ATHENS: Seventeen men were found dead Saturday after a migrant vessel was discovered drifting off the Greek island of Crete, a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Two survivors in critical condition have been hospitalized,&quot; the spokeswoman added.&nbsp;&quot;Autopsies have to be carried out as the circumstances of the sinking are not known.&quot;&nbsp;Greek state television channel ERT said the bodies had been found inside the vessel, which was taking on water and partly deflated.&nbsp;Manolis Frangoulis, the mayor of Cretan port Ierapetra, told reporters that all the victims were young.&nbsp;&quot;The vessel the migrants were on was deflated on two sides, which forced the passengers into a reduced space,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Coroners are looking at the possibility that the migrants died of dehydration, ERT reported.&nbsp;The vessel was found 26 nautical miles (48 kilometres) southwest of Crete, said Greek officials.&nbsp;A Turkish cargo ship spotted it and alerted the authorities, Greek news agency Ana reported.&nbsp;Two coastguard vessels, and another from the EU&#39;s border agency Frontex, travelled to the scene, as did a Frontex aircraft and Super Puma helicopter, said the coastguard.&nbsp;They added that the two survivors had said their vessel had become unstable due to bad weather, and that they had had no way to cover up, eat, or drink.&nbsp;Migrants have, for the past year, turned their attention to the Greek island of Crete in the eastern Mediterranean Sea as a way of reaching European Union territory from Libya in North Africa.&nbsp;The UN&#39;s refugee agency, UNHCR, says more than 16,770 people seeking asylum in the EU have arrived there since the start of the year.&nbsp;In July, Greece&#39;s conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis suspended asylum hearings for migrants, particularly targeting those arriving on Crete from Libya.&nbsp;Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, a former member of the Greek far-right party LAOS, posted on X at the time that Greece was taking &quot;immediate actions to counter the invasion from North Africa.&quot;&nbsp;Libya has been gripped by conflict since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising.

Europe

Seventeen migrants died, likely due to dehydration, while two survived after their vessel sank off Crete, possibly due to bad weather. Crete remains a key route for migrants crossing from Libya to the EU.

17 found dead in migrant vessel off Crete: coastguard

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Nearly one thousand Afghan clerics and tribal elders have declared that Afghan soil must not be used against any country, urging the Taliban government to strictly enforce the ban on individuals or groups engaging in cross-border terrorism or traveling abroad for militant activities.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Kabul, reaffirmed the directive of the Taliban&rsquo;s supreme leader that Afghanistan will not allow any force to exploit its territory to destabilise neighboring states. The announcement is being widely viewed as a positive signal and a development that aligns closely with Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing position.&nbsp; It reinforces Islamabad&rsquo;s diplomatic engagements with Kabul and validates Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent demand that Afghan territory should not serve as a base for cross-border terrorism. Analysts note that such declarations echo Pakistan&rsquo;s broader regional peace narrative, which stresses mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference. However, past experience tempers optimism. The Taliban authorities have made similar commitments to Pakistan and other regional and international stakeholders in the past, but their implementation record has remained largely discouraging. The real test this time will lie in the sincerity and verifiable enforcement of these pledges on the ground. If the Taliban regime translates these declarations into concrete, observable measures, it could mark a significant step toward Afghanistan&rsquo;s internal stability, Pakistan&rsquo;s security, and the overall peace of the region.&nbsp; Credible information available to Pakistan TV indicates that Islamabad will closely monitor the situation, as the implementation alone will determine the credibility of the announcement and its contribution to regional stability.

SAT News Desk

Kabul gathering of nearly 1,000 clerics backs previous decree against cross-border militancy; analysts say only implementation will test Taliban’s credibility 


Afghan clerics forbid use of soil for cross-border terrorism 

MADRID: Spain&#39;s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday called on the international community to &quot;raise its voice&quot; to prevent the plight of Palestinians from being forgotten, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas. PM Sanchez also repeated Madrid&#39;s support for a two-state solution, describing it as &quot;the only possible solution&quot; to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He stressed that the recent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza must be real and not &quot;fictitious,&rdquo; and insisted that attacks on civilians must end. &quot;The year 2025 has been terrible for the Palestinian people,&quot; the Socialist prime minister said as he stood alongside Abbas in Madrid. &quot;Genuine peace must be based on justice. Those responsible for this genocide will be held accountable, sooner or later.&quot; Abbas thanked Spain for recognizing the State of Palestine in May 2024 and praised Madrid&#39;s leadership in building an international coalition to expand recognition.&nbsp; He also called for an end to violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Spain, where support for the Palestinian cause is strong, has been one of Europe&#39;s most vocal critics of Israel&#39;s military offensive in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 that began the war.

