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  • Aditya Roy Kapur says nepotism has nothing to do with his success

    Aditya Roy Kapur says nepotism has nothing to do with his success

    Bollywood actor Aditya Roy Kapur has made a string of successful movies like ‘Aashiqui 2’ and ‘Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani’, but he has been met with plenty of criticism that his career has a lot to do with nepotism.

    The actor, who’s eldest brother Siddharth is the CEO of UTV Motion Pictures and other brother Kunaal is an actor, comes from a family of Bollywood royalty, dating back to his grandfather who was a film producer in the 1940s.

    Speaking to Filmfare to finally address the issue, ‘The Night Manager’ actor said his career wasn’t influenced by his brothers, who did not help him in getting movies as he began his acting journey.

    “I think people know that I have kind of made my way into the industry. I started with supporting roles in films my brothers weren’t involved with.”

    Kapur, who has gone public with his relationship with Ananya Panday, also pointed out that his career progress has been incredibly public, with people noticing how slowly he went from supporting roles to getting leading roles in films:

    “My journey has been a public one. People saw my career develop slowly. By the time I did my first leading role, I had already done three supporting parts. So I think that journey is clear for people to see.”

    The issue of nepotism within the Bollywood industry has been a much discussed topic, with several actors like Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor being subjected to intense scrutiny for the arguments they made in favor of nepotism.

    Johar, who had been publicly called ‘the flag bearer of nepotism’ by Kangana Ranaut on ‘Koffee With Karan’ said in an interview with Man’s World India:

    “I never said I was running an NGO. I’m running a bona fide commercial entity. I’m very excited to introduce new talents. Some will be from the fraternity, some will not. I’m done with being apologetic about it”

  • Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: What to expect from the Fan Edition model

    Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: What to expect from the Fan Edition model

    Samsung is gearing up for the imminent launch of the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, the Fan Edition variant of the Galaxy S23, which was initially introduced during the Galaxy Unpacked event in February this year. During their second Galaxy Unpacked event of the year, the South Korean tech giant unveiled several exciting products, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series, and the Galaxy Watch 6 series.

    The news about the upcoming Galaxy S23 FE was confirmed by a high-ranking Samsung executive, Justin Hume, who serves as the Vice-President of Mobile for Samsung South Africa. He mentioned that there exists a noticeable gap in the lineup between the Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy S23, and the company plans to fill that void with the launch of the Galaxy S23 FE.

    According to a report by Android Authority, the Galaxy S23 FE is expected to include the most sought-after features from the Galaxy S23 series, which comprises the base Galaxy S23, the Galaxy S23+, and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

    Geekbench listings have further hinted at the possible specifications of the Galaxy S23 FE. The phone is likely to be powered by the in-house Exynos 2200 SoC, although there are indications that it could be launched in North America with either a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 or a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, leading to the possibility of different chip variants in various regions.

    Regarding memory and storage options, the Galaxy S23 FE is rumored to offer up to 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 inbuilt storage. Additionally, the Exynos SoC is said to be paired with an Xclipse 920 AMD GPU. The phone will run on Android 13-based One UI.

    The display of the Galaxy S23 FE is expected to be a 6.4-inch flat screen with a center-aligned hole-punch slot housing a 12-megapixel front camera sensor. On the back, the phone is likely to sport a triple rear camera setup, featuring a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 12-megapixel sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens, and an 8-megapixel sensor with a telephoto lens.

    Powering the device will be a robust 4,500mAh battery, ensuring ample usage time on a single charge. As the launch date approaches, anticipation is building among consumers and tech enthusiasts eager to explore the new offering from Samsung’s Galaxy lineup.

  • Muharram 9, 10: Mobile services suspended in multiple areas to ensure safety

    Muharram 9, 10: Mobile services suspended in multiple areas to ensure safety

    On July 28, mobile services were suspended in several parts of Pakistan in observance of Ashura (Muharram 9), as part of precautionary measures taken by the authorities to maintain peace and avoid any potential untoward situations during this significant religious event.

    In Islamabad, the Ministry of Interior requested the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to enforce the suspension of mobile services not only on Muharram 9 but also extend it to Muharram 10 and 11.

    As per the directives, mobile service remained unavailable in sectors G6 and G7 from 1 pm to 10 pm on Muharram 9. Additionally, in Sector 10-I and adjoining areas, the services were blocked from 6 pm to 6 am on the following day.

    On Muharram 11, mobile phone services were suspended in Shah Allah Ditta from 2 am to 7 pm, and in the areas surrounding Noorpur Shahan/Bari Imam, the suspension was in effect from 12 pm to 7 pm.

    In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources from the provincial home department informed Geo News that mobile services would remain suspended in 14 districts on Muharram 9 and 10, including Sadar, Pishtakhara, Hassan Ghari, inner city Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Haripur, Kohat, Hangu, and Bannu. The mobile service suspension continued until 10 pm on these days to ensure a peaceful Ashura observance.

