تازہ ترین

  • |

    Meta faces major trial over alleged harmful impact

    ByJustpaste.in

      Meta Platforms is facing a major legal battle in a California federal court, where a group of state attorneys general is accusing the company of deliberately designing Facebook and Instagram in ways that can make children and teenagers addicted to social media. The trial, beginning Wednesday in Oakland, could result in huge financial penalties and force Meta to make major changes to how its platforms operate. The seven-week trial will examine allegations from Colorado, Kentucky, California and New Jersey that Meta designed its platforms to keep young users engaged for extended periods while misleading the public about their safety. The case also involves claims from 29 states that Meta illegally collected and used children’s personal information, allegedly violating federal law. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, with opening statements expected on August 18. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify during the proceedings, along with Instagram chief Adam Mosseri. The case is considered one of the biggest legal challenges yet faced by Meta over the effects of social media on young people. The company has estimated that potential damages could reach $1.4 trillion, a figure close to its market value of around $1.5 trillion. However, the states involved have not publicly revealed how much compensation they intend to seek. The attorneys general are also asking the court to order Meta to introduce stronger age restrictions and remove features such as infinite scrolling. They want the company to make additional changes aimed at reducing the potential negative effects of social media on children. Meta has strongly rejected the allegations and said it expects evidence presented during the trial to demonstrate its efforts to protect young users. The company said it has listened to parents, worked with experts and law enforcement agencies, and conducted extensive research into issues affecting children and teenagers. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, followed a multistate investigation into the impact of Facebook and Instagram on young users. The investigation gained momentum after former Meta employee and whistleblower Frances Haugen testified before a US Senate committee in 2021. Haugen alleged that Meta was aware of potential harm to young users and had information about ways to make its platforms safer but chose not to make certain changes. New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has accused Meta of continuing to prioritise user engagement and profits despite allegedly knowing that its platforms could negatively affect children. Public concern over social media use among young people is also growing. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 85% of Americans believe social media can be addictive for children, while 61% said social media companies need stronger government oversight. Meta and other technology companies are facing thousands of similar lawsuits from states, school districts, local governments and individuals. Two cases that have already reached juries resulted in verdicts against Meta. Last week, a New Mexico judge ordered the company to pay $567 million and make changes to its platforms after finding Meta responsible for contributing to a children’s mental health crisis in the state. Meta continues to deny wrongdoing and has argued that social media addiction is not officially recognised as a psychiatric condition. Legal experts believe the latest trial could become a crucial test for the company, particularly following recent courtroom losses. The case will be overseen by US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who has taken the unusual step of using an advisory jury to provide findings on specific questions. Rogers will consider the jury’s conclusions but will have the final authority over the case. The states are seeking financial damages as well as nationwide changes to Meta’s platforms. Their demands include stronger age restrictions, deletion of systems created using children’s data, limits on notifications and infinite scrolling, and changes to algorithms so that the well-being of young users is given greater importance than simply maximising engagement.

  • | |

    Islamabad’s Margalla trails to remain closed tom…

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Islamabad administration has announced the closure of several popular hiking trails in the Margalla Hills for Thursday, August 13. According to the administration, Trails 2, 3, 4 and 5 will remain closed to the public throughout the day. The decision applies to visitors, hikers and other citizens who regularly use these trails for recreational activities. Officials also confirmed that the trail located behind Saidpur Village will remain closed on August 13. Citizens have been advised to avoid attempting to access the closed routes and to follow instructions issued by the local administration. The Margalla Hills trails attract a large number of residents and visitors, particularly in the morning and evening hours. The temporary closure is expected to affect routine hiking and recreational activities in the designated areas. The administration has urged citizens to cooperate with officials and avoid entering restricted locations until the trails are reopened.

  • | |

    Two convicts sentenced to life for abducting, assa…

    ByJustpaste.in

    KARACHI: A sessions court in Karachi has sentenced two men to double life imprisonment after finding them guilty of abducting a minor girl and subjecting her to gang sexual assault after luring her with the promise of ration. The Additional Sessions Court Karachi South also imposed a fine of Rs200,000 each on the convicts. The court ordered them to pay Rs500,000 each in compensation to the victim. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred in 2022 when the accused allegedly lured the girl, who was from a begging family, with the promise of providing food supplies. They subsequently abducted her and subjected her to sexual assault. During the trial, the victim identified the accused during an identification parade. The court observed that her testimony held significant importance in establishing the prosecution’s case. The court further noted that the medical evidence was consistent with the victim’s account and supported the allegations made against the accused. After reviewing the evidence presented before it, the court concluded that the prosecution had successfully established the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt and handed down the sentences accordingly.

