Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari arrived Thursday in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, the foreign office said, kicking off a 10-day official visit aimed at strengthening economic and trade relations between Pakistan and China. Zardari was welcomed at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Sichuan Vice Governor Huang Rishia. Pakistan Ambassador to China Khalid Hashmi and his Chinese counterpart, Jiang Zaidong, were also present to receive him. The trip, which runs from September 12 to September 21, comes just days after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif concluded a separate visit to China, where Islamabad signed investment deals and joint ventures worth $8.5 billion. According to Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office, Zardari&rsquo;s itinerary includes visits to Chengdu, Shanghai, and the Xinjiang Uygur, where he will meet with top Chinese officials and provincial leaders. Talks will focus on bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and future connectivity projects. China is Pakistan&rsquo;s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $25 billion in recent years. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistani infrastructure, energy, transport, and telecom sectors, primarily through the CPEC initiative. The visit is also expected to reinforce the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, a longstanding alliance centered on economic collaboration, regional security, and shared geopolitical interests. &ldquo;The visit will reaffirm both countries&rsquo; support for each other&rsquo;s core interests and highlight their commitment to regional peace and stability,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said in a statement. Zardari&rsquo;s meetings are aimed at deepening cooperation across a range of sectors and showcasing Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to its strategic partnership with China at a time of growing economic and diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zarari (2R) arrives at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

Foreign Affairs

President Asif Ali Zardari began a 10-day visit to China to strengthen economic and trade ties, with meetings in Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xinjiang. Talks will focus on CPEC, investment, and regional cooperation, reinforcing the Pakistan-China strategic partnership.

Pakistan president in China for 10-Day visit to boost economic, trade ties

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: In the narrow, bustling lanes of Mirpur area of Bangladeshi capital, the hum of handlooms is constant. A quiet, rhythmic pulse that has carried generations of artistry across borders. Here, in Banaroshi Palli, silk threads do more than shimmer; they tell stories of migration, labor, identity and survival. &ldquo;I have been working here since I was 15 years old,&rdquo; says Muhammad Pappu, his fingers moving instinctively across fine strands of silk. &ldquo;Everything we make is handmade. Everything is original.&rdquo; Banaroshi Palli is not simply a marketplace. It is a living archive of South Asian textile heritage, built decades ago by artisans who migrated from India&rsquo;s historic weaving city of Varanasi. They brought with them centuries-old techniques, transforming this corner of Dhaka into one of Bangladesh&rsquo;s most distinctive craft clusters. Today, the sarees produced here are part of a wider textile economy that underpins Bangladesh&rsquo;s global reputation. While the country is best known for its ready-made garment (RMG) sector, which accounts for more than 80% of export earnings and employs over four million workers, according to government and industry estimates, traditional handloom industries like Banaroshi weaving remain a vital, if often overlooked, cultural and economic backbone. Each saree produced in Mirpur is the result of intense collaboration. &ldquo;One saree takes 10 to 15 days,&rdquo; Pappu explains. &ldquo;If it is a wedding saree, it takes 15 days. There are different people, the design maker, the color cutter, the weaver. Ten to fifteen people can work on one piece.&rdquo; That labor-intensive process stands in stark contrast to the speed and scale of Bangladesh&rsquo;s factory-based apparel sector. Yet, it is precisely this slow craftsmanship that gives Banaroshi sarees their value, both culturally and commercially. Inside a modest but storied shop, Muhammad Sufiyan gestures toward neatly stacked sarees in jewel tones. He is a worker here, part of a business that has stood for nearly half a century. The shop, Banarshee Kothi, carries decades of craftsmanship woven into its shelves. A place where tradition is not owned by one person, but sustained collectively by the hands that keep it alive. &ldquo;This shop is 48 years old,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;We have silk, cotton, and Katan. Handloom sarees are very good quality and they are budget-friendly too.&rdquo; Prices range widely. A simple saree may cost as little as 2,000 taka (around $16), while intricate bridal pieces can reach 30,000 taka (about $245). Some of the finest pieces, Sufiyan notes, are exported abroad, finding buyers in diaspora communities and international markets where demand for handcrafted textiles is growing. Bangladesh&rsquo;s handloom sector employs hundreds of thousands of artisans nationwide, according to estimates from local industry groups. However, many face economic uncertainty, competition from machine-made imports, and limited access to global markets. &ldquo;There are expensive sarees that are sold outside,&rdquo; Sufiyan says, hinting at both opportunity and challenge. &ldquo;But what we make here, it is authentic.&rdquo; Walking through Banaroshi Palli, the sensory overload is immediate: flashes of gold thread, deep crimson silks, patterns inspired by flowers, leaves, and Mughal-era motifs. It feels less like a market and more like an open workshop where heritage is continuously being remade. For visitors, the saree often becomes more than a purchase. In Bangladesh, the saree is seen as far more than clothing. It embodies tradition, expressed through vibrant colors and cultural meaning. That sentiment resonates far beyond Dhaka. Across South Asia and in global diaspora communities, sarees mark weddings, festivals, and milestones, binding personal memory to collective identity. Yet behind each finished garment lies a complex human story: of artisans preserving ancestral skills, of families sustaining small businesses, and of a nation balancing industrial growth with cultural continuity. As Sufiyan carefully folds another saree, he pauses, almost as if weighing its significance. &ldquo;These are not just clothes,&rdquo; he says quietly. &ldquo;This is our history.&rdquo;

Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s saree business blends centuries-old craftsmanship with modern trade, employing thousands of artisans in handloom clusters like Mirpur while contributing to exports, sustaining cultural heritage, and facing challenges from mechanisation and global competition.

In Dhaka, saree artisans weave heritage into global markets

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has increased taxes on high-end fuel used by luxury vehicles while keeping prices for ordinary consumers unchanged, as the government moves to cushion economic pressure from the ongoing Middle East conflict.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved a Rs200 ($0.72) per liter increase in the levy on high-octane fuel, raising it from Rs100, with an even higher Rs300 ($1.08) per liter levy applied to the most expensive vehicles, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office (PMO) on Sunday.&nbsp;A fuel levy is a government-imposed charge added to the base price of petroleum products, often used to generate revenue or manage consumption. In Pakistan&rsquo;s case, raising the levy on high-octane fuel targets wealthier consumers while helping offset rising import costs and fiscal pressures without increasing prices for the broader population.&nbsp;&ldquo;This decision will save the government Rs9 billion per month and, as per the Prime Minister&rsquo;s instructions, the people will be given relief from this saving,&rdquo; the PMO said.&nbsp;Officials emphasized that the move will not impact fuel prices for ordinary vehicles, public transport or air travel.&nbsp;&ldquo;Fuel prices for ordinary vehicles remain unchanged,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that &ldquo;the richest class of the country will bear the burden.&rdquo;&nbsp;The decision comes as Pakistan navigates rising economic pressures linked to disruptions in global energy markets following the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has affected key oil supply routes and driven volatility in international prices.&nbsp;Islamabad has already urged conservation measures to reduce consumption amid concerns that prolonged instability in the Gulf could affect fuel availability and import costs.&nbsp;Sharif also rejected proposals for broader fuel price hikes, signaling the government&rsquo;s intent to shield the wider population from inflationary shocks while maintaining fiscal balance.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister had taken notice of the high-octane prices and directed the relevant ministry to prepare a plan of action,&rdquo; the PMO said.&nbsp;The policy reflects a targeted approach aimed at redistributing the burden of rising energy costs toward higher-income groups, while protecting vulnerable segments of society during a period of heightened global uncertainty.&nbsp;The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, and senior officials.

Economy

Islamabad shifts energy burden toward high-end consumers, introducing targeted measures to manage rising global oil costs while maintaining price stability for the broader population as authorities respond to ongoing supply disruptions and economic uncertainty.

Pakistan raises luxury fuel levy to shield economy amid Iran war

MOSCOW: Russia has launched a rocket from Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the first time since it was damaged during a lift-off last November, video from Russia&#39;s Roscosmos space agency showed Sunday.&nbsp;Site 31 was Russia&#39;s only operational launch pad for crewed missions to the International Space Station (ISS).&nbsp;Part of the launch site collapsed during lift-off of Soyuz MS-28 in November last year, temporarily preventing Russia from being able to send cosmonauts into space.&nbsp;Repairs on the damaged section of the site wrapped up earlier this month, according to Roscosmos.&nbsp;Video on Sunday showed Russia launching the unmanned Progress MS-33 cargo ship to the ISS from Site 31.&nbsp;&quot;The flight is normal,&quot; a commentator on Russia&#39;s Roscosmos space agency said on the video.&nbsp;The Baikonur Cosmodrome is located in Kazakhstan, but is being used by Russia under a lease set to last until at least 2050.&nbsp;Once considered a pioneer in space exploration, Russia&#39;s space program has faced numerous setbacks since the fall of the Soviet Union, including the loss of its first lunar lander in almost 50 years in 2023.&nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence

Russia resumed launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome’s Site 31 after repairs, sending the unmanned Progress MS-33 to the ISS. The pad, damaged during Soyuz MS-28 lift-off, had halted crewed missions temporarily.

