propalestine activists call
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Pro-Palestine activists call for Spider-Man film boycott

ByJustpaste.in

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.

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    US report urges stronger parliament oversight of P…

    ByJustpaste.in

    WASHINGTON: Pakistan needs to strengthen parliamentary oversight of its public finances by improving the timely disclosure of budget proposals, government debt and other fiscal information, according to a new US State Department assessment. The findings were published in the department’s 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report, an annual review examining how governments make financial information available to citizens and whether public institutions have adequate oversight mechanisms. The report acknowledged several positive aspects of Pakistan’s fiscal system but highlighted important gaps that could make it harder for Parliament and the public to fully assess government spending plans and financial risks. One of the key concerns was the delayed publication of the executive budget proposal. The report said Pakistan did not release the proposal within a reasonable period, limiting the opportunity for lawmakers and citizens to examine spending and revenue priorities before the budget was formally approved. The State Department recommended that the government publish its proposed budget in a timely manner to allow greater public scrutiny and parliamentary debate. The report also raised concerns over the limited disclosure of government debt obligations, particularly liabilities linked to major state-owned enterprises. More comprehensive information, it said, would provide a clearer picture of Pakistan’s overall financial position and help identify potential fiscal risks. Despite these shortcomings, the assessment offered credit for several areas of Pakistan’s financial transparency. It said enacted budgets and year-end reports were widely and easily accessible, including online. Publicly available budget documents were also found to provide a substantially complete picture of most planned government expenditures and revenues, including income from natural resources. Pakistan’s auditing arrangements received a broadly favourable assessment. The report said budget information was generally reliable and subject to scrutiny by the country’s supreme audit institution. It further noted that the institution met international standards of independence and made its findings public within a reasonable period. The assessment also examined natural resource contracts and public procurement. It found that Pakistan had established legal procedures for awarding natural resource extraction licences and appeared to follow them in practice. Information on public procurement contracts was also considered accessible. However, the report identified a particularly sensitive area requiring greater oversight: military and intelligence spending. According to the assessment, the budgets of military and intelligence agencies were not subject to adequate parliamentary or civilian public oversight. The State Department included stronger scrutiny of these expenditures among its principal recommendations. Overall, the report presented a mixed picture rather than describing Pakistan’s fiscal system as broadly opaque. It recognised progress in publishing budgets, audit findings and procurement information while urging authorities to close key transparency gaps. The recommendations underline the importance of timely financial disclosure and stronger parliamentary scrutiny in improving accountability, public confidence and the management of Pakistan’s fiscal risks.

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    North Korea official blasts ASEAN for urging denuclearisation

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    Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a central figure in Pyongyang’s foreign policy, has launched a fierce verbal attack against the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following calls for the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. In an official statement published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), she condemned the position adopted at last week’s annual ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila as “stupid and foolish”, dismissing regional hopes for nuclear disarmament as an outdated delusion. The dispute was triggered by the release of the ASEAN Regional Forum chair’s statement, in which foreign ministers from across the Indo-Pacific region expressed grave concern over North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The joint declaration urged compliance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and called for international dialogue to achieve lasting peace and stability through a peaceful, denuclearised peninsula. Kim Yo Jong expressed strong dissatisfaction with the bloc, accusing ASEAN of displaying an undisguised hostile attitude and acting as a hired mouthpiece for the United States. She argued that adhering to the concept of denuclearisation represents a complete failure of strategic logic, stating that the objective has lost all meaning both conceptually and practically. She further accused the regional body of ignoring North Korea’s national constitution, which was updated in 2023 to formally enshrine its status as a nuclear-armed state. Pyongyang has maintained for years that its nuclear arsenal serves as an essential deterrence mechanism to protect national sovereignty, despite facing heavy international sanctions and prohibitions from the UN Security Council. Reaffirming the regime’s stance that its nuclear capabilities represent a “line of no retreat”, Kim Yo Jong emphasised that North Korea’s nuclear status is final and completely irreversible, adding that its arsenal will continue to be updated steadily without pause regardless of external pressure or diplomatic rhetoric.

