BEIJING: An explosion on Saturday at a biotech factory in northern China has left at least seven people dead, Chinese state media reported. One person was missing after the explosion at the Jiapeng biotech company in Shanxi province, Xinhua news agency said early Sunday, citing local authorities. The company is located in Shanyin County, about 400 kilometers west of Beijing. Xinhua said search and rescue operations were continuing at the site. The explosion occurred early Saturday morning, and its cause was under investigation. In late January, an explosion at a steel factory in the neighboring province of Inner Mongolia left at least nine people dead.

In this file photo, taken on November 21, 2025, the local fire and rescue detachment is working to extinguish the fire in Anyang, Central China's Henan Province. (CCTV News/File)

China

The cause is under investigation, amid ongoing concerns over industrial accidents and safety standards. 

North China factory explosion kills 7: state media

NANO: At least 51 people have been kidnapped and three killed in attacks over the past three days in four different villages in Nigeria&#39;s northern Kaduna State, security forces said Saturday. The attacks were in the southern part of the state, which is majority Christian and where more than 180 people were seized in January during raids on churches. On Saturday, armed men abducted 11 people, including a priest, in the Kajuru Local Government Area, security sources told AFP. A nearby attack on Saturday left three people dead and 38 kidnapped, including a local imam and four members of his congregation. The day before, two people were kidnapped on the road to Maro, also in Kajuru. Assailants destroyed houses in Maro on Thursday, but the number of victims has not been released. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. A series of mass kidnappings in late 2025 drew attention to the alarming security situation in Africa&#39;s most populous country. In response, the Nigerian president declared a state of emergency and launched a recruitment drive for military and police personnel. The United States has criticized the West African country&#39;s failure to control the violence, US President Donald Trump denouncing what he said was the &quot;persecution&quot; of Christians -- a favorite rallying call of the American religious right. Most observers insist the killings and kidnappings committed by jihadist groups and criminal gangs have indiscriminately hit Christians and Muslims. Nigeria&#39;s kidnappings have become &quot;a structured and lucrative industry&quot; that generated some $1.7 million between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a report by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based consultancy.

Aftermath of a Boko Haram suicide bomb attack last year in Maiduguri, capital of shattered Borno State (AFP/File)

Africa

Dozens were seized and several killed in coordinated attacks on villages in northern Nigeria, amid ongoing violence and weak security.

At least 51 kidnapped, 3 killed in Nigeria attacks

Angelina Duaa Hashir

The phrase &ldquo;biological clock&rdquo; is often treated as a medical fact. In reality, it entered popular culture through a 1978 newspaper article during a period of major social change, as <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-formally-allows-women-to-ride-motorcycles" style="color:#0073e6;">women</a> began entering universities and workplaces in greater numbers. This episode examines what science actually says about fertility: age-related decline exists, but it varies widely between individuals and is difficult to measure precisely due to ethical and methodological limits in research. Much of the evidence comes from observational and clinical cohorts rather than broad representative populations. At the same time, global data shows the age of first-time <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/urdu-adaptation-of-the-mother-confronts-motherhood-loneliness-empty-nests" style="color:#0073e6;">motherhood</a> rising across many countries, with more women choosing delayed parenthood or remaining child-free. The episode separates biology from cultural messaging &mdash; and shows how one became simplified into a single ticking deadline.

Unladylike

The 'biological clock' is a cultural idea, not a fixed medical deadline; fertility decline varies widely, evidence is limited, and delayed or child-free motherhood is increasingly common worldwide.

The biological clock myth | Unladylike

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday to &quot;discuss with him the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-fm-looks-to-more-nuclear-talks-but-warns-us" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">negotiations with Iran</a>&quot;, the premier&#39;s office said.&nbsp;Netanyahu &quot;believes any negotiations must include limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the support for the Iranian axis&quot;, his office said in a statement on Saturday, referring to Iran&#39;s allies in the region.&nbsp;Iran and the US held <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-us-talks-with-iran-very-good-more-negotiations-expected" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">negotiations in Oman</a> on Friday, and Trump later said the talks would resume early next week.

