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EU calls emergency meeting following mass migrant crossings into Ceuta

The European Union has convened an emergency meeting after 22 member states issued a joint letter demanding coordinated action to strengthen the bloc’s external borders following the arrival of 60,000 migrants in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta.

The influx has triggered severe political friction within the EU, leading Italy, Finland, and Denmark to suspend or question passport-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez condemned the unilateral measures as unlawful and selfish, maintaining that border control was fully restored within 48 hours and preventing onward movement into continental Europe.

EU officials confirmed the death toll from the crossing attempt has risen to at least 67 while the vast majority of individuals who entered the enclave have since returned to Morocco.

The joint letter addressed to EU leadership stresses that uncoordinated responses risk creating a perception that illegal entry into the bloc is possible, which would encourage further crossing attempts across member states.

In response to the crisis, Spanish authorities have installed floating security barriers off the Ceuta coastline while working alongside international partners to secure the border perimeter.

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    Indian actress brutally murdered; body found in pieces, head still missing

    CHENNAI, August 7, 2026: A shocking murder case in the Indian city of Chennai has led police to identify the victim as Sindhya, an emerging Tamil actress, after her dismembered remains were recovered from different locations. According to Indian media reports, residents alerted police after noticing human fingers protruding from a plastic bag near a garbage dump in Chennai. When police opened the bag, they found a severed hand and legs inside. More plastic bags were later discovered in different parts of the city. The bags contained human bones, body parts and other remains. A post-mortem examination determined that the remains belonged to the same woman. Police said the victim had been killed and her body was allegedly cut into pieces using a sharp weapon. However, her head and left hand remained missing, making identification difficult. During the investigation, police noticed two distinctive tattoos on the victim’s right hand. One tattoo depicted the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati, while the other featured a dragon. Meanwhile, a woman approached a police station to report her daughter missing. She told investigators that her 37-year-old daughter, Sindhya, was an aspiring Tamil actress who lived in Chennai with her husband and two children. Sindhya’s mother reportedly told police that her son-in-law had claimed Sindhya had gone out of the house but had not returned. Police later showed the recovered remains and identifying marks to Sindhya’s family. Her mother identified her daughter based on the tattoos and other features. A subsequent DNA test also confirmed that the recovered remains belonged to Sindhya. Following the identification, police questioned Sindhya’s husband, Balakrishnan. He initially claimed that his wife had left home and never returned. However, investigators reportedly found inconsistencies in his statements. Police later claimed that Balakrishnan confessed to the killing during questioning. According to investigators, Sindhya and Balakrishnan had an argument before the incident. Police alleged that Balakrishnan attacked Sindhya with an axe, killing her before dismembering her body and placing the remains in plastic bags, which he allegedly dumped at different locations.

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    Kinza Hashmi visits National Assembly after praise…

    Pakistani actor Kinza Hashmi visited the National Assembly after receiving praise from lawmakers for her portrayal of a politically influential woman in the drama Leader. Hashmi was invited to the parliament by MNA Romina Khurshid Alam. The actor shared highlights from her visit in an Instagram reel on Thursday. During the visit, Alam accompanied Hashmi through different parts of the National Assembly building. She showed the actor several artworks, historical displays, dioramas and other artefacts kept inside the building. Hashmi also visited the National Assembly floor and met staff members. She later spent time in Alam’s office, where the lawmaker presented her with a token of appreciation. Alam praised Hashmi for bringing the experiences and challenges of women involved in politics to television. She said she was proud of the actor’s work and appreciated the way she represented female politicians through her performance. The lawmaker described Hashmi’s portrayal as meaningful and said her work had helped bring greater attention to the role of women in political life. Hashmi also met Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar during her visit. According to the actor, they held a productive discussion about several important matters. She said the conversation particularly focused on issues faced by women working in Pakistan’s media industry. Reflecting on her parliamentary visit, Hashmi said the experience gave her a better understanding of the character she plays in Leader. She noted that politics is not simply about privilege or power. It also involves responsibility, public service, duty and long-term commitment. The actor said visiting the parliament allowed her to see the political system from a different perspective. The experience also helped her connect more deeply with the themes explored through her character. Hashmi’s performance in Leader has recently attracted attention from several politicians. In July, Romina Khurshid Alam and Balochistan MNA Jamal Raisani publicly praised her acting. Alam said Hashmi had fully embraced the character and described her performance as outstanding. Raisani also expressed appreciation for the actor’s portrayal. Hashmi thanked both lawmakers for their supportive comments and recognition of her work. In Leader, Hashmi plays Rubab, the daughter of a powerful politician from a feudal background. Her character initially grows up under the influence of her father and his political network. As the story develops, Rubab begins to establish her own identity. She eventually takes control of her father’s political organisation and emerges as a determined party leader. Her character’s political journey has made the drama a talking point among viewers, while Hashmi’s portrayal has drawn attention from audiences as well as people working in politics.

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    Federal government freezes ad hoc relief allowance…

    The federal government has decided to keep the 2023 and 2024 ad hoc relief allowances unchanged for its employees, maintaining the existing rates while also outlining the allowance structure for newly appointed staff. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ad Hoc Relief Allowance-2023 will remain frozen at the level applicable on June 30, 2023, and will not be revised until further instructions are issued. Under the current arrangement, employees in Grades 1 to 16 will continue to receive an allowance equal to 35% of their basic pay, while officers in Grades 17 to 22 will receive 30% of their basic pay under the 2023 relief allowance. The ministry has also announced that the Ad Hoc Relief Allowance-2024 will remain frozen at the rates applicable on June 30, 2026. Employees in Grades 1 to 16 will continue to receive 25% of their basic pay, whereas those in Grades 17 to 22 will receive 20% of their basic pay. The decision means there will be no increase in these allowances until further notice, although eligible employees will continue receiving them at the existing rates. The notification also provides guidance on the applicable allowance rates for newly recruited federal government employees, ensuring uniform implementation across government departments. The Finance Ministry said the revised pay and allowance framework will remain effective unless amended through a future government notification.

