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Newsdesk

BTS’ V expresses curiosity about Pakistan’s food and culture

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BTS' V expresses

SEOUL: Kim Taehyung, better known as V of the globally popular South Korean group BTS, delighted Pakistani fans after expressing interest in visiting Pakistan and trying the country’s famous cuisine during an online interaction with fans.

The conversation took place during a recent live online session when a Pakistani fan invited V to visit the country.

 Smiling, the singer responded by asking whether he would get to eat biryani and karahi in Pakistan, prompting an enthusiastic response from fans on social media.

Pakistani fans flooded online platforms with invitations, sharing photos of traditional dishes and encouraging the BTS member to visit the country.

During the same session, V also interacted with fans from other South Asian countries. Responding to an Indian fan, he said he hoped to visit India in the future. He also told Bangladeshi fans he was interested in learning more about the country and expressed a desire to visit Cox’s Bazar and the Pink Palace Museum.

Despite V’s comments, BTS has not announced any concerts or tour dates for South Asia, and the group’s upcoming world tour schedule does not currently include Pakistan, India or Bangladesh. Millions of BTS fans live across the region, but the group has yet to perform an official concert in South Asia.

Jennifer Winget reportedly marries Singapore-based businessman in UK

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Jennifer Winget

MUMBAI: Indian television actress Jennifer Winget has reportedly married Singapore-based businessman William Ishmael in a private ceremony held in the United Kingdom, according to Indian media reports.

The Indian media reported that the wedding took place on July 16 and was attended only by close family members and friends, with the ceremony kept largely out of the public eye.

A video circulating on social media appears to show Winget wearing a white bridal gown during the ceremony. However, the actress has not publicly confirmed the marriage or shared any wedding photos or videos on her official social media accounts.

The reported wedding comes months after Indian media speculated that Winget would marry later this year.

Winget was previously married to actor Karan Singh Grover, her co-star in the television drama Dill Mill Gayye. The couple married in 2012 and divorced in 2014.

Emergency alert issued ahead of FIFA World Cup final in New York

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Emergency alert

NEW YORK: Authorities issued emergency flood warnings for parts of New York and New Jersey on Saturday, hours before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, as severe weather threatened to disrupt travel and pre-match preparations.

The championship match between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, deteriorating weather conditions have complicated preparations for both teams and raised concerns for fans traveling to the venue.

Officials warned of potentially life-threatening flash flooding and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Emergency alerts sent to mobile phones in parts of New York warned of a flash flood risk through the afternoon and advised people to leave flood-prone areas if instructed by authorities.

The latest weather concerns come after air quality in New York and New Jersey was affected by smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada. Earlier this week, officials classified air quality in parts of New Jersey as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Calls to relocate the World Cup final had already surfaced because of smoky conditions, and the flash flood warnings have added to concerns surrounding the event.

Tournament organizers continue to monitor the weather closely, while both teams have adjusted their preparations ahead of Sunday’s final. No changes to the match schedule had been announced at the time of reporting.

Security forces foil suicide bombing plot in South Waziristan

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Security forces

ISLAMABAD: Security forces said they foiled a major suspected terrorist attack in the Wana area of South Waziristan after destroying an explosives-laden vehicle before it could be used in a suicide bombing.

According to security officials, the intelligence-based operation targeted a vehicle packed with explosives that was allegedly being prepared for a terrorist attack.

Officials said the vehicle had been kept under surveillance for three days before it was struck after moving away from populated areas to minimize the risk to civilians.

Security officials said the operation destroyed the explosives-laden vehicle and a motorcycle. One suspected militant was killed and five others were injured during the operation.

The officials said the operation was conducted with a focus on protecting civilian lives and property, describing it as a successful effort to prevent a potentially devastating attack.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for thwarting the suspected attack, saying their timely action protected residents of Wana and nearby areas from possible devastation.

 He commended the forces for their professionalism in neutralizing the explosives before the planned attack could be carried out.

Iran’s Supreme Leader says US repeatedly violated agreement

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Iran's Supreme

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Saturday that repeated US violations of agreements with Tehran demonstrate that the American president’s signature “has no value or credibility.”

In a written statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster, Khamenei accused the United States of once again revealing what he described as its “true face,” alleging a continued pattern of broken promises and bad faith.

“The repeated violations of the agreement once again prove a fundamental reality: the U.S. president’s signature is meaningless and carries no value,” Khamenei said, referring to the memorandum of understanding reached between the presidents of Iran and the United States.

Khamenei accused Washington of seeking to escalate the conflict and warned that the United States would face “a heavier price and greater humiliation” for its actions. He also said Iran was prepared to respond in ways the United States “would never forget.”

The Iranian leader called for national unity, urging the public and government officials to avoid internal divisions and work together to safeguard the country’s sovereignty, dignity and independence during the ongoing tensions.

Khamenei also reiterated his longstanding criticism of U.S. policy, saying Washington could not be trusted and accusing it of pursuing confrontation and expanding conflicts.