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    PML-N takes early lead in AJK Polls

    ByJustpaste.in

    Polling in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections ended on Monday after a day marked by political tensions, allegations of rigging and several security-related incidents across Mirpur Division. Voting began at 8am and continued until 6pm after authorities extended polling hours by one hour. The first phase covered 13 constituencies in Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts. The election saw a close contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party. The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party also remained in the race in several constituencies. The most serious incident was reported in LA-9 Kotli-II, where PPP worker Mukhtar Younus was killed and two people, including his father, were injured in a firing incident. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari blamed PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem for the incident. He alleged that Younus was killed in firing linked to the PML-N candidate and questioned why authorities had not acted earlier against alleged threats. Bilawal said a video had reportedly surfaced two days before the incident showing Naeem and his associates allegedly firing weapons in public. He argued that timely action could have prevented the loss of life. PPP AJK Election Cell in-charge Sardar Abdul Shakoor demanded immediate arrests and called for stronger measures to protect voters and political workers. The PML-N rejected the PPP’s version of events. The party claimed that Younus had also been involved in its election campaign activities. The incident came against the backdrop of earlier violence in Kotli. A PML-N activist was killed and two others were injured in a firing incident on July 10 while they were returning from an election campaign. Polling disrupted at several stations Voting was also suspended for the remainder of the day at three polling stations in Kotli and two in Bhimber following election-related incidents. Officials said the possibility of re-polling would depend on whether the number of votes affected could change the final result. In Bhimber’s Samahni tehsil, supporters of IPP candidate Ali Shan Soni allegedly took ballot boxes away from a polling station. Videos showing the alleged incident also circulated online. Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz said a ballot box was later set on fire at another polling station. Police detained around 30 people in connection with the incident. The PPP and PML-N exchanged allegations of electoral interference in several constituencies. The PPP accused PML-N supporters of attempting to influence polling in LA-12 Kotli-V. It alleged that PML-N candidate Raja Riasat Khan entered polling stations with armed men. The party also raised objections over alleged interference at polling stations in LA-8 Kotli-I and called on the Election Commission to investigate. The PPP further complained that slow mobile phone services were affecting communication for voters, journalists and emergency responders. PML-N, PPP trade rigging allegations The PML-N also raised allegations of pre-poll and polling-day irregularities. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah alleged interference in LA-10 Kotli-III and claimed that PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was involved in alleged manipulation of the electoral process. He demanded an investigation and said his party would not accept the constituency’s results until the allegations were examined. The Election Commission separately confirmed that two presiding officers in Kotli had been arrested and suspended after reportedly failing to reach their assigned polling stations. According to officials, the presiding officers had collected election material but went to a private residence instead of reporting to their designated polling stations. An FIR was registered in connection with the matter, while replacement presiding officers were appointed and the election material was taken into official custody. PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan rejected the PML-N’s allegations and instead accused the federal government of influencing the elections. He claimed that government resources and development announcements were being used during the election period. He called for the federal administration to stay away from the electoral process and urged all parties to allow voters to make their choice freely. Security tightened across Mirpur Division Authorities deployed a large security force to maintain order during polling. A total of 288 candidates contested the 13 constituencies. 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The AJK chief election commissioner had also warned before polling that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to interfere with the electoral process. Preliminary results show close race Unofficial results indicated a competitive contest between the PML-N and PPP. The PML-N was leading in LA-1 Dadyal with 8,271 votes and was also ahead in LA-7 Bhimber with 14,560 votes. The party was also leading in LA-5 Bhimber with 2,545 votes in the preliminary figures available at the time. The PPP was leading in LA-2 Mirpur with 3,103 votes. The results remained preliminary and unofficial, with counting and compilation continuing after polling ended. The first phase is part of a three-stage election schedule adopted due to security concerns. The second phase is scheduled for August 2 and will cover nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies. The third phase will be held on August 10 in 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. Bilawal and Nawaz clash over election campaign The AJK election has also become a political contest between senior leaders of the PPP and PML-N. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif both participated in election campaigning before polling. Nawaz criticised the PPP’s political record in Sindh during a campaign rally

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    PTI leader Abdullah Tahir murder case: Police unco…

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    Heavy rains trigger NDMA flood warning for multipl…

