Simran Siraj

KARACHI: In many South Asian households, confrontation is often replaced by quiet endurance. Emotional restraint is learned early, folded into a cultural ideal that venerates the &ldquo;sacrificial mother.&rdquo; A figure so consumed by caregiving and stability that the woman behind the role slowly disappears.&nbsp;The Mother, running until January 18 at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi, ruptures this long-held myth.&nbsp;Originally written by Oscar-winning French playwright Florian Zeller, the Urdu adaptation, translated and directed by Usama Khan, marks a rare and significant moment for Karachi&rsquo;s theatre scene. Structured as a &ldquo;farce tragedy,&rdquo; the play is both sharply witty and emotionally devastating, confronting the unspoken fractures families often learn to live with.&nbsp;Starring Nimra Bucha, Sonil Shanker, Ashmal Lalwany, and Eshah Shakeel, the production centers on a woman&rsquo;s isolation, drawing audiences into the psychological debris of her inner world. At its core is the stark reality of Empty Nest Syndrome. The moment a mother confronts the fact that her life&rsquo;s work has been to raise people who must, inevitably, leave.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Bucha described the play as a rejection of sentimental portrayals of motherhood. She reflected on how a mother&rsquo;s existence is frequently reduced to &ldquo;perpetually feeding and clothing&rdquo; her family, only to culminate in a profound sense of erasure.&nbsp;&ldquo;It talks about how a woman who is a mother just loses all sense of self&hellip; and also how age makes people invisible,&rdquo; Bucha said. &ldquo;How slowly it diminishes, diminishes, diminishes to the point where you can&rsquo;t hear.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think I ever listened, I didn&rsquo;t hear my mom. It was as if she was just talking.&rdquo;&nbsp;While the tragedy is universal, it resonates acutely with a generation suspended between tradition and individual agency. The play asks an uncomfortable question: can personal freedom ever be achieved without being underwritten by someone else&rsquo;s sustained sacrifice?&nbsp;That tension crystallizes in the relationship between mother and son. Lalwany, who plays the son, told Pakistan TV Digital that the guilt associated with leaving home is deeply ingrained from childhood.&nbsp;&ldquo;There&rsquo;s this guilt attached to walking away. It&rsquo;s never easy, even though it&rsquo;s the only option you have,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The amount of guilt you go through when you even raise your voice a little&hellip; you want to find out who you are and what you want to be, but children are never sure about their relationship because there are such different demands and expectations from both sides.&rdquo;&nbsp;The production has also drawn international attention. Zeller himself shared the play&rsquo;s poster on Instagram and now follows members of the cast, an endorsement that underscores the adaptation&rsquo;s fidelity and impact.&nbsp;Khan, the director, said he was intent on resisting moral absolutes. Explaining his approach to Pakistan TV Digital, he noted why the story transcends its French origins.&nbsp;&ldquo;Emotion, every person everywhere feels the same, especially in a mother&rsquo;s relationship to her family,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;The story is very simple, but the way it&rsquo;s written is quite complicated. He hasn&rsquo;t shown a &lsquo;helpless&rsquo; mother or son; every character exists in a complete grey area.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Mother is deliberately unsettling, abstract, disorienting, and emotionally dense, mirroring the fractured consciousness of its protagonist. It asks audiences to sit with silence, to examine what goes unsaid at family tables, and to recognize the quiet disappearances that occur within familiar walls.&nbsp;If you have ever felt the weight of an empty room or the tension beneath a shared meal, The Mother speaks directly to that experience.&nbsp;

Culture

The Mother is an Urdu adaptation by Usama Khan, portraying a woman’s emotional erosion through time, distance, and relationships, capturing the universal pain of Empty Nest Syndrome.

