BREAKING NEWS
Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer battle • Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over AI-generated deepfake content • Fazlur Rehman warns against politicizing debate over new provinces • Pakistan posts 387, secures first-innings lead over West Indies • Pakistan exempt from new US visa bond program • Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict • West Indies all out for 344 against Pakistan in first innings • Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly set to marry Georgina Rodriguez on Aug 8 • Trump says Gulf States backed diplomatic path with Iran • Fuel theft surges across UK as rising prices drive daily losses • Why ‘Inception’ remains one of Hollywood’s most rewatchable films • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ opens with $355m worldwide • Secret wedding allegation involving Varma and Urmila resurfaces • Bilawal Bhutto alleges rigging in AJK elections • PM orders comprehensive performance review of federal ministries
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Newsdesk

Indian actor Pradeep Rawat dies at 74 after cancer battle

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Indian actor

MUMBAI: Veteran Indian actor Pradeep Rawat has died at the age of 74 after battling cancer, his manager confirmed on Tuesday.

According to Indian media reports, Rawat had been hospitalized for more than a month while undergoing treatment for cancer. His manager said the actor died a few hours before the announcement.

Rawat began his film career in 1985 and appeared in numerous Hindi and regional-language films and television productions. He earned widespread recognition for portraying memorable villainous roles throughout his career.

He shared the screen with several leading Bollywood actors, including Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Babbar and Vinod Khanna.

Rawat was also known for his performances alongside Aamir Khan in the films Lagaan and Ghajini, roles that helped cement his reputation as one of Bollywood’s notable character actors. His death marks the end of a career spanning more than four decades in Indian cinema and television.

Mrunal Thakur warns of legal action over AI-generated deepfake content

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Mrunal Thakur

MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur has warned of legal action against individuals creating or sharing artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos and images using her identity without permission.

According to Indian media reports, Thakur expressed concern over AI-generated content circulating on social media that falsely depicts her.

She said the unauthorized use of a person’s identity through artificial intelligence for misleading or harmful purposes is unacceptable.

In an Instagram Story, the actor urged those responsible for producing or distributing deepfake videos and images featuring her name or likeness to stop immediately. She warned that she would not hesitate to pursue legal action if the activity continued.

Thakur’s statement has renewed debate over the growing misuse of deepfake technology and its potential impact on privacy, reputation and digital safety. Experts have warned that AI-generated fake content can damage an individual’s credibility, violate privacy and create legal and social challenges.

The entertainment industry has increasingly raised concerns over the spread of deepfake content, with actors and public figures calling for stronger legal safeguards and more effective measures to protect personal identity and digital rights.

Fazlur Rehman warns against politicizing debate over new provinces

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Fazlur Rehman

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman said Tuesday that creating new provinces in Pakistan is not a simple matter and warned against raising such proposals to divert attention from the country’s pressing challenges.

Speaking at a news conference in Quetta, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) chief said there was nothing inherently wrong with creating additional provinces, but questioned whether the country could currently bear the political and administrative burden.

He said any proposal should take Pakistan’s constitutional and demographic realities into account.

Referring to recent remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Fazlur Rehman said such statements were unlikely to have been made without consultation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. He added that new political debates were often introduced to shift attention away from more urgent national issues.

The JUI-F leader also called on Mahmood Khan Achakzai to convene a joint opposition meeting to discuss the country’s political situation, saying his party would organize a nationwide opposition gathering if such a meeting was not called.

Fazlur Rehman criticized what he described as weak democratic institutions, saying democracy cannot flourish if governments are formed without the public’s mandate.

He called for governance in accordance with the Constitution and urged the adoption of fair national policies to address the country’s political, economic and security challenges.

Pakistan posts 387, secures first-innings lead over West Indies

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Pakistan posts

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Pakistan were bowled out for 387 in their first innings on the third day of the second Test against the West Indies on Tuesday, securing a 43-run lead after the hosts posted 344.

Resuming on 266-2, Pakistan built on a solid overnight position through captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique, but the partnership ended when Babar fell for 88 off 147 balls, missing out on a century by 12 runs. His innings included 10 fours and one six.

Pakistan then lost two more wickets in the space of six deliveries before wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan added 25 runs with Abdullah Shafique. Rizwan scored 18 before being bowled by Jomel Warrican.

Abdullah Shafique anchored the innings with a composed 153 off 312 balls, while Sajid Khan contributed 30 before Pakistan were dismissed for 387, earning a 43-run first-innings advantage.

Earlier, the West Indies had elected to bat first after winning the toss and were dismissed for 344. Sajid Khan led Pakistan’s bowling attack with four wickets, while Obaid Shah, Mohammad Ali and Ali Usman claimed two wickets each.

The West Indies lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the opening Test.

Pakistan exempt from new US visa bond program

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Pakistan exempt

WASHINGTON: Pakistani nationals have been exempted from a US visa bond program that requires citizens of certain countries to provide a refundable financial guarantee of up to $20,000 when applying for visitor visas.

Under the program, which has been made permanent after initially being introduced as a pilot in 2025, applicants from designated countries seeking business or tourist visas may be required to pay a refundable bond ranging from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the assessment of immigration authorities.

