Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: Peshawar is preparing to launch the Electronic Traffic Challan (ticketing) system along with the long-awaited Safe City Project, which will officially go live in March. The project will implement a modern e-ticketing system to automate law enforcement and reduce human interference.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital about the upcoming transition, Peshawar City Traffic Officer Zahid Ullah confirmed that infrastructure is being finalized to monitor the city&rsquo;s roads. The backbone of the initiative is a network of high-definition cameras that can identify vehicles using government-issued, machine-readable license plates.&nbsp;The move is being praised as a major win for transparency. Unlike manual policing, the digital system is built to be immune to the &quot;VIP culture&quot; and petty corruption that often hinder manual enforcement. Since the software automatically detects violations and issues fines, it cannot be coerced, pressured, or bribed.&nbsp;&quot;It removes the human element,&quot; said Muhammad Luqman, a local driver who spoke to Pakistan TV Digital. &quot;Everyone will be treated the same way. This will go a long way in stopping people from driving the wrong way or trying to talk their way out of a ticket.&quot;&nbsp;The scope of the e-challan system goes beyond penalizing offenders. The system is designed to serve as the brain for the city&#39;s infrastructure. For example, if cameras detect heavy congestion on a specific road, the system can automatically adjust traffic light intervals to ease the traffic or notify relevant authorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Special focus is being placed on motorcyclists, with AI-driven cameras set to monitor and fine those who fail to wear safety helmets. By strictly enforcing lane discipline and &quot;wrong-way&quot; violations, officials expect a significant drop in urban road accidents.&nbsp;The government has intensified its requirement that all car owners use official, machine-readable plates. Without these plates, integration with the Safe City database remains incomplete, and vehicles could be flagged for non-compliance even before a traffic violation happens.&nbsp;According to Zahid Ullah, the relevant departments are currently deliberating to finalize the exact legal scope and the &quot;extent of implementation&quot; for the e-challan system.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the March launch date approaches and a network of cameras and sensors is being installed throughout the provincial capital, it seems that the era of manual traffic stops is coming to an end, and the era of digital accountability is about to begin.

Peshawar is preparing to launch the Electronic Traffic Challan (ticketing) system along with the long-awaited Safe City Project, which will officially go live in March. The project will implement a modern e-ticketing system to automate law enforcement and

Security

Peshawar is preparing to launch the Electronic Traffic Challan (ticketing) system along with the long-awaited Safe City Project, which will officially go live in March. The project will implement a modern e-ticketing system to automate law enforcement and reduce human interference

Peshawar’s traffic violators to start receiving e-tickets from March

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a new alert with the fresh westerly wave expected to approach on Sunday night after the first month of 2026 proved to be particularly harsh for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-north-to-receive-more-snowfall" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">northwestern</a>&nbsp;Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following a destructive spell over the last few days.&nbsp;A new westerly wave is set to grip the province, bringing more heavy snowfall and rain just as rescue teams work to clear the aftermath of the current weather system.&nbsp;Earlier this week, a weather system active between January 21st and 25th, brought the season&#39;s first major heavy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistans-north-to-receive-more-snowfall" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">snowfall</a>&nbsp;to the northern belts of the province.&nbsp;While that system is still in full effect, a new notification from the authorities indicates that it is being followed closely by another similar weather system.&nbsp;The original alert warned about the initial entry of the westerly wave, causing widespread disruption in the high-altitude districts and heavy downpours in the plains, including the Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, and Peshawar districts of the province.&nbsp;According to details Pakistan TV Digital received from the Peshawar Metrological Department, the fresh westerly wave is expected to approach on Sunday night, fully gripping upper KP by Monday, January 26th.&nbsp;&nbsp;This system is predicted to bring rain, wind, and thunderstorms, with heavy snowfall specifically targeting the mountain ranges of the Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Abbottabad areas.&nbsp;While the province is already suffering from the effects of the last 72 hours, the situation remains critical in several areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chitral, which has already faced a tragedy when a massive avalanche in Lower Chitral recently claimed the lives of nine people.&nbsp;The Northern Passes, including the Lowari Tunnel approach roads and the Karakoram Highway, have faced intermittent blockages, stranding a multitude of commuters.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the Tirah Valley of the Khyber district, where massive snowfall has cut off roads, the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and travelers have faced severe hardships due to vehicles getting trapped with people inside.&nbsp;The plains, which include Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera, and Swabi, have experienced heavy rainfall, leading to localized flooding and risks of roof collapses in older settlements. The provincial government of KP and relevant authorities, which have been grappling with the current crisis, helping people and vehicles stranded in the snow, clearing roads etc. have transitioned from recovery mode back to high alert.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has kept its control room active 24/7 and directed all district administrations to remain vigilant for the incoming wave on Monday.&nbsp;Rescue 1122 and the security forces remain deployed in high-risk zones like Tirah and Chitral. Heavy machinery is stationed at major points in Galiyat and Malakand to ensure the Hazara Expressway and main arteries remain traversable.&nbsp;The government, apart from closing down roads leading to the Galiyat regions, has issued a strong advisory for tourists and locals to avoid unnecessary travel to Naran, Kaghan, Swat, and Kalam on Monday and Tuesday, as the risk of landslides and further avalanches is extremely high.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan Meteorological Department has issued a new alert with the fresh westerly wave expected to approach on Sunday night after the first month of 2026 proving to be particularly harsh for north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following a destructive spell over the last few days