Urdu adaptation of ‘The Mother’ confronts motherhood, loneliness, empty nests

KARACHI: As the red double-decker bus pulls away from popular Zainab Market, Sakina Attaria climbs the narrow stairs to the upper deck, claiming a window seat just as Karachi opens itself below her.&nbsp;From the top, the city looks different.&nbsp;Painted bright red and wrapped in illustrations of Karachi&rsquo;s landmarks, Mazar-e-Quaid, Frere Hall, and the old Empress Market, the bus moves steadily along Shahrah-e-Faisal, the city&rsquo;s main commercial artery. Below, banks, corporate headquarters, and advertising agencies rush past, marking the daily grind of Pakistan&rsquo;s financial hub.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is my first day on the double-decker, and the experience is fantastic,&rdquo; Sakina says, smiling as the wind presses against the sealed glass. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been using public transport since April. This is good, affordable, and it&rsquo;s quite pretty too.&rdquo;&nbsp;After a gap of nearly 65 years, double-decker buses have returned to Karachi, a city of more than 23 million people struggling with traffic congestion and a chronic shortage of reliable public transport.&nbsp;The Sindh government officially launched the service on December 31 last year, with Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon inaugurating the fleet. Operations for the public began on New Year&rsquo;s Day.&nbsp;The initial rollout includes five Chinese-made diesel buses running a 22-kilometre route from Model Colony in Malir to Zainab Market in Saddar. The journey begins near residential neighborhoods, cuts through downtown Karachi&rsquo;s business district, continues toward Jinnah International Airport, and then reconnects via the highway that marks both the city&rsquo;s exit and its gateway.&nbsp;Each bus can carry up to 120 passengers and is fully air-conditioned, with an adjustable roof designed for Karachi&rsquo;s extreme and unpredictable weather. Fares range from Rs80 [$0.28] to Rs120 [$0.42], depending on distance.&nbsp;For Sakina, who commutes regularly across the city, affordability matters as much as comfort. &ldquo;For students like us, transport costs add up quickly,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;This makes a big difference.&rdquo;&nbsp;Other commuters share her enthusiasm. Nida, a schoolteacher travelling on the first day, calls the service overdue. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a great experience for students, working professionals, and especially ladies,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;We need more of these in Karachi. All cities should get such buses.&rdquo;&nbsp;The novelty of the upper deck, a rarity in Pakistan&rsquo;s urban transport, has drawn young riders eager for a new perspective. &ldquo;The top-deck view makes the daily commute feel different,&rdquo; says Urooj Kaifulwara, a university student. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re very excited and hope there are more initiatives like this.&rdquo;&nbsp;But the buses are not only about the future. For some passengers, they are a moving archive of the past.&nbsp;Friends Muhammad Danish and Ahmed Khan boarded the bus to relive memories from decades ago. &ldquo;Last I saw this was in the 1960s,&rdquo; Danish recalls. &ldquo;What memories. We just came to see it again.&rdquo;&nbsp;The transport minister says the service is part of a broader effort to revive public transport in Karachi, including electric buses and expanded routes. He has announced plans to increase the fleet through 2026, with the goal of deploying double-deckers on all major roads across the city.&nbsp;For now, as the red bus glides past office towers, airport roads, and highways leading out of Karachi, Sakina watches the city move beneath her, a commuter suspended between nostalgia and necessity.&nbsp;&ldquo;It feels like Karachi is finally moving forward,&rdquo; she says, as the bus heads toward the city&rsquo;s edge.

Climate & Environment

Karachi’s iconic double-decker buses return after 65 years, offering affordable, air-conditioned travel, nostalgic city views, and hope for improved public transport as commuters welcome the Sindh government’s new service across Pakistan’s largest and busiest metropolis.

