Category: News

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that once paternity is confirmed through established methods, a biological father must financially support a child born out of wedlock or as a result of sexual assault.

The ruling states that under the law of the land, once paternity is confirmed, financial responsibility for the child cannot be denied by the biological father.

A written verdict to this effect was issued in a case concerning the financial maintenance of a minor girl, whose mother had accused Muhammad Afzal of raping her in 2020, leading to her pregnancy and the birth of a daughter.

A first information report (FIR) was registered against Afzal under Sections 376 (rape) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The mother later filed a lawsuit with the court demanding financial maintenance (child support), claiming Afzal was the biological father of the baby girl, which the accused rejected, vehemently denying paternity and refusing to provide support.

A trial court ruled in the child’s favour, ordering the rapist to pay Rs3,000 per month in maintenance. However, Afzal challenged the decision in LHC, which resulted in the latest ruling.

The LHC’s Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad in his ruling wrote: “Consequently, the matter is remanded to the learned Trial Court with the direction to record the plaintiff’s evidence regarding the specific claim made in the plaint that the petitioner/defendant is the biological father of respondent No. 2…”

“If, after recording the evidence, the Court concludes that the minor is indeed the biological child of the defendant, the proceedings may continue for the determination of the maintenance allowance,” it added.

The ruling however made it clear that the burden of proving paternity lies on the mother.

“In the case where a woman claims maintenance for her child against the defendant/biological father, who denies the version, the woman would first need to establish, through trustworthy evidence, that the defendant is indeed the biological father of the child.

“The burden of proving that the defendant is the biological father of the child lies on the woman who claims the maintenance. “

The high court also drew attention to Islamic legal principles, referencing historical perspectives on child maintenance.

It noted: “In view of the above discussion, equity, fair play and justice demands that respondent No.2, if proves to be a biological child of the petitioner, then she must be compensated and maintained by him.

“The person, having begotten the child, is bound to provide for its maintenance. The biological father is also morally under obligation to maintain his illegitimate child. “

The court in its ruling also remanded the matter back to the trial court, directing it to first establish paternity before enforcing maintenance payments.

“Once paternity is established, the defendant would then be legally obligated to provide maintenance for the child. The court would assess the defendant’s financial capacity and the child’s needs to determine the appropriate maintenance allowance. “

The ruling further said: “… the [trial] court has erred in law by granting maintenance for the child without first ensuring, through the proper process of evidence, that the child is indeed the biological offspring of the petitioner.

“In cases where paternity is disputed, it is essential for the Court to first establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, the biological relationship between the child and the defendant.

“Without recording sufficient evidence, the Court’s decision to grant maintenance prematurely bypasses a critical step in determining legal responsibility. This failure undermines the principles of fairness and due process in family law proceedings.”

Following from the release of their new record “Ultrabliss” (Embassy Of Music), Mother’s Cake are thrilled to announce their European/UK tour throughout March and April 2025. The Austrian psychedelic rock band will bring their unique song-writing to life alongside classic and fan-favorites from their catalogue. With two UK dates planned, one in London on 23rd March Sunday and one in Manchester 24rd March, this tour promises to be unforgettable.

Mother’s Cake‘s fifth album, “Ultrabliss”, marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter: largely freed from structural constraints, the Austrian band has never sounded as liberated as they do on this album, filled with the finest jams, creating a free-flowing adventure. 

The instrumental opener “Clockwork“, with a running time of almost ten minutes, is noteworthy: featuring shimmering synth waves, kraut beats and nods to the main musical theme from Stanley Kubrick’s cult film A Clockwork Orange (1971), the epic opening track initially recalls a retro science fiction score before later incorporating sounds that can be described as Pink Floyd-inspired or even “krauty.” Then comes a surprising twist: the upbeat “Feel Alright” is a funky Brit-dance track that would suit Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, or Kasabian well. “I was very much part of the 2008 indie era, and the new album has a lot of those vibes“, confirms singer, guitarist, and song architect Yves Krismer, who also has a passion for the classics of the Sixties and Seventies, from The Beatles to Jimi Hendrix.

