Tag: media

  • Taliban ask female TV anchors to cover faces, male anchors wear face masks in solidarity

    Taliban ask female TV anchors to cover faces, male anchors wear face masks in solidarity

    Days after the Taliban issued an order requiring female TV presenters to cover their faces at work, their male colleagues went on air wearing face masks in solidarity. Male anchors from numerous major news organisations, including TOLO News and 1TV News, have initiated a social media campaign posting images of themselves with the hashtag #FreeHerFace.

    https://twitter.com/heatherbarr1/status/1529158595773771776

    In the pictures circulating on social media, male and female staff members of a news channel can be seen sitting together in an office full of screens, all wearing black masks.

    Male anchors of TOLO News and 1TV News went on air with their face masks on.

    Taliban officials announced earlier this month that all women and girls must leave home only when necessary and wear head-to-toe clothing when out in public.

    Read more- Taliban orders TV presenters to cover their faces on air, Twitter protests

    Taliban authorities have also prohibited girls from attending school after sixth grade, reversing previous Taliban promises that girls of all ages would be permitted to attend school.

  • Exclusive: PM Shehbaz says next army chief will be appointed as per rules, regulations

    Exclusive: PM Shehbaz says next army chief will be appointed as per rules, regulations

    Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday called the PM House a ‘Jamhoori House’ (Democratic House) and said that his government believed in media freedom. In an interaction with journalists at the PM House on April 26, Sharif said that the previous government was not just incompetent and corrupt but had damaged the country’s economy and foreign relations. PM Shehbaz talked about several issues.

    New army chief

    PM said that he has the constitutional right to appoint a new army chief. He added that he will appoint the new army chief as per the constitution and rules and regulations when the time comes for his appointment. This was in response to a question about the appointment of a new army chief since General Bajwa will not take an extension as per DG ISPR.

    Pak-US relations

    While answering a question about Pakistan’s relationship with the US, PM said that the US is a superpower so we need to maintain good relations with them. “Amreeka dushmani hamaaray waaray nahin” (we cannot afford enmity with the US). He added that we need to do some stock-taking regarding Pak-US ties and improve relations with the US.

    Foreign Policy

    Talking about foreign relations, PM Shehbaz said that the previous government had alienated allies and friends. “How can we say that we can raise the Kashmir issue without Saudi Arabia?”

    PM said that the members of the previous government had lied about loans on 8% by China apart from allegations of corruption against Chinese investment by Pervez Khattak and several others in PTI. “China helped us get rid of load shedding by investing in power plants.”

    Saudi Visit

    PM will be visiting Saudi Arabia tomorrow (April 28-30) on the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz. PM Shehbaz said that he is likely to meet the Saudi leadership during his visit.

    Load shedding

    He said that there there is no other reason for frequent load shedding other than the negligence of previous government for not buying LNG and furnace oil on time. He also criticised the previous government for its baseless allegations against the LNG contract signed by the previous PML-N government. He said that Qatar must have been amazed that instead of thanking them for such a good deal, PTI indulged in “ilzaam taraashi” [allegations].

    Economic crisis

    “Pakistan is going through one of the most difficult times. We are trying to take the country in the right direction. We have seen how Japan and Germany rebuilt their economies after tough times. We have the examples of South Korea and Bangladeshi economies too. Once upon a time, Pakistan had a better per capita income than China but look at us now. Our currency was better than India’s. When India was ahead of us in the steel industry, we were ahead of them in textiles.”

    “There is no point crying over spilt milk but now it is time to rebuild our economy,” said PM Shehbaz. He said that it will be a difficult challenge but is not impossible to bring back our lost place in the comity of nations by strengthening our economy. “Rome was not built in a day.”

    “If we were economically strong, our foreign policy would have been stronger.”

    PECA

    The PM was asked if roll back of PECA was on the cards, to which he said that his government believes in freedom of media and media will not have to face any curbs but they need to differentiate between truth and fake news. “Media should highlight our mistakes. We welcome that. But it should not spread fake news.”

    Missing files

    When asked that there are reports that some files have been taken by the previous government from the PM House regarding sugar scandal and other scandals, Shehbaz said that if he is given evidence about the missing files, he will find them.

    Accountability

    He said that in the name of accountability, there will be no revenge. “Ehtesaab ke naam par intiqaam nahin leinge,” said PM Shehbaz. He said that businessmen say they will not invest here because the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) will either arrest them or harass them. “Businessmen kehte hain ya NAB giraftaar kar leinge ya zaleel kareinge unko.”

