Latest news with #RafiqMaqbool
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'I was overwhelmed': Gill on becoming India's new test captain
Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill, looks on as head coach Gautam Gambhir address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill address a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Indian cricket test team captain Shubman Gill , left , and head coach Gautam Gambhir poses for picture after addressing a pre-departure press conference ahead of India tour to England at the Board of Control for Cricket headquarters in Mumbai, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) Shubman Gill admitted he was surprised and excited when he was named as India's new test captain. Gill was appointed last month following the test retirements of the last two captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Advertisement He met the media in Mumbai on Thursday before India leaves for the five-test series against England starting on June 20 in Leeds. "I was overwhelmed to learn that I had been presented with the opportunity to lead India,' Gill said. "It is a big responsibility and I am looking forward to a great challenge in England.' Sharma and Kohli were already established cricket greats when they became captains, but Gill, while aggressive, has yet to become a consistent, elite batter marked by match-winning performances. From 32 tests, he's scored 1,893 runs and five centuries at an average of 35. He wants to lead by example and get on the same wavelength as his teammates. Advertisement 'As captain, you want to win every match, but when I am out there as a batter, my focus is only on scoring as many runs as possible for the benefit of my team,' he said. "Having said that, averages and numbers are not something I look at, but I do want to lead with my performances with the bat. 'There isn't a particular style (of captaincy) that I want to follow. It comes on through experience and the more you play, your personal style then comes through to people. I like good communication with my players. It makes them feel secure and gives them comfort as per their strengths or weaknesses. As captain, I would like to have that bond with my players, because secure players will give you a 100%.' Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah led India twice in Australia last winter in Sharma's absence and likely would have been named captain ahead of Gill, but his back issues will limit his appearances against England. The selectors also hope Gill, at 25, will have a long and fruitful reign. Bumrah won't feature in all five tests owing to fitness and workload issues. Advertisement 'We haven't decided which tests Bumrah will or won't play,' India coach Gautam Gambhir said. 'It will depend on his fitness, workload and also the status of the series. Like I said ahead of the Champions Trophy, it is an opportunity for someone else to put their hand up. We have enough bowling quality in the squad, and our attack's composition will be decided based on both ground and overhead conditions.' 'We are used to pressure' No Kohli, Sharma or Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired last summer, plus Bumrah unavailable for all five tests. Gill and Gambhir played down concerns about their chances. 'It is not easy to fill their shoes, but it doesn't put any additional pressure on us,' Gill said. 'That pressure to win is there in every series and we are used to it. It depends on how we adapt to play and win in such pressure conditions. Advertisement 'We have a good batting and bowling combination. It is a good mix of experience and youth in our squad." Gambhir added, 'Yes, it is a clean slate. But such things don't matter. When you go on a big tour, everyone is excited to perform and that leaves you in a good mental space. We have quality players in our test squad, who are willing to express themselves and do something special." Gill has played one test in England. Amongst India's batters, only Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant have previously toured there. A young squad faces a daunting task against an experienced England side led by star allrounder Ben Stokes. Even with Kohli, Sharma and Ravichandran, India hasn't won a test series in England since 2007. It lost 4-0 in 2011, then 3-1 in 2014 and 4-1 in 2018. It led 2-1 in 2021 but the fifth test was postponed until 2022 owing to the pandemic. That delayed series ended 2-2. Advertisement 'England plays a certain (attacking) way, which we saw when they came to India last (in 2024),' Gill said. 'It presents a great challenge. So we have to be proactive with our thinking and our execution as well.' Tragedy in Bengaluru Gambhir was asked about the tragedy in Bengaluru on Wednesday night when 11 fans died in a stampede outside Chinnaswamy Stadium while trying to join the celebrations of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's maiden Indian Premier League title. 'I was never a believer that we need to have roadshows,' Gambhir said. "Even when I was playing, I had the same statement – when we won the 2007 T20 World Cup, I was of the opinion that we shouldn't have roadshows. (The) life of people is far more important. Advertisement 'If at all there is need for a celebration, it can be held in a closed-door environment or inside a stadium. It is very tragic what happened yesterday and my heart goes out to those who have lost their loved ones. Hopefully in future, nothing like this happens because we are responsible citizens and we should take care of all this.' ___ AP cricket:
DW
2 days ago
- Health
- DW
Hajj: Will high-tech really boost Islamic pilgrimage safety? – DW – 06/03/2025
