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  • Saudi king appears in public, dispelling rumours about his death, critical health

    With two senior Saudi princes, including a former heir to the throne, being detained in a crackdown against potential rivals of Saudi Arabia’s powerful crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi king has appeared in public, dispelling rumours about his death or critical health.

    The two princes are being held in private villas and have been allowed to call their families, according to a person with ties to the royal family.

    As speculation about the motivation for the arrests swirled, the Saudi royal court sought to quell rumours that King Salman was in poor health, releasing photographs said to have been taken Sunday that show him greeting two Saudi diplomats and appearing to be well.

    The move came as two other princes who had also been arrested were freed late on Sunday. Reports confirmed that both Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Nayef and Prince Saud bin Nayef had been questioned by royal court aides since being seized from their homes on Friday.

    According to The Guardian, Saudi officials continued to insist on Sunday that the detentions had foiled the early stages of a coup against the heir to the throne, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had ordered his relatives arrested. He is viewed as the de facto ruler, controlling all the major arms of government from defence to the economy.

    Officials said King Salman himself had signed the arrest warrants, an unusual move against two of the Kingdom’s most senior royals — one of whom, Prince Ahmed, is his only surviving full brother.

    Both men had been seen as among the last remaining obstacles to Prince Mohammed’s almost inevitable ascension. Earlier purges of business figures and rivals had already cleared the way for the 34-year-old crown prince.

    The early-morning arrests caused new shockwaves in a kingdom shaken by three years of cultural reforms combined with a ruthless crackdown on dissent, highlighted by the 2018 murder of the critic and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which was carried out by royal court aides.

    King Salman’s support for his son appeared consistent throughout. However, persistent reports from inside the palace revealed glimpses of an ongoing tussle for power, which the young crown prince appeared to be winning.

  • Pakistan Stock Exchange crashes after 2,200 points wipe off KSE-100 index

    The stock market on Monday crashed during the early trading hours as confusion and uncertainty surrounded potential investors due to the decline in international oil prices by about 30 per cent — the worst since the Gulf War in the 1990s.

    As per the details, the Pakistan Stock Exchange’s (PSX) benchmark KSE 100-Share Index tumbled 2,291.69 points or 6 per cent around 10 am, before recovering to 36,862.34 in the afternoon. The apex of the day remained 38,219.67 (the previous close) and 35,917.34, the lowest.

    The crash was triggered amid a global sell-off on coronavirus fears as well as a crude oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia. 

    Trading floors were a sea of red across Asia, with Tokyo, Sydney and Manila plunging around 6 per cent, while Hong Kong shed 3.5 per cent by lunch.

    Mumbai, Singapore, Seoul, Jakarta and Wellington were more than 3 per cent down, Shanghai and Taipei shed at least 2 per cent and Bangkok gave up 5 per cent. The losses tracked sharp falls in Europe and Wall Street on Friday.

    “PSX has triggered a market halt at 9:37 am which will last for 45 minutes,” the management wrote in a press release. “The market halt is triggered as a standard protocol for risk management purposes.”

  • Army colonel martyred in anti-terror operation

    An officer of the Pakistan Army on Monday embraced martyrdom as security forces foiled a terrorist attack in Dera Ismail Khan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. 

    The martyred officer, identified as Colonel Mujeebur Rehman, was a resident of Bunji in District Astore of Gilgit Baltistan. He is survived by a widow, three sons and a daughter. 

    According to the military’s media-wing, the operation was launched against terrorists who were hiding out near Tank area of the city. The operation was conducted on confirmed intelligence reports, the ISPR added.

    “As soon as troops cordoned the area, terrorists opened fire. During operation, two terrorists were killed. In intense exchange of fire, Col Mujeebur Rehman embraced martyrdom,” the ISPR said, adding that during sanitisation operation, a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the terrorist hideout.

    Since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States (US) and the world super power’s retaliatory “War Against Terror,” thousands of Pakistani military personnel — ranging from brilliant high-ranking officers to gallant soldiers on the frontline — have lost lives defending their homeland, which has also borne economic losses worth over hundreds of billion till date.

  • VIDEO: ‘Hor koi saday laiq?’ asks Ben Dunk after match-winning 99 for Lahore

    With Lahore Qalandars star Ben Dunk racking up match-winning 99 runs off just 40 balls as the team played Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, the Australian cricketer has released a video message for fans, asking in Punjabi if there’s anything else he can do for them.

