This week, Apple revealed the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, however, only a few hours later, France announced a temporary stop on iPhone 12 sales in the country.
France’s radiation watchdog (ANFR) released a public statement highlighting that iPhone 12 violates radiation levels, bringing this to Apple’s attention and calling for a halt on sales for iPhone 12 and provide a solution.
“The French National Frequencies Agency (ANFR) is instructing Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market as of September 12, 2023, after the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit for this model was exceeded,” the French agency wrote in a statement. “ANFR enjoins Apple to implement all available means to rapidly remedy this malfunction. Failing this, Apple will be required to recall any units already sold.”
According to TechCruch, this is not a big deal for a business as Apple can “roll out a software update to fix the issue”.
It has been noted that France’s junior minister for telecommunications Jean-Noël Barrot giving an interview to Le Parisien regarding the matter is “interesting”.
According to Next INpact, it is not new for ANFR to identify a device with a concern regarding radiation levels. It could be that the French minister is “using this opportunity to start a media campaign”.
Moreover, as TechCrunch highlighted, Apple told Reuters and the AFP that the iPhone 12 has been deemed as compliant by international regulators. Also, it has “independent third-party lab results that show that it complies with all SAR standards around the world. The company plans to both contest the ANFR’s results and engage with the agency to find a way forward.”
A two-year-old missing child from Karachi’s Shah Latif Town was discovered in a sewer 15 hours later on Wednesday.
The boy, Zohan, was found in a semi-conscious state, exposed to severe mosquito bites while he was stuck in the sewer.
According to Zohan’s father, Sadaqat Khan, the boy went missing on Saturday.
He had been searching for Zohan with the help of his relatives, neighbors and local residents around the premises including Zafar Town and Gaddafi Town.
They even made announcements in mosques but Zohan was nowhere to be found.
They went through the CCTV footage from the location where Zohan disappeared which revealed that Zohan was with a nine-year-old child named Abdullah at the time of his disappearance.
According to the father, Abdullah was visiting someone in the neighbourhood as a guest from Gulshan-e-Maymar.
Abdullah’s maternal uncle interrogated him till he revealed that Abdullah had pushed Zohan into a sewer.
Everyone hurried to the sewer where Zohan was found in a semi-conscious state.
Khan described that the sewer had no water but a lot of filth was present inside.
10-year-old Sara Sharif’s father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and her uncle flew back to the UK as law enforcing agencies in Pakistan kept pursuing them. The trio has been arrested from Gatwick Airport where they surrendered to the police, BBC has reported.
Raja Haq Nawaz, a lawyer for Urfan Sharif’s father Muhammad Sharif, told DAWN that the suspects were not arrested and that their flight left from Sialkot, Punjab.
Previously, Jhelum police shifted Urfan Sharif’s five children to the Child Protection Bureau after a local court granted permission to the police to do so. The children were to be in the Bureau’s custody till the parents were found and arrested.
A day before that, Sharif’s children, found in their grandfather’s house, were taken into protective custody by the police as the hunt continued for their father and stepmother.
RPO Khurram Ali claimed that police is “conducting raids at possible hideouts for their arrests”.
He had also clarified that the three suspects will not be able to flee Pakistan as FIA’s Immigration Wing had put staff on alert at all airports.
The couple also released a video in which Batool touched upon media reporting of Sara’s death, claiming that they both will cooperate with UK authorities, and that they were on the run in Pakistan because the family feared that the Pakistan police will torture and kill them.
The Case On August 10, 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in her home in Woking, England, when her father, Urfan Sharif, called 999 from Pakistan.
Nadeem Riaz, shop owner and a travelling agent, has known Sharif for 11 years. During an interview with The Times, he recalled that on August 8, he booked a one-way tickets to Pakistan on urgent basis, claiming that his cousin died.
On August 9, Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, their five children and Sharif’s brother Faisal Malik left for Islamabad from the UK on a British Airways flight.
The next day, Urfan Sharif called 999 after which the police found Sara’s body at home. Surrey Police then began an investigation along with international partners. The same day, after arriving at Islamabad, the family travelled to Jhelum. The police kept on tracking them as they left for Domeli late on August 12, and then left Domeli the very next day. This was the last location tracked.
On August 15, Pakistan police received a request from International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) via FIA to hunt them down.
There is a possibility that NASA’s James Webb Telescope has discovered signs of life on a distant planet.
BBC reports that the likelihood of life stems from the possible search for a molecule known as dimethyl sulphide (DMS) which is reportedly “only produced by life” in the case of Earth.
