Simran Siraj

Description: For 300 years, men sang Shah Latif&#39;s poetry about women&#39;s struggles. Now women are singing it themselves. A look at how women are reclaiming their voices through Sufi poetry.

Shorts

Women are finding their voices by singing Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai poetry, highlighting women’s struggles through centuries-old Sufi traditions.

Women reclaim 300 years of Shah Latif legacy, breaking cultural barriers

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s football federation on Saturday said that the men&#39;s national team will take part in the 2026 World Cup this summer, but demanded that joint hosts, the United States, Mexico, and Canada agree to its conditions amid the Middle East war. The call comes after Canada refused entry to the federation&#39;s chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Iran&#39;s presence at the tournament, which will take place between June 11 and July 19, has been shrouded in uncertainty since the eruption of war in the Middle East in February following strikes by the United States and Israel. &quot;We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,&quot; the Iranian federation said on its official website. &quot;We will participate in the World Cup tournament, but without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions.&quot; The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) president, Mehdi Taj, told state TV on Friday that Tehran has 10 conditions for attending the global spectacle, seeking assurances over the country&#39;s treatment. The conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team&#39;s flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels, and routes to the stadiums where they will play. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that Iran&#39;s footballers would be welcome at the tournament. But he warned that the US may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation with ties to the IRGC, which it also designates as a terrorist organization. &quot;All players and technical staff, especially those who have served their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC, such as Mehdi Taremi and Ehsan Hajsafi, should be granted visas without any problems,&quot; said Iranian football chief Taj. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled. Iran, who are due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, face New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt in Group G. The Iranians open their World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. &quot;No external power can deprive Iran of its participation in a cup to which it has qualified with merit,&quot; the Iranian federation said on Saturday.

Workers install the pitch at New York New Jersey Stadium ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on May 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Football

The call comes after Canada refused entry to the federation's chief last month before the FIFA Congress because of his links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); Conditions include visas being granted and respect for the national team staff, the team's flag and its national anthem during the tournament, as well as demands for high security at airports, hotels, and routes to the stadiums.

Iran says will play in World Cup, demands hosts accept conditions

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s opposition Congress party on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of hypocrisy over the appointment of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal&rsquo;s first BJP chief minister, while sharing an old video on social media in which Modi can be seen apparently criticizing Adhikari over alleged corruption. In a post on X, Congress shared a 2016 video and said that Modi himself had once accused Adhikari of corruption before the BJP appointed him in West Bengal. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052964533329899784&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=6b2a0ca9dd96fed6395b35ae83c901fee0efba2a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> &quot;Shubendu Adhikari is so massively corrupt, and Narendra Modi is the one revealing it,&quot; the post said. &quot;Now, the same Shubendu Adhikari has been made the Chief Minister of West Bengal by Modi,&quot; Congress added, saying&nbsp;Modi&#39;s philosophy has spread corruption &quot;far and wide&quot;. Adhikari, once a senior leader in the Trinamool Congress (TMC), joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 West Bengal elections and became the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, The Economic Times reported on Friday. &lsquo;BJP acts as a washing machine&rsquo;: TMCJust last year, TMC accused BJP of acting as a &quot;washing machine&quot; for opposition politicians accused of corruption who later joined the ruling party. In an August 2025 media address following Modi&#39;s speech in Kolkata, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of giving &quot;shelter to the corrupt.&quot; Sharing the Narada sting video, in which several politicians, including Adhikari, were allegedly seen accepting cash in undercover recordings, Ghosh said &quot;Narendra Modi threw stones sitting in a glass house,&quot; The Times of India reported. &quot;The very ones you called corrupt now sit beside you&quot;, Ghosh added. The BJP has not officially responded to the Congress post.

Newly elected BJP Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari takes blessings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata, West Bengal, on May 9, 2026. (Photo: Screengrab/Reuters)

India

The opposition party has shared an old video of Narendra Modi allegedly targeting Suvendu Adhikari over corruption allegations, saying, "Now, the same Shubendu Adhikari has been made the Chief Minister of West Bengal by Modi." 

Congress accuses Modi of hypocrisy over West Bengal’s CM appointment

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, and UN Under-Secretary-General Jorge Moreira da Silva discussed the evolving situation in the Middle East. A post shared on X by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on Saturday said: &ldquo;Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, met with USG Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of @UNOPS.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052974950579855592&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=eac3326042f26325c5e276537660d3a625c7c448&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 745px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2052974950579855592"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;The two sides exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East and discussed ongoing UN initiatives aimed at promoting peace, humanitarian relief, and regional stability,&rdquo; the post added.

