BARCELONA: Barcelona secured its 29th Spanish league title after beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico on Sunday. Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres struck in the first half to help Hansi Flick&#39;s side clinch La Liga in consecutive years, while consigning Madrid to a trophyless season.

Football

Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres struck in the first half to help Hansi Flick's side clinch La Liga in consecutive years, while consigning Madrid to a trophyless season.

Barcelona win La Liga after beating Real Madrid in Clasico

Maham Khan

ISLAMABAD: On a warm Sunday in May, Sumaira loaded her arms with cherries, a dress and a changair &ndash; a decorative basket woven from reeds &ndash; and brought them to her mother. It was not a grand gesture, she said. But her mother smiled. Across Pakistan this Mother&#39;s Day, similar scenes played out in living rooms and on WhatsApp video calls, in households where the holiday is embraced warmly and others where it barely registers. The day has taken a quiet hold in urban Pakistan over the last decade. Not uniformly, not without dissent, but undeniably. Pakistan TV Digital reached out to people across the country to find out how they marked the occasion. In Rawalpindi, Arhama kept it simple. A cheeseboard, she said, because that is what her mother likes. The specificity of the choice mattered. It was not picked from a promotional display or a sponsored post. It was chosen because someone paid attention, and had been paying attention for years. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/a3b56717-d920-4f2b-912b-e3691c37ce22-2197cfcd-b157-4cb8-b0dd-c2cdc8602cef.jfif" alt="2197cfcd-b157-4cb8-b0dd-c2cdc8602cef.jfif" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Cheeseboard assembled for a Mother&#39;s Day celebration in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, May 10, 2026.</figcaption></figure> That kind of quiet knowing is what the day, at its best, seems to surface. Not the roses sold for Rs300 or more outside every major shopping plaza, but the accumulated knowledge of a child who has watched their mother long enough to know exactly what she enjoys. For some, the day was measured in distance. Umair, based in Peshawar, spent Mother&#39;s Day at the office. There was no way to get home in time. He arranged flowers and a cake online and had them sent to his family. Later, they sent back a video. His mother was leaning over the cake, cutting through it. She looked happy. He had not been there to see it in person. It is a situation familiar to millions. Pakistan is a country where young men &ndash; and now even women &ndash; routinely relocate for work, sometimes to other cities, sometimes abroad, and the distance quietly reshapes how families observe these days. The phone screen becomes the table they gather around. The video call becomes the room. The holiday itself is relatively new to Pakistan in its current form. Social media accelerated its spread through the 2010s and the markets followed. Restaurants offered Mother&#39;s Day brunches. Florists doubled their prices. For some families, particularly in larger cities, it became a fixture. For others, it remained foreign territory. In Karachi, Areeba falls firmly in the second camp. No one in her family observes the day. Not Mother&#39;s Day, not birthdays, not any of it. She is direct about why. It is commercialized, she said, and the point is lost on her. Her position is not that mothers do not deserve recognition, it is the opposite. She believes they deserve it every day, not because a market calendar has designated the second Sunday of May for the purpose. Her skepticism is neither new nor uniquely Pakistani. But it carries a particular weight here. Reverence for mothers is embedded in this society at a level that goes beyond sentiment. It is present in religious teaching, in poetry, in the way major decisions are still deferred to a mother&#39;s judgment. The word maa is among the first a child learns. The argument that every day is already Mother&#39;s Day is not deflection. For many people, it is genuinely how they live. Still, for those who do observe it, the holiday offers something the everyday does not. An occasion, a nudge, a shared moment that might otherwise be quietly postponed. A cheeseboard. A changair. A cake cut on a phone screen 400 kilometers from where a son sat watching. The mothers, by most accounts, were touched.

A Pakistani woman carries her son as she walk on a street in Islamabad on May 13, 2012, on Mother's Day. (AFP)

Culture

Across cities, families found small, tender ways to honor the occasion. Not everyone was convinced they should have to though.