PM Sanchez repeats Madrid's support for two-state solution, describes it as "the only possible solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Spain PM urges world to 'raise its voice' for Palestinians

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he wants to ensure CNN gets new ownership as part of the Warner Bros Discovery sale, targeting the news outlet he has long feuded with. Warner Bros Discovery has become the center of a bidding war between Paramount &mdash; led by CEO David Ellison, son of Trump ally Larry Ellison &mdash; and streaming giant Netflix. Under Paramount&#39;s offer, CNN would fall into the Ellisons&#39; hands.&nbsp; Under the Netflix deal, Warner Bros Discovery would sell off CNN and other cable news properties separately before closing the sale of its studio and streaming operations to Netflix. &quot;I think any deal should &mdash; it should be guaranteed and certain that CNN is part of it or sold separately,&quot; Trump told business leaders Wednesday at the White House. &quot;I don&#39;t think the people that are running that company right now and running CNN, which is a very dishonest group of people, I don&#39;t think that should be allowed to continue. I think CNN should be sold along with everything else,&quot; he added. In a break from the norm, Trump has said he would be involved in the government&#39;s decision to approve the deal, instead of leaving the question solely to the Department of Justice, as is typically the case. US media reports indicate that both bidders &mdash; which Trump called &quot;good companies&quot; in his remarks &mdash; &nbsp;have lobbied the White House and Trump directly to support their bids. Trump has long had a hostile relationship with CNN and other major news organizations, branding them &quot;fake news&quot; and attacking them repeatedly on social media. His insistence that CNN end up in friendly hands appears to favor the Paramount bid &mdash; even though the Netflix deal would also involve selling off the news network to an as-yet-unknown buyer. Since David Ellison took over Paramount earlier this year, the company has named journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss is a prominent critic of what she calls bias in mainstream media, and the appointment won praise from conservatives who have long accused mainstream outlets of liberal bias. Days before Ellison took the reins of CBS, &quot;The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,&quot; a late-night staple and major Trump critic, was cancelled. But Trump railed against Paramount and Ellison on Monday, posting on Truth Social that &quot;THEY ARE NO BETTER THAN THE OLD OWNERSHIP&quot; for allowing an interview with Marjorie Taylor Greene, a political ally-turned-critic. Netflix, by contrast, is closely associated with Democrats, with founder Reed Hastings a major Democratic Party donor.

Americas

In a break from the norm, Trump has said he would be involved in the government's decision to approve the deal, instead of leaving the question solely to the Department of Justice, as is typically the case.



Trump demands CNN get new owners in Warner bidding war

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States (US) has approved the &ldquo;release and export&rdquo; of a $686 million support package to upgrade Pakistan&rsquo;s F-16 fighter aircraft, according to letters sent by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to Congress. The DSCA notification, issued under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, states that Congress must be informed in advance of certain proposed arms sales. The agency said the package is intended &ldquo;to retain interoperability with US and partner forces in ongoing counterterrorism efforts.&rdquo; The DSCA said the sale supports US foreign policy and national security objectives. It added that the upgrades would help Pakistan &ldquo;meet current and future threats by updating and refurbishing its fleet.&rdquo; The package includes major defense equipment valued at $37 million, notably 92 Link-16 systems and six Mk-82 inert 500-lb general-purpose bomb bodies, along with $649 million worth of non-major defense items. The updates are expected to &ldquo;provide more seamless integration and interoperability between the Pakistan Air Force and the US Air Force in combat operations, exercises, and training,&rdquo; the DSCA wrote. It further noted that the refurbishment would extend the aircrafts&rsquo; service life &ldquo;through 2040 while addressing critical flight safety concerns.&rdquo; The letters state that Pakistan has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining its military forces and &ldquo;will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.&rdquo; A final determination concluded that Pakistan can provide &ldquo;substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology&rdquo; as the United States.

