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  • Namira Saleem returns from space

    Namira Saleem returns from space

    The first Pakistani woman to go into space returns along with two other travelers

    In this fourth commercial spaceflight the other two passengers were British advertising executive Trevor Beattie and American astronomy educator Ron Rosano.

    The flight started with take-off at precisely 8:10 pm PST (1540 GMT) when Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity Space plane lifted off under the wings of its carrier craft called Virgin Mothership (VMS) Eve. Unity was taken to the height at roughly 1624 GMT at an altitude of around 45,000 feet (13,700 meters). Unity then powered its way into suborbital space, reaching its highest point of 54.3 miles from Earth and hit a top speed of Mach 2.95 (nearly three times the speed of sound) during its short trip. The flight ended at 12:43 pm EDT (1643 GMT), when Unity finally touched down at Spaceport America.

    On coming back, Namira posted a picture with the caption: From space back to Earth! First Female Virgin Galactic Founder Astronaut! And many more Firsts!

    Previously she was excited about having used the same spaceflight gear as the one used by the founder of Virgin Galactic’s founder Richard Branson himself back in July 2021.

    Pakistan’s ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, also applauded Namira Salim on her feat, saying: “Because of you our nation’s flag fluttered in space today.”

    Who is Namira Salim?
    Namira is a multidimensional personality with interests ranging from singing to space-exploration. Based in Monaco and Dubai, she is the founder of Space Trust and describes herself as the First Female Astronaut at Galactic and the first Asian to have skydived from The Everest. She secured the ticket with Virgin Galactic back in 2006 and the price of the ticket has appreciated to $450,000 since then.

    Read more on this

    Pakistan’s Namira Saleem set to launch into space
  • Imran Khan objects to treatment in Adiala jail

    Imran Khan objects to treatment in Adiala jail

    Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s attorney, Salman Safdar, said on Monday that the former Prime Minister has objected to the way he is being treated at Adiala jail.


    Salman Safdar said that Imran Khan has been kept in jail like any other prisoner.


    “The chairman protested that he was provided with a room where it was difficult to live. It is also difficult to move or walk in the cell,” said Safdar. He added that he felt that the PTI chief’s blood pressure was high during today’s hearing.
    “The PTI chief strongly protested during the hearing in the court,” said Safdar.
    Moreover, Imran Khan’s attorney requested that the trial be conducted in an open court so that the public could be aware of it, adding that it is not “right” to conduct the trial in jail.


    On the other hand, Khan’s other lawyer, Sher Afzal Marwat, has said that Imran Khan and PTI’s vice chairman, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, were standing in a “cage” during the hearing. Terrorists are not even presented before court in this manner, the indignant lawyer commented.
    The special court also announced that PTI leaders will be indicted in the cipher case on October 17.

  • Sajal Aly questions Lux Style Awards selection criteria

    Sajal Aly questions Lux Style Awards selection criteria

    The Lux Style Awards were met with criticism this year, with major film and drama actors speaking out against the unfair selection process that only seemed to recognise few of the best projects that came out this year. The production team behind the critically acclaimed film ‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ had justified their reason for not sending their nomination for the awards in a statement, that criticised the lack of categories honouring film directors and writers, “disregarding their major and substantial creative contributions, while including one for best playback song doesn’t resonate with our vision for comprehensive film recognition. Therefore, we’ve decided not to make an exception in this case.”

    Read more: Why wasn’t ‘Maula Jatt’ nominated for the Lux Style Awards?

    Several fans expressed their disappointment on Wahaj Ali’s, pointing out that the actor was not nominated despite having submitted his portfolio for the drama series ‘Jo Bichar Gaye’.

    Actress Sajal Aly took to Instagram to call out the selection jury, suggesting ways to improve their criteria so that deserving performances are given due credit. She questioned why several actors who gave excellent performances this year including Zara Noor Abbas for ‘Badshah Begum’ or Ushna Shah for ‘Habs’ weren’t given awards.

    “It is greatly dissapointing to me as an artist that LSA routinely ignores other artists who are doing great work. For example, Mehwish Hayat who was great in London Nahi Jaunga’. Zara Noor Abbas for ‘Badshah Begum’ and Ushna Shah for ‘Habs’. Who exactly are the jury members, do they watch our shows even? Or do they simply choose who is popular? It is one thing not to win an award but to simply be ignored even if you have done great work is heartbreaking!”

    Moving on, the ‘Kuch Ankahi’ actress requested the Lux Style Awards to include categories honouring the technical teams “who create magic for us, us actors and for the audiences who see us.”

    Lastly, the ‘Ye Dil Mera’ actress expressed her disappointment at Wahaj Ali’s snub from the Lux Style Awards, and called for a seperate category honouring supporting actors in films and actors to be set up.

