تازہ ترین

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    Rain likely in Karachi from today till August 3

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain accompanied by thunderstorms in Karachi from Saturday afternoon or evening until August 3 as a weather system continues to influence parts of Sindh. According to meteorologists, the intense low-pressure system that had developed over southern Madhya Pradesh has weakened further. It is now located near Rajasthan as a well-marked low-pressure area and is expected to weaken further over the next 24 hours. Despite weakening, the system continues to draw monsoon currents from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal into the upper and central parts of Pakistan. At the same time, a westerly weather system is also affecting the country’s northern regions, creating favourable conditions for rainfall in several areas. The Met Office said Karachi is likely to receive rain with thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon or evening through August 3 under the influence of the weather system. Weather experts also forecast intermittent rain accompanied by dust storms and thunderstorms in Tharparkar, Umerkot and Mithi until August 3. Similar weather conditions are expected in Sanghar, Hyderabad and surrounding districts during the same period. The PMD warned that heavy rainfall could lead to urban flooding in low-lying areas of Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Matiari, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan and Tando Allahyar. The department also cautioned that heavy rain, strong winds and lightning could damage weak structures. Farmers have been advised to plan their agricultural activities according to the changing weather conditions to avoid potential losses. For Karachi, the Met Office said the sky is expected to remain mostly cloudy during the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature is likely to reach around 36 degrees Celsius. During the past 24 hours, the minimum temperature recorded in the city was 29.5 degrees Celsius.

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    Iran warns of Strait of Hormuz closure as regional tensions escalate

    ByJustpaste.in

    TEHRAN: Iran has warned that continued US pressure in regional waters could force the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and other strategic maritime routes, as military and diplomatic tensions across the Middle East continue to intensify. Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said continued US actions in the region could have serious consequences for global shipping and energy supplies. According to Iranian state media, he warned that any further escalation could affect not only the Strait of Hormuz but also other key maritime chokepoints. He said such developments would have a significant impact on the global economy, international energy markets and trade, while also increasing political pressure within the United States. Meanwhile, Kuwait announced that its air defence systems intercepted drones launched from Iran early Saturday. The Kuwaiti military said the drones were successfully engaged before causing damage and confirmed that no casualties or destruction had been reported. Residents were advised to follow official safety instructions as authorities monitored the situation. In Yemen, the Houthi movement denied reports that it planned to charge commercial vessels for passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group’s Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center said no decision had been taken to impose transit fees and stressed that safe passage through the waterway remained free. The Houthis also urged shipping companies not to make payments to unauthorised individuals claiming to represent Yemeni authorities. The clarification came after reports suggested the group was considering introducing charges following its declaration of a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia. Separately, the Houthis claimed that eight Saudi oil tankers had been forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group said the diversions were a result of its maritime blockade, although the claim has not been independently verified. Maritime security concerns also increased after a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near the coast of Oman. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the projectile damaged the vessel’s engine room, leaving it unable to manoeuvre. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, while an investigation into the incident is underway. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is working with Oman to establish practical mechanisms for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. During a telephone conversation with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Araghchi said outside interference would only worsen the regional situation and complicate efforts to maintain maritime stability. The British foreign secretary reiterated London’s support for diplomacy and said the United Kingdom was not involved in any war with Iran. He stressed that dialogue remained the best path to reducing tensions in the region. Meanwhile, reports from US media suggested that Washington and Israel are considering possible strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure. According to the reports, discussions have focused on targeting energy facilities if diplomatic efforts fail. However, no final decision has been officially announced. Iranian officials responded by warning that the country has prepared plans to retaliate against any future military action targeting its territory. They said any attack would receive a strong response against strategic interests in the region.

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    Rubio warns of catastrophic US-China conflict