Foreign Affairs

In a letter to Congress, Washington approves a $686 million package to upgrade Pakistan’s F-16s, saying updates “provide more seamless integration and interoperability” with US forces.

US okays $686 million Pakistan F-16 upgrade: Congress notification

WASHINGTON: The United States has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. &quot;We&#39;ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large &mdash; the largest one ever seized, actually,&quot; Trump said at the start of a roundtable with business leaders at the White House. &quot;And other things are happening, so you&#39;ll be seeing that later and you&#39;ll be talking about that later with some other people.&quot; Trump did not immediately give further details on the incident. His announcement came a day before Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was set to address the world from Oslo after coming out of hiding. Trump&#39;s administration has piled pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, deploying a fleet of warships and the world&#39;s largest aircraft under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. The United States has also carried out deadly strikes on more than 20 alleged drug boats in the region, killing at least 87 people. Washington has accused Maduro of leading the alleged &quot;Cartel of the Suns,&quot; which it declared a terrorist organization last month. Trump told Politico on Monday that Maduro&#39;s &quot;days are numbered&quot; and declined to rule out a US ground invasion against Venezuela. Maduro says the US is bent on regime change and wants to seize Venezuela&#39;s oil reserves. The Venezuelan army swore in 5,600 soldiers on Saturday after Maduro called for stepped-up military recruitment.

Announcement comes day before Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado set to address world from Oslo.

Trump says US seized 'very large' tanker near Venezuela

ISLAMABAD: American developer Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will offer a free trial, allowing players to experience multiplayer and Zombies modes ahead of the game&rsquo;s official release.&nbsp;The trial is scheduled to begin next week, according to a statement posted on the company&rsquo;s website. During this period, players can test the game&rsquo;s core features at no cost.&nbsp;Developers describe the new title as a spiritual successor to Black Ops 2, released in 2012, signaling a return to gameplay elements that strongly resonated with fans of the franchise.&nbsp;The announcement also marks a significant shift in Activision&rsquo;s release strategy. The company said it will no longer publish annual consecutive releases of Modern Warfare and Black Ops titles, breaking a pattern that has defined the franchise for years.&nbsp;&ldquo;This change allows our development teams more time to create distinct and memorable experiences rather than incremental updates,&rdquo; the company said. &ldquo;We will not rest until Black Ops 7 is recognized as one of the best entries in the series.&rdquo;&nbsp;Activision confirmed that substantial post-launch support is planned, with Season 01 scheduled to introduce additional content shortly after the game&rsquo;s release.&nbsp;The Call of Duty franchise remains one of the highest-grossing video game series globally, generating billions in revenue and maintaining a large international player base.

Video Game

Activision announces a free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, highlighting its return to Black Ops 2-style gameplay, a shift away from annual releases, and plans for substantial post-launch content and ongoing support.

 Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 offers free trial ahead of launch

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday said the country &ldquo;confronts and eliminates the enemy openly, not from the shadows,&rdquo; while addressing the National Scholars and Sufi Saints Conference in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). &ldquo;We do not strike from the shadows; we confront and eliminate the enemy openly,&rdquo; he said, stressing that terrorism &ldquo;is not Pakistan&rsquo;s problem but India&rsquo;s.&rdquo; &ldquo;In the battle of truth, we achieved victory with the help of Allah,&rdquo; the field marshal added. Highlighting the role of religious leaders, he said the Ulema must &ldquo;keep the nation united&rdquo; and help broaden the country&rsquo;s vision. He warned that nations distancing themselves from learning risk internal division, stating: &ldquo;Any nation that abandons knowledge and the pen becomes vulnerable to discord and corruption.&rdquo; &ldquo;Honor and strength are not gained through division, but through hard work and knowledge,&rdquo; he emphasized. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also addressed the conference, echoing the field marshal&rsquo;s call for unity. In remarks shared on his official Facebook page, the prime minister said the &ldquo;entire world was astonished&rdquo; by Pakistan&rsquo;s victory over India, adding that friendly states consider it &ldquo;their own victory&rdquo; and are honoring Pakistan. &ldquo;It is our collective responsibility to defend the army that has sacrificed its blood for the defense of Pakistan and inflicted a defeat on the eternal enemy, one it will remember until the end of time,&rdquo; he said. PM Sharif said Pakistan&rsquo;s progress depends on national cohesion and continued sacrifice. &ldquo;Our elders migrated for this country and made countless sacrifices. The entire nation must stand united on national matters,&rdquo; he said. Commenting on economic recovery, he noted that Pakistan&rsquo;s economy is &ldquo;rapidly moving toward growth&rdquo; and credited joint political&ndash;military efforts with preventing bankruptcy. Warning that development and terrorism cannot be fought simultaneously, he said, &ldquo;If this country is to progress, eliminating terrorism is absolutely essential.&rdquo;

