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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Uzbekistan discussed strengthening institutional linkages to promote cultural exchange and people-to-people contact through the media during a meeting between Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Uzbekistan&#39;s Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, APP reported on Monday. &ldquo;Pakistan deeply values its partnership with Uzbekistan and remains committed to turning shared ideas into meaningful outcomes for both nations&rdquo;, Tarar said in a post on X. The minister said that both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in media, film and cultural exchanges, including opportunities for joint productions and digital collaboration. The meeting focused on expanding collaboration between Pakistan and Uzbekistan in film production, including the possibility of joint short films, documentaries and drama series, the report said. The ambassador appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s role in promoting peace in the region and acknowledged Islamabad&rsquo;s efforts in peace-related initiatives and negotiations, according to APP. Tarar said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Uzbekistan and is keen to further expand cooperation in the media, film and cultural fields. He added that such initiatives would require the involvement of experienced production houses, while large-scale film projects could also be pursued through joint funding arrangements between the two countries. The minister stressed the importance of highlighting the shared historical and cultural heritage of Pakistan and Uzbekistan through collaborative media content. &ldquo;Both sides agreed to enhance coordination between their respective social media teams for the development of joint digital content and a coordinated online promotional strategy,&rdquo; said the APP report. It was also agreed to further expand cooperation between media organizations of the two countries. The minister said study visits of journalists from both sides would help promote mutual understanding and professional exchange. He reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening cultural and media relations with Uzbekistan through sustained engagement and cooperation.

Culture

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar says both sides discussed strengthening cooperation in media, film and cultural exchanges, including opportunities for joint productions and digital collaboration.


Pakistan leads push for film diplomacy with Uzbekistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has launched its post-Hajj flight operations to bring home nearly 119,000 pilgrims who performed Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, with more than 450 flights scheduled from various Saudi cities throughout June. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the first return flight, PIA flight PK964, is scheduled to depart Jeddah for Sialkot at 10:20 pm on Monday. On the first day of the operation, June 10, a total of 21 flights will transport 5,628 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan. Of these, five flights will arrive in Islamabad while four each are scheduled to land in Lahore and Karachi. The ministry said the month-long operation will continue until June 30, with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Saudi Airlines, Air Sial, and Airblue participating in the repatriation effort. In a separate statement, PIA said it will operate 213 flights to transport around 56,000 pilgrims back to Pakistan. The airline&rsquo;s flights will arrive in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Multan, Sialkot, and Quetta. According to official figures, approximately 197,000 Pakistanis performed Hajj this year. Pakistan&rsquo;s pre-Hajj flight operation began on April 18, facilitating the travel of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan has launched its post-Hajj operations, with over 450 flights scheduled to return nearly 119,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia; the month-long repatriation effort will continue until June 30.

Over 115,000 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims to return via 450 flights  

ISLAMABAD: More than 18 years after her assassination, Benazir Bhutto&#39;s influence continues to resonate well beyond Pakistan&#39;s borders. In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV placed Pakistan&#39;s former prime minister alongside some of history&#39;s most revered champions of human dignity and social progress, offering a rare international acknowledgment of her democratic legacy and the sacrifices she made in public life.&nbsp; As the only Muslim figure cited in the passage, Bhutto&#39;s inclusion underscores the enduring global relevance of her advocacy for democracy, pluralism, and resistance to political extremism. Bhutto appears by name in Magnifica Humanitas, the papal document released in May, where Pope Leo XIV highlights individuals whose lives and contributions, according to the Vatican&#39;s official text, &ldquo;contributed to making history more humane.&rdquo; In Paragraph 124 of the 245-paragraph encyclical, she is mentioned alongside globally recognized figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Marie Curie, individuals whose achievements transcended national borders and left a lasting mark on humanity. The recognition is particularly notable because Bhutto is the sole representative of the Muslim world in that section of the document.&nbsp; Every other figure cited is associated with the Christian tradition or Western intellectual history.&nbsp; Among the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, no other leader or public figure is mentioned. The encyclical itself is addressed not only to the world&#39;s 1.3 billion Catholics but, as Pope Leo writes, to &ldquo;all people of goodwill,&rdquo; giving the document significance well beyond the Catholic Church. Pakistan&#39;s first female prime ministerBhutto&#39;s place in the text reflects a legacy that continues to command international attention decades after she first entered office. In 1988, she became Pakistan&#39;s first female prime minister and the first woman elected to lead a Muslim-majority nation, breaking political barriers across the Islamic world and emerging as one of the most prominent democratic leaders of her generation. She served as prime minister twice, from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996.&nbsp; After years in exile, she returned to Pakistan in 2007 to contest elections and revive the democratic process, but was assassinated in Rawalpindi on December 27 that year while campaigning for a third term. Significantly, the Vatican does not invoke Bhutto&#39;s religious identity. Instead, the encyclical recognizes her public service and commitment to democratic principles.&nbsp; According to The Pillar&#39;s reader&#39;s guide to the document, she is included among figures who &ldquo;changed history by their defense of human dignity.&rdquo; The company she keeps in the text underscores the weight of that recognition.&nbsp; The list includes canonized Catholic saints, Nobel Prize winners, pioneering educators, environmental advocates and civil rights leaders whose contributions reshaped societies across continents.&nbsp; Bhutto is the only Muslim and the only political leader from Asia named in that section. Within that broader moral appeal, Bhutto&#39;s inclusion serves as a powerful reminder of the values the Pope seeks to elevate: courage in public service, commitment to democratic ideals and the defense of human dignity in the face of violence and extremism. For Pakistan, the acknowledgment amounts to a rare tribute from one of the world&#39;s most influential religious institutions.&nbsp; Bhutto&#39;s legacy places her among a select group of historical figures whose lives continue to be seen as examples of humanity&#39;s capacity to advance justice, freedom and human progress. AI and implications for humanityThe encyclical, subtitled &quot;On the Safeguarding of the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,&quot; was signed on May 15 and formally presented by Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican&#39;s Synod Hall.&nbsp; It represents the Catholic Church&#39;s first comprehensive doctrinal statement on artificial intelligence and its implications for humanity. Its central argument is that technological progress must remain anchored in ethical responsibility.&nbsp; The document calls for artificial intelligence to be regulated, made transparent and prevented from exercising autonomous lethal decision-making, insisting that human dignity must remain at the center of emerging technologies.