    Elections

    The PM said that we will go for elections after carrying out necessary reforms, especially electoral reforms.

    Threat letter

    PM Shehbaz said that the National Security Committee meeting issued a clear statement that there was no conspiracy. “The punchline of the statement was that there is no saazish, no conspiracy.”

    Shehbaz said that if the threat letter was received on March 7, why did the PTI government talk about it on March 28? “March tak moonh mein taalay kyun laga kar baithay thay?” He asked when did the previous government turn this letter into a conspiracy. “When they knew they were going to lose in parliament. There is no question of a conspiracy whatsoever.”

    Karachi attack

    “The attack in Karachi University is a huge tragedy where three Chinese nationals died. China is our friend. I went to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad for solidarity,” said PM. He added that Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah will go to Karachi on Wednesday (today) and help and coordinate with the Sindh government. “After our Saudi visit, we will hold a comprehensive meeting on security.”

    Afghanistan

    Afghanistan is not just our neighbour but our “baraadar mulk” (brother country). “If there is peace in Afghanistan, there will be peace in Pakistan. What is good for Afghanistan is good for Pakistan.”

    PTI resignations

    PM said that they have found out that many resignations were taken by force from PTI MNAs and were not given voluntarily. “We will know the truth when the legal process has been completed.” He was asked whether the government could convince PTI to take back its resignations to be an effective Opposition.

    PTI long march

    While answering a question about Imran Khan’s call for march to Islamabad, PM said that if they won’t do anything unlawful, nothing will happen to them but he won’t allow anyone to spread anarchy on the roads.

    Pak Army

    The PM said that the Pak Army has given a lot of sacrifices for this country. “It is wrong to say anything negative about Pakistan’s army. It is condemnable,” said the PM when responding to a question about social media trends against the army.

  • Instagram may introduce voice message replies for stories soon

    Instagram may introduce voice message replies for stories soon

    Instagram is reportedly working on a feature that would allow users to reply to stories with a picture or a voice message. This was signaled by the application developer, Alessandro Paluzzi, who further mentioned in his tweet that Instagram is also testing a feature that will allow users to share posts using a QR code.

    Paluzzi’s screenshots show the traditional message box where you may reply to users’ stories, with a twist, as one snapshot includes a GIF sign, while another has a mic icon in addition to the GIF button that was already available.

    Users will probably use these icons to respond to Instagram stories with an image or a voice message.

    The social media platform introduced a feature in February that allowed users to like other users’ stories without having to respond with a direct message.

    Until then, the only option to respond to a story was to send a direct message to the user through the text box at the bottom of the story (or using pre-set emojis, GIFS, or stickers, which were almost similar.

    Read more: Intel to launch world’s fastest 5.5 GHz CPU on April 5

    The rumored new picture reply function will complement existing capabilities and provide users with more options for creatively responding to stories. These features are also well-suited to Instagram’s long-term strategy.

    All of this may be included in the coming days as the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri, had already stated that the Meta-owned platform will be focusing on the videos, messaging as well as creators.

  • Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Pakistanis prefer to sink with me than support the ‘three stooges’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Thursday called the Opposition leaders Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz president Shehbaz Sharif, and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari the “three stooges”, referring to a classic American program. He told party members the Opposition’s no-trust move was a “blessing” as it had “lifted” the entire party and now all ready to ready for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally.

    Addressing the Pakistan Overseas Convention in Islamabad he said, “When the people saw the faces of the three stooges — they decided against supporting them and expressed their desire to go down with [me],” PM Khan.

    I challenge media, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with govt over performance

    PM Khan challenged media organisations, economists, and Opposition parties to debate with the government over its performance in the last three and half years, saying that “nobody served Pakistan as we did”.

    “[Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana] Fazlur Rehman sold religion for 30 years,” he thundered. “In my 3.5 years, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has said you cannot disrespect Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in the name of freedom of expression. [Canadian Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau has given a statement [against Islamophobia]. This has happened for the first time.”

    The premier said there had been a debate at the United Nations and a resolution would be passed against Islamophobia, adding that it was “because of us” and how the government raised the matter at different forums.

    The premier said that the Opposition parties had been taking turns in governing Pakistan during the last 30 years but the PTI government would “prove” that it had built the nation.

    They cannot defeat us: PM Khan

    The premier said he and his team were always trying to figure out ways to reduce the impact of inflation on the masses, but after the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, the focus shifted to mainstream politics rather than inflation.