Foreign Affairs

'The two sides exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Middle East and discussed ongoing UN initiatives aimed at promoting peace, humanitarian relief, and regional stability,' said a post on X by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN.

Pakistan’s ambassador, UN under-secretary-general discuss evolving situation in Middle East

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to combat drug smuggling, narcotics use, and illegal trafficking, as the two countries agreed to deepen collaboration on internal security, counterterrorism, and organized crime. The agreement was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan&#39;s Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Interior. Under the MoU, both countries agreed to &quot;extend full cooperation to each other to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics&quot; while jointly working to curb the growing use of drugs and their impact on society, the ministry said in a post on X. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2052965761602449912&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=4b61def7fe1e0c4264d7987d79e119f4f5f05ec1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 598px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The two sides also agreed to devise a &quot;joint strategy&quot; to break the illegal sale and supply chain of narcotics and improve coordination between relevant agencies. Enhancing bilateral cooperation&quot;The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely information about drug smugglers and networks,&quot; the ministry said, adding that &quot;training of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for drug prevention will be shared&quot;. &quot;The interior ministers also exchanged views on joint measures for counter-terrorism,&quot; the ministry said, adding that detailed discussions were held on enhancing bilateral cooperation regarding organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud. Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in training programs for officers at police academies and civil armed forces institutions. Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan, while Salahuddin Ahmed thanked him for offering Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Bangladesh&rsquo;s Safe City Project, the ministry said. Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Saem, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Ghani, Interior Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry, and Pakistan&rsquo;s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting.

Bangladesh Interior Minister Salahuddin Ahmed and visiting Pakistan Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi held a meeting at InterContinental Dhaka. (Photo: BSS)

Security

Both nations agree to extend full cooperation to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics, while also exchanging views on joint measures to enhance bilateral cooperation on organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud.

Pakistan, Bangladesh sign MoU to combat drug smuggling

LONDON: Isolated and traumatized by drones and missiles, seafarers in the Gulf face grave mental suffering after more than two months stuck on board in the Middle East war, maritime charities warn. From captains to cooks, engineers and other officers, the workers who keep global freight flowing have found themselves not just <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/islamabad-seeks-singapores-support-for-repatriation-of-pakistani-iranian-seafarers" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">stranded</a> but in some cases right in the firing line of the US-Israel war on Iran. &quot;We hear stories of how frightened they are. It&#39;s pretty scary,&quot; said Gavin Lim, head of the Crisis Response Network for the Sailors&#39; Society, a UK-based seafarers&#39; charity, who spoke with one crew whose vessel was hit. &quot;They thought: &#39;We were going to die&#39;.&quot; At least 11 seafarers have been killed, according to the International Maritime Organization. &quot;They see drones flying, they see missiles flying, and then we see instances where the ships get hit,&quot; said Lim.&nbsp;&lsquo;Anxiety and fear&rsquo;&quot;You can imagine that anxiety and fear building up. &#39;Are we just bait? Are we going to be a victim so that someone can make a point?&#39;&quot; The Seafarers&#39; Charity cites hypervigilance, burnout, fatigue, loneliness, depression and anxiety as some of the mental strains facing the 20,000 seafarers stranded by blockade of the Strait of Hormuz since Feb. 28. Like the Sailors&#39; Society, another sailors&#39; helpline charity, the International Seafarers&#39; Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN), fields calls from trapped workers and offers them practical and psychological support. &quot;Most of the calls are around repatriation -- what are their rights, how to go about it -- and also obviously the sort of the stress and the worry about being in a conflict zone and not being trained or prepared for it,&quot; said ISWAN&#39;s chief executive, Simon Grainge.&nbsp;Training to cope&nbsp;Some charities are working with shipping companies to strengthen support for seafarers under unprecedented strain. &quot;One of the things that quite a few organizations are now calling for is really up-to-date guidance on how to deal with wartime issues,&quot; Deborah Layde, chief executive of the Seafarers&#39; Charity, said. &quot;This isn&#39;t something that a lot of shipping companies are ready for.&quot;&nbsp;To that end, the charity has turned to mental health professionals to help provide guidelines and a webinar to guide seafarers to cope with the stress of the situation.&nbsp;&lsquo;There&#39;s exhaustion&rsquo;&quot;There&#39;s this constant higher level of stress and hypervigilance without that ability to reset as they might normally do. There&#39;s exhaustion,&quot; said Rachel Glynn-Williams, a psychologist working with seafarers who is involved in developing the webinar. &quot;At the point I pick up crew conversations, they will have been on hyper-alert for a sustained amount of time, so their nervous system will be heightened and it&#39;s going to take a little time, depending on the individual, for that nervous system to reset,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;For some people, it might be fairly soon afterwards, within a matter of days, if not hours. For others, it might take a little longer.&quot;