Fresh westerly wave to hit Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, heavy snowfall, rain feared

PESHAWAR: Pakistan&#39;s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a &ldquo;most immediate&rdquo; flash flood advisory for the northern regions of Pakistan, warning of rising water levels in the River Kabul and its tributaries due to an incoming strong weather system. The National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) at the NDMA identified a powerful <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/authorities-warn-of-rain-hail-across-punjab" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">&ldquo;westerly wave&rdquo;</a> expected to grip the upper parts of the country and persist till Jan. 24. According to the official advisory, the combination of moderate to heavy rainfall and significant snowfall is expected to cause a sharp rise in water flows between Jan. 22 and 23. The advisory highlighted the following areas considered at high risk: Swat, Chitral, Buner, Shangla, Lower and Upper Dir, Malakand, Bajaur, Mardan, Swabi, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram, Torghar, Haripur, Kolai-Palas and Kohistan districts in northeastern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as well as high-altitude regions and valleys across Kashmir. Experts at the Flood Forecasting Division warned that River Kabul and its associated streams &mdash; including the Panjkora, Swat, and Kalpani &mdash; could see sudden surges. While the NDMA anticipates low to medium flows at Nowshera and downstream of the Tarbela Dam, the risk of localized flash flooding in mountain streams and low-lying areas remains high. The NDMA urged the public, especially those living near riverbanks and streams, to exercise extreme caution. Key recommendations include avoiding unnecessary travel, while tourists and travelers are advised to check weather updates before heading to hilly areas, and to avoid parking or camping near water channels. Additionally, the public has been asked to remain vigilant regarding loose structures such as billboards, solar panels and electrical poles, which may be vulnerable to strong winds. Landslides and rockfalls are a significant threat in the upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Kashmir. Road blockages are highly likely during the peak of the wet spell. The <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/weather-advisory-punjab-to-face-storms-hail-heavy-rain-within-24-hours" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Provincial and District Disaster Management Authorities</a> (PDMA) have also been placed on high alert across the region. Local administrations have been directed to ensure emergency personnel and heavy machinery are ready to clear potential road blockages and conduct evacuations if necessary. In addition to the flood risk, the NDMA noted that the wet spell is expected to diminish persistent fog conditions in Punjab and Sindh, though temperatures across the country are predicted to drop significantly over the next 48 hours.

File Photo - Margalla hills in Islamabad (Wikimedia Commons)

The National Emergencies Operation Center has identified a powerful 'westerly wave,' expected to grip the upper parts of the country and persist till Jan. 24.