US military confirms two troops killed in Iranian missile attack in Jordan

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US military

WASHINGTON: The US military has confirmed that two American service members were killed and several others were injured during an Iranian missile and drone attack in Jordan, marking one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. forces in the region in recent months.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack occurred on July 17, when U.S. and allied forces were defending against Iranian ballistic missiles and drones. CENTCOM also said one U.S. service member remains missing.

According to the military, four injured service members were transported to hospitals in Jordan for treatment and have since been released. Other personnel who sustained minor injuries were treated and have returned to duty.

CENTCOM said the identities of the two deceased service members will be released 24 hours after their next of kin have been formally notified.

The confirmation came a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced it had targeted the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan with missiles and drones. The IRGC claimed the attack destroyed two fighter jets, three U.S. aircraft, aircraft shelters and parking ramps at the base.

Those battlefield damage claims have not been independently verified, and the U.S. military has not confirmed the reported destruction of aircraft or other equipment. Russian media also reported that U.S. personnel had not been evacuated from the base before the attack.

Bilawal says dialogue is only solution to Balochistan’s political challenges

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Bilawal says

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that dialogue remains the only solution to Balochistan’s political challenges, reaffirming his party’s commitment to engaging with all political forces regardless of whether they are in government or the opposition.

Bilawal made the remarks during a meeting with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti at Zardari House, where the chief minister briefed him on the province’s administrative, political and security situation.

Bugti informed the PPP chairman about the recent wave of terrorism in Balochistan and said the provincial government had played an active role in supporting the families affected by the deadly Ziarat attack and addressing their demands. He also announced that a judicial commission had been established to investigate the incident.

The chief minister said an all-parties conference would soon be convened in Balochistan to discuss the province’s challenges, adding that political parties outside parliament would also be invited to participate in the dialogue.

Bilawal paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and police personnel, saying he shared the grief of the families who lost loved ones in the recent attacks. He praised Bugti’s efforts to assist the bereaved families and advance the dialogue process.

Raghav Juyal dismisses marriage rumors with Huma Qureshi

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Raghav Juyal

MUMBAI:Indian actor Raghav Juyal has dismissed speculation that he is planning to marry Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi, calling recent reports about their relationship and wedding plans “baseless.”

According to Indian media, rumors about the pair intensified after reports claimed they were planning to tie the knot later this year. Juyal, who is currently receiving praise for his performance in the film Baby Do Die Do, addressed the speculation in a recent interview.

Responding to questions about the reported wedding, Juyal smiled and said there was no truth to the claims, adding that all reports suggesting an upcoming marriage were merely rumors.

The speculation gained momentum after singer Akasa Singh shared a photo with Huma Qureshi and Juyal on social media, congratulating Huma on “this beautiful part of your heaven.”

Fans later pointed to the pair’s public appearances together, including Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal’s wedding reception, where they wore coordinated pink outfits, as well as other industry events.

Huma Qureshi also praised Juyal on Instagram following the release of their latest film, where the two shared notable on-screen chemistry.

Despite ongoing speculation, Juyal said there are no current plans for marriage, dismissing reports that the couple is set to wed in October.

Sohail Khan uses personal experience to advocate against child abuse

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Sohail Khan

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor and filmmaker Sohail Khan has revealed for the first time that he was sexually abused during childhood, saying fear, shame and emotional distress prevented him from telling anyone about the experience for many years.

Speaking on a recent podcast about child abuse, bullying and the importance of breaking the silence, the 57-year-old actor said the traumatic incident had a lasting impact on his life and remained undisclosed throughout his childhood.

Khan said he eventually told his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, about the abuse after reaching adulthood. According to Sohail Khan, his father was deeply saddened and asked why he had carried the burden alone for so many years.

The actor said he remained silent because he felt frightened and ashamed, believing at the time that he was somehow responsible for what had happened. He said those feelings prevented him from seeking help or sharing his experience.

Khan said the ordeal has shaped the way he raises his two sons, Nirvaan and Yohan. He encourages them to speak openly with their parents if they ever experience harassment, abuse or any form of distress, stressing that children should never suffer in silence.

He urged parents to create an environment where children feel safe discussing difficult experiences, saying early support and open communication are essential in protecting children from long-term emotional trauma.

Aamir Khan breaks silence on third wife’s faith after threats

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Aamir Khan

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has said his third wife is Christian, responding to allegations made against him following public criticism of his interfaith marriages and reports of death threats.

According to Indian media, the controversy began after Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane described Khan as a “brand ambassador of love jihad” in reference to the actor’s marriages.

The remarks were later echoed by Hindu religious figure Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya, who publicly supported the accusation and reportedly announced a reward for anyone who killed the actor, while also offering to cover the person’s legal expenses.

In a recent interview, Khan rejected the allegations and said his third wife, Gauri Spratt, is Christian, not Hindu. He added that neither his first wife, Reena Dutta, nor his second wife, Kiran Rao, converted to Islam after marriage because all of his marriages were conducted under India’s civil marriage laws.

Khan said his family has long embraced religious diversity, noting that his sisters married Hindu men, his cousin married a Christian woman, and his daughter also married a Hindu man. He said these relationships reflect his family’s belief in inclusivity rather than religious division.

Khan was married to Reena Dutta from 1986 to 2002, and to Kiran Rao from 2005 to 2021. He is now married to Gauri Spratt.