T20 WC: LATEST UPDATES: Pak vs NZ: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan give Pakistan a strong start
Pakistan are 55/0 after the end of the powerplay
Minar-e-Pakistan illuminated with Azerbaijani flag
DNA
LAHORE: “Minar-e- Pakistan” – the historical & beautiful monument of Pakistan was lit up with the Azerbaijani flag colors to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Victory Day of Azerbaijan.
First time in its history, this monument was illuminated with any foreign country’s flag. DNA
Couldn’t get FIR lodged despite being in govt in Punjab: Imran Khan
LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday while reiterating demand for independent investigation assassination bid said that his party rules in Punjab province and he was former premier of the country, yet he could not get a first information report lodged against three officials.
In an exclusive interview with TRT, the former premier, while expressing post attack feelings, said that psychologically he is more determined than ever after the assassination bid, adding that he predicted this four months ago that there was a plot against him in a closed room by using extremism in same way as Punjab governor Salman Taseer was assassinated.
“(There was) the whole sequence of events, with a video first manufactured by a certain agency, showing me as if I am committing blasphemy, which is picked up by one of the pro-government journalists and then it is run on national, government-owned television,” he said.
“It was all part of a plan to make it out that eventually, some fanatic had killed me,” Imran said.
The PTI chief claimed that there were seven people behind the assassination attempt, adding that in the first phase, four people planned to kill me, and now three more people wanted to kill him. “I have told the public three people’s names because they are too powerful, even If I have a bulletproof car, my life will be in danger,” said Imran Khan.
The former premier pointed out that despite having a government in Punjab he had been unsuccessful in registering a first information report (FIR) of the attack. “But the Punjab police refused. Who is controlling the Punjab police?”
Imran Khan added that “My party rules in Punjab […] I’m the ex-prime minister and the head of the largest political force in the country, yet I could not get a case registered against these three people.
“I know they were involved. I know that these three people will be implicated. But even then I can’t register an FIR against them,” he stated.
Instagram introduces age verification technology in UK
LONDON: As a part of its major safety update, the social media platform Instagram is introducing a feature that will help verify the age of its users in the EU and UK.
The technology has been launched in the United Kingdom. Users who will try to change their date of birth on the application from under 18 to over 18 will be required to upload their national ID or show a selfie video which will be analysed by AI.
Instagram explained that the new system will ensure that users were receiving age-appropriate content on the platform.
The photo-and-video-sharing app requires users to be at least 13 years of age to create an account.
“Accounts that represent someone under the age of 13 must clearly state in the account’s bio that the account is managed by a parent or manager,” Instagram stated on its website.
“If your child is younger than 13 and has an account that isn’t managed by you or a manager, you can show them how to delete their account,” the blog added.
Online safety campaigners have been requesting this feature for a long time. Many have been against the idea of children being on these platforms due to the fear of exposing them to potentially harmful content. Age verification has finally become a possibility after years of campaigning.
Instagram joined hand with UK firm Yoti which hold expertise in age estimation technology.
Yoti’s system analyses selfie-video and studies facial features. After it reaches a conclusion, it shares the estimated age with Instagram. The platform noted that Yoti’s system was not a facial recognition one but only guessed the age of the user.
Instagram also clarified that the account details or other private details are not shared with the tech firm during the process. As per the Meta-owned giant, the images are also immediately deleted by both Instagram and Yoti as soon as the guess is made.
Earlier this year, Instagram tested the system in different countries.
“We want everyone to experience Instagram in a way that’s appropriate for their age, which means we need to know how old they are – and this is a challenge across our industry,” Tara Hopkins, Instagram’s public policy director, was quoted as saying by MailOnline.
German minister Habeck hopes that Qatar debate will bring improvement
BERLIN, NOV 8: German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has said that the ongoing debate on Qatar could help towards improvement in the World Cup host nation but that he will have little time to follow the upcoming tournament.
Qatar has been criticized on human rights issues such as the treatment of migrant workers ahead of the November 20-December 18 tournament.
This has led to labour law reforms but rights groups say that more needs to be done, including in the implementation area.
Habeck said during a visit to Stuttgart on Tuesday that he welcomes the debate because “it alone will influence the situation in the country and hopefully improve it as well.”
The minister from the Green Party said he would probably not be able to watch many World Cup matches although “I would be happy to be proved wrong.
“I have watched less television in the last few months than I ever have in my life,” he said.
