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Trump and Republicans face tough test as US midterm elections draw closer

ByJustpaste.in

With just 100 days remaining before Americans head to the polls for the midterm elections, President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are preparing for what could become one of the biggest political challenges of his presidency. While Trump himself will not be on the ballot on November 3, the outcome of the elections is expected to shape the final years of his administration. Recent opinion surveys suggest Democrats are well positioned to regain control of the House of Representatives, while Republicans are also facing an increasingly competitive fight to maintain their majority in the Senate.

A Democratic victory in the House would dramatically shift the balance of power in Washington. It would allow the party to lead key congressional committees and launch investigations into the Trump administration through subpoena powers. Such authority could open the door to fresh inquiries into government decisions and even fuel discussions about another attempt to impeach the president. Republicans currently hold only a slim majority in the House, making it easier for Democrats to take control if just a small number of seats change hands.

Political analysts say several national issues are making the election environment more difficult for Republicans. Rising living costs remain one of the biggest concerns among voters. Fuel prices have climbed above four dollars per gallon following disruptions in global energy markets linked to the conflict with Iran. Inflation has remained stubbornly high while interest rates continue to place pressure on households and businesses. Surveys also indicate that voters are increasingly trusting Democrats over Republicans on issues such as inflation, healthcare and even immigration, which has traditionally been considered one of the Republican Party’s strongest campaign issues.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries recently criticized the Trump administration’s economic record and announced a campaign focused on lowering the cost of groceries, gasoline, housing and medical care. Republicans, however, argue that voters will have a clear choice between what they describe as practical conservative policies and a Democratic Party they say has moved further to the left. Their campaign is expected to emphasize border security, tax reductions and public safety while attempting to link Democratic candidates with progressive policies that they believe are unpopular among moderate voters.

At the same time, Republicans are pursuing strategies that could improve their chances despite difficult polling numbers. One major effort has involved redrawing congressional district boundaries. Both major parties have participated in redistricting, but experts believe Republicans may benefit more from the latest changes. Some projections suggest the new electoral maps could provide Republicans with an advantage of several House seats, which may prove crucial in what is expected to be another closely contested election. Political scientist Sarah Binder of George Washington University said the new district maps have significantly reduced the number of truly competitive House races, limiting the opportunities available to Democratic candidates in some areas.

Republicans also enter the final months of campaigning with a financial edge. Party organizations and allied groups have reportedly raised tens of millions of dollars more than their Democratic rivals, giving them greater resources to advertise, organize campaigns and support candidates across the country.

The battle for the Senate is expected to be just as important. Republicans currently control the chamber with a 53 to 47 majority. Democrats need to gain four seats to take control, although current forecasts suggest Republicans remain slight favorites to keep the Senate. Some projections indicate the chamber could end in a 50 to 50 split, allowing Vice President JD Vance to cast deciding votes whenever necessary.

For President Trump, losing the House while keeping the Senate would still create major obstacles for the remainder of his term. His legislative agenda would likely face repeated roadblocks, while Democratic lawmakers could use committee hearings to closely examine issues including the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, government ethics and election related policies.

Political analyst Chuck Todd said Republicans have seen their advantage in the Senate narrow considerably over recent months. He also predicted Democrats could gain between 10 and 25 seats in the House if current political trends continue. Recent polling from Economist and YouGov shows Trump’s approval rating remains low, with only 36 percent of Americans approving of his performance as president. Analysts note that historically, presidents with approval ratings below 45 percent almost always see their party lose seats during midterm elections. Whether Republicans can limit those losses or face a much larger defeat will become clear when Americans cast their votes in November.

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    Preity Zinta says motherhood is her greatest achievement

