Leto is an Academy Award winning actor known for roles in Suicide Squad, Dallas Buyers Club and the recent Masters of the Universe, among others.

In Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret, 10 women come forward with allegations against the actor. 

One of the women said she was sexually assaulted in a motel bathroom when she was 17 years old. Another said she was threatened with sexual assault by Leto when she was 19. One woman said she had sex with the actor in California when she was 17 years old — an act classified as statutory rape given that the legal age is 18 in the state — and that Leto “shrugged off” a conversation about the age of consent. A fourth woman described being groomed by Leto, who she claims made several sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16 and suggested they should have sex. 

Four other women also told the BBC that they had received strange and often very sexual phone calls from the actor when they were younger. 

All the women the BBC spoke to say they encountered Leto between 2002 and 2016, when he was in his 30s and 40s. The actor is now 54 years old.

The BBC said it corroborated a number of the women’s accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time. In some cases, the BBC said it has also seen pictures and messages that support the women’s accounts.

Two men who worked with Leto’s band for many years told the documentary makers how uncomfortable staff felt about the manner in which Leto interacted with teenage girls, sometimes inviting them backstage to his dressing room or inviting them to the house where he was recording.

“I think everyone thought the age gap was way too big,” one said.

Leto did not respond to requests for comments from the BBC. 

This is not the first time allegations have been levelled against the actor. The BBC counted more than “120 separate allegations made online relating to his behaviour towards women, some of them historical”.

Sharing a video of the crackdown, Anjum said he held the protesters in high regard and could understand their anger against the system in an Instagram story on Wednesday.

“To the student protesters in India. I have so much respect for your resilience, I understand your frustration, I understand what they’re trying to do [to] you. Stay strong,” the rapper said.

Anjum, who is Pakistan’s most streamed artist on Spotify, has a large fan following in India. His fans from across the border even landed him in hot water in November when he was handed an Indian flag while performing on stage in Nepal.

The rapper draped the flag on his shoulders in an apparent gesture of love and respect that ended with him apologising to fans in Pakistan on live TV.

He’s also not one to mince words over causes he believes in, recently raising his voice for the rescue of Pakistani seamen who were captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia in April.

Anjum called on the Foreign Office to set up a separate helpline manned constantly by one of its officers to liaise with the sailors’ families who deserved more than just a “generic, occasional statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claiming they are ‘in touch with Somali Maritime forces’”.

The protests in New Delhi have been ongoing since last month, with the satirical CJP demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a series of entry test leaks.

Climate change activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protesters, vowing to go on a hunger strike until the protesters’ demands were met. The 59-year-old was forcibly moved to a hospital by police on Saturday, 20 days into his hunger strike.

The CJP has maintained its sit-in in the Indian capital after an attempt to march to parliament on Monday was refused official permission and met with police action that left dozens injured.

The actor was speaking to journalist Mehdi Hasan early on Monday morning in the aftermath of Spain’s victory when the topic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet rooting for Argentina came up. Argentine President Javier Milei, meanwhile, was quoted as saying he was the “proudest Zionist president in the world”.

Hasan said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had, in contrast, been an outspoken critic of Israel and had led his country to join the genocide trial against Israel in the International Court of Justice.

Bardem said the notion of the two competitors representing Israel and Palestine was right, but with the caveat that leaders don’t necessarily represent the will of their people.

“But it’s true that at this high level of encountering and conflict, it’s true that when a president is supporting so openly a person who is a war criminal like Netanyahu, then you want to really support the other team,” the actor said.

Bardem said Milei proudly supporting what the actor referred to as “a full genocide” and people like Netanyahu and Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir associating themselves with Argentina was “not fair” to the South American country.

“I don’t think it’s fair because there are many people from Argentina that really don’t support Milei, as many people in the States that don’t support [US President Donald] Trump.”

Both Bardem and Hasan shared a laugh over visuals from the trophy presentation, where Spanish players seemed to be awkwardly waiting for President Trump to leave the stage so they could get their team picture.

“He wanted to be in the picture, but it was great how these players who were looking at him like, ‘no, we have to make the picture without you.’ And as soon as you leave, we’re taking the picture. So he had to leave. And I was very proud of that as well,” the Spaniard said of his national team.

Bardem said he was surprised to see so many people around the world support his country, but could understand why.

“I am glad that the shift is happening in the people’s reaction towards, in this case, genocide and war crimes. And I think it’s because the actions that we’ve been witnessing through all these years towards the Palestinian population are so atrocious, they are so horrible to understand or make sense of, that anybody with minimal common sense understands that this is wrong.”

The actor said that just like Milei and Trump didn’t represent their nations as a whole, “extreme leaders like Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir and all his cabinet are also not a representation of the Jewish community”.

The lawmaker was responding to a post where a TikTok creator was talking about receiving a payout from the platform which allowed her to buy a car and several thousand rupees in clothes and accessories.

“The more shamelessness you spread on TikTok Live, the more you earn. May God shelter us, these people spread so much filth on TikTok Live,” Butt — who is also the chairperson of the Punjab Women Protection Authority — said in her message.

“Unfortunately, these people are the heroes of our youth. Nowadays, everyone wants to get rich overnight, everyone wants a shortcut,” the MPA wrote.

“As many benefits as social media may have, there are just as many downsides. The most poisonous [of all these creators] are the family vloggers and those on TikTok Live who are corrupting our children.”

This isn’t the first time Butt has come out with critique of what goes on on the internet. Last month, she posted a stern message asking when “the minds of people like Falak Shabir will stop fixating on women’s clothing”.

That post came after the singer had called on the MPA’s party leader, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, to take action against people who wear “short dresses in the bazaars and streets” of Punjab.

Butt also weighed in on the controversy surrounding television host Fiza Ali and her husband, who picked her up like a bag of flour on live TV.

The lawmaker termed the incident as “regrettable”, adding that adults should “demonstrate good morals and decorum so that children and the younger generation can learn something better”. Ali’s young daughter was on the programme too, and laughed hysterically as her parents played around.

Marshals confirmed the arrest of 39-year-old Andrew Tate, a self-professed misogynist, and his younger brother, but said that because the arrest warrant was sealed, “we are not able to disclose the charges.” US news outlet TMZ posted video of law enforcement officers placing the men in handcuffs and escorting them into waiting vehicles. Asked by an onlooker if he had something to say, Tristan Tate did not respond, the footage posted on X showed.

The UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement that the Tates, who face charges in Britain, were arrested by US marshals.