The researchers, however, believe that more data is needed to confirm its presence on the planet, named K2-18b, which is 120 light years away. Prof Madhusudhan from the University of Cambridge, who led the research, deemed the discovery as “tentative” and stressed on acquiring more data for confirmation and that result is expected in a year.
”If confirmed, it would be a huge deal and I feel a responsibility to get this right if we are making such a big claim.”, he added.
Researchers have also detected methane and CO2 in its atmosphere. This means that the planet also possibly has a water ocean.
Prof Madhusudhan said that his entire team were ”shocked” when they saw the results.
“On Earth, DMS is only produced by life. The bulk of it in Earth’s atmosphere is emitted from phytoplankton in marine environments,” he said.
Moreover, it is the first time detecting a possible DMS presence on a planet orbiting a distant star. But the claim is being dealt with caution as a similar claim was made in 2020 regarding the presence of a molecule called phosphine. It is a molecule that could be “produced by living organisms in the clouds of Venus”. This, however, was disputed a year later.
Maria Ressa, Nobel prize winner and co-founder of the online news platform Rappler, has been acquitted of a tax evasion charge in the Philippines on Monday.
This is another feat in her legal fight against a number of charges that were filed under the government of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“You gotta have faith,” she said outside the court.
Ressa and Rappler have been hindered by five government charges of tax evasion after the sale of Philippine depositary receipts in 2015 — a route for companies to raise money from foreign investors.
In January, they were acquitted on the other four charges.
However, Maria Ressa and Rappler have two more court cases to fight.
Ressa and Rey Santos Jr, a former colleague, have appealed for a cyber-libel conviction that carries a nearly seven-year jail sentence.
Similarly, Rappler is challenging a Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission order to close for allegedly violating a ban on foreign ownership in media. Under the country’s constitution, investment in the media is reserved for Philippine citizens or entities controlled by citizens.
“It shows that the court system works and we hope to see the remaining charges dismissed,” she said. Ressa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 alongside Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov in recognition of their efforts to “safeguard freedom of expression“.
Ressa is also an American national but has remained in the Philippines and is currently on bail pending the appeal against the cyber-libel conviction.
Maria Ressa was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize along with Dmitry Muratov for “their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
As a country with rich history and diverse cultural heritage, Pakistan is home to a variety of museums. Too often, however, fascinating artifacts and exhibitions in these museums are overlooked. From locomotives dating back to the British Raj, to astronomical devices from the Mughal Era; there are numerous exhibits that many do not know about.
Here is a list of 5 exhibits in different museums you are bound to find interesting:
Rare Handwritten Quranic Manuscripts- National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi
An intricately decorated Quranic manuscript at the National Museum of Pakistan- Photo by Discover Pakistan
The National Museum of Pakistan was established in the 1950s. It is Pakistan’s biggest museum and contains an important collection of artifacts relevant to the country’s cultural heritage.
This museum holds 300 copies of the Quran from different times. 52 of these copies are rare, handwritten manuscripts, some of which are in early Kufic and Bahr Arabic scripts. Some of these scripts date back to the 1300s, showing the changes in Quranic manuscripts over the years as well as the intricate craftsmanship of various writers. Many pages are also embellished with different gems, copper and even silver.
The Seated Buddha Statue- Taxila Museum, Taxila
Taxila Museum opened in 1928 and holds one of the most significant collections of artifacts from the Gandhara Civilization. It is famous for its collection of Buddhist stone and stucco sculptures from Gandhara. The museum is located in the middle of numerous archeological sites, and its core collection was excavated from Taxila Valley.
The Seated Buddha statue displayed at the Taxila Museum is one of the earliest representations of the Buddha in human form. Until the 1st century CE, the Buddha was represented through various symbols, like his footprint or the Bodhi tree. This particular statue was made in the 2nd or 3rd century CE. Thus, it is considered to be one of the oldest known Buddha statues. It was found in the site of the ancient Gandhara civilization in northwestern Pakistan. The statue is also known for its intricate carvings and striking resemblance to Buddha statues found in Tibet.
Steam Engines from the British Raj- Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum, Islamabad
A narrow gauge steam engine at the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum- Photo by Zameen.com
Inaugurated in 2003, the Golra Sharif Railway Heritage Museum has many names. It is also known as the “Pakistan Railways Heritage Museum”, or simply goes by “Golra Sharif Station”.