Russia resumes use of space launch site damaged in accident

WASHINGTON: A top Cuban diplomat said the communist-led island is making preparations in the event of a potential US attack, but insisted it has &quot;no quarrel&quot; with Washington, according to an interview that aired Sunday.&nbsp;&quot;Our military is always prepared. And in fact it is preparing these days for the possibility of military aggression,&quot; Cuba&#39;s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told NBC, adding, however, &quot;we truly hope that it doesn&#39;t occur.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Cuba has no quarrel with the United States. We do have the need and the right to protect ourself. But we are willing to sit down,&quot; Fernandez de Cossio said.&nbsp;The interview aired as Cuban authorities were scrambling Sunday to restore power to the island after the second nationwide blackout in less than a week, as the grid struggles due to aging infrastructure and a US oil blockade.&nbsp;The breakdowns have intensified since Cuba&#39;s main regional ally and oil supplier, Venezuela&#39;s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro, was captured in a US military operation in January.&nbsp;In the interview, which was taped before the blackout, Fernandez de Cossio continued: &quot;We are acting as proactively as we can to cope with the situation.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We do hope that fuel will reach Cuba one way or the other and that this boycott that the United States has been imposing does not last and cannot be sustained forever.&quot;&nbsp;Power went back on in some parts of Havana, but others were still dark early Sunday, a day after the energy ministry reported a &quot;total disconnection&quot; of the national electric system in the country of nearly 10 million people.&nbsp;There have been seven nationwide blackouts since 2024, making life more difficult for Cubans who fear food will spoil in refrigerators, among other problems in a country in economic crisis.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba.&nbsp;No oil has been imported to the island since January 9, hitting the power sector while also forcing airlines to curtail flights to the island, a blow to the all-important tourism sector.

Americas

Cuba is getting ready in case the US attacks but says it doesn’t want a fight and is open to talks. At the same time, the country faces big power blackouts because of old equipment and an oil shortage.

Cuba readies for possible US attack, but ready to talk: diplomat

Syed Maisam Ali

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban carried out widespread corporal punishments and public executions over the past year, intensifying concerns about human rights and due process under their rule, according to media reports and United Nations findings.&nbsp;At least 1,186 people were flogged and six publicly executed between March 2025 and early 2026, according to figures reported by Amu TV.&nbsp;&ldquo;Official figures indicate that nearly 100 women were flogged over an eight-month period, many of the punishments carried out in public,&rdquo; the outlet reported.&nbsp;Statements from Taliban courts suggest that the use of corporal punishment increased in the latter part of the year, with women among those subjected to public floggings.&nbsp;The developments come as the United Nations has repeatedly warned of a worsening human rights situation in Afghanistan. In its latest monitoring updates, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented the continued use of corporal punishment and restrictions on basic freedoms, noting that such practices raise serious concerns about compliance with international human rights standards.&nbsp;UN findings further highlight the disproportionate impact on women, describing Afghanistan as &ldquo;the world&rsquo;s most severe women&rsquo;s rights crisis,&rdquo; where women face systemic barriers to justice and are significantly less likely than men to access legal protections.&nbsp;Public executions have also resumed as a form of punishment.&nbsp;Over the past year, executions were reported in Khost, Badghis, Farah and Nimroz provinces, with at least three people executed in Badghis alone.&nbsp;In one recent case, a man was executed in a sports stadium in eastern Afghanistan&rsquo;s Khost province in front of thousands of spectators, including children, underscoring concerns over the public nature of such punishments.&nbsp;Human rights monitors say these actions reflect a broader pattern.&nbsp;UNAMA reports throughout 2025 documented extrajudicial punishments, arbitrary detentions and shrinking civic space, alongside a justice system lacking due process safeguards.&nbsp;Cases involving freedom of expression have also drawn attention.&nbsp;In Kapisa province, a man was sentenced to 39 lashes and one year and six months in prison for what Taliban authorities described as &ldquo;propaganda against the system,&rdquo; according to Amu TV.&nbsp;In another instance, an individual was flogged and jailed for allegedly insulting Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, highlighting increasing restrictions on speech.&nbsp;Abdul Ahad Farzam, a human rights researcher, warned that the continuation of such practices could have lasting consequences.&nbsp;&ldquo;These punishments violate basic human rights standards and create a climate of fear in society,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Rights advocates say the expansion of corporal punishment reflects a broader rollback of fundamental freedoms since the Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in 2021.&nbsp;UN reporting consistently points to systematic restrictions on civil liberties, women&rsquo;s rights and access to justice, alongside the use of punitive measures that fall short of international legal standards.&nbsp;Human rights groups and international observers warn that the persistence of such practices is deepening Afghanistan&rsquo;s isolation and further eroding protections for its population.