UK prosecutors will be seeking the brothers’ extradition.

The Tate brothers face 59 charges in total — 42 against Andrew and 17 against Tristan, British authorities said on Sunday.

 “We have decided to prosecute Andrew and Tristan Tate for further offences including rape, arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation and offences relating to indecent images of a child,” Malcolm McHaffie, head of CPS’s Special Crime Division, said in the statement.

 “The CPS has requested the extradition of the Tates from the US,” he said, adding that the latest charges stem from receipt of new evidence from Bedfordshire Police that bring the total number of alleged victims in the Tates case to seven.

Earlier this year, police in Hertfordshire, north of London, said it was reopening a probe into rape and sexual assault allegations made by women against Andrew Tate between 2014 and 2015.

They also face separate rape and human trafficking allegations brought by different women and investigated by Bedfordshire Police, which covers their hometown of Luton, also north of London.

The Tate brothers are also accused of tax evasion and money laundering in the UK.

Their attorney, Joseph McBride, said in a press release that the brothers “are innocent.”

“We are confident that once a competent judge sees the facts, and once the Department of Justice confronts this egregious abuse of its own authority, Andrew and Tristan Tate will walk free,” McBride said.

The Tates are dual British-US citizens who have been avid supporters of US President Donald Trump.

In March 2025, the US state of Florida launched a criminal investigation against them. The status of that investigation is unclear.

Andrew Tate is one of the most prominent proponents of the so-called “manosphere” network of communities, many of them online, that focus on traditional masculinity, anti-feminism, and self-improvement.

He promotes his divisive views, often incorporating alpha-male and aggressively misogynistic themes, to millions on social media including 10.8 million followers on X.

In Romania, where they have been based in recent years, the Tates face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering.

Answering questions at an event organised to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his anti-colonial film Lagaan on Thursday, the actor said the idea that his character, Phunsukh Wangdu, and Wangchuk being connected was a “misconception”.

The question came after his 3 Idiots co-star Omi Vaidya — who played Chatur Ramalingam — posted a video on Instagram voicing support for Wangchuk. The reel’s caption read, “Did you know the real life Phunsukh Wangdu may die?”

“I saw a video of Chatur just recently. He said that, yes. No, he’s wrong,” Khan said.

He said Vaidya might have been under a false impression. “Maybe that’s what Chatur was thinking, but I want to tell you that neither Raju [the film’s director] nor Abhijat [the writer], nor I, we didn’t know about Mr Sonam.”

Wangchuk has, on previous occasions, also denied working with the team that made 3 Idiots, as per the Times of India. He did, however, say that people had told him there were similarities between him and Khan’s character.

Indian media reports the activist recounting a meeting with Khan in Mumbai in 2008. He said he had proposed a film highlighting the massive financial cost of the conflict between India and Pakistan over the Siachen Glacier. He had hoped such a movie would convince people on both sides of the border that the money would be better used elsewhere, such as on education.

In 2025, Wangchuk — who is also an engineer and a climate change campaigner — visited Islamabad to speak at Dawn’s Breathe Pakistan conference about environmental protection and his project in Ladakh. By then, the project had established 52 running artificial glaciers in Ladakh and 14 elsewhere in the world over six years.

At the event on Thursday, Khan appreciated the educationist’s efforts, and expressed concern over his hunger strike, which the actor hoped would end soon.

Wangchuk has been protesting with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Prasad. The protest follows a massive scandal which saw papers of the country’s competitive university entrance exams leaked.

“Sonam sir is not doing so well, and his ribcage has started showing,” CJP Spokesperson Vijay Dahiya said in a recent update on the activist’s health.

“He’s nearly 60, has lost muscle mass; the heat and humidity are not helping either and I can see him having dizzy spells,” he added.

Several Bollywood celebrities have expressed support for Wangchuk’s mission, including actor Sonakshi Sinha, who said she salutes the activist for taking a stand for the country’s children. She lamented that the government was not even talking to the CJP, let alone fixing flaws in the system.

Veteran actors Zeenat Aman and Shabana Azmi also spoke out, with Azmi imploring Wangchuk to end his hunger strike and take care of himself. Aman called on the government to open dialogue with the CJP on the issue and work for the next generation.

Actor Naseeruddin Shah and author Arundhati Roy also urged Wangchuk to break his long-running “fast”, while actor Prakash Raj visited the protest site to express his solidarity with Wangchuk and the other protesters.

The crowning ceremony took place at Lahore’s Faletti’s Hotel, where Meraj was crowned by Dr Shafaq Akhtar, Miss Pakistan Universal 2022, and Attaullah Gujjar, Mr Pakistan World.  

Miss World made the announcement on its website and Instagram account on Thursday, saying Meraj would represent Pakistan at the 75th Anniversary Edition of the Miss World Festival in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5.

The 24-year-old old business and economics graduate is currently pursuing a master’s degree in auditing and accounting.

“My future ambitions is to achieve my dream of becoming a State-Authorised Public Accountant. And actively advocating for children’s rights and girls’ education to help build a brighter future for Pakistan,” she said, according to Miss World.

She has previously represented Pakistan at the Miss Earth, Miss Global, Miss Cosmo, Miss Eco International, and Miss Aura International competitions and has also won four titles at the Freedom of the World competition in Kosovo.

This may be the first time Pakistan is participating in the Miss World contest, but it isn’t the country’s first foray into pageants. In recent years, Pakistan’s participation in the Miss Universe pageant has been celebrated with Erica Robin and Roma Riaz both representing the country and winning hearts.

The guidelines follow feedback from athletes who said certain camera shots can cause discomfort and distractions by drawing attention away ​from their performances.

“The development of filming guidelines is a ​crucial step toward eliminating harmful portrayals of women ⁠in our sports while maintaining the highest level of ​storytelling and technical excellence,” European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov ​said.

Broadcasters are advised to avoid prolonged close-up shots of specific body parts, low-angle views filmed from behind or beneath athletes, and slow-motion ​replays that do not contribute to the understanding of ​the sporting action.

The guidelines aim to ensure coverage remains focused on athletic ‌performance ⁠and reduce the risk of footage being taken out of context and shared inappropriately online.

The organisations also encouraged production teams to use wider camera angles that capture the ​full scope of ​an athlete’s ⁠movement and performance.

Former world long jump champion Ivana Spanovic said broadcasters should use innovative ​camera angles, including aerial views, and educational ​graphics to ⁠help explain various aspects of athletic performances.