In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV named Benazir Bhutto among global figures who 'contributed to making history more humane,' making Pakistan's former prime minister the only Muslim leader recognized in the landmark Vatican document.

Benazir Bhutto's legacy earns rare recognition in papal encyclical

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Inside a small workshop near Peshawar&rsquo;s Kohati Gate, surrounded by sawdust and the sweet smell of wood in the air, Niaz Ali&rsquo;s hands move with precision over a block of sheesham wood.&nbsp;For forty-two years, he has shaped wood, straw, and palm leaves into wonders, crafting small tongas, trucks, bowls, and rubabs. &ldquo;I was only eight years old when I developed a passion for crafting things,&rdquo; he says. A child&rsquo;s pure desire to create. While other children played, Niaz would search local junk dealers for old radio cells, breaking them open just to get the small internal parts to use as tires for his cardboard trucks. Niaz comes from a long line of craftsmen. His father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were traditional carpenters who made the legs of local beds called charpais, as well as tables and chairs. When Niaz was a young boy, his grandfather asked him to join the stable family trade. But Niaz, driven by an artistic spark, resisted. He wanted more. &ldquo;I told him that I wanted to create things that would amaze people,&rdquo; he shares. There are visible emotions in the way Niaz speaks about his work. To him, these objects are not mere products. &ldquo;Every item I make comes from these fingers,&rdquo; he says, holding up his hands, a note of pride in his voice.&nbsp;Work of patienceHe loves every single piece that leaves his workbench because each one requires a piece of his patience, love, and soul. Friends who watch him work often marvel at his patience because of the focus it takes to carve and assemble dozens of small pieces into one beautiful object.&nbsp; Instead of seeing tedious work, Niaz finds a sense of calm.&nbsp;A few streets from his workshop is his display area.&nbsp; The walls and shelves are covered with wooden carvings, toys, decorations, straw bookshelves, and palm-leaf implements for daily use, while the floor is barely visible under the jumble of furniture, footstools, ottomans, and tables.&nbsp; Every single piece was handcrafted by him.&nbsp;He recalls a customer asking for a replica of a specific commercial truck, a piece he had never attempted before.&nbsp; Niaz delivered a piece so beautiful that the customer insisted on paying an extra 4,000 rupees out of appreciation.&nbsp;For Niaz, that gesture was proof that his emotional investment had successfully translated through the wood.&nbsp;Keeping heritage alive&ldquo;In a world saturated with cheap, mass-produced plastic knockoffs, I have a responsibility to keep this heritage alive,&rdquo; he says. He has watched people grow tired of artificial materials and slowly return to tradition and culture, seeking out his large, beautifully carved wooden platters and straw-made almirahs, or buying hand-decorated palm-leaf fans meant for new brides. Knowing that his craft will outlast his own lifetime brings him peace.&nbsp;He has already passed these skills down to his sons, ensuring the line does not break.&nbsp; For Niaz, every piece of shaped wood is a bridge connecting the hard work and talent of the artisans of old to the generation of tomorrow.

For Niaz, every piece of shaped wood is a bridge connecting the hard work and talent of the artisans of old to the generation of tomorrow.


