Babar Azam equals Imran Khan’s historic Pakistan record

Republican Representative Max Miller has confirmed he will remain in the race for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District after letting Saturday evening’s withdrawal deadline pass, ignoring widespread calls from fellow party leaders to step down amid abuse allegations. Miller has repeatedly denied accusations raised by his former wife, Emily Moreno. A spokesperson for the congressman confirmed on Sunday that he intends to proceed as a candidate in the upcoming November 3 midterm election. The ongoing controversy threatens Republican efforts to secure a congressional seat long considered a GOP stronghold. Party officials had privately lobbied Miller to abandon his campaign out of concern that the scandal could harm Republican prospects in the region. Allies of President Donald Trump also advised the former president to intervene and urge Miller to exit the contest. Prominent Ohio Republicans have publicly disavowed Miller’s candidacy. US Senator Bernie Moreno, Miller’s former father-in-law, stated that Miller should not serve in Congress, describing him as a danger to his daughter. Ohio Senator Jon Husted also called on Miller to withdraw from the ballot and resign his current seat immediately. Miller acknowledged in a statement last week that Trump characterised his re-election battle as tough, but maintained he would stay in the race to clear his name. The political fallout deepened after Miller released hundreds of private text messages, photos, and video files intended to bolster his defence. His legal team subsequently acknowledged that the archive inadvertently contained sensitive family information. Miller will face Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter, a local ironworker, in the November 3 election.

NEW DELHI: A massive youth-led protest in India’s capital has taken an unusual turn after thousands of demonstrators responded to a police crackdown not only with slogans but also with memes, short videos and social media posts. The online campaign has become a powerful extension of the street movement, with young protesters using humour to document their experiences and keep public attention focused on their demands. The demonstrations were organised by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth movement that first emerged over allegations of examination paper leaks and irregularities in government recruitment. Over time, the campaign expanded into a broader call for transparency, accountability and reforms in India’s education and recruitment systems. Tens of thousands of protesters marched towards Parliament in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Demonstrators accused the government of failing to stop repeated examination leaks that they say have damaged the future of millions of students. The minister has rejected the allegations and insisted that opposition parties are using students for political purposes. Police blocked the march before protesters could reach Parliament. Security personnel used tear gas and baton charges to disperse the crowd after demonstrators attempted to cross security barriers. Authorities also suspended mobile internet services around the protest area, saying the measure was necessary to maintain law and order. Both protesters and police reported injuries during the clashes. Demonstrators claimed that many participants were beaten during the operation, while police said several officers were also injured. Once internet services were restored, social media platforms were flooded with videos recorded during the protest. Instead of sharing only images of violence, many young protesters posted humorous clips showing themselves preparing for the march, running from tear gas and joking about the day’s events. Several participants uploaded “fit check” videos before joining the protest. The popular social media trend, usually used to show clothing and fashion, was transformed into political content. Some joked that they were dressed for a protest where they expected to face police action. Hours later, many of those same individuals were posting videos from the streets after the clashes. Other protesters shared short clips reviewing the effects of tear gas in a humorous style or laughing about the long distances they ran while escaping baton charges. The humour quickly attracted millions of views and became one of the defining features of the protest movement online. Participants said the jokes were never meant to make light of the violence. Instead, they described humour as a way to deal with fear and emotional stress. Many said laughing together helped them remain calm during an extremely tense situation. Young demonstrators also explained that recording videos had become a natural part of participating in modern protests. Smartphones allowed them to document events from their own perspective and preserve evidence of what happened on the streets. Researchers who study digital culture say the protests highlight how political activism is changing among younger generations. Unlike traditional demonstrations that relied mainly on speeches, banners and newspapers, today’s movements increasingly use short videos, memes and online storytelling to spread their message. Experts believe internet humour has become an effective political tool because it reaches audiences who may not normally follow current affairs. A single viral video or meme can introduce complex political issues to millions of young people in a simple and engaging way. Observers also note that humour has always played an important role in protest movements around the world. Songs, cartoons, street theatre and satire have historically helped protesters build unity, reduce fear and maintain morale during difficult campaigns. Social media has simply given those traditions a new digital form.

The United States has rejected suggestions that it is reducing its involvement in Asia. A senior Pentagon official said Washington plans to strengthen its position in the Indo-Pacific and maintain what it considers a favourable balance of power in the region. US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby made the remarks during a speech in Manila on Monday. He said the United States was not leaving Asia. Instead, Washington was increasing its focus on the region. Colby also called on US allies and partners to take greater responsibility for their own defence. He said Washington wanted stronger partnerships rather than relationships based on dependence. According to Colby, the United States expects its regional allies to increase defence spending and strengthen their own military capabilities. He said greater responsibility from partner countries should not be interpreted as a sign that Washington is abandoning the region. Colby argued that stronger allies would contribute to stronger deterrence and help maintain regional stability. The Pentagon official said the US strategy includes maintaining a credible military presence along the First Island Chain. The strategic area stretches from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines toward Borneo. It is considered important to US efforts to deter potential military threats in the Indo-Pacific. Colby said the United States was committed to maintaining a balance of power in the region. He also emphasised the need for allies to contribute more to regional security. His comments come amid continuing questions about the long-term US security commitment to Asia. Some regional governments and analysts have expressed concerns about whether Washington will remain as deeply involved in the Indo-Pacific as it has been in previous years. Colby sought to address those concerns by stressing that the United States intends to remain engaged. The Philippines is the first stop on Colby’s Southeast Asian tour. He is also scheduled to visit Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. The Philippines is a longstanding US treaty ally and has strengthened defence cooperation with Washington in recent years. The Pentagon official’s remarks are likely to be closely watched by US partners across the region. Washington is seeking to strengthen cooperation with allies while encouraging them to invest more heavily in their own defence. The approach reflects a broader US strategy of sharing the security burden with regional partners while maintaining a strong American military presence. Colby said the goal was to build capable partners rather than create countries that depend entirely on US protection. He maintained that stronger regional partners would make the overall US deterrence strategy more effective.