Social media giant X, formerly recognised as Twitter, is set to eliminate a significant protective aspect that empowers users to block other accounts, according to a statement by owner Elon Musk on Friday. This decision has sparked controversy, adding to a series of noteworthy actions taken by Musk since acquiring the company last year.
The functionality in question, termed the “block” function, enables users to restrict particular accounts from making contact, viewing their posts, or following their activities. In a recent platform post, Musk disclosed that the “block” feature would be phased out as a prominent component, excluding its usage for direct messages (DMs).
Musk confirmed that the “mute” feature will remain intact. This feature allows users to screen out specific accounts, preventing their content from appearing in the user’s feed. Unlike the “block” feature, the “mute” function does not send a notification to the other account about the action taken.
Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur, has positioned himself as a staunch advocate of unrestricted freedom of speech. However, some critics argue that this stance has led to irresponsible consequences. Researchers have identified an uptick in hate speech and content with antisemitic undertones on the platform following Musk’s acquisition. Governments have accused the company of inadequate content moderation efforts.
The removal or restriction of the “block” feature could potentially lead to clashes with the guidelines enforced by Apple’s App Store and Google Play, a subsidiary of Alphabet. Both platforms stipulate that apps featuring user-generated content must incorporate mechanisms to counter abusive users. The Google Play Store specifically mandates that apps provide an in-app system for blocking both user-generated content and users themselves.
As of now, X, Google, and Apple have not issued formal responses to inquiries seeking comments on this matter.
In response to a plea from anti-bullying advocate Monica Lewinsky to retain the “critical tool for online safety,” Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk’s decision. Yaccarino reaffirmed the company’s commitment to user safety and indicated ongoing efforts to develop an improved alternative to the current “block” and “mute” functions. She encouraged continued feedback from users to aid in refining these measures.
Within the organisational structure, it has been communicated that Elon Musk will lead the product and engineering teams, while Linda Yaccarino will oversee all other divisions, including legal and sales.
On August 16, a large mob of Muslims attacked the Christian community residing in Jaranwala. The violence erupted after two Christians were accused of committing blasphemy, alleging that the holy Quran had been desecrated.
The mob, armed with batons and sticks, congregated after clerics in mosques incited violence. According to Christian leader Akmal Bhatti, at least five churches were set ablaze including the Salvation Army Church and the Saint Paul Catholic Church. Copies of Bible were also descrated. The crowd also attacked and looted private homes which residents had escaped from to protect their lives.
So far, the police have arrested two men who have been accused of inciting violence on August 16. Moreover, the Punjab interim government has ordered a high-level investigation into the incident. Resultantly, over 100 people have been arrested.
But while the Christian community awaits justice, they are left out in the open without food and shelter. Following the incident, they have spent nights sleeping in fields and roadsides.
Here is how you can help:
An instagram page, Reformistan, has shared sources that are collecting funds in order to provide the people of Jaranwala with emergency aid.
You can directly donate to the Christian community members working to rehabilitate those in need:
Raja Sharoon Lewis — Jazz Cash Account: 03084269400
Zonobia Bhatti — Askari Bank Account Number: 00630210143074
Raja Sharoon Lewis — Muslim Commercial Bank Account Number: 1228017681000588
Actavia Farhat (Owner of Actavia Orphan Foundation) — Meezan Bank Account Number: 02930104441837
For donations from outside of Paksitan:
Zonobia Bhatti — Askari Bank Account Number: 0630210143074 IBAN: PK34ASCM0000630210143074 Swift Code: ASCMPkKA
Raja Sharoon Lewis — Western Union Account Number: 35404-2962653-7
Be The Change (Pakistan) is raising money for the Jaranwala Christian community to help them rebuild their homes and churches:
Bano Number: +923004004952
Aalia Number: +923174319994
You can also donate to The Cecil & Iris Chaudhry Foundation — MCB
According to official data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) shows that inflation for the week ending on August 17 increased by 27.57 per cent compared to the same period last year. In simpler terms, things are getting more expensive.
Looking at shorter periods, within a week, inflation went up by 0.78 per cent. This means prices are rising quickly and there’s no sign of them slowing down, which is worrying for both economists and consumers.