In a plastic world, one Pakistani artisan keeps handmade traditions alive

CHARSADDA: Despite summer heat, tens of thousands of visitors are flocking to the annual Eid fair at Sardaryab in northwestern Pakistan, where a decades-old riverside tradition comes alive with food, rides, and festivities. The three-day Eid fair at Sardaryab is in full swing on the banks of the Kabul River.&nbsp;It is one of the largest and most vibrant fairs of its kind in Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Sardaryab, normally a quiet yet scenic recreational spot in the Charsadda District, becomes the focal point of the region&rsquo;s holiday celebrations.&nbsp;For three days during Eid, the riverbank transforms into a massive fair that continues a tradition spanning decades.&nbsp;Dock for local fishermenGeographically, Sardaryab holds unique significance.&nbsp;It sits at the point where the Kabul River merges with the Swat River.&nbsp; This confluence creates a vast waterfront that naturally offers a refreshing contrast to the sweltering heat of the surrounding urban and agricultural areas. Historically, the location was far quieter than it is today.&nbsp;Famous for its fresh fish, it once served as a dock for local fishermen who harvested their catch from the merging waters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Popular weekend destinationEventually, small makeshift huts began appearing along the river&rsquo;s edge, serving freshly caught fish either deep-fried or grilled over coals.&nbsp; Over time, its reputation grew as entrepreneurs began opening proper riverside fish restaurants, turning it into a popular weekend destination for people across the province.&nbsp; Today, that commercial evolution has expanded into a full-scale holiday extravaganza.&nbsp;During Eid, the influx of people is overwhelming.&nbsp; Visitors travel from neighboring regions, including Peshawar, Mardan, Charsadda, and the tribal districts.&nbsp;Wazir Khan, a visitor traveling with friends, noted that the fair attracts people from far and wide.&nbsp; &ldquo;The three-day Eid fair has started. People come from far away to visit this place. I came from Mohmand District myself,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. Because of this massive regional draw, the infrastructure is pushed to its limits. Normally, Charsadda Road is adequate for regular traffic, but during the three days of Eid, congestion becomes severe.&nbsp; Lines of motorcycles and cars stretch for miles as families patiently make their way toward the waterfront.&nbsp;Loud, colorful, and fast-paced The atmosphere at the fair is loud, colorful, and fast-paced.&nbsp;To beat the summer heat, vendors set up stalls every few yards, selling cold drinks from large cauldrons filled with huge chunks of ice.&nbsp; Local street foods such as chapli kebab, tikka, and, of course, fried fish are available at nearly every corner.&nbsp;Many makeshift stalls also spring up around the fair, selling toys, sunglasses, stickers, souvenirs, temporary tattoos, and other assorted goods.&nbsp; Stallholders like Sadiq Khan, who has been visiting the fair for the past 50 years, temporarily set up shops selling watches, keychains, and other knickknacks, relying on the holiday rush for their livelihood.&nbsp; &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been coming here since I was 20 years old. Now I&rsquo;m 72,&rdquo; he said, showcasing how integral the fair is to the local economy.&nbsp;Boat and amusement ridesFor entertainment, crowds gravitate toward hundreds of traditional wooden boat rides that crisscross the wide river confluence in a myriad of pastel colors.&nbsp; On land, amusement rides &mdash; including three massive, creaking Ferris wheels &mdash; tower over the crowds, creating a classic fair atmosphere.&nbsp; Families also flock to the numerous pirate ship rides and merry-go-rounds.&nbsp;Thousands of daily visitorsThe scale of the modern festival is immense.&nbsp;According to Police Sub-Inspector Bilal Khan, the single-day turnout can easily reach between 30,000 and 40,000 people.&nbsp; Managing a crowd of this magnitude requires a highly coordinated, multi-agency security operation. &ldquo;We have the local police department, additional personnel from other regions, Civil Defense, Rescue 1122 personnel, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and Special Branch officers to maintain law and order and manage the heavy flow of people,&rdquo; said Khan, adding that interagency cooperation is essential for an event of this scale. Despite the challenges, the festival remains peaceful, lively, and cooperative.&nbsp;It has become an important part of the local identity.&nbsp; For elders in the community, the fair serves as a reminder of simpler times that has successfully endured into the modern era, while for younger people, it is an excuse to let loose and have fun.&nbsp; Despite the high temperatures this year, the mood remains festive and joyous as crowds continue to flock to Sardaryab.

The three-day Eid fair at Sardaryab is in full swing on the banks of the Kabul River; it is one of the largest and most vibrant fairs of its kind in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Sardaryab Eid fair draws thousands despite summer heat in Pakistan

Simran Siraj

KARACHI: Under the blazing afternoon sun at Karachi&rsquo;s sprawling Northern Bypass cattle market, camel groomer Syed Ali Hassan carefully moves a pair of scissors across the thick coat of a towering camel, carving intricate geometric patterns into its fur with practiced precision. Around him, crowds gather to watch as circles, waves and traditional Sindhi-inspired motifs slowly emerge on the animal&rsquo;s body ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice. The centuries-old craft, locally known as &ldquo;Oont Ki Katai,&rdquo; literally &ldquo;camel clipping,&rdquo; transforms sacrificial camels into living works of art before they are sold in Pakistan&rsquo;s bustling Eid cattle markets. &ldquo;There is no template,&rdquo; Hassan told Pakistan TV Digital while trimming another design into a camel&rsquo;s coat. &ldquo;I picture the pattern in my mind first. Then I make it with scissors.&rdquo; In Pakistan, Eid al-Adha triggers one of the country&rsquo;s largest seasonal economic activities, with millions of goats, cows, buffaloes, sheep and camels traded in temporary livestock markets across urban centers. The festival commemorates Prophet Ibrahim&rsquo;s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah, before God replaced the sacrifice with a ram. Muslims traditionally slaughter animals during the three-day festival and distribute meat among relatives, friends and the poor. While goats and cows dominate Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrificial markets, camels hold a special cultural place in parts of Sindh and Balochistan, where breeders often decorate and groom them before sale. At Karachi&rsquo;s market, regarded as one of Asia&rsquo;s largest seasonal cattle bazaars, elaborately groomed camels attract attention from buyers willing to pay extra for animals adorned with hand-cut artwork. Hassan, who comes from Sindh&rsquo;s Daulatpur area, said he learned the craft through observation and childhood fascination rather than formal training. &ldquo;When people see it, they ask if I use a computer or copy designs,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But I make everything myself.&rdquo; His father, also involved in camel grooming, gave him early guidance on forming patterns, but Hassan says years of practice helped him perfect the art. The work requires patience and near-perfect symmetry. A single mistake can ruin an entire design. Despite the growing popularity of social media videos featuring elaborately groomed camels, Hassan said many customers still underestimate the labor involved. &ldquo;People ask why I charge so much,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They don&rsquo;t understand how difficult it is to create these designs using only scissors.&rdquo; As Eid al-Adha celebrations begin across Pakistan, artisans like Hassan continue preserving a fading folk tradition that blends livestock culture, craftsmanship and religious festivity into one of the country&rsquo;s most visually distinctive Eid customs.

A camel groomer creates intricate hand-cut patterns on sacrificial camels at Karachi’s Northern Bypass cattle market ahead of Eid al-Adha, preserving the traditional Sindhi art of Oont Ki Katai through skilled scissor work.