Security

During the National Scholars and Sufi Saints Conference, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir says terrorism “is not Pakistan’s problem but India’s,” emphasizing unity, knowledge, and defeating threats for national progress

Pakistan confronts enemies openly, not from shadows: CDF Munir

ISLAMABAD: Scientists analyzing tiny galaxies have identified potential constraints on dark matter properties that could help resolve longstanding puzzles about the universe&#39;s most mysterious substance. According to a study published in Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics on Wednesday, researchers examined ultra-faint dwarf galaxies&mdash;systems with stellar masses well below 1 million solar masses. They found evidence suggesting dark matter particles may collide with each other far more frequently than previously thought. The study focused on stellar cores observed in six ultra-faint dwarfs. These cores appear to reflect underlying dark matter cores that cannot be formed through conventional stellar processes acting on standard cold dark matter halos. &quot;Ultra-faint dwarf galaxies provide a clean anchor point for constraining the velocity-dependent cross section at low velocities,&quot; said Jorge S&aacute;nchez Almeida, lead author and researcher at the Instituto de Astrof&iacute;sica de Canarias. The research examined self-interacting dark matter models, where dark matter particles undergo collisions beyond standard gravitational interactions. The analysis determined that cross sections ranging from approximately 0.3 to 200 square centimeters per gram could reproduce observed core sizes. These values align with estimates from more massive galaxies derived through gravitational lensing, galaxy cluster collisions and rotation curves. The findings carry significance because stellar feedback &mdash; energy from star formation &mdash; becomes negligible below roughly 1 million solar masses. Ultra-faint dwarfs fall well below this threshold, meaning their cores cannot result from conventional baryonic processes. &quot;Since stellar feedback is insufficient to form cores in these galaxies, ultra-faint dwarfs unbiasedly anchor the cross section at low velocities,&quot; the study states. The research constructed a model relating stellar mass to core radius. This model reproduced stellar core sizes in ultra-faint dwarfs and predicted increasing core radius with stellar mass, matching observations of more massive dwarf galaxies. Two scenarios could explain the observations. Dark matter halos might be forming cores with low cross sections, or approaching core collapse with high cross sections around 200 square centimeters per gram. If the core-collapse scenario holds, ultra-faint dwarf halos would be thermalized on kiloparsec scales &mdash; approximately two orders of magnitude larger than the stellar cores themselves. &quot;These large thermalization scales could potentially influence substructure formation in more massive systems,&quot; according to the paper. The study represents continued investigation into tensions between cold dark matter predictions and observational data in the faintest galaxies.

Artificial Intelligence

A new study suggests that dark matter particles may collide more frequently than previously thought, based on an examination of ultra-faint dwarf galaxies with stellar masses below 1 million solar masses.

Ultra-faint galaxies may be hiding unexpected clues to dark matter

WASHINGTON: The administration of US President Donald Trump plans to order visa-exempt foreign tourists to disclose their social media histories from the last five years before entering the country, according to an official notice.&nbsp;The proposal laid out in a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register would apply to visitors from 42 countries, including Britain, France, Australia and Japan, who do not need a visa to enter the United States.&nbsp;Currently, those travelers only need apply for a waiver known as the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), which still requires them to provide certain personal details.&nbsp;Under the proposed new rules, the collection of social media data would become a &quot;mandatory&quot; part of ESTA applications.&nbsp;Applicants would need to provide their social media histories from the last five years, according to the notice.&nbsp;They would also have to submit other &quot;high-value data fields&quot; including phone numbers from the last five years, email addresses from the past decade, personal details of family members and biometric information.&nbsp;The public has 60 days to comment on the proposal.&nbsp;The Trump administration has tightened curbs on entering the United States, part of a sweeping crackdown on migration.&nbsp;Along with Mexico and Canada, the country will host the 2026 World Cup, which is certain to attract large numbers of soccer fans from across the world.

