Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to launch its first hyperspectral satellite, HS-1, into orbit tomorrow, marking a significant milestone in the country&rsquo;s advancement toward high-resolution space-based monitoring and data applications.&nbsp;In an official statement issued this week, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) announced that the HS-1 satellite will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in China.&nbsp;&ldquo;The launch of HS-1 marks a new era in the development of space-based applications in agriculture, disaster management, urban development, and environmental monitoring,&rdquo; SUPARCO said in the statement.&nbsp;Precision agriculture and food securityAccording to SUPARCO, the HS-1 satellite&rsquo;s hyperspectral imaging capabilities will enable precision farming by capturing detailed spectral data to assess crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation efficiency.&nbsp;&ldquo;The satellite will provide detailed insights into crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation patterns,&rdquo; the commission stated, adding that this technology is expected to improve crop yield estimation by 15&ndash;20 percent, contributing directly to national food security.&nbsp;Urban development and environmental monitoringThe agency said that HS-1 will also play a key role in urban planning and environmental management. Equipped with high-resolution sensors, the satellite will help map infrastructure, monitor environmental changes, and analyze patterns of urban expansion.&nbsp;&ldquo;It will support sustainable city planning, land-use assessment, and efficient resource management,&rdquo; SUPARCO noted.&nbsp;Disaster management and early warningSUPARCO emphasized that the satellite will be a critical tool for early warning systems and post-disaster response. Its advanced imaging technology will facilitate flood prediction, landslide tracking, and geo-hazard assessment, particularly in Pakistan&rsquo;s mountainous and seismically active regions such as the Karakoram Highway and northern areas.&nbsp;&ldquo;HS-1 will enhance disaster preparedness by providing timely data on floods, earthquakes, deforestation, and land degradation,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;Space self-relianceThe launch of HS-1 is part of Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to strengthen its remote sensing capabilities and expand its space-based infrastructure. SUPARCO said the mission aligns with the National Space Policy and SUPARCO Vision 2047, which aim to position Pakistan as a regional leader in space technology and innovation.&nbsp;&ldquo;This mission reflects Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to leveraging space technology for sustainable national development,&rdquo; SUPARCO concluded.

Gadgets

Pakistan will launch its first hyperspectral satellite, HS-1, from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre tomorrow, enhancing capabilities in agriculture, disaster management, and urban planning under SUPARCO’s Vision 2047 for sustainable national development and space innovation.

Pakistan to launch first hyperspectral satellite from China tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday strongly condemned the International Cricket Council (ICC) for issuing a &ldquo;selective and premature&rdquo; statement regarding the deaths of three Afghan cricketers, rejecting allegations that Islamabad carried out airstrikes targeting civilians.&nbsp;In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Tarar wrote: &ldquo;Pakistan, a prime victim of cross-border terrorism, rejects the ICC&rsquo;s selective, biased, and premature comment that advances a disputed allegation.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that &ldquo;the ICC has cited no independent verification to substantiate these claims,&rdquo; accusing the global cricket body of echoing unverified statements from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) and its allies to create an &ldquo;orchestrated echo chamber.&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister also questioned the ICC&rsquo;s neutrality, noting that Chairperson Jay Shah, who is Indian, had &ldquo;publicly echoed the same claim within hours.&rdquo;&nbsp;Tarar said Pakistan &ldquo;strongly rejects the characterization&rdquo; made by the ICC and called for &ldquo;an immediate correction.&rdquo;&nbsp;He warned that under its current leadership, the ICC had shown &ldquo;a pattern of avoidable controversies&rdquo; aimed at undermining Pakistan cricket, citing the recent &ldquo;handshake controversy&rdquo; during the Asia Cup as an example.&nbsp;&ldquo;Politics must not contaminate sport,&rdquo; Tarar said, urging the ICC to &ldquo;restore its neutrality, uphold fair play, and avoid becoming part of political narratives.&rdquo;&nbsp;Earlier this week, Pakistan carried out precision airstrikes in Afghanistan targeting what it described as terrorist sanctuaries used for cross-border attacks against Pakistan. The military&rsquo;s media wing said the strikes followed repeated warnings to Kabul.&nbsp;In response, the Afghanistan Cricket Board withdrew from a planned T20 tri-series in Pakistan, alleging that three local cricketers were killed in a Pakistani military strike in Paktika province.&nbsp;The ICC later expressed solidarity with the ACB and condemned the &ldquo;act of violence&rdquo; &mdash; a stance Pakistan dismissed as based on &ldquo;disputed and unverified claims.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar condemned the ICC for a “biased and premature” statement on Afghan cricketers’ deaths, rejecting allegations of Pakistani airstrikes and accusing the ICC of politicizing sport and lacking neutrality