Middle East

From captains to cooks, engineers and other officers, the workers who keep global freight flowing have found themselves not just stranded but in some cases right in the firing line of the US-Israel war on Iran.

Trapped seafarers traumatized by Gulf fighting: Charities

BEIJING: China&#39;s overseas shipments grew at a faster pace than expected last month, official data showed Saturday, despite pressure on the global economy caused by war in the Middle East. Exports from the manufacturing powerhouse were up 14.1% in April compared to the same month last year, the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said. The growth outpaced a Bloomberg forecast of 8.4% based on a survey of economists, and significantly picking up pace from the 2.5%&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-fighter-jet-sales-surge-after-success-in-indiapakistan-clash" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">increase</a>&nbsp;in March.&nbsp;Booming trade&nbsp;Booming trade has represented a vital lifeline for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/five-things-to-know-about-chinas-2026-economic-goals" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Beijing</a>&nbsp;in recent years as the domestic economy lags, with sluggish spending and a stubborn debt crisis in the property sector weighing on activity. Observers are awaiting a high-stakes meeting in Beijing next week between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US counterpart&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-urges-us-to-immediately-correct-erroneous-trade-practices" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donald Trump</a>. The talks previously set for late March were delayed by the US-Israel war on Iran, which has sent global energy prices soaring as shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz has effectively come to a halt. For Trump, China&#39;s massive surplus in bilateral trade between the countries has long been a major sticking point. Key summit&nbsp;Ahead of the key summit, China&#39;s exports to the United States grew 11.3% year-on-year in April, official data showed Saturday, returning to growth after dropping sharply by 26.5% in March. Economists argue that China should shift towards a growth model powered more by household consumption than traditional drivers including real estate and infrastructure investment. In a positive sign for domestic spending, imports into the world&#39;s second-largest economy grew 25.3% year-on-year last month. That figure beat a Bloomberg forecast of 20.0% but was slightly lower than the 27.8% surge in March.

Business

Observers are awaiting a high-stakes meeting in Beijing next week between Chinese president and his US counterpart; ahead of the summit, China's exports to the US grew 11.3% year-on-year in April, official data showed Saturday.

China trade beats forecasts in April despite Mideast war

ROME: Novak Djokovic slumped to an early elimination from the Italian Open on Friday, crumbling to a second-round defeat at the hands of qualifier Dino Prizmic which leaves question marks about his physical condition ahead of Roland Garros.&nbsp;Tennis icon Djokovic was sent packing by big-hitting Croatian Prizmic, who claimed the biggest scalp of his young career with a stunning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win on centre court in Rome.&nbsp;Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam winner, was making his comeback from a shoulder injury in the last big tournament before the French Open, which starts later this month.&nbsp;And the world number four was unsure as to whether he would be back to his best for the clay-court Grand Slam, simply saying &quot;I hope so&quot; when asked by reporters whether Paris would see the all-conquering &quot;Nole&quot; of old.&nbsp;&quot;Let&#39;s see what happens,&quot; said Djokovic, who lamented persistent physical problems in the twilight of his stellar career.&nbsp;&quot;I don&#39;t recall the last time in the last couple of years of preparation where I didn&#39;t have any physical issues coming into a tournament,&quot; said Djokovic.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s always something, it&#39;s kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.&quot;&nbsp;Djokovic wore shoulder strappings in his first tournament since losing in the last 16 at Indian Wells in March, after pulling out of tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid.&nbsp;He hadn&#39;t previously been knocked out this early in a tournament since the Madrid Open last year, and he looked a long way from the player who has won six titles at the Foro Italico.&nbsp;He breezed into a one-set lead but then buckled under the weight of Prizmic&#39;s powerful hitting which has led to the 20-year-old rising to a career-high world ranking of 79.&nbsp;Prizmic has beaten two top 10 players in a matter of weeks with sixth-ranked Ben Shelton succumbing in the second round in Madrid last month.&nbsp;Djokovic is Prizmic&#39;s idol, and a landmark win gives the young talent a match with either Ugo Humbert or Vit Kopriva and a chance to make the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time.&nbsp;&quot;It was big moment for me. It was also big thing to share the court with a legend,&quot; said Prizmic.&nbsp;&quot;So yeah today, I mean, I played unbelievable. I&#39;m very happy about my performance.&quot;&nbsp;Zverev, Swiatek throughEarlier, Alexander Zverev eased into the third round after comfortably dealing with fellow German Daniel Altmaier in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.&nbsp;The second seed is in good form having reached the final in Madrid last weekend and he is again on the other side of the draw to red-hot favourite Jannik Sinner.&nbsp;The 29-year-old has been beaten by Sinner in four Masters 100 events this year and will have his work cut out if he is to add to his 2017 and 2024 titles in Rome.&nbsp;Three-time champion Iga Swiatek battled into the third round of the women&#39;s tournament with a 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 win over Caty McNally.&nbsp;Swiatek will play US 28th seed Emma Navarro or Italy&#39;s Elisabetta Cocciaretto this weekend for a place in the last 16, after a match which initially looked like being a routine win but dragged on for the best part of three hours.&nbsp;&quot;It was a tough match, Caty really played great,&quot; said Swiatek.&nbsp;&quot;I had to be patient. For sure, some mistakes happened. It was not an easy match. I&#39;m really happy I was solid at the end and in the important moments. I kept it together.&quot;&nbsp;Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, has not won a clay tournament since capturing the last of her four French Open titles in 2024.&nbsp;The Pole suffered her earliest exit in five appearances in Madrid last month when she retired in the third round due to a viral illness.

