowers and leaves dominating the pattern. Gola/tikki mehndi designs are very popular in Pakistan because they are simple yet elegant.

    Mehndi designs for fingers

    For those who are looking for the bare minimum, they can opt for mehndi on the fingers only.

  • Eid 2023: Your guide to taking Instagram pictures like celebrities

    While scrolling through Instagram, we often wonder how celebrities look good in every single picture they post on social media. There is no denying that they have personal stylists, makeup artists, and hairstylists to help them look good, but they also know how to pose to get their best pictures.

    This year, The Current has listed a few tips and tricks you can follow to get some gorgeous Instagrammable photographs in your Eid jora and tyaari.

    Stand in the centre

    If you are posing for a picture in front of a wall or building, try balancing equal spaces on both sides. It will make your picture aesthetically pleasing.

    Follow the rule of third

    The rule of third is not that technical as it sounds. It means you divide your image into the third both horizontally and vertically, and place your subject where the lines intersect.

    Smile

    Happy pictures are the best. Smiling for the camera will naturally make you look better on the camera and brighten up your image.

    Use Natural Night

    You do not need artificial lighting to get the best photos, go out in the sun and take pictures in natural light. The sun adds richness and warmth. If you don’t want to step out in this hot weather, use a window to your advantage and take a picture there.

    Don’t use too many filters

    Last but not least, don’t use too many filters as they can make your pictures look artificial and distort your features. Keep pictures as natural as possible.

    Happy Instagramming!

  • Best places to visit on Chand Raat for last minute Eid shopping

    Is it Eid the next day and you still haven’t managed to put together the perfect lewk? Our version of the Met Gala is on the nigh, so you need to know what are the best places to find something to add the extra spark. Whether you’re living in Lahore, Islamabad or Karachi, we have carefully selected a list of places you should definitely check out!

    Lahore

    Anarkali:

    Where will you find prettier jhumkay and bangles to give your look the spark it needs than a centuries old market? Located on Mall Road, its the perfect place to get mehndi, spend time with the family and also get some good food from nearby stalls.

    Liberty Market:

    Situated in Gulberg, it’s the perfect spot to find some good clothes at a low price or if you’re just looking for a place where the festivities for Eid have started. You’ll find good stores to purchase khussas, accessories or even mehndi stalls to get gorgeous henna patterns!

    Karachi

    Tariq Road: Featuring stores with some of the finest clothes, bags and shoes, this is the perfect spot to find a good last-minute addition to your Eid outfit.

    Dolmen Mall: Can’t find something because it is extremely expensive? Around Chand Raat, malls start introducing discounts on brands so this is the best time to find something to make your Eid look even better!

    Islamabad

    Centaurus Mall: On the day before Eid, a mela (fair) is set up at each famous mall, attracting large crowds of people looking for some fun places to celebrate the end of Ramadan and also find some good purchases at the last minute.

    F-10 Markaz:

    Best place to find any gifts you want to give your family members, and also rated by all Islamabadis as the best food spot in the city.

  • ‘Saddening’: Zulfiqar Bhutto tells international wildlife activists to stop the hate on Noor Jehan issue

    Ever since the poor condition of animals at Karachi Zoo, particularly the ailing elephant Noor Jehan, has gone viral on social media, local and international wildlife activists have slammed authorities for neglecting their charges.

    Several international activists have criticized Pakistani authorities for failing to care for Noor Jehan, sharing clips of the elephant lying on the ground. However, some tweets by international activists have ventured into the realm of racism.

    Wildlife activist and artist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto addressed international criticism in an Instagram post, reminding critics that despite government negligence, corruption and limited facilities, it was Pakistanis who stepped up to provide resources and raised calls to shut down the zoo and provide treatment for Noor Jehan.

    “In a country as poor as ours – many have poured their hearts and soul into caring for Noor Jehan. Doctors from Agha Khan are attending to her wounds as we speak. Their first non-human patient. Yes she was cruelly neglected like many of the animals in the zoo are now. But it was Pakistanis who highlighted their suffering. Form Paw Pakistan to local activists. It was Pakistanis who advocated for the animals in the zoo.

    Don’t blame the mahoots who are also victims of a cruel hierarchy. Don’t blame the volunteers staying up day in and day out – sacrificing the time they could be spending with their own families.”

  • Heist at Toronto Airport: thieves swipe $15 million worth of gold and valuables

    Heist at Toronto Airport: thieves swipe $15 million worth of gold and valuables

    In a theft of an unusually big scale, thieves have managed to steal CA $20 million (USD $15m) worth of gold from a cargo terminal at Toronto’s main international airport on Monday.


    This is the biggest gold heist since July 2019, when a theft of $30 million occurred at an airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil. According to Inspector Stephen Duivesteyn, the container carrying the gold arrived on a flight on Monday evening, but he did not disclose its origin.
    The cargo of the plane carrying the gold, was transferred to a holding facility. However, according to Inspector Duivesteyn, the container carrying the gold was unlawfully taken and reported as missing right after the unloading process.


    “An aircraft arrived here at the airport in the early evening. As per normal procedure, the aircraft was unloaded and cargo was transported from the aircraft to a holding cargo facility,” he said.

