تازہ ترین

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    Vedika Pinto receives love for promoting Musafir Cafe on Instagram

    Actor Vedika Pinto has once again captured the attention of her fans with a cheerful Instagram post promoting her latest project, Musafir Cafe. The actress shared a series of bright and elegant photos, giving followers a glimpse of her stylish look while encouraging them to watch the Netflix series. Dressed in a maroon saree and wearing a warm smile, Vedika kept her look simple yet graceful. Her latest post quickly gained traction on social media, with thousands of fans praising both her appearance and her performance in the recently released series. Sharing the photos, Vedika wrote, “Monday ko kam jeete ho kya? Musafir Cafe on @netflixin pleeeease go watch it if you haven’t already.” The light-hearted caption struck a chord with her followers, who flooded the comments section with encouraging messages and compliments. Within a short time, the post crossed 125,000 likes, reflecting the growing popularity of both the actress and the series. Many viewers applauded Vedika for her role in Musafir Cafe, saying her performance left a lasting impression. One fan commented, “I absolutely loved your role girl,” while another wrote, “I’m in love with Sudha. Best series ever. Congratulations Vedika.” Several other users described her performance as “great acting” and “lovely work,” while many called her one of their favorite actors. Some fans also praised the storytelling of Musafir Cafe, calling it a well-written series with strong performances from the entire cast. Beyond the appreciation for her acting, Vedika’s latest photographs also received plenty of admiration. Fans complimented her traditional look, elegant styling, and radiant smile. Comments including “Nostalgic,” “Movie cute,” and “Right now you are my favorite” reflected the affection she continues to receive from her growing fan base. Vedika has steadily built a strong presence in the entertainment industry through her performances and active engagement with fans on social media. Her posts often attract positive reactions, as followers enjoy seeing glimpses of her personal style and behind-the-scenes moments from her professional journey. Musafir Cafe has also generated considerable buzz among viewers, with many praising its engaging storyline and memorable characters. The positive response to the series has further boosted Vedika’s popularity, with audiences highlighting her portrayal as one of the standout performances. As conversations around the show continue online, Vedika’s latest Instagram update has added to the excitement surrounding Musafir Cafe. By combining a cheerful message with elegant photographs, the actress successfully encouraged more viewers to discover the series while strengthening her connection with fans. With overwhelming appreciation pouring in for both her appearance and her performance, Vedika Pinto continues to enjoy a wave of positive attention on social media. Her latest post serves as another reminder of the strong bond she shares with her audience, who remain eager to support her work and celebrate her achievements.

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    Riteish Deshmukh slams Yogesh Rawat, ends Lock Upp journey

    A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Lock Upp after contestant Yogesh Rawat returned to the reality show by defeating Dheeraj Dhoopar in a challenge. However, his comeback was short-lived as co-host Riteish Deshmukh confronted him over remarks about the show’s popularity and ultimately asked him to leave the competition. After re-entering the jail, Yogesh was seen interacting with fellow contestants Akanksha Choudhary, Ram Kapoor, Akanksha Chamola, and Pamala. During the conversation, he claimed that the show’s TRP had dropped after his eviction and suggested that the makers had no choice but to bring him back because of his popularity. His comments did not go unnoticed. Riteish Deshmukh, who had been listening from outside, addressed the contestants and questioned Yogesh over his statements. The actor appeared visibly upset and challenged Yogesh’s claim that the show depended on his presence. Riteish reminded him of the exact remarks he had made, saying that Yogesh had implied the show suffered after his exit and that his fans had forced the makers to bring him back. He strongly objected to the attitude behind those comments and asked Yogesh whether he genuinely believed the show existed because of him. The host further clarified that Yogesh’s elimination had not been a personal decision. He pointed out that the contestant had lost a task and was evicted based on the format of the game, not because of any individual choice made by the hosts or the platform. When Yogesh tried to explain that he had merely expressed his personal feelings, Riteish interrupted and stressed that every statement made on the show reflected not only on the contestants but also on the hosts, the streaming platform, and the program itself. He said that claiming the show’s ratings had fallen and would rise again because of one contestant showed an inappropriate level of arrogance. Riteish then delivered a firm response, telling Yogesh that the show did not need him and announcing that he was being terminated from the house. He added that contestants must take responsibility for every word they speak and understand the impact of their public statements. The confrontation marked the climax of an already tense episode. Earlier, Yogesh had also clashed with Riteish during a separate exchange. As the contestant questioned the way events had unfolded, saying, “Sir, if this was what you wanted to do, then…,” Riteish immediately cut him off. The host firmly replied, “Don’t tell me. Don’t put this act with me,” making it clear that he was not willing to entertain further arguments. The heated exchange quickly became one of the episode’s biggest talking points among viewers, with fans reacting strongly to the unexpected termination. Yogesh’s dramatic return, bold claims about the show’s ratings, and his confrontation with Riteish Deshmukh ensured that the episode remained packed with controversy and intense emotions, making it one of the most talked-about moments of the current season of Lock Upp.