Located on the outskirts of Islamabad, this museum allows visitors to experience what railway stations were like during the British Raj. Various railway equipment and largely obsolete locomotives can be explored here too. The station is still active and functioning.
Among the locomotives on display, there are three steam engines and one electric engine.
These engines are also connected to coaches, which are said to have belonged to the Maharaja of Jodhpur and Viceroy Lord Mountbatten. These coaches include first-class and economy coaches. Not only can visitors view these engines from the outside, but they can also explore them from the inside! Various old equipment and tools such as guns, crockery and bells can be observed too.
The Mercedes Pullman 600 displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam FarooqThe Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow displayed at the Pakistan Monument Museum- Photo by Mariam Farooq
Established in 2010, the Pakistan Monument Museum focuses on the struggle for independence and pays tribute to those who took part in the Pakistan movement. The museum covers various past events, including the arrival of Islam in the subcontinent, the magnificence of the Mughal Empire and the creation of Pakistan.
In 2018, two historic luxury cars, the Mercedes Pullman 600 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, were added to the museum’s collection. This exhibit was inaugurated soon after an auction to sell them off was cancelled by the government of Pakistan.
During the 1970s, the Mercedes Pullman 600 was one of the most expensive cars available.
This specific model was used by president Yahya Khan as well as prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In addition to this, the car was used by foreign dignitaries like Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, Saudi king Faisal bin Abdul Aziz, the Queen of Brunei and many other world leaders.
The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was built in 1976 and gifted to the Pakistani government by Saudi king Shah Khalid bin Abdul Aziz on his visit to the country. During its service with the government, the car remained in the use of prime ministers Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. It was also used by foreign dignitaries like the Queen and Prince of Brunei, Prince Karim Agha Khan, world boxing champion Muhammad Ali and Princess Diana among many others.
Astrolabes from the Mughal-Era- Lahore Museum, Lahore
The Lahore Museum opened in 1894 and is Pakistan’s oldest cultural institution. The museum is famous for its blend of Mughal and British style architecture. Its permanent collection contains almost 60,000 artifacts of prehistoric as well as contemporary times. Many artifacts displayed here are also linked with Islamic, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu and Jain histories.
Derived from Greek, the term “astrolabe” essentially means “star holder”. This device is one of the oldest scientific instruments in the world, and was used to make different astronomical calculations using the movement of the sun and other prominent stars. Many muslim scholars played a significant role in the creation and refinement of astrolabes. Between the times of Mughal emperors Humayun and Aurangzeb, Lahore was a major centre in astrolabe making.
There are two astrolabes displayed in the Lahore museum, both made in Lahore. One was made in 1640 AD, and the other in 1841 AD, making them both from the time of the Mughal Empire.
Two women have recorded statements against the school principal accused of rape and blackmail in Gulshan-e-Hadeed area of Karachi.
The case of alleged rape and blackmail of women by Gulshan-e-Hadeed School principal was heard in the court of the Judicial Magistrate of Malir. After physical remand was completed, police produced the school principal in the court.
The two women also appeared in court, with the investigating officer requesting the court to record their statements.
The investigating officer produced the Universal Serial Bus (USB) containing the videos in the court.
The statements of both the women were recorded. One of them said that Irfan gave her a job and blackmailed her by making a video.
The court extended the physical remand of the school principal for four days.
Previously, the principal was taken into custody after allegations of raping and blackmailing women after videos of the rapes appeared on social media.
The principal has reportedly admitted to raping women after promising them job opportunities, then recording their videos to blackmail them.
Additionally, it was made known that the school was not registered with the relevant authority, functioning without any legal status. Consequently, it has been sealed.
Around 3,000 people have died while 10,000 are missing and 20,000 people have been displaced since heavy floods have hit eastern Libya, multiple international news outlets have said.
Aid is being sent to Benghazi via plane carrying 14 tonnes of supplies and medical personnel even though the hard-hit areas are still difficult to reach.
Additionally, relief convoys are being sent from west to east in divided Libya as the eastern region has been deemed a disaster zone by the internationally recognised Tripoli government.
However, according to Al-Jazeera, “Authorities have struggled to reach Derna, because roads leading to the city are destroyed or cut off by flooding.” Moreover, communications with the city have been broken off, hindering information collection on casualties and damage.
According to the Benghazi administration, more than 1,000 bodies have been recovered from the Mediterranean city of Derna.
