Author: newsdesk

  • Sanjrani takes charge as acting president after Alvi leaves for Hajj

    Sanjrani takes charge as acting president after Alvi leaves for Hajj

    Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has taken charge as acting president after President Arif Alvi left for Saudi Arabia to perform the religious obligation of Hajj.

    According to the constitution, the Chairman of the upper house of the parliament can take charge as acting president in the absence of a President from Pakistan.
    Sanjrani took charge of the office in Quetta, and the Cabinet Division has also issued a notification in this regard.

    Sanjrani is in Quetta to attend the funeral of his aunt.
    Sanjrani is the youngest Chairman of the Senate from Balochistan.

  • ‘A park is supposed to open to all’: Twitter is angry at ban on entry of non-residents in DHA park

    ‘A park is supposed to open to all’: Twitter is angry at ban on entry of non-residents in DHA park

    Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Karachi has shared a notification of entry procedure for Nisar Shaheed Park located in phase IV of the society. The notification read that residents can not visit the park individually, they need to be accompanied by family.

    “Residents of DHA who wish to visit the park for a walk must be appropriately dressed in a sports kit or, at the very least, joggers paired with Shalwar Kameez, or pant shirt,” it added.

    The last point of the notice, which is being widely criticised on social media, bars non-residents of DHA from entering the park

    https://twitter.com/dhakarachiofc/status/1672217328472260609?s=46&t=X5V4RcFfiB3leRX0grZ3Eg

    Social media users are outrage because parks are meant to be a public place. Have a look at the tweets:

    Have a look at the tweets:

  • Civilian martyred in Indian army LOC firing: ISPR

    Civilian martyred in Indian army LOC firing: ISPR

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Indian troops engaged in unjustified gunfire on a group of shepherds in the Sattwal Sector across the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the death of one civilian and injury to two others.

    According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, “Indian Army, in a display of its usual inhumane approach towards innocent Kashmiris, opened indiscriminate fire onto a group of shepherds in the Sattwal Sector.”

    As a result of the firing, one civilian embraced martyrdom, and two others are in critical condition.

    “Driven by a newfound geo-political patronage, Indian forces have embarked on a plan to take innocent lives to satiate their false narratives and concocted allegations”, the military said.

  • ICC set to reveal schedule for World Cup 2023

    ICC set to reveal schedule for World Cup 2023

    All the controversies, mismanagements, conflicts, on venues aside, the International Cricket Council (ICC), is now all set to reveal the dates and venues of World Cup 2023.

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) previous management committee Chairman Najam Sethi proposed three venues for the India vs Pakistan match including Chennai, Indore and Kolkata while stating that the team will not play in Ahmedabad Narendra Modi Stadium because of security reasons.

    Najam Sethi, also stated that if Asia Cup will be held under Hybrid Model than his Board will propose the same Hybrid Model for the World Cup, with Pakistan playing its matches in Colombo or Dhaka.

    However, Zaka Ashraf, most likely the new chairman of PCB, bluntly dismissed the policies of Najam Sethi, and is currently tight lipped on the participation of Pakistan in the World Cup.

    Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto believes that cricket should be separated from politics, expressing disappointment on India’s policy to not play in Pakistan. However he also said but we are evaluating Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup.

    On June 27, ICC will reveal the schedule for the upcoming World Cup to be held in India. This announcement comes just four months before the tournament is set to begin, which is a shorter timeframe compared to previous World Cups that had their schedules announced over a year in advance.

    According to media reports, the tournament is expected to commence in October and conclude in November. However, the specific venues and fixtures have yet to be confirmed. One of the reasons behind the delay in scheduling was PCB’s delayed approval of the draft fixture list.

    Najam Sethi had stated that the approval or disapproval of the World Cup schedule lies with the government, similar to how the Indian government decides when their team travels to play.

    The PCB had also requested the ICC to change the venues of their matches against Australia and Afghanistan in an effort to gain an advantage. They proposed swapping the locations, suggesting that playing Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make Pakistan the favorites in both matches.

    “Australia in Bengaluru and Afghanistan in Chennai are the two which we should look to get changed as much as possible,” as per the reports we found in media.

    “Ideally, we can switch these around. Australia in Chennai and Afghanistan in Bengaluru would make us obvious favorites in both matches.” the note further said.

    Normally, venue changes during ICC events occur only when there is a security threat. However, it remains to be seen if the ICC will accommodate their request.

