FOREIGN

Tearful Malala makes first trip to Pakistan since Taliban attack

Published

5 years ago

March 29, 2018

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai returned to Pakistan Thursday, saying tearfully that it was “a dream” to come home for the first time since she was airlifted to Britain after being shot in the head by a Taliban gunman more than five years ago.

The 20-year-old was overcome with emotion as she made a televised speech from the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, wiping away tears as she spoke of the beauty of her native Swat valley.

“Always it has been my dream that I should go to Pakistan and there, in peace and without any fear, I can move on streets, I can meet people, I can talk to people.
“And I think that it’s my old home again … so it is actually happening, and I am grateful to all of you.”

She had arrived unannounced with her parents under tight security overnight. Pakistanis awakening to the news she was back in the country flooded social media with messages of welcome, with many hailing her bravery — but others accusing her of a conspiracy to foment dissent.

Malala is widely respected internationally as a global icon for girls’ education, but opinion is divided in Pakistan, where some conservatives view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country.

Residents of Swat said they were happy to see her return.

“I had not imagined that she would ever come (back),” Rida Siyal, a student who said she had been a “good friend” of Malala’s before the shooting, told AFP.

“(She) defeated the dark force of fear. We are delighted to see her back,” she said.

Ahmad Shah, who said he was a friend of Malala’s father, called her a “symbol of courage”, adding: “She should have returned home much earlier”.

Malala became a global symbol for human rights after a gunman boarded her school bus in Swat on October 9, 2012, asked “Who is Malala?” and shot her.

She was treated for her injuries in the British city of Birmingham, where she also completed her schooling.

The youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued to be a vocal advocate for girls’ education while pursuing her studies at Oxford University.

‘Malala is not your enemy’
Malala met with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi earlier Thursday and later took questions from an audience.

“We have amazing women,” she told them in comments broadcast on state television, pushing for more education and critical thinking. She also called on Pakistanis to come together, stressing unity for the betterment of the country.

But among the messages of welcome are pockets of intense criticism from some Pakistanis, including hardline Islamists as well as members of the conservative middle class who support education for girls but object to airing the country’s problems abroad.

One leading Pakistani journalist, Hamid Mir, issued a plea for restraint when talking about her visit, warning that negative reactions “will damage Pakistan’s image”.

Other Pakistanis echoed his concerns on social media.

“Dear Pakistanis! Malala is not your enemy. Your enemies were those monsters who shot her point blank on her way to school,” wrote Twitter user Shahira Lashari.

Her schedule for the four-day trip is being closely guarded.

“She will be meeting several people here but her itinerary is not being disclosed due to security reasons,” foreign office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told AFP.

Malala began her campaign aged just 11, when she started writing a blog — under a pseudonym — for the BBC’s Urdu service in 2009 about life under the Taliban in Swat, where they were banning girls’ education.

In 2007 the Islamist militants had taken over the area, which Malala affectionately called “My Swat”, and imposed a brutal, bloody rule.

Opponents were murdered, people were publicly flogged for supposed breaches of sharia law, women were banned from going to market, and girls were stopped from going to school.

But it was only after the shooting, and a subsequent near-miraculous recovery, that she became a truly global figure.

During a recent appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the feminist campaigner urged women to act without waiting for men.

“We’re going to stand up for ourselves, we’re going to raise our voices and we’re going to change the world,” she said.

As for the militants who attacked her: the man suspected of actually firing the gun at Malala, named by officials as Ataullah Khan, has long been believed to be on the run in Afghanistan, along with Pakistani Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who ordered the attack.

In 2015 it was reported that eight of 10 men who had been convicted over the attack had actually been cleared.

Guardian

Related Topics:Malala Yousafzai pakistan Taliban

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FOREIGN

Google Co-founders Larry Page And Sergey Brin Are Stepping Down

Published

3 years ago

December 4, 2019

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Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are stepping down from their executive roles at Alphabet (Google’s parent company).

Image result for Larry Page And Sergey Brin

According to CNN, Sundar Pichai, the current CEO of Google and a longtime executive at the company, will take over as CEO of Alphabet in addition to his current role, while Page and Brin will continue to serve on Alphabet’s board of directors. They will also maintain voting control over the business, all but guaranteeing their ability to influence the direction of Alphabet with or without their executive titles.

In a Google blog post on Tuesday, the co-founders announced they were stepping down from the day-to-day management of the company. The key message Larry and Sergey shared is this:

While it has been a tremendous privilege to be deeply involved in the day-to-day management of the company for so long, we believe it’s time to assume the role of proud parents—offering advice and love, but not daily nagging!