Asia

The Afghan Taliban carried out public floggings and executions, disproportionately affecting women, restricting freedoms, and violating human rights. UN and observers warn these practices fuel fear and deepen Afghanistan’s rights crisis.

Over 1,100 flogged in Afghanistan as Taliban expand public punishments

GENEVA: The Middle East war has reached a &quot;perilous stage&quot; with strikes around nuclear sites in Iran and Israel, the World Health Organization warned Sunday, as it called for maximum restraint.&nbsp;An Iranian ballistic missile ripped open residential buildings and left dozens wounded late Saturday in the southern Israeli town of Dimona.&nbsp;Dimona hosts what is widely believed to be the Middle East&#39;s only nuclear arsenal, although Israel has never admitted to possessing nuclear weapons, insisting the site is for research.&nbsp;Iran said the strike was in response to an earlier attack on its nuclear site at Natanz, which hosts underground centrifuges used to enrich uranium for Iran&#39;s disputed nuclear programme, and was damaged in the June 2025 war.&nbsp;&quot;The war in the Middle East has reached a perilous stage&quot; with the strikes on Natanz and Dimona, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.&nbsp;&quot;Attacks targeting nuclear sites create an escalating threat to public health and environmental safety,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;I urgently call on all parties to exercise maximum military restraint and avoid any actions that could trigger nuclear incidents. Leaders must prioritize de-escalation and protect civilians.&quot;&nbsp;Tedros said the International Atomic Energy Agency was looking into the strikes, and &quot;no indications of abnormal or increased off-site radiation levels have been reported&quot;.&nbsp;The war erupted on February 28 when the United States and Israel began their attacks on Iran, with Tehran in turn striking targets in Israel and Gulf nations. &nbsp;Since the war began, the WHO has provided training to its own staff and to other United Nations personnel across 13 countries to help them respond to public health threats in the event of a nuclear incident, said Tedros.

Middle East

The Middle East war has intensified, with Iran and Israel striking near nuclear sites in Natanz and Dimona. World Health Organization warns of public health risks, urges restraint, while IAEA monitors radiation; civilians remain in danger.

Middle East war at 'perilous stage' with strikes around nuclear sites: WHO

KARACHI: Pakistan&#39;s Twenty20 league will be held on schedule from March 26 but without crowds and only at two venues to save resources due to the Gulf crisis, the country&#39;s cricket chief announced Sunday.&nbsp;Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the decisions on the Pakistan Super League (PSL) were taken after consultation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp;&quot;The prime minister has requested restricted movements of people because of the fuel crisis so we have decided that the PSL would continue as per the original schedule but without crowds,&quot; Naqvi told a press conference in Lahore.&nbsp;To stop fans travelling, the eight-team league has also been reduced to two venues, and not the original six, meaning Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Peshawar miss out.&nbsp;&quot;All PSL matches will now take place in Lahore and Karachi and we hope the league could be held with crowds but that would be contingent on the crisis in Iran ending,&quot; said Naqvi, who is also Pakistan&#39;s interior minister.&nbsp;&quot;I feel for the Peshawar crowds who were due to watch a match for the first time,&quot; said Naqvi.&nbsp;Naqvi said the PCB would compensate the franchise owners for the loss of revenue because of no crowds. The majority of gate money goes to the franchises.&nbsp;The 11th edition of PSL will run until May 3.

Cricket

Pakistan will hold the Pakistan Super League from March 26 as planned, but without crowds and only in Lahore and Karachi, due to a fuel crisis linked to Gulf tensions. Other cities were dropped, and teams will be compensated.