Red double-deckers roll Karachi forward, reviving memories and mobility

KARACHI: Zoha Malik, a Pakistani-American home baker, reached the finals of Gordon Ramsay&#39;s &quot;Next Level Baker&quot;, an international food show, showcasing Pakistani food to a global audience. During the holiday-themed competition watched by millions, she showcased fusion dishes like chicken tandoori naan buns and an Eid-themed cake, which received high praise from the judges. Zoha Malik, who shares her culinary journey on her popular platform &quot;@bakewithzoha,&quot; took to Instagram to reflect on the experience. Though she didn&#39;t win the top prize, she expressed a deep sense of achievement. &quot;I know it sounds cheesy, but I still feel like a winner,&quot; Malik told her followers. &quot;My main goal on the show was to make it till the end... I got to compete in every single challenge, had an absolute blast, and was proud of every single bake I presented.&quot; <div class="fr-embed instagram-embed" style="width: 50%; display: block; max-width: 600px;"><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSdQlm_EvF8/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=675&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com&rp=%2Farticles%2F3006#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1288504.8999999762%2C%22ls%22%3A862.8999999761581%2C%22le%22%3A977.6999999880791%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1527" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe></div>Staying true to her rootsThroughout the series, Malik remained authentic and refused to compromise her cultural identity. In a heartfelt post-finale message, she emphasized the importance of representation. &quot;I want you to know you don&#39;t have to thank me. I wasn&#39;t trying to represent, I was just being myself, and that&#39;s the biggest takeaway from this entire experience,&quot; she said. &quot;It is an HONOR to be able to show who I am and where I come from on a platform like this.&quot; Growing up in Wah Cantt, Pakistan, Malik developed her skills by observing her mother and grandmother, learning early that food is a powerful way to connect with others. From engineering to bakingHer path to professional baking was unconventional. Malik moved to the United States in 2013 to pursue a STEM career, earning a biomedical engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and working as a consultant at McKinsey &amp; Company. However, she rediscovered her passion for baking during the pandemic, launching &quot;Bake With Zoha&quot; in 2020.&nbsp; What began as a digital hobby became a full-time career by 2023. Today, she balances her culinary pursuits with motherhood to her young son. Mastering the competitionDuring &ldquo;Next Level Baker,&rdquo; Malik consistently blended traditional Pakistani flavors with advanced Western baking techniques. Her standout creations included Chicken Tandoori Naan Buns, an Eid Finale Cake, and Chai Tiramisu. For the final challenge, she created an Eid celebration cake featuring festive colors and a crescent moon that impressed judges with its storytelling and technical execution. Though outside her comfort zone, Malik said she felt &quot;seen and appreciated.&quot; Malik&#39;s impact resonated deeply with the Pakistani diaspora, proving that traditional flavors can shine on the most competitive international stages. What&#39;s nextLooking ahead, Malik plans to expand her digital presence and share the recipes that defined her journey on the show, including her celebrated tandoori bread that Gordon Ramsay called &quot;delicious.&quot;&nbsp; Her path from a home kitchen in Pakistan to a Gordon Ramsay finale stands as an inspiring story of cultural authenticity through food. &quot;I&#39;m so proud of myself for doing something so out of my comfort zone... hindsight is 20/20, but it&#39;s all rooted in inspiration, not disappointment,&quot; she reflected on Instagram.

Zoha Malik (Photo @bakewithzoha/Instagram)

Zoha Malik presented Pakistani culture on the global stage with her chicken tandoori naan buns and Eid-themed cake, earning high praise from the judges for her fusion of flavors.