Pakistan slams ICC over ‘biased’ remarks on Afghan cricketers’ deaths

ISLAMABAD: Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday, confirming South Africa&rsquo;s place in the semifinals alongside defending champions Australia. Pakistan was 92 for 5 after 25 overs when heavy rain returned for the second time, prompting officials to call off play after a three-hour delay. Earlier, New Zealand medium pacer Lea Tahuhu removed Omaima Sohail for 3, while Sidra Amin fell for 9 to a sharp catch by Eden Carson at point before the first rain break left Pakistan struggling at 52 for 3 in the 13th over. When play briefly resumed, Pakistan lost two more wickets, including captain Fatima Sana, bowled by a well-disguised Amelia Kerr googly, before rain ultimately ended the game. The washout lifted New Zealand to fifth in the standings, with two challenging fixtures remaining against India and England, while Pakistan remained winless and anchored at the bottom after five matches. It was the second consecutive no-result for both sides, as persistent bad weather continued to disrupt World Cup matches in the Sri Lankan capital.

Cricket

Persistent rain washed out the Pakistan–New Zealand Women’s World Cup match in Colombo, confirming South Africa’s semifinal berth. Pakistan, at 92–5 after 25 overs, remained winless, while New Zealand stayed fifth in the standings.

Rain washes out Pakistan–New Zealand clash, South Africa advance

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik has said Pakistan&rsquo;s recent actions along the border should not be viewed as &ldquo;aggressive&rdquo; but rather as a &ldquo;firm stance&rdquo; to safeguard the country&rsquo;s sovereignty and protect its people from cross-border terrorist attacks.&nbsp;&ldquo;I would not call it aggressive, I would call it firm,&rdquo; Dr. Malik said, emphasizing that Pakistan&rsquo;s position is rooted in defending its sovereignty and the safety of its citizens, particularly those living in border regions.&nbsp;He noted that communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and parts of Balochistan have long borne the brunt of terrorism and instability.&nbsp;&ldquo;Most of the people who live along the borders have already faced a lot of devastation. The poor and the most vulnerable are being attacked,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The minister also paid tribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s security personnel, highlighting the daily sacrifices made by soldiers and law enforcement officials combating terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our security forces are facing attacks every day. We are losing young men almost daily and that is unacceptable,&rdquo; Dr. Malik said.&nbsp;He stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s resolve to confront terrorist networks was not about escalation, but about self-defence and national security. &ldquo;If there are organizations and hideouts involved in acts of terror or directly attacking Pakistan, then the state has every right to act firmly &mdash; as any country would,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Dr. Malik underscored that Pakistan will continue to take decisive measures to protect its borders and people, reiterating that the nation will not allow its children or vulnerable communities to &ldquo;be put in harm&rsquo;s way for nothing.&rdquo;

The Perspective

Minister Musadik Malik described Pakistan’s recent border actions as a “firm stance” to protect sovereignty and citizens from terrorism, praising security forces’ sacrifices and affirming continued decisive measures for national safety.

Pakistan’s Actions ‘Firm, Not Aggressive’, Says Minister Musadik Malik

AUSTIN: Red Bull&#39;s Max Verstappen cruised to an easy victory Saturday in a crash-filled United States Grand Prix sprint race that saw McLaren teammates and championship leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both knocked out in the first turn when their cars collided.&nbsp;The loss of both McLaren cars early that could have a huge impact on the season championship as McLaren mechanics now face the challenge of fixing both cars before qualifying for the main event.&nbsp;Verstappen started Saturday&rsquo;s sprint on pole with Norris second and Piastri third. Kick Sauber&rsquo;s Nico Hulkenberg tried to make a dive under Piastri into the first corner and instead bumped cars and sent Piastri crashing into Norris.&nbsp;Norris&rsquo; car spun and bounced, and a rear wheel was knocked off. Piastri&rsquo;s car suffered suspension damage.&nbsp;A late-race crash between Aston Martin&rsquo;s Lance Stroll and Haas driver Esteban Ocon forced the 19-lap event to finish behind a safety car.&nbsp;The result allows Verstappen, who is making a late-season charge at a possible fifth consecutive Formula 1 championship, to pull within 55 points of leader Piastri with six grand prix and two more sprint races on the season.&nbsp;Because both McLarens were taken out of the race, Piastri maintains his 22-point lead over Norris. Both drivers are chasing their first season championship.&nbsp;It was the second straight race with contact between the two McLarens. They nearly crashed in Singapore when Norris bumped tires with Piastri on the opening lap.