With Alphabet now well-established, and Google and the Other Bets operating effectively as independent companies, it’s the natural time to simplify our management structure. We’ve never been ones to hold on to management roles when we think there’s a better way to run the company. And Alphabet and Google no longer need two CEOs and a President. Going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet. He will be the executive responsible and accountable for leading Google, and managing Alphabet’s investment in our portfolio of Other Bets. We are deeply committed to Google and Alphabet for the long term and will remain actively involved as Board members, shareholders and co-founders. In addition, we plan to continue talking with Sundar regularly, especially on topics we’re passionate about!

Photo Credit: sergeybrinofficial | larrypageofficial

BEAUTY

Cardi B Slams Donald Trump Over Police Brutality Against People Of Color

Published

4 years ago

July 29, 2019

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Cardi B blasted President Donald Trump in a blistering Instagram video, accusing him of ignoring police brutality against people of color.
“Every time I see a black man killed or mistreated by police I just keep saying ‘Do nobody give a f—? Does nobody care?’ And I’ve stopped saying that because nobody do care. Nobody cares. He don’t care,” the 26-year-old rapper fumed.

“At least when Obama was president he released a statement letting us know he feels like it’s wrong — letting us know that he cared,” she said. “This guy – I know he seen it and he don’t give one s—t.”

The “Money” MC continued, ‘I feel like police brutality is going to keep going until he’s [no longer] president. Until he’s [no longer] president, nothing is going to be done about police brutality.”
She then compared rogue law enforcement officers to misbehaving children.

“You know when a kid is bad and they get away with something then they gonna keep on doing it,” she said. “That’s what the cops are going to be doing: ‘Oh, I can get away with killing a black man? I can get away with beating the s—t out of a black man? Then we’re going to keep doing it.'”
“That’s cops,” she added. “[They think] ‘I can get away with beating a black man, killing a black man. Then why not me?'”
Cardi has been an outspoken supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in the 2020 election.
Earlier this month, she tweeted, “I been reading about Bernie Sanders and I’m really sad how we let him down in 2016.”

She added that Sanders has a record for advocating for “equal rights, HUMAN rights … Seeing this country become a better place been really his passion for a long time not a new front for a campaign.”

On Friday, Cardi posted a video of Sanders’ recent appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on her Instagram page, writing, “This makes me so happy! I know my High school history teacher is so happy. Believe it or not guys, I was in advanced placement in high school for government and history. It was a subject that I learn fast cause I naturally love it! I even took more classes in college but I dropped out cause money came first and I was also a chasing dirty a— men.”
Cardi closed by encouraging her followers to educate themselves on the upcoming election and its candidates, writing, “I want us this year to get more familiar with or candidates ‘democratic my preference,’ ” she wrote. “Take a little bit of our time and open our eyes on what’s going on in this country and how we can change it.”

BEAUTY

British Royalty And American Royalty Meets For The First Time At The European Lion King Premiere

Published

4 years ago

July 15, 2019

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British royalty and American royalty graced the red carpet at the European Lion King premiere on Sunday night.
Although it was believed to be the first time the two couples have met, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Beyonce and Jay-Z greeted each other affectionately.
Meghan and Beyonce shared a hug and linked hands.

As Meghan chatted with Beyonce and Jay-Z, the rapper could be heard saying “congrats”, while his wife said “baby, so beautiful”.
Beyonce also told the duchess: “We love you guys.”
The couples appeared to chat about their children, with Jay-Z telling new father Harry: “Always find some time for yourself.”

Harry kissed Beyonce on both cheeks and mentioned that the American couple were a busy pair.
The singer appeared to answer: “A little bit. No more busy than you guys.”
Beyonce lends her voice to the character of lioness Nala in Disney’s CGI remake of the 1994 classic, which also stars Donald Glover, Seth Rogen and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Sir Elton John and Pharrell Williams, who are behind the music, also attended the event in London’s Leicester Square.

The premiere was held in “support of the conservation and communities work” of Prince Harry through the Royal Foundation, Buckingham Palace said.

After the film, the duke and duchess were expected to meet representatives from organisations doing groundbreaking work in the areas of conservation and the environment.

Disney has announced its global conservation campaign Protect the Pride to mark the movie’s release.
With conservation partners and the Royal Foundation, the drive aims to raise awareness and support efforts to recover the dwindling lion population across Africa.
Buckingham Palace said: “The Duke of Sussex has taken a deep personal interest in frontline conservation projects that work to protect Africa’s natural heritage and support both wildlife and local communities.”

After the film, the duke and duchess were expected to meet representatives from organisations doing groundbreaking work in the areas of conservation and the environment.

Harry and Meghan are taking baby Archie to South Africa in the autumn.
The duke is also carrying out solo visits to Angola, Malawi and Botswana.