Tag: trending

  • Trump appears at convention with bandaged ear after shooting

    Trump appears at convention with bandaged ear after shooting

    Donald Trump received a hero’s welcome Monday as he entered the Republican National Convention arena with a bandaged right ear in his first public appearance since being wounded in a weekend assassination attempt.

    Hours after winning the formal nomination to be the Republican presidential candidate and announcing right-wing Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, Trump marched into Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum flanked by aides and waved at supporters on the opening day of what is expected to be a triumphalist gathering.

    Trump, who is due to give a formal acceptance speech on Thursday, took his seat to the sound of country singer Lee Greenwood’s patriotic hit “God Bless the USA” without delivering any remarks but appeared markedly moved by the rapt ovation he received from a packed venue.

    “It was absolutely amazing. I mean, just thinking what he’s been through, and to come here today because he really cares,” Illinois delegate Susan Sweeney told AFP on the convention floor.

    It was the second huge moment of the day for the Republican crowd, which erupted into cheers earlier as Trump announced Vance, just 39, as his vice presidential pick, rewarding a one-time harsh critic who has become one of his most uncompromising supporters.

    While Trump, 78, is increasingly confident of a shock return to the White House — despite multiple legal problems and two impeachments clouding his first term — President Joe Biden.

    The standard-bearer for a new kind of populism that has come to the fore under Trump, Vance is also one of the least experienced VP picks in modern history.

    But he embraces the ex-president’s isolationist, anti-immigration America First movement and is even further to the right than his new boss on some issues — including abortion, where he embraces calls for federal legislation.

    Strong polling

    He initially made his name with the 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” a best-selling account of his Appalachian family and modest Rust Belt upbringing that gave a voice to rural, working-class resentment in left-behind America.

    Turning his back on previous Republican opposition to Trump, whom he once said might be “America’s Hitler,” Vance reinvented himself and ultimately won the ex-president’s endorsement in the 2022 Ohio Senate race, launching his meteoric rise.

    Some 50,000 Republicans descended on the shores of Lake Michigan for the four-day convention, four months before election day.

    The gathering comes with the country reeling from a botched attempt by a gunman to kill Trump at a rally in Butler, western Pennsylvania on Saturday.

    The attack — which killed one bystander and left Trump with the bloodied ear that required the bandage — was expected to dominate proceedings.

    Leading in multiple polls, despite being convicted in his hush-money criminal case in New York, Trump is exuding confidence.

    At 81, Biden meanwhile is facing calls from his own side to quit the race over concerns around his age.

    His campaign released a statement saying the Trump-Vance agenda would “take away Americans’ rights, hurt the middle class, and make life more expensive — all while benefiting the ultra-rich and greedy corporations.”

    Message of unity

    Trump told the New York Post he had “prepared an extremely tough speech” about Biden’s “horrible administration” to deliver at the convention.

    As some Republicans — including Vance — sought to blame Democrats’ anti-Trump rhetoric for the attack, Trump said he had torn up that version in favor of one he hopes will “unite our country.”

    Still, that means him having to rein in the instinct to settle scores — demonstrated by his cry for supporters to “fight” in the seconds after Saturday’s attack.

    A diminished figure after his 2020 election loss and a subsequent riot at the Capitol by his supporters, Trump has spent much of the last four years reshaping Republican politics.

    Installing loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, atop the Republican National Committee, the billionaire has effectively crushed dissent within the party.

    He scored another victory Monday as a judge dismissed one of the criminal cases against him concerning accusations he endangered national security by holding on to top secret documents after leaving the White House.

  • 4 killed in shooting near Oman mosque: police

    4 killed in shooting near Oman mosque: police

    “The Royal Oman Police have responded to a shooting incident that occurred in the vicinity of a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area,” police said in a statement.

    The force gave an initial toll of four killed and “several others” wounded at the mosque in eastern Muscat.

    Such an attack is rare in the Sultanate, which has regularly played the role of mediator in regional conflicts.

    The United States embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting and cancelled all visa appointments Tuesday.

    “US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on social media platform X.

    Footage verified by AFP shows people fleeing near Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunshots ring out.

    A voice can be heard saying “oh God” and repeating “oh Hussein”, referring to the imam who Shiites view as the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed.

    Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the 7th-century battlefield martyrdom of Hussein.

    Police said that “all necessary security measures and procedures have been taken to handle the situation” in their statement.

    “The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the force said on X.

  • ‘No Safe Place’: Gazans race to collect wounded after Israeli strike

    ‘No Safe Place’: Gazans race to collect wounded after Israeli strike

    Israel had declared Al-Mawasi a “safe zone” as it pushed into Rafah near the Egyptian border. Still, on the weekend, Palestinians raced to collect dozens of casualties from the military’s latest strike.