    ‘My third request is: please add a way/caetgory to honor supporting actors. We have great actors who make our plays stronger because of their contributions. Let’s appreciate them please. PS: How could Jo Bichar Gaye not even be nominated?”

    Sajal Aly was not the only actress who expressed her disdain at the jury board, but Farhan Saeed, who was nominated for his performance in drama ‘Mere Humsafar’, but then lost to Arsalan Naseer for ‘Paristaan’, called out the awards in an Instagram post for refusing to honour actors for their hard work.

    “If you had to fix it , it could have been done intelligently at least #LSA2023 ! I don’t say this for myself but for anyone who deserves a fair chance at winning for their hard work at any platform, I say this to encourage ppl who aspire to join our industry! I say this to keep people’s faith in us intact !
    Nevertheless
    Your Love Is The Biggest Award I Have !!
    Congratulations to all the winners!”

  • Jinnah House Trial to be completed in 1.5 months

    Jinnah House Trial to be completed in 1.5 months

    In a recent development, Punjab’s Special Prosecutor, Syed Farhad Ali Shah, revealed that the Home Department has issued a notification to conduct the trial of the May 9 cases within the confines of a jail facility.

    Speaking about the matter, Syed Farhad Ali Shah stated, “The Jinnah House trial is set to be completed within a timeframe of one to one and a half months.” He also confirmed that the challan (charge sheet) has been submitted to the court.

    The notification issued by the Home Department specifies that not only the Jinnah House case but also the arson and siege cases related to Askari Tower and Shadman police station will be conducted within jail premises. The move aims to streamline legal proceedings and enhance security during the trials.

    In a related development, Justice Ali Baqir Najfi of the Lahore High Court (LHC), on Monday, directed Punjab government prosecutors to apprise the court in the Khadijah Shah case after taking directions from the government.

    The petitioner, through a lawyer, pleaded that she was unduly implicated in the May 9 riots incidents and Gulberg police station had illegally involved her in the case against the facts.
    “The Anti-Terrorism Court dismissed the bail by ignoring the facts,” Khadija Shah pleaded via her lawyer in the provincial apex court.

    Earlier, the LHC had conditionally dismissed the registrar’s objections to Khadija Shah’s bail plea, deciding to remove objectionable documents from the application and dismissing the objection itself.

    In another recent development, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) has ordered the release of Sanam Javed Khan, a prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, and eight other party members in connection with the Jinnah House attack case. The decision comes after a series of legal proceedings surrounding the incident earlier this year.

    Presiding over the case, ATC Judge Arshad Javed announced the verdict, granting bail to the nine suspects involved in the Jinnah House attack. The court approved their bail pleas, requiring surety bonds worth Rs 0.1 million each, thereby paving the way for their release.

  • Sarwat Gilani announces her pregnancy in the most wholesome way

    Sarwat Gilani announces her pregnancy in the most wholesome way

    This year’s Lux Style Awards were more than just a ceremony celebrating the best of the entertainment industry. We got two sweet surprises that definitely became the highlights of the event.

    Actress Sarwat Gilani showed everyone how to leave a mark even when you’re not nominated, by announcing her pregnancy in a picture with the rest of the ‘Joyland’ cast.

    “Couldn’t think of a better picture to announce our new arrival! Celebrating together the biggest joy of now and the future.”

    Celebrities were as moved by the announcement as social media users, congratulating the actress on her impending bundle of joy.

    Mira Sethi and Frieha Altaf sent their congratulations to the actress.

    Sarwat was not the only celebrity to share her pregnancy announcement, however. Actress Urwa Hocane moved social media to tears when she shared a picture of herself and husband Farhan Saeed along with her visible baby bump, announcing that they were set to become parents for the first time.

    Celebrities like Zara Noor Abbass, Aiman Khan and Minal Khan congratulated Urwa for this wholesome announcement.

  • No restrictions on PTI: caretaker government

    No restrictions on PTI: caretaker government

    Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, has asserted that there are no restrictions on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) contesting the upcoming general elections, emphasizing that announcing a date for polls is not the responsibility of the caretaker government.

    The election will be held on the date announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Solangi said, showing confidence in the ECP as an autonomous body mandated with conducting elections.

    The caretaker minister said that all the registered political parties have equal opportunities, including PTI. “All the parties and their leadership have the freedom to give their point of view on an important issue,” he added.

    “There are no restrictions on PTI as a political party,” said Solangi.

    Commenting on Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming on October 21, the caretaker information minister stressed that the interim setup has nothing to do with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo’s return.

  • Fan tries pitch-invasion during World Cup India-Australia match

    Fan tries pitch-invasion during World Cup India-Australia match

    On Sunday, Australia and India clashed in the cricket World Cup 2023 in Chennai. The happening match was disturbed by a British fan named Jarvo, who came onto the ground before the toss, wearing an Indian cricket jersey.