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    Coalitional fallout as violence and electoral fraud claims mar Azad Kashmir elections

    A bitter clash between federal coalition partners has erupted over the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, following the death of a political worker and mutual allegations of voter fraud. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) condemned the killing of 35-year-old party worker Mukhtar Younus during polling in Nikyal, Kotli. Addressing a joint press conference, Sindh Local Governments Minister Saeed Ghani directly blamed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate and supporters for the shooting, stating, “The way this election campaign was conducted, the result is that bullets are being fired today… Our workers are dying.” Ghani heavily criticised the Election Commission for failing to enforce code of conduct rules and accused the Punjab government of attempting to influence voters by promising public buses during the campaign. He also took aim at PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s comparative statements regarding Sindh and Kashmir, asserting: “When you say ‘this is Kashmir, not Kashmore’ or ‘this is Mirpur, not Mirpur Khas’, you hurt the people of Sindh… Perhaps that is why people say the PML-N is not a national party but a Punjabi party.” Rejecting the accusations, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari presented video footage alleging that a PML-N candidate discovered bags of pre-stamped ballot papers at the home of a PPP candidate in Kotli. Pointing out the contradiction, Bokhari remarked, “Yesterday they said they would not let rigging happen. Today they are rigging.” Defending her party’s track record, Bokhari argued that public transit is a basic necessity and noted that the promised buses for AJK had not yet begun operating. She maintained that voters in the Mirpur division were turning out despite boycott calls, seeking Punjab-style developmental projects such as electric buses, housing, and youth scholarships. Addressing queries regarding Nawaz Sharif’s interest in the region, Bokhari clarified that the former prime minister does not seek an official title, but simply wishes to offer development guidance to AJK due to his Kashmiri heritage.

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    PML-N secures lead in first phase of Azad Kashmir general elections

