Shabana Azmi’s emotional reunion with Faiz’s daughters

It was a tearful moment for actress Shabana Azmi, as she walked across the Wagah border into Pakistan and had an emotional reunion with famed Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s two daughters.
Shabana and husband Javed Akhtar went across the border this week along with 10 theatre artists including M.S. Sathyu, Shama Zaidi, Atul Tiwari, Rajendra Gupta and Lubna Arif on an invitation from the Faiz Foundation for the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Centennial.
“Faiz is my most favourite poet of all and even

Gaddafi unflinching as rebel city fears counter-attack

Rebels awaited counter-attack by Muammar Gaddafi’s forces on Monday, after the Libyan leader defied calls for him to quit in the hardest-fought of the Arab world’s wave of uprisings so far. Rebels holding Zawiyah, only 50 km (30 miles) west of Tripoli, said about 2,000 troops loyal to Gaddafi had surrounded the city. “We will do our best to fight them off. They will attack soon,” said a former police major who switched sides and joined the rebellion. “If we are fighting for freedom, we are

Portman wins best actress Oscar for Black Swan

Natalie Portman won the Oscar for best actress Sunday night, a credit to her terrifying portrayal of an obsessed, paranoid ballerina in “Black Swan.” It was Portman’s first win in two nominations and follows her supporting actress nomination for “Closer,” which was made in 2004. Portman, 29, who lost 20 pounds in the year she prepared for the film, is in the midst of a new transformation — she wore a deep purple off-the-shoulders dress on the red carpet to accommodate her growing baby bump.

Milan fashion awaits Chinese design boom

Chinese designers will drive catwalk trends more than deep-pocketed Asian buyers as China’s creativity becomes fashions’ next big thing, top fashion executives and designers said at Milan fashion week.
Chinese newly-rich fueled a record year for sales at luxury goods makers such as LVMH, with designers such as Ralph Lauren, Ermenegildo Zegna and Prada drawing inspiration from oriental prints and crystals to cater to Asian shoppers.
“The next big issue for fashion is not China’s economic boom but Chinese creativity,” Italian trend-setter designer and retailer Elio Fiorucci said on the sidelines of a Dolce and Gabbana show.

Petroleum dealers announced to end strike in Karachi

Abdul Sami Khan, the president of Petroleum Dealers Association, on Monday announced to end the ongoing strike.
The delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) met with Petroleum Dealers in Karachi. During the meeting, the senior leader of MQM, Farooq Sattar talked with Abdul Sami Khan on telephone.
President of Petroleum Dealers Association, Abdul Sami said during talking to media that Farooq Sattar ensured to discuss the issues with federal government.
Earlier, hundreds of people staged protest against the closure of petrol pumps in different areas of Karachi.