Storm Daniel
Storm Daniel hit eastern Libya on Monday, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Two dams on the Wadi Derna River were destroyed and consequently, millions of cubic metres of water swept through the area.
Al-Jazeera also spoke with National Council on Libya-US Relations who stated that “About 4sq km [1.5sq miles] at the heart of the city have been eroded completely.”
Moreover, Tamer Ramadan, a member of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies delegation to Libya, referred to the issue of dealing with the flood that is “beyond the capabilities of the government, of the national society, of the people” and that assistance from international actors would be needed.
Benghazi Minister of Civil Aviation Hichem Chkiouat managed to visit Derna and spoke with Reuters, “Bodies are lying everywhere – in the sea, in the valleys, under the buildings.”
“I am not exaggerating when I say that 25 percent of the city has disappeared,” he added.
A Chinese woman, identified only as Guan Yue under a pseudonym, was recently exposed for a remarkable three-year involvement in a complex labor-fraud operation, as reported by local media.
Guan Yue’s participation encompassed maintaining 16 distinct corporate positions without physically attending any of them, contributing to a staggering labour-fraud scheme valued at nearly $7 million, according to China’s state-owned newspaper, Xinmin.
The report detailed Guan’s meticulous record-keeping, in which she meticulously documented each hiring opportunity on paper. During job interviews, she would post images from these interviews on her company’s internal communication channels, misleading colleagues by implying client meetings.
As the volume of job offers exceeded her capacity, Guan would delegate these positions to acquaintances, earning a commission in the process. It’s important to note that Insider was unable to independently verify the details of this extensive investigation.
Xinmin highlighted the pervasive nature of such labour fraud in China, with an estimated 700–800 organised groups regularly exploiting multiple job opportunities from employers. These groups have honed their skills in securing employment, mastering the art of interviews, and presenting impressive, albeit fraudulent, resumes.
Remarkably, when their deception is exposed, these cases are seldom treated as criminal offences; instead, they are typically resolved through employment law channels, a system these groups have become increasingly adept at navigating.
In a notable instance, one of these groups successfully infiltrated a company, placing a member in the role of HR representative, who subsequently hired the rest of the group, as disclosed by the newspaper.
In a recent development in the Sara Sharif case, Jhelum police have shifted Urfan Sharif’s five children to the Child Protection Bureau in Lahore
A day before, Sharif’s children, found in their grandfather’s house, were taken into protective custody by the police as the hunt continues for their father and stepmother.
The children have been shifted to the Bureau after a local court granted permission to the police to do so. The children are said to be in the Bureau’s custody till the parents, Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, are found and arrested.
Dawn spoke with Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO) Syed Khurram Ali, who stated that the parents as well as Urfan Sharif’s brother (and Sara’s uncle) are still on the run and the police is “conducting raids at possible hideouts for their arrests”.
He also clarified that the three suspects cannot flee Pakistan as FIA’s Immigration Wing has put staff on alert at all airports.
Additionally, the parent’s relatives have not been complying and have even approached Lahore High Court against the police, claiming that the police have illegally detained around 10 relatives of Urfan. “The court was being misled through fabricated information”, RPO added.
Dawn highlighted that the police had interrogated 10 to 15 of the relatives on Saturday in the search to pinpoint the couple’s whereabouts, after which they were allowed to leave.
The RPO said the relatives are playing a “dubious role” and contributing to the couple’s “trouble”.
Urfan’s father initially claimed to not have any information about his grandchildren, however, they were found at his place after the raid.
“If they did nothing wrong in London, they should feel free to hand themselves over to the police”, said the RPO, referring to the couple, hoping that they will surrender soon since the children should not be kept away from the parents for too long.
The case
On August 10, 10-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead in her home in Woking, England, when her father, Urfan Sharif, called 999 from Pakistan.
Nadeem Riaz, shop owner and a travelling agent, has known Sharif for 11 years. During an interview with The Times, he recalled that on August 8, he booked one way tickets to Pakistan on urgent basis, claiming that his cousin died.
On August 9, Sharif, his wife Beinash Batool, their five children and Sharif’s brother Faisal Malik left for Islamabad from the UK on a British Airways flight.
The next day, Urfan Sharif called 999 after which the police found Sara’s body at home. Surrey Police then began an investigation along with international partners. The same day, after arriving at Islamabad, the family travelled to Jhelum. The police kept on tracking them as they left for Domeli late on August 12, and then left Domeli the very next day. This was the last location tracked.
On August 15, Pakistan police received a request from International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) via FIA to hunt them down.