Comparing some numbers, the overall price index was 275.57 on August 17, up from 273.43 on August 10 this year, and a significant increase from 216.02 on August 18 last year.
Out of the things people buy, 32 items got pricier, 7 got cheaper, and 12 stayed the same. Among the things that became more expensive this week compared to a year ago were things like chillies powder (up 7.58 per cent), rice irri-6/9 (up 7.48 per cent), garlic (up 5.06 per cent), sugar (up 4.02 per cent), gur (up 3.23 per cent), and chicken (up 2.83 per cent). non-food items like diesel (up 7.29 per cent) and petrol (up 6.40 per cent) also got more expensive.
On the flip side, the price of some things dropped. Tomatoes got 13.60 per cent cheaper, cooking oil (5 liters) became 1.65 per cent cheaper, and there were smaller drops in prices for things like vegetable ghee and wheat flour.
What advice would you give to someone in their early twenties? This was the question posed by twitter user @1ov1bri when she asked her followers about all the things they had learned too late- whether it was about life, career or love. And Twitter users had some amazing replies.
A user said that the best lesson to learn is on how to be alone so that later in life you don’t invite people in who don’t deserve it.
Be comfortable being alone. Not just, staying inside alone, but being alone alone, not even hitting ppl out of boredom alone, travel alone, hobbies alone. Because until you’re comfortable being alone you’re going to invite ppl in your life that was never suppose to be there https://t.co/RTPEspv2wu
Former South African wicketkeeper-batsman AB de Villiers recently unveiled his top picks for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India, scheduled for October this year. During an engaging session on his YouTube channel, De Villiers shared his preferences, highlighting Australia, England, and South Africa as his favoured non-subcontinental teams to make it to the final four.
De Villiers acknowledged the risk in his choice of three non-subcontinental teams, yet he maintained his stance. He also made a prediction that India, as the host nation, would clinch the World Cup title, envisioning a fairy-tale ending for the home team.
Expressing his support for South Africa, De Villiers believed in their potential to secure a semi-final spot, even though he recognised Pakistan’s strong chances of qualification. He emphasised the team’s capabilities and underlined his confidence in their coach, Rob Walter.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled for October and November in India, featuring 10 participating teams. The tournament will commence on October 5, culminating in the final match on November 19.
Rizwana, the 14-year-old domestic helper whose case of being subjected to severe mistreatment at the hands of a civil judge’s wife in Islamabad, has given her statement to the Islamabad police on Friday. Her case came to light on July 25 when Rizwana was transferred to a Lahore hospital due to grave injuries.
An earlier report indicated that the civil judge himself also mistreated the teenager, according to Rizwana’s grandmother.
In her official statement to the police, Rizwana detailed how the judge’s wife, Somia, used to beat her with sticks, iron rods and other objects. The minor revealed, “She used to kick and slap me in fits of anger,” adding that she would also grasp Rizwana’s hair and forcefully strike her head against the wall.
Rizwana further detailed that whenever the judge’s family left the house, she was forced to stay in a room for days without access to food or water. “I was not allowed to meet my parents. The judge’s wife stood next to me whenever I talked to my parents on the phone.”
The young girl also disclosed that Somia frequently threatened her, warning her not to inform her parents about the beatings. “They did not even bandage my wounds,” Rizwana stated.
According to the police, the civil judge hasn’t appeared before joint investigation team yet. It’s noteworthy that the civil judge was removed from his position and assigned the role of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) by the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Muhammad Ameer Bhatti.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has sent a letter to Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi, staring that deputy commissioners are issuing NOCs for new housing societies in Punjab.
According to the letter, the ECP reminded the interim CM that issuing of NOCs and announcing policies is not the domain of the caretaker government. An elected government can work on policy-making, but not a caretaker setup.
The ECP said they are hopeful that caretaker government will work within constitutional and legal limits. According to ECP, the caretaker setup can prepare a case in case of an emergency and get it approved by the commission.
The constitutional terms of the caretaker governments of Punjab and Khyber Palhtunkhwa were set to end in mid-April but the federal government did not issue funds needed by the ECP to hold elections in the two provinces despite a Supreme Court order. Some legal experts and opposition parties have raised questions about the legitimacy of the two caretaker governments, describing them as illegal.