Racing

Max Verstappen dominated the United States Grand Prix sprint after McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided on the first lap. The crash ended both drivers’ races and dented McLaren’s title hopes ahead of Sunday’s main event.

Verstappen wins dramatic US Grand Prix sprint, McLarens crash

Saqib Tanveer

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Following a temporary ceasefire, Pakistan and Afghanistan concluded high-level talks in Doha aimed at easing border tensions and strengthening counterterrorism cooperation, according to official sources.&nbsp;An official statement outlining the outcomes of the discussions is expected soon.&nbsp;The dialogue follows a series of violent incidents earlier this month that reignited hostilities along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Islamabad has voiced &ldquo;serious reservations&rdquo; over cross-border firing and militant activity allegedly originating from Afghan territory. Pakistani officials maintain that their recent retaliatory actions targeted militant hideouts and were conducted strictly in self-defense.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly warned that elements of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continue to operate from within Afghanistan, posing a direct threat to national security.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint despite repeated provocations,&rdquo; a senior security official told Pakistan TV Digital, adding that Islamabad expects Kabul to &ldquo;fulfill its responsibility of preventing the use of Afghan soil for terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Responsibility and respect&rsquo;Commenting on the Doha engagement, Ambassador Asif Durrani, Pakistan&rsquo;s former special envoy to Afghanistan, described the ongoing tension as &ldquo;mutually damaging&rdquo; and urged both sides to act responsibly.&nbsp;&ldquo;This tension is bad, it&rsquo;s bad for both countries. We should be living like good neighbors, and we must ensure that each other&rsquo;s sovereignty is respected,&rdquo; Durrani told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He stressed that the Afghan Taliban government must ensure its territory is not used by militant groups.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is incumbent upon the Afghan Taliban to ensure that Afghan soil is not misused by the TTP or any other terrorist groups,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Reflecting on Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing support for Afghanistan, Durrani noted:&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been supporting Afghanistan through thick and thin for the past 46 years. We hoped that with the Taliban&rsquo;s arrival things would improve, but they haven&rsquo;t. The number and lethality of attacks from the Afghan side have increased, and that&rsquo;s a source of concern for Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Durrani expressed cautious optimism about the Doha talks, emphasizing that Kabul must take concrete steps to rein in militancy.&nbsp;&ldquo;If the Taliban cannot control or disarm TTP groups, they should hand them over to Pakistan so we can deal with them according to our laws,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We should expect good sense to prevail when both sides come out of the meeting room.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Core issue remains unresolved&rsquo;Regional security analyst Zia-ur-Rehman told Pakistan TV Digital that while the Doha dialogue marks progress, the fundamental challenge persists.&nbsp;&ldquo;The core issue remains unresolved: until Kabul acknowledges the TTP&rsquo;s presence on Afghan soil and acts decisively against it, Islamabad&rsquo;s security concerns will persist,&rdquo; Rehman said.&nbsp;He added that Pakistan&rsquo;s decades-long policy toward Afghanistan has been &ldquo;a double-edged sword.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;From backing the mujahideen in the 1980s to supporting the Taliban&rsquo;s rise in 1996, Pakistan&rsquo;s strategy has shaped regional security,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But critics argue this approach has backfired, fueling militancy, straining border relations, and isolating Pakistan diplomatically.&rdquo;&nbsp;Test of political willDiplomatic observers describe the Doha engagement as a renewed attempt to replace confrontation with dialogue, with both sides expected to outline a mechanism ensuring non-use of territory against each other and enhancing joint counterterrorism efforts.&nbsp;While the final communiqu&eacute; is awaited, officials on both sides acknowledge that the Doha process marks a critical opportunity to stabilize bilateral relations between two neighbors whose security and prosperity remain closely intertwined.

Following a temporary ceasefire, Pakistan and Afghanistan concluded high-level talks in Doha aimed at easing border tensions, with a joint statement on counterterrorism cooperation and measures to curb TTP activity from Afghan territory expected soon.