From Rawalpindi to Karachi, Pakistan marks Mother's Day –  with cake, cherries, and a few skeptics

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&#39;s Taliban authorities detained at least three journalists in a single week, including two reporters from the country&#39;s largest broadcaster, in what global rights groups call the systematic destruction of independent media. TOLOnews confirmed Sunday that reporters Mansoor Niazi and Imran Danish have been held since Thursday without explanation. Sources told Amu TV, an Afghan media outlet, that Niazi was seized in western Kabul. His whereabouts remain unknown. A third journalist, Ahmad Jawed Niazi, the director of Paigard News Agency, was also arrested at his Kabul office this week, according to the Afghanistan Media Support Organization, an exiled press advocacy group. Relatives of all three say they have received no information about their conditions or legal status. The detentions are not isolated. At least seven journalists are currently held in Taliban custody, according to media rights organizations. Between August 2021 and September 2024, the United Nations documented 256 arbitrary arrests of media workers and 130 verified cases of torture, used, the UN said, to suppress reporting and extract confessions. The Afghan Taliban, which retook power in August 2021 after two decades of a Western-backed government, has been accused by several rights group, including the Human Rights Watch (HRW), of governing media through a tightening web of rulings and intelligence-led enforcement. A 2024 law bans broadcasting images of humans and animals, forcing some TV stations to air audio only. Political programs must be pre-recorded and submitted for government approval before broadcast. Journalists who violate vague &quot;religious values&quot; guidelines risk detention by the Taliban&#39;s intelligence agency, which operates without judicial oversight, according to Reporters Without Borders. The toll on the profession has been severe. More than half of Afghanistan&#39;s media outlets (roughly 231 stations) have permanently closed since the Taliban takeover, according to RSF. Approximately 60% of the country&#39;s journalists have either fled or left the field entirely. Around 80% of female media workers have been forced out altogether, barred in many provinces from interviewing men, attending press conferences, or even having their voices broadcast on radio. Reporters Without Borders ranked Afghanistan 175th out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett said in May 2026 that &quot;fear and self-censorship have paralyzed the flow of information&quot; across the country.

A member of the Taliban special forces pushes a journalist (L) covering a demonstration by women protestors outside a school in Kabul on September 30, 2021. (AFP)

Afghanistan

Taliban authorities detain three journalists in Kabul in a single week as rights groups warn of escalating repression, arbitrary arrests and sweeping restrictions that continue to dismantle Afghanistan’s independent media.

Taliban detain journalists as press freedom crumbles in Afghanistan

LOS ANGELES: &quot;The Devil Wears Prada 2&quot; withstood a strong challenge from &quot;Mortal Kombat II&quot; to remain atop the North American box office for a second week running, industry estimates showed Sunday. The hotly anticipated sequel to the 2006 smash hit about the cutthroat world of high fashion &ndash; starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci &ndash; earned $43 million in US and Canadian theaters, Exhibitor Relations reported. That puts the worldwide total for the Disney/20th Century film at a whopping $433 million. Streep won a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in her initial turn as the imperious magazine editor Miranda Priestly &ndash; who is not so subtly based on longtime Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. &quot;Mortal Kombat II,&quot; a Warner Bros sequel based on the popular martial arts fantasy video game, debuted in second place at $40 million. &quot;This is an excellent opening for the second episode in an action thriller series,&quot; said analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. &quot;The weekend figure is well above average for the genre, and it&#39;s close to double the start of the previous film, although that movie opened during the pandemic.&quot; &quot;Michael,&quot; the biopic about late music superstar Michael Jackson, dropped to third place but still took in $36.5 million. The Lionsgate movie &ndash; which chronicles the legendary artist&#39;s rise from child star to one of the world&#39;s most famous pop icons, but does not include any material about allegations of sexual abuse &ndash; has taken in over $575 million at the global box office. Jaafar Jackson, the singer&#39;s nephew, stars as his uncle, in his first acting role. &quot;The Sheep Detectives,&quot; a family-friendly mystery film from Amazon MGM, debuted in fourth place at $15.9 million. The film stars Hugh Jackman as a shepherd who reads mysteries to his flock in an English village. When he is found dead, the sheep (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Patrick Stewart, among others) band together to solve the crime. &quot;This is a solid opening for a live-action/animation hybrid,&quot; said Gross. In fifth place was another debut, James Cameron&#39;s concert documentary &quot;Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D&quot; at $7.5 million. The Paramount film follows the Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer at her shows in Manchester. Rounding out the top 10 were &ldquo;The Super Mario Galaxy Movie&rdquo; with $6.6 million, &ldquo;Project Hail Mary&rdquo; with $6.1 million, &ldquo;Hokum&rdquo; with $3.3 million, &ldquo;Deep Water&rdquo; with $779,000 and &ldquo;Animal Farm&rdquo; with $664,000.