  • | |

    Ride-hailing driver reveals final journey of Waffl…

    ByJustpaste.in

      The ride-hailing driver who transported Wafflix owner Mir Raza Ali shortly before his death has shared details of the young man’s final journey, describing how Ali personally guided him through several roads in Karachi before being dropped outside a bank in Gulistan-e-Johar. Ali, 25, was allegedly abducted from the PECHS area before his body was discovered in bushes near a wedding hall in Gulistan-e-Johar. Police initially suspected that he may have been tortured before being shot. The circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear for some time, including speculation over whether he had been murdered or had died by suicide. However, a second post-mortem reportedly strengthened his family’s claim that Ali had been killed. In a video statement released on Wednesday, the driver, Ehsanullah, recalled accepting Ali’s ride during the early hours of the morning. He said the booking came through at around 3:57am. After accepting it, he reached the pickup location at approximately 4:06am and called Ali a minute later to inform him that he had arrived. According to the driver, Ali asked him to wait for a couple of minutes before coming outside. Ehsanullah said Ali arrived around 4:09am, after which the journey began. The driver said they initially left the street and headed towards Khalid bin Waleed Road. He recalled that when he was about to take a turn, Ali stopped him and instructed him to use another route towards a one-way road leading towards Imtiaz and Tariq Road. During the journey, Ali reportedly asked whether the vehicle had Bluetooth or a speaker. After connecting his mobile phone, he played music while continuing to guide the driver. Ehsanullah said he relied on the navigation system while also following Ali’s instructions. The route reportedly took them from Tariq Road to Bahadurabad and then towards Aga Khan Hospital, Stadium Road, Millennium Wall and Perfume Chowk. They subsequently travelled through Johar Mor, Mosamiyat and Samama before reaching Continental Bakery. The driver said Ali then directed him to take another turn and continue ahead before eventually asking him to stop. Ehsanullah said he dropped Ali outside a bank and then left the area. Meanwhile, Sindh Inspector General of Police Javed Alam Odho acknowledged shortcomings in the investigation into Ali’s death. Speaking at a ceremony at the Sindh Bar Council, he said the case was being reassessed following a new medico-legal report. Odho described Ali’s death as tragic and said a new investigation team had been instructed to conduct a transparent and independent inquiry. He acknowledged that there had been lapses, particularly concerning the medico-legal process, and said the shortcomings would be addressed. Ali’s body was discovered on July 29 with a gunshot wound. Investigators later recovered a .30-bore pistol casing from the crime scene on August 6, although the firearm itself had not been found. Following concerns raised by Ali’s family and evidence suggesting he had been shot from behind, the previous investigation team was dissolved. A new team, headed by DIG Investigation and Crime Amir Farooqi, was formed. The family’s lawyer, Jibran Nasir, had previously called for an impartial investigation and alleged that the family had been pressured to accept a suicide explanation. A judicial magistrate in Karachi’s East district has also directed police to submit a progress report in the case by August 15 as the renewed investigation continues.

  • | |

    National Assembly security assistant suspended

    ByJustpaste.in

    The National Assembly Secretariat has suspended security assistant Waqas Ahmed over alleged misuse of official powers. According to an official notification issued by the National Assembly Secretariat, the security official has been removed from his existing duties and directed to report immediately to the Human Resources Management Branch. The notification did not provide detailed information about the specific incident or circumstances that led to the disciplinary action. However, it stated that the suspension was linked to the alleged misuse of authority. The development comes as the National Assembly Secretariat continues to enforce administrative and disciplinary measures among its employees to ensure compliance with official rules and regulations. Waqas Ahmed has been instructed to follow the directions contained in the notification and report to the designated HR branch without delay. Further action in the matter is expected after the relevant authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the alleged violation.

  • | |

    One killed as fire breaks out on Indonesian ferry …

    ByJustpaste.in

    Indonesian rescue teams pulled more than 200 people to safety on Wednesday after a ferry that departed from the resort island of Bali caught fire in waters near Lombok, officials said, as crews continued searching for any passengers still unaccounted for. By Wednesday afternoon, authorities had confirmed one Indonesian national dead among the 212 people evacuated to ports in Bali and Lombok, according to Muhammad Hariyadi, head of the local search and rescue agency. Most of those rescued were Indonesian citizens, with one Australian national also among the evacuees. The KM Putri Yasmin had departed Padangbai port in Bali bound for Lembar port when the fire broke out, Hariyadi said. Authorities have not yet determined what caused the blaze or whether the vessel was carrying more passengers than permitted. Hariyadi said rescue teams deployed multiple boats to carry out evacuations and coordinate with other vessels near the site of the incident, with more than 200 personnel involved in the response. The fire broke out in the Lombok Strait at 4:39 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Hariyadi said. Earlier in the day, Padangbai port official Heri Wiyanto told a local broadcaster that the ferry’s manifest listed only 114 passengers and 17 crew members, raising questions about whether the vessel exceeded its registered capacity. The incident comes less than a month after a separate ferry fire killed five people off the coast of Madura island, when the KM Mutiara Sentosa 2 caught fire while also carrying more passengers than its manifest indicated. Indonesia, a nation made up of roughly 17,000 islands, depends heavily on ferries for transportation between islands, since sea travel remains cheaper and more widely available than flying in many parts of the archipelago. Enforcement of maritime safety standards varies widely across the country, however, contributing to a comparatively high rate of ferry accidents in Indonesian waters.

