israeli settlers torch
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Israeli settlers torch two mosques in West Bank as…

ByJustpaste.in

WEST BANK: Two mosques were set ablaze in the occupied West Bank overnight, Palestinian officials said on Sunday, in the latest escalation of violence that has sharply raised tensions across the territory.

The attacks targeted a mosque under construction in Qusra, south of Nablus, and another mosque in the village of Kour, near Tulkarm. The incidents came only days after a deadly confrontation in the nearby village of Tal that left four Palestinians and two Israelis dead.

In Qusra, Mayor Abdel Azim Wadi said settlers set fire to the mosque’s entrance and damaged parts of its stonework. Hebrew graffiti, including the word “revenge,” was reportedly sprayed across the walls.

The Israeli military said troops were sent to the area after receiving reports of the fire. According to the army, the suspected attackers had already fled when soldiers arrived. Israeli police were expected to collect evidence and investigate the incident.

The second attack took place in Kour, where Palestinian officials said a mosque was set alight and racist slogans were written on its walls. Worshippers and local residents managed to prevent the fire from causing further destruction, according to reports.

The mosque attacks have added another disturbing chapter to a widening cycle of violence in the West Bank, where clashes, arson attacks and raids have intensified since the Gaza war began in October 2023.

The latest incidents also follow a deadly confrontation in Tal on Friday, where four Palestinians and two Israelis were killed. The aftermath has triggered further arrests, raids and attacks in surrounding Palestinian communities.

With tensions already running high, the torching of places of worship has raised fresh fears that the latest violence could fuel further retaliation and deepen an already volatile situation across the occupied territory.

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    Zendaya reveals why working with husband Tom Holla…

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    Zendaya has shared the secret behind her effortless on-screen chemistry with husband Tom Holland, revealing that their strong friendship and deep understanding of one another make working together a truly enjoyable experience. The actress spoke about their relationship while attending the London premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Wednesday, where the couple made a glamorous appearance on the red carpet. Speaking during the premiere, Zendaya explained that working with Holland has always felt comfortable because their bond extends far beyond the movie set. According to the actress, years of friendship, trust and shared experiences have helped them develop a natural rhythm whenever they collaborate on a project. “It’s easy because we’re best friends,” Zendaya said, adding that their familiarity allows them to support each other throughout filming. Rather than creating distractions, their personal relationship has strengthened their ability to work as professional co-stars. The pair first met while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, where they portrayed Peter Parker and MJ. Their friendship gradually evolved into a romance, and after years of keeping much of their relationship private, the couple eventually confirmed they were together. Since then, they have become one of Hollywood’s most admired couples, often praising one another in interviews while maintaining a relatively low profile away from the spotlight. Their latest appearance marked another milestone as they celebrated the upcoming release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Fans gathered outside the London venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars, who happily greeted supporters before posing together for photographers. Their coordinated looks and affectionate interactions quickly became one of the evening’s biggest talking points across social media. Zendaya also highlighted the importance of mutual respect when balancing marriage and work. She noted that both she and Holland understand the pressures that come with leading major film franchises, making it easier to support each other through demanding schedules, long filming days and worldwide promotional tours. Their shared experiences, she suggested, have created a partnership built on trust and understanding. Holland has previously echoed similar sentiments, describing Zendaya as someone he deeply admires both personally and professionally. Over the years, the actors have consistently celebrated each other’s achievements, whether attending premieres, award ceremonies or supporting new projects from the sidelines. Fans have often praised their relationship for its authenticity and mutual encouragement. As excitement builds for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Zendaya’s comments offer a glimpse into the partnership that has captivated audiences around the world. While their romance continues to attract public attention, the actress made it clear that their enduring friendship remains the true foundation of both their marriage and their successful collaboration on screen.

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    USS George Washington heads to Middle East as Linc…

    ByJustpaste.in

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    Zelensky removes army chief Syrskyi after week of …