Tickets for the Pakistan-India Asia Cup group match have sold out within hours. The $300 VIP tickets are sold out on online ticketing sites. While the $125 Be Lover VIP tickets are also sold out online. A $300 ticket is priced at PKR 87,000 and a $125 ticket is priced at PKR 36,500.
Online tickets for the two expensive booths sold out within hours, but there were still hundreds of tickets for the regular booth, which cost $30, on the website. The Asian Cup group match between Pakistan and India will be held in Kandy, Sri Lanka on September 2.
Pakistan Bar Council has held a meeting and strongly condemned the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to delay elections beyond the constitutional limit of 90 days, citing delimitation.
According to sources, the members discussed the situation regarding the delay in elections and decided to launch a “lawyers’ movement in case elections are not held within 90 days.”
Pakistan Bar Council apex regularity body of lawyers has strongly condemned ECP's decision to delay elections beyond constitutional limit of 90 days due to delimitation. pic.twitter.com/OmCBSr5V6X
They reiterated that Article 224 of the constitution of Pakistan binds ECP to conduct the general election within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies.
The Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive Committee said, “It is the duty of the commission to conduct free, fair and transparent elections within stipulated period as mandated by the constitution.”
Earlier this week, The Supreme Court Bar Association challenged the decision to hold the upcoming general elections based on the fresh census, seeking suspension of the decision.
It further demanded that the Supreme Court order the ECP to hold general elections immediately in the country. The SCBA says elections on the new census is an attempt to unconstitutionally delay the exercise. In the petition, the federation, the Council of Common Interests, the four provinces and the Election Commission of Pakistan have been made parties. The formation of the Council of Common Interests was not constitutional, the petition maintains.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar’s 24-member cabinet comprising of politicians, TV artists and anchors, retired bureaucrats, and servicemen has been sworn in by the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, on Thursday.
Of the 24 members cabinet, 16 are federal ministers, three are advisers to the prime minister, and five are Special Assistants to the Prime Minister (SAPMs). Most of them are new faces, not seen before in a government set-up.
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, the 14th former governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, who has also served in Asian Development Bank (ADB) as its Director General of the Southeast Asia Department, has been given the portfolios of Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Privatization.
The portfolios of Defense and Defence Production have been given to Anwar Ali Hyder, a retired lieutenant general, who formerly served as chairman Naya Pakistan Housing and Development Authority and has an association with Army Welfare Trust.
Jalil Abbas Jilani, a former foreign secretary, who has served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Belgium, Luxemburg and the E.U, and Australia, has been appointed the foreign minister.
Former Balochistan minister for Home, Tribal Affairs, Prisons and PDMA, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, has been given three portfolios — federal minister for Interior, Overseas Pakistanis and Narcotics Control.
The information ministry has gone to senior journalist Murtaza Solangi, who has served as director general of the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation and has been in journalism for over 30 years.
The ministries of Law and Justice, Climate Change and Water Resources were given to Ahmed Irfan Aslam, a senior lawyer who has served as a member of the Supreme Court’s International Arbitration Cell . His significant contribution is facilitating Pakistan’s successful resolution of the Karkey and Reko Diq cases through out-of-court settlements.
The ministries of Power and Petroleum have been given to Muhammad Ali, a former SECP chairman, who has also served as a Director on the Boards of reputable companies like Engro Corporation Limited, Karachi Stock Exchange (Guarantee) Limited, Dawood Bank Limited, etc.
The portfolios of Commerce, and Industries and Production have been given to industrialist Dr. Gohar Ejaz, chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, a recipient of Sitara e Imtiaz, who has also been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in management from the Uniersity of Punjab, Lahore.
Dr Umar Saif, a former Chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), has been given two portfolios of Information Technology and Telecom, and Science and Technology. Dr. Saif served on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Pakistan between 2013-14. He has served on the Boards of several government and semi-government organizations, including Aitchison College, Bank of the Punjab, Technical Education & Vocational Training Company (TEVTA), Engineering Consultancy Services of the Punjab, Urban Sector Planning and Management Services Unit, Lahore Parking Company, Punjab Municipal Development Fund Company and Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.