Europe

Americas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss Iran talks, pushing missile limits and curbs on Tehran’s regional allies after US-Iran negotiations resume momentum this week

Netanyahu to discuss Iran talks with Trump in Washington Wednesday

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump&#39;s lead Iran negotiator Steve Witkoff on Saturday said he visited the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier currently in the Arabian Sea, with Washington and Tehran due to hold further talks soon.&nbsp;&quot;Today, Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, Jared Kushner, and I met with the brave sailors and Marines aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, her strike group, and Carrier Air Wing 9 who are keeping us safe and upholding President Trump&#39;s message of peace through strength,&quot; said Witkoff in a social media post.&nbsp;Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran&#39;s red lines and warning against any American attack.

Central Asia

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff visits USS Abraham Lincoln in Arabian Sea, projecting US military resolve as Washington and Tehran prepare further talks, with Iran signalling readiness to resume negotiations while warning against any American attack.

Top Trump Iran negotiator says visits US aircraft carrier in Middle East

DAMASCUS: Syria and Saudi Arabia signed deals Saturday that include a joint airline and a $1-billion project to develop telecommunications, officials said, as Syria seeks to rebuild after years of war. Saudi Arabia has been a major backer of Syria&#39;s Islamist authorities, who took power after toppling longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The new authorities in Damascus have worked to attract investment and have signed major agreements with several companies and governments, including Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. Syrian Investment Authority chief Talal al-Hilali announced a series of deals, including &quot;a low-cost Syrian-Saudi airline aimed at strengthening regional and international air links.&quot; The agreement also includes the development of a new international airport in the northern city of Aleppo with a capacity of 12 million passengers and the redevelopment of the existing facility, according to Governor Azzam al-Gharib. Hilali also announced an agreement for a project called SilkLink to develop Syria&#39;s &quot;telecommunications infrastructure and digital connectivity.&quot; Syrian Telecommunications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal told the signing ceremony that the project would be implemented &quot;with an investment of around $1 billion.&quot; For decades, Syria was unable to secure significant investments because of Assad-era sanctions. But the United States fully removed its remaining sanctions on Damascus late last year, paving the way for the full return of investments. &#39;Strategic partnership&#39;Syria and Saudi Arabia also inked an agreement on water desalination and development cooperation on Saturday. At the ceremony, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih announced the launch of an investment fund for &quot;major projects in Syria with the participation of the (Saudi) private sector.&quot;The deals are part of &quot;building a strategic partnership&quot; between the two countries, he said. An official at the Saudi Ministry of Investment told AFP that the investments announced on Saturday were &quot;a practical translation of the great interest and support that the Kingdom&#39;s leadership gives to Syria.&quot; Syria&#39;s Hilali said the agreements targeted &quot;vital sectors that impact people&#39;s lives and form essential pillars for rebuilding the Syrian economy&quot;. Syria has begun the mammoth task of trying to rebuild its shattered infrastructure and economy after over a decade of civil war. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack applauded the deals, saying, &quot;Strategic partnerships in aviation, infrastructure, and telecommunications will contribute meaningfully to Syria&#39;s reconstruction efforts.&quot; But Benjamin Feve, senior research analyst at Karam Shaar Advisory, was more cautious. &quot;In the short term, I&#39;d say that these deals matter far more as a political signal than as an economic game changer,&quot; he said. &quot;From a reconstruction perspective, these projects are not priorities, nor are they sufficient to rebuild the country.&quot; In July last year, Riyadh signed investment and partnership deals with Damascus valued at $6.4 billion to help rebuild the country&#39;s infrastructure, telecommunications, and other major sectors. A month later, Syria signed agreements worth more than $14 billion, including investments in Damascus airport and other transport and real estate projects. This week, Syria signed a preliminary deal with US energy giant Chevron and Qatari firm Power International to explore for oil and gas offshore.&nbsp;

Middle East

Syria and Saudi Arabia signed deals Saturday that include a joint airline and a $1-billion project to develop telecommunications, officials said, as Syria seeks to rebuild after years of war