    Overall, the ICC’s announcement of the World Cup schedule in India set to take place in a few months, is eagerly anticipated. The final details of the tournament, including venues and fixtures, will be unveiled soon.

    Pakistan’s tentative World Cup schedule

    October 6 – vs Qualifier in Hyderabad

    October 12 – vs Qualifier in Hyderabad

    October 15 – vs India in Ahmedabad

    October 20 – vs Australia in Bengaluru

    October 23 – vs Afghanistan in Chennai

    October 27 – vs South Africa in Chennai

    October 31 – vs Bangladesh in Kolkata

    November 5 – vs New Zealand Bengaluru

    November 12 – vs England in Kolkata

  • You wouldn’t believe what profession Inspector Vivek of ‘CID’ ended up in

    You wouldn’t believe what profession Inspector Vivek of ‘CID’ ended up in

    If you were among the millions of South Asians who adored watching the investigative series ‘CID’, then some of you might remember Inspector Vivek. The murder investigation team was a fan favourite, launching countless memes memes like Daya breaking down every door, ACP Pradyuman’s hilarious hand gestures.

    Now, Twitter users have discovered that the actor, Viivek Mashru, who played Inspector Vivek on the show, has now changed professions by getting a PhD and working as a design professor for the University of Benglaru.

    The tweet that broke the news went on to receive atleast 5.2 million views and even got acknowledgment from Mashru himself, who thanked fans for their love and generosity.

  • Kajol says she can’t act sexy or sharmeeli

    Kajol says she can’t act sexy or sharmeeli

    Bollywood actress Kajol just announced her comeback on Netflix’s ‘Lust Stories 2’ which is directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, and opened up about how there are two things completely impossible for her to portray: being sexy or shy.

    “There are two things, the word sexy and the word ‘sharam’, I can’t relate with these emotions. When somebody tells me I have to bat my eyelids and act coy, I can’t comprehend it. I don’t understand the emotion, but if you give me a set of features to move in a particular way, I get that.”

    The daughter of the actress Tanuja and director Shomu Mukherjee recalled shooting the song “Hothon Pe Bas Tera Naam Hai” for the film ‘Ye Dillagi’ with Saif Ali Khan, and how the late choreographer threatened to hit her because she and Khan couldn’t stop giggling during a sensous scene.

    “Everyone’s idea of lust is different. It’s a subjective emotion, more than an objectively explained one,” she said. Asked if she has ever been able to portray this emotion on screen, Kajol said, “I’ve never been able to. Most of the time I depend on my directors. You have to see how much Saroj ji wanted to slap us… On ‘Hothon Pe Bas…’ Saroj ji wanted to hit us. Saif and I couldn’t stop laughing. She’d say, ‘You aren’t taking this seriously, you’re ill-mannered kids’.”

  • ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    ‘Epic’: Twitter lauds acapella group for singing song written by Muslim for Modi’s arrival at White House

    Two days ago, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the US White House, a video went viral of the all-Indian acapella group Penn Masala sang ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ in celebration of his arrival. Many Twitter users interpreted this as a clever diss to the controversial politician over his Islamophobic government, and also as a direct response to Biden who revealed that he will not talk to the Indian Prime Minister about human right violations during his visit.

    ‘Jashn-e-Bahara’ is an Urdu song written by the Muslim artists A.R Rehman and Javed Akhtar, and was sung by Javed Ali. The song was featured in the film ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, a movie about the marriage between the Mughal Emperor Akbar and his Hindu wife Jodha.

    Twitter users lauded this discreet but clever way to troll a secular and facist politcian, who has been criticised by American politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who announced that they were boycotting Modi’s address to Congress, citing the politician’s abysmal human right’s record, as well as his erosion of religious freedom in India.

    Some also felt that the song was an indirect target towards the Indian government’s move to remove chapters from school textbooks on Mughal rulers.

    https://twitter.com/onlynina/status/1671905008017629185?s=20

    One user wrote: “The irony of an urdu song from a film glorifying mughal emperor Akbar.”

  • Government ministers openly refusing to obey Supreme Court: Imran Khan

    Government ministers openly refusing to obey Supreme Court: Imran Khan

    Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has said in a tweet that government ministers are openly refusing to follow the orders of the Supreme Court, calling it the law of the jungle.