    Similarly, local authorities in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, decided to suspend mobile services on Muharram 9 and 10 to prevent any potential disturbances during the religious event.

    Additionally, the provincial government of Balochistan had already imposed a ban on pillion riding in the Quetta division from Muharram 1 to Muharram 12 (July 28 to August 8) as an added security measure.

    In Karachi, the PTA had previously announced a partial suspension of mobile services in some areas until Muharram 10 (July 29). However, the suspension was extended to Muharram 8 and was expected to remain in effect on Muharram 9.

    Moreover, in Lahore and Sindh, authorities enforced a ban on pillion riding during the observance of Ashura on July 28.

    It’s important to note that despite the temporary disruption of mobile services, landline and cable net services continued to operate without interruption.

    These measures were taken to ensure the safety and security of the public during the important religious commemoration of Ashura on July 28, 2023.

  • Rana Sanaullah says Dar ‘neither nominated nor rejected’ for caretaker PM slot.

    Rana Sanaullah says Dar ‘neither nominated nor rejected’ for caretaker PM slot.

    Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said on Friday that no one proposed the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for caretaker Prime Minister.

    “Neither was Ishaq Dar’s name suggested, nor was it rejected. It can be a rumour,” the minister remarked while speaking on Geo News’ programme “Geo Pakistan”.

    Admitting that discussions are currently taking place about the interim setup, Sanaullah said that the caretaker Minister should be a politician or a bureaucrat.

    “In case there’s a consensus that a politician can be appointed, then it can either be Ishaq Dar or any other politician from any party,” he said.
    He offered assurances that the government will appoint a suitable person on the position.

    As yet many names have surfaced in various reports and rumors about who will get the coveted position of caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, including Ishaq Dar, caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi and textile baron Gohar Ijaz.

  • The ONE thing Kajol dislikes about Shah Rukh Khan

    The ONE thing Kajol dislikes about Shah Rukh Khan

    Bollywood actors Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan are the filmi duo that keep entertaining our millenial hearts, whether on film or as hilarious buddies. Now speaking to Mashable India, Kajol reflected on her long friendship with the Bollywood actor, revealing that there is after all one thing she doesn’t like about the actor: his ability to memorise the entire script, even everyone else’s lines on set!

    “What I don’t like and I also find is most endearing about him, is the fact that when he comes on the set, he knows all the dialogues of everybody on the set,” said the ‘Baazigar’ actress.

    “It doesn’t matter if we are doing a three-page scene, he would have memorized all the three pages. He knows my dialogues, his dialogues, and third person’s dialogues as well.

    Kajol went on to gush about her bond with the ‘Pathaan’ superstar whom she can call any time of the day, stating that she doesn’t text him everyday or Khan would have stabbed her.

    “I know for a fact that if I ever had to call him up at 3 o’clock in the morning, he would pick up my phone and he knows vice versa..(but) No, I do not message him every day ‘Good morning there’ and send him a flower photograph. I think he’d stab me with a nice fork if I ever tried it.” the ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Ghum’ actress joked.

  • Shabbar Zaidi says Pakistan would have economically collapsed had Imran Khan govt continued

    Shabbar Zaidi says Pakistan would have economically collapsed had Imran Khan govt continued

    The economic performance of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has been criticised by Shabbar Zaidi, one of its own highest ranking officials.

    In an interview with Geo News’ Shahzeb Khanzada, Zaidi said that Pakistan would have economically collapsed had the PTI government continued.

    “Had this […] government continued, the party would not have even secured 5% votes as the country would have economically collapsed,” the former Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) head, appointed with much fanfare at the time by Imran Khan, said on the show.

    Accusing the then-Prime Minister of not “listening” to anyone who was offering advice to rectify the government’s shortcomings, Zaidi said that Imran Khan did remove Asad Umar as Finance Minister when told of the government’s poor performance.

    He narrated an incident where 40 parliamentarians, led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, barged into his office after he “mistakenly” sent a tax notice to a landlord in Multan.

    He also accused Asad Qaiser, the former Speaker of the National Assembly of preventing the tobacco industry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from being brought into the tax net.

    “You cannot do this…you cannot enter our areas,” Qaiser told Zaidi.

    Shabbar Zaidi was the head of FBR from 2019 till 2020.

  • ‘Protect our children’: Sajal Aly speaks out after 13-year-old tortured in Islamabad by judge, wife

    ‘Protect our children’: Sajal Aly speaks out after 13-year-old tortured in Islamabad by judge, wife

    After the news of a 13-year-old domestic worker in Islamabad being tortured by a judge and his wife went viral, many social media users were shocked and expressed outrage for what the girl went through. Now prominent actors like Sajal Aly and Nadia Jamil have spoken out against the injustice and demanded that the domestic worker gets immediate justice.