Content-wise, Mother’s Cake‘s fifth album is shaped by the themes Yves has always loved to sing about: “This whole world of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. All the things that don’t really exist anymore because most bands today prefer to play it safe.” For this reason, the ‘Rated R’ warning sticker integrated into the colorful album artwork, reminiscent of American movies, fits well. The cinematic seventies cosmos established with the ‘Intro’ and Kubrick’s films can be seen as a conceptual red (or perhaps in this context, orange) thread running through the entire album.

UK/European Tour Dates

Mon 17^th March – Le Bulle Café, Lile (FR)

Tue 18^th March – Petit Bain, Paris (FR)

Fri 21^st March – La Cordo, Romans-Sur-Isère, (FR)

Sun 23^rd March – O2 Academy Islington, London (UK)

Mon 24^th March – Manchester Academy, Manchester (UK)

Fri 4^th April – Dornbirn Conrad Sohm, Dornbrin (AU)

Sat 5^th April – Treibhaus, Innsbruck (AU)

Fri 11^th April – Styran Sound Festival, Gratz (AU)

Sat 12^th April – Arean Wien, Wien (AU)

Thu 24^th April – Basis, Silandro (IT)

Fri 25^th April – Noppen Air Music Festival, Neusserling (AU)

Sat 26^th April – A38, Budapest (HU)

Earlier, Pessoa already spoke about the evolution of the sport and how – despite that – understanding horses remains the foundation! The multiple champion does, however, recognize another issue in our sport… the mental pressure. “Too many parents put too much pressure on their children. A good rider is born from enjoyment and a sense of responsibility. Children need to enjoy horseback riding while also understanding that they have a responsibility towards the horse and the investments that have been made. Parents who focus too much on the latter forget that, first and foremost, they are parents!”

 

Pakistani actress Mariyam Nafees and her husband, director Amaan Ahmed, have welcomed their first child, a baby boy.

Nafees, who has worked in notable Pakistani dramas and captured the attention of drama lovers with her talent and craft, took to her official Instagram handle to share the heartwarming news with her fans.

Accompanied by a series of joyful pictures, the Diyar-e-Dil star introduced their newborn son, Syed Eesa Amaan Ahmed, to the world. In the pictures, a radiant Mariyam can be seen lovingly cradling her baby.

Her heartfelt caption read: “Our world just got a lot more handsome! World, meet Syed Eesa Amaan Ahmed. A week or so old, arrived in this blessed month, this little guy has made us fall for him hard and fast. May you live your dreams, Ameen.”

In an emotional note, she also extended prayers for women struggling with conception, writing: “To all the women trying to conceive, I pray that you’re blessed with a healthy baby super soon, Ameen.”

The delightful announcement was met with an outpouring of love and congratulations from fans and fellow celebrities, who flooded the comments with warm wishes.

The actor tied the knot with Amaan in March, 2022, in an intimate nikkah ceremony.

Lindsay Lohan‘s father Michael Lohan was arrested again just weeks after an arrest warrant was issued for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife.

 The 64-year-old media personality was arrested in Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday for violating probation.

A new mugshot has been released of the Freaky Friday star’s father with an upset look on his face as she sported a bit of grizzled scruff. 

Michael had an active arrest warrant in Florida in connection with an alleged violation of his probation nearly two weeks ago.

He breached the terms of his probation with his February 21 felony assault arrest in Spring, Texas involving his estranged wife Kate Major, 42, officials said in court filings reviewed by TMZ on March 6. 

Following the breach, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Lohan linked to his probation from a 2022 conviction in Palm Beach, Florida in connection with pocketing money for steering patients toward a specific rehab facility.

Lohan had been arrested in April 2021 in connection with five counts of patient brokering and a count of attempted patient brokering.   

Authorities are expected to extradite Lohan from Texas to Florida, sources told the outlet.

Dailymail.com has reached out to Major for comment when the original news broke at the time.

Major, who was the complainant, contacted authorities after she noticed Michael in the parking lot of a medical building, a spokesperson for the Harris County Sherriff’s Department told Dailymail.com February 23.

