Author: Mehreen Burney
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Daily round-up: Oct. 29, 2024
1. Did you know that suicide risk is highest on Mondays around the globe? A research study led by Yoonhee Kim, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo, has connected the beginning of the workweek to an increase in cases. 15-18% of worldwide suicides have been recorded on a Monday — a pattern observed…
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Exclusive: ‘Not the first time he’s apologised,’ Gharidah Farooqi reveals interaction with Dr Omer Adil
One month after passing misogynistic remarks against renowned television anchor Gharidah Farooqi, Dr Omer Adil has publicly apologised. On a podcast hosted by Zohaib Butt, Dil Ki Baat, in July, film critic and orthopaedic surgeon Adil claimed that female anchors in Pakistan’s media industry are “handpicked by a seth or somebody else to go and…
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‘Please do something,’ students push Hamid Mir to file petition against internet disruption
The month of August has been the worst for the digital space in Pakistan since February 2024. The tech industry has expressed serious concerns about the internet slowdown, warning that it could cost the debt-ridden nation up to $300 million. Amid the ongoing issues, senior journalist Hamid Mir took the matter to the Islamabad High…
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‘It’s not possible’; Reporting in internet-challenged Pakistan
With the primary shift from newspapers to television channels and now to digital media applications, the dissemination of information has become increasingly competitive for newsrooms, with the latest updates just a click away. “Delays can be managed with newspapers, but today everything is in your hands—specifically, mobile phones,” says Raees Ansari, Bureau Chief of Geo…
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Exclusive: Pakistani scientist on the verge of curing baldness
Unexpected discoveries have long been a catalyst for scientific research, leading to major breakthroughs in fields ranging from medicine to technology. Now, in an unexpected development, scientists have discovered a crucial piece of the puzzle: hereditary baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia. Dr. Muhammad Yar, a tenured associate professor at COMSATS University Islamabad and a…
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‘Inspiring Pakistan’s youth’; The Current featured on the Google News Initiative
In 2020, The Current won the Google News Initiative (GNI) Innovation Challenge, becoming the only media organization in Pakistan to achieve this highly regarded position within just a year of its launch. Four years down the road, we continue to grow alongside the ever-evolving news consumption habits of youth in the digital age. But that’s…
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No relief for babies: Heavy tax on formula milk
The budget for 2024-25 was unveiled this Wednesday, on June 12, by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. As the government depends on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) bailout package, citizens were further burdened with heavy taxes as per the administration’s commitments to the lender. Milk products for infants, a necessary item for many families, will now…
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Dear male colleagues, Sherry Rehman has a message for you
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Vice President and Parliamentary leader Sherry Rehman has highlighted a very common and a misogynistic issue women face in the workplace. In her latest post on X (formerly Twitter), Rehman alluded to male professionals in Pakistan who discriminate in their manner of addressing female colleagues. “I am sorry but I cannot…
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What do YouTubers do it for?
Picture this: You’re eagerly anticipating a visit to a pristine beach, breathlessly savouring the joy it will bring you. But upon arrival, you find yourself in a forest of unsightly weeds, your view destroyed, your expectations shattered. This analogy encapsulates the experience of attending Aurat March since a couple of years. What promised to be…
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Why did Aurat March hold a Feminist Press Conference?
This Friday, on March 8, as the world will celebrate Women’s Day, Aurat March will take to the streets in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Multan. The Current attended this year’s Aurat March press conference and got details about how this year is different from the ones before. Every year, the press conference is dominated by…