People walk below an electronic billboard advertising the movie "The Devil Wears Prada 2" at a shopping mall in Beijing on May 2, 2026, on the second day of a five-day national May Day holiday. (AFP)

Entertainment

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” stays atop the North American box office for a second week, beating new release “Mortal Kombat II” and pushing its global earnings past $433 million.

'Devil Wears Prada 2' holds strong at North America box office

BEIJING: Senior Chinese and US officials will hold talks in South Korea in the coming days, Beijing&#39;s commerce ministry and Washington&#39;s treasury secretary said Sunday, ahead of an expected summit between leaders Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The Chinese commerce ministry said in a statement that Vice Premier He Lifeng, Beijing&#39;s top economic official, will attend &quot;consultations on mutual economic and trade issues&quot; in South Korea on Tuesday and Wednesday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a post on X: &quot;On Wednesday, I will stop in Seoul for a discussion with Vice Premier He Lifeng of China, before continuing on to Beijing for the Leaders&#39; Summit between President Trump and President Xi.&quot; Trump is set to visit China for a high-stakes summit with Xi, with the leaders of the world&#39;s top two economies expected to focus on easing tensions over trade and Taiwan, with the war in the Middle East looming in the background. While Washington and Beijing slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on each other&#39;s exports a year ago, Trump and Xi agreed on a year-long trade truce at their October meeting in South Korea. He and Bessent have been the chief negotiators for China and the United States on all trade and economic issues. The talks are likely to put the finishing touches on any announcements to be made during the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trumpxi-summit-to-focus-on-iran-tariffs-and-rare-earths" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump-Xi summit</a>. Bessent said he would have prior talks in Tokyo on Tuesday with Japanese Prime Minister <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/japan-pm-says-oil-crisis-has-enormous-impact-in-asiapacific" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sanae Takaichi</a> and Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama, along with other public and private sector representatives. &quot;Economic security is national security, and I look forward to a productive series of engagements as we work to advance President Trump&#39;s America First Economic Agenda,&quot; Bessent said.

US President Donald Trump (L) and China's President Xi Jinping greet each other as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, located next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan on October 30, 2025. (AFP)

Business

Senior Chinese and US officials will hold trade talks in South Korea ahead of an expected summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

China, US to hold trade talks in Seoul ahead of Trump-Xi summit

DHAKA: Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed five wickets to give Bangladesh a slender lead after Pakistan debutant Azan Awais hit 103 on a rain-hit third day of the first Test on Sunday. Pakistan made 386 all out in response to Bangladesh&#39;s first innings total of 413 in Dhaka. Bangladesh closed the day on 7-0 in their second innings to increase their lead to 34 runs, after bad light ended play with Mahmudul Hasan Joy unbeaten on two and Shadman Islam yet to score. The left-handed Azan, who resumed on 85, completed his hundred off 153 balls to become the 14th Pakistani and sixth player overall to score a century on debut against Bangladesh. He became pace bowler Taskin Ahmed&#39;s 50th Test wicket after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto caught the opener at slip. &quot;It&#39;s a very blessed feeling for me because I know it&#39;s my debut match and I performed really well for my country,&quot; a visibly moved Azan said. &quot;When I was going in to bat I was a little nervous, but I performed very well for my team.&quot; Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals but kept coming back as Abdullah Fazal, another debutant, scored 60, Salman Agha made 58 and Mohammad Rizwan chipped in with 59. Rizwan and Agha made 119 for the sixth wicket, one of three century partnerships for the visitors, before rain wiped out a large portion of the afternoon session. The pitch offered more assistance to the spinners when play resumed and Mehidy exploited the conditions to perfection, with Pakistan bowled out in 100.3 overs. Mehidy, who bowled 38 overs of his off-spin, was rewarded for his patience. &quot;On a true wicket like this, as a spinner my mindset is that I will not get help from the pitch in the first three days,&quot; Miraz said. &quot;If I bowl in good areas and the batter makes a mistake, then I have a chance of taking wickets. My job was to make sure I did not concede runs from one end.&quot; &quot;In the second innings I will come as an attacking bowler when the ball is turning,&quot; he said.