China cancelled EU leader’s video address at opening of major trade expo
BEIJING/BRUSSELS, NOV 8: Chinese authorities behind a major trade expo in Shanghai pulled an opening ceremony address by the European Council president that was set to criticise Russia’s “illegal war” in Ukraine and call for reduced EU trade dependency on China, diplomats said.
The pre-recorded video by Charles Michel was meant to be one of several from world leaders and heads of international organisations, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the opening of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) on Friday, three European diplomats told Reuters.
The diplomats, who cannot be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters they were surprised that the speech had been removed.
“President Michel was invited to address 5th Hongqiao Forum/CIIE in Shanghai,” Barend Leyts, a spokesman for Michel told Reuters. “As requested by the Chinese authorities, we had indeed provided a pre-recorded message which was ultimately not shown. We have addressed this through the normal diplomatic channels.”
Neither of the co-organisers of the expo, China’s commerce ministry and the Shanghai city government, responded to Reuters’ requests for comment. A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry denied awareness of the issue.
“I am not aware of the relevant situation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday. “I cannot comment on this.”
Other dignitaries who did speak at the ceremony after Xi included the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, the director-general of the World Trade Organization and the presidents of Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Belarus, according to the expo’s official website.
Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko is a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his country has hosted thousands of Russian troops before and during what Moscow calls its “special operation” in Ukraine.
The European Council president’s speech was set to be heavily critical of “Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine” and say Europe is learning “important lessons” from it, according to excerpts of the address provided by EU diplomats.
Europe has been over-dependent on Russia for fossil fuels, leading to a trade imbalance, Michel was to say.
“In Europe, we want balance in our trade relations… to avoid over-dependencies,” according to the diplomats familiar with what he was to say. “This is also true of our trade relations with China.”
Michel was also set to call for China to do more do put an end to the bloodshed in Ukraine.
China has consistently refused to criticise Russia’s aggression, which has ravaged cities across Ukraine and killed thousands of soldiers and civilians since it began on February 24.
“China has a role in using its influence to stop Russia’s brutal war… through your so-called “no-limits” partnership with Russia,” Michel was to say, referring to a pact announced by Xi and Putin in Beijing before the war began. “You, China, can help put an end to this.”
Both Xi and Michel are expected to attend and meet at the Group of Twenty (G20) heads of state summit in Bali next Tuesday and Wednesday.
The president of the European Council is one of the European Union’s top ranked officials whose role includes representing the bloc at international summits and bilateral summits with other heads of state.
Since 2019, the EU has officially regarded China as a partner, an economic competitor and systemic rival.
The EU’s foreign policy service said in a paper last month that Beijing should now be thought of primarily as a competitor which is promoting “an alternative vision of the world order”.
Geoff Lawson sees Pakistan triumphing T20 World Cup
SYDNEY: Former head coach of the Pakistan cricket team Geoff Lawson feels that the Men In Green were lucky to get through the semi-finals but now they are capable of winning the T20 World Cup.
In an exclusive interview with Geo News on Wednesday, the 64-year-old said that Pakistan should play without fear of consequences in the semi-final against New Zealand.
“Predictable in the unpredictability as ever,” the former Australian cricketer said while talking about Pakistan’s journey in the tournament.
“And, lucky to get through the semi-finals. We know that they can be brilliant on their day. And I think the bowling has been fairly brilliant. The batting just let them down a little bit bought,”
“Now, through to the semi-finals, they’re certainly capable of winning this cup,” said Lawson who has represented Australia in 46 Tests and 79 ODIs.
The former coach added that the great paradox about Pakistani players is that sometimes they can look so controlled when they’re under pressure.
“I had this feeling that they’ve got through the panic, they’ve got to the semi-final. They’re very lucky to be there. And then somehow it doesn’t matter what happens now. It’s a bonus being in the semi-final,” he said.
“I think that’s one of the big advantages for Pakistan that there is scraped in, there’s no pressure on them because they weren’t expected to be there,” he said while advising Pakistan to play its natural game without fear of consequences.
Advice ahead of the semi-final
When asked what would he advise the Pakistan team ahead of the semi-final against New Zealand, the former cricketer said that it’s about being relaxed.
“The SCG will have plenty of pace in it. I know it’s got a reputation for spinning but it’ll be fast and back those opening bowlers. Get fast bowlers and try to dominate the game with your bowlers,” he added.
Replying to a question, Lawson said Pakistan’s opening pair — Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan — are top players and they have won several games for Pakistan.
