Category: 5. Entertainment

The social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities were geo-blocked again on Thursday (July 3, 2025), hours after they became briefly accessible to users in India — a development that had triggered sharp reactions across social media platforms.

Some of the previously restricted profiles became visible on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), reportedly due to a technical glitch. However, following the issue being brought to the attention of the authorities, the content was once again geo-restricted and is no longer accessible in India.

In the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had recommended the blocking of 16 YouTube channels based in Pakistan. These were accused of disseminating provocative and communally sensitive content, false narratives, and misinformation targeting India, its armed forces, and security agencies.

The list of banned YouTube channels includes prominent media outlets such as Dawn News, ARY News, Samaa TV, Bol News, and Geo News, along with other channels such as Irshad Bhatti, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, Suno News, and Raazi Naama.

In addition, the social media profiles of Pakistani public figures — including actors Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar, Ahad Raza Mir, Danish Taimoor, Yumna Zaidi, Fawad Khan, Mawra Hocane, and Hania Aamir — as well as cricketers such as Shahid Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Wasim Akram, Shan Masood, Hasan Ali, Naseem Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Shadab Khan, and Shoaib Akhtar — remain geo-blocked in India.

Further, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had issued an advisory to over-the-top (OTT) platforms, media streaming services, and digital intermediaries in India, instructing them to discontinue web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other forms of media content originating from Pakistan.

The advisory cited national security considerations, stating, “Several terrorist attacks in India have been established to have cross-border linkages with Pakistan-based state and non-state actors… On April 22, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam led to the killing of several Indians, one Nepali citizen, and injuries to a number of others…”.

Quoting Part III of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, the Ministry underscored the responsibilities of content publishers on OTT platforms. It also referenced Rule 3(1)(b) of Part II of the IT Rules, 2021, which stipulates that intermediaries must ensure that users do not upload or share content that “threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India, friendly relations with foreign States, or public order”.

Published – July 03, 2025 09:06 pm IST

The entertainment industry is still grappling with the sudden loss of actor and dancer Shefali Jariwala, who passed away on June 27 following a cardiac arrest. Her untimely death sent shockwaves across the nation, leaving fans and colleagues heartbroken. Now, her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, has shared a moving tribute on Instagram, remembering her as a radiant soul who lived life with purpose and unconditional love.‘So much more than Kaanta Laga’: Parag Tyagi’s heartfelt noteParag posted a serene photo of Shefali, smiling as she took in the natural beauty around her. In the caption, he began by acknowledging the legacy she leaves behind: “Shefali — the ever-eternal Kaanta Laga — was so much more than what met the eye. She was fire wrapped in grace — sharp, focused, and fiercely driven.”

He described her as a woman who lived with intention, nurturing every part of her being. “A woman who lived with intention, nurturing her career, her mind, her body, and her soul with quiet strength and unwavering determination,” he wrote.‘She was sab ki maa’ — A pillar of love and careBeyond her public persona, Parag painted a portrait of Shefali as someone who embodied selfless love. “She was sab ki maa — always putting others first, offering comfort and warmth simply through her presence,” he shared.He also remembered her as a devoted wife, a loving mom to their pet Simba, and a caring sister and maasi. “A fiercely loyal friend who stood by those she loved with courage and compassion,” he added.Calling for a space of healing and remembranceIn the final part of the tribute, Parag urged people to remember Shefali not for the noise or speculation that followed her passing, but for the light she brought into people’s lives. “Let that be her legacy — a soul so radiant, she will never, ever be forgotten. Love you till eternity,” he wrote.A prayer meet in Shefali’s memory was held on July 2 in Mumbai, attended by her close friends and family. On the day of her death, June 27, she was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by Parag after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest. She was declared dead on arrival.Shefali Jariwala rose to fame with the iconic 2002 music video Kaanta Laga and went on to become the pop culture sensation overnight. She also reprised her song in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi starring Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra. She also participated in Bigg Boss 13 and other reality shows, earning a loyal fanbase over the years.