Pakistani-American home baker showcases Pakistani food on global show

MATIARI: Climate change has become a serious threat, especially in a country like Pakistan that is highly vulnerable to its effects. Experts and field reports show a clear connection between rising temperatures and adverse outcomes for mothers and newborns.&nbsp;Research from the Aga Khan University&rsquo;s Institute of Global Health Development examined how heat stress affects pregnant women and children under five in the Matiari district of Sindh. They modeled interventions that incorporate indigenous knowledge to improve climate-resilient infrastructure and raise awareness of heat&rsquo;s harmful effects within the health system.&nbsp;Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, Founding Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development, speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, emphasized that urgent action and systemic changes are essential to protect women and children from this growing threat. &lsquo;Surprisingly, we are not even the ones responsible for climate change, and yet it affects our women and children,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Dr Jai Das, the institute&#39;s associate director, highlighted the alarming link between rising temperatures and pregnancy complications. He said that existing research shows every pregnant woman exposed to higher temperatures &mdash; such as a 1-degree increase &mdash; has a 10-15% higher chance of experiencing pre-term birth, low birth weight, or of newborns being small for their gestational age.&nbsp;This finding aligns with broader studies indicating that heat exposure triggers physiological responses that lead to similar complications.&nbsp;Beyond pregnancy, heat stress also disrupts women&#39;s reproductive health, especially for those in rural areas who often engage in strenuous physical labor.&nbsp;Gulshad, a senior research associate at AKU Matiari Research and Training Center, said that many women face severe heat-related problems.&nbsp;&ldquo;Their menstrual periods last longer and occur more frequently. Moreover, many women lack knowledge about sanitary protection,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She noted that some women&#39;s cycles became &ldquo;very irregular,&rdquo; while others did not have periods at all.&nbsp;&ldquo;The health of pregnant women is also affected, and the likelihood of miscarriages increases significantly because they work in the fields and do household chores,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;These testimonies show how high temperatures, combined with physical labor and limited access to hygiene products and healthcare, cause serious menstrual irregularities.&nbsp;Tackling this complex crisis requires a dual approach focusing on community awareness and healthcare system reforms.&nbsp;Dr Bhutta calls for public protection and system improvements. He suggests raising public awareness, especially in rural areas, to help safeguard women, particularly pregnant women, from the heat. He also stresses the importance of providing care to quickly identify and reduce harmful effects.&nbsp;He said there is a need to improve the healthcare environment, especially during the summer, as current conditions are overcrowded. This highlights the urgent need for heat-resilient infrastructure and better-trained staff to handle heat-related maternal emergencies.&nbsp;The situation in provinces like Sindh is especially dire, with climate threats endangering the lives of every mother and child. Localized research is vital for developing community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems, that can be scaled nationwide.&nbsp;Addressing this climate-induced heat stress crisis requires coordinated efforts from policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities to reduce risks, improve health infrastructure, and ensure that climate change does not condemn future generations to poor health.

Health

There is a need to develop community-informed interventions, such as heat adaptation strategies, enhanced nutritional support, and strengthened rural health systems.

Climate-induced heat stress serious threat to maternal, child health in Pakistan

KARACHI: The 4th European Film Festival (EUFF) 2025 successfully concluded its Karachi chapter last weekend at the Karachi Film School, celebrating international cinema and cultural dialogue.&nbsp; Hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan and curated by Olomopolo Media, the two-day event showcased 19 feature films and 10 short films from EU member states, emphasizing cinema&rsquo;s unique power to foster human connection and resilience. The festival now moves to Lahore after having offered audiences in Karachi and Islamabad a diverse program of comedies, dramas, and documentaries exploring universal themes, including identity, climate change, and human resilience.&nbsp; Among the films screened were &quot;Behind the Curtain of High Mountains&quot; (Czech Republic), &quot;Without Air&quot; (Hungary), &quot;That They May Face the Rising Sun&quot; (Ireland), and &quot;The Olive Tree&quot; (Spain).&nbsp; The short film lineup included &quot;HABĀ&quot;, &quot;White Ribbons&quot;, &quot;Diamond &amp; Narcissus&quot; (Austria), and &quot;A Sea of Trash&quot; (Portugal). The event drew a particularly strong youth demographic.&nbsp; University students from the media, arts, and communications departments attended the festival not just for the screenings but for an immersive, interactive classroom experience. A particular focus of the festival was bringing the big screen experience to those who rarely access it.&nbsp; Kanwal Khoosat, Executive Director of Olomopolo Media, reflected on the power of this access.&nbsp; &ldquo;It was the first time for so many. We have met people, students, young girls, adults, watching a film on a big screen for the first time in their lives,&rdquo; Khoosat shared, calling the moment of shared discovery the &ldquo;best part&rdquo; of her work. The exposure to global narratives proved invaluable for aspiring filmmakers.&nbsp; Shafia, a student from the Institute of Business Management in Karachi, said, &ldquo;As an aspiring photographer, this is a brilliant opportunity to be exposed to such storytelling and see how different cultures frame their narratives.&rdquo; Building community through filmLeading actors and filmmakers present at the festival highlighted its significance as a platform for genuine dialogue and artistic participation, setting it apart from other cultural activities. Pakistani actor and director Sania Saeed praised the communal experience, noting that cinema and theater provide a profound type of &ldquo;community building&rdquo; that sports cannot match. &nbsp;She argued that art is inherently collaborative.&nbsp; &ldquo;Arts are not competitive .&hellip; It&#39;s all about synchronizing,&rdquo; Saeed said.&nbsp; She added that the festival allowed young audiences to see quality filmmaking that looks &quot;very different from what they see on Netflix,&quot; creating a more valuable viewing experience. &quot;Joyland&quot; actor Ali Junejo agreed with Saeed and asserted the need for broader access: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very rare for us to have film festivals here in Pakistan broadly speaking .... I think more people need to watch films. More people need to participate in films.&rdquo; Bridging global crises: from floods to wildfiresRaimundas Karoblis, the European Union Ambassador to Pakistan, emphasized that films serve as a powerful tool for global solidarity, making universal issues relatable at the local level. Ambassador Karoblis, in an exclusive conversation with Pakistan TV Digital, said that the festival proves that &ldquo;Cinema is for everyone.&rdquo;&nbsp; He highlighted how the films actively confront global crises: &ldquo;While Pakistan battles climate change with floods, southern Europe has wildfires.&rdquo; He added that the festival provides essential context, showing that &ldquo;the human story and the resilience needed to face them are the same everywhere.&rdquo; EUFF 2025 will conclude its mission of connection and conversation in Lahore on November 22 and 23.