“Our sport offers numerous opportunities to showcase technique and the beauty of movement, ⁠like ​displaying slow-motion shots that highlight technical ​precision, such as the take-off moment or the perfect stride,” the Serbian ​added.

In a post shared on X on Sunday, the minister said Pakistani films and dramas were “second to none, commanding immense demand and heartfelt appreciation across the globe”. He said the entertainment industry was a “vital cornerstone for our national export strategy” under his ministry’s Uraan Pakistan programme.

Uraan Pakistan is an initiative focusing on the government’s 5Es National Economic Transformation Plan — Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment & Climate Change, Energy & Infrastructure and Equity & Empowerment.

He said global Over the Top (OTT) platforms were “critical gateways” to get Pakistani content to international audiences, but “they have unfortunately been weaponised by regional politics for too long, denying Pakistani content its rightful, due space”.

The minister said the government was “in talks with Netflix and other global streaming giants to adjust the regional framework”. The goal, he said, was to “secure an equitable share of space and open sustainable partnership avenues for Pakistani creators”.

Additionally, he said the government was also working to launch an indigenous OTT platform to take Pakistan’s films and TV shows to the world.

Salman Iqbal, the CEO of ARY Digital, seemed more keen on the latter proposal. Responding to the minister’s post, he said Pakistan should not be relying on others.

Championing the development of a homegrown streaming platform, he said they had already worked very hard to popularise Pakistani media in the world and the country had the necessary technology and creative skill to make it happen.

The media mogul said ARY Digital had been approached by Netflix for content but had refused the streaming giant’s advances. He said the audience for Urdu content was over a billion people, enough for Pakistan to chart its own path forward.

Earlier, filmmaker Mehreen Jabbar had raised the same concerns as the minister about a “neighbouring country” using its political influence to sideline Pakistani content on OTT platforms.

She said she was hopeful things would change in the future, especially with Pakistan’s first Netflix show, which she said “will come out in the next year or so”.

The couple posted a video on Instagram on Wednesday, saying they had a lot to say on the subject, but had kept quiet all this time because “something was telling us not to. It just didn’t feel like the right time”.

The couple said they were “feeling immense gratitude for so many things and so many people and so many things that have happened to us” and that while they were thankful it was over, the “injustice” and “pain” they had been put through had not been negated.

“We’ve had to wrestle with so many things and try to understand so many things, like how could something like this even happen? Let alone disguised as a fight for women,” Emily said.

She said there was “so much to unpack”, but the reality was that the feud had put their family through a lot of trauma, which made talking about it difficult.

Justin said that so many painful — and untruthful, Emily added — things had been said in the last couple of years that there was noise and they didn’t want to add to it by responding at the time.

“So we just wanted to let the justice system run its course,” the It Ends With Us star said. “The truth and the facts have spoken for themselves,” his wife added.

Justin said they were now “healing” and that process wasn’t linear. He also thanked his supporters who stood up for him when he couldn’t stand up for himself.

“There were so many of you who, when we didn’t have a voice, were our voice… And so many of you had discernment. And you used your intuition and you trusted that. And you have given your time to fight for us. And thank you does not feel like enough. But we’re here, in large part, because of so many of you and all of our friends and family.”

The couple said there was more to say and the “time will come” for them to say it. For now, they said they’ll continue “the healing and hanging out with our kiddos”.

In May, Justin and Lively settled a lawsuit in which she accused him of sexual misconduct on the set of It Ends With Us. Both sides issued a statement saying they hoped the settlement would bring “closure”.

The dispute became public in ​December 2024, when ​Lively filed a complaint ⁠against Justin with the California Civil Rights Department. This was followed by her lawsuit.

Justin counter-sued ​Lively and ⁠her husband Ryan Reynolds for defamation, saying they tried to destroy his reputation, but a judge dismissed that case in June of last year. The judge also dismissed Baldoni’s defamation case against The New York ⁠Times.

It Ends ​With Us starred Lively as a flower shop ​owner who marries a neurosurgeon played by Baldoni. Despite mixed reviews, the movie grossed more than $351 million worldwide, according ​to Box Office Mojo.

Known for hit songs including ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ and ‘Holding on for a Hero’, the singer was a three-time Grammy nominee.

The BBC noted that in May, the performer was placed into an induced coma after having emergency intestinal surgery in Portugal. Last month, her spokesperson said she was out of the coma but remained “very unwell and in intensive care”.

Tyler, who was born Gaynor Hopkins, grew up in Neath, a town in South Wales, and released her first single in 1977. Her biggest hit, ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, was released in 1983 and topped charts in both the UK and the United States.

“I never get tired of singing it,” Tyler had told BBC. “I love it because everyone can’t wait to sing it.” This year, the song crossed the one billion streams mark on Spotify. “I’m really happy, when you think about it, there’s only 8.3 billion people in the world,” she said.

She is survived by her husband Robert Sullivan.

A written judgment by London’s High Court published following an 11-week trial earlier this year said the “claimants failed to prove their pleaded allegations… the claims are therefore dismissed”.

The ruling was delivered as Harry attended an event in the capital, with Associated Newspapers calling it an “overwhelming victory” and a “magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail’s journalism”.

It said the court’s dismissal of “every single one of the 97 allegations made by the claimants” showed Judge Matthew Nicklin had “accepted the honesty of our journalists’ evidence on how they sourced their stories”.

Allegations that bugs had been placed in people’s cars and homes, calls listened to and bank accounts illicitly accessed had been “lurid” and “preposterous” with “no credible evidence” ever presented, Associated said in a statement. “The reputations of our decent and hard-working journalists were terribly impugned, and today they have been exonerated,” it added.

Prince Harry said the ruling was a “com­­­­­­­plete and obvious whitewash” but was “not altogether unexpected”, in a joint statement with Doreen Lawrence, whose son was murdered in a 1993 racist attack.

“The lengths to which the court has gone to exonerate the Mail is as shocking as it is totally unwarranted,” said the youngest son of King Charles III. The ruling came shortly after Harry arrived at a central London event for the Invictus Games, launched for wounded veterans in 2014.

At the same time, his estranged brother, heir to the throne Prince William, was also in the city, visiting the London Welsh School to promote next month’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Harry will now face another court hearing on July 29-30 which could see him and the six other complainants ordered to pay substantial legal costs.

Associated said it had spent £50 million ($66m) “defending ourselves against this egregious litigation”.