Saudi authorities will use drones, AI and other tech for safety at this year's Hajj pilgrimage. But this increases other risks — for data privacy, hackers and of turning a spiritual journey into a "cyber experience." This year, it's drones featuring thermal imaging and robots handing out religious advice.A decade ago , it was all about the miracle of the mobile phone. And a century or so ago, the motor car was the highest of high-tech used during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Hajj, one of the largest gatherings of humans on Earth, is meant to be undertaken by every adult Muslim once in their lifetime. It will begin in Saudi Arabia on June 4 and end June 9. During those days, up to 2 million pilgrims from over 180 countries will take part in a number of different religious ceremonies in Mecca. But having so many people moving around in one comparatively small area has led to problems in the past. Thousands of pilgrims were killed in stampeding crowds in 1990 and 2015. Last year over 1,300 died due to extreme heat; pilgrims often walk up to 65 kilometers a day in 40-to-50 degrees Celsius heat. There have also been fires, protests, suicides, collapsing buildings and infectious diseases at the Hajj, as well as more everyday problems like people getting lost or having health problems. Last year extreme heat caused death and injury at the Hajj, where three-quarters of pilgrims are aged between 35 and 64 Image: Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo/picture alliance No wonder then that the Saudi authorities are trying to use technology to improve how they control crowds and cater to their visitors. This year, Saudi Arabia will use drones with thermal imaging as well as artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to ensure that only those who have Hajj permits are allowed in. Last year's many deaths were mostly of pilgrims who didn't have official permission to be there and therefore couldn't access services like air-conditioned shelter in the extreme heat. Can high tech boost safety? To avoid overcrowding, Saudi Arabia's Nusuk website, also a mobile phone application, allows attendees to register to enter certain areas at allotted times. The Nusuk system includes an electronic identity card and a smart wristband, which hold information on the user's identity, travel plans, finances, health and accommodation, among other things. The Nusuk card must be carried throughout the pilgrimage and is used to access transport and other services. Some of the wristbands have location tracking, monitor the wearer's blood oxygen levels and heart rate, and can even be used to call for medical help. Other technological advances at this year's Hajj include robots to guide visitors around religious sites and to hand out water, Korans or offer advice in 11 languages. There are also newly paved, more reflective (and therefore cooler) streets, paths that minimize vibration for walking comfort, and a special white pilgrim's gown made from futuristic fabric that keeps the wearer up to 2 degrees Celsius cooler. All the technology, surveillance and advanced algorithmic calculation is meant to make the event safer and the chance of tragic accidents less likely. But as the amount of technology grows, so too do concerns about data privacy, state surveillance and potential cybercrime. "All of these technologies are mandatory and those who refuse them are not allowed to perform the pilgrimage," explains Zeinab Ismail, a researcher and editor at the Lebanon-based digital rights organization, SMEX. "All of this, combined with Saudi Arabia's personal data protection law, which only partially aligns with international standards and contains concerning provisions and loopholes, raises increasing concerns about the safety and privacy of pilgrims' data." Saudi officials have argued that privacy concerns must outweigh safety at such a huge event. Last year 1.8 million pilgrims from over 180 countries came to Saudi Arabi for the Hajj Image: Saudi Press Agency/dpa/picture alliance "Regardless of the [Saudi government's] justification, what worries me the most — and irrespective of the technology itself — is the fact that this technology is being deployed in a country where rule of law is weak, there's no transparency and no [state] accountability," argues Marwa Fatafta, policy director for the Middle East and North Africa at international digital rights organization, Access Now. It would be difficult to audit the technologies for problems and even harder for individuals to question their use, Fatafta told DW. "For the people who are going to the Hajj pilgrimage, they're not in any position to push back and say, 'I don't want to give my biometric data'," she continued. "So just the general context means that the door is wide open for abuse." The high speed train to Mecca can carry over 300,000 people daily Image: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images 'Contact us'? Reading the Nusuk app's terms and conditions, information about how long pilgrims' personal data can be kept is vague and even contradictory. DW e-mailed Saudi Arabia's National Data Management Office and the supervising Saudi Data and AI Authority to ask for more information on this. Both organizations publish e-mail addresses for the public to use if they have questions or want to make a complaint. Two DW e-mails received no response. Another bounced back with the message: "Recipient's mailbox is full." Since 2023, Saudi Arabia has had a personal data protection law — but as Ismail pointed out, "the current legal framework … allows legislation to be interpreted or manipulated in ways that may serve state interests over human rights." It's not just potential misuse of millions of pilgrims' data by local authorities causing concern. Higher dependence on technology to monitor and control Hajj pilgrims also means more vulnerability in general, as there are more places for hackers to attack. And Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are already some of the biggest victims of cybercrime. The first platform Saudi Arabia used for registering pilgrims, Motawif, was run by a private company and unexpectedly sent spam to users. The state-run Nusuk app replaced it in 2022. The following year, cybersecurity experts found data submitted to Nusuk