Category: World

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Japan’s Princess Mako, the emperor’s niece, was married on Tuesday after years of criticism over her fiance that led to their marriage being postponed for three years and resulted in her being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mako, 30, lost her royal status after her marriage to commoner Kei Komuro, also 30, was formalised with the submission of documents at a local office. Japanese royal women who marry commoners cannot ascend the throne and have to become ordinary citizens, according to Japanese law. The two will live in the United States, where Komuro has a job with a law firm.

The following is a brief outline of their relationship.

2012 – The two meet as students at Tokyo’s International Christian University, where Mako studied art and cultural heritage and earned a national certificate in curation.

September 2017 – The Imperial Household Agency announces their engagement. The two later hold a news conference during which their smiles at each other captivate the public, with their marriage set for November 2018.

December 2017 – Weekly magazines become the first to report a money dispute between Komuro’s mother and her former fiance, with the man claiming mother and son had failed to repay a debt of about $35,000. Komuro later said the money had been a gift, not a loan.

February 2018 – The marriage is postponed, with the official explanation that the couple needs more time to arrange their ceremony and prepare for married life.

August 2018 – Komuro leaves for the United States to study at Fordham University law school. He doesn’t return until September 2021.

November 2018 – Prince Akishino, Mako’s father, says it will be impossible to hold an engagement ceremony and other events until the financial dispute is resolved and the Japanese people can celebrate the marriage. He also tells a news conference that “I have not spoken much with my daughter recently, so I don’t know how she feels.”

November 2020 – Mako says in a statement that she and Komuro believe marriage is a “necessary choice” for them. Later that month, her father says he approves, but reiterates the financial dispute must be resolved.

April 2021 – Komuro issues a 24-page statement vowing to “correct erroneous information as much as possible” and says he will pay a settlement to his mother’s former fiance.

May 2021 – Komuro graduates from law school and starts working for a New York law firm.He takes the New York bar exam in July, with results due in December.

September 2021 – Komuro returns to Japan after an absence of three years, sporting a ponytail that sets off a frenzy in the tabloids, because it is deemed “disrespectful.” When he visits Mako’s parents several weeks later, in a dark suit, the ponytail is shorn.

October 1, 2021 – The Imperial Household Agency announces that the two will be married on Oct. 26. No ceremonies will be held and Mako will not accept a one-off payment made to women who marry out of the Imperial Family, usually around $1.3 million. It also says she has been diagnosed with PTSD due to the stress of the situation and excessive media reporting.

October 26, 2021 – Mako and Komuro are married.

Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Alphabet Inc’s Google on Tuesday announced the newest iteration of its smartphone — Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro — which will be powered by the company’s first chip called Tensor.

The tech giant also launched Pixel Pass, a subscription service starting at $45 per month for US customers that will include the Pixel 6 and access to the premium versions of YouTube and YouTube Music.

Pricing for the Pixel 6 will start at $599, while the Pixel 6 Pro, which includes a telephoto lens and upgraded front camera, starts at $899.

The phones will go on sale at US wireless carriers on October 28. 

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Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Ajoka theatre’s plays have been a source of socially relevant and meaningful entertainment for the audience across the borders and now two books featuring the original plays written by Ajoka’s Shahid Nadeem have been published in India. A collection of 15 plays titled “Shahid Nadeem de Natak”, transliterated in Gurumukhi by Dr. Arvinder Dhaliwal has been published by Chetna Parkashan publishers in Ludhiana.

The plays transliterated in Gurumukhi includes Dara, Bulha, Lo Phir Basant Aaey, Teesri Dastak, Jhalli Kithay Javay, Barri, Dukh Darya, Mera Rang day Basanti Chola, Kaun Hai yeh Gustakh, Anhi Maai Da Sufna and Aik thi Nani. “Plays from a Fractured Land” is a collection of plays highlighting the traumatic incidents of partition of Punjab. It also includes the creations of eminent playwrights writers like Gursharan Singh Suarajbir, Atamjit Singh, Ajmer Singh Aulakh and Pali Bhupender Singh.

The second book is an English-language anthology “Plays from a Fractured Land”, edited by Atamjit Singh, and published by Sahitya Akademy, New Delhi. The anthology includes Shahid’s “ Dukh Darya”. It is the story of Shehnaz and her daughter, skillfully interwoven with stories of the suffering of women, based on historical events and mythology to create a powerful and tragic narrative.

Atamjit Singh in his forward says :

“Shahid, in experiencing the pain of Partition, transcends the geographical and religious barriers of both the countries. River of Sorrow is a quintessential Punjabi play which talks of the oppression as well as magnanimity of the Punjabis; it is history as well as myth; and, it represents real politics as well as cultural realities…Nadeem’s composition is not linear, it is a very intricate inter-text, multi-layered and polyphonous. This is how it operates at multiple levels; it is about the Partition, trauma, suffering and women. The hegemony of feudal and patriarchal cultural mores in both Punjabs is responsible for the plight of women… Shahid Nadeem’s River of Sorrow is a unique text.”

Ajoka’s executive director Shahid Nadeem acknowledged the collaboration with the Indian theatre and literary community and stressed that cultural exchanges and partnerships are very important in normalizing the tensions. He hoped that Ajoka’s plays will provide a clear understanding of major social issues and the shared cultural heritage between the two countries.

