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Armenian church leader stands trial in standoff with government

ByJustpaste.in

The trial of Catholicos Karekin II, head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and six senior clerics has commenced in Armenia over accusations of defying a civil court order.

The proceedings were halted almost immediately when the presiding judge recused himself due to a conflict of interest involving defence counsel.

The case marks an unprecedented legal challenge to the church leadership, stemming from a civil order to temporarily reinstate a defrocked bishop who aligned with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Pashinyan has repeatedly called for the resignation of Karekin II and accused the church of acting as a proxy for foreign powers, specifically Russia.

Church officials and human rights advocates argue the prosecution is politically motivated and violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

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    Historic floods leave at least six dead in Indiana

    ByJustpaste.in

    At least six people have died in the US state of Indiana after severe storms brought record-breaking rainfall and triggered widespread flooding. Authorities said several areas received more than 11 inches of rain over two days. The heavy rainfall caused the White River to rise rapidly, flooding communities and forcing large-scale rescue operations. More than 90 people and 45 pets were rescued from flooded areas, according to local authorities. The worst flooding was reported along the White River, stretching from Hamilton County towards the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. Several neighbourhoods were left under water. In Indianapolis, floodwaters submerged vehicles and reached residential properties. Some residents used kayaks and small boats to move through streets that had turned into waterways. The White River rose above 24 feet in Anderson and Noblesville. The level exceeded records set during the major flooding of 1913, highlighting the severity of the disaster. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett declared a local emergency and urged people living near the river to leave their homes if authorities advised evacuation. Emergency officials described the flooding as an unprecedented event. Marion County Emergency Management director Jacob Spence said the scale of the disaster was unlike anything recently experienced in the area. Several counties reported storm-related deaths. One woman, aged 58, was found dead in Delaware County after apparently attempting to drive through floodwaters. Authorities also confirmed fatalities in Jennings, White, Porter and La Porte counties. Indiana Governor Mike Braun said he had spoken with US President Donald Trump about the disaster. He said a request for a federal emergency declaration was being processed to speed up assistance for affected communities. Braun expressed sympathy for the families who lost loved ones and urged residents to remain cautious. He warned people to stay away from flooded roads and fast-moving water. The National Weather Service continued to issue flood warnings across parts of central Indiana. Officials warned that water levels were still rising in some locations. More severe weather was also expected. Emergency authorities urged residents to monitor official warnings and avoid unnecessary travel. The storms were not limited to Indiana. Tornadoes, intense rainfall and flash flooding affected several parts of the US Midwest. Damage was reported across a broad area stretching from the Chicago region towards western Pennsylvania.

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    Mushfiqur breaks Bangladesh record before Australia Test

    ByJustpaste.in

    SYDNEY: Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim created a unique record before even taking the field in his first Test match in Australia, adding another milestone to an already remarkable international career. Mushfiqur entered the Australia Test having already played 103 Test matches, making him the most experienced player ever to feature in a Test in Australia for the first time. The achievement underlined the longevity of his career. While most players make their first appearance in a country relatively early in their Test journey, Mushfiqur reached the landmark after more than a century of matches. Before him, the record among Bangladeshi players belonged to fellow batter Mominul Haque, who had played 78 Tests before making his first Test appearance in Australia. Mominul now moves to second place on the list, while Mushfiqur’s 103-match experience puts him well ahead of the previous mark. The Bangladesh veteran’s achievement also eclipsed a record previously held by former Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu. Atapattu played his first Test in Australia in 2004 after appearing in 73 Tests, making him the most experienced player to make a first Test appearance in the country at the time. Mushfiqur’s milestone therefore represents another significant chapter in a career that has made him one of Bangladesh’s most accomplished Test cricketers. However, the Bangladesh star’s achievement in Australia is not the biggest record of its kind in Test cricket. That global record belongs to England fast-bowling great James Anderson, who had played an extraordinary 175 Tests before making his first Test appearance in Pakistan. Mushfiqur’s milestone nevertheless stands out as a remarkable testament to his consistency and longevity. At 103 Tests, he arrived in Australia not as a newcomer to Test cricket, but as one of Bangladesh’s most experienced players — making his first Test in the country a historic occasion before the match had even begun.

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    US imposes fresh sanctions on Mahan Air allies

    ByJustpaste.in

    The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on an international network accused of supporting Iran’s Mahan Air, alleging the airline has played a key role in transporting personnel, weapons, and drones linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). In a statement, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions against six individuals and entities based in China, India, Russia, and Iran. The targeted network is accused of facilitating operations for Mahan Air despite existing US and European sanctions on the carrier. According to US officials, several of the sanctioned companies acted as sales agents for Mahan Air, helping the airline maintain international operations and evade restrictions imposed by Western governments. Washington has repeatedly accused Mahan Air of providing logistical support to the IRGC by transporting military personnel, weapons, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Iran has consistently denied similar allegations in the past. The latest sanctions come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following recent drone attacks targeting gas-carrying vessels at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta. The incident has raised concerns that the confrontation between the two countries could expand into a new area of conflict. The US said the new measures are aimed at disrupting financial and commercial networks that support Iran’s sanctioned aviation sector and limiting its ability to conduct activities viewed as a threat to regional security.