Tennis

Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Italian Open after a shock defeat to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, raising fitness concerns before Roland Garros, while Alexander Zverev and Iga Swiatek advanced in Rome.

Ailing Djokovic falls to early Italian Open exit ahead of Roland Garros

GENEVA: There are six confirmed cases of hantavirus so far out of eight suspected ones following an outbreak on a cruise ship, the World Health Organization said Friday.&nbsp;&quot;As of 8 May, a total of eight cases, including three deaths (case fatality ratio 38%), have been reported. Six cases have been laboratory-confirmed as hantavirus infections, with all identified as Andes virus (ANDV),&quot; it said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;WHO assesses the risk to the global population posed by this event as low and will continue to monitor the epidemiological situation and update the risk assessment&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;The risk for passengers and crew on the ship is considered moderate,&quot; it added.&nbsp;

Europe

The World Health Organization says six hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship outbreak have been confirmed, including three deaths, while global risk remains low but moderate for passengers and crew aboard the vessel.

WHO says six hantavirus cases confirmed so far

Web Desk/AFP

US President Donald Trump says he is expecting Iran’s response to Washington’s latest proposal on a deal to end the Middle East war by 'tonight'.

Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal 'tonight'

MIAMI: Lionel Messi says Argentina fans are right to dream of a second straight World Cup crown, but warns other contenders, including France and Spain, &quot;are in better shape&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;There are a lot of guys who are dealing with injuries or a lack of match fitness, but the truth is that when the group is together it has been proven that it competes and always wants to win,&quot; Messi said of Argentina in an interview with host Pollo Alvarez published on YouTube.&nbsp;However, the eight-time Ballon d&#39;Or winner, who has made Inter Miami the must-see team in Major League Soccer, said the competition will be stiff.&nbsp;&quot;As of today, France are in great shape again. They have a ton of top-level players,&quot; he said of the team that Argentina beat in the 2022 final in Qatar.&nbsp;He also tipped Spain and Brazil, called Portugal &quot;very competitive&quot; and noted that traditional European powers Germany and England are always dangerous.&nbsp;Messi, who will turn 39 in June, has yet to officially confirm his participation in the tournament, which will be held from June 11-July 19 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.&nbsp;Nevertheless, the former Barcelona star stressed that he has not set any time limits on his career as his competitive hunger remains.&nbsp;&quot;I love playing football, and I&#39;m going to do it until I can&#39;t anymore,&quot; said Messi, who earned MLS Most Valuable Player honors last season as he sparked Miami to the title and led the league in goals.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m competitive,&quot; he said. &quot;I like to win at everything ... I don&#39;t even let my son win at video games.&quot;

Lionel Messi says Argentina can defend their World Cup title but warns France, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, Germany and England are strong contenders, while he remains motivated and undecided about playing.