Pakistan's Azan Awais watches the ball after playing a shot during the third day of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on May 10, 2026. (AFP)

Cricket

Bangladesh holds a narrow lead against Pakistan after Mehidy Hasan Miraz takes five wickets and debutant Azan Awais scores a century on the third day of the first Test in Dhaka.

Bangladesh-Pakistan Test evenly poised after Mehidy takes 5 wickets

VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned a new wave of attacks in Africa&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/mali-junta-defense-minister-killed-in-attack-near-bamako-family" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sahel region</a>, particularly in Mali and Chad, after dozens of people were killed by militantgroups. &quot;I have learned with concern of the reports of increasing violence in the Sahel region, particularly in Chad and Mali, which have been hit by recent terrorist attacks,&quot; said Pope Leo following his Regina Coeli prayer in St Peter&#39;s Square. &quot;I offer my prayers for the victims and express my solidarity with all those who are suffering. I hope that all forms of violence will cease, and I encourage every effort toward peace and development in that beloved land.&quot; On Saturday, security sources said dozens of people in central Mali had been killed the day before by an Al-Qaeda-linked group that had already killed at least 30 people in attacks on villages earlier on Wednesday. In Chad, Boko Haram killed at least 26 army personnel last week, prompting the government on Thursday to declare a 20-day state of emergency in the Lady Chad region.

This photo taken and handout on May 10, 2026 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Leo XIV during Regina Caeli prayer in The Vatican. (AFP)

Africa

Pope Leo XIV condemns militant attacks in Mali and Chad and offers prayers for victims amid rising violence across Africa’s Sahel region.

Pope condemns fresh violence in Sahel after dozens killed

TEHRAN: The president of the Iranian Football Federation said late Saturday that if Iran dropped out of the World Cup, it would deprive the country of a &quot;major diplomatic asset.&quot; Mehdi Taj was speaking after the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) said on Saturday that Iran would take part in the men&#39;s football showpiece this summer despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-11" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Middle East War</a>, but demanded that joint hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada agree to its conditions. &quot;If we do not participate in the World Cup, we will lose a major diplomatic asset,&quot; Taj said in an interview broadcast late Saturday on state television. Iran&#39;s participation in the tournament has been surrounded by uncertainty since the outbreak of war in February, following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/state-funeral-for-ayatollah-khamenei-to-begin-wednesday-evening" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">strikes</a>&nbsp;carried out by the United States and Israel against the Middle Eastern country. But on Saturday, the FFIRI said on its official website: &quot;We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account. &quot;We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.&quot; Taj has set&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-says-will-play-in-world-cup-demands-hosts-accept-conditions" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">10 conditions</a>&nbsp;for attending the global spectacle, seeking assurances over the country&#39;s treatment. The conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team&#39;s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for elevated security at airports, hotels and routes to the stadiums where they will play. World football&#39;s governing body FIFA has insisted for weeks that Iran will take part. Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

Iran's flag is displayed on a screen during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico, at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. (AFP)

Iran says it will participate in the 2026 World Cup despite the on-going Middle East War, while seeking guarantees, visa access and respect for its flag, anthem and staff from United States, Mexico and Canada