    ByJustpaste.in

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that any military or economic conflict between the United States and China would have devastating consequences for both countries and the wider world, stressing the importance of carefully managing relations between the two global powers. Speaking during a televised interview, Rubio said the relationship between Washington and Beijing remains one of the most significant challenges in international diplomacy. He cautioned that a direct confrontation between the world’s two largest economies would create severe political, economic and security consequences far beyond their borders. Rubio said the United States must continue protecting its national interests while avoiding actions that could trigger a major conflict. He described balancing competition with stability as one of the most difficult responsibilities of foreign policy. His remarks come as strategic rivalry between the United States and China continues to deepen across multiple sectors, including trade, technology, security and global influence. Economic tensions have remained high in recent years, with both countries imposing restrictions on each other’s industries. The United States has expanded trade measures and tightened controls on several Chinese products and technologies, citing national security concerns. Washington has also introduced new restrictions on advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics, as part of broader efforts to protect sensitive industries and limit the transfer of critical technologies. China has strongly criticised these measures, calling them unfair and unilateral. Beijing has repeatedly opposed US trade restrictions and warned that it could respond with countermeasures to protect its economic interests. Competition between the two countries has also intensified in the field of artificial intelligence, where both sides have exchanged allegations over technology development and intellectual property. Beyond economic and technological issues, both nations continue to strengthen their global influence through different diplomatic strategies. While the United States has focused on reinforcing partnerships with regional allies, China has expanded its engagement with developing countries and strengthened ties with nations across the Global South. Analysts believe that despite growing competition, both Washington and Beijing recognise the importance of maintaining communication to prevent tensions from escalating into open conflict.

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    JUI-F cleric shot dead in Waziristan

    ByJustpaste.in

    A religious scholar affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) was shot dead by unidentified attackers in the Azam Warsak area of Birmal tehsil in Lower South Waziristan, police said on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Maulana Muhammad Ismail. According to police, the attack took place shortly after Friday prayers when unidentified gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on the cleric. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene before he could receive medical assistance. The attackers fled immediately after carrying out the shooting. Police launched a search operation in the area, but no arrests have been made so far. District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Tahir confirmed the incident and said an initial case has been registered. He added that investigators are examining all possible motives behind the attack and collecting evidence to identify those responsible. According to local officials and tribal elders, Maulana Muhammad Ismail was a resident of Kazha Panga and served as a teacher at a religious seminary in the area. He was known for his religious services and educational work in the community. Following the incident, law enforcement personnel reached the crime scene and shifted the body for legal formalities. Security was also tightened in nearby areas as authorities began efforts to trace the attackers. Police said no group has claimed responsibility for the killing. Investigators are questioning witnesses and reviewing available information to determine whether the attack was linked to personal enmity, militancy or any other motive. The killing has once again highlighted security concerns in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where religious and political figures have occasionally been targeted in violent attacks. Earlier this year, former JUI-F provincial lawmaker Maulana Muhammad Idrees was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Charsadda. In a separate incident in January, JUI-F leader Maulana Sultan Muhammad Wazir succumbed to injuries after being critically wounded in a bomb blast near a religious seminary in Wana Bazaar, South Waziristan.

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    Niall and Harry were too nervous for zero-gravity shoot, reveals Louis

    ByJustpaste.in

    Louis Tomlinson has shared a fun, previously untold detail about the making of One Direction’s Drag Me Down music video. A clip of the singer has resurfaced online. In it, he looks back at the time the band filmed at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. One Direction remains the only band to ever shoot a music video at the facility. According to Tomlinson, the original concept was even bigger than what fans finally saw. The band had planned to film a segment in actual zero-gravity conditions. But the plan never made it to the screen. The reason, Tomlinson revealed, was simple. Niall Horan got nervous about the idea. “And he will not be too happy about me telling this but we didn’t do it cause Niall was too scared,” Tomlinson said in the clip. The host then pushed back, asking if it was really just Niall who refused. Tomlinson didn’t let Harry Styles off the hook either. “To be fair, it was Niall and Harry to be fair,” he said, laughing. Fans have long loved Drag Me Down for its space-age visuals. Now it turns out the video could have looked even more dramatic, had the full zero-gravity plan gone ahead. Drag Me Down was released in 2015. It served as the lead single from One Direction’s fifth and final studio album, Made in the A.M. The music video saw all four remaining members, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, and Liam Payne, suited up in real spacesuits. They filmed around training jets on location at the space center. The song went on to become one of the band’s biggest global hits. It broke streaming records within hours of release. It also topped charts in multiple countries. The track later won Best Music Video at the BRIT Awards in 2016. More than a decade later, One Direction’s fans are still discovering new layers to their favourite era. This latest story, straight from Tomlinson himself, has only added to the nostalgia surrounding the band’s space-themed video. For many longtime fans, hearing these old memories resurface feels like a small gift. It’s a reminder of just how much creative risk-taking went into the band’s biggest moments, even the ones that never made the final cut.