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    Bollywood actor Preity Zinta has described becoming a mother as the most significant milestone of her life, saying family has taken priority over her successful film career during her years away from the spotlight. The actor, who was among Bollywood’s leading stars in the early 2000s, stepped away from acting after marrying in 2016 and later welcoming her children in 2021. Her last on-screen appearance was in Bhaiaji Superhit in 2018, and she is now set to return with Batwara 1947. Speaking in a recent interview, Preity said she never felt the absence of films during her break because she was focused on building her family. She explained that while she has enjoyed many career achievements, raising her children has been the most meaningful accomplishment of her life. According to the actor, motherhood brought a new perspective that became valuable while preparing for her latest role. In Batwara 1947, Preity portrays a Muslim woman living in Lahore during the Partition of India. The story follows her family after her husband, played by Sunny Deol, shelters a Hindu woman amid the violence and upheaval of 1947. The actor said her own experience of putting family first helped her relate to the emotions and decisions of her character. She noted that if family remains her top priority today, she can only imagine how much more important it would have been for people living through the uncertainty of Partition. Preity also admitted she felt nervous returning to the camera after such a long break. She recalled that director Rajkumar Santoshi scheduled one of the film’s most emotionally demanding scenes on the very first day of shooting, leaving her anxious about her performance. She praised co-star Sunny Deol for making the experience easier, describing him as a supportive, kind and encouraging colleague who helped her regain confidence during filming. After completing the challenging opening scenes, Preity said she gradually became comfortable on set and found herself settling back into acting. Batwara 1947 also marks Preity Zinta’s reunion with Sunny Deol after eight years, with the two actors sharing the screen once again following their last collaboration in Bhaiaji Superhit.

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    US approves $125m missile sale to South Korea

    ByJustpaste.in

    WASHINGTON: The United States has approved a potential $125 million sale of advanced air-to-air missiles and related military equipment to South Korea, in a move aimed at strengthening Seoul’s defence capabilities amid continuing security concerns in the region. According to reports, the US State Department has approved the proposed arms package, which includes AIM-9X Sidewinder Block 103 missiles and tactical guidance units requested by South Korea. The proposed deal is valued at approximately $125 million and is intended to enhance the South Korean military’s ability to respond to potential aerial threats. South Korea has requested the purchase of the AIM-9X Sidewinder Block 103, along with 10 tactical guidance units. The missiles are designed to be launched from fighter aircraft against airborne targets and are considered an important component of modern close-range air combat capabilities. The AIM-9X is an advanced short-range, infrared-guided air-to-air missile. It is designed to provide pilots with rapid engagement capabilities and improved accuracy against highly manoeuvrable aerial targets. The proposed sale is also significant because of the close defence relationship between Washington and Seoul. The two allies regularly conduct joint military exercises and maintain extensive cooperation aimed at strengthening deterrence and preparedness on the Korean Peninsula. However, the approval does not necessarily mean that the transaction has been completed. The proposed arms sale still has to go through the formal US Congressional notification and review process. The process allows lawmakers to examine major foreign military sales before they proceed. The package comes at a time when security issues in East Asia remain a major focus for both Washington and Seoul. South Korea continues to modernise its military capabilities while maintaining close coordination with the United States. For Washington, arms sales to South Korea are part of a broader defence relationship that includes military exercises, weapons cooperation, intelligence sharing and the deployment of US forces in the region. For Seoul, acquiring advanced air-to-air weapons could strengthen the capabilities of its fighter fleet and improve its readiness to respond to potential threats. The AIM-9X system is already used by several US allies, making interoperability an important factor in joint operations and training. The proposed $125 million package therefore represents more than a weapons purchase. It also underlines the continuing strategic partnership between the United States and South Korea at a time when regional military preparedness remains under close scrutiny. The final outcome will depend on the completion of the Congressional review and subsequent steps required for the proposed sale.

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    Who is Epstein’s potential heir?

    ByJustpaste.in

    Attention has shifted to Karyna Shuliak, the longtime girlfriend of convicted sex offender and disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein. The development comes years after Epstein died in a federal prison in 2019. His death brought an end to his criminal case but left behind a complicated estate and several legal disputes. Shuliak is now being described as a potential major beneficiary of Epstein’s remaining wealth. According to court documents, Epstein signed a new will just two days before his death. The document created a private trust known as the 1953 Trust. Recent court records reportedly show that Shuliak was included among the important beneficiaries of the trust. However, the exact amount she could receive remains uncertain. US Department of Justice records reportedly indicate that Shuliak was the last person Epstein spoke to outside prison before his death. Reports also say that Epstein made some of his final telephone calls to her while he was in custody. At the time of his death, Epstein’s estate was estimated to be worth around $600 million. A significant portion of that wealth has since been used to compensate people who accused Epstein of sexual abuse. More than $170 million was reportedly paid to over 200 victims through compensation arrangements. The estate has also faced several legal claims and settlements with government authorities. These matters have complicated the distribution of Epstein’s remaining assets. After a recent tax refund, the value of the estate’s remaining assets is estimated at between $120 million and $150 million. Despite being named as a potential beneficiary, Shuliak has not yet secured the inheritance. Payments connected to the trust remain suspended while legal proceedings continue. Richard Kahn, the executor of Epstein’s estate, has reportedly raised concerns about the wording of the trust agreement. He described the document as unclear and poorly prepared. The uncertainty has made it difficult to determine exactly how Epstein intended his remaining fortune to be divided. Legal experts say Shuliak’s potential inheritance cannot be confirmed until outstanding claims and court proceedings are resolved.

