Saturday, July 25

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Qatar tells Hamas it won’t host group’s political office unless Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel improve | World News
Business

Qatar tells Hamas it won’t host group’s political office unless Gaza ceasefire talks with Israel improve | World News

Qatar has told Hamas that it will no longer host its political office unless the militant group and Israel engage in constructive and meaningful talks.The Gulf country will stop trying to mediate a ceasefire deal until Hamas and Israel "demonstrate a sincere willingness to return to the negotiating table with the objective of putting an end to the war and the suffering of civilians", a diplomatic source briefed on the matter said.The Hamas political office in Doha "no longer serves its purpose", the source added.Qatar has served as a mediator between the two sides since the conflict began last October after Hamas's attacks on Israel, which prompted Israel to respond in Gaza.It was involved in conversations that led to a temporary ceasefire last year and the release of some hostages taken b...
Qatar to pull out of Gaza ceasefire mediation, source says
World News

Qatar to pull out of Gaza ceasefire mediation, source says

By Andrew Mills, Reuters The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a camp in Gaza. Photo: AFP / Saeed Jaras Qatar will stop trying to mediate a Gaza ceasefire deal until Hamas and Israel show a "sincere willingness" to return to the negotiating table, an official briefed on the matter told Reuters on Saturday, in the biggest setback to efforts to reach a truce since the war began. The Gulf country has also concluded that Hamas' political office in Doha "no longer serves its purpose", the official added, in a blow to the Palestinian militant group whose top leaders have been assassinated by Israel. Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, has played a major role in rounds of so-far fruitless talks to broker a ceasefire to the year-long war in Gaza. The latest round of talks in mid...
`Varun Dhawan keeps referencing Govinda a lot when he talks`
Entertainment, Movies

`Varun Dhawan keeps referencing Govinda a lot when he talks`

Bollywood’s muscle hunk Varun Dhawan plays the lead in Raj and DK’s spy thriller ‘Citadel: Honey Bunny’ alongside Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Writer Sita Menon tells Mid-day that Varun keeps referencing 90s superstar Govinda a lot when he talks. For those unversed, Varun’s father and ace filmmaker David Dhawan has directed Govinda in several films like ‘Coolie No. 1’, ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, and ‘Partner’ to name a few.  Varun Dhawan called up Raj and DK for a role  DK recalls Varun Dhawan personally calling him up, soon after ‘The Family Man’ season 2: “He said, ‘Listen, if you guys are doing anything else, let me know. Especially, if you’re doing anything in action.’ We were actually developing Citadel. We didn’t have anybody in mind. So, it wasn’t much of a pitch. I said, ‘We’re doing Cit...
Lead in turmeric can cause severe health consequences, say experts
Health

Lead in turmeric can cause severe health consequences, say experts

Amid a report on high lead levels found in turmeric sold in Asia, including India, doctors on Saturday warned that lead exposure through contaminated turmeric can impair kids’ cognitive functions, and raise heart disease, and stroke risk in adults. The study, published in the journal Science of The Total Environment, found that turmeric sold in India’s Patna; Pakistan’s Karachi and Peshawar; and Nepal had lead levels in turmeric exceeding 1,000 micrograms/gram. This is about 200 times more than the limit set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) -- 10 micrograms/gram. Researchers led by the University of Stanford in the US, along with those from India, found that turmeric sold in Guwahati and Chennai also exceeded the regulatory limit. “Turmeric, widely recognised ...
US elections: More bomb threats at election offices as vote count under way
World News

US elections: More bomb threats at election offices as vote count under way

By Kanishka Singh, Reuters Photo: AFP / Jessica McGowan Bomb threats led to evacuations in Maryland, California Officials to resume counting ballots on Saturday (local time) Everyone determined to be safe after threats Bomb threats were made against several Maryland boards of elections and election offices in at least two California counties on Friday, state authorities said, adding that everyone was safe and law enforcement officials were investigating. Election officials were counting mail-in ballots when the threats came in Maryland. State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis said the threats led to the evacuation of some buildings. He called the threats "cowardly", adding that local officials would resume counting on Saturday (local time). "Safety is a top concern - but ...
2025 Grammy Awards nominations: Beyoncé leads list of music contenders – National
Entertainment, Movies

