Pak News Wire

Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu exchange vows

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827828/soha-ali-khan-kunal-khemu-exchange-vows/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827828-weddingcopy-1422283684-571-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			Bollywood actor Soha Ali Khan and long-time partner actor Kunal Khemu made their romance official on Sunday. The wedding, quite an intimate affair, took place at Soha’s Khar residence in the presence of a registrar and family members. According to the Times of India, Soha had earlier shared that her wedding ceremony would be a “small wedding in the presence of our family members.” The mehndi ceremony took place on Friday and was attended by friends of both actors. Soha, 36, and the Go Goa Gone star got engaged in Paris in 2014 after dating each other for quite some time, reported Hindustan Times Soha and Kunal stepped down from the actor’s ninth floor apartment to give the paparazzi their photo-op. There was no media frenzy as such in the calm Khar lane because the Khans had already communicated that the morning ritual was going to be a private one. Khemu, 31, took to Twitter to express gratitude to his fans for their wishes, sharing a picture of himself with his bride from the ceremony. “A very big thank you to all of you for all the love and blessings. It’s official now!” he tweeted. The Rang De Basanti actor chose to keep the look for her special day minimal as she donned modest makeup and chose an off-white lehenga-choli teamed with an orange dupatta and a traditional passa tikka finishing off her traditional look. The groom, on the other hand, looked regal in a white-gold sherwani and a silk safa during the registry marriage, which was attended by close family members including Soha’s mother Sharmila Tagore, brother Saif Ali Khan, sister Saba and sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor Khan, who stunned in a pink Manish Malhotra saree. Maintaining his nawabi look, Saif looked stately in a pure white achkan and churidaar outfit as he entertained the guests at the ceremony. White seemed to be the preferred colour of the day as the bride’s mother, Sharmila, 70, opted for a conventional Assamese garb mekhela chador in the pasty shade. Soha’s mehendi ceremony was a star-studded bash, attended by her family and noted celebrities such as Neha Dhupia and Salman Khan’s sister Arpita, among others. The newlyweds previously worked together before in films like Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge and 99. Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Soha Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu exchange vows

Bollywood actor Soha Ali Khan and long-time partner actor Kunal Khemu made their romance official on Sunday. The weddi...

Actors should make informed choices on item numbers: Shabana Azmi

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827827/actors-should-make-informed-choices-on-item-numbers-shabana-azmi/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827827-ShabanaAzmi_AFP-1422285282-969-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			KOLKATA: Veteran actor-social activist Shabana Azmi has said that  female actors should make “informed” choices on accepting item numbers as such sequences lead to sexualisation of children. “I am saying let it be an informed decision. I am not going to dictate what you should do. But be aware that when you do a song like that it is leading to the sexualisation of children and there are four-year-old girls dancing at all kinds of weddings to really bad songs,” Azmi said. “So be vigilant of the fact that this is leading to the sexualisation of children and if this is something that you would like to do… make your own choice but make sure it is an informed choice,” she said at a special session of the Kolkata Literary Meet here to a query on responsibility of female actors while doing item numbers. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Shabana-Azmi.jpg" /> Shabana also batted for “self-regulation” on part of the film industry but also stressed that one can’t surrender to the moral brigade. “Self-regulation is very important for the film industry. It is a very thin line because if you start saying this is wrong… this item number is wrong then tomorrow the moral brigade will say don’t wear this… don’t do this. You can’t surrender to the moral brigade… so whatever comes must come from yourself…” she added. Azmi also expressed hope for women in Hindi cinema, observing that roles are becoming substantial for them and are being written for all age groups. “I am very hopeful. I feel the roles are becoming substantial in films that are women-centric, but even within the films themselves,” Shabana said. The multiple National Award winner highlighted the fact that the current crop of films are incorporating characters of working women, and that women artists are demanding meatier roles. “Today even in gangster movies, women are working…I think there is a greater understanding within the women artistes themselves where they are demanding more meat if not necessarily in terms of the length, but definitely in terms of what the character is,” she said, adding that various age groups are being portrayed in Hindi cinema today, Azmi said. “I think it is a very important time for Hindi cinema because roles are being written for all age groups. Earlier 30 was the end of a women’s career. But today the roles are opening up and they are available, so I do think that happy times are here,” she said. The reason, according to Shabana, is the advent of multiplexes. “The advent of multiplexes has thrown up choices.” “Today it is possible to cater to a certain section of the audience and still make your money through your multiplexes, through urban centres. There are films which don’t only depend on the lowest common denominator and that is opening up the way for lots of different things that are also being made,” she said.  Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Actors should make informed choices on item numbers: Shabana Azmi

KOLKATA: Veteran actor-social activist Shabana Azmi has said that female actors should make “informed” choices on ac...