    PM Khan said neither of the three parties — PPP, PML-N, and JUI-F — worked at the grass-root levels and did “actual politics”, while the PTI struggled for more than two decades to get to where it is today. “They cannot defeat us.”

    “Nawaz became the chief minister through General Jilani; Shehbaz, who used to give bribes to get his work done, Zardari became the president by ‘showing’ a fake paper; Fazl has been selling the religion from the last 30 years,” he said.

    If they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan

    “I was thinking of how the country changed suddenly in 10 days, inflation was forgotten and my entire party was lifted.”

    All the Opposition politicians used to call each other corrupt, he said, thanking them for coming together so the nation could see that “if they are the ones to save Pakistan, it is better to drown with Imran Khan”.

    The premier said that PTI had risen from the grassroots which is why the Opposition parties could not compete with it.

    Fallen into captains trap

    PM Imran Khan said the Opposition leaders were under the “false impression that the people had forgotten their corruption”, but they were wrong as now, they had fallen into the “captain’s trap”.

    “I predict that not only is their no-confidence motion going to fail, but they will taste defeat in the 2023 general elections as well,” he said, foreseeing his party’s triumph in the polls.

    PM Khan said due to the corruption of the politicians, the country had become a “slave” to the foreign powers. “When our then prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] met then US president Barack Obama, his legs were shaking as he was cautious against saying something his ‘master’ might feel bad”.

    “Because they know [those countries] can catch their [corrupt Pakistani politicians’] money laundering whenever they want,” the prime minister said.

    Not anti-US, UK and India

    “You [Nawaz and Zardari] should have at least said that no law in the world allows anyone to play the role of judge, jury, and executioner,” he said, stressing “never have I been anti-American, anti-Britain or anti-India”.

    “I pray that a sensible leadership comes into power in India so that we can hold talks with them after revoking the August 5, 2019, decision on Kashmir.”

    Only an uneducated man would be against a country, he elaborated, adding that he was against their policies. “I was against the war on terror from day one and I will remain so.”

    The premier said 100 drone strikes had been conducted in Pakistan during the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari and PTI leaders had staged sit-ins to protest but “they had no shame”.

    He also mentioned India’s “Hindutva” policy, expressing the wish that a “better government” comes to power in the neighbouring country that would grant rights to Kashmiris.

    Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability

    The Pakistan military was the reason behind the country’s stability, as he gave an example of other Muslim countries — Libya, Syria, and Yemen — where the situation was dismal.

    Noting that despite having differences with former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, PM Imran Khan lauded him and acknowledged that he was a self-reliant leader.

  • Throwback: Sunny Leone reacts to Indian media’s claim of Osama Bin Laden being her huge fan

    Throwback: Sunny Leone reacts to Indian media’s claim of Osama Bin Laden being her huge fan

    Former adult entertainer and Bollywood actor Sunny Leone enjoys transnational popularity, recently certain Indian media tabloids claimed that the late Osama Bin Laden was her huge fan.

    Throwback to the time when American commandos killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad and media reports stated that he had a large collection of Sunny Leone’s videos in his abode.

    Bin Laden was watching Sunny Leone's Video before Death !? - ManaTeluguMovies.net

    When Sunny learned about her ‘dangerous’ fan, she looked shocked. The Ragini MMS 2 star couldn’t believe the reports at first and broke into laughter after learning about it. DNA India quoted her saying, “’I thought it was just a joke. I didn’t think much about it’.

    Sunny Leone Begins Shooting For Her Next 'Anamika' With Vikram Bhatt | Bollywood News – India TV

    On the work front, Sunny Leone is also set to make her OTT debut with crime-thriller show Anamika, which will stream on MX Player from today, i.e., March 10. The web show is helmed by Vikram Bhat.

  • Indian media graphics show tank shooting Indian reporter

    Indian media sure knows how to grab the attention of their audience with extravagant graphics.

    An Indian news channel went out of their way with war graphics while reporting about the recent Russia-Ukraine war.

    In a video, which is making rounds on social media, a tank is seen entering into the studio room and then shoots the anchorperson, which apparently kills her.

    Many people have reacted to the video, with one saying, “Hope the anchor tank survived the attack.” One user compared it to Pakistani media.

  • Union of Dawn newspaper ask PM Khan to call Dawn management to increase salaries, revert pay cuts

    Union of Dawn newspaper ask PM Khan to call Dawn management to increase salaries, revert pay cuts

    The Pakistan Herald Workers’ Union has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of “the plight of media workers” at Dawn newspaper. The statement was issued by the Union in their apparent Twitter account, which represents the staff of daily Dawn newspaper.