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the leading party in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly general elections, securing seven seats across 13 constituencies in the Mirpur Division. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) finished as the runner-up with three seats, while counting remains underway for the remaining constituencies, including LA-6 Bhimber, LA-10 Kotli, and LA-12. In the declared unofficial results for the Mirpur district constituencies, PPP candidate Qasim Majeed won LA-2 Mirpur-II with 12,904 votes, defeating PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry, who received 8,182 votes. PPP also claimed LA-3 Mirpur-III, where Chaudhry Yasir Sultan secured 11,676 votes against PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed with 9,832 votes. However, PML-N captured LA-1 Mirpur-I, with Azhar Sadiq securing 15,427 votes over PPP’s Muhammad Afsar Shahid with 9,832 votes, as well as LA-4 Mirpur-IV, where Rukhsar Ahmed won with 20,172 votes over PPP’s Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad with 13,865 votes. In the Bhimber district, PML-N’s Waqar Ahmed Noor narrowly won LA-5 Bhimber-I with 29,875 votes against PPP’s Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf, who polled 29,143 votes. PML-N candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq secured LA-7 Bhimber-III with 35,490 votes, defeating independent candidate Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who received 25,100 votes. Across the Kotli district, PPP’s Zafar Iqbal Malik took LA-8 Kotli-I with 19,535 votes over PML-N’s Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan with 11,966 votes. PML-N secured the remaining declared Kotli seats, with Umair Niazi winning LA-9 Kotli-II with 31,080 votes against PPP’s Javed Iqbal Budhanvi with 28,509 votes; Muhammad Asif taking LA-11 Kotli-IV with 26,190 votes over PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq with 21,751 votes and Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan winning LA-13 Kotli-VI with 21,856 votes, defeating Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Nisar Ansar Abdali, who received 15,859 votes. Polling throughout the division was reported as largely peaceful, with high voter turnout despite minor isolated disruptions.

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    Two presiding officers arrested in Kotli over rigging claims as Rana Sanaullah demands election halt

    The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has suspended and arrested two presiding officers in Kotli after they were caught transporting polling materials to a private residence instead of their assigned polling station. According to an election commission spokesperson, a returning officer intercepted the officers, seized the two polling bags, and appointed replacement presiding officers to ensure the voting process could continue at the station. The commission confirmed that formal legal proceedings are underway against the arrested officials, emphasising that negligence or irregularities will not be tolerated and that strict measures remain in place to guarantee transparent elections. Following the incident, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Rana Sanaullah demanded the immediate suspension of voting in the Kotli LA-10 constituency. Sanaullah urged the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and the Chief Election Commissioner to launch an inquiry into the accused officials, named as Saqlain and Qaiser Patwari. Calling for polls in LA-10 to be halted until the investigation concludes, Sanaullah insisted on determining where the polling bags were being taken, noting that AJK Peoples Party President Chaudhry Yasin is contesting the constituency.

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    MQM-P announces public rallies for protest movement and new province demand

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) has unveiled a schedule of public rallies across Karachi and Hyderabad as part of the next phase of its protest movement, primarily focused on pressing its demands, including the creation of a new province. The decision was formalised during a meeting at the party’s Bahadurabad centre, attended by senior leadership including Anis Qaimkhani and central committee member Furqan Ateeb. Under the newly announced schedule, the party will kick off its public demonstrations in Surjani Town on August 9, followed by a second gathering in Orangi Town on August 23. The movement will then expand to Hyderabad on September 11, before concluding this phase of demonstrations with a rally in PIB Town on September 27. In addition to the protest lineup, the party leadership resolved to hold large-scale Independence Day celebrations. Festivities are scheduled to run from August 1 through August 14 across all towns, union councils, educational institutions, colleges, and universities.

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    Lahore High Court rules abused women retain dower rights following divorce

    The Lahore High Court has ruled that a woman who seeks a divorce on the grounds of her husband’s cruelty, abuse, or marital misconduct is not automatically deprived of her right to receive her unpaid dower, known as haq mehr. Delivering the judgment, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani dismissed a petition filed by a man challenging lower court decisions in Toba Tek Singh that awarded 50 percent of a deferred dower to his former wife, Nisha Shahid. The petitioner argued that under family law provisions, the court lacked a legal basis to grant dower following a khula dissolution. However, the High Court drew a clear distinction between a standard khula, where a woman seeks separation solely due to personal incompatibility, and a judicial dissolution triggered by a husband’s mistreatment. The court clarified that abuse encompasses physical violence as well as psychological, emotional, verbal, and economic misconduct, noting that a wife is not required to present formal medical reports or police filings to establish her claim. The ruling directed Family Courts to assess the underlying causes of a marital breakdown rather than stripping a woman of her dower rights purely because the separation is categorized as a khula. Additionally, the Lahore High Court recommended that the Punjab government and the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan update relevant family laws to ensure clear determinations of fault in dower disputes.