Musical icon Angélique Kidjo has become the first black African performer to be selected for a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Kidjo, who comes from the West African country of Benin and has won five Grammy awards, was among the 35 names announced as part of the Walk of Fame’s class of 2026 list.

The 64-year-old was hailed as Africa’s “premier diva” during a press conference announcing the list on Wednesday.

Singer Miley Cyrus, actor Timothée Chalamet, actress Demi Moore and former basketball player Shaquille O’Neal are also among those set to be honoured with a star on Los Angeles’ famous walk.

Kidjo receives the honour after making music for more than four decades and releasing 16 albums.

The songstress has won fans across the world with her commanding voice and ability to fuse West African styles with the likes of funk, jazz and R&B.

Her long list of collaborators includes forces such as Burna Boy, Philip Glass, Sting and Alicia Keys.

Kidjo joins Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, in representing Africa on the Walk of Fame. Theron received her star in 2005.

The date on which Kidjo will see her star unveiled on the Walk of Fame has not yet been announced.

After recipients have been selected for a star, they have two years to schedule induction ceremonies.

Kidjo grew up in Benin, but left for Paris in 1983, citing oppression from the country’s then communist government.

“From the moment the communist regime arrived in Benin, I became aware that the freedom we enjoy can be snatched away in a second,” she told the BBC in 2023.

She said she has been driven by curiosity since childhood, adding: “my nickname was ‘when, why, how?’. I want to understand things, to understand my place in this world.”

Kidjo worked as a backing singer in France before striking out as a solo artist in 1990, with the album Parakou.

She is a Unicef and Oxfam goodwill ambassador, and has her own charity, Batonga, which is dedicated to supporting the education of young girls in Africa.

Growing up in rural Wangaratta in north-eastern Victoria, Damien Saunder spent many a wintry day listening to music on the family’s record player. Just beneath the stereo was a Reader’s Digest atlas. “Anytime we put on a record, I’d get out the atlas,” Saunder recalls. “It was like a gateway to the world – a way to dream, explore and let your mind wander.”

Decades later, music and maps have come together again, this time in a coffee table book: Maps on Vinyl, a world-first survey of the cartographic influence on album sleeve design; an atlas of album cover maps. It’s the book most music fans – and map-makers – never knew they needed.

Saunder is a cartographer by trade. Formerly director of cartography at National Geographic and head of cartography at Apple (“I can’t talk about what we do there,” he says), he also helped develop a system for “mapping” tennis matches using ball-tracking technology, which in turn led to him working with Grand Slammers including Roger Federer.

But music and album cover design have always been passions. While he was studying typography at the ArtCenter College of Design in the US, a lecturer recommended looking at album covers for inspiration. “That’s when I wondered: have maps influenced album cover design? Turns out, they have – though strangely, it hasn’t been studied in cartographic academia. So, I dove in.”

The project became a four-year labour of love: 32,000 words and a collection of more than 415 vinyl records – some of them deeply obscure, some celebrated.

Artists with sleeves in the collection include Oasis, Coldplay, Talking Heads, Devo, Bob Marley, XTC, MC5, Queen, New Order, James Brown and Weezer. Others you will not have heard of unless you’re into Belgian speedcore.

Some major names in the design and graphics world are there, too: Peter Saville (New Order etc), Curtis McNair (Motown’s in-house designer), Neville Garrick (Bob Marley’s art director), Roger Dean (maker of fantasy worlds for the covers of Yes and Asia LPs) and Pedro Bell (Funkadelic, etc).

Saunder collected physical copies of each record and photographed all the sleeves himself. That was one job he grossly underestimated, he says. “I set up a light room in our lounge, photographed each one, made sure the white and black colours appeared as they should, cleaned them, colour-corrected them – three to four tasks per cover … times 415 covers. I pushed through, but I definitely had some moments of doubt.”

Then there was the research. Where possible, Saunder tracked down the designer responsible for each sleeve design to ask them how their concept came about and what it means.

The selection criteria for the book was strict: no landscape paintings; no satellite photography. “A map had to be an abstraction of a geographic form – real or fictitious – and show spatial relationships. That distinction helped narrow the collection.”

