FOREIGN

Girls at Malala school in Shangla still study under fear

Published

6 years ago

March 30, 2018

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SHANGLA: Dozens of girls in grey-and-white uniforms trooped into a building beneath a pine-covered ridge in Pakistan’s mountainous Shangla district Friday for classes at the school built with Malala Yousafzai’s Nobel Prize money.

The Khpal Kor Model School, three storeys tall and with a computer lab, playground and library, is a symbol of the change that Malala has helped bring to a deeply conservative region where she was once one among many girls struggling to receive an education.

But with many parents afraid to speak to the media for fears the building would be targeted by militants, it is also a sign of how far Pakistan has to go in its long battle with extremism, even in a region that it regularly touts as a security success story.
“We don’t want this school to be publicised because if it happens, militants will target it,” one parent said on condition of anonymity.

Have dreamed of coming back to Pakistan for five years: Malala Yousafzai

Opened just over two weeks ago, the building hosts 183 students, most between the ages of five and 12. Thirty-eight of them are orphans.

The road leading to its solid yellow gate is paved only partially, and girls walking up it are often escorted by fathers or elder brothers.

Some, said principal Sajid Shah, are transported by the school — an initiative paid for, along with the books, uniforms, tuition for the orphans and poorer students, teachers’ salaries and the building itself, by the Malala Fund.

Police have promised they will soon deploy three officers to guard the campus. When AFP visited Friday, they had not yet arrived.

The school is built on the outskirts of Shahpur, a town in Malala’s home district of Shangla — part of the region known as Swat, the scenic valley once infested by the Pakistani Taliban.

In 2007, the militants took control, waging a campaign of beheadings, other violence and attacks on girls’ schools before the army deployed 30,000 troops in 2009, declaring it secure by July that year.

Since then Pakistani and at times US officials have held up Swat — recently designated a safe tourism destination once more — as a success story in the country’s fight against Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants.

But critics have long warned that Pakistan is not doing enough to fight the root causes of extremism, and beneath the surface peace in Swat was always fragile, as the attack on Malala herself three years later demonstrated.

By then she and her family had moved to Mingora, the main town in neighbouring Swat district — also part of the Swat region — and it was there that gunmen stopped her school bus on October 9, 2012, asked for her by name, and shot her in the head.

Her near-miraculous survival and subsequent fierce education campaigns have turned her into an instantly recognisable force for human rights.

But her emotional return to Pakistan Thursday for the first time since the shooting has refocused attention on Swat.

Security there has improved “significantly”, analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai said Friday, but rare attacks — such as one that killed 11 soldiers in Swat on February 18 — show the danger is not yet over years on.

Love and hate: The many views of Malala Yousafzai

“They (the militants) still have their facilitators and sleeper cells there,” Yusufzai told AFP.

In Shangla, Afshaar Alam, a medical student who is guardian to his seven-year-old sister attending the Khpal Kor school, said it was the best school in the area.

However his family had opposed his decision to send her there, he said, “fearing it may be targeted”.

Militancy aside, residents in Shangla said life in Swat was changing for girls and women, particularly in a conservative region where their access to education had long been problematic.

Education is highly valued in Swat, which is also plagued with natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods that in the past have left children studying in the open air even through harsh winters.

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“I am grateful to Malala for her invaluable efforts to promote education, a task our leaders failed to accomplish,” Shangla shopkeeper Farmanullah said after dropping his three daughters at the school.

“We have just one Malala today but after a decade or so, we will have Malalas everywhere.”

There was still no word Friday on whether the 20-year-old herself would go to Swat during her brief, unannounced visit to Pakistan.

Her schedule is being kept tightly under wraps out of security fears, which Yusufzai said was telling.

“Not taking her to her hometown means they are not confident,” he said, referring to the government and military establishment.

“If the government can’t provide her security, then what does it mean?”
AFP

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BTS Singer V Ties Bandmates J-Hope, Jimin And Suga With New Hot 100 Hit

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4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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South Korea’s global superstars, BTS, are currently fulfilling their mandatory military service. But that hasn’t slowed them down. A dedicated fan base continues to propel V, one of the BTS members, to new heights on the American music scene.

While the group is focused on their national duty, this particular member’s solo work resonates with American audiences.

BTS’s influence remains strong, even with all seven members enlisted. This latest achievement proves that their music transcends borders and continues to captivate listeners around the world.

V, a member of the global phenomenon BTS, is making waves as a solo artist. His brand new single, “Fri(end)s,” hit the prestigious Billboard Hot 100 chart at a very impressive No. 65 in its first week.