    However, security officers stopped Jarvo and pushed him out of the ground, while an unrelated person entering the players’ and officials’ area raised questions about World Cup security.

    Read More: Indian anti-minority lawyer targets a Pakistani over fake allegations

    The Indian cricket team itself was also angry when Jarvo entered the field. According to Indian media, ICC has banned this particular fan from coming to World Cup matches.

    It should be noted that Jarvo has previously attempted pitch invasions in England, earning himself a ban from British stadiums.

  • ‘Did not draw inspiration from anyone’s work’: Hussain Rehar responds to plagiarism accusations

    ‘Did not draw inspiration from anyone’s work’: Hussain Rehar responds to plagiarism accusations

    Fashion designer Hussain Rehar has responded to allegations of plagiarism by Instagram art page Kook Studio, who alleged that the fashion designer stole their art pieces without giving credit. In a lengthy Instagram statement, the fashion designer wrote that his recent collection ‘Jugnu’ did not draw inspiration from any specific individual’s work.

    “Jugnu, a project in the making for over a year, derives its inspirations from traditional African embroidery designs. While there may be similarities in using the same monochrome palette, these elements are commonly found in various art forms across cultures. In an effort to maintain transparency, we are sharing all relevant images and references.”

    Hussain further wrote that his fashion brand was dedicated to “upholding the principles of artistic expression, cultural appreciation and ethical design practices. We hold the artistic community in high regard and are committed to resolving any misunderstandings in a respectful manner. We encourage open dialogue and look forward to ensuring that our shared passion for creativity continues to thrive.”

    Rehar then shared screenshots of his designs along with the pieces that he had used for inspiration.

    Addressing the backlash after the accusations went viral, Rehar wrote that it had taken a toll on his reputation as well as his mental health.

    “I urge everyone to pause and consider the consequences of reacting to a one-sided story. These comments and criticisms have a real impact on an individual’s life and mental health. I hope we can all strive for a more compassionate and empathetic online environment.”

    An online art store named Kook Studio has accused fashion designer Hussain Rehar of plagiarising their artwork.

    In a video shared by the account, the fashion designer requested the artist to collaborate on a fashion shoot.

    The next few screenshots have suggested that Hussain and the artist had met up to discuss the collaboration, but the fashion designer backed out after finding the artist’s fee too high.

    Then three months later, the designer allegedly plagiarised the same designs he referenced to the artist during their meeting.

    A Twitter user shared the video clip on their account, slamming the way big artists plagarise smaller designers.

    The video has gained traction and many users are expressing solidarity with the artist behind Kook Studio.

    A user wrote: “these big “designers” will suck out the blood of smaller designers by stealing or exploiting their craft. its almost impossible to rise as a designer until or unless you have the tag of a foreign brand with you. get outta this country asap.”

    “fffs man top rated designer stealing work of small artists? who are already under paid? is how the dumbing down of a society begins” another user wrote.

    The Current has reached out to Hussain Rehar for a statement and will update the article as soon as we receive it.

  • Transgender wins beauty pageant in Portugal

    Transgender wins beauty pageant in Portugal

    For the first time, a transwoman was crowned Miss Portugal beauty pageant.

    According to foreign media, 28-year-old Marina Machet is an air hostess by profession.

    Before winning the title, Machet posted on social media stating, “Proud to be the first trans woman to compete for the title of Miss Universe Portugal,”.

    “For years it was not possible for me to participate and today I am proud to be part of this incredible group of finalists,” , she added.

    As per reports, Miss Portugal will now compete with another transwoman, Rikkie Kolle, for the title of Miss Universe in the Central American country of El Salvador.

    22-year-old Rikkie Kolle became the first transgender woman in July to win the Miss Netherlands title.

    Both the winners will succeed Angela Ponce of Spain, who became the first transgender candidate for the Miss Universe title in 2018.

  • World Cup 2023: India defeat Australia by 6 wickets

    World Cup 2023: India defeat Australia by 6 wickets

    India made a winning start in the fifth match of the World Cup by defeating Australia by 6 wickets.

    The Australian captain won the toss and elected to bat first against India.

    Australia batted slowly, losing wickets at regular intervals. The Kangaroos were all out for 199 runs in the last over. From the Kangaroos side, Steve Smith scored 46 and David Warner scored 41 runs.

    Read More: How much will the cricket team earn under new contract?

    In the second inning, India lost 3 early wickets for 2 runs. After that, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul took over, steering the team to a decent total.

    Virat Kohli scored 85 runs and KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 97 to lead the team to victory. Indian batsmen completed Australia’s target of 200 runs in the 42nd over.