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    Met Gala 2027 to honour British fashion designer

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    The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced that celebrated British fashion designer John Galliano will be the focus of its Spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition, titled John Galliano: Horizons. The exhibition will also serve as the inspiration for the Met Gala 2027, making Galliano only the third living designer to receive a solo exhibition at the museum. The announcement marks a significant milestone in Galliano’s career. Before him, only Yves Saint Laurent in 1983 and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons in 2017 had been honoured with individual exhibitions while still alive. The Costume Institute exhibition will officially open on May 9, 2027, with the Met Gala serving as its traditional fundraising event before remaining on display until January 9, 2028. According to the museum, John Galliano: Horizons will explore the designer’s extraordinary career, tracing his creative evolution from his acclaimed 1984 graduation collection at Central Saint Martins to his work at Givenchy, Christian Dior, his own label, and Maison Margiela. The exhibition will feature garments, sketches, research books and archival material drawn from the Costume Institute’s extensive collection. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has long admired Galliano’s work, praised the designer while announcing the exhibition. “There is no one more deserving of an exhibition of this scale than John Galliano,” Wintour said in a statement. She continued, “His body of work, at Dior, Givenchy, Margiela, his namesake label and more, combines erudition and creativity, darkness and light, the past, the present, the future all smashing together in a brilliant way.” The exhibition has been curated by Andrew Bolton, who explained the philosophy behind the project and why Galliano’s career remains an important subject in contemporary fashion. Bolton described the exhibition as treating “fashion as a form of cartography, mapping not territories but affinities, tensions, and transformations.” He further explained that the exhibition would examine “how Galliano has remapped the world through fashion and how his conduct, its consequences, and changing cultural values have reshaped our understanding of his work.” Organisers have also confirmed that the exhibition will not avoid one of the most controversial chapters of Galliano’s life. In 2011, the designer was dismissed from both Christian Dior and his own fashion label after making racist and antisemitic remarks. He was later convicted by a Paris court for public insults based on race, religion and ethnicity. According to The New York Times, the museum’s decision to move forward with the exhibition followed a private meeting held in May between Galliano, Andrew Bolton, Anna Wintour and several Jewish community leaders in New York. Rather than overlooking the controversy, the exhibition aims to place it within the broader context of Galliano’s life and career, examining both his artistic achievements and the consequences of his actions. With John Galliano: Horizons, the Metropolitan Museum of Art hopes to present a comprehensive look at one of fashion’s most influential and debated designers, while the Met Gala 2027 is expected to celebrate his lasting impact on the global fashion industry.

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    Baked with Pride, Sung with Love