Ancient camel grooming tradition draws crowds at Karachi cattle market

ISLAMABAD: Millions of Muslims across Pakistan on Wednesday celebrated Eid al-Adha with special prayers, animal sacrifices and gatherings with family and friends, while worshippers also prayed for peace in the Middle East and the success of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing regional tensions following the conflict involving the United States-Israel and Iran. The three-day religious festival, observed from the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, comes at the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where more than 1.5 million Muslims, including around 179,000 Pakistanis, are performing the sacred rites of Islam. Mosques and open prayer grounds across Pakistani cities filled early in the morning as worshippers offered Eid prayers and listened to sermons emphasizing sacrifice, compassion, unity, and care for the underprivileged. Eid al-Adha, also known as the &ldquo;Festival of Sacrifice,&rdquo; commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah before God replaced the sacrifice with a ram. The occasion is marked by the ritual sacrifice of animals, with meat traditionally distributed among family members, relatives and the poor. In his Eid message, President Asif Ali Zardari said the festival reminded Muslims of &ldquo;obedience to Allah, patience, loyalty, sincerity and sacrifice.&rdquo; &ldquo;The joy of Eid is complete only when the underprivileged, the deserving, orphans, widows, the sick and those quietly enduring hardship are also included in these celebrations,&rdquo; he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also urged Pakistanis to remember vulnerable communities and reaffirm commitments to unity and service to humanity. &ldquo;We also stand in unwavering solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters in Palestine and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,&rdquo; the prime minister said in his message. Meanwhile, the military leadership, including Field Marshal Asim Munir, Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, said Eid al-Adha symbolized &ldquo;sacrifice, faith and solidarity.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Pakistan Armed Forces remain steadfast in their sacred duty to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and stand shoulder to shoulder with the nation in pursuit of peace and stability,&rdquo; the military said in a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations. Special prayers were also offered for lasting peace in the Middle East, stability in the Muslim world and the success of ongoing Pakistan-backed diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf region after months of uncertainty linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Across Pakistan, authorities deployed additional sanitation workers, security personnel and municipal teams to manage crowds, animal markets and waste disposal during the Eid holidays, one of the busiest annual periods in the country. The festival is also expected to generate significant economic activity for livestock farmers, traders, transporters and small businesses linked to seasonal Eid markets.

Mosques and open prayer grounds across Pakistani cities fill early in the morning as worshippers offer Eid prayers and listen to sermons emphasizing sacrifice, compassion, unity, and care for the underprivileged.



Pakistan marks Eid al-Adha with prayers for peace, regional stability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Television Corporation Ltd. (PTV) has won a major international honor at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2026, earning recognition in the &ldquo;Virtual Production &ndash; Pakistan&rdquo; category for its innovative project &ldquo;Tasveer Kahani.&rdquo; The award was presented during a ceremony held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore earlier this week, celebrating excellence and innovation in the broadcasting and media industry across the Asia-Pacific region.&nbsp; The annual awards program recognizes broadcasters, production houses and technology leaders that are redefining storytelling and media production through digital transformation, artificial intelligence and immersive audience experiences. PTV&rsquo;s winning project, Tasveer Kahani, is a unique series of fiction films inspired by real archival photographs from the 1947 Partition of the Indian subcontinent.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2057884138384797832&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=956eb7e6beec401652495e516e81d4aed85e6f91&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2057884138384797832"></iframe></div></div>The production combines historical storytelling with advanced virtual production techniques and artificial intelligence-driven visual enhancement to recreate pivotal moments from one of the region&rsquo;s most defining historical events. This year&rsquo;s awards highlighted the rapid evolution of broadcasting from traditional television formats into more intelligent, interactive and digitally integrated media ecosystems.&nbsp; Organizers said the winning entries demonstrated innovation, impact and technological dynamism in an increasingly competitive and fragmented media landscape. The awards were evaluated by an international panel of industry experts, including senior executives from Kearney, KPMG Singapore, PwC China and Roland Berger. Judges assessed submissions on the basis of innovation, creativity, technical excellence and industry impact. PTV&rsquo;s recognition marks a significant achievement for Pakistan&rsquo;s state broadcaster at a time when media organizations worldwide are investing heavily in next-generation production technologies and digital-first content strategies.

Tasveer Kahani is a fiction film series based on real archival Partition photographs, blending historical storytelling with virtual production and artificial intelligence-driven visual recreation techniques.

PTV wins prestigious Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Award for virtual production innovation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari met the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community on Wednesday, appreciating Aga Khan Development Network&rsquo;s (AKDN) contribution in healthcare, education, community development, climate resilience, and heritage conservation. Prince Rahim Agha Khan V, who is on his first visit to Pakistan, thanked the president for a warm welcome, reaffirming AKDN&rsquo;s continued commitment to supporting development and humanitarian initiatives in the country. The president, accompanied by First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan People&rsquo;s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with AKDN for the welfare and development of vulnerable communities. The president also recalled the association of the late Prince Karim Aga Khan IV with Pakistan and appreciated the historic contributions of the family. Upon his arrival at the President&#39;s House, the prince was presented with a tri-services guard of honor, comprising contingents of the Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, and Pakistan Air Force. A banquet was hosted in honor of the prince&rsquo;s arrival, which was attended by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and several other dignitaries.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V thanks president for a warm welcome, reaffirms continued commitment to supporting development and humanitarian initiatives in the country.

President Zardari appreciates AKDN’s contribution in meet with Aga Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan declared a three-day public holiday from May 26 to 28 to observe Eid-ul-Adha, according to a government notification. Eid-ul-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, marks the conclusion of the annual <a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-hajj-operation-accelerates-as-thousands-of-pilgrims-arrive-in-saudi-arabia" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hajj pilgrimage</a> to the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The festival takes place on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim&#39;s (Abraham) submission to God. On the festival&#39;s opening day, Muslims gather for special congregational prayers. Families engage in &quot;qurbani,&quot; the ritual slaughter of permissible (halal) livestock, including goats, sheep, cattle, and camels. The sacrificial meat is divided equally among the household, extended family and friends, and the poor. Throughout the celebration, adherents dress in new clothes, visit relatives, and greet one another with &quot;Eid Mubarak.&quot;

Pakistan's government declares a three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signing off on the decision

