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  • Unrest after Holy Quran burning in Sweden

    Unrest after Holy Quran burning in Sweden

    Three men have been arrested in Sweden for participating in riots after another incident of the desecration of Holy Quran.

    Turmoil broke out after Iraqi anti-Islam activist Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Islamic holy book on Sunday.

    BBC reports that the police has detained 10 people for causing disruption in the city of Malmo.

    During the unrest, vehicles were set on fire and about a hundred people congregated in reaction to the desecration of the Quran.

    Momika has a record of desecrating the Quran during anti-Islam protests. According to the BBC, his actions have caused diplomatic outrage across the Middle East.

    Police officers have said that the protesters pelted them with stones while some threw electric scooters at police vehicles in addition to burning of the cars.

    This happened in the largely immigrant-populated area of Rosengard neighbourhood in Malmo.

    The city’s police area commander Petra Stenkula said while speaking to local media, “I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violence like the ones we saw on Sunday afternoon,”

    “It is extremely regrettable to once again see violence and vandalism at Rosengard.”

    Back in June, at the first day of Eid al-Adha, Momika set fire to a copy outside Stockholm’s central mosque

    Initially, Swedish police had given Momika a permit to protest, in conformity with the state’s free-speech laws but then said his case was to be investigated for incitement of hatred.

  • Can Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro finally kill the iPhone’s dominance?

    Can Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro finally kill the iPhone’s dominance?

    Huawei’s tenacity in the smartphone market, despite grappling with the challenges of the US embargo, has been nothing short of remarkable. Undeterred by adversity, the company has fervently strived to regain its foothold in the realms of both hardware and software.

    The latest chapter in Huawei’s resurgent narrative is embodied in the Huawei Mate 60 and Mate 60 Pro, devices that have ignited widespread intrigue and earned global user acclaim. In a mere five days following their debut, these smartphones remarkably achieved nearly 800,000 unit sales, signifying a triumphant comeback. 

    Within the confines of China, the Huawei Mate 60 series has emerged as a resounding success story. Officially launched on August 29th, these devices rapidly gained traction in the market, boasting sales figures that approached the 800,000-unit milestone within the initial five days.

    This achievement stands as a substantial improvement over the sales performance of their predecessors in the Mate series, which managed to muster approximately 500,000 units. Such resounding success is undoubtedly a testament to meticulous planning and unwavering commitment. 

    In the wake of challenging years, Huawei’s aspiration for resurgence led to the creation of a technological marvel. Powered by the cutting-edge Kirin 9000S processor, it reigns supreme as the swiftest mobile processor available in China. Notably, the Mate 60 series is equipped with a novel triple-lens rear camera system, featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide sensor, and a 12MP telephoto sensor. 

    The fervor surrounding the Huawei Mate 60 series extends beyond the Chinese borders, capturing the enthusiasm of international consumers. For instance, Japanese consumers have been keen to acquire the 12GB + 512GB version of the Huawei Mate 60 Pro, which is priced at approximately 70,000 Chinese yuan in the Chinese market, translating to around 140,000 Japanese yen (PKR 292,800).

    Interestingly, local dealers in Japan have been pricing the same smartphone model at levels exceeding 200,000 Japanese yen, roughly equivalent to 10,000 Chinese yuan, underscoring its immense popularity in the Japanese market. 

    Key Specifications: 

    Huawei Mate 60 

    – Display: 6.69-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate 

    – Processor: Kirin 9000S 

    – RAM: 12GB 

    – Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 

    – Rear Cameras: 50MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0), 48MP telephoto camera, 12MP ultrawide camera 

    – Front Camera: 13MP 

    – Battery: 5000mAh 

    – Charging: 88W wired charging, 50W wireless charging 

    Huawei Mate 60 Pro 

    – Display: 6.82-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1-120 Hz variable refresh rate 

    – Processor: Kirin 9000S 

    – RAM: 12GB 

    – Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB 

    – Rear Cameras: 50MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4.0), 48MP telephoto camera, 12MP ultrawide camera 

    – Front Camera: 13MP 

    – Battery: 4750mAh 

    – Charging: 88W wired charging, 50W wireless charging 

  • Social media giant X faces lawsuit for allegedly assisting Saudi Arabia in human rights abuses

    Social media giant X faces lawsuit for allegedly assisting Saudi Arabia in human rights abuses

    The social media giant formerly known as Twitter, now referred to as X, faces a revised civil lawsuit in the US that accuses it of aiding Saudi Arabia in committing severe human rights violations against its users. This includes allegations of disclosing confidential user data to Saudi authorities at a significantly higher rate than for other countries such as the US, UK, or Canada. 