The 4th European Film Festival 2025 in Pakistan showcased 29 EU films, fostering cultural dialogue, youth engagement, and global solidarity through cinema across Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore.

European cinema sparks dialogue on resilience, identity and climate across Pakistan

KARACHI: Ahya Technologies, &ldquo;Ahya,&rdquo; a Pakistan-origin artificial intelligence startup headquartered in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has won the 2025 AI for Climate Action Innovation Award from the UN-led AI for Good Impact Initiative.&nbsp;The award was presented earlier this week in Bel&eacute;m, Brazil, recognizing Ahya&rsquo;s leadership in deploying AI for the net-zero transition.&nbsp;Ahya was selected from more than 300 global contenders working in carbon reduction, sustainable agriculture, and biodiversity protection. Founder and CEO Salaal Hasan showcased the company&rsquo;s flagship platforms, AhyaOS and AhyaAI, during the ceremony.&nbsp;In an official statement, the company said the award highlighted Ahya&rsquo;s &ldquo;unique ability to overcome data limitations,&rdquo; a persistent obstacle for climate-vulnerable economies in the Global South.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Shehan Rayer, SVP Business, said Ahya tackles the region&rsquo;s most fundamental problem: fragmented, incomplete, and non-digital climate data.&nbsp;He explained that AhyaOS standardizes data from all sources, whether &ldquo;spreadsheets, ERPs, invoices, utility bills, or even handwritten notes.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Winning the AI for Climate Action Innovation Award from UN-ITU is both an honor and a responsibility,&rdquo; Hasan said in the press release.&nbsp;&ldquo;It reinforces our belief that artificial intelligence for data accuracy in emissions management is an economic need for transforming the Global South&rsquo;s climate ambitions into measurable growth.&rdquo; Rayer described the win as &ldquo;powerful global validation&rdquo; that net-zero pathways built on &ldquo;accuracy, transparency, and economic growth&rdquo; are both viable and necessary.&nbsp;He emphasized that the award proves sustainability is a &ldquo;competitive advantage, not just a compliance cost.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that the recognition brings an &ldquo;immediate responsibility&hellip; to ensure the equitable and ethical rollout of AI in the Global South,&rdquo; including advocacy for new governance frameworks in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).&nbsp;These, he said, are essential to ensuring AI mitigates, rather than deepens, inequality.&nbsp;Ahya&rsquo;s technology is designed to convert climate risk from a regulatory burden into a profit-driving opportunity, particularly for banks and development financial institutions. Rayer cited a practical example: AhyaOS enables lenders to calculate financed emissions (PCAF) with a verifiable data trail across entire portfolios.&nbsp;This transparency allows banks to identify climate risks early and support the creation of green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and Sukuks for clients demonstrating real emissions reductions.&nbsp;As an award recipient, Ahya will participate in the AI for Good Global Summit 2026 in Geneva. Rayer said the company&rsquo;s core objective is &ldquo;policy integration and collaborative scaling.&rdquo; Ahya aims to position AhyaOS and its Tawazun platform as &ldquo;foundational digital infrastructure&rdquo; for national climate-action systems across the Global South.&nbsp;He added that these partnerships are crucial for unlocking developmental financing, including concessional funds, to scale localized climate solutions.