    “Hor koi saday laiq [anything else you want done]?” Dunk, who sent the ball flying a massive 12 times, including the final shot of the match, has said in the video message released after Qalandars chased down the 188-run target set by the Kings.

    Skipper Sohail Akhtar was the other big hitter who scored 68 off 46 deliveries.

    Both the Qalandars’ batsmen remained standing till the end of the innings, which came at 19.1 overs.

    The sole two wickets claimed by the Karachi Kings were those of Fakhar Zaman, bowled out by Mohammad Amir for a duck, and Mohammad Hafeez (16 runs off 24 balls) caught by Cameron Delport off Umer Khan’s delivery.

    The outcome has given both sides a decent chance to qualify for the top four. Karachi Kings are placed at the fourth spot with seven points while Lahore Qalandars are in the fifth place with six points.

  • Kate and William highlight the Pakistani women who inspired them

    Kate and William highlight the Pakistani women who inspired them

    Prince William and Kate Middleton marked International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, by sharing a list of “remarkable” women who inspired them in the past year. And it turns out that the women of the SOS Children’s Village in Lahore are among those who inspired the royal couple.

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official Instagram account shared a picture of the couple at the SOS Village with which they wrote, “The women of the SOS Children’s Village in Lahore, Pakistan: where staff provide children, deprived of their natural parents, with an environment which is as close as possible to a natural home, along with loving care, security, higher education and job-training.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9d9e5FlDG5/

    Kate and William visited Pakistan last year in October and their five-day trip included a visit to the SOS orphanage in Lahore. Kate was reportedly so moved with the visit that when an unexpected thunderstorm forced them to spend the night in Lahore, the next day the couple made a secret visit back to the orphanage where they spent time with the children there and played cricket with them.

    The Duchess’ first-ever Instagram post, shared through the Kensington Royal account, was also about her visit to the SOS Village.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B30URB0lk3d/?utm_source=ig_embed

    William was also touched when a little girl presented him with a handmade bracelet. He wore the blue design for the rest of the day at his following engagements.

    Check out some more pictures from their secret visit:

  • Why we march

    International Women’s Day is celebrated across the globe on March 8. Pakistan, too, marks the day as women from all walks of life take out rallies and marches across the country to ask for equal rights.

    Aurat March, a rally organised by women, is being held across several cities of Pakistan today. 

    Despite threats from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Lal Masjid affiliates and other right-wing elements, women have not backed down and will continue marching, bearing the flag of equality.

    As for why we march; we march for those 1,000 women killed in the name of “honour” every year. We march because domestic violence has been normalised in our society. We march because more than a thousand Christian and Hindu girls are forcefully converted and then married off to Muslim men against their will. We march because only 5-10 per cent of women have land in their own name. We march because 70,000 young girls die during childbirth as a result of underage marriages. We march because acid attack victims are shunned by society. We march because rape survivors are shamed into silence. We march so that victims of sexual harassment do not fear speaking out. We march because freedom should win over fear. We march because misogynists like Khalilur Rehman Qamar are glorified by our media while strong women like Marvi Sirmed are asked to tone down their behaviour. 

    Women were told to change or tone down the slogans of Aurat March. They are being threatened that if this is how they ask for their rights, they will not be given anything. Well, enough! We will ourselves decide how to speak, how to walk, how to sit, what to wear, where to go, what to do. When a woman says no, it means NO! 

    When we say ‘Mera Jism, Meri Marzi’, we speak for those nameless rape survivors, for those who are victims of domestic violence, for those who are victims of sexual violence, for those whose reproductive health rights have been snatched away, for those women who continue to suffer silently because society does not give them a chance or a way out. 

    We will march and continue to fight patriarchy every step of the way. Without equality, there is no going forward. It is not an easy task but our women have never let us down. From Fatima Jinnah to Benazir Bhutto, from Asma Jahangir to Malala Yousafzai, our women have continued to make us proud. We are proud of each and every one of our women. More power to you. Happy Women’s Day!

  • QUIZ: Which Aurat March Poster Are You?