Pakistan announces three-day public holiday for Eid-ul-Adha

JESSORE: Rice farmer Mohammad Ismail Hossain fears violence could blight his quiet fields in southwestern Bangladesh, on the front line of a growing Indian push to expel undocumented migrants. The countries share a porous 4,096-kilometre (2,500-mile) border, with communities on either side often so interwoven that crossings -- illegal or not -- are common. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims. Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi&#39;s Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month. &quot;(India) says that those found to be Bangladeshi would be sent back after verifying their documents,&quot; Hossain, 66, told AFP at a tea stall in the border region of Khulna-Jessore. &quot;But no one seems to be verifying anything. They are pushing people in, left, right and centre,&quot; he said. Authorities say many people in the border region lack proper documents to prove their citizenship, mainly due to poverty, a lack of awareness, and a long history of informal movement. &quot;If the situation escalates, there could be a bigger conflict, with shots being fired... India, being the larger country, can forcefully do anything,&quot; said a worried Hossain. &nbsp;&#39;Infiltrators&#39;&nbsp;The borderland communities long predate the 1947 partition of British India, which delineated the frontier of the nation now called Bangladesh. Along some stretches, it is often difficult to distinguish one country from the other. Family networks straddle both sides. Some homes may even have their kitchen in Bangladesh and their courtyard in India. India has informally &quot;pushed back&quot; illegal migrants into Bangladesh for decades, but activists say the political changeover in West Bengal has boosted the deportation campaign. The state government has set up detention centers and claimed to have forced out nearly 5,000 &quot;Bangladeshi infiltrators&quot;. The escalation has riled Bangladesh, which is equally reluctant to absorb groups of people whose identities are not immediately clear. Bangladeshi border guards have increased patrols and issued warnings through loudspeakers that no one may enter without verification, Mahmudul Hasan, a regional commander, told AFP. &quot;We are willing to accept our citizens once their nationality has been verified by both countries, but we are not taking unidentified nationals,&quot; Hasan said. &quot;Rules must apply even to undocumented people.&quot; Since June 5, Bangladeshi guards have thwarted at least 35 attempts by India to force migrants over the border, a Bangladeshi spokesman told AFP. West Bengal police official Subrata Saha insisted Indian authorities were only handing over deportees &quot;after it is proved that they crossed the Indian border illegally and they are Bangladeshi nationals&quot;. Battered, bruised&nbsp;Meanwhile, many undocumented migrants remain in limbo, and humanitarian concerns are mounting. At a hospital in the city of Satkhira, Mohammad Mohiuddin lay recovering from injuries he says were inflicted by Indian guards as he was trying to wade across a lake into Bangladesh. &quot;They hit me in the eye with the butt of a rifle and shot me,&quot; he told AFP from his bed. &quot;I don&#39;t deserve such cruelty.&quot; A senior official from India&#39;s Border Security Force refused to comment when contacted by AFP. Women and children have reportedly spent days stranded along the &quot;zero line&quot; -- the narrow buffer zone separating Bangladesh from India -- relying on villagers for food and water. Viral videos show frightened families huddled near border fences while Indian and Bangladeshi personnel argue over who should take responsibility for them. Rights groups say the crisis exposes the gruelling poverty that drives many Bangladeshis to cross illegally. They also worry that India could arbitrarily decide to push Rohingya refugees, who are mainly Muslim, across the border. Bangladesh already hosts more than one million Rohingya refugees from neighboring Myanmar, a huge economic and social burden for one of the world&#39;s less-developed countries. Torn apart&nbsp;Many villagers do not see illegal border crossings as criminal because of the deep historical and family ties linking communities on both sides, said A.B.M. Mohid Hossain, who works with the non-profit Justice and Care. &quot;Some people cross in search of work because they have family members on the other side,&quot; he told AFP. For some families, the suffering continues long after they are detained. At least 20 Bangladeshi children were repatriated in May while their parents were jailed in India on charges of illegal entry, according to police and human rights groups. Among them was 14-year-old Sumi Khatun, who said she and her younger sister were separated from their family after being detained a year ago. Sumi, whose parents are Bangladeshi, says she was born in India but lacks the documents to prove that. &quot;They arrested us and separated my little sister and me from our mother and brother,&quot; she said. &quot;My father&#39;s grave is in Delhi, my mother and brother are in jails in different cities in India, and my sister and I are in Bangladesh,&quot; she said. Sumi said she no longer wants anything to do with the country where her family was torn apart. &quot;I will never go to India again... Just bring my mother and brother back so that we can all live together again.&quot;

This photograph taken on June 3, 2026 shows Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel patrolling near the Benapole-Petrapole frontier crossing between Bangladesh and India in Benapole (AFP)

India

Bangladesh

Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been stepping up deportations of illegal migrants to Bangladesh, a campaign that critics say unfairly targets Bengali-speaking Muslims; Rights groups say those efforts have gathered more momentum since Modi's Hindu-nationalist party won power in West Bengal state, which borders Bangladesh, for the first time last month.

India migrant evictions seed fear in Bangladesh border towns

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s &quot;Cockroach Janta Party&quot; founder Abhijeet Dipke arrived at Lucknow airport on Friday to participate in a peaceful protest at Eco Garden against the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.&nbsp; In a post on X, Dipke said he was traveling to the Uttar Pradesh capital after participating in what he described as two successful and peaceful protests in New Delhi and Pune. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065095286754553911&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;Will join the students there tomorrow to demand resignation of Education Minister,&quot; he wrote on Thursday. According to a post by his party, if local authorities denied permission for the demonstration, Dipke would personally approach police officials and request approval for the gathering. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065236086230569226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=c024945361eba3518781b87b0926dd27ab26d6ee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The party held its first major street protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, calling for Pradhan&#39;s resignation over major exam irregularities, including question paper leaks and technical glitches. Within weeks, the movement has amassed more than 22 million followers on Instagram, making it one of the most prominent youth-driven online campaigns in India.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke addresses his supporters during a protest over alleged irregularities in the country's major examinations, in New Delhi on June 6, 2026 (AFP).