“We will look to resolve outstanding issues, including the recovery of the costs we have incurred,” it added. The prince gave emotional testimony during the proceedings in which several high-profile figures, including singer Elton John and actor Elizabeth Hurley, accused the tabloid publisher of invading their privacy.

The case, the third and final one brought by the Duke of Sussex in his acrimonious legal battle with British tabloids, has further strained relations with the royal family.

Originally published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026

Mbappe’s penalty proved the difference in a bruising and ill-tempered match as France won 1-0 in Philadelphia on Saturday to advance to the quarter-finals.

Celeste Amarilla wrote a long, racist tirade on X, describing Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” and as a “brute” who had not learned to write.

Paraguay’s players should have slapped him after the match, she added.

Mbappe, the France captain, responded with a strongly worded statement defending not only himself but also the Paraguay players.

“Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition,” he wrote.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

Criminal complaint

The French Football Federation (FFF) escalated the matter, announcing plans to file a criminal complaint, describing her remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.

“These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings,” it said.

“These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”

The Paraguayan government said it “deplores and rejects the statements” made by Amarilla, saying they are “contrary to the values ​​and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.”

“The statements of the aforementioned legislator correspond exclusively to the exercise of her individual responsibility as a member of the Legislative Branch and in no way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people,” it said in a statement.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said the Paraguayan president had written to him to express support and condemned the remarks.

Macron on Tuesday offered words of support for the captain. “Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values ​​respond: dignity, respect, fraternity,” he said in a post on X.

Basilio Nunez, the leader of the South American country’s legislature, said the comments do not represent the “genuine values” of Paraguayans.

“As President of the National Congress, I strongly reject racist, xenophobic messages and those that incite violence against any person,” Nunez said.

“The Paraguayan national team gave their all with honour and grit at the World Cup. Politics and sports should be kept separate.”

France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan said: “We haven’t spoken with Kylian yet, haven’t had the opportunity.”

“But in three words: it’s disgraceful, vile, outrageous.”

Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, world football’s governing body, also condemned Amarilla.

“All of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain — we need to fight racism and defeat it all together,” Infantino wrote in a statement on Instagram.

Bhatti posted pictures of himself and Salahuddin at the Islamabad airport on Friday with the caption saying they were “deeply honored to have been invited to Iran as State Guests to attend the funeral of Ayatollah Khamenei”.

He called it a “privilege” to be able to represent Pakistan at such an important occasion and said he did not take that responsibility lightly.

On Sunday, Salahuddin posted a video from the Grand Mosalla in Tehran where Khamenei’s funeral was taking place with a monologue explaining what it felt like to be there.

He said he was there not to stand with or against someone, but to observe. “What I saw was not a show of strength, it was this nation’s grief — the true grief of losing its leader,” he said.

Salahuddin said he saw the grieving people of Iran practice the same rituals for their supreme leader that “have kept the memory of [Imam] Hasan and [Imam] Husain alive for 1,400 years”.

“This mourning [in Tehran] has been going on for two days, people come, stay for a bit, leave and someone else takes their place. There is no point where everyone is here at the same time, and yet, this place is always full.”

He said he felt a “power” at the event, “with my eyes, in my heart, and I will never forget it”.

Bhatti also posted a reel showing scenes from Tehran, with mourners clad in black in the city streets and visuals of the funeral with shots of Khamenei’s coffin lying in state.

In his caption, the vlogger wrote of “a grief so large it swallowed the whole city. Streets shut down. Shops closed. A nation that stopped moving to mourn one man”.

He said he usually makes videos “about places, food, small joys. This time my camera was pointed at something bigger than me”.

“I didn’t come here to have an opinion. I came here to witness. And some things you only understand once you’ve stood in the middle of them.”

Now they’re fighting back against the negative coverage by taking the BBC to court for defamation arising from “labels [placed] upon us that did not, do not and will never fit”.

In a post on X, the group announced they were taking legal action against the British public broadcaster that has “disappointingly continued to prove how little it represents the interests of the people and our access to unbiased news and information”.

Bob Vylan said the BBC had tried to “silence those that oppose the heinous crimes taking place in Palestine”. The charges levelled against it include labelling critical voices “anti-semitic”, editing and removing content, and “blocking the release of documentaries that challenge the desired narrative of the BBC and its top brass”.

These responses to criticism of Israel, they said, “are unacceptable”.

The duo said, “So, seeing the opportunity to remind them the power of the people that they are attempting to silence, we had no choice but to take on this fight. In fact, we take great pleasure in serving them that reminder in court.”

They ended their message calling for a free Palestine and justice for the Filton 25 — a group of Palestine Action activists arrested for disabling weapons at an arms factory owned by Israel’s Elbit Systems.

Bob Vylan faced a since-dropped police investigation last year after leading a crowd in chants against the Israeli military at the Glastonbury music festival. The investigation led to them being dropped from a number of subsequent festivals.

Meanwhile the BBC was on special alert this year for political messaging at the Bafta awards which it broadcasts. The broadcaster landed in hot water for how the ceremony was edited, with mentions of Palestine being cut but an involuntary racial slur against black people being allowed to air.

The channel was also criticised at the Baftas for its decision not to air the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack citing concerns over partiality. The documentary was aired by Channel 4 and went on to win an award in the Current Affairs category.

The case illustrates how fraudsters posing as the crown prince ensnare victims by cultivating online relationships before swindling them. Researchers have traced some of the scams to crime syndicates in Nigeria.

Maria, who requested her real name and age be withheld, met the scammer impersonating Prince Hamdan, also known as Fazza, on a dating site. The conversation moved to a messaging app where he bombarded her with romantic messages.

“He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping,” she said. “It felt like there was a love spell that connected our minds.”

In one recording of a WhatsApp video call, the scammer, appearing lifelike as the prince, flickered on the screen. His words matched his lip movements, but the voice was not the prince’s. “Hello beloved,” the voice told Maria. “I really appreciate your love and support.”

Initially too lovelorn to suspect fraud, Maria lost her entire year’s savings. The scammer manipulated her into paying 100,000 pesos ($1,625) for what he claimed were a marriage certificate and a “royal membership card” to secure a job in Dubai.

Her suspicion arose when he proposed meeting her at a hotel and demanded another 60,000 pesos ($974) for the booking. When she scrutinised his Facebook page, since taken down, she noticed the account was based in Nigeria.

She cut off communication, sending one final message: “Go to hell, scammer.”

“Many people told me it’s good I didn’t go crazy after this experience,” Maria said.