    READ MORE: Police ‘reluctant’ to register 13-year-old housemaid torture case against civil judge

    Nadia Jamil shared a clip of actor Sajal Aly who demanded that the act of forcing small children to carry out domestic chores is banned:

    “For the love of God, stop forcing little children to do all of your work. Child labor is wrong. It is illegal. It is punishable under the child protection laws.”

    The ‘Kuch Ankahi’ actress urged her followers to report anyone forcing little children to work as slaves and call the Child Protection Bureau to take strict action.

    Nadia Jamil, a long time advocate for children’s rights, herself also shared a strongly-worded message slamming those who hire children as domestic slaves:

    “You and both know the truth. Often these tiny children are made to carry rich babies, clean rich peoples homes, serve them and press them. They are beaten, starved and NEARLY ALL are deprived of an education! An education which is their constitutional right AND their deeni right. Remember poverty alleviation IS NOT the job of innocent children. Robbing them of their childhood is criminal. Too many of our children suffer. Too many.”

  • AI-generated virtual influencer ‘Milla Sofia’ takes social media by storm, blurring lines of reality

    AI-generated virtual influencer ‘Milla Sofia’ takes social media by storm, blurring lines of reality

    The world of social media has been captivated by the virtual influencer Milla Sofia, a 19-year-old blond sensation with nearly 100,000 followers on TikTok. Unveiled as an artificial intelligence creation, Sofia’s photorealistic images and engaging content have left netizens in awe and bewilderment.

    With her first posts on Instagram and TikTok dating back to November 2022, Milla Sofia has quickly risen to prominence as a fusion of cutting-edge technology and elegance. The mastermind behind the AI-driven influencer is not shying away from the truth, openly acknowledging that she is an AI-generated entity.

    Despite this, her enigmatic allure has attracted a dedicated fan base, and it remains unclear how many of her followers fully comprehend her virtual nature.

    Sofia’s online persona portrays her as a fashion model and tech enthusiast, often flaunting bikini pictures from exotic locations like Greece and Bora Bora. Her intriguing interactions with her followers include TikToks featuring herself alongside real-world personalities like Elon Musk, showcasing her office outfit, and even seeking advice on hashtag preferences.

    To discerning eyes, a giveaway sign of her AI origins lies in occasional imperfections, notably in the form of distorted fingers in her photos.
    Astonishingly, some followers genuinely engage with her questions, while others seem to believe they have a personal connection, expressing gratitude for receiving her “beautiful photos” as if she were a real person.

    As the lines between reality and artificial personas blur, questions arise about the impact of virtual influencers on social media culture and the extent to which audiences can distinguish fact from fiction in this new era of digital influence.

  • Humaray paani mein kuch hai? In third love story this month, Chile woman flies to marry Pakistani lover

    Humaray paani mein kuch hai? In third love story this month, Chile woman flies to marry Pakistani lover

    There are actually women out there in the world who think Pakistani men are worth marrying. Indeed, a more shocking discovery than alien life.

    For the third time this week, another foreign woman has flown to Pakistan to marry a man from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Yes, humein bhi kuch nahi samajh araha.

    READ MORE: Veer-Zara Chinese version? Woman travels to KP to marry Pakistani lover

    Nicole Iglesias, 36, from Chile, a manager at an Apple Store, developed a relationship on Tiktok with Ikramullah, after she found his videos interesting. Aaj News reports that Iglesias had moved to the region a few weeks ago on a two-month visa. She has converted to Islam and taken up the name Noreen. The two began conversing with each other online through Google Translate, as Ikramullah couldn’t speak Spanish, and Noreen was struggling to learn the local language.

    Ikramullah told Aaj News that Nicole was willing to stay in Pakistan if he didn’t want to fly to South America with her, but he had received his visa and was flying out on August 27th.

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

  • Taliban attack PPP leader’s house in Nowshera after asking for Rs1 crore extortion

    Taliban attack PPP leader’s house in Nowshera after asking for Rs1 crore extortion

    According to a report in The News, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Pir Muhammad Aslam’s house was partially damaged after a hand grenade attack on Friday in Nowshera district’s Risalpur.  

    In a report registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police station, the PPP leader said that he had received a threatening letter from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on July 1.

    Aslam also told the police that the Taliban was demanding Rs1 Crore from him, mentioning the amount in the letter.

    The complainant had received phone calls from Afghanistan phone numbers to arrange money or face “dire consequences”.

    Pir Aslam also mentioned that he also received phone calls from Pakistani numbers, in which the Taliban threatened to eliminate his whole family if he did not arrange the money.

    This is not happening for the first time. Last year, in October, senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Atif Khan also received a letter from the Taliban demanding Rs8 million as extortion.