While maps are often celebrated for their beauty, they can also contain layers of meaning, says Saunder. “Even the most basic shapes of countries can draw out a lot of feelings – positive and negative.”

The reasons for using maps on album sleeves vary. Some reflect origins – the country or city a band or artist comes from – while others are more aspirational. Peter Barrett’s sleeve design for the UK pressing of Madonna’s 1983 album Borderline, featuring conjoined maps of New York and London, speaks of a star about to make it in the UK. (“Did Madonna sign off on it? I don’t know,” says Saunder. “Is she into maps? I don’t know, but that would likely be the story behind that particular one.”)

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Some designs address global social or environmental issues. Others map the mind, imaginary places, feelings, worldviews – or, in the case of Robert Fripp and Brian Eno’s The Equatorial Stars, deep space.

Among Saunder’s personal favourites is a sleeve from the long-gone Iowa alt rock band House of Large Sizes, showing a cake whose icing is decorated with a map, with a chunk missing. “It’s a commentary on how we’re consuming the world piece by piece, almost without noticing,” says Saunder.

Another favourite cover comes from Belgian punk band Hetze: an illustration of a globe dangling by a thread from the forefinger of an elegant, long-nailed hand, by tattoo artist Florence Roman.

Then there’s the minimalist cover of Mary Scholz’s album California, a collaboration between the singer and guitarist Zachary Ross, showing a wide brush stroke in the shape of the golden state, the paint fading out towards the coast. “It’s like a never-ending horizon of opportunities being swept off into the ocean,” says Saunder. “Having gone off to work and live in California myself, that means something to me.”

During the writing process, Saunder spoke to influential graphic designers such as Peter Saville, creator of sleeves for Joy Division, New Order, OMD and Ultravox. He has three covers in the book – one of them created for Canada’s Martha and the Muffins based on a 1:150,000-scaled map from the National Topographic System of Canada.

“I fired off an email thinking he [Saville] would be too busy or whatever, but … we ended up having a great chat. He has a genuine passion for the language of maps and cartography,” says Saunder.

All proceeds from the sale of the book are going to Support Act, an organisation helping musicians deal with the emotional, physical and financial challenges rife in the industry. “Without music, there are no album sleeves or books like this,” Saunder says. “It didn’t feel right to profit from others’ artwork, so this was my way of giving back.”

If you’re hosting a July 4th BBQ or cookout, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is the music. After all, you have to make sure the grill is ready to go, there’s enough food and beverages for everyone, there’s entertainment for your guests (lawn games, anyone?), and on top of all that, you’re expected to don red, white, or blue (bonus points for all three!) to show your patriotism.

It’s a lot to handle, which is why we want to help so you don’t find yourself on the morning of July 4th frantically googling phrases like “July 4th songs” or “songs about America.” Below, we’ve curated a list of songs perfect for your festivities, offering a good mix of rock, pop, and country.

Since the holiday is all about freedom, you shouldn’t have to pay to play your music either. Enjoy your July 4th playlist or any music, for that matter, without ads or skip limits with Amazon Music Unlimited (free trial).

1. Kiss, “Rockin’ in the USA”
2. Kim Wilde, “Kids in America”
3. Dave Matthews Band, “American Baby”
4. Weezer, “I Love the U.S.A.”
5. Faith Hill, “American Heart”
6. Bruce Springsteen, “Born in the U.S.A.”
7. Don McLean, “American Pie”
8. Miley Cyrus, “Party in the U.S.A.”
9. Katy Perry, “Firework”
10. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “American Girl”
11. John Mellencamp, “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”
12. The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
13. James Brown, “Living in America”
14. Brooks & Dunn, “Only in America”
15. Johnny Cash, “Ragged Old Flag”
16. Toby Keith, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”
17. Carrie Underwood, “All-American Girl”
18. Neil Diamond, “America”
19. Simon & Garfunkel, “America”
20. Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama”
21. Lenny Kravitz, “American Woman”
22. Dolly Parton, “Color Me America”
23. Lana Del Rey, “National Anthem”
24. John Mellencamp, “Pink Houses”
25. Martina McBride, “Independence Day”
26. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Fortunate Son”
27. Chuck Berry, “Back in the U.S.A.”
28. Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”
29. Billy Joel, “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
30. Toby Keith, “American Soldier”
31. Kid Rock, “All Summer Long”
32. Brad Paisley, “American Saturday Night”
33. Demi Lovato, “Made in the USA”
34. Green Day, “American Idiot”
35. Childish Gambino, “This Is America”
36. John Denver, “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
37. America, “Ventura Highway”
38. Morgan Wallen, “American Nights”
39. Coffey Anderson, “Mr Red White and Blue”
40. Blake Shelton, “God’s Country”