The fraud is part of a broader ecosystem of “fake Dubai prince” scams targeting hearts and wallets. Scammers exploit the Emirati royal’s likeness by drawing on his vast online presence, including more than 17 million Instagram followers, and sometimes copying his authentic poems to deceive victims.

Multiple Facebook groups impersonating the royal invite users to WhatsApp or Telegram chats with the “prince”.

The groups post manipulated but lifelike images, including one depicting the prince on one knee holding a ring and another offering a red rose captioned: “Sweetheart can I get a ‘love you’ on WhatsApp?”

While some users warned in the comments that the posts are scams, many responded with blowing-kiss emojis. As the fraud spreads, awareness groups have sprung up, including an Instagram account called “Do not fall for fake prince”.

A Change.org petition titled “Stop Fazza Scam” called on Sheikh Hamdan’s staff to raise awareness against scammers using Dubai phone numbers to request large sums of money as donations or forged marriage certificates.

“Significant payments are requested in banks in countries other than those of victims, sometimes even in cryptocurrencies, making it harder to trace,” the petition said.

Dubai authorities did not respond to requests for comment.

Hamdan is far from the only public figure exploited by scammers. Last year, French authorities launched a probe to identify fraudsters posing as Brad Pitt who scammed a woman out of 830,000 euros ($945,000).

The Global Anti-Scam Alliance estimates consumers worldwide lost $442 billion to scams last year, including romance fraud.

It remains unclear which AI tools were used to generate the video chats with Maria. The internet is awash with AI-powered face-swapping technology and motion-control tools capable of producing highly realistic videos, allowing users to precisely manipulate facial expressions in real time.

“The technology is improving rapidly, and it is likely that soon real-time video deepfakes will become better and better,” David Rand of Cornell University said. “Once this happens, it becomes fundamentally impossible to tell whether any not-in-person conversation is real.”

Originally published in Dawn, July 4th, 2026

From June 25 to 28, ​Rome hosted “Vespa Roma 2026 – 80 Years ​of an Icon”, a four-day gathering centred on ⁠the city’s Foro Italico and the Stadio dei ​Marmi, which has been turned into a Vespa Village ​of exhibitions, races, parades and club events.

Launched in 1946 by Piaggio, the Vespa became a symbol of Italy’s rebirth after ​World War II: cheap enough for a battered ​country, stylish enough to seduce the world, and practical enough to ‌weave ⁠through the alleys of Naples, Milan and Rome.

It has since become one of Italy’s most recognisable design exports, appearing in films such as Roman Holiday with Peck ​and Hepburn, ​advertisements and ⁠holiday brochures.

Vespa has been in continuous production for 80 years, undergoing around 160 ​restyling updates and selling nearly 20 million ​units ⁠worldwide, including just over two million in the past decade.

Today, the scooter is sold in approximately 100 countries, ⁠mainly ​across Europe and Southeast Asia, and ​is manufactured in three production plants in Italy, Vietnam, and India.

Born just before the tournament, Messi the goat has been dressed in an Argentina jersey as his namesake racked up five goals in two matches — a hat-trick in a 3-0 win ​over Algeria in Kansas City and a double in the 2-0 victory over Austria.

Those ​performances reignited a familiar debate over who is the greatest player of ⁠all time — GOAT, in sports shorthand — with Messi often listed among the likes of Pele and ​Diego Maradona.

Argentina have made Kansas City their base, staying near the Berkley Riverfront, where the younger, ​horned Messi is part of a herd clearing invasive vegetation in a 55-acre industrial area slated for a billion-dollar redevelopment.

The project led by Port KC blends public cleanup funds with private development and is anchored ​by CPKC Stadium, home to the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.

“Baby Messi came ​about when we showed up with the goats up here,” said Kyle Alvis, owner of Goats Gone Green, ‌which ⁠has around 40 goats on site. “With the World Cup coming in, they all felt we needed to have a Messi floating around in town.”

Along the riverfront trail, joggers slow to snap photos as the herd grazes. Alvis said this is the second year of his partnership with ​Port KC.

“They don’t want ​to spray any herbicides. ⁠With the Missouri River next door, we don’t want the run-off. And the people that walk up and down the Berkley Riverfront walk ​get to enjoy a little bit of something besides just concrete ​and buildings,” ⁠he noted.

Alvis, who conceded he knew little about soccer before the World Cup, said the sport is bringing people together in Kansas City, the smallest U.S. city hosting the tournament.

As for a meeting ⁠between ​the two Messis, the invitation stands.

“As far as I know, ​he hasn’t,” Alvis said of whether the Argentine talisman has visited. “If he wants to come down and meet the ​little Messi, we’d be more than glad to have him.”

Quoting comments from a post announcing the score for one of the top 20 finalists, Riaz shared an open letter to her Instagram account, saying no crown “is worth hatred”.

“Over the past few days, I have been the target of a paid and orchestrated campaign of online harassment. Male supporters of a Miss Universe Pakistan finalist have publicly questioned my ability as a judge, sent hate, and even posted threats promising to ‘make my life miserable’,” said the former Miss Universe Pakistan — who is one of the judges for the competition this year.

“A real queen,” she said, “does not encourage harassment, intimidation, or hate to advance her own ambitions”. She said real leadership was measured by how we treat others and this behaviour was contrary to the spirit of healthy competition.

Riaz said these threats were not acceptable and will be met with legal action if they continue. “Online abuse is not beyond accountability,” she said, tagging the Punjab Police and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

“I chose to represent Pakistan with dignity, respect and unity. I will continue to do so,” Riaz said, adding that she would not let online pressure replace merit and that all judging was done “based solely on the official Miss Universe criteria”.

“To every young girl watching: never let someone convince you that bullying is the price of ambition. Pakistan deserves women who lift each other up not tear each other down,” she said, ending her message.

The comments Riaz quoted were from a post from the official Miss Universe Pakistan account announcing the judges scores for contestant Aneesa Sheikh. The contestant is appearing for selection again after failing to progress past the Top 20 stage last year.

Riaz wasn’t the only person targeted either, Miss Universe Egypt Deputy Director Kosh Himal Hewage — who is also a judge and rated Sheikh lower than Riaz did — was also called out.

Josh Yugen, the owner of the Miss Universe Pakistan franchise, responded to Riaz’s letter saying, “The most beautiful crown is one built on integrity. Kindness is never weakness, and respect is never optional. May every future queen remember that true leadership is measured by how she treats others — even in the face of adversity.”