Syria, Saudis sign joint airline and telecoms deals

PARIS: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday he hoped talks with the United States would resume soon, while reiterating Tehran&#39;s red lines and warning against any American attack.&nbsp;According to excerpts published on his official Telegram channel during an interview with the Al Jazeera network, Araghchi said that Iran&#39;s missile programme was &quot;never negotiable&quot; in Friday&#39;s talks in Oman.&nbsp;He warned that Tehran would target US bases in the region if the US attacked Iranian territory.&nbsp;However, Araghchi also said that despite the talks in Muscat being indirect, &quot;an opportunity arose to shake hands with the American delegation&quot;.&nbsp;He called the talks &quot;a good start&quot;, but added that building trust would take time. He said the talks would resume &quot;soon&quot;.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump on Friday called the talks &quot;very good&quot;, and pledged another round of negotiations next week.&nbsp;Despite this, he signed an executive order effective from Saturday that called for the &quot;imposition of tariffs&quot; on countries still doing business with Iran.&nbsp;The United States also announced new sanctions against numerous shipping entities and vessels, aimed at curbing Iran&#39;s oil exports.&nbsp;More than a quarter of Iran&#39;s trade is with China, with $18 billion in imports and $14.5 billion in exports in 2024, according to World Trade Organization data.&nbsp;Araghchi told Al Jazeera that nuclear enrichment was Iran&#39;s &quot;inalienable right and must continue&quot;.&nbsp;&#39;Defence issue&#39;&nbsp;&quot;We are ready to reach a reassuring agreement on enrichment,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;The Iranian nuclear case will only be resolved through negotiations.&quot;&nbsp;He also said Iran&#39;s missile programme was &quot;never negotiable&quot; because it relates to a &quot;defence issue&quot;.&nbsp;Washington has sought to address Iran&#39;s ballistic missile programme and its support for militant groups in the region -- issues which Israel has pushed to include in the talks, according to media reports.&nbsp;Tehran has repeatedly rejected expanding the scope of the negotiations beyond the nuclear issue.&nbsp;Friday&#39;s unprecedented talks between the two arch enemies came amid a major US military buildup in the region in the wake of Iran&#39;s crackdown on protests that began in late December, driven by economic grievances.&nbsp;Araghchi warned that Iran &quot;will attack their (US) bases in the region&quot; if Washington targets Iranian territory.&nbsp;The negotiations were the first since nuclear talks between Iran and the United States collapsed last year following Israel&#39;s unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, which triggered a 12-day war.&nbsp;During the war US warplanes bombed Iranian nuclear sites.&nbsp;Araghchi&nbsp;told Al Jazeera that if attacked again, &quot;we will attack their bases in the region&quot;, referring to the United States.&nbsp;The authorities in Iran have acknowledged that 3,117 people were killed in the recent protests, publishing on Sunday a list of 2,986 names, most of whom they say were members of the security forces and innocent bystanders.&nbsp;International organisations have put the toll far higher.&nbsp;Protests toll&nbsp;The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), which has kept a running toll since the onset of the protests, says it has verified 6,872 deaths, mainly of protesters, and has another 11,280 cases under investigation. It has also counted more than 50,000 arrests.&nbsp;At Friday&#39;s talks in Oman the US delegation was led by Trump&#39;s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and his influential son-in-law Jared Kushner.&nbsp;&quot;In a very positive atmosphere, our arguments were exchanged and the views of the other side were shared with us,&quot; Araghchi told Iranian state TV after the talks, adding that the two sides had &quot;agreed to continue negotiations&quot;.&nbsp;Speaking to the official IRNA news agency, Araghchi expressed hope that Washington would refrain from &quot;threats and pressure&quot; so that &quot;the talks can continue&quot;.&nbsp;On Saturday, Araghchi&nbsp;criticised what he labelled a &quot;doctrine of domination&quot; that allows Israel to expand its military arsenal while pressuring other states in the region to disarm.&nbsp;He was speaking at the Al Jazeera Forum conference in Qatar, but in his speech made no reference to Friday&#39;s talks in Oman with the United States.

Asia

Iran’s foreign minister signals talks with Washington may soon resume, calling negotiations a start, but restates red lines on missiles and enrichment, warns of strikes on US bases, as Trump praises talks while imposing sanctions.