    Take the quiz to find out which poster suits your personality the most:

    [forminator_quiz id=”42791″]

  • Turkish film ‘7. Koğuştaki Mucize’ is coming to Pakistani cinemas

    Turkish film ‘7. Koğuştaki Mucize’ is coming to Pakistani cinemas

    Turkish film Miracle In Cell No 7 – 7. Koğuştaki Mucize in the local language – is coming to Pakistani cinemas on March 13.

    HKC Entertainment, an entertainment company primarily involved in acquiring and distributing Bollywood and Hollywood movies in Pakistan, shared the news on social media.

    https://www.facebook.com/191451790986144/photos/a.200084666789523/1905907899540516/?type=3&theater

    The Legend of Maula Jatt producer Ammara Hikmat also confirmed the news. Though Hikmat said that the film will be the first Turkish film to release in Pakistani cinemas, a quick Google search revealed that Muhabbat Ek Ittefaq was released in Urdu earlier in 2013.

    The film based on the 2013 Korean movie Miracle in Cell No 7 is “a heartwarming story” about the love between a mentally-ill father, Mehmet, who is wrongly accused of murder, and his young daughter. Mehmat is sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit and is innocent. He needs a miracle so that he can be reunited with his daughter.

    7. Koğuştaki Mucize has a rating of 8.3 on IMDb and was reportedly the most watched Turkish film in 2019.

    The film will be releasing in Turkish with English subtitles. It starres Aras Bulut Iynemli, Nisa Sofiya Aksongur and Deniz Baysal.

    Aras Bulut Iynemli
    Deniz Baysal
    Nisa Sofiya Aksongur

    Watch the trailer here:

    https://www.facebook.com/191451790986144/videos/1394205980780954/
  • Emmad Irfani is a rebel with a cause in his debut film ‘Gawah Rehna’

    Emmad Irfani is a rebel with a cause in his debut film ‘Gawah Rehna’

    The first look of Emmad Irfani and Ghana Ali’s Gawah Rehna based on the Khilafat Movement is out.

    Emmad, who stole the audiences with his performance in Cheekh, shared the poster on Instagram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9ZrVJZn664/

    According to the film’s official social media account, Gawah Rehna “is a story celebrating our history and our unsung heroes.” It is set in the 1900s when the Muslims of the subcontinent stood up against the British Raj and started the Khilafat Movement.

    “It is a story of courage, hope and resilience against incredible odds and that’s why it will make its viewers proud of their history and their heroes who stood up against tyranny and injustice.”

    The film is written and directed by Tahir Mahmood who has served as an official of the Foreign Service in Turkey. It will be released in Pakistan and Turkey both. Earlier, it was being reported that the film is a joint production with Turkey but Emmad later clarified that the film is entirely a local production and that it will be released in Turkey. Veteran actor Qavi Khan is also an integral part of the film. An official release date has not been announced.

    Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to The Current, Emmad shared that the vision for the film came about when the director was living in Turkey. Mahmood was intrigued by the respect the Turks have for the Pakistanis and that is what motivated him to study the history of the two countries. He found that the brotherly ties of both the countries date back to the early twentieth century and the findings fascinated so much that he decided to make a film on it to further the ties between the two countries as well as highlight them.

    Talking about his own character, Emmad said that his character belongs to interior Punjab and through the course of the film realises his life goal and purpose.

    When asked what motivated him to do this project, given that it is his debut film, Emmad said that he wanted to highlight Pakistan’s history and that films are a very powerful medium to do that.

    “Much of the subcontinent’s history has been presented to the world through Bollywood. Pakistan’s point of view is not known as such,” the actor remarked, adding that our history it is imperative for the world to see our history.

    Irfani also said that the strong script and the director’s blind faith and passion is what motivated him even further.

    Here are some BTS shots from the sets of the film.

  • PTA warns people to beware of thumb impression forging mafia

    PTA warns people to beware of thumb impression forging mafia

    The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has warned people to be careful of a gang that has been forging thumb impressions to issue SIM cards used in grey trafficking.

    A report submitted during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Communication showed that more than 15,000 SIM cards were used for grey trafficking in 2020.

    Grey trafficking is a route that is legal for one country but illegal for the alternative end.

    The PTA spokesperson said, the mafia steals people’s identities, even their thumb impressions, to commit crimes.

    He added that it is suspected that data is being stolen from NADRA and an investigation is being initiated to look into the matter.

    All the complaints received by the authority this year have been sent to the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) for further investigation.