This marks V’s fourth time landing a song on the Hot 100, and this time, it’s all him. BTS, as a group, has already achieved an incredible record with 27 hits on the chart. But V’s solo success ties him with three of his bandmates for another impressive feat.

With “Fri(end)s,” V joins J-Hope, Jimin, and Suga in the exclusive club of BTS members with four Hot 100 hits to their names.

However, the top soloist title goes to another BTS member. Jung Kook has a whopping six Hot 100 entries under his name. That’s just one slot ahead of K-pop legend Psy, who boasts five hits on the chart.

V’s solo journey on the Hot 100 began in 2022 with the release of “Christmas Tree.” The song gained significant traction during the holiday season, but its official chart debut came in the new year.

This strong debut for “Fri(end)s” is a great sign for V’s solo career. Fans are eagerly awaiting to see how high the song can climb on the chart in the coming weeks.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ariana Grande Surpasses Tie With Travis Scott, Reaches Justin Bieber’s Chart Record

Published

4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Ariana Grande is dominating the Billboard charts this week. Her brand new album, “Eternal Sunshine,” has skyrocketed to the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart, making it the biggest album debut of 2024 so far. Ariana Grande’s new single, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” also rocketed to the top of the Streaming Songs chart in the US. This chart tracks the most-played songs each week, considering both audio and video streams across major platforms.

This chart success isn’t just a one-off win for her. This feat marks Ariana Grande’s sixth time leading on the Streaming Songs chart, officially breaking her tie with rapper Travis Scott. Previously, both artists were locked in a four-way tie for third place with five chart-topping hits each. Now, Grande takes the solo bronze medal position, pushing Scott down to fifth.

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Ariana Grande now shares the number-two spot with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Both singers have snagged six No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. But Ariana Grande achieved her latest win much more recently than Justin Bieber.

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Drake continues to dominate the streaming song chart. He has 20 No. 1 hits, a record no other artist has even come close to matching.

Following Drake is Taylor Swift, who has secured an impressive eight No. 1 hits on the Streaming Songs chart. She’s poised to add to her tally soon with the upcoming release of her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Ariana Grande has been on a roll this year, scoring two new No. 1 hits already. Her latest track, “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love),” debuted at the top spot, following the success of her previous chart-topper, “Yes, And?” These two new hits join her previous four leaders: “Thank U, Next,” “7 Rings,” “Positions,” and the collaboration with The Weeknd, “Die For You.”

FOREIGN

House Of The Dragon’ Season 2 Drops Premiere Date

Published

4 weeks ago

March 27, 2024

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Get ready for fire and blood! HBO released two thrilling trailers for the highly anticipated second season of “House of the Dragon” on Thursday.

These action-packed “duelling trailers” offer a glimpse into the brewing Targaryen civil war, packed with conflict and drama.

The trailers confirm that Season 2 premieres on Sunday, June 16th.

The prequel series to the smash-hit “Game of Thrones” takes viewers back 200 years to explore the history of Daenerys Targaryen’s ancestors. The Targaryen family, known for their mastery of dragons, is on the brink of war, and these trailers showcase the intensity of the coming conflict.

The first season of “House of the Dragon” premiered in August 2022 and was a massive success, capturing the attention of a reported 29 million viewers each week.

The movie is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood.” It dives into a brutal civil war within the Targaryen dynasty.

The story centers on Rhaenyra Targaryen, who defies tradition by being named heir to the Iron Throne, a position typically held by men. Rhaenyra faces opposition from the very beginning. Her initial close friend, Alicent Hightower, becomes her stepmother after marrying King Viserys, Rhaenyra’s father. This marriage strains their friendship and sows the seeds of future conflict.

The Targaryens, known for keeping their bloodline pure, are also infamous for marriage within the family. In this case, Rhaenyra is married to her uncle, Daemon Targaryen, a powerful and unpredictable warrior.

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King Viserys dies in the course of the movie. This tragedy leads to trouble. Aegon, Rhaenyra’s half-brother, steps forward with the claim that he, not Rhaenyra, should be king. Alicent, now firmly on Aegon’s side, fuels the flames of war.

Supporters have formed behind each heir, creating clear factions. Those who back Rhaenyra are known as the “Blacks,” while Aegon’s supporters are called the “Greens.”

Adding to the chaos is Aegon’s violent brother, Aemond. Aemond’s actions escalate the conflict to a horrifying new level, leaving one of Rhaenyra’s sons dead by the end of season one.

This brutal act ignites a fire of vengeance in Rhaenyra, setting the stage for a bloody war known as the Dance of the Dragons.

The intense rivalry between these two sides promises a thrilling and ruthless battle for ultimate power. The show has even released separate trailers for each faction, further amplifying the excitement for fans

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