Iran FM looks to more nuclear talks, but warns US

SEOUL: A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange apologised on Saturday after mistakenly transferring more than $40 billion worth of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bitcoin-under-70000-for-first-time-since-trumps-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">bitcoin</a>&nbsp;to users, which briefly prompted a selloff on the platform.&nbsp;Bithumb said it accidentally sent 620,000 bitcoins, currently worth more than $40 billion, and blocked trading and withdrawals for the 695 affected users within 35 minutes after the error occurred on Friday.&nbsp;According to local reports, Bithumb was meant to send about 2,000 won ($1.37) to each customer as part of a promotion, but mistakenly transferred roughly 2,000 bitcoins per user.&nbsp;&quot;We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers due to the confusion that occurred during the distribution process of this (promotional) event,&quot; Bithumb said in a statement.&nbsp;The platform said it had recovered 99.7 percent of the mistakenly sent bitcoins, and that it would use its own assets to fully cover the amount that was lost in the incident.&nbsp;It admitted the error briefly caused &quot;sharp volatility&quot; in bitcoin prices on the platform as some recipients sold the tokens, adding that it brought the situation under control within five minutes.&nbsp;Its charts showed the token&#39;s prices briefly went down 17 percent to 81.1 million won on the platform late Friday.&nbsp;In a separate statement released later on Saturday, Bithumb said some trades were executed at unfavourable prices for users due to a price drop during the incident Friday, including &quot;panic selling&quot;.&nbsp;The platform said it would compensate affected customers, covering the full price difference as well as a 10-percent bonus.&nbsp;It estimated losses at about 1 billion won.&nbsp;The platform earlier stressed that the incident was &quot;unrelated to external hacking or security breaches&quot;.&nbsp;Bitcoin, the world&#39;s biggest cryptocurrency, sank this week, wiping out gains sparked by US President Donald Trump&#39;s presidential election victory in November 2024.

Business

Crypto

South Korea’s Bithumb apologised after accidentally transferring $40 billion in bitcoin to users during a promotion, triggering brief panic selling and price volatility before trading was halted, funds largely recovered, and compensation promised to customers.

Crypto firm accidentally sends $40 B in bitcoin to users

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani astronaut candidates have been shortlisted for Pakistan&rsquo;s Human Spaceflight Programme after completing the secondary phase of selection, which included comprehensive medical, psychological and aptitude assessments at China&rsquo;s Astronauts Centre (ACC), the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.&nbsp;An ISPR press release stated: &ldquo;Pakistan Space &amp; Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-launches-first-homegrown-hyperspectral-satellite-prschs1-from-china" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">SUPARCO</a>) has achieved yet another significant milestone in Pakistan&rsquo;s Human Spaceflight Programme with the successful completion of the secondary phase of astronaut candidates&rsquo; selection.&rdquo; &ldquo;Following an initial screening process in Pakistan, two candidates have been shortlisted after undergoing comprehensive medical, psychological and aptitude assessments conducted at the Astronauts Centre of China (ACC), in accordance with international human spaceflight standards.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A6T4QW-80Mo" title="SUPARCO Reaches Major Milestone in Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme.| ISPR" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>The statement said, &ldquo;The shortlisted candidates will undertake advanced astronaut training for six months at ACC.&rdquo; &lsquo;Astronaut Cooperation Agreement&rsquo;&ldquo;Upon completion of training, one candidate will be selected for a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS) in October / November 2026,&rdquo; it added. This cooperation is anchored on the bilateral &ldquo;Astronaut Cooperation Agreement&rdquo;, signed in February 2025, under the leadership of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, whose vision and support were instrumental in enabling Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in human spaceflight, the statement said. The press release said, &ldquo;This landmark initiative also reflects the strong support of the Government of the People&rsquo;s Republic of China, which selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Security

ISPR says ‘Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has achieved yet another significant milestone in Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme with the successful completion of the secondary phase of astronaut candidates’ selection.’ 