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Lahore (NUT-DESK)

Lieutenant general Nadeem Anjum, an erstwhile Karachi Corps Commander, has on Wednesday been posted as 25th Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief after his predecessor Lt Gen Faiz Hameed was posted Peshawar Corps Commander,

Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed has now been appointed as the new Corps Commander Peshawar, the Inter-Services Public Relations (SIPR) announced Wednesday. 

The ISPR also confirmed the following appointments:

Lt Gen Muhammad Amir — Commander Gujranwala Corps 

Lt Gen Asim Munir  — Quartermaster General

Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed — Commander Karachi Corps

Lt Gen Nauman Mahmood — President Defence University

Major Gen Asim Malik has been promoted to the rank of Lt Gen. He has also been appointed the army’s adjutant general.

The newly posted ISI chief has also served as Balochistan IG and originally belongs to the Punjab Regiment of Pakistan Army.

The public relations wing of the armed forces has announced earlier today more postings and transfers wherein Lt. Gen. Muhammad Amir has been posted as the Commander Gujranwala Corps and Lt Gen Asim Munir has been posted as the Quartermaster General.

These appointments and transfers have taken place today and reportedly there will be more in the days to come as some of the top generals reach their end of term shortly.

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Lahore (NUT-DESK)

WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook suffered an outage in Pakistan and worldwide on Monday night. A lot of users were unable to send or receive messages. As per downdetector, Facebook was the most affected platform followed by Instagram and WhatsApp.

Downdetector showed that WhatsApp outage was reported at 8:23pm (Pakistan Standard Time) and it shot up to 1,082 complaints by 8:38pm. Security experts tracking the situation said the outage could have been triggered by a configuration error, which could be the result of an internal mistake, though sabotage by an insider would be theoretically possible.

People across the globe took to Twitter to share the problems they were facing with Facebook family apps, including posting memes and GIFs.

Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp in a statement said, “We’re aware that some people are experiencing issues with WhatsApp at the moment. We’re working to get things back to normal and will send an update here as soon as possible”.

Pakistan (Muhammad Yasir) Pakistani travellers and thrill seekers now have the chance to experience a life less ordinary in the heart of Europe. As the world’s first platinum-status marina, Porto Montenegro is the perfect destination to escape to this winter. With its idyllic Adriatic location in the UNESCO protected Bay of Kotor, proximity to three international airports, 450 marina berths, pristine mountains for skiing and year-round sunshine, it appeals to residents, boat owners, charterers and guests alike during the out of season months.

Porto Montenegro welcomes and caters to the needs of the yachting community, offering a host of berthing benefits throughout the winter. The award-winning marina gives access to some of the best cruising grounds in the Mediterranean, such as the Croatian archipelago and Greece, with average high temperatures of 21° in October – which only drop to an average of 13° in December – and over 280 days of sunshine each year, it is the ideal place to enjoy Europe’s most impressive natural areas of beauty all year round. Within a three hours’ drive from Boka Bay is Tara Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, as well as Lake Skadar, on the border of Montenegro and Albania, which is the largest lake in Southern Europe and a pristine wilderness, often overlooked by the tourist trail.

Within Porto Montenegro itself, there are many restaurants and international shops to explore. A new venue, the Onyx Bar & Garden by Beluga, has recently launched at the Regent Porto Montenegro – a five-star hotel with over 120 luxury suites and apartments. For foodies, Forza Porto brings authentic Boka delicacies with a modern and sophisticated twist, whilst its sister restaurants Marea on the village Town Quay and Panorama at the PMYC Pool, combine traditional Mediterranean cuisine with a blend of Northern Montenegrin-inspired culinary specialties, meat dishes and specially curated wines. Shopping highlights include a flagship Dior and a Five Star Fashion Boutique, which houses luxury brands including Ralph Lauren, La Martina and Gant are among the ten new retail outlets recently added to the village.

At the heart of Porto Montenegro’s sailing scene is the Porto Montenegro Yacht Club (PMYC) where members can enjoy a member’s lounge and five-star hospitality, with an onsite restaurant and bar, nightclub, sailing and rowing facilities, gym and tennis courts, as well as a 64m PMYC pool.

Porto Montenegro first gained global recognition thanks to its world-class superyacht marina, which has been designed to cater to the advanced needs of all yachts, their owners, guests and crew – with specific infrastructure for the largest yachts afloat. With flexible berthing packages and tax-free fuel among its many benefits, the marina offers state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, coupled with excellent service. A new shipyard will open soon, offering superyacht repairing and refitting facilities, adding to the marina’s appeal as a great winter berthing location.

Choosing to both live and work in Porto Montenegro offers unparalleled lifestyle and financial opportunities against a backdrop of sun, sky and azure seas. Investing in a hotel-managed unit within the new Boka Place neighbourhood allows owners to gain citizenship of Montenegro. Apart from being an outstanding holiday destination in the heart of Europe, other benefits of Montenegrin citizenship include global mobility with access to 124 nations visa-free, no obligation to relinquish current nationality (unless required to do so by the country of origin); besides, the country is already a NATO member state and a candidate country for future expansion of the EU, expected by 2025. And if that wasn’t enough – those working in Montenegro benefit from one of the lowest personal, corporate and capital gains tax rates in Europe, Euro-based currency and avoidance of double taxation due to treaties with over 40 countries.