According to international reports, the list includes 50 countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal and several African nations. The maximum refundable bond for eligible applicants has been increased from $15,000 to $20,000 under the updated policy.

Pakistan is not included in the list of countries subject to the visa bond requirement. Afghanistan, India and Iran are also not part of the program, meaning their citizens will not be required to post the refundable financial guarantee under the policy.

Trump voices concern over oil company profits amid Iran conflict

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Trump voices

WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump said he is concerned about the large profits oil companies are making amid the conflict with Iran, as rising energy prices continue to fuel inflation and create political challenges ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said oil companies were making “a lot of money” from the surge in crude prices and acknowledged that he was uncomfortable with the situation despite being a strong supporter of free-market principles.

US media reported that Trump hopes oil prices will decline before the November midterm elections, with recent political surveys indicating that Democrats could make gains if inflation remains elevated.

The conflict involving Iran has driven global oil prices sharply higher, boosting earnings across the energy sector. On Tuesday, Saudi Aramco reported a 33% increase in second-quarter profit, reflecting the impact of stronger crude prices.

Higher fuel costs have also weighed on American consumers. Since the outbreak of the conflict, the average price of gasoline in the United States has risen by about 37%, adding to inflationary pressures and increasing the political stakes for the White House.

West Indies all out for 344 against Pakistan in first innings

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West Indies

PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies cricket team were bowled out for 344 in their first innings against Pakistan national cricket team on the opening day of the second Test.

Pakistan were 121 for 2 in 26 overs in their first innings at stumps after bowling out the West Indies for 344 on the opening day of the second Test.

Captain Babar Azam was unbeaten on 19, while Abdullah Shafique remained not out on 32, guiding Pakistan after the early loss of two wickets.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the hosts posted a competitive total, led by half-centuries from Justin Greaves, who scored 73, and Roston Chase, who made 70.

Brandon King contributed 46 runs, while Shai Hope scored 29 and Amir Jangoo added 26.

For Pakistan, Sajid Khan claimed four wickets, while Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Ali and Ali Raza took two wickets each.

Earlier, West Indies captain Roston Chase opted to bat first after winning the toss. Pakistan captain Babar Azam said his side would also have chosen to bat first and vowed to play positive cricket.

West Indies entered the match with a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly set to marry Georgina Rodriguez on Aug 8

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Cristiano Ronaldo

LISBON: Star footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly set to marry his longtime partner, Georgina Rodríguez, in Portugal later this week, according to foreign media reports.

Reports said the couple is expected to tie the knot on Aug. 8 on the Portuguese island of Madeira, Ronaldo’s birthplace, where he spent his childhood. However, neither Ronaldo nor Rodríguez has officially confirmed the wedding plans.

According to a British magazine, the wedding ceremony is expected to take place at Funchal Cathedral before guests attend a reception at a luxury five-star hotel.

The report also said two floors of the hotel and several bars will be closed on Friday and Saturday, fueling speculation that the venue is being prepared for the couple’s wedding celebrations.

Portuguese media had previously reported that Ronaldo planned to marry after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo and Rodríguez first met in 2016 and announced their engagement in August 2025. The couple have five children together. Ronaldo has previously said that his eldest daughter played an important role in encouraging him to propose to Rodríguez.

Trump says Gulf States backed diplomatic path with Iran

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Trump says

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he canceled plans for a major military strike on Iran after appeals from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iran, saying he preferred diplomacy over conflict.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said he decided to halt the operation following requests from countries in the region, adding that the planned attack would have been the largest against Iran since World War II.

“I don’t want to kill people. My preference is to reach an agreement,” Trump said, adding that several U.S. allies in the Middle East also favor a diplomatic solution rather than military action.

The US president said negotiations with Iran were scheduled to begin later in the day and that contacts were taking place under an agreed negotiating framework.

Trump also said an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz was already in place and expressed confidence that a deal on Iran’s nuclear program could also be reached.

He warned, however, that if the negotiations fail, tensions in the region could escalate further.

Fuel theft surges across UK as rising prices drive daily losses

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Fuel theft

LONDON: Petrol stations across the United Kingdom are losing an estimated £200,000 worth of fuel every day as thefts have risen sharply amid higher fuel prices, according to industry data.

Analysis by fuel theft prevention company Forecourt Eye found that incidents of drivers leaving petrol stations without paying increased by 20% in the five months following the onset of the Iran-related fuel crisis, compared with the previous five-month period.

The company said higher fuel prices have pushed the daily value of stolen petrol up by 48% to an average of £194,000 across the UK’s 8,359 petrol stations.

Forecourt Eye reported a 23% increase in first-time fuel theft offenders, while repeat offenders rose by between 17% and 20%. The volume of stolen fuel also increased by 26%, based on reports from 550 representative petrol stations nationwide.

Average petrol prices have climbed to around 160 pence per litre, up 27 pence from pre-crisis levels, while diesel prices have reached 179 pence per litre, an increase of 37 pence.

To help tackle the problem, Forecourt Eye said it will provide free anti-theft technology to customers, including a facial recognition alert system designed to identify suspected fuel thieves.

Petrol Retailers Association Executive Director Gordon Balmer said incidents of abuse against petrol station staff have also increased, despite employees having no control over rising fuel prices.