    Sirens wailed, and women screamed as children were pulled bloody and unmoving from the wreckage.

    “What have they done? they’re children, children,” one woman cried. “Seven-year-old and 12-year-old children.”

    Al-Mawasi, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people sought refuge, was left a chaos-strewn wasteland by one of the deadliest Israeli strikes since the start of the war.

    The Gaza health ministry said at least 90 people were killed, half of them women and children. It said another 300 people were wounded in the “massacre”.

    Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said an attack in the Khan Yunis area targeted Hamas military strategist Mohammed Deif and Rafa Salama, a brigade commander, but there was “no certainty that the two were eliminated”.

    Located near the city of Khan Yunis, Al-Mawasi was designated a humanitarian area after Israel in May ordered civilians to evacuate other parts of the Gaza Strip.

    “We have been warning for months that there is no safe place for anyone in Gaza amid Israel’s military bombardment,” said UK-based Medical Aid for Palestinians, which operates health sites in the area.

    It said hundreds of thousands of displaced people were sheltering in the “safe zone”, which had been targeted before.

    Black smoke billowed behind a wide, ash-strewn street in Al-Mawasi, where bodies lay in pools of blood, some covered by sheets.

    Men struggling to carry the wounded wove through those beyond help to reach ambulances waiting with open doors. Others were piled onto donkey-pulled carts.

    “There are people who have lost limbs everywhere. It’s a scene the mind cannot even imagine,” Mahmoud Chahine said near a market struck in the attack.

    Despite the Nasser Hospital reportedly saying it was at full capacity, ambulances kept arriving, carting in the wounded on orange stretchers, including a man with a towel tied around his leg as a makeshift tourniquet.

    A woman outside the hospital could be heard pleading, ” Please, enough, for God’s sake.”

    The Israeli military said the attack against Deif “struck an open area” that “was not a tent complex but an operational compound”.

    “According to our information, only Hamas terrorists were present, and there were no civilians,” it said.

    According to Netanyahu’s office, he had discussed the strike with security and military officials as part of his goal “to eliminate senior Hamas officials”.

    Hamas called the claim that Deif had been targeted “false allegations” intended “to cover up the magnitude of the horrific massacre” in Al-Mawasi.

    Gaza’s civil defence agency said heavy fire was preventing its teams from reaching the “many bodies” scattered in the streets.

    Mahmoud Abu Akar, an eyewitness, described repeated missiles raining down on them.

    “Every time people tried to get close to rescue others, they would strike,” he said.

    “There was no warning at all, it happened all of a sudden.”

    Since telling people to relocate to Al-Mawasi in May, the Israeli military has been accused of repeatedly striking the area in deadly attacks.

    In June when the International Committee of the Red Cross said 22 people were killed by shelling that damaged its office.

    Returning from Nasser Hospital Saturday, Louise Wateridge, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said children had suffered life-changing injuries and people were angry there was no reprieve from the fighting.

    “There is no safety here, no matter where people go,” she said.

    Israel’s military strikes has killed at least 38,443 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to data from Gaza’s health ministry.

  • K-pop sensation Stray kids celebrates global return at the London festival

    K-pop sensation Stray kids celebrates global return at the London festival

    Stray Kids, a popular K-pop group, called it a “career highlight” as they headlined the British Summer Time (BST) Hyde Park Festival on Sunday.
    The eight-member group from South Korea started in 2018 through a reality show by JYP Entertainment. They have fans all over the world with their unique sound and hit songs like ‘God’s Menu,’ ‘S-Class,’ and ‘Maniac.’

    The members, Changbin, Felix, Hyunjin, Lee Know, Han, Seungmin, Bang Chan, and I.N, returned to London after almost five years for their first UK festival performance.

    “It’s a huge festival with a big space. We’re excited to see how our energy will change it,” said Han before their one-hour-and-40-minute set in front of thousands of fans.

    Time magazine named Stray Kids as one of the Next Generation Leaders. Last year, they were third on the global recording artists list by IFPI, and their album “5-Star” was the second biggest-selling album globally.

    In May, all eight members walked the famous MET Gala red carpet in custom Tommy Hilfiger suits. Bang Chan said they are thankful for their streaming success but want to keep making meaningful music for their fans, known as STAYs.

    “A lot of STAYs and people are supporting us, so we keep working hard,” said Seungmin.

    The group is also preparing for their “comeback” with a new EP called ‘ATE,’ released on July 19. Felix said ‘ATE’ stands for the eight members who have “eaten up” their comeback, and fans can expect new styles and concepts.