    It is uncertain whether the stolen gold is still within the country’s borders. According to The Ottawa Sun, the gold may have been transported from a mine in Northern Ontario to Toronto on behalf of one of the banks. The authorities have not confirmed whether the perpetrators were professional criminals or not, but the investigation is continuing.


    The Toronto Sun claimed that organized criminal gangs are suspected of being responsible for the heist.

  • Indian court acquits 69 people of murder of 11 Muslims in Gujarat massacre trial

    Indian court acquits 69 people of murder of 11 Muslims in Gujarat massacre trial

    A court in India has declared 69 people, which includes a former minister from the ruling Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), not guilty of the killing of 11 Muslims during communal riots in the western state of Gujarat in 2002.


    The case pertains to the killing of 11 Muslims who died in February 2002 during communal riots in Ahmedabad, when Hindu mobs set their homes on fire and rampaged through the city. An investigation into the attack found that the Muslims received no assistance from the police and were left at the mercy of the attackers.


    The Gujarat riots erupted after a train carriage carrying Hindu pilgrims being set on fire. Suspecting that Muslims had carried out the attack, Hindu groups started retaliatory attacks, and the incident soon turned into one of the most severe outbreaks of religious violence in India’s history after independence. While the official death toll of the violence was approximately 1,000 people, with most of the victims being Muslims, non-governmental organizations argue that the actual number of casualties was much greate

  • Filipino TikToker embraces Islam with the help of Pakistani friend

    Filipino TikToker embraces Islam with the help of Pakistani friend

    Famous TikToker Fiona James, who is based in Dubai and originally from the Philippines, has converted to Islam during the holy month of Ramadan. With almost 800,000 followers on TikTok, Fiona changed her name to Zainab after accepting Islam at the Islamic Information Centre in Satwa, Dubai. She had been living in the UAE for over eight years and had always been fascinated by the call to prayer from the mosques. Hearing the azan made her feel calm and curious about the religion, and she even memorized parts of it. Zainab shared her story in an interview with Khaleej Times.

    According to reports, Zainab, the TikTok influencer who recently converted to Islam, is currently taking online classes from the Islamic Information Centre to deepen her understanding of the religion. She aims to complete the course within a month while also studying and memorizing smaller chapters of the Holy Quran. Zainab’s family is said to be happy and supportive of her decision to embrace Islam.

    “I feel very nice and very calm inside me. I embraced Islam on my own. No one forced me to accept this religion,” she added.

    Zainab’s Pakistani friend Salman, who is also a TikToker with two million followers, helped her learn about Islam. The two friends have created several videos together for the social media platform.

    “We are friends for five years. In Islam, one cannot be forced to embrace religion. Instead, it’s all about getting the right information and meeting the right people. Sometimes we used to discuss it also as she used to ask me questions time and again. I believe this encouraged her to come into the fold of Islam,” said Salman.

  • Nine Pakistani pilgrims killed in road accident in Saudi Arabia

    A road accident near the Al-Qassim area in Saudi Arabia has resulted in the deaths of nine Pakistani citizens, including women and children. Additionally, five Umrah pilgrims were injured in the accident.


    The victims were returning to Riyadh from Madina after performing Umrah.


    According to reports, the individuals who lost their lives in the accident were from neighbouring villages, namely Islamnagar and Chak 18, located in the Nankana Sahib area. The individuals were in Saudi Arabia on visit visas

  • UAE astronaut shares stunning video of Makkah, Madina from space

    UAE astronaut shares stunning video of Makkah, Madina from space

    United Arab Emirates (UAE) astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has shared a stunning video of Makkah, Madina and Jeddah sparkling in the night as seen from space. 

    AlNeyadi has been posting images on his Twitter account since he went off to space in March. 

    In his latest Twitter post, AlNeyadi wrote: “Dedication to the country of the Two Holy Mosques, the landing site of revelation and the land of the message, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

    The video shows a clear image of twinkling lights and many roads. 

    “This is the city of Jeddah, often referred to as the Bride of the Red Sea,” says AlNeyadi as he moves the camera towards the second city. “… the holy city of Makkah, where the message of Islam took root with the Prophet (PBUH).” 

    AlNeyadi then points out the light from the Masjid Al Haram which can be seen shining bright even from space. 

    “They are shining like stars, and it is one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen,” he wrote.

  • First ever child care facility at Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque

    First ever child care facility at Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque

    As a large number of faithful Muslims due to the ongoing month of Ramzan, a new center has been established near the Grand Mosque to provide childcare services for pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, This is the first time such a facility has been set up in the vicinity of Islam’s holiest site.

    The newly established center for taking care of worshippers’ children is located within the Third Saudi Extension of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It began operating in the middle of Ramadan and is being run with the assistance and oversight of competent government organizations. The facility is specifically designed to look after children who are six years old or younger while their parents engage in Umrah or other religious practices within the mosque, which is the site of the Holy Kaaba.

    According to Razan Al Dahlawi, the manager of the center located in the courtyards of the Grand Mosque, it is the first of its kind and is well-equipped to provide a safe environment for children. The center offers a free service for the first three hours, but details about the fees for a longer service were not provided.