for sale on illicit websites that deal in stolen personal data. Less religion, more cyber New technology has also brought another worry: Is all that high tech taking away from the once-in-a-lifetime spiritual relevance of the Hajj? A 2018 study conducted by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK suggested it might be. Pilgrims interviewed for the study complained about others taking selfies at holy sites, talking on the phone while performing rituals and behaving like tourists rather than pious visitors. "Smartphones are the fourth devil in Hajj," one interviewee said, referring to a ritual featuring three representations of the devil. Last June, hackers stole the personal information of around 168 million people in Iran from a Hajj-related organization in that country Image: Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images Some even complained all the technology was making the journey too easy. Where once pilgrims walked between holy sites, now they ride a high-speed train. And where once they stayed in simple tents, now they're accommodated in 10,000 air-conditioned, fire-resistant tents. "Since the Hajj has become 'high-tech,' the fundamental spirituality of the pilgrim's experience is arguably being transformed into something more akin to a 'cyber experience'," the UK researchers wrote. Traditionally the Hajj is meant to be all about simplicity, spiritual purity and contemplative worship, they explained. As with every other kind of digital technology, high tech at the Hajj had its benefits and disadvantages, they concluded. Edited by: Jess Smee
DW
3 days ago
- Health
- DW
High-tech Hajj: More safety but less privacy, spirituality? – DW – 06/03/2025
Saudi authorities will use drones, AI and other tech for safety at this year's Hajj pilgrimage. But this increases other risks — for data privacy, hackers and of turning a spiritual journey into a "cyber experience." This year, it's drones featuring thermal imaging and robots handing out religious advice.A decade ago , it was all about the miracle of the mobile phone. And a century or so ago, the motor car was the highest of high-tech used during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The Hajj, one of the largest gatherings of humans on Earth, is meant to be undertaken by every adult Muslim once in their lifetime. It will begin in Saudi Arabia on June 4 and end June 9. During those days, up to 2 million pilgrims from over 180 countries will take part in a number of different religious ceremonies in Mecca. But having so many people moving around in one comparatively small area has led to problems in the past. Thousands of pilgrims were killed in stampeding crowds in 1990 and 2015. Last year over 1,300 died due to extreme heat; pilgrims often walk up to 65 kilometers a day in 40-to-50 degrees Celsius heat. There have also been fires, protests, suicides, collapsing buildings and infectious diseases at the Hajj, as well as more everyday problems like people getting lost or having health problems. Last year extreme heat caused death and injury at the Hajj, where three-quarters of pilgrims are aged between 35 and 64 Image: Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo/picture alliance No wonder then that the Saudi authorities are trying to use technology to improve how they control crowds and cater to their visitors. This year, Saudi Arabia will use drones with thermal imaging as well as artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology to ensure that only those who have Hajj permits are allowed in. Last year's many deaths were mostly of pilgrims who didn't have official permission to be there and therefore couldn't access services like air-conditioned shelter in the extreme heat. Can high tech boost safety? To avoid overcrowding, Saudi Arabia's Nusuk website, also a mobile phone application, allows attendees to register to enter certain areas at allotted times. The Nusuk system includes an electronic identity card and a smart wristband, which hold information on the user's identity, travel plans, finances, health and accommodation, among other things. The Nusuk card must be carried throughout the pilgrimage and is used to access transport and other services. Some of the wristbands have location tracking, monitor the wearer's blood oxygen levels and heart rate, and can even be used to call for medical help. Other technological advances at this year's Hajj include robots to guide visitors around religious sites and to hand out water, Korans or offer advice in 11 languages. There are also newly paved, more reflective (and therefore cooler) streets, paths that minimize vibration for walking comfort, and a special white pilgrim's gown made from futuristic fabric that keeps the wearer up to 2 degrees Celsius cooler. All the technology, surveillance and advanced algorithmic calculation is meant to make the event safer and the chance of tragic accidents less likely. But as the amount of technology grows, so too do concerns about data privacy, state surveillance and potential cybercrime. "All of these technologies are mandatory and those who refuse them are not allowed to perform the pilgrimage," explains Zeinab Ismail, a researcher and editor at the Lebanon-based digital rights organization, SMEX. "All of this, combined with Saudi Arabia's personal data protection law, which only partially aligns with international standards and contains concerning provisions and loopholes, raises increasing concerns about the safety and privacy of pilgrims' data." Saudi officials have argued that privacy concerns must outweigh safety at such a huge event. Last year 1.8 million pilgrims from over 180 countries came to Saudi Arabi for the Hajj Image: Saudi Press Agency/dpa/picture alliance "Regardless of the [Saudi government's] justification, what worries me the most — and irrespective of the technology itself — is the fact that this technology is being deployed in a country where rule of law is weak, there's no transparency and no [state] accountability," argues