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Independence Day celebrations at Liberty Chowk in Lahore took an unexpected turn after a large crowd became involved in disorderly behaviour following an organised event on Thursday night. The Punjab government had arranged a special programme at Liberty Chowk to mark Pakistan’s Independence Day. The venue was decorated with lights and other patriotic arrangements, while professional artists were invited to entertain the public. The official celebrations were held as planned, with people gathering at the iconic Lahore location to mark August 14. However, scenes changed after the formal programme ended. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show a large crowd behaving aggressively at the venue. The footage showed people climbing and swinging on structures at the site. Some individuals were also seen throwing bottles and getting involved in physical confrontations. The gathering appeared to consist largely of young men, while women and families were not prominent in the crowd shown in the videos. The scenes quickly attracted criticism online. Many social media users expressed disappointment over the behaviour and questioned whether such actions were appropriate during a national celebration. One user criticised the crowd for behaving like a mob rather than a united nation. Another argued that the country needed a stronger sense of civic responsibility. Others said the incident was unfortunate and pointed to the need for citizens to take responsibility instead of blaming authorities and institutions for every problem. The videos sparked a wider discussion about how public celebrations should be conducted. Independence Day events are traditionally associated with patriotism, national unity and respect for public spaces. The incident at Liberty Chowk highlighted the contrast between the carefully organised official celebrations and the disorder that reportedly followed among sections of the crowd.

Pakistani actress Momina Iqbal has once again attracted attention on social media after a romantic exchange with her husband, Hamza Malik, was shared online. The actress, who has appeared in several popular television dramas, frequently shares pictures and videos from her personal life with her followers. Momina and Hamza recently came into the spotlight after sharing affectionate posts following their wedding celebrations. In a recent social media interaction, Hamza commented on his wife’s appearance and asked her why she looked so beautiful. Momina responded with a playful reply, attributing her appearance to his influence. The exchange quickly gained attention online, with screenshots and reactions circulating among social media users. While some followers viewed the interaction as a light-hearted display of affection between the couple, others criticised the public nature of their romantic exchanges. Several users described the comments as excessive and said they were uncomfortable with the couple’s frequent displays of affection on social media. Some social media users also accused the couple of being overly dramatic, while others dismissed the exchange as harmless banter between a newly married couple. The mixed response has once again highlighted the contrasting reactions celebrities often receive when they share aspects of their private lives online. Momina has maintained an active presence on social media and regularly gives fans glimpses into her professional and personal life. Her recent marriage and posts with Hamza have generated considerable discussion among followers, with many fans also expressing support for the couple

Pro-Palestinian campaigners in Lebanon, Jordan and other parts of the Arab world have urged audiences to boycott Spider-Man: Brand New Day, citing producer Avi Arad’s public support for Israel. The boycott campaign is focused on Arad’s political views and background rather than the film’s storyline, cast or other members of its production team. The Campaign to Boycott Supporters of Israel in Lebanon called on audiences to avoid purchasing tickets for the film. The group argued that spending money on a production associated with individuals who openly support Israel could contribute to what it described as cultural normalisation. The campaign also urged cinemas and audiences to reject paid screenings of the movie as part of broader efforts to oppose Israeli policies. A similar call was issued in Jordan by the Taharrak anti-normalisation movement. The group urged the public to boycott the film and called on cinemas to remove it from their screening schedules. The campaign also appealed to the Jordanian Artists Syndicate, cinema operators and other relevant organisations to take a position against the movie’s screening. Activists and social media personalities in other Arab countries have subsequently amplified the boycott calls. Spider-Man: Brand New Day stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker and is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Marvel lists Arad among the film’s producers, alongside Kevin Feige, Amy Pascal and Rachel O’Connor. Arad, a former Marvel Studios chief, holds both Israeli and US citizenship. He served in the Israeli military from 1965 to 1968 and was involved in the 1967 Six-Day War. Campaigners have also pointed to comments Arad made in 2024 while criticising then-US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer had described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace and called for new elections in Israel. In a letter published by entertainment outlet TheWrap, Arad rejected Schumer’s position and argued that US politicians should not seek to influence Israel’s electoral process. He also referred to his military service and opposed Schumer’s position regarding a ceasefire. Pro-Palestinian campaigners say Arad’s statements reflect his political support for Israel and argue that audiences should avoid financially supporting productions linked to him. The impact of the boycott campaign on the film’s commercial performance remains uncertain. Despite the calls for a boycott, the movie continued to screen in Lebanon, where a representative of the Grand Cinemas chain said shortly after its release that audience demand remained strong.

BTS member V, whose real name is Kim Tae-hyung, has revealed that he has been undergoing treatment for hearing loss in his right ear for more than two years. The 30-year-old singer shared the information during a livestream on Wednesday, telling fans that this was the first time he had publicly spoken about the condition. V explained that his hearing in the affected ear is significantly weaker than in his left ear. He said that if his hearing in the left ear is considered 100%, the level in his right ear is around 30%. The singer said the problem became more noticeable during his mandatory military service in South Korea. However, he initially did not consider the issue serious and believed he could overcome it through mental strength. V said he is now receiving medical treatment, taking medication and visiting hospital regularly to manage the condition. His revelation comes as BTS is undertaking its first major world tour since all seven members reunited following their mandatory military service. BTS members began taking breaks from their group activities in 2022 as they prepared to fulfil their military obligations. V enlisted in 2023 and completed his service in June 2025. The group’s Arirang World Tour began in South Korea in April and has marked a highly anticipated return of the full seven-member lineup. The latest livestream came after BTS completed its concerts in Baltimore, Maryland. During the livestream, V was joined by fellow BTS member Jungkook, who also spoke about an injury affecting his shin during the tour. Jungkook revealed that he was concerned about the injury developing into a stress fracture and said he would need to manage it carefully to continue performing throughout the tour. BTS is scheduled to travel to several major international destinations in the coming months, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Bangkok, Sydney and Hong Kong.