Lohan previously told the outlet that he felt Major had been ‘setting him up’ to get arrested, as she had ‘physically and verbally abused him’ prior to his arrest.

Lohan told the outlet: ‘Kate has been threatening to get me violated on probation for a long time. She used these false charges here in Texas to do so. ‘

In the February 21 incident, Major placed a 911 call reporting that ‘she was concerned [Michael] was following her,’ authorities said, leading deputies to respond.

Major told deputies that Michael had ‘flipped’ her out of a chair at their residence a few days earlier, officials said.  

Major, who has past had a series of legal incidents with her estranged spouse, told authorities that ‘she felt pain and discomfort’ as result of his attack on her. 

Officials said that Major, who is mother to two young sons with Michael, showed a female deputy ‘the bruising’ on her body as result of the attack. 

Deputies subsequently made contact with Michael, who ‘was arrested without incident at his residence,’ officials said. Michael Lohan was ‘being held on a charge of Continuous Family Violence and a $30,000 bond,’ officials told Dailymail.com. 

The former couple parted in September 2018 when Major said in a court filing in Florida that the marital union had been ‘irretrievably broken,’ requesting primary custody of their sons in addition to child support and alimony.

Michael is father to two sons with Major – Landon, 12, and Logan, 10. Michael is also father to four children with ex-wife Dina Lohan, 62: Lindsay, 38, Michael Jr., 36, Aliana, 31, and Dakota, 28. 

Michael and Major, a one-time entertainment journalist, wed in October 2014 in Hillsboro Beach, Florida, but Lindsay did not attend the nuptials.

They parted in September 2018 when Major said in a court filing in Florida that the marital union had been ‘irretrievably broken,’ requesting primary custody of their sons in addition to child support and alimony.

The incident comes nearly eight months after the one-time couple were involved in a roadside skirmish in Spring, Texas on June 26, 2024 in which Michael contacted the authorities.

The pair at the time were seen in a clip on TMZ in which they were arguing while in the middle of a road.

The heated exchange was spurred by a number of disagreements and an arrangement in which she stayed at his home while he was not there, Michael told the outlet.

Major shared a clip in which she was in a driver’s seat while arguing with Michael, in a conflict in which no charges were ultimately filed, according to the outlet.

‘Get out of the car, I just spoke with your lawyer,’ Michael was seen yelling at Major, who urged him to step out of the road.

Major called her ex a ‘psychopath’ noting that he was ‘calling the f***ing cops.’

Major was heard saying, ‘These poor kids, these poor children,’ then telling Michael, ‘You’re out of your f***ing mind.’

After an officer appeared on the scene, Major said that Michael had been following her, jumped in front of her car and needed to be taken in on a 5150 evaluation. The clip ended with Major communicating with the officer.

Major said: ‘Oh my God, oh my f***ing God, I didn’t even get out of the driveway.’ 

 Michael explained the factors involved in the tense discussion to TMZ, saying that he had let Major stay at his home while he and his children were not in town.

Michael told the outlet that amid an active ‘order of protection’ against Major, she was told by both him and the district attorney to vacate the premises by 5 p.m.

Michael said that Major ‘took his car, which she was not supposed to do,’ at around 6 p.m., according to the outlet.

Michael told TMZ that Major had been consuming alcohol with guests she invited over to his house, and claimed that he did damage to the security system he has in place.

Michael said that he and Major had an argument concerning her drinking habit, but didn’t notify authorities at the time.

Michael and Major are still legally married, the outlet reported last summer, noting that ‘they’ve been estranged for a few years now.’

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – The man convicted of killing his girlfriend’s mother and teenage brother was back in court on Monday morning.

Markus Guy was found guilty of first-degree murder and second-degree murder.

Guy is now undergoing a mercy hearing.

Man accused of killing girlfriend’s mother, brother found guilty

We found out in court on Monday morning that it was the defense who asked for this type of hearing.

It’ll now be up to the jury to decide whether he will get mercy, meaning determine if he’ll be eligible for parole.

During the hearing, the defense will have three witnesses while the prosecution will have six.

During Monday’s proceedings, the judge along with the state and defense went over what the jury would be able to hear in this phase and provided the jury with instructions.