  • | |

    British serial attacker gets whole life term for t…

    ByJustpaste.in

    A London court sentenced a serial sex offender to spend the rest of his life in prison on Wednesday, following his conviction for two murders and a rape carried out during an escalating pattern of sexual violence that police and prosecutors repeatedly failed to stop. Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty last week of murdering Carmenza Valencia Trujillo in March 2025 and Sheryl Wilkins in August 2025, along with raping and seriously assaulting a third woman in January of that year. Police had arrested Levy multiple times over sexual assaults against women on crowded commuter trains before eventually detaining him on suspicion of killing 53 year old Valencia Trujillo in April 2025. Authorities released him after that arrest, and he went on to sexually assault five more women before killing 39 year old Wilkins in a violent attack. London’s Metropolitan Police said officers released Levy at the time because they could not confirm whether a third party had been involved in Valencia Trujillo’s death. Commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters the force “could have done better, definitely,” while also arguing that the broader justice system needs to perform more effectively. The case, along with the string of institutional failures that allowed Levy to keep offending, has drawn sharp criticism, coming months after a report published in December warned that British police must intervene earlier when dealing with predatory behavior patterns. Harriet Wistrich, chief executive of the Centre for Women’s Justice, said the combination of failures documented in this case offers alarming evidence that the criminal justice system is breaking down. Judge Mark Lucraft described Levy during sentencing as someone who ruthlessly exploits others to satisfy his own sexual desires, handing down a whole life order for the murders of both Valencia Trujillo and Wilkins. Levy was also sentenced for two counts of rape, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and intentional strangulation connected to the case involving the third woman. Separately, Levy was convicted in February of sexually assaulting ten women aboard London trains between October 2023 and May 2025, including six attacks that occurred in early 2025, along with an eleventh charge involving the sexual assault of a prison officer in April 2022. British Transport Police arrested Levy on separate occasions in 2024 and early 2025, including once when he became a suspect in the rape case and in Valencia Trujillo’s murder, but he was granted bail each time. The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over its 2024 decision to downgrade Levy to a medium risk offender, while British Transport Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have also acknowledged shortcomings in how they handled the case. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said in a statement that he was appalled both by Levy’s crimes and by the failures across multiple agencies that allowed them to continue, calling for a multi agency review aimed at preventing similar failures in the future.

  • | |

    Fresh monsoon spell to lash Pakistan from August 1…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to receive another spell of monsoon rainfall from August 13 to 15, with the upper and central parts of the country expected to experience rain, thunderstorms and occasional heavy downpours. The Pakistan Meteorological Department said on Wednesday that monsoon currents were entering the upper parts of the country while a westerly wave was also influencing the weather system. Rain and thunderstorms are expected across parts of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Several districts, including Neelum Valley, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, Bagh, Mirpur, Diamir, Astore, Skardu, Hunza and Gilgit, are likely to receive rainfall. Several areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also expected to experience showers. The affected districts include Dir, Chitral, Swat, Kohistan, Malakand, Shangla, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Galiyat, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi and Haripur. In northeastern Punjab, rain is expected from the night of August 12 through August 15. Murree, Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib are among the areas likely to receive showers. The weather system is also expected to affect Islamabad, Rawalpindi and the Pothohar region from the night of August 13 to August 15. The Met Office has forecast rain, strong winds and thunderstorms, with isolated heavy falls. Other parts of Punjab, including Sargodha, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan, are also likely to receive rainfall between August 12 and 15. Parts of Balochistan, including Zhob, Barkhan and Musakhel, may also experience showers. In Sindh, partly cloudy to cloudy conditions are expected in southeastern and coastal areas. Tharparkar, Umerkot and Sanghar may receive rain and thunderstorms on August 12 and 13, while hot and humid conditions are expected elsewhere in the province. The Met Office has warned of urban flooding in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Mardan, Swabi, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sialkot and Lahore. There is also a risk of landslides in vulnerable mountainous areas of upper KP, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, Galiyat and Kashmir. Authorities have urged residents and visitors in these areas to remain cautious. Tourists have been advised to take extra care while travelling to mountainous regions during the wet spell. Farmers have also been asked to plan agricultural activities according to the changing weather conditions. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, 155 people have died and 460 have been injured in rain-related incidents during the ongoing monsoon season.