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    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the country’s commander in chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, just days after removing popular Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov in a move that triggered widespread street protests across Ukraine. Early speculation that Fedorov’s removal stemmed from tension between him and Syrskyi was soon confirmed. Fedorov, 35, has drawn broad praise for reenergizing the defence ministry, driving reforms across the armed forces and pushing an anti corruption campaign. Syrskyi, 60, has been viewed by many in Ukraine as a Soviet trained commander resistant to sweeping changes within the military. In a farewell message posted on Telegram, Syrskyi defended his record, noting that the army he led through a difficult defensive campaign two years ago now stands on the offensive. He said he was handing over to his successor a force that is not just holding ground but advancing, and expressed hope that the offensive would continue. Zelensky named Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, a popular and battle tested general, as Syrskyi’s replacement. Drapatyi said on Facebook that he would approach the role with full focus, responsibility and respect for those currently defending the country. He also thanked Syrskyi for his consistent work strengthening the Ukrainian army, saying he had grown up within it professionally. In a video posted late Tuesday, Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his military leadership, including his role defending Kyiv during the earliest days of Russia’s full scale invasion in 2022. Zelensky also said he met with Fedorov earlier that day and offered him a worthy position within the government, though he did not specify whether Fedorov had accepted. Fedorov had been replaced last week by Yevhenii Khmara, a former senior official at Ukraine’s Security Service. Zelensky said all decisions would be formalized the following day. Fedorov congratulated Drapatyi on his new role, describing the appointment as a new source of hope in the broader fight of free people for freedom and justice, and calling it the voice of change that could no longer be ignored. Fedorov also said he called Syrskyi personally to thank him for defending the Kyiv region and for other significant battles, while adding that Ukraine needs to move even faster and correct past mistakes. Fedorov had only taken over as defence minister in January but quickly earned praise for using data driven analysis to improve battlefield performance. A former minister of digital transformation, he built a volunteer cyber unit known as the IT Army of Ukraine early in the full scale invasion. He later led a successful fundraising initiative called the Army of Drones and introduced elements of gamification into the war effort, creating a system that rewarded Ukrainian military units with credits for striking Russian targets. Fedorov’s removal sparked six days of widespread protests, placing mounting pressure on Zelensky to dismiss Syrskyi. Zelensky appeared to respond to that pressure by replacing him with Drapatyi, viewed as a younger and more innovative commander who is also considered a close friend of Fedorov’s. Fedorov’s clear support for Drapatyi’s appointment is likely to help ease the political tension that built up over the past week. Acting Defence Minister Khmara remains in his position for now, with Zelensky asking him and Drapatyi to develop a new defence strategy addressing issues including reform of the military corps system, weapons supply and drone capabilities. In an op-ed published Monday on the Militarny website, Syrskyi described his relationship with Fedorov as strictly professional and offered an apology if he had offended him. He said decisions surrounding military contracts, procurement and mobilization involve far more complexity than most people recognize, arguing that real progress, not public drama, ultimately determines the outcome of the war. Protesters are expected to continue pushing for Fedorov’s return to a position of genuine authority where he can keep driving innovation in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. Should that happen, Zelensky may succeed in repairing much of the immediate political damage, though many Ukrainians remain unlikely to forgive what they viewed as his original misstep in removing Fedorov in the first place.

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    Hamza Shehbaz takes charge at PM House

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    Former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has taken charge of his office at the Prime Minister’s House. His new office will be located on the sixth floor of the PM House. According to party sources, Hamza Shehbaz has already started engaging with federal ministers. He held meetings with several federal ministers a day before formally beginning his office work. The meetings focused on political and administrative matters. Hamza Shehbaz is expected to begin his regular office responsibilities from Monday. He will coordinate with government officials and oversee matters assigned to him. Party sources said Hamza Shehbaz will also look after affairs related to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The committee deals with matters involving government spending, public funds and financial oversight. He is also expected to establish a committee to address the concerns and problems of party workers. The committee will work on resolving issues raised by workers and improving coordination within the party. His appointment at the PM House is expected to increase his involvement in federal-level political and parliamentary affairs. It will also provide him with a formal platform to coordinate with ministers and other government officials. Hamza Shehbaz has previously served as Punjab chief minister and has remained active in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). His new responsibilities are expected to further strengthen his role in the party’s political and organisational affairs. He will formally start handling his office matters from Monday, while meetings and consultations with government and party officials are expected to continue in the coming days.

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    PM Shehbaz congratulates PML-N after strong AJK el…