HARBIN: Pakistani blockbuster The Legend of Maula Jatt has secured two awards at the 7th Jackie Chan International Action Film Week in Harbin, China. The film, directed by Bilal Lashari, received the Special Jury Award and the Best Art Direction honour at the festival’s closing ceremony on August 11. Lashari shared the achievement on social media and described the recognition as a particularly special moment because he grew up watching Jackie Chan’s action films. The award ceremony was held outdoors in Harbin. Rain continued during much of the event, creating an unusual setting for the celebrations. Lashari said receiving the awards on a stage associated with Jackie Chan was an experience he had never imagined when he began working on the film. The filmmaker also spoke about meeting the legendary Chinese actor and action star in person. He said Chan had influenced his interest in action cinema and that representing Pakistan at an event carrying Chan’s name made the occasion even more meaningful. Lashari said action films have a unique ability to connect audiences from different countries. He noted that the genre can communicate emotion and excitement across language barriers. The Best Art Direction award was dedicated by Lashari to production designers Namsa Abbasi and Hamza Bajwa. He praised their work in creating the film’s distinctive visual world. According to Lashari, their contribution went beyond designing sets and helped establish the atmosphere and identity of the entire film. He also acknowledged producer Ammara Hikmat, who could not attend the ceremony in Harbin. Lashari said the team felt her absence during the celebrations. The director thanked the cast and crew for their contribution to the film’s success. He also dedicated the achievement to Pakistani audiences for their continued support. The Legend of Maula Jatt has become one of Pakistan’s most successful films internationally. Its latest recognition adds another major achievement to the movie’s growing list of international honours

KARACHI: Pakistani actor Rabya Kulsoom has called for stronger measures against the unauthorised release of footage from television drama sets, saying such leaks should carry legal consequences. The actor raised the issue after unreleased footage from the popular drama Zanjeerain appeared online. The clip reportedly features actors Sajal Ali and Danyal Zafar in a scene that had not yet been broadcast. Kulsoom stressed that actors and production teams should have control over how material recorded on a drama set is used or shared. She argued that private conversations, behind-the-scenes moments and scenes connected to future storylines should not be circulated without consent. In a social media post, the actor urged production houses and television channels to introduce stricter rules to prevent unauthorised recordings from reaching the public. She said repeated leaks could create problems for actors, directors, writers and other members of a production team. According to her, sharing sensitive set material without permission can affect both the privacy of those involved and the impact of an upcoming storyline. Actor Usman Javed, who is also part of Zanjeerain, criticised the leak and questioned how the footage was obtained. He called on those responsible to stop sharing unauthorised material, saying such actions undermine the efforts of the entire cast and crew. The incident has also drawn reactions from viewers, with several fans supporting calls for greater protection of unreleased drama content and actors’ privacy. The leak comes as Zanjeerain approaches its conclusion. The drama has so far aired 29 episodes, with eight episodes remaining before the finale. With several major developments still expected in the remaining episodes, the unauthorised release of footage has raised concerns that future plot points could be revealed before their scheduled broadcast.

The first trailer for Verity has arrived, offering audiences an unsettling glimpse at the upcoming psychological thriller starring Dakota Johnson, Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett. Based on Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel of the same name, the Amazon MGM Studios adaptation follows Lowen Ashleigh, played by Johnson, a struggling writer who receives an unexpected opportunity when she is hired to complete a successful author’s unfinished book series. Hathaway portrays Verity Crawford, the celebrated writer whose life changes dramatically after a serious accident leaves her unable to continue working. Lowen travels to the Crawford family’s secluded home to examine Verity’s notes and research for the books, but what initially appears to be a straightforward writing assignment quickly takes a disturbing turn. As Lowen begins sorting through Verity’s personal papers, she discovers a shocking manuscript containing revelations about the Crawford family. The material forces her to question how much she truly knows about Verity, her marriage and the events surrounding the family’s darkest moments. Hartnett stars as Jeremy Crawford, Verity’s husband and a grieving father whose relationship with Lowen becomes increasingly complicated as she spends more time inside the family home. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film leans heavily into the novel’s atmosphere of suspense, secrecy and psychological uncertainty. The trailer teases a tense dynamic between Johnson, Hathaway and Hartnett, while the isolated Crawford residence becomes an ominous backdrop for Lowen’s investigation. The film’s promotional artwork mirrors that unsettling tone. Its striking poster is divided by a bold letter “V,” accompanied by the ominous tagline, “There is no light where we’re going.” The adaptation is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 2, bringing Hoover’s controversial and twist-filled story to the big screen. The trailer has already generated anticipation among readers familiar with the novel, particularly over how its major revelations will translate to film. With a high-profile cast, a dark premise and a story built around uncertainty, Verity is positioning itself as one of the season’s most closely watched psychological thrillers. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db6Akt2K-6c/?igsh=MXNodHQ2bTRoNGVlbg==