Iran at the World Cup a 'major diplomatic asset': Football chief

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday held a telephone conversation with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss the evolving regional situation and ongoing peace efforts, his office said. According to an official statement, the two leaders exchanged views on regional developments and reviewed progress on diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting peace and stability.<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=2053398693097959673&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=d6116d9309baac9c01f3daee022d51a0e945b079&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Prime Minister Shehbaz appreciated Qatar&rsquo;s continued support for Pakistan&rsquo;s peace initiatives and reaffirmed the close brotherly ties between the two countries. Both sides stressed the importance of constructive engagement by all parties to ensure the success of ongoing peace efforts in the region, the statement said. During the conversation, the prime minister conveyed his regards to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and said he was looking forward to the Amir&rsquo;s upcoming visit to Pakistan. The statement added that the visit would help further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation and the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Qatar.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani at Dewan-e-Ameeri in Doha, Qatar on Aug 24, 2022. (File photo: PID)

Foreign Affairs

Both sides stress the importance of constructive engagement by all parties to ensure the success of ongoing peace efforts in the region, the statement said.

Pakistani PM, Qatar counterpart discuss regional situation, peace efforts

CHENNAI: Indian film star C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu state on Sunday after his new party brokered a coalition in the southern industrial hub. The swearing-in ceremony followed days of high drama in the state capital Chennai, where Vijay&#39;s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party initially struggled to secure support from smaller parties after state elections. Vijay&#39;s TVK, founded only two years ago, emerged as the single largest party after the vote with 108 seats in Tamil Nadu&#39;s 234-member legislative assembly, short of a simple majority. However, it won support from other parties, including the opposition Congress, bringing its seat count to 120 and making it possible for Vijay to claim the top job. Thousands of supporters gathered at Chennai&#39;s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday, chanting &quot;Mudhalvar&quot; (Tamil for &quot;chief minister&quot;) to watch Vijay take his oath of office. &quot;I am not from a royal political background, just a common man,&quot; the 51-year-old told the crowd. &quot;My primary focus will be on basic issues such as education, ration supplies, healthcare, drinking water, roads and bus facilities,&quot; he said. Vijay&#39;s first set of policies included measures to ease electricity prices and improve women&#39;s safety. Voice for the common manVijay, born to a Christian father and a Hindu mother, began his career as a child actor in 1984 in a film directed by his father, a filmmaker. Known for his charismatic screen presence and mass appeal, his fans dubbed him &quot;Thalapathy&quot;, or &quot;leader&quot; in Tamil. His blockbuster hits blended action, social messaging and populist themes, burnishing his reputation as a voice for the common man. He cultivated his public image over the years by taking on roles that touched on subjects ranging from farmers&#39; issues to electoral manipulation. He launched the TVK in 2024 with a promise to end corruption and strengthen social justice. Tamil Nadu is one of India&#39;s most significant economic engines, with its industrial sector producing everything from automobiles to electronics.&nbsp; The state is also India&#39;s smartphone manufacturing hub, including for Apple iPhones. People&#39;s demand for new political leaderThe TVK&#39;s campaign sought to end the dominance of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, traditional parties that had ruled the state since the late 1960s. Analysts said Vijay&#39;s large fan base, combined with young people&#39;s demand for a new political leader, was behind his stunning election performance. Vijay, a political novice, now faces the challenge of turning that popularity into policy. His campaign rallies drew thousands of fans, but were also marred by allegations of crowd mismanagement.&nbsp; A stampede at a rally in September killed at least 40 people.&nbsp;However, it did little to dent his popularity. &quot;When you have a cult, you don&#39;t question at all,&quot; political commentator Sumanth Raman told AFP after the election results were published.

India

'I am not from a royal political background, just a common man,' the 51-year-old Vijay told his supporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

Barcelona win La Liga after beating Real Madrid in Clasico

Latest News

Barcelona win La Liga after beating Real Madrid in Clasico

From Rawalpindi to Karachi, Pakistan marks Mother's Day – with cake, cherries, and a few skeptics

Taliban detain journalists as press freedom crumbles in Afghanistan

'Devil Wears Prada 2' holds strong at North America box office

China, US to hold trade talks in Seoul ahead of Trump-Xi summit