Exulting over Latina pride

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827826/exulting-over-latina-pride/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827826-mix-1422283680-502-160x120.JPG" width="160" /> 			</a> 			<div> A 22-year-old business student and model from Barranquilla, Colombia, was named Miss Universe on Sunday at the annual beauty pageant, beating out 87 other contestants from around the globe. Paulina Vega studies business administration at the Universidad Javeriana in Bogota and has been a model since she was eight years old, reported REUTERS. </div> Pageants and performance seem to run in Vega’s family. Her grandmother, Elvira Castillo, was Miss Atlántico 1953. The granddaughter of the legendary tenor Gastón Vega, said the contests leading to Miss Universe were the first she’d ever participated in and would be her last since she’s keen on returning to her studies in business administration, reported NBC News. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Paulina-Vega.jpg" /> An ambitious lady, she is already planning on a bright future, saying: “I want to have my own company.” “It will be a dream come true to represent the woman of today. A woman that not only cares about being beautiful and being glamorous, but also cares about being a professional, intelligent, hard-working person,” Vega had said earlier in the week in discussing the role of the winner. She is one of eight children, reported Fox News. The 2015 Miss Universe pageant winner said she would sport the crown with “pride and excitement” as she heard the reports that her fans in Colombia had taken to the streets to rejoice her big win. Although she was far from home, Vega said she still felt the support and encouragement from local Latinos. “It felt like home. I felt like I was in Colombia with my people. I felt that support in every moment of the pageant,” she said, after the competition, reported ABC News. Real estate mogul and reality TV star Donald Trump, who also owns the pageant, said many had previously predicted Vega would take the crown home a few weeks ago when contestants had first arrived in the city of Miami for the contest festivities. “From the minute she walked in the building, people said, ‘She’s a star,’” Trump remarked. Trump said Colombia was in the running to host next year’s pageant but stated that China was also a strong candidate. As Miss Universe, Vega will be given an undisclosed salary, a luxury apartment in New York, an enviable wardrobe, an endless supply of beauty products, and a one-year scholarship from the New York Film Academy. Vega triumphed over first runner-up, Miss USA Nia Sanchez, a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do from Las Vegas, Nevada, who won the US title in June. Contestants from the Netherlands, Jamaica and Ukraine rounded out the five finalists at the 63rd annual pageant. Vega is the fourth woman from South America to win the pageant in the past seven years, with contestants from Venezuela taking the title last year as well as in 2007 and 2008. Following Sanchez, the 24-year-old Miss USA, the second runner-up was Miss Ukraine Diana Harkusha. Miss Jamaica Kaci Fennell and Miss Netherlands Yasmin Verheijen were also among the top five, emerging from the field of 88 contestants.  Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.

Exulting over Latina pride

A 22-year-old business student and model from Barranquilla, Colombia, was named Miss Universe on Sunday at the annual ...