Now, with the release of a report from the UN-formed Independent International Commission of Inquiry saying Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli security forces, she has just one question for world leaders: “Where have you been?”

“Did you not see these kids as kids because of where they were born? Did you not think the 20,000 kids that were killed and the countless others under the rubble who died of starvation and other causes that would be so simple to treat,” asked a visibly upset Accurso in a video shared to her Instagram page.

She questioned whether those in positions of power realised the children of Gaza “had beating hearts like your kids”. She quoted parts of the report saying 151 children had died of starvation and mentioned “the deliberate targeting of children”, including an incident in which a breastfeeding baby was killed by quadcopter while inside a tent.

She wondered aloud what the leaders of the world had to lose by speaking up for what is right and asked how they were able to “go to sleep at night knowing you didn’t say anything”.

Accurso has been extremely vocal about the dire conditions facing children living through Israel’s barbaric war on Gaza. Her online advocacy has landed her in trouble with pro-Israel groups who have accused her of anti-semitism.

The YouTuber is a global ambassador for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) and supports their activities in the United States with donations and by spending time with children the PCRF brings to the US for treatment. She’s developed a particularly strong friendship with Rahaf, a four-year-old double amputee from Gaza.

Mahnoor is the fourth Pakistani to be granted the honour and only the second Pakistani woman. Her win comes six years after the last time Pakistan won, Mahwari Justice said in a press release.

The awards, which are meant to celebrate young people’s contributions to development, are given out annually. One winner is selected from each of the five participating geographical regions and out of the five winners one is named Young Person of the Year.

As a regional winner, Mahnoor will receive a grant of £3,000 to help her organisation achieve its objectives. The Young Person of the Year — Ugandan solar-energy pioneer Shifra Ainomugisha for 2026 — will receive £5,000.

Mahnoor’s Mahwari Justice has made it a mission to spread awareness and education on menstrual issues and improve access to care for menstruating women.

The organisation was founded in 2022 in response to devastating floods and focused initially on providing feminine hygiene kits to flood-hit communities.

Since then, Mahnoor has worked on period education, developing a disability-inclusive guide on menstruation and having it translated into braille. The guide is now being produced in sign language.

She was also a strong advocate for the removal of taxes on feminine hygiene products, mobilising 10,000 signatures for the cause.

Her efforts and those of legal activists like Mahnoor Omer and Alisha Shabbir came to fruition earlier this month when taxes were withdrawn as part of the Federal Budget 2026-27.

Weinstein’s third trial in New York state court over an allegation that he raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann ended in a mistrial in May after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict.

Mann accused Weinstein of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 while Mann resisted and repeatedly said, No. Weinstein, 74, had pleaded not guilty to one count of third-degree rape and has denied assaulting anyone or having non-consensual sex.

A representative on Thursday said Weinstein was relieved by the outcome and believes the charge never should have been brought. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said on Thursday that testifying before two grand juries and three trial juries had been an “extraordinarily taxing ordeal for Mann and that she did not wish to take the stand again”.

Bragg’s office also said it asked the court to sentence Weinstein to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting one-time production assistant Miriam Haley. Weinstein was convicted of raping Mann and assaulting Haley at his first trial in New York in 2020, but the state’s highest court overturned the conviction after concluding that he did not get a fair trial.

Weinstein, an Oscar-winning film producer and Miramax studio co-founder, has remained behind bars since his conviction was overturned due to his conviction in another case. More than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or misconduct, allegations Weinstein denies.

Originally published in Dawn, June 26 , 2026

Predicted to be the biggest-selling cultural product of all time, speculation had been rife that GTA VI would cost players far more than a typical high-end title.

In the end, Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive announced a price tag around $10 higher than the base version in the United States, landing at $80, and $100 for an “Ultimate” edition with additional content like weapons and vehicles.

Six years of development for GTA VI are estimated to have cost up to $2 billion, which had prompted fears it could cost as much as $100.

“If there is one game that can price at $80 without garnering significant player pushback, Grand Theft Auto VI is that game given its massive scale and anticipation,” said Andrew Marok of specialist consultancy Raymond James.

As pre-orders went live on Thursday, the price in Europe was 80 euros ($90).

In Japan, the PlayStation store listed the game at 9,800 yen ($61). In New Zealand, it was listed at NZ$140 ($79), similar to the price in Australia. In the UK, it was priced at £70 ($92).

Pre-orders have not launched yet in the Americas.

Disc disappointment

Fans of the GTA series, which dates back to 1997 when the very first 2D game was released, have been waiting 13 years for a new instalbasrment since 2013’s GTA V.

The 230 million copies moved made GTA V the second-best-selling game in history after Minecraft.

Finally getting his hands on the game “doesn’t exactly feel like a real thing that would ever happen”, said Red Young, a 26-year-old Scotsman who helps run fan site GTABase. It “is borderline a miracle”.

Anticipation was only stoked by successive delays: first from autumn 2025 to May this year, and next to November.

Some players were nevertheless shocked to learn that physical copies sold at retailers would contain a redeemable download code — likely meaning there will be no disc containing the game data.

There were grumbles on social media that the lack of a physical disc would eliminate any second-hand market for the title.

But these days, around 80 per cent of game sales on PlayStation and 90pc on Xbox are digital versions delivered over the internet, according to specialist firm Niko Partners.

Two independent North American retailers, Video Games Plus and Loot Box Gaming, announced on X that they would not sell the game unless a physical disc becomes available.

“The full launch including pre-orders will be the biggest entertainment launch ever… bigger than any movie, TV series, music concert or album,” said Piers Harding-Rolls of the UK-based data firm Ampere Analysis.

Analysts at the investment bank Piper Sandler expect around 45 million units to have already sold when the game is released.

Courting controversy

That should put GTA VI on track to top the record for the fastest cultural product to make a billion dollars in sales, set by its predecessor, GTA V, in barely three days.

Although millions of fans have been kept busy with the multiplayer version GTA Online, the anticipation for a true successor has been fierce.

The GTA saga’s action-adventure titles set in a sprawling open world have immersed players in high-definition imaginary cities heavily inspired by American metropolises.

This instalment’s Bonnie and Clyde-style protagonists will roam Vice City, a fictional version of Miami.

Variety reports the title will not have a multiplayer mode. Developer Rockstar Games was quoted as saying the game consists of “a single-player experience set in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the series yet”.

