July’s buck moon peaks this week, and wildfire smoke may turn it orange

A wave of youth-led protests in India has brought the power of Generation Z into the spotlight, with thousands of young people taking to the streets over concerns related to education, employment, examination systems, and governance. Political observers say the rise of Gen Z movements across South Asia reflects a growing frustration among young people who are demanding accountability, transparency, and better opportunities. Similar youth movements in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have previously influenced political developments, raising questions about whether India could witness a similar shift. Recent demonstrations in New Delhi have drawn significant attention, with students and young activists gathering at Jantar Mantar and attempting to march toward Parliament. Protesters have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and changes within the education system. The demonstrations intensified after clashes between protesters and police, with authorities using measures including batons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Several protesters were reportedly injured during the action, while opposition parties and rights groups criticized what they described as excessive use of force. The movement has also gained support from prominent social activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, whose participation attracted wider public attention. Student leaders say their campaign is focused on protecting the future of millions of young people affected by problems in the education and examination systems. One of the major concerns raised by protesters is alleged paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations, including medical entrance tests. Students argue that such issues have damaged trust in the examination system and created uncertainty for millions of aspiring candidates. The protesters are also demanding accountability from education authorities and calling for stronger action against those responsible for examination-related failures. Some activists have raised broader concerns about unemployment, rising education costs, and the future of public institutions. Experts believe the growing influence of Gen Z activism represents a major change in political engagement. Unlike traditional movements, many of these campaigns use social media platforms to organize supporters and spread messages rapidly. The emergence of youth-led movements presents a challenge for governments across the region. Analysts suggest that young citizens are increasingly unwilling to ignore issues related to governance, fairness, and economic opportunities. As the movement continues to develop, its long-term impact on India’s political landscape remains a key question. The growing participation of young people indicates that Gen Z is becoming an important voice in shaping future debates over policy and governance.

  Zoe Saldaña has built an impressive career in Hollywood, achieving milestones that only a small number of actors can claim. From becoming an Academy Award winner to appearing in some of the world’s most successful film franchises, the actress has established herself as one of the industry’s most recognisable stars. However, Saldaña now appears ready to explore a completely different side of filmmaking by considering a move into directing. During an appearance at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, Saldaña spoke about her desire to eventually take control behind the camera. Addressing the festival audience, the actress said she believed there would come a point when simply watching other directors work would no longer be enough for her. Saldaña joked that after observing directors for so long, she might eventually feel compelled to take over the camera herself. Her comments reflected her growing interest in expanding her creative role within the film industry and exploring storytelling from a director’s perspective. The actress also expressed confidence in her own instincts, particularly when discussing women and their ability to recognise what they believe is right. With a humorous tone, she suggested that women often feel confident in their opinions because they are correct a significant amount of the time. For Saldaña, directing could provide an opportunity to test those instincts and prove what she can accomplish outside her established acting career. Her remarks came as she was being honoured at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival. Saldaña received a Special Honorary Pardo at the event, recognising her contribution to cinema and her successful career across a wide range of projects. During her appearance, the actress also reflected on her childhood and the experience of growing up between different cultures. Born in the Dominican Republic, Saldaña said her background and experiences of feeling like an outsider have played an important role in shaping the way she approaches acting and develops her characters. She recalled the challenges of being separated from a New York environment where she had been exposed to people from different backgrounds and cultures. According to Saldaña, living in a diverse environment allowed her to encounter different perspectives and understand the world beyond a single cultural identity. She later moved to a much smaller and more culturally homogeneous island, an experience she described as difficult during her formative years. The transition brought significant challenges, particularly because she encountered a society with a more unified religious and cultural identity. Despite the difficulties, Saldaña believes those experiences ultimately became valuable to her as an actor. She explained that the challenges of growing up between different cultural environments helped her develop a broader understanding of people and identities. That perspective, she suggested, became particularly useful when portraying some of her most famous characters, including Neytiri in the Avatar franchise and Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. For Saldaña, growing up between cultures provided both struggles and opportunities for personal development. She believes being exposed to different ways of life enriched her understanding of human experiences and gave her additional emotional depth as a performer. Now, after years of success in front of the camera, Saldaña appears interested in turning those experiences into a new creative challenge. Her potential move into directing could mark an important new chapter in her career, allowing her to bring her perspective, cultural experiences and storytelling instincts to filmmaking from behind the camera.

LAHORE: Preparations for the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) workers’ convention at Greater Iqbal Park were halted on Friday after the Lahore district administration said the party had not secured formal written permission to hold the event. The party had already set up a stage and made extensive arrangements for the convention, which is scheduled for July 25. The gathering was also expected to be followed by celebrations marking President Asif Ali Zardari’s birthday on July 26. District authorities questioned the use of the public venue without official approval and asked the PPP leadership to explain why preparations had begun before the necessary permission was obtained. Lahore PPP President Faisal Mir insisted the party had moved forward after receiving verbal assurances that there was no objection to the event from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office. According to him, the preparations were launched in good faith based on those assurances, but officials later intervened and stopped the work. Mir criticized the administration’s actions, claiming access to the venue had been restricted and vehicles carrying chairs and other equipment had been prevented from reaching the site. He maintained that the party remained committed to holding the convention peacefully and said he was prepared to face arrest if necessary. The Chief Minister’s Office did not comment on claims that approval had been communicated through the chief minister’s principal secretary. PPP leaders also shared videos on social media showing workers at the venue, along with the stage and seating arrangements prepared for the convention, reaffirming the party’s determination to proceed with the event. Party sources acknowledged that written permission had not been obtained but argued that verbal approval was sufficient to begin preparations. They added that local police had been informed in advance about the gathering. The convention was expected to feature a large stage, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari scheduled to address workers via video link. Senior party leaders, including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Hassan Murtaza, and Qamar Zaman Kaira, were also expected to attend. Officials indicated that permission could still be granted if the required formalities were completed. However, they noted that approving the PPP event without following standard procedures could complicate decisions on similar requests from other political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has sought permission for a public gathering in Lahore next month.