Abhijeet Dipke says he will join a student-led protest in Lucknow to demand the education minister's resignation and approach the police himself if permission for the demonstration is denied.

India's 'Cockroach Party' founder arrives in Lucknow to join protest demanding minister's resignation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari has approved the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (Conversion) (Repeal) Bill, 2026, paving the way for PIA&#39;s privatization. According to the details, following the president&#39;s approval, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/pia-nears-full-privatization-as-consortium-moves-for-remaining-stake" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">privatization</a>&nbsp;process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited have been fulfilled, said a post shared on&nbsp;<a href="https://pakistantv.com/article/from-18-to-60-aircraft-new-owners-unveil-pia-expansion-plan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">President</a>&nbsp;of Pakistan&#39;s X handle on Friday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065282559559537061&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=08b9253216cdb53baaa53f1d414c3a108e4996d7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The bill was approved by the Senate of Pakistan on June 10, 2026, and by the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 11, 2026.

Economy

After the approval of the bill, the legal requirements necessary for the completion of the privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL) have been fulfilled, said a post shared on President of Pakistan's X handle on Friday.


Pakistan president approves law paving the way for PIA’s privatization

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to eliminating child labor, stressing that every child has the right to protection, education, and a safe future free from exploitation. In their separate messages, released in connection with the celebration of World Day Against Child Labor on Friday, the two leaders referred to Article 11 of the Constitution of Pakistan, which prohibits forced labor and exploitation of children. At the same time, Article 25-A guarantees free and compulsory education to all children. President Zardari, in his message, said child labor not only deprives children of their childhood but also damages their future and education.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065149075553730881&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6c5db4e6cd2d8e8ee9390e0d4c633e78823e05cd&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He said steps are being taken at both federal and provincial levels to eliminate child labor, but added that effective implementation of laws is essential to protect vulnerable children from exploitation. The president said children trapped in exploitative labor must be brought back into schools and provided a safe and supportive environment. He also called on parents, teachers, religious leaders, civil society, and employers to play their role in protecting children and ensuring that no child is deprived of education.&ldquo;No one should be allowed to exploit children,&rdquo; the President said. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif, in his separate message released from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) in Islamabad, said that Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its commitment to protecting every child from exploitation and providing them opportunities for a brighter future through education. He went on to say that this year&rsquo;s theme, &ldquo;Red Card to Child Labor: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults,&rdquo; highlights the need for collective action against child labor. Citing International Labor Organization estimates, he said, &ldquo;nearly 138 million children worldwide remain engaged in child labor, including around 54 million in hazardous work.&rdquo; The prime minister said that Pakistan has ratified relevant ILO conventions on minimum age for employment and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. He added, &ldquo;The government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy focused on legal reforms, enforcement, social protection, education, and economic empowerment to address the root causes of child labor.&rdquo; Sharif said that institutions such as the National Commission on the Rights of Child, Child Protection Institute, provincial child protection bodies, and welfare bureaus are working to support vulnerable children.

Education

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate child labor, stressing constitutional protections, education, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and collective national action to protect children from exploitation.

President, PM reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ending child labor

BUSHBUCKRIDGE: In a remote South African village, Paulina Mhlongo sits in the yard as health workers in green protective gear move briskly through her home, soaking the walls with anti-mosquito insecticide. Her teenage grandson fell critically ill last year from malaria, the disease that kills more than a quarter of a million people annually and is surging in southern Africa as the climate shifts. Before this spraying, the family&#39;s &quot;only defense&quot; against malaria-carrying mosquitoes was a rattling fan, said Mhlongo, a 63-year-old retiree. Her village of Calcutta is in Mpumalanga, one of three provinces in South Africa&#39;s malaria belt experiencing changing rain patterns and rising temperatures that favor mosquito breeding. Heavy rains leave pools for eggs, while warmer temperatures speed up mosquito development and shorten the malaria parasite&#39;s incubation period. Malaria cases in Mpumalanga jumped fourfold in January compared with a year earlier, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The upsurge jeopardises South Africa&#39;s goal of eliminating the disease by 2029. Gauteng the powerhouse province home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, and where malaria is not endemic logged more than 400 cases and 11 deaths in the first three months of 2026, according to the NICD. While most infections were imported into the province from known hotspots, these figures are &quot;concerning&quot; even if the disease is not being transmitted between people, the public health body said. Supercharging hotspotsHuman‑driven climate change has increased the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, while the naturally occurring La Nina weather phenomenon brought above‑average rains to parts of southern Africa in early 2026, causing flooding that created more mosquito breeding sites, the group said. Namibia reported 8,760 cases in the first four weeks of 2026, a 68% increase from a year earlier. Flood-hit Mozambique recorded more than 1.35 million cases in the first six weeks of the year, up 55% alongside dozens of deaths. The outlook offers little reassurance as climate volatility deepens. The increase in malaria cases does not mean the disease is migrating, said Jantjie Taljaard, head of infectious diseases at Stellenbosch University. Instead, climate change is supercharging existing hotspots and lengthening transmission windows, fueling far more intense outbreaks. &quot;Rural environments and areas on the margins of established malaria risk areas are at highest risk,&quot; Taljaard said. The effects are being felt on the front line at Cunningmoore Clinic, where technicians Nicholas Skhumbane and Armstrong Mgiba swiftly process a steady stream of blood samples from surrounding villages. Working out of a threadbare laboratory, the two men, clad in white coats and latex gloves, move systematically from slide to slide. They add a drop of Giemsa stain -- a purplish-blue dye that reveals malaria parasites -- before placing each sample under a microscope. The results are returned just as quickly as at Tintswalo Hospital, a modern facility some 50 kilometers (30 miles) away. &nbsp;&#39;Even in winter&#39;&nbsp;For health officials, the shifting weather patterns are forcing a rethink of malaria planning beyond traditional hotspots and seasons. &quot;Climate change is a complex thing to deal with,&quot; said Sharon Lindiwe Nyoni, malaria program manager at the Mpumalanga department of health. &quot;When you plan as a department, you need to anticipate what is coming your way, but with climate change everything is just unfolding.&quot; The old assumption that malaria is confined to summer no longer holds, she warned. &quot;Even in winter, we continue to see transmission.&quot; It is not only local health systems that are coming under strain, experts say, but also intervention efforts. &quot;Flooding can mean we simply cannot reach communities to deliver control measures,&quot; virologist Edina Amponsah-Dacosta told AFP. Apart from heavy rains, extreme heat is a challenge as it can break the strict cold chain required before vaccines, which need refrigeration, ever reach remote clinics, she said. Despite the rising case numbers, health workers say that some locals remain skeptical about the safety of the insecticide spray and refuse to let health workers inside their homes. &quot;It is very painful to see someone dying of something that is preventable and again curable,&quot; Nyoni said. Back in Calcutta, Mhlongo waited outside as the sharp scent of insecticide drifted from her freshly sprayed nine-room house, which she shares with eight relatives. Empty beer cans littered the back of a nearby pickup truck propped on rocks -- a place the sprayers warned could harbor mosquitoes. &quot;I am happy because mosquitoes are a problem,&quot; Mhlongo said, serving the spray team a homemade snack of maize meal, sugar and groundnuts as a neighbor&#39;s music drifted across the farming village.

