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The Berlin film festival, which draws to a close yesterday, made a piece of film history earlier this week when it screened its first all-Pakistani produced feature film. Lali, by director Sarmad Sultan Khoosat, had its world premiere on Thursday at a packed screening where it was warmly welcomed by members of Berlin’s own Pakistani community, which included the country’s ambassador to Germany. The Punjabi-language black comedy tells the story of Sajawal (Channan Hanif) and his new bride Zeba (Mamya Shajaffar). The local folks in their working-class part of the city of Sahiwal mutter that Zeba is living under a curse after her previous suitors died in mysterious circumstances.Khoosat told AFP that making Pakistan’s debut at the festival came with “a good sense of achievement, but also with a sense of responsibility”. He said it was a “sign of validation” to achieve recognition with a story “deeply rooted in its own idiom”.Part of that idiom is the boisterous humour that the Punjab region is known for, portrayed in part through Sajawal’s mother, the imposing matriarch Sohni Ammi. The film opens with her encouraging the men of the neighbourhood to fire guns in celebration of Sajawal’s wedding – only for her to get shot in the leg.The mordant humour alternates with more serious themes like unhealed trauma and occasional suggestions of the supernatural, although Khoosat pointed out nothing that takes place on screen is physically impossible. Lali’s premiere at Berlin has echoes of the trajectory of Joyland by Saim Sadiq, which became the first ever Pakistani entry in competition at the Cannes film festival in 2022.Khoosat was a producer on that film and Sadiq in turn worked as an editor on Lali. Is Khoosat hopeful that such films can raise the profile of Pakistani cinema? He said that the industry in Pakistan has been struggling, suffering a “semi-gradual kind of demise” over the past 20 years or so.“Before that, we had a big cinema scene… which would produce, you know, more than 100 films a year,” he said. However, Khoosat said Pakistani cinema has struggled to rise of other media and did not “cater to a newer audience”. Could films like Lali bring Pakistani cinema new recognition?“This opportunity of visibility on such platforms – I just wish that, you know, it would translate into a more thriving” domestic film industry, Khoosat said.“There’s definitely a whole new generation of filmmakers, and they need to be facilitated to produce more work,” he added. Source link
The board has noted that they will consider exceptions for an extra over-30 player if districts can verify their superior quality over younger alternatives. Source link
The India AI Impact Summit 2026 wrapped up Saturday and called for a secure, robust, and reliable AI. In the final communique signed by 86 nations worldwide, alongside two international organizations, it was stressed that reinforcing a safe, robust, and reliable AI is fundamental to boost confidence and provide the greatest number of socioeconomic benefits. The AI capabilities can’t be achieved almost entirely unless all humankind shares its gains as a turning point in the path of technological advancements. As such, the participants acknowledged that AI is a turning point that resembles the industrial revolution, triggering the requirement of new kinds of international cooperation that include governments, industry, academia, media, and civil society. Convened under the slogan “Shaping AI For Humanity, Inclusive Growth & a Sustainable Future”, the five-day summit was attended by several heads of state and heads of international organizations, alongside a significant number of leaders of specialized firms. The summit was structured into seven themes: Human Capital; Inclusion for Social Empowerment; Safety and Trustworthiness; Resilience, Innovation, and Efficiency; Science; Democratizing Resources for All; and Economic Growth and Social Good. The participants familiarized themselves with AI impact on various kinds of professions and sectors, along with new skills required in the labor market, as well as the opportunities available for startups and small-sized enterprises. Source link
Displaced Palestinian families sit at communal long tables as they gather to break the dawn-to-dusk Ramadan fast during Iftar, in the Al-Zahara neighborhood, north of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central of Gaza Strip, yesterday. Source link
An Italian toddler who received a faulty heart transplant died yesterday in a case that has caused outrage in Italy over alleged medical malpractice. The two-year-old had received a transplant in December reportedly with a heart that was damaged during transit by coming into direct contact with dry ice.Prosecutors are investigating six medical staff. “It’s over. Domenico’s gone,” the two-year-old’s mother Patrizia Mercolino told Italian media.She said a foundation would be opened in his name. Her son had been on life support for weeks at a hospital in Naples in a case that has made headlines in Italy. The donor heart was reportedly transported from Bolzano in northern Italy to Naples – 800km away – in an unsuitable container without a thermometer that could have signalled the excessively low temperature. Health Minister Orazio Schillaci said in a statement quoted by Italian media that Domenico’s case had “moved the whole of Italy”. Schillaci earlier spoke of his concern that organ donations could decrease as a result of the case, and called for “clarity” to ensure continued trust in the country’s medical services. Source link