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    Pakistan’s civil awards triple in nine years…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: The number of people receiving Pakistan’s civil awards has increased sharply over the past nine years, but the share of women among the recipients has remained almost unchanged, according to an analysis by economist Zehra Farooq. Farooq, who has analysed civil award lists from 2018 to 2026, said she compiled all 2,209 awards announced during the nine-year period and examined each award by field, gender, level of award and nationality. Her analysis shows that the number of award recipients increased more than three times during the period, rising from 73 people in 2018 to 372 in 2026. However, the share of women receiving the awards did not show a similar increase. Women made up between roughly 10% and 16% of civil award recipients in each year from 2018 to 2026. Ms Farooq said the figures show that while the size of the annual awards lists changed greatly, the share of women remained within almost the same range. The lowest share was around 10% in 2023, while the highest was 16% in 2018 and 2021. The share stood at 15% in 2024 before falling to 12% in 2025 and 11% in 2026. Her analysis also looked at the figures after excluding gallantry awards. Gallantry awards were kept separate because they mainly relate to military and police roles. Even after removing these awards, the overall share of women increased only from around 12% to 14%, according to the analysis. This suggests that the low share of women is not limited to gallantry awards. Farooq said the same pattern can also be seen in civilian awards. Public service awards show a wider gap The Public Service category is the largest civilian category in the dataset and shows a particularly large difference between men and women. Among Pakistani recipients of Public Service awards, 295 were men and only 27 were women. This means men received about 92% of these awards, while women received only around 8%. Farooq noted that in several years, the entire Public Service list included only one or two women. The figures raise questions about how women are represented among people being recognised for public service. The analysis does not, however, establish why the gap exists. Farooq suggested that one possibility worth examining is whether the awards reflect the existing structure of Pakistan’s civil bureaucracy. She noted that the quota for women in the civil bureaucracy is around 10%, while the share of awards going to women remains below or around that level. This raises a question about whether the civil awards are reflecting the existing gender structure in public institutions rather than creating a separate pattern of their own. Major changes in fields The analysis also found major changes in the fields represented in the civil award lists. Science and engineering together accounted for close to one-third of the 2021 list. However, by 2025 and 2026, the two fields together made up less than 2% of the list. At the same time, some new categories appeared. Information technology appeared as a category for the first time in 2021, while climate appeared in 2025. Farooq said these changes raise questions about how the state decides which areas deserve recognition. She asked whether the decline in science and engineering awards reflects fewer major contributions in these fields, fewer people entering these professions, or a change in the areas where the state looks for achievement. The appearance of IT and climate-related awards also raises another question: whether official recognition is beginning to follow changes in the areas where Pakistan’s talent and work are growing. Women receive fewer top-level awards The analysis also examined the civil awards according to their level. The awards are divided into different levels, with Nishan and Hilal at the senior end, followed by Sitara and Tamgha. Ms Farooq found that the share of women becomes smaller as the level of the award becomes higher. At the two highest levels, women account for less than 5% of recipients. At the more common lower levels, the share of women is higher, generally ranging between 11% and 14%. This means that the overall percentage of women receiving civil awards does not tell the full story. Women may represent around 10% to 16% of all recipients in a year, but their representation becomes much smaller when only the highest-level honours are considered. The findings therefore point to two separate issues: the overall number of women receiving civil awards and the level of recognition they receive. Nine years provide a wider picture Ms Farooq said looking at the awards over several years gives a clearer picture than looking at a single annual list. The civil awards are announced every August, and each year’s list can show changes in the number and type of recipients. But when the lists are combined over nine years, longer-term patterns become visible. The biggest pattern in the data is the contrast between the rapidly growing number of awards and the almost unchanged share of women. From 73 recipients in 2018, the annual list reached 372 in 2026. Yet women remained within roughly the same 10% to 16% range throughout the period. The analysis also shows that the composition of the awards has changed in other ways, including the fields being recognised and the introduction of new categories. She said the data does not provide all the answers, but it raises questions that can be examined further.