The portfolio of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has been given to Muhammad Sami Saeed, a former federal secretary and former director of Asian Development Bank representing Kazakhstan, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines and Timor-Leste. He joined the Civil Service of Pakistan in 1980 and has extensive experience in public finance and development.
Prominent TV artist and former Director General, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Jamal Shah has been picked up as federal minister for National Heritage and Culture. Jamal is also the founder of Artists Association in Pakistan and Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Madad Ali Sindhi — a famous Pakistani writer, columnist and journalist, who has written numerous Sindhi books — has been given the portfolio of federal Education and Professional Training.
The portfolio of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has been given to prominent health expert Dr. Nadeem Jan, a professional for 24 years who has worked with UN, USAID, World Bank, EU, DFID, INGOs and national Governments.
Khalil George of the Balochistan Awami Party, former Parliamentary Secretary for Minority Affairs, has been awarded the Human Rights ministry.
Religious scholar, TV anchor, host on Dunya Tv, popular for his religious show Peyam-E-Subh, Aneeq Ahmed, graduated from Karachi University in International Relations and started his career from PTV in 1999, joined GEO in 2002 and then moved to ARY in 2005. He has been with DUNYA TV since June, 2011. Aneeq Ahmed has been appointed as the minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.
Shahid Ashraf Tarar, a retired captain, has been given three portfolios — Communications, Maritime Affairs, and Railways. Shahid Ashraf is also the Chairman of Federal Public Service Commission. He formerly served as Executive Director World Bank Group where he led HR Committee as Chairman for two years. He also worked as Federal Secretary Communication, Chairman NHA, Secretary Excise & Taxation, Director General NAVTEC, Deputy Commissioner, Director to the President and Head of Economic Sector Los Angeles, USA.
Advisers
Retired air marshal, Farhat Hussain, a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) , and Sitara-i-Basalat, has been made an adviser to the premier on aviation with the status of a federal minister. He is the Chairman of Scaled Aviation Pvt Ltd and President of Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies.
Ahad Khan Cheema, a confidant of former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, has been appointed as an adviser on establishment, also with the status of a federal minister. Cheema joined the District Management Group (now called Pakistan Administrative Service) in 2001 and had served under former chief ministers Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Ellahi and Shehbaz Sharif on various welfare and development projects. He was the first high-profile arrest in Punjab by the NAB before the 2018 general elections. A BPS-19 PAS officer, he became the head of the Lahore Development Authority, in 2013, during the last PML-N government and was conferred the award of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his services for carrying out the Lahore Metro Bus Service Project.
Former federal secretary for Finance Division, an eminent economist with wide-ranging experience of both public and private sectors, Dr Waqar Masood will perform as a special adviser on finance, with the status of a state minister. He has held several prestigious positions in the Federal Government including Special Secretary to the Prime Minister, Secretary Finance Division, Secretary Economic Affairs Division, Secretary Petroleum & Natural Resources and Secretary Textile Industry.
Special Assistants
The caretaker PM also appointed five special assistants, with the portfolio of adviser on human rights and women empowerment going to Mishal Hussain Malik, wife of the Kashmiri freedom movement leader Yasin Malik. She is the chairperson of Peace and Culture Organisation which highlights the plight of people of Kashmir in IIOK&K.
Jawad Sohrab Malilk, a qualified lawyer and businessman, has become an SAPM for overseas Pakistanis. He was formerly SAPM for Shehbaz Sharif. He has been successfully running a vast business empire stretched to Lon¬don, Pakistan and Dubai and has good contacts inter¬nationally including with the Ameri¬can members of Congress, British parliamentarians, global business elite, Gulf royal families and political parties in Pakistan across the board.
Retired vice Admiral Iftikhar Rao has been made the adviser on maritime affairs, He has more than 40 Years of Maritime Experience. He has served on board and commanded ships and is also a Naval Aviator.
TV anchor and writer Wasih Shah has been made advisor on tourism. He is famous for his poetry and contribution to literature and has been hosting TV shows for a while now.
Syeda Arfa Zehra has been made advisor on federal education and professional training. She is a Pakistani educationist and urdu language expert. Zehra is also a former caretaker provincial minister of Punjab. She is recognized for her knowledge on the Urdu language and literature and is specialized in intellectual history and South Asian social issues; outside of the university sphere, she speaks at language conferences and televised forums.