Pakistan said on Sunday that it carried out strikes along the border with Afghanistan, targeting hideouts of Pakistani militants it blames for recent attacks inside the country. Pakistani authorities did not say in precisely which areas the strikes were carried out or provide additional details. Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wrote on X that the army carried out intelligence based selective targeting of seven camps and hideouts belonging to Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates.He added that an affiliate of ISIS group was also targeted in the border region. In October, Pakistan also conducted strikes deep inside Afghanistan to target militant hideouts as part of its efforts to contain security threats. “Pakistan has always strived for maintaining peace and stability in the region, but at the same time the safety and security of our citizens remains our top priority,” the Information Minister said. Source link
Only three teams won all four completed games in the league stage. While India, from Group A, have remained in contention as potential title holder Hindustan…
Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring against Eintracht Frankfurt in their Bundesliga match in Munich Saturday. (AFP) Harry Kane scored his third straight Bundesliga brace as Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2 Saturday to move nine points clear of chasers Borussia Dortmund atop the table.Dortmund, who have won six consecutive Bundesliga matches, play at RB Leipzig in Saturday’s late game.Aleksandar Pavlovic’s low strike gave Bayern the lead and Kane added goals either side of half-time, before giving away a penalty converted by Germany forward Jonathan Burkardt with 13 minutes remaining.Bayern captain Joshua Kimmich gifted Frankfurt’s Arnaud Kalimuendo a late goal with a poor pass but the hosts held on.Kane has now scored more than one goal in a match 13 times this season in all competitions.The England captain has netted 28 goals in 23 Bundesliga appearances and 43 in total this campaign.The only negative for Bayern was a second-half injury to wing-back Alphonso Davies.The Canada captain, who returned after eight months out with an ACL injury in December, clutched his ankle after a tackle and pulled his jersey over his face as he was substituted.Bayern earlier burst out of the blocks and Pavlovic broke through on 16 minutes.The Germany midfielder latched onto a failed clearance and blasted in a low shot, which slipped through Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos’ fingers and trickled over the line.Kane doubled Bayern’s lead four minutes later, heading in a corner from close range.The England captain added another midway through the second half, sneaking the ball just inside the post with his left foot.Burkardt’s penalty looked a mere consolation until Kalimuendo jumped on Kimmich’s mistake to cut Bayern’s lead to one with four minutes remaining, but the hosts kept Frankfurt at arm’s length in the final stages.Bayer Leverkusen’s top-four hopes took a hit with a 1-0 defeat at Union Berlin, days after an impressive Champions League win at Olympiacos.Home captain Rani Khedira overpowered former Union midfielder Robert Andrich to pounce on a loose ball and hammer home in the 28th minute.The defeat leaves Leverkusen in sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.Elsewhere, third-placed Hoffenheim dropped points for just the second time in eight matches in a 2-2 draw at Cologne.Cologne took the lead thanks to an incredible bicycle kick from Ragnar Ache but Hoffenheim hit back either side of the break to take the lead thanks to goals from Ozan Kabak and Andrej Kramaric.Teenage winger Said El Mala put Cologne level with an excellent solo goal on 63 minutes and the hosts held on to grab a valuable point against the in-form visitors.Augsburg were behind twice but won 3-2 at Wolfsburg, with Elvis Rexhbecaj scoring in stoppage time to lift the visitors nine points clear of the relegation play-off place. Related Story Source link
An Iranian family sits together to break the dawn to dusk Ramadan fast during Iftar, in the grounds of the Imamzadeh Saleh mosque in Tehran on…
Action from the Al Thumama Ramadan Tournament. The third edition of the Al Thumama Ramadan Tournament kicked off at Al Furjan Stadium in cooperation with the Qatar Sports for All Federation, featuring 13 teams in the 10–14 age category (born 2012–2016).Opening day delivered excitement and plenty of goals. Abdullah Bin Turki’s team stormed to a 9–0 win over Doha, with Ibrahim Hassan al-Emadi named Man of the Match. Al Zaeem and Al Wajba shared a 1–1 draw, as Adam Mazen earned the individual award. In the third match, Al Rayyan defeated Al Thumama 3–1, with Taim Allah Ayman taking Man of the Match honors.The tournament is divided into two groups. Group A includes Doha, Turki Bin Abdullah, Al Wajba, Al Zaeem, Al Rayyan and Al Thumama. Group B features Al Dafna, Al Shaab, Al Waab, Medical Care, Palestine, Al Shaqab and Al Shahaniya.Hassan al-Ishaq, Chairman of the Organizing Committee, praised the strong start and growing stature of the tournament, highlighting its role in developing young talent and the added value of cooperation with the Qatar Sports for All Federation. Related Story Source link