    ByJustpaste.in

    Karachi: As journalists, we’ve attended countless 14th August celebrations — most of them lost in long speeches, endless queues of guests of honour and chief guests, or simply mismanaged and overcrowded. You leave unable to focus on even a single stage performance, let alone the sequence of events. This year was different. I attended a ceremony that was not only full of joy, but also remarkably well-managed and disciplined — a gathering where everyone truly felt part of the celebration. It was held at KDSP, a centre of excellence for children with Down syndrome. A Lesson in Discipline and Dignity And isn’t it surprising? In a country where we can’t even manage discipline at regular school functions, it took a centre for differently-abled children to show us how it’s done. With sharing. With togetherness. With dignity. I saw real joy and happiness on those children’s faces — and my daughter, Bibi Marium, was among them. The event was full of surprises.   In most gatherings, adults push and shove to get to the main head table and into group photos. Here, the children were gently accommodating each other in the queue for cake cutting. There was no chief guest to distract, no protocol to irritate the kids and parents. Even the CEO and Chairman stood to the side, watching joyfully as their children celebrated. A Family Festival, Not Just a Ceremony The next surprise was this: it wasn’t just a celebration. It was a family festival. Children and parents both came dressed in green and white — shalwar kameez, t-shirts, trousers, mostly in flag colours. They weren’t sitting on the sidelines. They were part of it — they were guests and chief guests both. The entire KDSP management — CEO, Directors, Managers, teachers, staff and mentors — made a point to be present too. But they chose to stand from the sidelines, letting the children take center stage. One of the most moving moments was when Abdullah Haris, a student of KDSP’s EFL program, played the National Anthem on the piano. The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause. And you could see the proudest smile on the face of CEO Tabish Shahzad as she watched her children shine. Baked with Love After the anthem came the cake-cutting ceremony — and again, no pushing, no crowding. Children, staff, and parents all enjoyed the refreshments together. There was enough for everyone. The cake was so soft, yummy and delicious that I assumed it came from some high-profile bakery. But to my surprise, it was prepared in-house — by the children of the cooking class, guided by their young yet expert instructor, Head Chef Zainab Durrani. A COTHM graduate and pursuing her special education degree, Chef Zainab has a rare gift: children instantly connect with her. For years she has been associated with KDSP, putting in all her effort to teach them the skill of cooking on every available platform. Under her guidance, these children aren’t just baking — they’re gaining confidence, independence, and pride. While talking to me, a parent of a child with Down syndrome, Mr. Karim Navroz Ali from the Finance Department said, “KDSP makes every effort to motivate our children, to inspire them, and to build a more inclusive society. These children must be treated equally — and normally.” He nodded, head held high. And again to my surprise, after the ceremony, everyone was back to work and into the class, no day of skill development of a child is wasted, that development means here. “1947. Pakistan. Independence.” I also spoke with Ms. Sadia Navaid, a skills facilitator at KDSP, who teaches and empowers students with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. She is among the teachers loved by all. When I asked her whether these children feel patriotism and love for the country, her answer left me speechless. She shared that when she asked the children to make a quilling flag, they instantly said: “1947. Pakistan. Independence.” Ms. Sadia emphasized that these children are often more sensitive than others, and they carry a deeper feeling of ownership for their country. The managers of the Skill Development Program — Ms. Mahzaib Faheem, Ms. Umme Farwa, and Ms. Sania Siddiqui, Ms Mehak — also dressed in green and white, were glowing with pride. They shared that although the event was short and sweet, it took days of decorating the entire center and making arrangements for this precious day. “For us, it’s not just about a celebration,” they said. “It motivates the children, and it also binds us all together in joyful times.” What Independence Is Meant to Be As I walked out of KDSP that day, my heart was full. What I saw wasn’t just an Independence Day celebration. I saw courage, I saw dignity, I saw belonging. These children taught me that patriotism isn’t about grand speeches — it’s about standing together, singing together, baking together, and believing together. KDSP isn’t just building skills. It’s building a Pakistan where every child, regardless of ability, is seen, heard, and celebrated. And in that hall, dressed in green and white, I truly felt it: this is what independence is meant to be. “Independence is not a day on the calendar. It is the day a child feels they belong to.”   Meet the author: The writer is a senior journalist and columnist covering crime, law, social issues, governance, energy, health, literature, and women and children’s rights across Pakistan’s leading English media houses. Feedback: mediawomen2014@gmail.com

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    Taylor Swift wedding dress sparks bridal fashion buzz

    ByJustpaste.in

    Taylor Swift’s closely guarded wedding dress has already begun influencing the bridal fashion industry, even though the design has yet to be publicly revealed. Bridal companies are preparing for a possible surge in demand for gowns inspired by the pop star’s wedding look. Swift reportedly wore a Christian Dior creation during a private celebration at Madison Square Garden on July 3. Details of the dress have remained tightly controlled, leaving fans and designers waiting for images of the outfit. David’s Bridal is among the companies preparing for the potential trend. The retailer’s design team has reportedly developed around two dozen concepts based on styles associated with Swift. The designs explore elements such as Hollywood glamour and drop-waist silhouettes. The company expects to move quickly once more details about Swift’s dress become available. Search interest for Swift-inspired wedding dresses has also reportedly increased on the retailer’s website. Designers are considering several possibilities for the next major bridal trend. These include embellished ball gowns, minimalist dresses with subtle detailing and shorter outfits that could be worn during a wedding reception or ceremony change. Design teams are also watching for details beyond the dress itself. Swift’s hairstyle, makeup, colours, floral decorations and veil could all influence future bridal collections. Other major bridal brands are also monitoring the situation. Spanish bridal label Pronovias said it could take inspiration from the silhouette, fabrics and overall style associated with Swift’s wedding appearance. The company has previously drawn inspiration from high-profile celebrity and royal weddings. Designers at luxury bridal houses are particularly interested in whether Swift chooses an unusual colour, fabric or distinctive veil. Such details could quickly spread through the wedding fashion market if they attract attention from brides. New York-based Jenny Yoo is taking a more cautious approach and waiting for the dress to be revealed before making design decisions. The Justin Alexander Group is also considering the possibility of incorporating Swift-inspired elements into its upcoming collections. The company is currently working on designs for its spring and summer 2028 range. If Swift’s dress generates strong demand, bridal companies could attempt to bring similar styles to stores earlier than their usual production schedules. Independent bridal retailers are expected to take a less direct approach. Rather than reproducing Swift’s dress, they may highlight existing gowns that share similar features with the celebrity’s eventual look. The fashion frenzy also raises intellectual property questions. Legal experts say US copyright rules generally do not protect the basic cut, shape or silhouette of clothing. This can allow designers to create gowns influenced by a particular aesthetic. However, distinctive decorative details such as embroidery, beadwork or other original elements may receive legal protection. Brands could also face trademark or unfair competition issues if they falsely imply that a Swift-inspired gown is officially connected to the singer or Dior. For this reason, bridal companies are expected to draw inspiration from broader trends rather than directly market dresses using Swift’s or Dior’s names.

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