    According to The Guardian, the lawsuit was originally filed in May by Areej al-Sadhan, the sister of a Saudi aid worker who was forcibly disappeared and later sentenced to 20 years in prison. The case revolves around the infiltration of Twitter by three Saudi agents, two of whom posed as Twitter employees in 2014 and 2015. This infiltration led to the arrest of al-Sadhan’s brother, Abdulrahman, and the exposure of the identities of thousands of anonymous Twitter users, some of whom were reportedly detained and tortured as part of the Saudi government’s crackdown on dissent. 

    The updated lawsuit alleges that Twitter, under the leadership of then-CEO Jack Dorsey, knowingly ignored or had knowledge of the Saudi government’s campaign to identify critics but provided assistance due to financial considerations and its close ties to the Saudi government, a major investor in the company. 

    The lawsuit highlights how Twitter was initially seen as a tool for democratic movements during the Arab Spring, which raised concerns for the Saudi government as early as 2013. 

    These allegations come shortly after Human Rights Watch criticised a Saudi court for sentencing a man to death solely based on his Twitter and YouTube activity. The convicted individual, Muhammad al-Ghamdi, had minimal online presence and was accused of having two accounts with a few followers and tweets, both containing retweets of government critics. 

    The lawsuit claims that Twitter was aware of security risks related to insider access to personal data and ignored red flags. It also alleges that Saudi authorities filed emergency disclosure requests with Twitter to obtain user identity information, often approved promptly. 

    Between July and December 2015, Twitter allegedly granted information requests to Saudi Arabia more frequently than to other countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, and Spain. 

    Despite becoming aware of FBI concerns about Saudi infiltration, Twitter continued to engage with Saudi Arabia as a crucial regional partner. CEO Jack Dorsey even met with Mohammed bin Salman about six months after the FBI raised the issue. 

    The lawsuit ultimately seeks justice for Areej al-Sadhan’s brother, Abdulrahman, and aims to hold Twitter accountable for its alleged complicity in human rights abuses. 

  • When is Nawaz coming back? PML-N sources announce a date

    When is Nawaz coming back? PML-N sources announce a date

    As former Prime Minister Imran Khan remains incarcerated at Attock Jail, the matter of the return to Pakistan of another former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, remains unclear with no official announcements as yet.

    However, SAMAA News has reported that the official date may finally have been decided.

    There is a strategy in place for Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif’s long-anticipated return from London. Nawaz Sharif will reach Lahore from London on a passenger plane on October 15, SAMMAA has reported. PML-N president Shehbaz Sharif will also meet Nawaz in this regard today.

    PML-N sources said that Nawaz Sharif has assigned his central leadership with arranging his reception.

    According to sources who talked to the news outlet, former assembly members and organisation executives have been told to gather as many individuals as possible for the party head’s reception.

    Maryam Nawaz, the PML-N’s chief organiser, is in charge of reception-related matters.

    Earlier, it was reported that Nawaz will return to Pakistan by mid-September; however, the party’s plans changed in the last few days after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that elections will not take place within 90 days.

  • Young Pakistanis in the UK lead in unemployment, govt stats confirm 

    Young Pakistanis in the UK lead in unemployment, govt stats confirm 

    Official data from the United Kingdom’s government shows that among different ethnic groups in the country, young Pakistanis are the least active in terms of work and education. 

    The dataset in question is categorised as “unemployment,” encompassing individuals aged 16 to 24 who are neither employed nor engaged in any form of training or educational pursuits. This data was systematically collected over a three-year period spanning from 2017 to 2019. 

    Notably, within the spectrum of ethnic backgrounds in the UK, individuals of Pakistani origin stand out with the highest unemployment rate at 14.3 per cent, surpassing their counterparts from nine other nations. The next highest rate pertains to individuals of Bangladeshi descent at 12 per cent, while young individuals of Indian heritage exhibit a comparatively lower inactivity rate of 7.3 per cent, as indicated by the data. 

    A similar pattern is discernible when examining the overall employment data for the country, which encompasses individuals aged 16 to 64. In this context, Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals are grouped together and collectively exhibit the lowest employment rate, standing at a mere 58 per cent, the lowest among ten defined categories. In contrast, individuals of Indian descent display a more favourable employment rate at 78 per cent, trailing only those of non-British white origin, of whom 82 per cent are gainfully employed. 

    It is worth noting, however, that the observed trends in employment and unemployment figures do not appear to have a conclusive impact on the overall happiness score, as the data does not differentiate by age and represents the broader community. The happiness index assigns a score on a scale of 10, and according to the data, individuals of Pakistani descent in the UK have a happiness score of 7.57, ranking as the fourth highest among the ten surveyed ethnic groups. 

    While individuals of Indian, Bangladeshi, and other ethnic backgrounds report higher levels of happiness than those of Pakistani origin, individuals of Arab, black, Chinese, and even white ethnicities exhibit lower happiness scores in comparison. 