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    Preparations complete for 2nd phase of AJK legisla…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Lahore: Preparations are in full swing for the second phase of the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, during which polling will also be held for 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan. These refugees migrated to Pakistan following the Partition of British India in 1947 and continue to elect their representatives to the AJK Legislative Assembly. Election authorities are set to distribute polling materials and election-related equipment to polling staff today. Polling for two refugee constituencies in Lahore will take place on Sunday, with thousands of registered Kashmiri refugee voters expected to cast their ballots. LA-34 Jammu Constituency For LA-34 Jammu, a total of 15 polling stations have been established in Lahore. These include one male polling station, one female polling station, and 13 combined polling stations. The constituency has a total of 5,965 registered voters, comprising 3,175 male and 2,790 female voters. Election authorities have set up 30 polling booths to facilitate voting. A total of 17 candidates are contesting the seat. Among the prominent candidates, Bilal Mukhtar Butt of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) has been allotted the Eagle symbol, Chaudhry Abdul Qadir Chauhan of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will contest on the Arrow symbol, Raja Muhammad Sohail of Jamaat-e-Islami has been assigned the Scales symbol, while Nasir Hussain Dar of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will contest on the Lion symbol. LA-41 Valley Constituency Polling for LA-41 Valley will also be held on Sunday. The constituency has 6,410 registered voters in total. Out of these, 5,708 voters are registered in Lahore, 583 in Sheikhupura, 117 in Nankana Sahib, and two voters in Kasur. Election authorities have established 19 polling stations for the constituency, including 13 in Lahore, four in Sheikhupura, and one each in Nankana Sahib and Kasur. Notably, a dedicated polling station has been established in Kasur for just two registered voters, ensuring that every eligible voter is able to exercise their constitutional right. A total of nine candidates are contesting the LA-41 seat. The main contest is expected between PML-N candidate Muhammad Amir Shah and independent candidate Saba Diwan, who is backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). PPP candidate Ghulam Abbas Mir and IPP candidate Saeed Ahmad Dar are also among the contestants. Polling across both constituencies will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, with election officials making arrangements to ensure a smooth, transparent, and peaceful voting process.

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    Gaurav Khanna accused of bullying by ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi 15’ contestant

    ByJustpaste.in

    Rohit Shetty is making his return as host of Khatron Ke Khiladi after a two-year break. The upcoming season is already generating buzz among fans of the stunt-based reality show. According to the makers, this season will raise the bar for the entire franchise. Filming recently wrapped in Cape Town, South Africa. The team shot a fresh set of high-intensity action sequences during the schedule. The new season will also come with an updated format. It will mix familiar faces with fresh contestants. The idea, according to the makers, is to keep the competition unpredictable right until the end. Amid the excitement around the new season, one contestant has made some sharp comments about co-star Gaurav Khanna. “I think Gaurav Khanna is one person I would not want to meet,” she said. She went on to accuse Khanna of repeatedly targeting her during tasks on the show. Her claim is that whenever a group of contestants failed at a challenge, Khanna would single her out more than the others. She recalled him making comments like calling her weak or accusing her of giving up too easily. The contestant also reflected on how reality television can change people. She said the environment tends to bring out a different version of a person’s personality. Because of this, she admitted she is not entirely sure whether Khanna behaves the same way off camera as he does on the show. Her comments have already started making rounds online. Fans and viewers have taken note, with many curious to see how this dynamic unfolds once the season begins airing. Khatron Ke Khiladi has long been known for testing contestants both physically and mentally. Given the show’s demanding format, tensions between participants aren’t unusual. However, direct allegations like these tend to draw extra attention before a season even premieres. With Rohit Shetty back in the host’s chair and the show promising bigger stunts this time around, all eyes are now on how the new season handles both its action sequences and the interpersonal dynamics between its contestants. For now, fans will have to wait for the official premiere to see how these tensions, if any, play out on screen.

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    Imtiaz Ali celebrates ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’s rare 50-day run