Climate

Ahya Technologies, a Pakistan-origin AI startup based in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, won the UN’s 2025 Climate Action Innovation Award for its data-focused platforms supporting net-zero goals and scalable climate solutions across the Global South.

Saudi Pakistani AI startup wins UN award for Climate Action Innovation

Three Pakistani films earned JIFF 2026 nominations, highlighting national cinematic talent, though diplomatic tensions and visa hurdles may prevent filmmakers from attending despite this major international milestone.

Pakistani cinema scores triple triumph at Jaipur festival amid uncertainty

KARACHI: In Pakistan&rsquo;s restless commercial capital, where thousands arrive each year to work, rebuild, and reinvent themselves, a centuries-old Sufi allegory found new breath and movement on stage.&nbsp;At the World Culture Festival this week, global theatre ensemble ANIKAYA performed &ldquo;Conference of the Birds,&rdquo; transforming the Arts Council of Pakistan into a living reflection of the city itself: searching, fragmented, striving, and endlessly becoming.&nbsp;Directed by American choreographer Wendy Jehlen, the multi-media movement performance reimagined Farid ud-Din Attar&rsquo;s 12th-century Persian epic, where a flock of birds journeys to find their divine king, the Simorgh, only to discover that the truth they seek lives within themselves.&nbsp;Karachi, home to migrants from every province, every language, every story, mirrored the allegory. Like Attar&rsquo;s birds, many here carry maps of places left behind, hopes folded into suitcases, and dreams stitched into survival.&nbsp;&ldquo;This journey began in 1991 when I was at Brown University,&rdquo; Jehlen told Pakistan TV Digital after the performance. &ldquo;It was when I first encountered Conference of the Birds and the poets and ideas that shaped my entire life.&rdquo;&nbsp;The production was performed by dancers from Benin, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, Japan, Palestine, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United States.&nbsp;Though drawn from different homelands, their bodies moved as one organism, separate rhythms, shared breath, evoking the poem&rsquo;s central revelation: unity is not sameness, but harmony across difference.&nbsp;Jehlen explained that the work evolves with each place it is performed.&nbsp;&ldquo;Everywhere we go, the story changes,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The people, the air, the land, they shape how the birds fly.&rdquo;&nbsp;For Jehlen, movement itself is a philosophy.&nbsp;&ldquo;Movement is my language, but it&rsquo;s also a human and animal language, the most direct way to access empathy,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;Through physical theatre, you don&rsquo;t just understand a story, you feel it.&rdquo;&nbsp;The performance drew deeply from real experiences of refugees and migrants, echoing the emotional terrain of Karachi: longing, uprooting, resilience.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are on this journey together, whether we like it or not,&rdquo; Jehlen added.&nbsp;&ldquo;Each imperfect, each necessary. Unity exists only through difference.&rdquo;&nbsp;Bringing the performance to Pakistan, she noted, felt like returning the story to one of its spiritual homelands.&nbsp;&ldquo;I liked doing it here because people in Pakistan already know Conference of the Birds,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve studied it, they understand it.&rdquo;&nbsp;The show concluded to a standing ovation. Fluid, fierce, wordless storytelling that needed no translation.&nbsp;As the audience rose, one truth hovered softly, like a final wingbeat:&nbsp;Karachi, too, is a flock in motion, wandering, weary, hopeful, still searching for the Simorgh it carries within itself.

Global performers reimagined Conference of the Birds in Karachi, blending movement, mysticism, and migration narratives, reflecting the city’s journey of belonging and unity through shared human experience.