  • | |

    Oman oil spill spreads dramatically, nearing scale…

    ByJustpaste.in

    An oil spill off the coast of Oman is rapidly expanding into one of the worst maritime environmental disasters in years after weeks of largely unchecked spread, according to international agencies, satellite imagery and environmental organizations. The slick, which originated from a grounded tanker carrying Russian crude, had reached Oman’s mainland by Wednesday, the United Nations shipping agency confirmed. John Amos, an oil spill specialist who reviewed satellite imagery, said the affected area now covers more than 2,000 square kilometers. The vessel involved, the Caroline Bezengi, was carrying an estimated 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and operates under international sanctions. It ran aground on June 30 near an Omani island that forms part of a protected marine nature reserve. The tanker first reported trouble off the coast of Yemen on June 8, and maritime sources said an explosion appeared to have occurred on board. No party has claimed responsibility for any attack, though the ship was navigating waters tied to two separate conflicts during its voyage from Russia to India. The tanker departed the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in April, a region central to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have targeted vessels belonging to the so called shadow fleet used to transport Russian oil, a network that includes the Caroline Bezengi. Ship tracking data shows the tanker then passed through the Suez Canal in late May before sailing near Yemen, where Iran aligned Houthi forces have become entangled in the broader regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. A tangled set of war related and sanctions related shipping regulations is already complicating the emergency response and could further delay efforts to contain the disaster, according to insurers and analysts. The IOPC Funds, the intergovernmental body responsible for compensating tanker spill damages, told a foreign news agency it will not cover cleanup costs since the incident is being classified as an act of war rather than an ordinary accident. The 25 year old tanker also lacks coverage from any recognized Western insurer. Amos, who serves as chief executive of the environmental nonprofit SkyTruth, said the worst case outcome would involve no adequate response capable of preventing further damage. He said the spill’s scale could ultimately rival the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster and noted that the tanker is comparable in size to the Sanchi, an Iranian vessel that collided with a freighter off China in 2018 in what became the world’s worst tanker disaster in decades. Slick accelerates toward mainland The spill was first identified by analysts in early July and has since begun reaching Oman’s mainland, according to the International Maritime Organization. A spokesperson for the agency said oil is drifting offshore northeast of Al Qibliyyah Island, with some already washing ashore, and confirmed that contingency planning for the spill is underway. The IMO said seasonal monsoon weather has restricted access to the tanker and delayed salvage efforts. Satellite images show the vessel grounded at Al Qibliyyah Island, part of a nature reserve that includes the Hallaniyat Islands and provides habitat for endangered sea turtles, humpback whales and coral reef ecosystems, all of which now face heightened risk from the spreading oil. Omani officials said Monday the slick covers nearly 400 square kilometers, though they have not responded to requests for additional detail on containment efforts beyond confirming the use of booms to limit the spread. Environmental groups and independent specialists estimate the true size at several times that figure, and say the rate of spread has accelerated sharply since early August. Greenpeace reported Tuesday that the affected area grew from around 45 square kilometers at the end of July to 150 square kilometers by early August, then quadrupled to roughly 600 square kilometers within just two days, according to Hanen Keskes, the group’s political campaigns lead for the Middle East. Amos’s estimate of 2,000 square kilometers suggests the spill has grown more than 40 times larger since the start of August alone. Amos said containing the disaster will require more than floating booms, including stabilizing the grounded vessel and transferring any remaining crude to another tanker. He warned that delays in salvage operations will only worsen the tanker’s condition and make the eventual recovery effort more complicated and dangerous.

  • | |

    Rubio and Bessent stayed aboard decoy jet as Trump…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Two members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet remained aboard a decoy aircraft after Trump quietly departed the plane and boarded a different flight while in Turkey last month, according to a US television network report. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stayed on what was widely believed to be Air Force One and did not join the alternate flight arranged for Trump due to security concerns tied to Iran. Trump boarded Air Force One on July 8 alongside both officials as well as members of the traveling press before slipping away via a catering truck, which transported him discreetly to a separate military aircraft. Because the designation “Air Force One” applies to whichever plane the president occupies, the original aircraft retained the call sign even after Trump had already left it, effectively turning it into the decoy. According to the report, Rubio and Bessent remained on the first aircraft in order to preserve the presidential line of succession in case anything happened to Trump during the flight. Under that line of succession, Vice President JD Vance would assume power if the president died or became incapacitated, followed by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Secretary of State ranks next in the order, followed by the Treasury Secretary. Others who stayed aboard the original aircraft designated as Air Force One included White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and White House communications director Steven Cheung. The second aircraft that carried Trump out of Ankara also included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to separate US media reports. Speaking to reporters Monday night, Trump said the decision to carry out the plane switch came from the US military and the Secret Service, who he said wanted him to travel on a different aircraft. He did not provide specifics about the nature of the security threat, saying only that he regularly receives numerous threats and that any consequential president faces the same. A request for comment sent to the White House had not been answered as of publication.