Medical technologist and laboratory manager at the National Health Laboratory Service Rirhandzu Mashale points to a malaria-positive blood sample projected from a microscope at Tintswalo Hospital in Bushbuckridge on May 26, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

Climate change and extreme weather are driving a sharp rise in malaria cases across southern Africa, straining health systems and threatening disease elimination efforts.

As climate shifts, malaria gains ground in southern Africa

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed support for the Muscat Plan of Action, describing it as an innovative and timely pathway to counter hate speech, prevent incitement to genocide and other atrocity crimes, and promote peace through dialogue, mediation and local peacebuilding. The Muscat Plan of Action is a UN-backed framework aimed at strengthening the role of traditional and indigenous leaders and communities in countering hate speech and preventing genocide, atrocity crimes and their incitement. Speaking at the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said that the initiative comes at a time when the world is witnessing a sharp rise in exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. &ldquo;Pakistan supports initiatives such as the Muscat Plan of Action and appreciates the urgency shown by the United Nations in addressing these disruptive and dangerous trends,&rdquo; added the Pakistani envoy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 640px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065227854917345717&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ef5545f1c212c27393391d5ca5361035a9d8eaba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The launch ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, along with representatives of member states, international organizations and peacebuilding networks. Ambassador Iftikhar further said that the plan draws strength from the cultural legitimacy, credibility and influence of traditional and Indigenous leaders, particularly in societies where local mechanisms continue to play an important role in conflict prevention and dispute resolution. Inclusive and peaceful societies&ldquo;By mobilizing traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and local mechanisms, the Plan of Action reinforces States&rsquo; efforts for establishing just, inclusive and peaceful societies,&rdquo; he said. He noted that hate speech and incitement to genocide and atrocity crimes are driven by complex social, political and ideological factors, requiring an effective and holistic response at national,&nbsp;international and community levels. The Pakistani envoy said that heads of clans, tribal chiefs and Indigenous leaders have historically played a leading role in local governance, mediation and conflict prevention. Even today, he said, such leaders remain at the forefront of peacebuilding, dispute resolution and humanitarian relief efforts in many parts of the world. Ambassador Iftikhar reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue working with international partners to counter the ideology of hate speech and promote societies based on peace, equality and dignity. He said Pakistan remained committed to supporting collective efforts to transform communities into &ldquo;oases of peace, equality and tranquility.&rdquo; The ambassador also congratulated the Sultanate of Oman, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Peacemakers Network for compiling and finalizing the Muscat Plan of Action. Pakistan said the initiative can serve as an important platform for linking global prevention frameworks with community-based peacebuilding efforts, especially in areas vulnerable to hate-driven violence and social fragmentation.

Foreign Affairs

Endorses the Muscat Plan of Action at the UN; Calls it an innovative framework to counter hate speech, prevent genocide incitement, and promote peacebuilding through traditional and Indigenous leaders.

Pakistan backs Muscat Plan of Action against hate speech, genocide incitement

BUENOS AIRES: Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula have reached a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, and ice is melting at abnormal rates during the current winter, climate scientists told AFP on Thursday. Esperanza Base, an Argentine research station located in the north of the peninsula, recorded the unprecedented figure on June 6. The previous highest temperature on record for that month -- 13.3C -- dates back to 1998. The current heat also significantly exceeds Esperanza&#39;s June average of -6.2C. Such a figure is &quot;very unusual for this time of year,&quot; Jose Luis Stella, a climatologist at Argentina&#39;s National Meteorological Service, told AFP. Argentine bases Marambio and San Martin also recorded unequalled temperatures between June 5 and 6. Marambio recorded 11.8C, surpassing a previous high of 9.2C and its June average of -10.7C. San Martin meanwhile saw 9.4C compared to its previous 7.8C record and June average of -5.6C. &#39;Confirms a trend&#39;The northern Antarctic heatwave is not an isolated event, University of Groningen professor Raul Cordero told AFP. &quot;It confirms a trend,&quot; he said, warning that &quot;these kinds of events will continue to occur with increasing frequency&quot; if global warming is not derailed. Thomas Caton Harrison, a polar climate scientist at the British Antarctic Survey, believes a combination of factors including climate change resulted in the current heat. &quot;There is credible evidence that climate change is playing a role, but the effect is complex in this region,&quot; he said. &quot;Because Antarctica sees such big swings in temperature, we have to collect lots of data over many years to build a picture of the underlying climate.&quot; Both specialists agree that regional temperatures have been rising for years and are already showing visible effects. &quot;A surprising amount of precipitation has been falling as rain rather than snow,&quot; Caton Harrison said. &quot;This has implications for polar ecosystems such as penguin colonies,&quot; he said, adding that &quot;it poses a challenge to my colleagues working on Antarctic bases because a lot of liquid rain has been falling and creating runoff and ice.&quot; Esperanza Base has been recording above-zero temperatures daily for three consecutive weeks. This trend has caused &quot;large areas in the far north of the white continent to remain free of snow,&quot; according to Cordero, who called it &quot;an unusual scene in the Antarctic landscape during winter.&quot;