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    Houthis seek to replicate Iran’s Strait of Hormuz strategy in Red Sea, warns Yemeni diplomat

    Yemen’s Houthi movement is attempting to replicate Iran’s strategy in the Strait of Hormuz by disrupting maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Yemeni Foreign Minister-designate Afrah al-Zouba warned on Monday. Speaking to reporters at the Yemeni Embassy in Riyadh, al-Zouba stated that an insufficient international response has emboldened the group to pursue control over critical Red Sea shipping corridors. The Red Sea has emerged as a major flashpoint following escalations linked to the broader regional conflict involving Iran. The Houthis have intensified operations against Saudi Arabia by launching drone and missile strikes and announcing a blockade on Saudi-bound shipping. In response, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes targeting Houthi military positions and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting commercial maritime routes. The surge in hostilities threatens to unravel the fragile truce established in 2022, raising concerns among diplomats and officials over a potential return to full-scale war in Yemen. Al-Zouba confirmed that while military skirmishes persist along frontline positions stretching from the Red Sea to the Saudi border, neither side has launched a major ground offensive. She emphasised that the internationally recognised government is prepared for further escalation, asserting that the conflict must ultimately be resolved either diplomatically or by force.

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    Zelensky accuses Iran of direct role in Russia’s war against Ukraine

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Iran of directly participating in the war against Ukraine through its continuous military support for Russia. Speaking on potential threats following a recent incident involving an Iranian vessel, Zelensky urged caution to prevent the opening of another front while stressing that Ukraine must remain prepared for all scenarios. He stated that Tehran became a direct participant by supplying Moscow with thousands of attack drones from the outset of the full-scale invasion and subsequently granting licences for local production. He added that both Iran and North Korea have effectively attacked Ukraine by supplying Russia with weaponry, including missiles, drones, and artillery ammunition. In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei rejected assertions that Tehran had sought negotiations with the United States to end hostilities, asserting that Iran will independently determine matters of war and peace. Baghaei added that Washington had initially expected an Iranian surrender within days of commencing attacks, yet months later, the United States continues to face severe challenges in the region.

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    Indian activists challenge AI-powered police surveillance following student demonstrations

    Indian digital rights activists and student leaders are challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in the Delhi High Court over the deployment of artificial intelligence-powered mass surveillance during recent youth protests in New Delhi. Student activist Aishe Ghosh filed a petition with the Delhi High Court seeking to declare the police’s mass surveillance of demonstrators unconstitutional. The lawsuit requests the immediate destruction of all personal and biometric data collected during the demonstrations and asks the court to establish clear binding guidelines governing the use of surveillance technologies at public gatherings. The controversy intensified after photographs circulated showing a mobile police surveillance unit, branded “Ikshana” and developed alongside security firm CP Plus, deployed at the main protest site. The vehicle featured telescopic masts providing 360-degree coverage, AI-powered cameras, and real-time facial recognition capabilities that displayed face accuracy metrics to match attendees against law enforcement databases. Furthermore, police officers were documented recording the social media handles of arriving participants. Digital rights organisations, including the Internet Freedom Foundation, have formally requested the Delhi Police Commissioner to delete all biometric data gathered during the events. Advocates emphasise that India currently lacks a dedicated legal framework governing police deployment of facial recognition systems, making such intrusive measures disproportionate and illegal. During court proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta defended law enforcement actions, arguing that expectations of privacy at a public gathering were misplaced and asserting that the security measures were absolutely necessary in the interest of public order. Delhi Police maintained that the technology was used solely to identify individuals with criminal histories and count crowd size without restricting freedoms. The court challenge continues despite the end of the student demonstrations, which were triggered by widespread examination paper leaks in national competitive tests. The protests culminated in the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the announcement of a government panel tasked with overhauling the national examination system.