He added that it’s been a bit of a surprise that the Babar doesn’t seem to be hitting the ball that well.
“And, maybe it is just the stress of the tournament. It’s trying to make it to the semi-finals and all that pressure of expectation that you should be in the semi-finals. Hopefully now having got through that, that expectation, he can just relax,” he said.
He agreed that being captain in Pakistan is not an easy task and captains in Pakistan are always under pressure.
“Captains have always felt the weight of the nation on their shoulders, particularly when they’re playing big games against Australia or India, perhaps. And yes, there is that pressure there. And it’s a difficult thing to overcome,” Lawson said.
“When I was the coach there, listen, we had a young captain, we had Shoaib Malik, who was brought in as the captain, he was very inexperienced, and we tried to use that inexperience saying don’t worry about it. People aren’t expecting you to be fantastic, because you’re just a young man. And maybe that’s what Babar has got to do as well. Just put all that to one side of play,” he added.
PM Shehbaz meets Norwegian Prime Minister on sidelines of COP 27
Sharm El-Sheikh, NOV 8 /DNA/ – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway on the sidelines of the COP 27 Climate Implementation Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh today. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan attached importance to its longstanding ties with Norway while underlining the need for enhanced bilateral cooperation in trade, clean energy, education and technology. The Prime Minister noted the positive contributions made by Norwegian tech and telecom companies to Pakistan’s service sector. He hoped that more Norwegian companies and businesses would take advantage of the Government’s investor-friendly policies in the future.
The Prime Minister briefed his Norwegian counterpart on the unprecedented destruction caused by the climate-induced floods that submerged vast swathes of Pakistan earlier this year. Thanking the Norwegian government for providing critical support for Pakistan’s flood relief efforts, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for the two countries to work together to address the adverse effects of Climate Change.
Discussing the regional situation, the Prime Minister highlighted the continuing human rights violations being perpetrated by India in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed that lasting peace and stability in South Asia would remain elusive without the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to peace and stability in Afghanistan. He said that sustained and practical engagement with Afghanistan was critical to helping the Afghan people deal with the humanitarian and economic crises afflicting their country.
The Prime Minister reiterated his invitation to Prime Minister Støre to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
EU ambassador inaugurates exhibition titled ‘Diversity and Social Harmony’
ISLAMABAD, NOV 8 /DNA/ – Nomad Gallery and Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) organized an exhibition/ event on ‘Diversity and Social Harmony.
Rina Kionka, Ambassador of European Union inaugurated the show on 8 November ’22 at 4.00pm. The event consists of art exhibitions, seminars, Daastangoi, performance art and art workshops. The exhibition will be ongoing till 16 November. 10:00am – 4:00pm daily except Saturday.
Pakistani art has a long tradition and history. It consists of a variety of art forms, including painting, sculpture, calligraphy, pottery, and textile arts such as woven silk. Geographically, it is a part of Indian subcontinent art, including what is now Pakistan. The arts are a very wide range of human practices of creative expression, storytelling and cultural participation.
They encompass multiple diverse and plural modes of thinking, doing and being, in an extremely broad range of media. Both highly dynamic and a characteristically constant feature of human life, they have developed into innovative, stylized and sometimes intricate forms. This is often achieved through sustained and deliberate study, training and/or theorizing within a particular tradition, across generations and even between civilizations.
The arts are a vehicle through which human beings cultivate distinct social, cultural and individual identities, while transmitting values, impressions, judgments, ideas, visions, spiritual meanings, patterns of life and experiences across time and space. Puppetry and storytelling (oral traditions) are examples of traditional performance art.
Traditional art provides a shared experience for the entire community. With values, cultural practices, and belief systems embedded in these art forms, they often form a common language through which the different communities that fabricate the society can be engaged. There is one word that can be used to describe the culture in Pakistan, it is „diverse‟ and has always found itself rooted to traditions along with art.
It can be seen through the various monuments and iconic architectural structures across the country that are testaments to its glorious history. Culture and creativity here manifest themselves in almost all economic, social and other activities.
Participating Artists:
S. Najam Kazmi, Samina A. Akhtar, Zafar Ali, Khurram Abbas, Hassan Sheikh, Areej, Nasir, Emaan Pirzada, Tauqeer Hilbi, Alefiya, Rakshanda Atawar, Hassnain Awais, Nabahat Lotia, Jamil Hussain, and Faisal Kuhzad. DNA