Pakistan's T20 cricket league cuts venues, crowds due to Gulf crisis

DOHA: Three Turkish nationals including a serviceman were on board a helicopter that crashed in Qatar&#39;s territorial waters, alongside three Qatari servicemen, the Gulf country&#39;s defence ministry said on Sunday. The Turkish defence ministry meanwhile said that &quot;a Qatari armed forces helicopter, which was carrying out a training exercise as part of the Qatar-Turkey Joint Forces Command, crashed into the sea&quot;. &quot;A member of the Turkish armed forces and two Aselsan technicians&quot; were killed in the crash, the ministry said, referring to the Turkish defence giant. Five passengers and a pilot were killed, Qatari authorities said, while a second pilot has been reported missing. The Qatari defence ministry had earlier said that the helicopter crashed due to a &quot;technical malfunction&quot; during a routine flight.

Three Turkish nationals, including a serviceman, were on board a helicopter that crashed in Qatar's territorial waters, alongside three Qatari servicemen, due to a technical malfunction.

Three Turks, including serviceman, among dead in Qatar copter crash

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday criticized India over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), in his message on World Water Day. &ldquo;This deliberate weaponisation of shared water resources is a matter of deep concern,&rdquo; the president said, according to a statement through the press information department. He said India&rsquo;s decision to place the treaty in abeyance and disrupt &ldquo; hydrological data-sharing&rdquo; mechanisms undermines &ldquo;both the letter and spirit&rdquo; of a &ldquo;six-decades-old&rdquo; international agreement. &ldquo;I call on India to immediately restore full implementation of the Treaty in accordance with international obligations,&rdquo; he added. The IWT signed in 1960 by Pakistan and India through the World Bank, allocated the three western rivers of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan, and the three eastern rivers of Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej to India. In 2025, India unilaterally announced the suspension of its obligations under the IWT, following a terrorist attack in Illegally Indian Occupied Kashmir. India blamed Islamabad for the attack without any evidence. Zardari&rsquo;s remarks came as Pakistan marked World Water Day under the theme &ldquo;Water and Gender,&rdquo; focusing on unequal access to water. &ldquo;Women and girls often carry the heaviest burden when safe water is not available close to home,&rdquo; he said. He noted that in many parts of the country, households rely on distant or unreliable water sources, forcing women and girls to spend long hours collecting water. &ldquo;Time that could otherwise be spent in school, at work or with their families,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Access to safe water and sanitation is a basic right recognised under our Constitution,&rdquo; the president added. &ldquo;Ensuring reliable and safe water supply must remain a national priority.&rdquo; &ldquo;As pressures on water resources grow due to population demands and climate variability, we must use water with greater care,&rdquo; the president concluded

Asif Ali Zardari condemned the Indian aggression for suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a weaponization of shared water resources and a violation of the decades-old agreement.

India’s water aggression condemned as Pakistan demands treaty restoration

WASHINGTON: Elon Musk announced Saturday a plan to make chips for artificial intelligence, robotics and data centers in space, in the latest bold project by the world&#39;s richest person. The &quot;Terafab&quot;, a manufacturing facility based near Austin, Texas, will aim to produce one terawatt of computing power per year, Musk said. A terawatt is equivalent to one trillion watts. That is slightly less than the total power generation capacity of the United States, according to an industry group. Musk said the project would be run jointly by his electric-vehicle firm Tesla and his rocket company SpaceX. He did not disclose the initial investment. Previous US media reports have put the figure between $20 billion and $25 billion. Musk, who has no prior experience in semiconductors, said the Terafab was necessary because Tesla and SpaceX&#39;s demand for computing power was expected to far exceed that of global chip suppliers. &quot;We&#39;re very grateful to our existing supply chain, to Samsung, TSMC, Micron, and others... but there&#39;s a maximum rate at which they&#39;re comfortable expanding,&quot; Musk said. &quot;That rate is much less than we would like... and we need the chips, so we&#39;re going to build the Terafab.&quot; An &quot;advanced technology fab&quot; in Austin will have the facilities to design, manufacture, test and improve each chip, Musk said. Eventually, the project aims to make chips to support 100 to 200 gigawatts of computing power on Earth, and a terawatt in space. Musk did not give a timeline for the Terafab&#39;s output, and has previously promised grand results from other projects on compressed time scales. He said the Terafab would ultimately help humanity become a &quot;galactic civilization&quot; capable of harnessing the resources of other planets and stars.

Elon Musk unveils plan for “Terafab,” a joint Tesla and SpaceX project to build AI chip manufacturing capacity on Earth and eventually in space to meet rising computing demand.