On Friday, Guy was convicted of the murder of Brooke Carnefix and her 14-year-old son, Koda Jarrett.

Both of them suffered multiple gunshot wounds while they were inside their home in Saint Albans.

Markus Guy was found guilty of the first-degree murder of fourteen-year-old Koda Jarrett.

And guilty of the second-degree murder of Brooke Carnefix.

Guy was also found guilty of a firearms charge in the commission of a felony – but not guilty on a second firearm charge.

The shootings happened in February of last year.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.

Copyright 2025 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

The 1997 murder trial of Louise Woodward was the first time many Americans heard of shaken baby syndrome. A teenage British nanny working in a wealthy Boston suburb, Woodward was accused of handling 8-month-old Matthew Eappen so roughly he fell into a coma and later died. It was a clear case, prosecutors alleged, of an increasingly prominent medical diagnosis that was tantamount to a criminal accusation. Juries across the country were accepting it as proof of caregivers’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The trial was an international sensation—supporters gathered in a pub in Woodward’s home village to watch the televised sentencing. The case underscored class divisions as well as a simmering anti-feminist backlash: See what happens when mothers don’t stay home with their babies?

Woodward’s defense was led by attorney Barry Scheck, a co-founder of the Innocence Project, who was fresh off O.J. Simpson’s “dream team.” He put the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome itself on trial. “I literally went back and read every paper in this field that we could find and asked doctors to explain to me every term,” Scheck told 60 Minutes Australia in 2022.

Scheck’s team found that a growing number of researchers and physicians had major doubts about the theory, and several of them testified in Woodward’s defense. Their argument was that the diagnosis relied too heavily on subjective interpretation and that a generation of clinicians had been “indoctrinated” to believe that a baby presenting with the symptoms of Eappen pointed to a single cause: violent shaking. But Scheck argued, as he later said of the Woodward case, “The scientific evidence demonstrated that she did not do this.”

Singer Olly Murs has revealed he “broke down in tears” after having to leave his newborn baby to go on tour with Take That.

The 40-year-old told former The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright, who welcomed his daughter Palma earlier this month, it had meant he was unable to get to know his daughter Madison as a young baby.

Speaking on the radio station Heart, Murs, whose daughter was born in April last year, said: “It was really hard for me because I actually had to leave.

“So, two days after the baby was born, I had to leave and go on tour with Take That, and I didn’t really process it at the time.

“And then about a few months later, me and Amelia (Tank, Murs’ wife) were chatting, and I just sort of broke down in tears, because I was just like I never got a chance to actually get to know this little baby.”

It came after Wright, 38, spoke about the emotion of having his child with actress Michelle Keegan, whom he married in 2015.

Wright told Murs: “It’s actually hard to put it into words, I’ll start by saying it’s the biggest achievement of my life.

“It’s all I think about, but obviously, hat goes off to my wife, she’s an absolute superhuman superhero for bringing this baby into the world.

“And it makes you realise, like what our mums did for us, and makes me have so much more respect than I already had and what women have to go through.

“But other than that, it’s the best feeling in the world. I wake up every morning just so excited to see her face.

“Every time I wake up, I’m like, ‘oh, she’s there’, and that moment when I held her in my arms, I mean, it gets me emotional now thinking about it.

“But it’s just, I suppose, everything else goes out the window, and it’s made me realise what life is all about.

“And my little baby, Palma, I love you so much, I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”

Wright made his name on the first three series of ITV reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex, before finishing as a runner-up on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2011, and finishing fourth on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

Murs is best known for hits such as Please Don’t Let Me Go, Heart Skips A Beat, with Rizzle Kicks, and Dance With Me Tonight. His career began after he finished as a runner-up on ITV’s The X Factor in 2009 behind Joe McElderry.

Wright and Murs can be heard on Heart Saturday Breakfast from 9am to 12 noon on UK radio and Global Player.

A father and son duo, with help from kind strangers, recently freed a beach from a washed-up, massive fishing net that posed a big threat to the marine life there.