    ByJustpaste.in

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a nationwide flood alert, warning that rising river levels and continued monsoon rainfall could lead to flooding in several parts of Pakistan through Sunday. The authority has urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel to flood-prone areas. According to the NDMA, the Indus River is currently experiencing moderate flooding at Guddu, while low flood conditions persist at Kalabagh, Chashma, and Sukkur. The Chenab River is also expected to witness moderate to high water flows at Marala, with low to moderate flows forecast at Khanki and Qadirabad. The authority further stated that the Jhelum, Ravi, and Kabul rivers, along with their tributaries, are expected to experience low to moderate flows. However, water levels in streams and tributaries connected to the Jhelum, Chenab, and Ravi rivers are likely to increase significantly due to ongoing rainfall. Hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are also expected to experience heavy water flows, raising the risk of flash flooding. Similar conditions are forecast for rain-fed streams and nullahs in central and southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and northern Balochistan. The NDMA warned that districts including Mohmand, Bajaur, Buner, Mardan, Kurram, South Waziristan, Shangla, and Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could experience flooding in streams and nullahs. In northern Balochistan, the Nari, Bolan, Kangri, and Lehri rivers are also at risk of flash flooding. Urban flooding is expected in several Punjab districts, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Mandi Bahauddin, Sialkot, Gujrat, Narowal, Lahore, Okara, Sahiwal, and Faisalabad. Similar conditions may affect Sindh districts such as Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Thatta, Badin, Sanghar, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Tharparkar, and Nawabshah. Cities including Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, and Mardan may also experience urban flooding. The NDMA has advised the public to avoid crossing flooded roads, rivers, and streams, particularly in mountainous areas where landslides, debris flows, and flash floods are more likely during the monsoon season. Travelers are encouraged to carry emergency supplies, including drinking water, dry food, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a power bank, and emergency contact numbers. Citizens have also been urged to stay informed through the official Pak NDMA Disaster Alert mobile application and follow instructions issued by local authorities to ensure their safety during the ongoing monsoon season.

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    US investigates possible Russian role in Iranian strikes on CIA facilities

    ByJustpaste.in

    US intelligence agencies are examining whether Russia helped Iran carry out drone attacks on CIA facilities in the Gulf, raising fresh concerns about growing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran. Officials are reviewing intelligence to determine whether Russia provided targeting information, advanced drone technology, or other forms of support that may have increased the accuracy of the attacks. According to sources familiar with the investigation, analysts have not reached any final conclusions about Russia’s involvement. However, the precision of the strikes and Russia’s long history of military and technical cooperation with Iran have led intelligence officials to explore whether Moscow played a direct role in planning or supporting the operations. The investigation follows a series of Iranian drone attacks that targeted sensitive US intelligence locations in the region. At least two CIA facilities were reportedly hit in March. One of the sites was located inside the US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while another was in eastern Iraq. Officials familiar with the matter said additional CIA locations may also have been attacked, although they declined to reveal further details because of security concerns. Western intelligence officials have also reviewed reports suggesting that Russia may have assisted Iran in selecting the targets. One intelligence assessment reportedly concluded that Russia likely contributed to identifying regional CIA facilities, although officials stressed that the findings remain under review and have not been publicly confirmed. According to officials briefed on intelligence reports, the attack on the US Embassy compound in Riyadh involved two upgraded versions of Iran’s Shahed drones. They said one drone created an opening in the embassy’s outer structure while the second entered through the damaged area before exploding inside. No casualties were reported, but the operation demonstrated a level of accuracy that surprised intelligence analysts. The investigation comes as tensions between the United States and Iran remain high following months of military exchanges across the Middle East. American officials are also examining recent Iranian strikes on a US military base in Jordan where ballistic missiles killed two American soldiers. Those attacks have intensified concerns that Iran may be receiving more advanced military support from Russia. Analysts believe Russia has spent years helping Iran improve its drone capabilities. Intelligence sources say Moscow has assisted Tehran in increasing the range and precision of its Shahed drones through technical upgrades. Reports also suggest Russia supplied Iran with the Kometa M satellite navigation system, which is believed to provide greater accuracy and stronger resistance to electronic interference than Iran’s previous guidance systems. Russia has denied supplying the technology and dismissed earlier reports on the matter. The White House referred questions about the investigation to the CIA, which declined to comment. Iran’s mission to the United Nations, the Russian Defense Ministry, and Saudi authorities also did not respond to requests for statements. The exact number and locations of the targeted CIA facilities remain classified. Intelligence sources said more than one site but fewer than a dozen were struck during the attacks. Overseas CIA operations often include embassy based stations as well as secure facilities used for surveillance, logistics, intelligence gathering, and other sensitive missions. US analysts are also investigating whether Russia supplied the intelligence used to identify the Riyadh facility. Some officials remain cautious, noting that Iran may have intended to strike the US Embassy as a whole rather than specifically targeting the CIA station located within the compound. Others believe very few countries possess both the intelligence capabilities and the strategic motivation to identify and support attacks against such highly sensitive US facilities. Former CIA station chief Daniel Hoffman said closer military cooperation between Russia and Iran makes such assistance plausible. He argued that both countries share a common interest in reducing American influence across the Middle East and other regions where they seek greater strategic control. The investigation remains ongoing as US intelligence agencies continue to assess the available evidence.

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