Whether it’s lava carving through frozen terrain or sharks gliding through shimmering shoals in turquoise seas, seeing nature from above reveals a stunning new perspective on our planet’s landscapes and wildlife.

Enter the inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year competition. Professional and amateur photographers worldwide were invited to enter the contest, and the standard of entries was incredibly high (pun intended).

The first winner was announced as professional drone pilot and artist Joanna Steidle – her stunning drone views of marine life from above wowed the judges with their drama and beauty. You can see this stunning image below, alongside our favourite images from the competition.

The plane! The plane! – David Mierowsky

Flamingos and Pelicans – David Swindler

Smoking skull – Daniel Viñé Garcia

Elephants of the Flo – Murray Evans

Austfonna Ice Cap – Thomas Vijayan

Laguna Hedionda – Ignacio Palacios

Salt Works IV The Eye – Daniela Tommasi

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Tajogaite Volcano – Javier Garcia

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Twisted Owl – Colin Leonhardt

Tidal Flora – Peter Harrison

Reclaim – Ael Kermare

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Celestine Pool – Daniel Reiter

Eternal Harmony – Rositsa Dimitrova

Martian Sunrise – Taylor Duncan

International Aerial Photograph of the Year – Ignacio Palacios

International Aerial Photographer of the Year Winner – Joanna Steidle

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Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr said that he personally intervened in the script of the forthcoming four-film Beatles biopic directed by Sam Mendes to clarify the depiction of himself and his then wife Maureen.

In an interview with the New York Times, Starr said that he had met Mendes in London in April and spent two days discussing the script for the section of the project focusing on him.

Having gone through the script in detail, Starr said that Mendes “had a writer [involved] – very good writer, great reputation, and he wrote it great, but it had nothing to do with Maureen and I,” Starr said. “That’s not how we were. I’d say, ‘We would never do that.’”

Starr met Maureen Cox in 1962 when the Beatles were performing at the Cavern club in Liverpool and they were married in 1965; they divorced in 1975 and she subsequently married Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe. She died in 1994 from leukaemia. Her and Starr’s son Zak Starkey also became a drummer, with Starr recently defending him after he was fired by the Who.

According to New York Times writer Lindsay Zoladz, Starr is now “much more satisfied with how he’s depicted in the script” and that he sends director Mendes “peace and love”.

Starr will be played in the films by Irish actor Barry Keoghan, star of The Banshees of Inisherin and Saltburn, whose casting was accidentally revealed by Starr in November in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. Keoghan’s role in the project was officially announced in April, alongside castmates Joseph Quinn (George Harrison), Harris Dickinson (John Lennon) and Paul Mescal (Paul McCartney).

Keoghan recently talked about meeting Starr to prepare for the role, saying he was too nervous to look at him. In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Keoghan said he was “in awe” and “just froze”. “When I was talking to him, I couldn’t look at him. I was nervous … he was like, ‘You can look at me’.”

He added: “My job is to observe and take in kind of mannerisms and study, but I want to humanise him and bring feelings to him, not just sort of imitate him.”

Mendes is acting as producer on all four films along with regular collaborators Pippa Harris and Julie Pastor. In May reports emerged that he had hired award-winning writers Jez Butterworth, Peter Straughan and Jack Thorne to work on the films.

Mendes’ Beatles films are scheduled to be released in 2028.