    “It’s been a while since our last album. With this one, we want to show how genuine we are with music and offer various styles for everyone to enjoy,” said Bang Chan.

    “We’re giving our all, and that makes us confident,” added Changbin.

  • Resham slams trolls for mocking her

    Resham slams trolls for mocking her

    Lollywood queen Resham is not just a great actress but also the owner of a heart of gold. But the internet didn’t even spare her charity work. The star opened up about being trolled for her work, feeding underprivileged communities.

    Undeterred by negative comments, Resham said, “People on social media say all kinds of things like she’s making food for charity out of ill-gotten money, but I say let Allah decide.”

    Resham, who has been personally preparing and distributing food to the needy for the past 20 years, emphasized her dedication. “This has been going on continuously for the past six years, all 12 months,” she stated, highlighting her unwavering commitment to helping others.

  • Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s viral wedding photo

    Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s viral wedding photo

    Bollywood fans went wild when a photo of former couple Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai together at Anant Ambani’s wedding appeared online. The wedding, hosted by India’s richest businessman Mukesh Ambani on July 12, was a star-studded event with many Bollywood stars and international celebrities in attendance.

    Aishwarya Rai, along with her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan, posed for photos. The rest of the Bachchan family also attended separately. However, a viral image showing Aishwarya holding Salman Khan’s hand, with Salman’s sister Arpita Khan Sharma in the background, grabbed everyone’s attention.

    Fans speculated and expressed joy, wondering if the two stars were getting back together. But it was soon revealed that the photo was fake and created using artificial intelligence (AI).

    They also had a real-life relationship that ended years ago, even though they were close to getting married.

  • Sania Zehra case: Hanging confirmed, pregnancy dismissed

    Sania Zehra case: Hanging confirmed, pregnancy dismissed

    The autopsy report of Sania Zehra from Multan has been released, confirming that she was not pregnant while the cause of her death as asphyxia by hanging.

    Ligature marks on her neck are consistent with hanging, says the report.

    The report clearly stated that the hyoid bone was intact, and there were no visible signs of injury or violence.

    However, samples from the stomach, liver, and spleen have been sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency for further analysis.

    Zehra’s body has been exhumed by the police. She was allegedly murdered by her husband in Multan. Sania’s father Syed Asad Abbas Shah claimed in FIR that her sudden death was not a suicide but an alleged murder. He stated that his daughter’s in-laws were disguising the alleged murder as a suicide, contrary to the crime scene.

    The police’s investigation also revealed that the woman married at the age of 14 and had a history of suicidal tendencies in her family, with her brother having died by suicide six months prior.

    Sania’s father, Syed Abbas Shah, told BBC in an interview that his daughter’s death is painted as a suicide while it was a murder. 

    “The police should investigate and tell me whether my daughter was killed or she committed suicide and if she did commit suicide, then they should investigate why she did it.”

    He added further that the police should investigate what the in-laws did that forced his daughter to commit suicide. “I want a fair and transparent investigation into my daughter’s death,” Asad stressed.

    He told BBC that the incident took place on June 9, but the police did not registered an FIR rightaway. After much protest FIR got registered on June 11. 

    The father claimed that so far the accused, his family and no employee of the house has been arrested.

    On the other hand, DIG Multan Sadiq Ali Dogar claims that the police had detained people from the in-laws on the first day but they were released on the request of Sania’s father.

    He (the father) said that we do not want to file an FIR, they (in-laws) should be released,” he shared father’s statement. “As the matter went to social media, the in-laws ran away in fear, but we are trying hard to catch them.

    Background

    A 20-year-old pregnant mother of two, identified as Sania Zehra, was found dead on Monday (July 8) in Multan. The news took over social media, getting widely shared.

    She was allegedly murdered by her husband.

    The victim’s father told the police that he received a call on Tuesday at 9 am from a police official, who asked him to head to his daughter’s residence. There they found the woman hanging from a ceiling fan.

    The FIR said that when the forensic specialist arrived at the scene and tried to untie the noose around the victim’s neck, it opened up quite easily. However, a doctor present at the scene said that the victim had died at 6 pm that day.

    The complainant quoted the doctor as saying that the victim’s jaw was found broken, adding that marks of rope were also found on the victim’s feet. Signs of assault were also visible on the victim’s ribs and elbows while both her eyes were bruised.

    The FIR declared that the victim was five to six months pregnant at the time of her death.

    The police said that the suspect, the husband, had fled the scene and did not even inform the family of their daughter’s death.

    The complainant told the police that his daughter’s husband had lied to the victim’s family at the time of their marriage and was already married to another woman.

    The family filed a case in the family court against the suspect; however, the case was eventually retracted.

