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  • Sindh announces to ban plastic bags

    Sindh announces to ban plastic bags

    The Government of Sindh has announced a ban on plastic bags across the province from October 1st (tomorrow).

    As per reports, the Sindh Government’s Environment Department has issued a notification to ban the production, sale, purchase, and use of non-biodegradable plastic bags.

    Legal action will be initiated against anyone who breaks the law. Special teams will monitor different markets and those found involved in any violation of the law will be punished accordingly, said the notification.

    Adviser to CM on environment Murtaza Wahab advised citizens to replace plastic bags with paper or cloth bags.

    Biodegradable refers to substances that are capable of being decomposed by bacteria and other living organisms and do not pollute the environment. Ordinary plastic does not degrade and stays in the ecosystem for years and years, creating pollution and health hazards for living things.

  • Kashmiris protest against India with apples

    Kashmiris protest against India with apples

    Farmers in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) are intentionally letting their apples rot in a bid to discourage the valley’s most profitable export as bitterness towards the Indian government grows.

    According to a report by AFP, farmers are purposely sabotaging the crop, vital to the local economy, in protest against Modi’s government.

    At an orchard in central Shopian district, Ghulam Nabi Malik and his brother usually sell 7,000 boxes of apples per year earning them some seven million rupees (nearly $100,000). Their land is now idle, with branches drooping under the weight of unpicked fruit.

    “Let it rot on the trees,” Malik said, adding, “To leave the ripe apples rotting on the trees is the only form of protest we can do under the current circumstances.”

    Malik said that harvesting would allow the Indian government “to tell the world that everything is fine in Kashmir” and he wants the world to know that everything is far from fine.

    In early August, the Indian Government revoked Article 370 which granted special status to IoK. Troops were deployed in the region and all communication in the valley was blocked, cutting off Kashmiris from the outside world. Thousands of civilians and political leaders have been arrested and protests have raged since.

    Pro-independence fighters have pasted posters outside mosques, appealing to orchard owners not to harvest and instead join the protest.

    The fertile Himalayan region usually sells apple worth hundreds of million dollars each year, and more than half of Kashmiris are engaged directly or indirectly in cultivation.

  • A women-only hotel has opened in Spain

    A women-only hotel has opened in Spain

    Spain has opened its first women-only hotel on the island of Mallorca.

    According to The Independent, the Som Dona Hotel, near Porto Cristo, exclusively caters to women aged 14 years and above. It aims to offer “a new space for women who are looking to disconnect from the stress of daily life”.

    The four-star hotel has 39 rooms and offers a pool, spa, library and a roof-top terrace. Apart from that wellness services at the hotel include massages, treatments, a whirlpool tub and solarium, along with locally sourced food, “flexitarian gastronomy” and healthy and sustainable cuisine. Guests can also participate in excursions around the island and cultural activities.

    According to the advertisements, Som Dona welcomes women of all sexual orientations, solo travellers, couples, mothers and daughters and larger groups.

    No men, including late-night gentlemen, are allowed on the hotel premises. However, it does employ men keeping with Spanish gender discrimination laws even though priority is given to female staff.

    Women going on solo trips has seen a rise in recent years despite the fact that they have to take more factors into consideration than men. Som Hotels president, Joan Enric Capellá, said surveys conducted by the group revealed that female customers liked the idea of a women-only hotel.

    Double rooms at Som Dona start at $78 (13,000 rupees approx) per night only.

  • Bushra Bibi’s reflection doesn’t appear in the mirror, claims Indian media

    Bushra Bibi’s reflection doesn’t appear in the mirror, claims Indian media

    If claims of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi having two jinns was not enough, Indian media has now come up with a whole new theory.

    Sharing a screengrab from what appears to a Pakistani media outlet, Indian news channel ANI said that Bushra Bibi’s reflection does not appear in the mirror. The report further states that officials of the Prime Minister House have shared this information.

    ANI later deleted the story. But lucky for you, we took a screenshot and you know, as they say, screenshots are forever.

    ANI in its report had quoted that Pakistani channel Capital TV as their source. Other Indian media outlets also picked up the news and began to report it.

    However, Capital TV took to social media to slam ANI’s claims and said that the images were doctored.

  • Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Interior done in simple, soothing shades of mints and greys, Caffè Praha has caught the attention of Karachi ladies since it’s opening a fortnight back. Whether it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, or dinner, the place is always buzzing.

    I first visited the place for lunch and though I was really impressed by the mini lunch menu – it had just 6 mains – it was my second visit for a breakfast brunch which I actually enjoyed.

    Nonetheless, we began our meal with some meaty starters – Korean Sticky Wings, Prawn to be Wild and Chicken Strips. All three dishes were juicy, succulent and an absolute treat.

    • Chicken Strips
    • Korean Sticky Wings

    From the breakfast menu, we tried the Old Town Omelette, which was stuffed with cheese and spinach; the Salmon Avocado Brioche served with Hollandaise Sauce and Guacamole and the American Breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs and sausages. All three dishes were pleasing to the taste buds and did not fail to impress.

    • American Breakfast
    • Salmon Avocado Brioche
    • Old Town Omelette

    But the winning dish on the breakfast menu was the Steak on Toast. The delightful dish had succulent pieces of meat on scrambled eggs and mushroom in white sauce all perched on a bed of toast, potatoes and peas. I am without a doubt going back for this one.

    Steak on Toast

    Last but not the least we tried their Freshly Brewed Coffee and Rose Latte, which is coffee mixed with pink rose water. While we enjoyed the fresh coffee, the Rose Latte was a total disappointment – not recommended at all.