Exclusive video: A sneak peek into Ali Zafar’s Peshawar tribute

<div>KARACHI:  It has been more than a month since the tragic attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, but local artistes have been steadfast in their efforts to restore the memory of the victims through tributes. Singer-actor Ali Zafar is the latest musician, who is set to release his song Urein Ge, paying homage to those who lost their lives in what is one of the most baleful attacks in recent Pakistani history. The song, which features a star-studded cast, is expected to release in the coming few days. </div> Speaking to The Express Tribune about the song, Ali said, “I didn’t want to be just going out and singing a song. I felt and thought that it was important to be sending out a message, which said that all of us, the entire nation, are together.” He referred to the song’s lyrics as ‘emotional’ and ‘personal’, adding, “Although the mood and are grave right now, I’ve always believed that it is important to hope and aspire for a better future and think positively.” <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Shoaib-Malik.jpg" /> Of the video of Urein Ge, Ali shared that he tried to gather celebrities, regardless of whether they are singers, actors or cricketers, and unite them on a common platform. He lauded that every celebrity he invited to be a part of the video agreed to it without hesitation.  “I thought of calling people up and was so humbled and touched that everybody across the board was so kind,” he remarks. Urein Ge features a host of stars, including singers Sajjad Ali, Haroon and Muhammad Ali Shehki, actors Sajid Hasan, Marina Khan and Bushra Ansari, Fawad Khan, Aamina Sheikh, Mohib Mirza, Sanam Saeed, Humayun Saeed and Imran Abbas, and cricketer Shoaib Malik. Commenting on his experience starring in the video, Shoaib stated, “The music video is for a good cause and we all have to come forward and do this without thinking twice. That’s why all of us are here.” On a side note, Shoaib shared how lip-syncing for a video is no easy feat, especially if it’s being done for the first time. “If you’ve heard the song a few times then it becomes a little easier,” he said. <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/mix1.jpg" /> Asad Ahmed, who has played the guitar on the song, explained how Urein Ge went through a metamorphosis during its production process. “Initially Ali called me to just play the bass on it and was not going to have a lot of guitars on it. But when I got the track, I figured out that maybe this can be a huge song and that we should orchestrate it like that.” He added that what helps makes the song meaningful is its lyrics. The star-studded music video has been directed by Bilal Khan. He termed his experience working with an all-star cast as a ‘challenging’ one. “For me, it was a big challenge as I was directing people from different backgrounds, especially renowned performers, such as Sajid Hasan, Bushra Ansari and Anwar Maqsood.” <img alt="" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Ali-Zafar1.jpg" /> Ali said that the song was for “our children.” He concluded, “What is left for us is not as pleasant as we would have liked it to be but it is upon us to leave something for them [the children], which we wish could be for us.” The music video for the song will release on January 30. Some of the celebrities featured in ‘Urein Ge’: Sajjad Ali Haroon Muhammad Ali Shehki Sajid Hasan Marina Khan Bushra Ansari Fawad Khan Aamina Sheikh Mohib Mirza Sanam Saeed Humayun Saeed Imran Abbas Shoaib Malik Fahad Mustafa Hamza Ali Abbasi Saba Qamar Bilal Lashari Sahira Kazmi Behroze Sabzwari Javed Sheikh Anwar Maqsood Ahsan Khan Mahira Khan Humaima Malick Published in The Express Tribune, January 27th,  2015. Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ETLifeandStyle">Life & Style on Facebook, </a>follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETLifeandStyle">@ETLifeandStyle</a> on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment. 			 							<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x2fme2o"> 					<img alt="" height="90" src="http://s1.dmcdn.net/ItDtt.jpg" width="120" /> 				</a>

Exclusive video: A sneak peek into Ali Zafar’s Peshawar tribute

KARACHI: It has been more than a month since the tragic attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, but local artistes have been steadfast in...

SIHH 2015: Luxury watchmakers unveil latest designs

SIHH 2015: Luxury watchmakers unveil latest designs

Tennis: Venus, Serena to collide?

Tennis: Venus, Serena to collide?

It could be a family affair for the Williams sisters at the Australian Open.

Turkish court orders Facebook to block pages insulting Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827770/turkish-court-orders-facebook-to-block-pages-insulting-prophet-muhammad-pbuh/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827770-Facebook-1422262130-702-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			ANKARA / ANKARA: A Turkish court has ordered Facebook to block a number of pages deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), threatening to stop access to the whole social networking site if it does not comply, local media reported. The order made by the court on Sunday followed a request by a prosecutor, state broadcaster TRT reported. No one from Facebook was immediately available for comment. It was the latest move to crack down on material seen as offending religious sensibilities in the largely Muslim nation, where the government of President Tayyip Erdogan is seen pursuing a religious agenda. Earlier this month, prosecutors launched an inquiry into a newspaper which reprinted parts of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in the wake of an attack by militants on its offices in Paris.