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    Gold climbs back near 10-week peak, investors awai…

    LONDON: Gold prices rose on Wednesday as investors reduced expectations of tighter US monetary policy and turned their attention to upcoming inflation data that could influence the Federal Reserve’s next interest-rate decision. Spot gold gained 0.6 per cent to $4,391.82 an ounce by 0535 GMT, while US gold futures for December delivery advanced 0.2pc to $4,451.90. The precious metal had reached a 10-week high a day earlier before encountering technical resistance around $4,387, near its 100-day moving average. It subsequently closed lower for the second time this month. Market analyst Kelvin Wong of Oanda said the recent strength in gold was largely driven by changing expectations about Federal Reserve policy. He noted that prices had also gained momentum after breaking above the $4,200 level late last week. Gold recorded its strongest weekly gain since January on Friday after weaker-than-expected US employment figures prompted traders to reduce their expectations of further interest-rate increases. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, markets are now assigning roughly a 50 per cent probability to a rate hike in September, down from about 60pc before the jobs report. Lower interest rates generally benefit gold because the metal does not generate interest, making it relatively more attractive when yields decline. Investors were awaiting the latest US Consumer Price Index figures later on Wednesday for further clues about the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy. Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee has meanwhile said inflation remains a greater concern for him than weakness in the labour market. Oil prices also extended their gains after the United States and Houthi forces reported separate attacks involving shipping on Tuesday. Meanwhile, hopes of an end to the Iran conflict appeared to weaken after Tehran indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless certain conditions were met.

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    PM directs MDCAT delay, admission test rescheduled…

    ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC) has postponed the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) 2026 on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, giving thousands of aspiring medical students additional time before the nationwide examination. According to an official statement issued by the PM&DC, the entrance test, originally scheduled for August 16, will now be held on September 20, 2026. The council said the decision was made to ensure the examination is conducted in a more organized, secure, transparent, and candidate-friendly manner. Officials emphasized that the revised schedule is intended to improve overall arrangements while maintaining the integrity of the admission process. PM&DC clarified that, apart from the change in the examination date, all previously announced terms, conditions, and examination arrangements will remain unchanged. Any further revisions, if required, will be communicated through a separate official notification. The council has advised candidates, parents, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to regularly monitor its official website and communication channels for updated information, instructions, and announcements related to the examination. Expressing regret over any inconvenience caused by the postponement, PM&DC thanked students and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation.

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    Husband of murdered school teacher says earlier police action could have saved her life

      The husband of a school teacher who was brutally murdered in Faridabad, Haryana, India has stated that his wife might still be alive if the police had taken firm action after her earlier complaint against the accused. The tragic incident has sparked renewed concerns about the handling of stalking and harassment complaints and the importance of timely intervention by law enforcement agencies. The victim, 28-year-old Sandhya Sharma was a teacher at a private school in Faridabad. She was brutally killed at her workplace two days ago in a shocking attack that has drawn widespread public attention. Police have arrested 21-year-old Amit, who is accused of carrying out the murder. During the investigation, the suspect reportedly confessed to planning the crime nearly two months in advance and admitted that he had purchased a knife specifically to carry out the attack. Speaking to the media, Sandhya Sharma’s husband, Vicky Gurjar, said that his wife had previously worked at another school in Sirohi village where the accused had begun stalking and harassing her. According to him, the family had filed a police complaint regarding the harassment. However, he believes that if strict legal action had been taken at that time, the tragedy could have been prevented. Vicky Gurjar explained that he and Sandhya had entered into a love marriage and had built a happy family together. The couple had two young children—a seven-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. He said the loss of his wife has devastated the family and left their children without their mother. According to police investigators, the suspect had been searching for an opportunity to kill Sandhya Sharma for a considerable period. On the day of the attack, he entered the school premises and allegedly called the teacher out of her classroom by using her husband’s name as a pretext. Once she stepped outside, he grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly stabbed her in the neck and chest. Police reported that she suffered more than 27 stab wounds and died at the scene due to the severity of her injuries. The investigation further revealed that Amit was allegedly obsessed with Sandhya Sharma and had developed one-sided feelings for her. However, she consistently ignored his advances and never encouraged him. Police said the victim had previously filed a complaint accusing him of harassment. At that time, the suspect reportedly apologized, and the matter did not result in stronger legal action. Investigators also stated that Sandhya later changed both her school and her residence in an effort to distance herself from the accused. Police believe this decision may have further angered the suspect and contributed to his determination to carry out the crime. According to police officials, the accused initially planned to attack the victim while she was traveling to or from school. However, fearing that he would be quickly identified and arrested, he abandoned that plan. Instead, he decided to commit the murder inside the school building, where he believed he would have a better opportunity to confront her. A senior police officer said the suspect was so enraged during the attack that he continued stabbing the victim even after the knife became bent. Police have recovered the murder weapon and are continuing efforts to locate the suspect’s motorcycle as well as the clothes he was wearing during the crime. Authorities also confirmed that the entire attack was captured on the school’s CCTV cameras. During the incident, the accused allegedly threatened a school employee who attempted to intervene and save the teacher. The CCTV footage is expected to serve as a crucial piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation. Police further stated that Amit is the youngest of three brothers. He was unemployed and earned a living by raising buffaloes and selling milk. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are collecting additional evidence to strengthen the case before presenting it in court.

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