Marwa Fatafta, policy director for the Middle East and North Africa at international digital rights organization, Access Now. It would be difficult to audit the technologies for problems and even harder for individuals to question their use, Fatafta told DW. "For the people who are going to the Hajj pilgrimage, they're not in any position to push back and say, 'I don't want to give my biometric data'," she continued. "So just the general context means that the door is wide open for abuse." The high speed train to Mecca can carry over 300,000 people daily Image: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images 'Contact us'? Reading the Nusuk app's terms and conditions, information about how long pilgrims' personal data can be kept is vague and even contradictory. DW e-mailed Saudi Arabia's National Data Management Office and the supervising Saudi Data and AI Authority to ask for more information on this. Both organizations publish e-mail addresses for the public to use if they have questions or want to make a complaint. Two DW e-mails received no response. Another bounced back with the message: "Recipient's mailbox is full." Since 2023, Saudi Arabia has had a personal data protection law — but as Ismail pointed out, "the current legal framework … allows legislation to be interpreted or manipulated in ways that may serve state interests over human rights." It's not just potential misuse of millions of pilgrims' data by local authorities causing concern. Higher dependence on technology to monitor and control Hajj pilgrims also means more vulnerability in general, as there are more places for hackers to attack. And Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are already some of the biggest victims of cybercrime. The first platform Saudi Arabia used for registering pilgrims, Motawif, was run by a private company and unexpectedly sent spam to users. The state-run Nusuk app replaced it in 2022. The following year, cybersecurity experts found data submitted to Nusuk for sale on illicit websites that deal in stolen personal data. Less religion, more cyber New technology has also brought another worry: Is all that high tech taking away from the once-in-a-lifetime spiritual relevance of the Hajj? A 2018 study conducted by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK suggested it might be. Pilgrims interviewed for the study complained about others taking selfies at holy sites, talking on the phone while performing rituals and behaving like tourists rather than pious visitors. "Smartphones are the fourth devil in Hajj," one interviewee said, referring to a ritual featuring three representations of the devil. Last June, hackers stole the personal information of around 168 million people in Iran from a Hajj-related organization in that country Image: Fethi Belaid/AFP/Getty Images Some even complained all the technology was making the journey too easy. Where once pilgrims walked between holy sites, now they ride a high-speed train. And where once they stayed in simple tents, now they're accommodated in 10,000 air-conditioned, fire-resistant tents. "Since the Hajj has become 'high-tech,' the fundamental spirituality of the pilgrim's experience is arguably being transformed into something more akin to a 'cyber experience'," the UK researchers wrote. Traditionally the Hajj is meant to be all about simplicity, spiritual purity and contemplative worship, they explained. As with every other kind of digital technology, high tech at the Hajj had its benefits and disadvantages, they concluded. Edited by: Jess Smee
Japan Today
5 days ago
- Japan Today
Saudi Arabia stops 269,678 Muslims without Hajj permits from entering Mecca
FILE - Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they gather outside Nimrah Mosque to offer the noon prayers in Arafat, on the second day of the annual hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool, File) By BARAA ANWER Saudi Arabia stopped more than 269,000 people without permits for the annual Hajj pilgrimage from entering Mecca, officials said Sunday, as authorities crack down on illegal journeys into the city. The government blames overcrowding at the Hajj on unauthorized participants. It also says they made up large numbers of those who died in last year's searing summer heat. The number of expulsions highlights the scale of unauthorized pilgrimages — as well as the demand to perform the Hajj. There are currently 1.4 million Muslims in Mecca officially, with more expected to arrive in the days to come. There are fines of up to $5,000 and other punitive measures, like deportation, for anyone performing the Hajj without a permit. The policy includes citizens and those with Saudi residency. At a press conference in Mecca, officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering the city. According to the rules, only those with permits are allowed to perform the pilgrimage, even if they live in the city year-round. Officials have also imposed penalties on more than 23,000 Saudi residents for violating Hajj regulations and revoked the licenses of 400 Hajj companies. Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Omari told the media: 'The pilgrim is in our sight, and anyone who disobeys is in our hands.' The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and involves a series of religious rituals. It's a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. But it has been marred in recent years by concerns about extreme temperatures, with pilgrims performing their rituals outdoors in peak daylight hours. Historically, deaths are not uncommon at the Hajj, which has seen at times over 2 million people travel to Saudi Arabia for a five-day pilgrimage. It has also seen fatal stampedes and other accidents. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense said Sunday that drones were being used for the first time at the Hajj. These can be used for surveillance and monitoring, as well as extinguishing fires. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
