TWEETING BIRDIE

Tomorrow's cover: Kim Kardashian visits the White House to discuss prison reform with President Trump

TREASURE TROVE

The Avengers actor says he hopes to visit Pakistan one day. Chris Pratt, in a tweet, responded back to a Pakistani follower. The user sent ‘love from Pakistan’ to the Jurassic World star. To this, Pratt reminisced a time when he had a Bowie knife while he was growing up, which was made in Pakistan.

“Love back at you Pakistan! I had a cool Bowie knife growing up that was made in Pakistan. It said Made in Pakistan right on the blade. Hope to visit one day!” wrote back the actor who was last seen in Marvel’s latest offering, Avengers: Infinity War and who also plays Star Lord, a protagonist in one of the superhero sci-fi movies, Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Parks and Recreation star held a Q-and-A session on his Twitter handle while he’s in Shanghai to promote his upcoming movie, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

#ASTEPFORWARD

In a breakthrough move, Nabila’s brands, N-Gents and Zero Makeup have been announced as official hair and make-up partners at the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA’s). In just a few days, an army of more than 75 stylists headed by Nabila will be making their way to Bangkok to work their magic on the stars that are an inevitable part of Bollywood’s biggest awards ceremony. She will be replacing Mac Cosmetics, which has been their official makeup and hair partner for many years. According to a report, Wizcraft, the Indian media and entertainment company that helms the IIFA’s, approached the stylist through a common acquaintance and asked her to come on board for the entire project. "Their primary concern was that they needed a big team to be present backstage to handle the styling. I told them that I could manage it. Over the years, I have trained a team that now operates like clockwork at major events. We’ll be bringing the same expertise to the IIFA’s,” said Nabila.

According to IIFA’s requirements, Nabila and her team will be setting up in-room salon services for the MIP’s (Most Important People), an in-hotel salon for the VVIP’s (Very Very Important People) and an extensive backstage salon for the dancing troupes, assistants and fashion segments.

“Most of the technical awards will take place on the 22nd of June as well as some of the dances and fashion rock segments where designers collaborate with musicians,” outlines Nabila. “There will be a break on the 23rd and then the more mainstream awards and dances are scheduled for the 24th. We will be working constantly with Indian designers and choreographers to devise hair and makeup looks for the stars and the troupes.” Incidentally, Nabila’s all-in-one make-up palette, Zero Makeup, is also launching in India this summer.

#TIMETOSTANDUP

Ever since Meesha Shafi came out with her allegations of sexual harassment against Ali Zafar, the entire country has been divided over the issue. The entire debacle has given birth to one solid issue, shaming of the victims of sexual harassment. Considering the support needed by women who have gone through such ordeals, a group called The Creative Process Projects has made a petition titled ‘On Sexual Harassment’, calling out people to stand in solidarity with the victims.

The petition reads, “As artists, writers, and cultural practitioners, we stand with Meesha Shafi, and all other survivors of sexual harassment who have come forward or are yet to be vocal about their trauma. Furthermore, in this letter, we reject the larger system of patriarchy which holds the reputation of an abuser above the well-being of the survivor, perpetuating a culture of silence around sexual harassment and abuse, and systematically reprimanding those that do come forward.”

200 signatories have already signed the petition including Khadijah Shah of Elan, Khadija Rehman, Rehan Bashir and transgender rights activist Kami Sid.

#ANATIONSHOCKED

A student of Bahria College Islamabad has come forward, saying that she and about 80 of her batchmates were sexually harassed by the examiner of their biology practical about two weeks ago.

"Our examiner [...] groped almost 80 students and passed sleazy comments," she wrote in her Facebook post, in which she describes her own experience of being inappropriately touched

by the examiner. Several other students have corroborated her story with their own experiences since then.

Bahria College Principal Iqbal Javaid has acknowledged the reports and said that the matter has been reported to the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), says a report. It remains unclear what action is being taken by the Federal Board. The student's post has elicited shock and a demand for swift action against the examiner, with many celebrities, like Meesha Shafi, Dino Ali, Osman Khalid Butt, Mahira Khan and Mawra Hocane, condemning the incident.

#ENVOGUE

In a first, Vogue Arabia has featured a Saudi princess behind the wheel of a red convertible in the desert for its June cover. Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah Al-Saud takes the wheel in celebration of the month that women in the country will be able to drive. This is Vogue Arabia‘s first-ever issue dedicated to Saudi Arabia which sees the princess, one of King Abdullah’s more than 30 children, photographed in an elegant flowing white ensemble and matching headscarf.

In an interview with the magazine, the royal said, “In our country, there are some conservatives who fear change. For many, it’s all they have known,” and added, “Personally, I support these changes with great enthusiasm.” Her Royal Highness, a mother of three, appears in the magazine alongside a number of pioneering Saudi Arabian women from the fields of fashion, politics and arts.