  • Action taken against those who attacked Ahmaddiya place of worship

    Action taken against those who attacked Ahmaddiya place of worship

    Journalist Arshad Yousafzai took to X (formerly twitter) on Monday to share a video where a charged mob can be seen vandalizing The Ahmadiyya Hall, a place of worship for the Ahmaddiya community in Karachi. The mob was breaking the minarets of the building in Saddar, just a few streets away from Preedy Police Station. Around two hours after the post, Mayor Karachi, Murtaza Wahab announced that action has been taken and three people have been arrested.

    The constitution of Pakistan and Pakistan Penal Code ensures that all citizens have the right to practice their religion in peace. Interim Prime minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar also offered assurances after the Jaranwala incident that all minorities, including Ahmedis, will be protected by the state.

    X user Samrina Hashmi reminded everyone how targeting anyone’s place of worship goes against constitution and religion.

    Fahad Desmukh wrote how the same building was attacked a few months ago.

    ShaRzyeea talked about her childhood memories linked to this place, “So many of my childhood memories are in this place that is connection and safety.”

  • Public Holiday on Sept 7 in Lahore

    Public Holiday on Sept 7 in Lahore

    A public holiday has been announced by Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to observe the annual Urs (death anniversary) of Data Ganj Bakhsh Syed Ali Hajwari on Thursday, September 7, in Lahore.

    Naqvi announced the holiday on Monday after his visit to the Data Darbar in Lahore.

    The Urs will last for three days, starting Tuesday and going on till Thursday. The CM states that efforts are being made to make better arrangements for the event, reports Geo.

    “We also held a meeting with the commissioner about the langar khana so that everyone who attends the celebration can eat,” he said. He also stated that the best qawwals will be arranged for mehfil-e-samaa.

    Plans have also been chalked out for Lahore’s traffic, with arrangements for parking facilities keeping security clearances in mind.

  • Rizwana torture case: Somia Asim’s bail application approved

    A District and Sessions Court in Islamabad has accepted the bail plea of the accused, Somia Asim, the wife of the judge suspected of beating her minor house maid, Rizwana.

    A hearing was held on the bail application of the Somia Asim in the Rizwana torture case where the court accepted Somia Asim’s bail application against a surety of one lac rupees.

    Rizwana’s family was also present in the court at the time.

    Somia Asim, wife of Civil Judge Asim Hafeez, had allegedly beaten up and tortured a minor house help at home.

  • Police claims to uncover events that led to Jaranwala incident

    According to Samaa News, a spokesperson for Faisalabad Police has claimed that their depart has uncovered the events that led to the Jaranwala tragedy last month in which a mob of 7,000 Muslims attacked the Christian community, destroyed their houses, and burnt churches.

    As per the spokesperson, the incident was a result of a personal resentment between two Christians.

    Police claim that Pervez Masih, a Christian, suspected his wife of having an illicit affair with Umair Raja. Masih hired a shooter, gave him money and provided him with a motorcycle to kill Raja.

    “A heinous conspiracy was made to desecrate the Quran after the failure to kill,” the Police claimed.

    Pervez Masih is among the three suspects involved in the conspiracy. The police allege that Pervex wrote an insulting letter in Umair’s name and desecrated the holy book.

    Resultantly, on seeing the letters and papers, people got furious, leading to the formation of a violent mob.

    Currently, the three people, including Pervez Masih and Umair Raja, are under custody.

  • Who met the president in Aiwan-e-Sadr?

    Who met the president in Aiwan-e-Sadr?

    Political commentators and analysts are speculating about an alleged meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (Presidency) on Friday.

    According to the sources of The News, two important personalities met President Alvi in Aiwan-e-Sadr. The meeting was held on the fourth floor of the Aiwan-e-Sadr, with the premises being off-limits for everyone, including staff.

    No statement has been issued by the President’s House to confirm or deny the meeting.

    Earlier, Kamran Yousaf reported in his vlog that Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Nadeem Ahmad Anjum was also part of the meeting. Yousaf had earlier given the news that President Alvi was all set to announce elections dates for November.

    On the other hand, senior journalist Umar Cheema also confirmed that two generals were part of the meeting in Aiwan-e-Sadr. However,
    he did not give any names.

    According to some political pundits, President Arif Alvi will announce the date of the upcoming elections in the next 72 hours.

    President Arif Alvi’s tenure is going to complete on September 8. There is still no confirmation from the President House whether he will go home after completing his tenure as president or continue till a new president is sworn in.

    As per the Constitution, the president may continue in his office until the arrival of a new president.

    As yet, no formal announcement of a date for the polls has been announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

    The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Sunday asked the ECP to release the schedule of the general elections.

    The HRCP said that the uncertainty surrounding the elections should end and new delimitations should not be used as an excuse to further delay the general polls.

    “The law of the land says that the Election Commission of Pakistan has to decide [the date of the elections],” said caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar ul Haq Kakar in an interview with senior anchorperson Saleem Safi in his programme ‘Jirga’ on Geo News.