The Trump administration proposed making social-media history, contact data, family details, and biometrics mandatory for visa-waiver travelers via ESTA, expanding entry restrictions. The rule, open for 60-day public comment, targets visitors from 42 countries ahead of major events.

US plans to order foreign tourists to disclose social media histories

Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will officially revive one of South Asia&rsquo;s most vibrant spring festivals next month, as the Punjab government lifts a ban of more than a decade on Basant, the centuries-old kite-flying celebration once halted after deadly incidents caused by razor-sharp kite strings.&nbsp;Punjab&rsquo;s Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb announced the decision on X, declaring: &ldquo;Spring returns to the city of heritage and festivals. Lahore&rsquo;s skies will speak in color again, reclaiming our glory for the world.&rdquo;&nbsp;She said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif &ldquo;has approved&rdquo; the return of Basant from February 6 to 8 in Lahore, the first officially sanctioned celebration since 2007. <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: 672px; 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=1998711272876159402&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=333af8a47caec9ae1a27b53b80cbf02f1fc98b03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div>The festival historically transformed Lahore into a citywide spectacle, with entire neighborhoods turning into open-air gatherings and thousands of participants flying brightly colored kites in rooftop competitions. At its peak in the early 2000s, Basant drew international tourists and Pakistani expatriates who traveled home specifically for the event.&nbsp;Aurangzeb noted the festival would be celebrated &ldquo;across Lahore after 25 years,&rdquo; emphasizing that although small-scale celebrations persisted despite the ban, authorities had long blocked any formal or citywide events.&nbsp;A major safety operation is already underway. Lahore has begun installing protective antennas on motorcycles to prevent injuries caused by stray kite strings.&nbsp;&ldquo;Safety is CM Punjab priority,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Let every kite soar and every ride be safe, together we&rsquo;ll make Lahore happy, historic and secure.&rdquo;&nbsp;Why Basant turned deadlyOver the years, competitive kite-flying pushed enthusiasts to coat their strings, known locally as &ldquo;dor,&rdquo; with ground glass, metal or chemicals to gain an advantage.&nbsp;These sharpened strings could slice through rivals&rsquo; kites but also caused widespread harm, cutting electrical lines, triggering blackouts and, most tragically, injuring or killing motorcyclists who collided with the nearly invisible strings.&nbsp;By 2007, authorities attributed dozens of deaths to Basant-related incidents, including falls from rooftops and motorcycle accidents. The Punjab government banned the festival that year, and any attempts at revival in subsequent years were halted following new casualties.&nbsp;The ban hit Lahore&rsquo;s traditional kite-making families particularly hard, forcing many artisans to abandon their craft.&nbsp;New law sets strict controlsBasant&rsquo;s revival follows the introduction of the Basant Ordinance 2025, which sets strict safety rules aimed at preventing the tragedies that once made the festival deadly.&nbsp;Metallic and chemical-coated strings remain banned; only approved cotton strings may be used. Manufacturers and sellers must register with authorities and label each product with a QR code for tracking. &ldquo;Every kite string and seller registered, QR coded and monitored,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said, stressing rigorous enforcement.&nbsp;Penalties for violations include fines of up to Rs100,000 ($353.7) and possible imprisonment of up to three years.&nbsp;Motorcycles are being equipped with vertical antennas designed to deflect or break dangerous strings. &ldquo;On CM Punjab&rsquo;s direction a city-wide campaign to install safety antennas on all motorbikes starts tomorrow,&rdquo; she said, adding: &ldquo;Every motorbike in Lahore will have Antenna for safety before and during Basant.&rdquo;&nbsp;Aurangzeb said the festival belongs to the people but requires collective responsibility. &ldquo;Basant belongs to the people, its success is our collective responsibility. The Basant Ordinance 2025 will be fully enforced and implemented.&rdquo;</div>

Culture

It will be the first officially sanctioned celebration since 2007, when the a centuries-old kite-flying festival was prohibited after metal-coated strings killed dozens of people.