    “If anyone had any doubts about the law of the jungle prevailing in Pakistan where might is right, all those doubts should be removed after the recent statements of the government ministers openly refusing to obey the SC verdict if its against military courts. It also reflects the PDM’s desperation to avoid elections and hide behind the establishment,” the former Prime Minister wrote in a tweet posted on Saturday afternoon.

    After May 9 riots, it has been decided that those involved in the attacks on military installations will be tried in military courts.
    https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1672543581008019458?s=20
    The Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), Mansoor Usman Awan, has told the Supreme Court (SC) on Friday that 102 people are currently in the army’s custody for trials.

  • Meta to restrict news content for Canadian users following passage of online news bill

    Meta to restrict news content for Canadian users following passage of online news bill

    Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has announced that it will impose limitations on the availability of news content for Canadian users on its platforms following the passage of a contentious online news bill by the Canadian parliament.

    The legislation, known as the Online News Act, obliges major platforms like Meta and Google to compensate news publishers for the content posted on their sites. Both Meta and Google have already been conducting trials restricting news access for certain Canadian users.

    This move follows a similar action taken by Facebook in Australia last year when users were blocked from sharing or viewing news in response to comparable legislation.

    The Online News Act, which recently received clearance from the senate, establishes regulations that mandate platforms such as Meta and Google to engage in commercial negotiations and remunerate news organisations for their published content.

    Meta has criticised the law, labeling it as “fundamentally flawed legislation that disregards the operational realities of our platforms.” Prior to the bill’s implementation, Meta announced that news availability on Facebook and Instagram would be terminated for all Canadian users.

    A spokesperson from Meta informed Reuters that “a legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platforms, is neither sustainable nor workable.” The company emphasised that these changes in news accessibility would not affect other services provided to Canadian users.

    Google, in its response, deemed the bill “unworkable” in its current form and expressed its intention to collaborate with the government to find a viable resolution.

    The federal government asserts that the online news bill is necessary “to enhance fairness in the Canadian digital news market” and to enable struggling news organisations to receive “fair compensation” for their news and links shared on these platforms.

    An analysis conducted by an independent parliamentary budget watchdog estimated that digital platforms could contribute approximately C$329 million ($250 million; £196 million) annually to news businesses.

    Canadian Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez previously conveyed his dissatisfaction with the testing conducted by the tech platforms, considering them “unacceptable” and a “threat.” In Australia, Facebook ultimately reinstated news content for its users after engaging in discussions with the government, leading to certain amendments.

    Minister Rodriguez’s office confirmed that he recently met with representatives from both Google and Facebook, with further discussions planned.

    However, the government remains committed to implementing the bill. In a statement, Minister Rodriguez posed the question, “If the government can’t stand up for Canadians against tech giants, who will?”

    Media industry groups have lauded the passage of the bill as a positive step towards achieving market fairness.

    Paul Deegan, President and CEO of News Media Canada, a media industry group, highlighted the significance of genuine journalism, produced by professional journalists, as an essential component of democracy that incurs substantial costs.

    The Online News Act is expected to come into effect in Canada within six months.

  • YouTube is introducing a new AI-powered tool to translate videos in different languages

    YouTube is introducing a new AI-powered tool to translate videos in different languages

    YouTube is introducing a new AI-powered feature to facilitate video dubbing in different languages. During the VidCon event, the company announced its collaboration with Aloud, an AI dubbing service developed by Google’s Area 120 incubator.

    Aloud’s website explains the process: First, the tool transcribes the video, providing a transcription that can be reviewed and edited. Then, it proceeds to translate and generate the dubbed audio. A demonstration video showcasing the details is available.

    According to YouTube’s Amjad Hanif, the tool is currently being tested with numerous creators, and Aloud already supports a select number of languages, including English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Additional languages will be added in the future, as confirmed by spokesperson Jessica Gibby.

    Despite the current limitations in language availability, Aloud holds promise for content creators who seek to incorporate multi-language dubs in their videos. To experience the results firsthand, you can listen to the Spanish dub track in a video from the Amoeba Sisters channel by accessing the gear icon and selecting “Audio track.”

    YouTube has plans to enhance the translated audio tracks further. By 2024, they aim to make them sound more natural, capturing the creator’s voice, emotions, and lip sync, as mentioned by Hanif. Gibby also confirmed that these features are on YouTube’s roadmap for the future.