Each game offers players a huge degree of freedom to either carry out missions that advance the plot, or simply to explore the world on foot or at the controls of a fleet of vehicles — with the option to explode into guns-blazing criminal mayhem at any time.

Story missions often involve illegal activity ranging from burglary to murder and drug trafficking.

The focus on crime has created long-running controversy around the series, with some critics warning about its impact on young gamers.

All of its titles are rated for players aged 18 and over under Europe’s PEGI classification system.

Cover photo: Rockstar Games

Both actors shared on their respective social media accounts on June 22 copies of a settlement agreement that stated the terms of their resolution.

The dispute between both actors began when Shajaffar appeared on the YouTube show Say It All with Iffat Omar, claiming that a person identified as “Arsalan” had caused her to feel “uncomfortable” on set. She had clarified on social media that she was not talking about Arslan Khan, her College Gate costar.

Butt’s connection to the incident was attributed to Omar, the host, who purportedly said he was the one being discussed.

Following this disclosure, Butt sent Shajaffar a legal notice against “false, baseless, malicious and defamatory” comments, and said her statements had caused “serious reputational damage, mental distress, humiliation and public embarrassment” to Butt.

Butt’s notice demanded Shajaffar “retract the allegations”, “take steps for the removal of the defamatory content”, “issue a clear, unconditional public apology and retraction” on YouTube and “refrain from repeating such allegations in the future”.

Shajaffar, in turn, issued a Rs 1 billion counter-notice to Butt, terming his legal notice “false, misconceived, mala fide, legally defective, and apparently issued with ulterior motives to pressurise, intimidate and silence my client (her) after repeated acts of harassment committed by your client (Butt)”.

The settlement reached by both parties on June 19 said that “certain misunderstandings, differences and controversy arose between the parties, including matters relating to personal statements, communications, legal notices, complaints and/or proceedings initiated or contemplated before different forums and institutions”.

It added that the parties had agreed to voluntarily resolve disputes, differences and controversies amicably in the presence and with the help of “respectable elders, well-wishers and mutual mediators”.

As per the agreement, both parties agreed to put the matter of “alleged workplace harassment” behind them and declared it “amicably resolved”.

“Both parties confirmed that the matter has been fully and finally settled,” the document said.

“No claim, allegation, ambiguity, misunderstanding, grievance or dispute now remained pending between the parties arising out of any incident, statement, communication, notice, complaint, interview, social media content, legal notice or any other matter occurring prior to the execution of this agreement,” the agreement clarified.

Both parties agreed that “All past events, statements, allegations, complaints, notices, legal communications and disputes are hereby mutually forgiven, withdrawn, settled and brought to an end.”

The agreement clarified that it was not to be “treated as an admission of guilt, liability, misconduct or wrongdoing from either party”.

The agreement said both parties were not to “make any defamatory, hostile, threatening or adverse statement against each other” and that they would “cooperate in withdrawing, closing, not pressing or rendering infructuous any complaint, application, notice, claim or proceeding filed by either party against the other”.

Shajaffar told Images she was unwell and could not attend court hearings, so she chose to settle the matter out of court. She said Meer Sikandar — the director of Meesni, in which both actors were co-stars — helped guide them to the settlement.

With additional reporting by Imran Gabol

FIFA lauded Japanese fans this week on social media platform X for their “impeccable manners” that saw them tidy up the stands post-game, with pictures of men in blue avidly picking up trash.

Similar images have since proliferated online, but one X post went viral after claiming Japanese men aren’t all that they are cracked up to be.

“Japanese men spend among the least time on housework internationally,” read the post, which has been viewed 1.9 million times.

“Please do it at home,” the post said, with a satirical illustration showing a fan who proudly cleans up the stadium is, in fact, relaxing on a sofa at home, oblivious to the pile of laundry and his wife or mother doing the dishes.

Japanese men participate notoriously little in household chores, with women spending 5.5 times more time than men taking on “unpaid work” such as shopping, domestic chores and caregiving, the Cabinet Office says, citing 2021 OECD data.

The gap is far greater than in Britain, France and the United States, where women spend 1.8 times, 1.7 times and 1.6 times respectively longer than men doing unpaid work.

While supporters describe the act of cleaning up the stadium as proof of Japan’s cultural altruism, others have also seen it as slightly performative.

And opinions have been divided on the viral X post.

“Wives struggling with husbands who don’t clean at all should have them wear Samurai Japan uniforms at home too,” one comment said.

“This is too much of generalisation — not all Japanese men are like that,” another user wrote.

Cover photo: FIFA/X

Merlin’s fame was ignited during street celebrations following the co-hosts’ 2-0 victory over South Africa in last week’s World Cup opening game.

As fans gathered to cheer Mexico’s goals, the dressed-up duck wandered among the crowds on the capital’s busy Reforma Avenue.

Onlookers recorded the surprising scene on their cell phones and the footage immediately went viral online, with fans demanding Merlin be the new official Mexican mascot during the World Cup.

“We are very respectful,” said his owner, street merchant Karla Gomez. “We respect the (Mexico City mascot) axolotl as much as the (FIFA) jaguar. We don’t like controversy, honestly.”

Gomez, who usually sells beverages in Mexico City’s streets with her son Christian and her duck, thought they had not been noticed.

“It was a normal day for us,” she said. “We thought we were passing by unnoticed, because obviously we never thought Merlin would have that boom.”

Now, Gomez proudly embraces her role in the duck’s newfound stardom. Fans frequently stop the family to take selfies with the feathered supporter, who can also be seen cooling off in public fountains.

“I’m Merlin’s mum. I already consider myself as such,” Gomez said. “For us it has been a surprise, truly. The fact that Merlin is the unofficial mascot of the World Cup… We feel very pleased about such a situation and above all that people love my duck.”

Channeling the spirit of Paul the Octopus, Merlin recently tried his beak at match predictions, choosing Mexico over South Korea when presented with both flags.

Mexico meet South Korea on Thursday in Group A before facing the Czech Republic on June 24.

At least one ex-staff member at the private London Clinic hospital tried to access her medical notes while she was a patient there in January 2024, The Mirror tabloid has previously reported.

A health minister subsequently confirmed law enforcement were examining the allegation. The clinic reported the breach in March 2024 to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which can investigate and prosecute individuals and organisations for breaches of data protection and freedom of information laws.

It launched a criminal probe into “the unlawful obtaining and disclosure of medical information to a third party” without consent, which it said Wednesday had now concluded. “Following a full assessment … the ICO issued a now former healthcare professional from London with a formal caution,” it said in a statement, without naming the princess.

