Unveiling the Secrets: A Journey into the Unknown

 On Sunday, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, claiming that the American film industry is “dying a very fast death” due to incentives offered by foreign governments to attract filmmakers. “This is a coordinated effort by other nations and, as such, poses a national security threat,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s not just about economics—it’s also about messaging and propaganda.” Trump stated he had directed relevant federal agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to immediately begin the process of imposing the tariff on all foreign-made films distributed in the U.S. He added emphatically: “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed Trump’s sentiments on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “We’re on it.” However, neither Trump nor Lutnick provided specific details about the implementation of the tariff. It remains unclear whether the tariff would apply to streami...

 Thousands of supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam, a prominent Bangladeshi Islamist organization, rallied in Dhaka on Saturday, calling for the dissolution of a government-formed commission on women's rights. The group argued that the commission’s draft recommendations conflicted with Islamic principles. The rally, held at Suhrawardy Udyan, was organized by Hefazat-e-Islam — a coalition primarily composed of teachers and students from non-government "kawmi" madrasas (Islamic seminaries). The group has long been recognized as a significant religious pressure group in the country. Protesters voiced strong opposition to the proposed reforms by the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, which was established under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The proposals aimed to ensure equal rights for women, particularly regarding property rights. In one of its largest public demonstrations in recent years, Hefazat-e-Islam denounced the recommendations as contrary...

  Russia to Help Taliban Fight Islamic State in Afghanistan Russia has announced it will support the Taliban in fighting the Islamic State group in Afghanistan, specifically its local branch known as ISIS-K. Zamir Kabulov, Russia’s special representative for Afghanistan and a former ambassador, called ISIS-K a shared enemy of both Russia and the Taliban. He told Russian state news agency RIA, “We see and appreciate the Taliban’s efforts against ISIS in Afghanistan, and we’ll provide them with the support we can through our expert organizations.” Although no country officially recognizes the Taliban government, which took over Afghanistan in August 2021 after U.S. troops left, Russia recently took a step toward closer ties. Last month, it removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist groups—a label it had used since 2003. This move reflects a warming relationship between Russia and the Taliban. Russian President Vladimir Putin even referred to the Taliban as an ally in the figh...

  Vietnam’s Propaganda Art Still Flourishes, 50 Years After the War Half a century after the Vietnam War ended, the country has transformed dramatically—its cities filled with smartphones, pop music, and modern commerce. Yet one symbol of its past remains unchanged: the vibrant propaganda art of the ruling Communist Party. Artist Tran Duy Truc, now 82, has been painting these patriotic posters since the war. Commissioned to create new works for the 50th anniversary of the war’s end, Truc sees his art as a tribute to history and unity. “This anniversary is special. I may not have fought, but I used my brush as my weapon,” he says. One of his new posters shows two female soldiers—one from the North, one from the South—embracing. The message: “North and South, we are reunited in one home.” Propaganda art first rose to prominence in the 1960s, rallying support with bold visuals and catchy slogans. Today, it still decorates public spaces and even tourist souvenirs. “It’s not just ...

Centre Acts Strongly Post-Pahalgam Terror Attack Following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, the Centre banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels — including major ones like Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News — for spreading provocative and misleading content against India and its security forces. Together, these channels had over 63 million subscribers. Viewers now see a notice citing national security when trying to access them. The government also expressed strong objections to BBC India after it referred to the terrorists as "militants" in its reporting. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conveyed concerns to BBC's channel head and will monitor BBC, AP, and Reuters' coverage closely. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), blocked several Pakistani URLs scamming Indians under the pretext of collecting war funds. Ministries and agencies have been directed to strengthen cyber defen...

 Virginia Giuffre, who accused Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her to Prince Andrew and of sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41. Her family confirmed her passing in a statement released Friday, stating she died at her farm in Western Australia, where she had lived for several years. "Virginia lost her life to suicide after enduring a lifetime of sexual abuse and trafficking," her family said, according to The Guardian . "It is with completely broken hearts that we share that Virginia passed away last night." Remembered by her family as a "fierce warrior" in the fight against sexual abuse and trafficking, Giuffre was recognized worldwide for her bravery in confronting powerful figures tied to Epstein’s network. She was described as "the light that lifted so many survivors." Despite the many hardships she faced, her family said, "she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure." Virginia Giuffre, an American citizen,...

 The World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that it has exhausted all its food supplies in Gaza due to the continued closure of border crossings into the territory. Meanwhile, Gaza authorities reported that Israeli airstrikes had killed at least 78 people within the past 24 hours. "The WFP has completely run out of food stocks for families in Gaza," the agency said in a statement, noting that it delivered its final supplies to community kitchens on Friday. "These kitchens are expected to run out of food entirely in the coming days," the statement added. The WFP said that no humanitarian or commercial goods have entered Gaza for over seven weeks, as all major crossing points remain closed, marking the longest closure the region has ever experienced. Israel, which has previously denied claims of a hunger crisis in Gaza, accuses Hamas militants of misusing aid—an accusation Hamas denies—and insists on maintaining the blockade to prevent supplies from reaching...