Two Pakistani candidates shortlisted to train for Chinese space station mission

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said India has significantly expanded funding for terrorist groups operating against Pakistan, stating that New Delhi is relying on proxy warfare as it &ldquo;cannot fight a conventional war&rdquo; with Pakistan.&nbsp;Speaking to media, Naqvi said militant operatives who were previously paid around $500 are now receiving up to $1,500, reflecting what he described as a threefold increase in funding.&nbsp;He said India is channeling these resources to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism rather than engaging in direct military confrontation.&nbsp;On Friday, city officials said the attacker attempted to enter the Imambargah Qasr-e-Khadijatul Kubra mosque in Tarlai area on the outskirts of Islamabad but was stopped at the main gate, where the explosion occurred as worshippers gathered for Friday prayers. At least 32 people were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-condemns-mosque-blast-orders-probe" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">martyred</a>&nbsp;and 179 others injured.&nbsp;&ldquo;India avoids direct confrontation and instead wages indirect warfare through terrorism,&rdquo; the interior minister said, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces are actively dismantling these networks.&nbsp;Naqvi confirmed that several facilitators involved in recent terrorist incidents have been arrested.&nbsp;He said facilitators linked to the Islamabad suicide bombing were apprehended during operations in the northwestern cities of Nowshera and Peshawar.&nbsp;The interior minister further disclosed that the main mastermind of the attack, an Afghan national associated with Daesh, has also been arrested and is currently in custody.&nbsp;According to preliminary investigations, the attackers received training from Daesh elements operating in Afghanistan, he said.&nbsp;Naqvi added that during overnight operations, a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police assistant sub-inspector embraced martyrdom, while three other security personnel were injured.&nbsp;Describing the security situation, the minister said Pakistan is facing a &ldquo;state of war against terrorism&rdquo; and stressed the importance of community cooperation.&nbsp;He urged citizens to report suspicious individuals and unfamiliar visitors in their neighborhoods to law enforcement agencies.&nbsp;Training from AfghanistanEarlier, Pakistan Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said individuals involved in the recent suicide bombing had travelled to Afghanistan for training, reiterating that the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan would not be tolerated.&nbsp;Addressing a media briefing at Idara Minhajul Hussain, Tarrar said terrorists have &ldquo;no religion, faith, color, or race,&rdquo; adding that their sole ideology is to &ldquo;spread terror.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;On behalf of the State of Pakistan and the prime minister, I fully assure the public that the government is taking, and will continue to take, full measures for the protection of mosques, Imambargahs, and all religious centers,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tarrar said &ldquo;significant progress&rdquo; has been made in identifying the facilitators of the attacker involved in the Islamabad bombing.&nbsp;Condemning the attack, he said, &ldquo;It is unacceptable that on the blessed day of Friday, inside an Imambargah during prayers, when Allah is being remembered and people are worshipping, Muslims are targeted in this manner.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;I say this with full conviction: there will be no leniency towards extremism and terrorism. We will properly rein them in, pursue them, and hunt them down,&rdquo; he said, adding that the state considers such elements as Kharijites (terrorists) and is fully resolved to eliminate them for the welfare of Pakistan.&nbsp;Commenting on the evolving tactics of militant groups, Tarrar said terrorists have &ldquo;lost the capacity&rdquo; to attack hardened targets and are now targeting suburban and remote areas.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is a sign of their weakness,&rdquo; he said, adding that security forces have largely traced facilitators and handlers.&nbsp;He also said approximately 170 injured individuals are currently under treatment in hospitals, with efforts underway to provide the best possible medical care.&nbsp;Progress in investigationEarlier, according to the sources, intelligence and law enforcement agencies conducted raids in Peshawar and Nowshera based on technical and human intelligence.&nbsp;The sources said four facilitators of the suicide attacker, along with the Afghan mastermind, have been arrested.&nbsp;They added that the planning, training, and indoctrination for the attack were carried out in Afghanistan, warning that under the patronage of the Afghan Taliban, ISIS and other terrorist groups pose a serious threat to regional and global peace.&nbsp;Further intelligence-based operations are ongoing, they said.&nbsp;State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudry said the attacker had been identified and claimed the blast was sponsored by &ldquo;Indian- and Afghanistan-based terrorist groups.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the bomber had travelled to Afghanistan prior to the attack.&nbsp;&ldquo;These terrorists operate in two forms: those who misuse religion and others like the BLA who weaponize ethnicity. Both are funded in dollars, not ideology,&rdquo; Chaudry said.&nbsp;Rejecting any religious justification for the attack, he added, &ldquo;How can anyone use the name of religion to kill people standing before Allah? No Muslim can do this.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Authorities arrest facilitators and an Afghan Daesh mastermind after the Islamabad suicide bombing at a mosque, where worshippers were killed during Friday prayers

North China factory explosion kills 7: state media

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