Turkish court orders Facebook to block pages insulting Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

ANKARA / ANKARA: A Turkish court has ordered Facebook to block a number of pages deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad...

Do not call Charlie Hebdo killers ‘terrorists’, says BBC Arabia

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827842/do-not-call-charlie-hebdo-killers-terrorists-says-bbc/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827842-kafala-1422276894-283-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			The militants responsible for the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris should be not be described as “terrorists” by the BBC, a senior executive at the corporation said. Head of BBC Arabic Tarik Kafala the largest of the BBC’s non-English language news services, said the term “terrorist” was too “loaded” to describe the actions of the men who killed 12 people in the attack on the French satirical magazine, according to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/paris-attacks-do-not-call-charlie-hebdo-killers-terrorists-says-head-of-bbc-arabic-tarik-kafala-10001739.html" target="_blank">The Independent</a>. “We try to avoid describing anyone as a terrorist or an act as being terrorist. What we try to do is to say that ‘two men killed 12 people in an attack on the office of a satirical magazine’. That’s enough, we know what that means and what it is,” Kafala said. BBC Arabic television, radio and online news services reach a weekly audience of 36 million people. “Terrorism is such a loaded word. The UN has been struggling for more than a decade to define the word and they can’t. It is very difficult to. We know what political violence is, we know what murder, bombings and shootings are and we describe them. That’s much more revealing, we believe, than using a word like terrorist which people will see as value-laden,” the executive said. Regarding the attack on Charlie Hebdo, Kafala said, “We avoid the word terrorists. It’s a terrorist attack, anti-terrorist police are deployed on the streets of Paris. Clearly all the officials and commentators are using the word so obviously we broadcast that.” Kafala’s comments may seem shocking but they are in line with the BBC’s editorial guidelines on reporting terrorism. The guidelines state, “[The BBC] does not ban the use of the word. However, we do ask that careful thought is given to its use by a BBC voice. There are ways of conveying the full horror and human consequences of acts of terror without using the word ‘terrorist’ to describe the perpetrators.” When reporting an attack, the BBC guidelines say it should use words which specifically describe the perpetrator such as “bomber,” “attacker,” “gunman,” “kidnapper” or “militant.”

Do not call Charlie Hebdo killers ‘terrorists’, says BBC Arabia

The militants responsible for the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris should be not be described as “terrorists” by the B...

Horses top Queen’s gift list

Horses top Queen’s gift list

New Saudi leaders to press efforts to diversify economy

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827811/new-saudi-leaders-to-press-efforts-to-diversify-economy/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827811-salmansaudi-1422270705-392-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new leadership will push forward efforts to diversify the growing but oil-dependent economy, while easing procedures for investors, senior officials said on Monday. “The smooth transition of power to King Salman is a testament of the stability and the commitment that our leadership has,” Abdullatif al Othman, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), told a conference. Salman acceded to the throne of the world’s leading oil exporter last Friday after his half-brother King Abdullah died aged about 90. “King Salman has been a strong supporter of promoting the kingdom as an investment destination,” Othman told the Global Competitiveness Forum. The annual event, organised by SAGIA, brings together high-ranking Saudi officials with world business leaders. Among those attending is Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of tech giant Google. Oil makes up about 90 percent of Saudi government revenues but Othman said the kingdom aims to expand the health, transport and mining sectors, along with information and communications technology. “Already we’ve identified healthcare and transportation investments valued at $ 140 billion in the coming five years,” Othman said. There is also a plan to “transform” the financial services, tourism and real estate sectors while focusing on education and “innovation”, he said. Critics have complained of the administrative obstacles to doing business in Saudi Arabia but Civil Service Minister Abdulrahman al Barrak told the gathering that “fighting red tape… is a priority.” Othman said that during Abdullah’s “transformative” rule, Saudi Arabia joined the G20 group of major world economies as well as the World Trade Organization. “Foreign direct investment grew at an average rate of 10 percent (and) increased by five-fold to reach $ 220 billion,” he said. A 50 percent fall in world oil prices since last June has left Saudi Arabia projecting its first budget deficit since 2011, emphasising the need to diversify.