    “We appreciate the sympathy and the concern you have shown for hardworking, honest but poorly paid workforce in the private sector in particular media organisations.”

    The union directly appealed to the PM to draw attention towards the plight of media workers in the newspaper.

    “First, the Dawn management cut employees’ salaries by up to 35 per cent in February 2019 on the pretext of ‘anticipated losses’,” the statement added.

    “Our appeal to the management to reverse the drastic pay-cut have fallen on the deaf ears, despite the company’s handsome profit in the fiscal year 2020-2021.”

    “Secondly, a truncated 8th wage board award, in August 2021, was ‘implemented’ in a lopsided manner- after a gap of 19 years. It ironically, further contracted the employees’ salary instead of raising it by 145 per cent, as required under the WBA.”

    “We, therefore request the honourable prime minister to make a phone call to Dawn’s management as well and exhort it to reverse the unlawful pay-cut, pay arrears and increase the salaries of the employees. We hope like ARY and Serene Air, Dawn’s management will also listen to your advice and do the needful,” the statement concluded.

    The Current has confirmed with Dawn that while they are not sure if the Twitter account is run by the Union, the letter seems genuine.

    Following PM Khan’s appeal to the corporate sector to increase the salaries of their staff, President and CEO ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal last week announced a pay raise for lower-level employees.

    Read more- After PM’s Khan’s appeal for increase in workers’ salaries, ARY announces pay raise

    Salman Iqbal said the staff receiving a monthly salary of up to Rs20,000 will be given a raise of 80 per cent. “We have reached this stage with the blessing of Allah Almighty and countless efforts of the team,” he said.

  • ‘If I am forced out of the office, I will be more dangerous’: PM Khan

    ‘If I am forced out of the office, I will be more dangerous’: PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Sunday warned the Opposition said, “If I exit the government, I will pose a greater threat to you. Right now, I am sitting quietly in my office and watching the drama unfold. But if I take to the streets, you will have nowhere to hide.”

    PM Khan’s remarks came while answering callers’ questions, during the telecast of the fifth ‘Aap Ka Wazir Azam Aap Ke Sath’, a town-hall-style broadcast where the premier takes questions from the public and responds back to their queries.

    ‘I am waiting for you [Nawaz Shahrif]… please come back’: Khan

    PM Khan called on former PM Nawaz Sharif to come back to face the cases against him, saying: “I am waiting for you… please come back.”

    ‘I do not consider Shehbaz Sharif an Opposition leader, he is a criminal’: PM Khan

    PM Khan lashing out at the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership, said that he was willing to talk to the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), but he would never sit down with Opposition leader Shehbaz Sharif — even for dialogue on key national issues.

    “The office of the Opposition leader has respect, but I do not consider him (Shehbaz Sharif) an Opposition leader, rather he is someone who has committed serious crimes against the country,” he said.

    ‘My party will complete its current term and also win another full term’: PM Khan

    PM Khan was confident that he and his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would not only complete their current term in office but would also win another full term, adding that the nation stood behind him, as he knew the people better than the Opposition did.

    “The reason why people came out for me was that I was trying to get back their looted wealth. You are only trying to cover your own [corruption],” he said.

    “The people recognise your true face now and whatever you have done with this country over the last 30-35 years. You need to understand that the lava is simmering. Once people take to the streets, they only need to be pointed in your direction, and you’ll see everyone of them running off to hide in London,” he said, addressing the Opposition.

    ‘Inflation only problem that gives me sleepless nights‘: Prime Minister Khan

    In response to a caller’s question, he admitted that inflation was the only problem that gave him sleepless nights.

    Insisting that inflation was a global phenomenon that had taken a toll on developed economies like the United States and the United Kingdom as well, he blamed the price hike of commodities on the disruption in the supply chain caused by the pandemic.

     “The biggest challenge we face today is inflation and the rising prices of commodities. I am well aware and cognisant of the issues being faced by the common man due to rising prices.”

    The prime minister said that the corporate sector has made a profit of Rs980 billion and “I would call them and ask them to increase the salaries of their staff because you have never made such a profit before today.”

    Chastises media, judiciary for protecting mafias: PM Imran Khan

    Chastising the media for not presenting a full picture of what was happening on the economic front, PM Khan accused journalists of only painting what he called a ‘bleak’ picture of the economy. Terming certain journalists ‘mafias’, he said they were merely trying to advance the agenda of the Opposition and never projected the achievements of the government.