Climate

Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula reach a record-breaking high of 15.4C for June, as ice melts at abnormal rates during the current winter.

Antarctic Peninsula sees record high June temperatures

MEXICO CITY: Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts&#39; bid for qualification from Group A got off to smooth start. South Africa meanwhile never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, and finished with only nine men after Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off. The Mexican-colored red, green and white smoke from pre-game fireworks had barely dissipated before Quinones fired the hosts into the lead on nine minutes, drilling a low shot through the legs of South Africa&rsquo;s goalkeeper and captain Ronwen Williams. A deafening roar cascaded down from the stands of the Azteca, the footballing cathedral that became the only stadium to host games at three different World Cups. South Africa coach Hugo Broos had warned his players to be ready for the intimidating atmosphere created by a capacity 80,824 crowd at the imposing concrete arena. But South Africa&rsquo;s players looked to have a bad case of stage fright as Mexico&#39;s fans &nbsp;greeted each completed pass with a raucous chorus of &quot;Ole!&quot; in the opening minutes Sithole seemed particularly affected, being caught in possession trying to play out of the back for Quinones&#39; opening goal. Sithole&#39;s miserable afternoon ended with a 49th minute dismissal after bundling over Mexico&rsquo;s Brian Gutierrez when clean through on goal. Mexico rammed home their advantage in the 67th minute, with a fine counter attack culminating in Roberto Alvarado crossing for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Jimenez to nod home at the far post. It got worse for South Africa in the 84th minute when Zwane was dismissed after a VAR review for flinging an arm into the face of Alvarado. There was still time for late drama when Mexican defender Cesar Montes was shown a red card for a clumsy challenge on Khulisa Mudau on the edge of the penalty area.

Football

Mexico launches World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa at a packed Estadio Azteca, while the visitors finish with nine men after two red cards.

Mexico beat South Africa to kick off World Cup

NEW YORK: Taylor Swift on Thursday became the youngest woman ever inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star&#39;s record-breaking career. The female record was previously held by Carole Bayer Sager, who was 43 when she joined in 1987. Stevie Wonder remains the youngest person ever admitted, at age 32 in 1983. Artists become eligible for the Hall of Fame 20 years after the release of their first commercial track. For Swift, that was &quot;Tim McGraw,&quot; released in June 2006. Her success since is undeniable: the American artist has recorded 12 albums spanning country, pop, and folk, earning her 14 Grammy Awards in the United States, including four Album of the Year trophies -- a record. &quot;Swift&#39;s ability to shapeshift as a songwriter, to inhabit different sonic landscapes and write as credibly in the world of one genre as she does another is part of her superpower as a songwriter,&quot; reads her bio on the Hall of Fame website. &quot;It also represents the boldness and bravery of her artistry: to explore new frontiers when the most practical next step would be to keep mining the material that has gotten you the success in the first place.&quot; Swift appeared on the red carpet in New York on Thursday wearing a strapless black dress with floral motifs ahead of the naming ceremony. &#39;Great honor&#39;Also inducted on Thursday were Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, the band behind hits such as &quot;Rock and Roll All Nite&quot; and &quot;Detroit Rock City.&quot; &quot;It doesn&#39;t suck,&quot; Stanley told AFP when asked how it felt to join the prestigious songwriting ranks. &quot;It&#39;s really hard to digest the idea. I certainly don&#39;t consider myself in that rarified air of some of the writers, but if you wanna be in that club, I&#39;m there.&quot; Kenny Loggins, the hitmaker behind movie soundtrack classics like &quot;Footloose&quot; and &quot;Danger Zone&quot; from &quot;Top Gun,&quot; was inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. &quot;It&#39;s a great honor and I appreciate it,&quot; Loggins told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s the culmination of a lifetime writing, and that&#39;s exciting for me.&quot; Canadian singer Alanis Morissette, inescapable in the 1990s, and American record producer Walter Afanasieff were also among the total of nine songwriters joining the Hall of Fame this year. Estimates put Taylor Swift&#39;s worldwide sales at over 250 million album-equivalents. Her most recent tour in 2023 and 2024, titled &quot;The Eras Tour,&quot; brought in a record sum of around two billion dollars. She is also the female artist with the most songs ever to reach the top 10 list compiled by Billboard, the leading US music magazine. Swift is omnipresent in the media. After unveiling a country track for the soundtrack of the film &quot;Toy Story 5,&quot; she was at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday for a game of the NBA Finals.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame, another milestone in the 36-year-old US pop star's record-breaking career.

Taylor Swift becomes youngest woman in Songwriters Hall of Fame

Middle East

Americas

Says a 'great settlement' with Iran has been reached and approved by Iran's Supreme Leader; Trump praises Pakistan for a 'fantastic role' in mediation, calling Field Marshal Asim Munir a 'great general'; Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson denies that any final decision on a deal with the US has been made.