“The conduct involved the deliberate misuse of highly sensitive personal information and an offer to disclose it for financial gain, representing a clear breach of trust.”

Catherine — widely known as Kate and whose husband Prince William is heir to the throne — spent two weeks at the hospital in January 2024, when she underwent abdominal surgery.

She had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer early in 2024, for which she received chemotherapy treatment. The 44-year-old royal revealed she was in remission 16 months ago.

A spokesperson for the clinic in central London told the BBC it was “pleased our work with the ICO has brought this sad and isolated incident to a conclusion”.

“There were no regulatory breaches by the hospital,” the spokesperson added.

The Mirror reported that the previously “trusted employee” there had been struck off and sacked from their job.

Ian Hulme, the ICO’s executive director for regulatory supervision, said in a statement “people should be able to trust that the personal information they’re giving to healthcare settings is safe and protected from exploitation”.

“When this trust is broken, it’s right that the law allows us to take action. We will not hesitate to pursue criminal prosecution where it is necessary and proportionate to do so.”

Originally published in Dawn, June 18th, 2026

The DOJ said it spent eight ‌months evaluating how the transaction would affect streaming video services, traditional television and the film industry, weighing input from across the entertainment industry.

“The extensive investigatory record reviewed by the division suggests that the impact of the transaction will be to increase competition across the media and entertainment ecosystem, with benefits for American consumers and workers,” the DOJ wrote in a statement ​released on Friday.

Paramount CEO David Ellison’s father, billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, has cultivated ties with President Donald Trump, and the company has hired ​former Trump officials.

Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi had said that politics would “absolutely not” drive the DOJ’s review of the transaction.

Competition for audiences, talent, investment

Paramount issued a statement thanking the DOJ for its review of the transaction, which it said would allow the company to better compete in ​an industry defined by an intense scramble for audiences, talent, technology and investment.

“We remain focused on completing the transaction as soon as possible and delivering its benefits ​to consumers, creators and the entertainment industry as a whole,” Paramount said.

The Federal Communications Commission has not yet approved a petition seeking approval for foreign interests, including Gulf sovereign wealth funds, to own up to 100 per cent of the debt in the proposed $110bn deal.

Democratic senators raised concerns about Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Chinese companies taking part in the deal. ​They noted that it involves sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi investing in a company that would control CBS stations, as well ​as major cable news operations including CNN. They also cited media reports that China’s Tencent may take part.

The family of Paramount CEO David Ellison will continue to control voting shares. Paramount ‌said in ⁠a filing on Thursday that the “new foreign investors, which will receive only non-voting equity, will not have any ability to influence the company’s editorial decision-making.”

The DOJ said it reviewed more than two million documents obtained from 80 sources in evaluating the deal’s impact on various segments of the entertainment industry.

It concluded that a combined Paramount+ and HBO Max would create a stronger alternative to larger streaming services, and increase competition in a way that would benefit consumers.

The deal is unlikely to ​harm the traditional television business, where ​there is vigorous competition for live ⁠sports, news and political commentary, the DOJ found.

The theatrical business is similarly seeing more robust competition, as Paramount and Warner Bros compete not only with traditional Hollywood rivals, but with smaller independent studios such as A24 and newcomers such as ​Apple and Netflix, which have signalled continued interest in theatrical releases, wrote the DOJ.

Since the deal was announced, theatrical ​production has increased, it ⁠found.

The DOJ dismissed comparisons to the $71bn merger of Walt Disney and Twenty-First Century Fox, which closed in 2019, a year before the COVID-19 outbreak triggered dramatic changes in audience consumption patterns. Disney has substantially increased its spending on content in the years since, the DOJ found.

However, several in Hollywood — including actors, directors, writers and producers — have ⁠expressed concern ​that the merger would result in fewer jobs and less diversity of storytelling.

California, New York and ​other US states are preparing a lawsuit to block the deal, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last week.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta posted on X that the proposed merger of Warner Bros ​and Paramount “remains under investigation by my office.”

In his speech, the minister said the government would be withdrawing taxes placed on contraceptives and sanitary pads. The move was hailed as a win for women and an important step in providing safe and affordable menstrual care to the public.

Netizens applauded the government for taking the step which will have an immediate, positive impact for the country’s women.

One user pointed out how Pakistan was set to join a lamentably small group of countries that don’t tax menstrual hygiene products.

Others felt the whole idea of taxing such essential goods was “ridiculous”. They were happy to see the taxes go.

There was also acknowledgement of Mahnoor Omer, the women’s rights activist who filed a case in the Lahore High Court against taxing menstrual hygiene product in September. She was later recognised as one of TIME magazine’s Women of the Year for her efforts. Another petition was filed in the Sindh High Court by Karachi’s Alishba Shabbir in November.

Not everyone was convinced this was enough, especially when it came to the adoption of contraceptives in a country severely burdened by overpopulation. One user said the withdrawal of taxes wouldn’t do make to increase their acceptance in Pakistani society.

The removal of the taxes is expected to be implemented in the coming fiscal year, which starts from July 1.

On Thursday, Butt posted a video on his Instagram account with Azhar’s rendition of the classic Bollywood song ‘Tu Hai Wohi’ playing in the background. The controversial content creator was mouthing the words and dancing to the music.

In the comments, Azhar appreciated Butt, saying, “Shehzada lag raha hai mera bhai (My brother is looking like a prince). Thank you so much my love.” The comments received mixed reactions due to Butt’s history of controversy and legal trouble.

Azhar later issued an apology on his Instagram stories. “Should’ve been more aware. Should’ve read the room better. My bad, fam,” the singer said.

He also took a moment to clarify that his appreciation for Butt using his music did not equal endorsement of the content creator’s other actions and was simply a gesture of mutual love between artists.

“But just for the record, thanking someone and showing love in return doesn’t mean my views and values are the same as anybody. But I understand and resonate with the concern of some of my fans and supporters, and I promise it wasn’t that deep. [It was] just a gesture of showing love in return,” the singer wrote.

Azhar urged fans to enjoy “bangers and sweet mangoes”.

Butt has faced several cases in court including on charges of promoting online gambling applications, hurting religious sentiments and unlawful custody of a lion cub. In May, the Islamabad High Court ordered his name to be removed from the passport control list.

The content creator maintains one of the larger fan followings in Pakistan with nine million followers on YouTube and a further 2.9 million on Instagram.