    The prime minister called on the judiciary to be “merciful to the people” and not to support “mafia and cartels”.

  • Ken Rosenthal lays bare Manfred’s thin skin

    Calling a spade a spade is one of the cardinal virtues of journalism and is what all journalists are meant to do. The broader challenge, however, is when it comes to having the gall to speak up against those in the upper echelons of power and it is then when impartial journalism can congeal into a baptism of fire. When 59-year-old Ken Rosenthal, one of baseball’s highly regarded and acclaimed baseball journalists, dared to dip his toes in that fire, he had to pay a heavy price in the form of abrupt termination of his 12-year association with the MLB Network.

    It may not have been the start Ken Rosenthal would have wanted for the new year. Way back in 2020, when all industries and organisations moiled to stay afloat amidst the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Ken Rosenthal penned dismissive columns in The Athletic in which he launched scathing attacks on Major League Baseball’s commissioner Rob Manfred and brought his mishandling of the situation into focus.

    “He (Manfred) and the owners, supposed stewards of the game, are turning the national pastime into a national punch line, effectively threatening to take their ball and go home while the country struggles with medical, economic and societal concerns,” Rosenthal wrote in his column.

    Questioning Manfred’s abilities to do his job properly, Rosenthal further wrote: “Manfred and the owners keep sinking lower. Unless making dead-on-arrival proposals, tone-deaf public remarks and other assorted blunders is your idea of negotiating savvy.”

    Unable to digest the vitriol hurled at him, Manfred flexed his muscles and Ken was taken off the air. On January 4, 2022, Andrew Marchand, senior sports writer for the New York Post, broke the unfortunate news that the MLB Network had let go of Ken Rosenthal. Manfred’s decision invited severe backlash from journalists and deservedly so. The Athletic’s senior MLB writer Britt Ghiroli tweeted that Ken cares about the truth and doing things the right way even if it’s uncomfortable.

    Former American professional baseball player and television sports commentator Ken Singleton, an Orioles Hall of Famer, called the decision terribly shortsighted and stated that it reduces the credibility of the whole product. MLB has long grumbled about how it strives to offer quality journalism to its viewers.

    However, if it thinks that a bit of criticism is a fireable offence, it would be foolish to hope that impartial journalism can thrive in the baseball industry. As a matter of fact, Major League Baseball has historically been dictatorial and authoritarian. Prior to firing Rosenthal, MLB surprisingly ended much-loved Intentional Talk’s co-host Chris Rose’s contract at the end of 2020. Rewind to September 1964, New York Yankees terminated Mel Allen’s contract before the start of the World Series for reasons unbeknownst to all save Yankees themselves.

    Luckily for baseball fans, Ken Rosenthal, a seasoned journalist and author of “Best of the Best: 35 Major League Superstars” and “Dean Smith: A Tribute”, hasn’t been completely consigned to the scrapheaps and would still be plying his trade for multiple widely-followed platforms like Fox Sports and The Athletic. Still, whichever way you look at it, it cannot be disregarded that the dictatorial firing of Ken from the MLB Network epitomises thin-skinned MLB’s hubris syndrome and their attempts to divest the sport of impartial journalism, which sets an extremely wrong precedent for up-and-coming journalists that they should not dare to speak up against those in power.

  • New spy chief says no to the media

    New spy chief says no to the media

    Director General (DG) Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeen Anjum has asked all authorities concerned not to release to the media his picture or video footage made during an official meeting, reports Ansar Abbasi for The News.

    A minister on condition of anonymity revealed to the news outlet that the National Security Committee (NCC) met on Monday. The meeting was also attended by the DG ISI. However, the picture and video footage, released to the media by the government, showed almost everyone else except for the top spymaster of the country.

    When asked for the reason, the minister said it’s a standing instruction for all concerned from the incumbent DG ISI not to release any of his pictures or video footage of any official meeting that he attends.

    The minister added that for the same reason, ever since his appointment as the DG ISI, none of his picture or video footage has been released to the media. Lt-Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib, while commenting on it, said the basic principle of intelligence services is to stay away from the media’s eye.

    He said there have been violations of the principle in the past and a number of times the governments had been releasing to the media picture and video footage of the intelligence chiefs.

    Gen Shoaib said the intelligence chiefs should not be shown on the media and TV screens. Generally, he explained, the spymasters are not recognised in the public all over the world for the same reason.