‘Conference of Birds’ reimagines mystic journey in Pakistan’s migrant metropolis Karachi

KARACHI: After years spent in confinement and loneliness, 24-year-old brown bear Rano has finally been relocated from the Karachi Zoo to a sanctuary in Islamabad, where she will receive medical care, rehabilitation, and the chance to live in a more natural environment. According to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Rano was flown to Islamabad aboard a Pakistan Air Force C-130 aircraft on Wednesday morning. The flight departed PAF Faisal Base at 8:30 a.m. and landed at Nur Khan Airbase a little after 11:30 a.m. A two-member veterinary team accompanied her throughout the journey to ensure her safety and well-being. Rano was transported from the zoo to the airbase in a wooden crate placed on a cargo truck. &ldquo;At just three calls, she walked from her enclosure into the crate,&rdquo; Sana Raja of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) told Pakistan TV Digital, noting that Rano remained calm and continued eating during the move, and did not require sedation. Sindh Wildlife Conservator Javed Ahmed Mahar said Rano was closely monitored throughout the flight and slept during most of the journey despite the aircraft noise. Upon arrival, she was taken directly to the IWMB&rsquo;s bear rehabilitation facility, where she was given food and placed under quarantine for medical observation. Rano will remain under supervision before being transferred to a permanent sanctuary space where she will be paired with another bear. &ldquo;Her stay here could last up to a month for examination and other protocols before she is shifted to a larger area,&rdquo; said Anees, an IWMB official. For years, Rano lived in difficult conditions at the Karachi Zoo, first in a Victorian-era concrete pit and later in a metal cage. She was frequently observed pacing restlessly, a common sign of stress and psychological distress in captive animals. Her situation prompted animal rights activists to petition the Sindh High Court, which last month ordered her relocation and formed a committee to ensure the transfer was carried out safely. Rano was brought to the Karachi Zoo in 2017 as part of an animal exchange program. She has lived in solitary confinement since 2020, following the death of the only other bear in the enclosure. Her arrival in Islamabad marks the beginning of what wildlife authorities hope will be her first experience of comfort, companionship, and peace in years.

Wildlife

Sindh Wildlife conservator says Rano was closely monitored throughout the flight, slept during most of the journey despite the aircraft noise; the bear has been taken directly to the IWMB’s rehabilitation facility, where she was given food and placed under quarantine for medical observation.



Rano the Karachi zoo bear begins new life in Islamabad sanctuary

KARACHI: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a new round of cash assistance for flood-affected families, confirming that the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will release Rs25,000 [$89] per eligible household as part of the 2025 flood-relief strategy.&nbsp;Meanwhile, experts say the Benazir Nashonuma Programme (BNP), operating under BISP, is demonstrating a substantial impact in Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to combat chronic malnutrition. Launched in 2020, the program provides conditional cash transfers to pregnant and lactating women and to children under two years of age.&nbsp;The payments are linked to regular antenatal and postnatal check-ups, immunization, and nutrition counselling, to improve maternal health and reduce infant stunting.&nbsp;According to Dr Mazhar Abbasi, National Project Manager at Nutrition International, Benazir Nashonuma has grown into &ldquo;one of Pakistan&rsquo;s largest nutrition interventions,&rdquo; with operations now spanning 156 districts and enrolling 3.5 million mothers and children.&nbsp;&ldquo;Supplements worth nearly Rs21 billion [$74 million] have been disbursed to over 850,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, as verified by the Aga Khan University&rsquo;s 2023-24 midline evaluation,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;The evaluation found that children in programme areas had a 10-percentage-point lower prevalence of stunting at 24 months than children in similar districts without the programme.&nbsp;The study also documented a drop in low birth weight from 31.4% to 20% in Nashonuma districts, compared to 17.6% in non-program areas. Improvements were also recorded in antenatal care coverage, dietary diversity among mothers, skilled birth attendance, postnatal care, and maternal anaemia.&nbsp;&ldquo;These numbers demonstrate how a well-designed, nutrition-sensitive social protection model can deliver measurable improvements in maternal and child health within a relatively short timeframe,&rdquo; Dr Abbasi said. He added that the programme&rsquo;s combination of supplements, counselling, and conditional cash transfers &ldquo;is yielding results at scale.&rdquo;&nbsp;Officials at BISP describe Nashonuma as a core pillar of Pakistan&rsquo;s broader social protection framework, strengthening household resilience by integrating nutrition support with income assistance.&nbsp;Dr Ali Turab, a public health and nutrition expert, said conditional cash transfers (CCTs) played a stabilizing role in flood-affected areas by helping families maintain access to nutrient-dense foods, avoid skipping meals, and continue seeking routine healthcare.&nbsp;&ldquo;By easing immediate financial pressure, CCTs reduced stress and shock-related vulnerabilities,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Families became more willing to prioritize girls&rsquo; health, which is often neglected during emergencies.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the program is effective because it focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, a critical period for preventing stunting, while being anchored in BISP&rsquo;s national platform, ensuring coverage, targeting, and sustainability.&nbsp;He added that Nashonuma functions both as a nutrition intervention and a shock-responsive safety net, especially valuable when food prices rise or services become harder to access during crises.&nbsp;As Pakistan continues its recovery from the 2025 floods, experts note that integrating cash assistance with health and nutrition services, as Nashonuma does, could support a more resilient, nutritionally secure recovery for vulnerable households.