Doha talks with Afghanistan ‘concluded,’ statement expected soon: sources

BARCELONA: &nbsp;Substitute Ronald Ara&uacute;jo snatched Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Girona in stoppage time in La Liga on Saturday and ended a mini losing streak before the clasico at Real Madrid next week.&nbsp;The central defender made the move of a striker when he slid in front of his marker as they raced to the near post and skilfully redirected a low pass from Frenkie de Jong and ignited the home crowd.&nbsp;Ara&uacute;jo&#39;s last-gasp goal came moments after Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was sent off with two quick yellow cards, apparently for complaining that the referee had not added more than four minutes of injury time.&nbsp;The sending off means Flick won&rsquo;t be on the sideline for the first clasico of the season.&nbsp;With his team stymied in attack and scorers Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Ferran Torres unavailable because of injury, Flick sent on Ara&uacute;jo in the 82nd and ordered him to join the attack in their desperate search for a winner.&nbsp;&ldquo;I am really happy for Ronald because he always plays with his whole heart for this team,&rdquo; Flick said. &ldquo;I spoke to him to ask if it was possible for him to play at this position.&quot;&nbsp;Before the international break, Barcelona lost to Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League and was stunned at Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga.&nbsp;Barcelona moved into the league lead with a one-point advantage over Madrid before it plays Getafe on Sunday. Before the trip to the capital, Barcelona hosts Olympiakos on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Football

Substitute Ronald Araújo scored a stoppage-time winner as Barcelona beat Girona 2-1 in La Liga. Coach Hansi Flick was sent off and will miss next week’s clasico against Real Madrid.

Araujo strikes late as Barca snatch win over Girona

MIRPUR: Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain claimed a career-best 6-35 as Bangladesh crushed West Indies by 74 runs on Saturday in the opener of their three-match ODI series.&nbsp;Rishad&#39;s figures, the second-best by a Bangladeshi bowler behind Mashrafe Bin Mortaza&rsquo;s 6-26 against Kenya in 2006, helped wrap up the West Indies innings for 133 in 39 overs.&nbsp;He also hit a 13 ball-26 to help Bangladesh post 207 before being all out in 49.4 overs.&nbsp;Openers Brandon King and Alick Athanzae batted resolutely on a typically sluggish Mirpur wicket to give West Indies a glimmer of hope to chase down the total.&nbsp;But the introduction of Rishad in the 12th changed the momentum.&nbsp;Rishad broke through with the wicket of Athanaze (27), but King kept West Indies in the hunt.&nbsp;Rishad was relentless and got the reward with the wicket of Keacy Carty (9) before baffling King, the top-scorer of West Indies with 44, with a leg-spin.&nbsp;King&rsquo;s dismissal left West Indies 82-3 in the 22nd over.&nbsp;Rishad, who bowled eight overs in a row in his first spell, ripped through West Indies middle order as it lost next seven wickets for 51 runs.&nbsp;Pacer Mustafizur Rahman had figures 2-16 to complement Rishad in demolishing the Caribbean batting lineup.&nbsp;Earlier, Towhid Hridoy anchored Bangladesh&rsquo;s innings after it was reduced to 8-2 in third over.&nbsp;Hridoy scored 51 off 90 with three fours and rebuilt the innings by sharing 71-run with Najmul Hossain Shanto (32).&nbsp;He steered off-spinner Roston Chase past cover for a single to raise his 11th half-century off 87 balls, but soon after was dismissed by Justin Greaves.&nbsp;Debutant Mahidul Islam Ankon kept the side flowing, but Chase (2-30) sent him back after he scored 46.&nbsp;Rishad&rsquo;s aggressive batting then propelled Bangladesh past 200-run mark and gave a boost ahead of defending the total.

Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain starred with a career-best 6-35 and a brisk 26 off 13 balls as Bangladesh defeated West Indies by 74 runs in the first ODI of their three-match series in Mirpur.


Bangladesh thrash West Indies as Rishad Hossain shines with 6-35

Nottingham Forest fired manager Ange Postecoglou around 20 minutes after a 3-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday and just 39 days after the Australian took over.&nbsp;Postecoglou didn&rsquo;t win any of his eight matches in charge after replacing Nuno Espirito Santo on September 9, and owner Evangelos Marinakis made a ruthless call after Forest&#39;s fourth straight loss in all competitions.&nbsp;&ldquo;Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,&rdquo; a statement read.&nbsp;&ldquo;The club will make no further comment at this time.&rdquo;&nbsp;It was Postecoglou&#39;s first job since being fired by Tottenham at the end of last season, despite leading Spurs to the Europa League title to break their 17-year trophy drought.&nbsp;Forest lost six and drew the other two of its eight games under Postecoglou. That included four losses from five in the league, scoring just one goal in the process, to leave Forest hovering just above the bottom three.&nbsp;Nuno was fired despite leading Forest into Europe following a very public falling-out with Marinakis, reportedly stemming from a breakdown in relations with the club&rsquo;s recently hired global head of football, Edu Gaspar.&nbsp;Postecoglou seemed an odd choice as the replacement, given his preferred style of play on the front foot and attacking, differed to Nuno&#39;s and the squad in place at the City Ground.&nbsp;If the idea was for Postecoglou to bring a more expansive approach to Forest, it didn&#39;t materialize. In five league games under the Australian, the team scored one goal.&nbsp;There were loud jeers at the full-time whistle at the Chelsea game.&nbsp;Who next?There was no immediate word of a replacement but British media has already reported that Sean Dyche, the former Burnley and Everton manager, was in line to take over should Forest fire Postecoglou.&nbsp;Dyche was sacked by Everton in January. He was a youth-team player at Forest before a career spent at lower-league clubs.&nbsp;His direct and pragmatic playing style is more similar to Nuno&#39;s than Postecoglou&#39;s.