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    US vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iran

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    WASHINGTON: The United States hUS vows unprecedented economic pressure on Iranas warned that it will introduce an unprecedented package of economic measures against Iran as Washington prepares to intensify pressure on Tehran amid stalled ceasefire negotiations and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said further announcements were expected next week, describing the planned measures as unlike anything previously used against a country facing economic isolation. Bessent said the new strategy would combine tougher economic restrictions with continued efforts to prevent Iranian ports from receiving or sending goods. He indicated that Washington intended to use economic pressure alongside restrictions on maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, meanwhile, said the American military was capable of maintaining a naval presence in the region for an indefinite period to enforce the blockade. He said US naval vessels could be rotated in and out of the region to sustain the operation. The confrontation comes as attempts to revive a ceasefire agreement have faltered. Iran has sought to use its position around the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against Washington, while the United States has continued to tighten economic pressure on Tehran. The waterway has become a major flashpoint because of its importance to global energy supplies. Before the conflict began, roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through the strait. Shipping activity has since fallen sharply, raising concerns over supplies, prices and the wider global economy. Two vessels belonging to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were also attacked while transiting the strait, according to the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency. The UAE government blamed Iran for the incident. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that Washington has control over the strategic waterway. Iran, however, has rejected that assertion and maintained that the strait will not fully reopen unless its demands are addressed. Tehran has called for the removal of economic sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The prolonged confrontation is also putting pressure on the global energy market. The International Energy Agency has revised its forecast for global oil supply, warning that production could fall by about 4.3 million barrels per day this year. Oil prices declined by more than 2% on Thursday as markets reacted to expectations of weaker demand and a rise in US crude inventories. However, renewed attacks in the region continued to fuel fears that the conflict could spread further. The economic consequences are becoming increasingly serious. Economists have warned that a prolonged war could weaken global growth and increase the risk of recession in some economies. Hegseth declined to say whether declaring a ceasefire earlier in the year had been a mistake. He said the administration remained focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and insisted that the United States was taking the steps it considered necessary to achieve that objective.

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    Supreme Court to hear suspension pleas of Imaan Ma…

    ByJustpaste.in

      ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has scheduled for hearing the petitions seeking suspension of the sentences awarded to Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha in a case related to controversial social media posts. According to details, a two-member bench of the Supreme Court will hear the petitions on August 19. The bench will be headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan, while Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim will also be part of the bench. The petitions have been filed seeking suspension of the sentences imposed on Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha in connection with the controversial tweets case. The court has issued notices to all parties involved in the case and will hear their respective positions during the upcoming proceedings. The scheduling of the petitions before the Supreme Court marks another stage in the legal proceedings involving the two individuals. The case has attracted attention because it concerns social media posts and the legal consequences arising from content published on digital platforms. The applicants are seeking relief from the sentences imposed against them while their legal challenge proceeds before the superior court. The Supreme Court will examine the suspension requests during the hearing and consider the arguments presented by both the petitioners and the opposing parties. The two-member bench headed by Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan is expected to hear the legal arguments concerning the basis of the sentences, the circumstances surrounding the disputed social media posts and the grounds presented by the applicants for suspension of their sentences. Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim will serve as the second member of the bench. Notices have already been issued to the parties concerned, formally informing them of the hearing and providing them an opportunity to present their positions before the court. The proceedings are expected to focus specifically on the requests for suspension of the sentences rather than constituting a final determination of all aspects of the underlying case. The court may consider the legal arguments and relevant circumstances before deciding whether the sentences should be suspended. Cases involving social media content have increasingly become an important part of Pakistan’s legal landscape as courts deal with questions concerning online expression, the limits of digital communication and the application of existing laws to content published on social media platforms. The matter involving Mazari and Chattha has also drawn public attention because of the nature of the allegations and the penalties imposed in connection with the disputed posts. Their petitions before the Supreme Court represent an attempt to obtain relief from the sentences through the country’s highest court. The issuance of notices to the parties means that the respondents will have an opportunity to submit their arguments when the matter comes up for hearing. The final outcome will depend on the arguments presented before the bench and the court’s assessment of the applicable legal provisions and circumstances of the case. The hearing is scheduled for August 19, when the two-member bench will take up the suspension petitions. Any decision by the Supreme Court at that stage could have a significant impact on the immediate legal position of Imaan Mazari and Hadi Chattha. For now, the petitions remain pending before the Supreme Court, and the court will determine the next course of action after hearing the parties involved.

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