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    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and its supporters after the party emerged with a clear lead in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections. In a statement on Tuesday, the prime minister described the successful completion of the first phase as a positive development for the democratic process and praised voters and political parties for their participation. Shehbaz Sharif said political parties took part in the elections with enthusiasm, calling their active participation an important sign that the democratic process had been carried out successfully. Praise for PML-N campaign Congratulating the PML-N on its performance, the prime minister credited the party’s leadership and election team for what he described as a highly successful campaign in AJK. He particularly praised PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, saying the party’s campaign had been conducted under his leadership and had succeeded in gaining a clear advantage during the first phase of voting. The prime minister’s remarks came as attention remained focused on the election results and the political direction emerging from the initial phase. PM urges voters to maintain enthusiasm Shehbaz Sharif also called on people to participate in the next phase of the electoral process with the same enthusiasm. He said continued public participation would help strengthen and complete the democratic process, stressing that voters’ engagement remained central to the success of elections. The prime minister’s statement also highlighted the importance of political competition and participation in AJK, where elections are closely watched because of the region’s political and constitutional significance. The first phase of polling saw political parties compete for public support while voters exercised their right to choose their representatives. For the PML-N, the reported lead provides an important political boost and could shape momentum heading into the next stage of the elections. With the second phase still ahead, the focus is now expected to shift toward voter turnout, campaign strategies and whether the PML-N can maintain its advantage. The final electoral picture will depend on the results of all phases, but the opening round has already provided a significant political moment for the ruling party. Unofficial and Unconfirmed Results LA-1 Mirpur-1 According to the results from all 139 polling stations in LA-1 Mirpur-1, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Azhar Sadiq was declared the winner after securing 15,427 votes, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Muhammad Afsar Shahid came second with 9,832 votes. LA-2 Mirpur-2 After results from all 149 polling stations were completed, PPP’s Qasim Majid won the constituency with 12,904 votes, while PML-N candidate Azim Bakhsh Chaudhry secured 8,182 votes. LA-3 Mirpur-3 The PPP also won LA-3 Mirpur-3. According to results from all 161 polling stations, Chaudhry Yasir Sultan secured 11,676 votes to win, while PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed received 9,832 votes. LA-4 Mirpur-4 With results from all 162 polling stations completed, PML-N’s Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed won with 20,172 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad came second with 13,865 votes. LA-5 Bhimber-1 PML-N candidate Waqar Ahmed Noor won LA-5 with 30,259 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf secured 29,574 votes. LA-6 Bhimber-2 According to results from 100 of the 195 polling stations, PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Razzaq was maintaining his lead with 21,210 votes, while Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Ali Shan Chaudhry was second with 11,354 votes. LA-7 Bhimber-3 After results from all 237 polling stations were completed, PML-N’s Chaudhry Tariq Farooq was declared the winner with 35,490 votes, while independent candidate Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq came second with 25,100 votes. LA-8 Kotli-1 According to unofficial results from all 155 polling stations, PPP candidate Zafar Iqbal Malik won with 19,535 votes, while PML-N’s Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan secured 11,966 votes. LA-9 Kotli-2 With results from all 178 polling stations completed, PML-N candidate Umair Naeem won with 31,080 votes, while PPP candidate Javed Iqbal Budhanvi received 28,509 votes. LA-10 Kotli-3 According to results from all 169 polling stations, PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin won with 12,431 votes, while PML-N candidate Fateh Mahmood-ul-Hassan came second with 9,245 votes. LA-11 Kotli-4 PML-N candidate Muhammad Asif won LA-11 Kotli-4 with 26,190 votes, according to results from all 206 polling stations. PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq secured 21,751 votes and finished second. LA-12 Kotli-5 Unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 207 polling stations showed PML-N candidate Muhammad Riasat Khan winning with 35,168 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin came second with 30,320 votes. LA-13 Kotli-6 After results from all 193 polling stations were completed, PML-N candidate Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan won with 21,856 votes. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Nisar Ansar Abdali finished second with 15,859 votes. Maryam Aurangzeb’s Statement on X Punjab Senior Minister and PML-N leader Maryam Aurangzeb wrote on social media platform X that Mirpur had already announced its decision in favour of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif when they visited the city on July 24, and that voters had now formally endorsed that decision by voting for the lion, PML-N’s electoral symbol. She said the people of Muzaffarabad had also already expressed their decision on July 21, adding that on August 2, Kashmiris would formally reaffirm their decision by voting for the lion. Maryam Aurangzeb concluded her statement by saying that, God willing, the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is linked with PML-N.

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    Sharmeen Ali, Sunita Marshall, Saima Qureshi urge parents to raise self-sufficient kids

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    Sharmeen Ali, Sunita Marshall and Saima Qureshi have spoken up about raising self-reliant children. They believe both sons and daughters should learn practical life skills from a young age. The three actors shared their thoughts on Nida Yasir’s morning show. They agreed that independence has nothing to do with gender. Every child should be able to take care of themselves. Every child should also help around the house. Sunita brought up safety concerns in cities like Karachi. She said these often limit how freely kids can move outdoors. Even so, she believes parents can still teach independence at home. Simple habits matter, she said. Making the bed. Cooking a basic meal. These small tasks add up over time. She also spoke about extracurricular activities. Her son manages rowing and tuition on his own schedule. That balance, she said, teaches real time management. Saima, who is raising three sons, shared a similar approach. She has her children handle their own chores. Washing dishes. Making tea. Ironing clothes. If the house needs dusting and help isn’t around, they step in too. Without early discipline, she said, kids won’t develop that habit later. Sunita added that chores are shared across her household. She takes a turn. Her husband, Hassan, takes a turn. The kids take their own turns too. Sharmeen agreed with both actors. She said chores should never be split by gender. Working mothers can’t always be present, she pointed out. That means kids need to solve problems on their own. She then reflected on her own journey. Learning to drive after her separation gave her real independence. Now, she wants to pass that same skill on to her 17-year-old daughter. The conversation also touched on how children are growing up today. The internet, they agreed, has made kids more informed than before. Saima recalled moments when her children corrected her after learning something new online. Sunita shared how her son taught himself detailed history facts from YouTube, long before school covered the same topics. Even with all this exposure, the actors were clear about one thing. Academics still come first. Screen time and hobbies, they said, should work more like rewards. Boundaries matter, and so does staying involved in a child’s daily life.

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