    • Freshly Brewed Coffee
    • Rose Latte

    To sum it all up, my friends and I had a wonderful experience at Caffè Praha. Happy staff, sinfully delicious food and reasonably priced, this place is here to stay.

  • Cousins allegedly set man on fire for slapping sister-in-law

    Cousins allegedly set man on fire for slapping sister-in-law

    A young man was allegedly set on fire by his cousins in Okara’s Fazawala village. He was taken to the DHQ hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.

    According to reports, Afzal was doused with petrol by his cousins and set ablaze after because he had slapped his cousin’s wife.

    Afzal’s father confirmed the news and said that his nephews killed his son, adding that his nephews had also come to their house on Muharram 10 and had fought with Afzal.

    The father shared that the reason behind the conflict between Afzal and his cousins was that Afzal had slapped his sister-in-law.

    Police have initiated an inquiry into the incident.

  • How to keep your closet organised

    How to keep your closet organised

    We’ve all been through the never-ending process of trying to keep our cupboards organised. One minute it’s organised, and the next it’s an absolute disaster.

    Here are a few tips to help you keep your cupboard in good shape.

    Stack thick items like jeans and sweaters

    Winters are coming and sweaters tend to occupy a lot of space. The best solution is to stack up the bulky winter wear. These items are thick, so they won’t crinkle or lose their shape when you stack them. Also, you’ll be able to see each item in a stack clearly, making it that much easier to find what you’re looking for.

    Roll T-shirts and pajamas

    Things like cotton shirts, pajamas and even work out clothes can be organized by roll and tuck technique. And put them in your drawer or any storage box. This technique is a major space saver if you do it right. Tuck your rolled clothing into shoe boxes (great for sliding into drawers), or use wire baskets or clear bins (perfect for shelves).

    Hang scarves on hangers

    Sure, you can roll them up or stack them if they’re thick, but tying your scarves on a hanger is a way better option for organizing them. Hanging your scarves keeps them wrinkle-free and easy to see and access.

    Utilize your wall for hanging jewellery and accessories

    Hang accessories like belts, jewelry, hats or ties on a wall. You can use nails or towel hooks or opt for a more personalized approach like a stylish coat rack.

    Store your most-used clothes at eye level

    Keep everything you wear regularly in the middle of your closet at eye level so it’s easy to find. Put lesser-used pieces directly above or below your most popular clothes, and relegate your least-worn items to the top shelf.

  • Matchmaker tricks elderly widower into marrying transwoman

    Matchmaker tricks elderly widower into marrying transwoman

    An elderly widower from Upper Dir was tricked by a conman into marrying a transwoman in return for Rs 150,000 in dowry.

    According to reports, 55-year-old Jan Saaz – whose wife had passed away three years ago – met an alleged matchmaker in Peshawar, who promised to find him a bride.

    The matchmaker set up Saaz with a transwoman, Sapna, without sharing the details. Meanwhile, he told Sapna that Saaz wanted to marry her knowing that she is gender-neutral. The two got married and on the wedding night, Saaz was shocked when he found out that Sapna was a transwoman. Sapna was also shocked to know that he had not known about her.

    The next morning, Saaz dropped Sapna in Peshawar before telling his family about her. He said that he revealed the truth after sending Sapna off fearing that his friends, family and villagers might harm her.

    Saaz’s family claimed that they paid the matchmaker Rs 150,000 in cash as dowry and spent another Rs 150,000 on the wedding ceremony. They are planning to register a case against the alleged matchmaker.

  • Saudi Arabia drops abaya restriction for women tourists

    Saudi Arabia drops abaya restriction for women tourists

    To boost tourism in the country, Saudi Arabia has introduced a new visa system which will allow people to visit the country as tourists. Along with that, they have also announced that abayas will no longer be mandatory for women tourists. However, women are requested to dress modestly, including at public beaches.

    As per reports, the Kingdom is launching a new visa system for 49 countries to attract foreign companies to invest in a sector that can contribute towards ten percent of the country’s GDP by 2030.

    The rose-coloured sandstone of Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia’s northwestern town of al-Ula

    Visas will be available online for about Rs 12,550 ($80) with no restrictions for unaccompanied women as in the past. This does not include the holy cities of Makkah and Medina.

    Visas in the desert kingdom, endowed with rich bedouin heritage and archaeological sites, are currently restricted to expat workers, their dependents and Muslim pilgrims travelling to holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE can also travel freely to the country.

    Al Ula

    Saudi Arabia has splurged billions in an attempt to build a tourism industry from scratch.

    In 2017, the kingdom announced a multi-billion dollar project to turn 50 islands and other pristine sites on the Red Sea into luxury resorts.

    Last year, construction of Qiddiya “entertainment city” was launched near Riyadh, which would include high-end theme parks, motorsport facilities and a safari area.

    The country is also developing historic sites such as the centuries-old Mada’in Saleh, home to sandstone tombs of the same civilisation which built the Jordanian city of Petra.

  • Exploring the French Countryside

    Exploring the French Countryside

    It is always a delight to spend the summer in Europe but spending the summer in the European countryside is special. Think bright, sunny mornings, long, warm afternoons by the pool and cool nights under the starlit sky.

    This summer I had the chance to spend the summer in Provence, a historical province in southeastern France. The culturally rich province extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To be honest, my family and I couldn’t have picked a better escape to relax and unwind from the hustle-bustle of our daily lives.

    What’s so special about Provence?

    Where to stay

    Chateau de Goult

    Getting around

    Places to explore

    Goult

    Provence Market

    Bonnieux

    Roussillon

    Gordes

    Learn how to make French Cuisine

    Don’t forget to soak in some Vitamin D.

    Just writing this piece has given me a serious case of wanderlust and made me want to go back.