Nottingham Forest fired manager Ange Postecoglou just 39 days after hiring him. The Australian failed to win any of his eight games. Sean Dyche is reported to be the frontrunner for replacement.

Postecoglou fired minutes after Forest’s 3-0 Premier League defeat

TEL AVIV: Israel said the remains of another hostage that Hamas handed over the day before were identified as Eliyahu Margalit, as the Palestinian death toll surpassed 68,000 people amid searching beneath the rubble.&nbsp;Israel&rsquo;s Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office said Saturday that Margalit&#39;s body was identified after testing by the National Center for Forensic Medicine and his family has been notified. The 76-year-old was abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, from the horse stables where he worked in Kibbutz Nir Oz.&nbsp;Margalit is the 10th returned hostage body since the ceasefire went into effect over a week ago. Hamas handed over an 11th body this week, but it wasn&rsquo;t that of a hostage. The effort to find the remains followed a warning from US President Donald Trump that he would green-light Israel to resume the war if Hamas doesn&rsquo;t live up to its end of the deal and return all hostages&rsquo; bodies, totalling 28.&nbsp;In a statement Saturday, the hostage forum, which supports the families of those abducted, said Margalit&#39;s return brings a measure of solace to his family, but that they won&rsquo;t rest until the remaining 18 hostages come home. The forum says it will continue holding weekly rallies until all remains are returned.&nbsp;The handover of hostages&#39; remains, called for under the ceasefire agreement, has been among the key sticking points along with aid deliveries, the opening of border crossings into Gaza and hopes for reconstruction in a process backed by much of the international community to help end two years of devastating war in Gaza.&nbsp;Hamas has said it is committed to the terms of the ceasefire deal, including the handover of bodies. However, the retrieval of bodies is hampered by the scope of the devastation and the presence of dangerous, unexploded ordnance. The group has also told mediators that some bodies are in areas controlled by Israeli troops.&nbsp;As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel on Saturday also returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza. Gaza&#39;s Health Ministry said the International Committee of the Red Cross handed over the bodies to Nasser Hospital, bringing the total number of bodies Israel had returned to 135.&nbsp;Also, on Saturday the ministry of health said that more than 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in the two-year-long war.&nbsp;Nine Palestinians killed by Israeli fireMeanwhile, Hamas is accusing Israel of continuing its attacks and violating the ceasefire.&nbsp;On Friday the Civil Defense, a first responders&rsquo; agency operating under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry, said nine people were killed, including women and children, when their vehicle was hit by Israeli fire in Gaza City. The Civil Defense said the car crossed into an Israeli-controlled area in eastern Gaza.&nbsp;As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel still maintains control of about half of Gaza.&nbsp;The Civil Defense said that Israel could have warned the people in a manner that wasn&#39;t lethal. The group recovered the bodies on Saturday with coordination from the UN, it said.&nbsp;Demands for aidHamas is also urging mediators to increase the flow of aid into Gaza, expedite the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt and start reconstruction of the battered territory.&nbsp;The flow of aid remains constrained because of continued closures of crossings and restrictions on aid groups.&nbsp;United Nations data on Friday showed 339 trucks have been offloaded for distribution in Gaza since the ceasefire began a week ago. Under the agreement, some 600 humanitarian aid trucks would be allowed to enter each day.&nbsp;Gaza&rsquo;s more than 2 million people are hoping the ceasefire will bring relief from the humanitarian disaster caused by Israel&rsquo;s offensive. Throughout the war, Israel restricted aid entry to Gaza sometimes halting it altogether.&nbsp;Famine was declared in Gaza City, and the UN says it has verified more than 400 people who died of malnutrition-related causes, including more than 100 children.&nbsp;Israel&rsquo;s campaign in Gaza has killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government in the territory. Its figures are seen as a reliable estimate of wartime deaths by UN agencies and many independent experts.

Middle East

Over 68,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as Israel and Hamas exchange bodies under a fragile ceasefire. Nine more Palestinians died from Israeli fire, while aid deliveries and reconstruction efforts remain severely restricted.