    Husband pressurizing for money

    The husband kept on threatening his wife and pressured her to sell the house she owned.

    It also said that the suspect had visited the complainant before the victim’s death and had threatened that he would kill her if the property in her name was not transferred to him.

    The father said that his daughter was murdered by her husband, who was after her property and the matter was being “portrayed as a suicide”.


    Social media speculations

    The information above was what Tasur Subhani and Imran Gabol reported for Dawn. However, social media has few other speculations with a page dedicated to seek justice for the victim who is identified as Syeda Sania Zehra. She, according to that page, belongs to an influential background, her father being a political figure from Multan, Syed Asad Abbas Shah.

    The husband, Syed Ali Raza and mother-in-law Azra Jeewan Shah are said to be complicit in the murder. The mother-in-law allegedly told the victim’s family wheb they came to pick daughter’s body, “Don’t make noise and take your daughter home.”

    An investigation has started upon the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz, Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Finance Punjab Sohail Shaukat Butt and Chairperson Women Protection Authority MPA Hina Parvez Butt met the victim’s family in Multan.

    Butt confirmed that a complete investigation into the matter would be carried out.

  • Crossroads: Asia’s first vertical series breaking boundaries

    Crossroads: Asia’s first vertical series breaking boundaries

    ‘Crossroads’ is making history as Asia’s first vertically shot series. This means it’s filmed in a 9:16 aspect ratio, perfect for mobile viewing. It’s available in over 20 languages, using both human and AI dubbing to reach a global audience. Each episode lasts just 75 seconds, ideal for busy schedules. You can watch it on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.

    The story follows Burak, a billionaire seeking revenge, and Haya, a game designer. After a painful breakup in college, they unexpectedly reunite when Haya’s company partners with Burak’s business. This reignites old emotions, leading to a gripping tale of love, revenge, and second chances.

    The first five episodes introduce Baby Billionaire Burak, played by Khushhal Khan. Each under 2 minutes, these episodes keep viewers hooked with Burak’s insights on love and success, his painful college breakup, and his colleagues’ crushes. The mystery of Burak’s past heartbreak and his connection to Haya keeps the intrigue alive.

    The series brings a Turkish drama feel, appealing to Gen Z and other age groups. The intense, emotional storytelling and visually striking presentation make it a unique experience. Khushhal Khan’s performance stands out, portraying a heartbroken yet strong character.

    While the 75-second episodes are convenient, they limit storytelling. We hope the over 60 planned episodes will fully develop the plot. The focus on Burak’s interview and past heartbreak could use more variation and advancement.

    Crossroads is directed by Fahad Noor, written by Eric Berg, and features a stellar cast including Khushhal Khan, Mamya Shajaffar, and Simi Raheel.

  • Govt to ban PTI, initiate treason references against Khan & Alvi

    Govt to ban PTI, initiate treason references against Khan & Alvi

    The federal government of Pakistan has decided to go all in against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its leadership as the Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar announced on Monday that the Shehbaz Sharif administration plans to ban the PTI as well as file treason cases against Imran Khan and former President Arif Alvi.

    “PTI and Pakistan cannot co-exist,” Tarar told a press conference in Islamabad, saying that the federal government will move the apex court to file a petition to ban the party.

    Tarar stated that the decision to take these actions was taken in view of PTI’s alleged involvement in the May 9 riots and its leaders’ attempts to sabotage IMF’s bailout package deal with Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Shah Mahmood Qureshi was indicted in cases related to May 9 events today.

  • Miss Universe Singapore makes revolutionary changes

    Miss Universe Singapore makes revolutionary changes

    In a big step towards inclusivity, the Miss Universe Singapore 2024 pageant will welcome a wider range of contestants this September.

    Previous rules required contestants to be single, unmarried, and within a specific age range.
    The new rules are:
    There is no upper age limit.
    There is no marital status requirement (married women, mothers, and divorcees can participate).
    Contestants must reside in Singapore for at least six months before September 1, 2024.

    The co-organizers of Miss Universe Singapore 2024 are King Kong Media Production, headed by Singaporean actor Mark Lee, and Beyond Entity, a Malaysian firm with a wealth of pageantry experience. The top prize winner, worth $10,000, will also represent Singapore at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, which will take place in Mexico.

    Elaine Daly, the national director of Miss Universe Singapore and Miss Universe Malaysia 2003, highlighted the importance of the competition, saying, “This competition is more than just a crown. It’s a platform to inspire and advocate for causes close to your heart. We are seeking not just beauty queens but future actresses as well, following in the footsteps of many renowned actresses who began their journeys as beauty queens.”
    This new approach aims to empower contestants by allowing them to shine nationally and internationally.