2025 Grammy Awards nominations: Beyoncé leads list of music contenders – National

Welcome to Beyoncé country. When it comes to the 2025 Grammy Award nominations, Cowboy Carter rules them all. She leads the nods with 11, bringing her career total to 99 nominations. That makes her the most nominated artist in Grammy history. Cowboy Carter is up for album and country album of the year, and Texas Hold ’Em is nominated for record, song and country song of the year. She also received nominations in a wide swath of genres, including pop, country, Americana and melodic rap performance categories.This is her first time receiving nominations in the country and Americana categories. Previously, she and her husband Jay-Z were tied for most career nominations, at 88.If Beyoncé wins the album of the year, she’ll become the first Black woman to do so in the 21st century. Lauryn Hill l...
At least 24 killed in Pakistan train station bomb blast, police say
World News

At least 24 killed in Pakistan train station bomb blast, police say

Security personnel inspect wreckage after an explosion at a railway station in Quetta, in Pakistan's Balochistan province. Photo: BANARAS KHAN / AFP At least 24 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in a bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta in southwestern Pakistan, officials say. Pakistan is grappling with a surge in strikes by separatist ethnic militants in Balochistan province in the south and Islamist militants in its northwest. A decades-old insurgency has destabilised Balochistan and created security concerns for projects trying to access the province's untapped resources. Inspector general of police for Balochistan, Mouzzam Jah Ansari, said 24 people have died so far on Saturday from the blast at the railway station, which is usually busy early in the day. "The ta...
Pakistan: At least 20 killed in train station bomb blast | World News
Business

Pakistan: At least 20 killed in train station bomb blast | World News

At least 20 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in a bomb blast at a train station in Pakistan. The bomb exploded in the southwestern city of Quetta when nearly 100 passengers were waiting for a train to travel to Rawalpindi. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, have claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that a suicide bomber targeted troops at the railway station.Government spokesman Shahid Rind said the bombing seemed to have been a suicide attack but an investigation was still ongoing to confirm the BLA's claim.Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said those who orchestrated the attack "will pay a very heavy price for it," adding that security forces were determined to eliminate "the menace of terrorism".TV footage showed the steel stru...
Police to use life-size hologram of murdered sex worker Bernadett Szabo to try to solve cold case | World News
Business

Police to use life-size hologram of murdered sex worker Bernadett Szabo to try to solve cold case | World News

Police in Amsterdam are set to use a life-size hologram of a murdered sex worker to try to catch her killer 15 years after her death.The visualisation will show Bernadett "Betty" Szabo, who was stabbed multiple times on 19 February 2009, sitting on a stool behind a window as she reaches out to passersby for help. Police have said the 19-year-old had given birth three months before she was "brutally murdered in her workspace".Amsterdam police said they launched a "major investigation" after her body was discovered, with officers reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to witnesses.However, the case went cold after detectives were unable to solve it. The force has since reviewed the case and said they will make a "final attempt to find the perpetrator".Officers believe someone must have informat...
Best London hotels under £300 a night: from The Laslett to Mama Shelter
Life Style

Best London hotels under £300 a night: from The Laslett to Mama Shelter

Understated and unbelievably stylish for its rates, the Pilgrim sits opposite Paddington station, where the tube zooms into central London, trains chug commuters in from all over, and the Heathrow Express zips passengers to the airport in 15 minutes. It’s winning in the convenience stakes, but surprisingly also in design. The building’s Victorian character has been keenly preserved amid a colossal revamp, and most of it, from the modish furniture to the elegant parquet floor, has been upcycled. And scattered across its cavernous spaces and light-filled room is a smattering of ever-changing art, deftly curated for the cool crowd that descends on this hip, community-focused hub. Source link