Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched a fresh social media campaign aimed at winning over young voters, shifting to a more informal and relatable style on Instagram after recent student-led protests exposed growing frustration over jobs and education. The campaign features selfie-style videos, casual greetings and short clips with popular music, reflecting a departure from the highly polished political messaging traditionally associated with Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The strategy is designed to connect with India’s Generation Z audience, which is expected to play a decisive role in the 2029 general election. The renewed digital push follows nationwide protests by students and job seekers last month after an examination paper leak triggered widespread anger over the country’s education and employment system. The demonstrations eventually led to the resignation of India’s education minister. In response, BJP leaders and government ministries have increased their presence on youth-focused platforms by sharing short videos with minimal editing and a more spontaneous style. Officials believe authentic content is more likely to resonate with younger audiences than carefully scripted political messaging. Political observers say Instagram and similar platforms reward creativity, humour and genuine interaction, making them more challenging environments for traditional political campaigns. They note that recent protests gained significant momentum through viral reels and short videos that amplified public dissatisfaction. Beyond social media, the BJP and its ideological affiliate, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), have also expanded outreach efforts by organising events and discussions targeting students and first-time voters. With more than half of India’s 1.4 billion population under the age of 35, analysts say younger voters are expected to become one of the most influential electoral groups in the next general election.

The long-running investigation into the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur has reached a major stage, with the trial of former gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis beginning in Las Vegas. Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in Clark County, Nevada. Davis, 63, faces one charge of murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors accuse Davis of playing a leading role in the drive-by shooting that killed Shakur nearly three decades ago. Shakur was 25 when he was shot near the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996. He was riding in a car with Marion “Suge” Knight, the co-founder of Death Row Records. The shooting became one of the most famous unsolved cases in music history. It also became closely linked to the violent rivalry between East Coast and West Coast rap artists during the 1990s. According to authorities, the incident followed a fight at the MGM Grand casino. The confrontation allegedly involved Shakur and members of his entourage and a man connected to Davis. Investigators believe the shooting was carried out as an act of retaliation. Police have described Davis as a key figure in the alleged plan. Authorities say he helped obtain the weapon and was travelling in a white Cadillac with three other men when the shooting occurred. The Cadillac reportedly followed the vehicle carrying Shakur and Knight. Gunfire was exchanged when the two cars came close to each other. Shakur was struck four times. He was taken to hospital but died six days later from his injuries. Knight, who was driving the vehicle, suffered a minor injury after a bullet fragment grazed his head. The investigation remained unresolved for almost 30 years. Authorities say the case gained new momentum after Davis made a series of public statements about the shooting. His comments reportedly included details about his presence in the Cadillac and his alleged role in obtaining the weapon. Davis also discussed the incident in his 2019 memoir, “Compton Street Legend”. According to police, Davis said he was sitting in the front passenger seat and passed the firearm to one of the men in the back of the vehicle. However, the identity of the person who actually fired the shots remains a central issue in the case. The other three men who were reportedly inside the Cadillac have since died. Under Nevada law, a person can face a murder charge for participating in a killing even if they did not personally fire the weapon. The trial is being heard by Judge Carli Kierny at a courthouse in downtown Las Vegas. Proceedings could continue for as long as six weeks. One potential witness is Knight, who was with Shakur on the night of the shooting. Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence in an unrelated voluntary manslaughter case. The prosecution’s case is expected to examine the events leading up to the shooting and Davis’s alleged role in the plot. The case has remained a major subject of public interest because of Shakur’s influence on hip-hop. His death occurred during a period of intense rivalry between artists and record labels associated with the East and West coasts of the United States. The killing was followed by the death of another major rapper, Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G., who was shot dead in Los Angeles in March 1997. Wallace’s murder also remains officially unsolved. For years, theories have linked the two killings, with speculation that Wallace’s death was connected to the violence surrounding Shakur’s murder. Davis’s trial now offers prosecutors an opportunity to present their evidence in court after decades of uncertainty surrounding Shakur’s death.

LONDON:Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, has announced a series of people-centred reforms aimed at improving consular services for the British Pakistani community. As part of the new measures, consular services at the Pakistan High Commission in London will now begin at 8:00 am, Monday to Friday, increasing the number of appointments available each day and helping reduce waiting times. The High Commission has also introduced a daily walk-in facility from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, on a first-come, first-served basis. The service will cover passport issuance and renewal, NADRA-related services, document attestation, including Powers of Attorney, and Police Character Certificates. The reforms are among the first major public service initiatives introduced by High Commissioner Tipu Usman since assuming office. They are aimed at making consular services more accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of overseas Pakistanis living in London and surrounding areas. Members of the British Pakistani community have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a practical step that will ease access to essential consular services and improve the overall public service experience at the Pakistan High Commission in London.