 

Western Cape, South Africa (17 March 2025) — Sometimes, exciting things wash up on the shore that make our beach walks all the more exciting—fascinating sea shells or a message in a bottle if we’re lucky. Other times, we’re met with far less than thrilling washaways. Many of us might shake our heads and look the other way when this happens. But some of the better ones among us will take the time to clean up and remove what shouldn’t be there in the first place. People like Michael de Nobrega, his son and kind strangers who recently saved a local beach from a massive fishing net hazard.

A passionate marine life photographer from Hartenbos, Michael knows that you can’t just appreciate the beauty of our oceanic wonders. You have to protect them, too.

As such, when he came across a massive fishing net near Bayview Beach along a night walk, he knew something needed to be done.

“It was far too big for me to remove on my own, and leaving it behind really weighed on me – these nets are absolute death traps for marine life,” Michael shared.

So, he and his son Miguel ventured back to the spot, ready to get the fishing net out of the ocean’s hair.

After a search, they spotted the hazard near the jetty at Baydunes.

This net would require some elbow grease to retire. But luckily for Michael and Miguel, they weren’t the only good-hearted folk on the beach.

“With the help of a kind lady fishing nearby and an elderly gentleman, we managed to pull the net out of the ocean,” said Michael.

Once removed, the next task was actually moving the heavy net. With a little creative thinking in tow, Michael and Miguel cut the net into manageable pieces before dragging it 300 metres and up 25 metres of steep stairs.

“After nearly two hours of hard work, we finally got the job done,” Michael beamed.

“A huge thank you to those who helped us. But the most credit goes to my son Miguel, whose determination and understanding of marine conservation made this possible. Today, we were a great team, and even if it’s just a small effort, I truly believe we made a big difference.”

Michael, Miguel, and their friend’s efforts likely saved marine animals’ lives. And from their story, we take away the sentiment that not only can a disheartening sight (like the washed-up fishing net) become an opportunity to do something good, but it’s also an opportunity to see others join the call for a little kindness.

So, the next time you spot some trash, a stranded sea turtle or something else, don’t think of it as something depressing. Think of it as a chance to change a narrative and inspire a few people along the way.

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Sources: Michael de Nobrega 

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Annie O’Donoghue has visited her daughter Amanda’s grave at Mount St Oliver’s cemetery in Limerick every day since she died in 2022.

But last Saturday she was horrified to discover the young mum’s memorial had been targeted and smashed to pieces.

“It is still hard to take in, I can’t believe that it happened. I didn’t think anyone would stoop that low,” she said.

The disturbing attack resulted in an outpouring of sympathy and anger on social media where images and videos of the destruction have been circulating.

Annie added that she is getting so many messages of support she hasn’t been able to get back to everybody who has been in contact.

“It is a bit consoling, sure everyone is outraged at what is after happening. I’ve never heard of that happening in my life to anyone’s grave,” she said.

Amanda (31) died shortly after being discharged from hospital in 2022, where staff were “checking her for pneumonia and for Covid”.

It emerged later that she had fluid in her chest, according to Annie, but died from a heart attack at her Hyde Road home.

“I found her. I found her on the bedroom floor,” she said.

It is not only Annie who is dealing with the shock of the mindless vandalism. Her daughter Lisa, whose partner died two weeks after Amanda, has also been affected.

Amanda’s daughter, Charlene, was also left distraught after going to the cemetery to see what had happened.

“She walked away as soon as she’d seen it, she couldn’t stay,” said Annie.

Her focus is now on restoring the grave: “We are already in the process but it will be some time in July, hopefully before her birthday.”

The incident has also left Annie angry and she wants to see those responsible face justice.

“I was hoping something is going to be done after that, what’s going to stop them doing it again? I’m hoping the guards can do something about this,” she said.

She fears that people could get into trouble over it “if they get their hands on the people who have done it”.

Annie said local people know who vandalised the grave and claimed that gardai are also aware of their identities.

A grave memorial of a man connected to Amanda’s family was also damaged in the incident.

She said the vandalism came out of the blue. “Nothing happened. It was just out of the blue, there’s things going on all the time — it doesn’t have to spark something like this,” she said.