The Benazir Nashonuma Programme, part of Pakistan’s social protection system, is showing measurable reductions in child stunting and improved maternal health outcomes through conditional cash transfers, nutrition supplements and counselling, experts told Pakistan TV Digital.

Cash, supplements and counseling reduce stunting in Pakistan, experts say

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s intent to deepen bilateral cooperation with Bangladesh, focusing on railway development, technical exchange, rolling stock, and manufacturing collaboration. In a message issued during the visit of a Bangladeshi delegation to the Pakistan Railways Workshop Division on Saturday, Abbasi said closer railway-to-railway ties could deliver &ldquo;significant mutual benefits for both countries.&rdquo; The delegation was led by Farhad Islam, secretary for International Organizations and Consular Affairs and designated D-8 Commissioner of Bangladesh, along with Bangladesh&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Senior Pakistan Railways officials received the visitors at the department&rsquo;s headquarters and workshop facilities. The visit underscores a renewed focus on institutional cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with railways emerging as a practical entry point for rebuilding technical and economic linkages through state-run infrastructure collaboration. Abbasi, in his message, emphasized the scope for expanding bilateral engagement, particularly through &ldquo;railway development, exchange of expertise, rolling stock, and manufacturing cooperation.&rdquo; He said enhanced collaboration between the two railway systems could strengthen long-term connectivity and capacity-building. During the visit, Chief Mechanical Engineer (Carriage &amp; Wagons) Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed the delegation on the operational structure, technical capabilities, and ongoing development projects of Pakistan Railways&rsquo; workshops. A short documentary showcasing the workshops&rsquo; operational strength and working capacity was also presented. Addressing the gathering, Khalili said Pakistan and Bangladesh are &ldquo;brotherly countries with a shared history, culture, and heritage.&rdquo; He added that there is &ldquo;vast potential for bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, including technology sharing and joint initiatives.&rdquo; As part of the program, commemorative shields were exchanged between Pakistani and Bangladeshi officials as a gesture of goodwill. The delegation was later taken on a detailed tour of the Mughalpura Locomotive Workshop, where officials explained various stages of locomotive maintenance, rehabilitation, and manufacturing. The visiting dignitaries described the tour as &ldquo;highly informative, productive and encouraging,&rdquo; according to the statement, and praised the technical expertise and professional competence of Pakistan Railways staff. The engagement reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s broader push to expand functional cooperation with Bangladesh through sector-specific partnerships, as both sides explore avenues to strengthen institutional ties beyond diplomatic exchanges.

This screengrab shows Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organizations, Farhad Islam, and High Commissioner to Pakistan Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan visiting the Pakistan Railways Workshop Division in Lahore on February 7, 2026. (Pakistan Railways)

Foreign Affairs

The Pakistan Railways minister welcomed a Dhaka delegation, highlighting collaboration on infrastructure, manufacturing, and expertise exchange, as officials toured workshops, discussed capacity-building, and signaled renewed institutional engagement through cooperation across state-run transport sectors.

Pakistan, Bangladesh push rail cooperation during delegation visit

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

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

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

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.’ 

Articles by Simran Siraj