    ByJustpaste.in

    Main Vaapas Aaunga has pulled off something most films rarely manage. The Partition-era love story has slowly grown into one of this year’s standout box office stories. What makes it even more special is that it did so purely on word of mouth. Helmed by filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, the film brings together Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina. It has now completed a full 50 days in theatres. The film continues to draw audiences well into its eighth week of release. Trade data from Sacnilk shows the film was made on a budget of nearly Rs 70 crore. Its collections have now touched Rs 99.21 crore worldwide. For a film that opened on a slower note, this steady climb marks a genuine turnaround. Marking the milestone, the 55-year-old director shared a warm, personal note with fans. His message centered entirely around gratitude for the audience’s support. “50 days in cinemas!! This is a rare feat for any film,” Ali wrote. He said his first thought upon reaching this milestone was one of thankfulness toward viewers. According to him, it was ordinary moviegoers who connected emotionally with the story and then encouraged friends and family to watch it too. He described this word of mouth as something that happened simply because people liked the film, with no other push behind it. Imtiaz Ali also spoke about what this success represents for the Hindi film industry at large. He called the audience’s warm response a source of encouragement for filmmakers everywhere. He also noted that this love would continue pushing him to create better, more engaging cinema going forward. The Rockstar director did not limit his gratitude to his own project. He also congratulated the broader Hindi film industry for the healthy theatre attendance seen throughout the year. Main Vaapas Aaunga initially opened across 804 screens spanning 59 countries. The film’s reach later grew further, with 15 additional European territories added to its release. Interestingly, the film also found strong footing in cities not traditionally known as Hindi cinema strongholds, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. Given its consistent run and growing numbers, Main Vaapas Aaunga looks set to remain a major talking point in Bollywood for weeks to come.

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    Search operation resumes for seven missing Broad Peak climbers

    ByJustpaste.in

    GILGIT: Search and rescue teams resumed their operation on Saturday morning to locate seven climbers who remain missing after a deadly avalanche struck Broad Peak earlier this week. The mission restarted after weather conditions improved, allowing rescuers to return to one of the world’s most challenging mountain environments. The rescue operation had been suspended late Friday because of heavy snowfall, poor visibility and the continuing risk of avalanches. Officials said improving weather conditions enabled both ground and air teams to resume the search. The avalanche occurred on Thursday while a 10-member international expedition was climbing Broad Peak, an 8,047-metre mountain in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. According to regional authorities, the climbers were ascending at an altitude of around 6,600 metres when they were caught in the massive avalanche. Three climbers were confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered on Friday. The deceased were identified as Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung and American climber Mallory Geis. Their bodies were later airlifted to Skardu. Seven climbers are still missing. They include internationally renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, fellow Nepali climbers Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi and Chinese climber Wang Zhong. According to the local administration, a three-member civilian rescue team led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz Khan resumed the ground search on Saturday morning. Experienced Nepali climbers already stationed at the Broad Peak base camp also joined the rescue effort to assist in locating the missing mountaineers. Pakistan Army helicopters have also been deployed to support the operation. Rescue officials said helicopters are assisting with aerial surveillance, transporting rescue personnel and assessing areas that remain inaccessible by foot. Officials from the Alpine Club of Pakistan said the search operation remains extremely difficult because of steep mountain slopes, unstable snow, harsh weather and the constant threat of further avalanches. These conditions continue to slow rescue efforts and increase risks for search teams. Rescuers have also been using drone technology to scan the mountain. During the operation, drone footage reportedly identified signs of additional climbers at an altitude of around 6,000 metres. Ground teams are attempting to reach the location despite dangerous terrain and difficult weather conditions. The international rescue effort has also received support from renowned Nepali climber Mingma David Sherpa, who travelled to Pakistan to assist in the search for Nirmal Purja and the other missing climbers. Authorities said the expedition team was last in contact on Thursday morning before communication was lost. Data from the climbers’ tracking devices later suggested that several members of the team had been swept hundreds of metres down the mountainside by the avalanche.

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    Kabaddi player’s wife dies in suspected suicide

    ByJustpaste.in

    HARYANA: Muskan, the 23-year-old wife of international Indian kabaddi player Shailu Ballhara, was found dead at her residence in the Indian state of Haryana in what police believe to be a suspected suicide, according to Indian media reports. The incident reportedly took place on Friday afternoon. Family members informed the police after discovering her unconscious at the house. Law enforcement officials, along with a forensic team, reached the scene soon afterward and began collecting evidence. Police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death. Officials said the exact cause behind the suspected suicide has not yet been established, and investigators are examining all possible aspects of the case. According to Muskan’s family, she married Shailu Ballhara in December 2023. The couple welcomed their son, Hardik, in November 2025. Relatives said the family had been living together following the birth of their child. Investigators are also reviewing Muskan’s recent social media activity. Indian media reported that a day before her death, she shared a video featuring a sad Punjabi song, which has become part of the ongoing investigation. However, police have not confirmed whether the post was linked to the incident. Officials said statements from family members and other individuals are being recorded, while forensic evidence collected from the residence is being examined. Authorities added that no conclusions will be drawn until the investigation is complete.