New Saudi leaders to press efforts to diversify economy

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s new leadership will push forward efforts to diversify the growing but oil-dependent economy, w...

Pakistani, Indian troops exchange sweets at LoC on India’s republic day

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827800/pakistani-indian-troops-exchange-sweets-at-loc-on-indias-republic-day/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827800-eccfea-1422271053-544-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			While it is becoming increasingly normal to expect an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops stationed along the line of control (LoC), on Monday, the two sides exchanged sweets instead, the Press Trust of India reported. On the occasion of India’s republic day, sweets were exchanged in at least three spots along the LoC, including Kaman Post in Uri sector on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road, Teetwal in Tangdhar sector and Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch Sector. Despite the tension along the border, the exchange of sweets between troops stationed along the line of control on their days of national important has become a regular feature.

Pakistani, Indian troops exchange sweets at LoC on India’s republic day

While it is becoming increasingly normal to expect an exchange of fire between Indian and Pakistani troops stationed a...

Soldiers save 1 city from Boko Haram

Soldiers save 1 city from Boko Haram

Nigerian forces fought off Boko Haram militants in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, military officials said Monday, but the extremists se...

Dozens die in Philippines clashes

Dozens die in Philippines clashes

Forty-three people were killed in intense fighting between police commandos and Muslim insurgents in the southern Philippines Sunday, placin...

Tennis: Stan, Serena into QF

Tennis: Stan, Serena into QF

Stan Wawrinka was staring at a fifth set at the Australian Open but pulled off a great escape. Serena Williams, meanwhile, survived another ...

Misbah is 50-50 as a captain: Shoaib Malik

<a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/827744/misbah-is-50-50-as-a-captain-shoaib-malik/"> 				<img alt="" height="120" src="http://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/827744-ShoaibMalikphotoafp-1422263492-757-160x120.jpg" width="160" /> 			</a> 			KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said in an interview to a private TV channel that Misbahul Haq will need support from the senior players in the team if the men in green are to stand any chance of winning the 2015 World Cup, reported Press Trust of India. “I would say Misbah is 50-50 as captain,” said Malik. “Fifty percent weak in taking aggressive decisions and fighting for his players. Senior players like Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Hafeez will have to advise him on the field and help him take positive decisions if we are to do well in this World Cup. “I have been told he is not able to fight for his players enough. As a captain you have to fight for the players you have faith in. They then repay you with their top performances and that is good for any team. “He has his strong points. He is calm and strong under pressure and that is a plus point in a mega event like the World Cup. But I would like to see other senior players advising him on the field.” The 32-year-old also talked about his term as Pakistan’s ODI captain, when he was sworn in after the team’s failure in the 2007 World Cup, saying that communication barriers caused a lot of problems for him back in the day. “I want to make one thing clear that I myself asked the then PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt to find someone else to lead the team as I wanted to resign as captain during the home series against Sri Lanka after we lost the one-day series,” he clarified. “Ijaz Butt accepted my resignation. I was not happy at that time leading the team because there were communication gaps in the side and it was clear to me some of the players were more interested in the captaincy themselves. “In hindsight I made a mistake and it was too early to accept the captaincy after Younis had refused an offer from the board. But just when I was beginning to gain confidence and learn the tricks of the trade some players caused communication problems. “There are communication problems in the Pakistan team which need to be sorted out. Instead of sitting down across the table and settling grievances we have a culture in the dressing room where players form small groups and stay away from others and it spoils the atmosphere and spirit.” He also shed light on his preference to play for Pakistan and said he sensed a comeback after the premier event. “At my age I have still not given up hope of playing for Pakistan again. Whenever the selectors recall me, my commitments in foreign leagues will take a backseat. I am realistic about making a comeback after the World Cup because I have matured as a player and have been in good nick.”   Like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EtribuneSports">Sports on Facebook</a>, follow <a href="https://twitter.com/ETribuneSports">@ETribuneSports</a> on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.

Misbah is 50-50 as a captain: Shoaib Malik

KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said in an interview to a private TV channel that Misbahul Haq will nee...