Pakistan disaster authority issues flash flood alert for northern Pakistan

PESHAWAR: Near the narrow lanes of Namak Mandi, the rhythmic tap of a cobbler&rsquo;s hammer signals a tradition centuries old. A left turn leads into Chappal Bazaar, where rows of shops display Peshawari chappals in every shape, color, and size. Locals mingle with tourists, snapping photographs, recording videos, and selecting souvenirs to take home.&nbsp;At the heart of this bustling market sits Haji Nooruddin Shinwari, known across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/peshawars-kahwa-tradition-endures-centuries-blending-culture-hospitality-and-history" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peshawar</a>&nbsp;nd far beyond as Chacha Nooruddin, the man widely credited with transforming a humble tribal sandal into globally recognized footwear.&nbsp;For more than five decades, Nooruddin has worked from his modest shop, which has become a regular stop for politicians, celebrities, athletes, and foreign visitors. Its walls serve as a living archive of Pakistan&rsquo;s social and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/inside-peshawar-museum-where-empires-converge-and-centuries-quietly-speak" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">cultural history</a>.&nbsp;In 1992, Nooruddin crafted an intricate Panjadar design for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Former President Arif Alvi later commissioned pairs for himself and his wife.&nbsp;West Indies cricket legend and Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy became such an admirer that he helped introduce the chappal to audiences in the Caribbean. World champion British-Pakistani boxer Amir Khan also visited the shop during his time in Pakistan, joining a long list of distinguished patrons.&nbsp;Each year, as the Pakistan Super League season begins, Chacha Nooruddin presents the entire Peshawar Zalmi squad with his signature chappals. A gesture that has become a quiet tradition of its own.&nbsp;From Peshawar to the worldWhile the semi-closed leather sandal has long been synonymous with Pashtun culture, its global popularity and, at times, appropriation can largely be traced back to Chacha Nooruddin&rsquo;s influence.&nbsp;In 2014, British fashion brand Paul Smith released the &ldquo;Robert Sandal,&rdquo; effectively a Peshawari chappal under a different name, priced at $400. Following criticism over cultural appropriation, the brand later amended its description to acknowledge that the design was &ldquo;inspired by the Peshawar Chappal.&rdquo;&nbsp;In 2019, French luxury house Christian Louboutin unveiled a similar style, further highlighting the global appeal of the traditional footwear.&nbsp;Nooruddin&rsquo;s dedication to his craft has not gone unnoticed at home. In March 2024, he was awarded the Presidential Civil Award, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, for his contributions to the culture and craftsmanship of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking the first time a cobbler from Chappal Bazaar received such a national honor.&nbsp;The original design, centuries old, was shaped by the rugged terrain of the region and long worn by Pashtun men. Today, it is increasingly being embraced by women as well.&nbsp;&ldquo;I have trained myself in designing for women, and there are a few patterns I make that suit them,&rdquo; Nooruddin said.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s good that they are also embracing the chappal,&rdquo; he added, noting its traditionally male association.&nbsp;Despite international recognition and orders from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Gulf countries, Chacha Nooruddin remains firmly grounded. He prioritizes craftsmanship over scale, often taking up to three days to hand-stitch a single premium pair rather than turning to mass production.&nbsp;Holding a needle against a piece of deep-brown leather, he reflects quietly on his life&rsquo;s work.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;This isn&rsquo;t just a shoe,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It is the identity of Peshawar. As long as I have my health, I will keep this identity alive.&rdquo;

Chacha Nooruddin and global rise of Peshawari Chappal

Culture

For more than five decades, Nooruddin has worked from his modest shop, which has become a regular stop for politicians, celebrities, athletes, and foreign visitors. Its walls serve as a living archive of Pakistan’s social and cultural history.

Master’s stitch: Chacha Nooruddin and global rise of Peshawari Chappal

PESHAWAR: In cities like London, tea is an art of high society; in Rome, espresso punctuates the day; in Istanbul, &ccedil;ay fuels conversation. But in Peshawar, the bustling heart of Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a unique hot beverage, kahwa, defines the rhythm of daily life. More than a drink, kahwa is a social lubricant, a seal of a deal, and the first gesture of hospitality, a tradition carried along the Silk Road from East Asia centuries ago. It has survived the rise and fall of empires, remaining central to the city&rsquo;s culture and commerce. The historic Qissa Khwani Bazaar, or &ldquo;Street of Storytellers,&rdquo; is where kahwa culture thrives. Here, merchants, storytellers, and travelers once gathered, and where Fazal Karim, a local Kahwa shop owner, traces the practice back generations. &ldquo;Caravans used to come from Afghanistan back in the day&hellip; the city gates would be closed at night. To wait for them to open in the morning, people would tell stories&hellip; and during these stories, kahwa would also be served,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;It became inseparable from the bazaar itself.&rdquo; Even today, travelers seek the experience. Karim recalls visits from foreign diplomats: &ldquo;Tourists come all the time to try a cup of our Kahwa. They really like the taste.&rdquo; Many kahwa houses, some dating back 170 years, continue to operate in the same locations. Jamdad Khan, another long-standing shop owner, reflects: &ldquo;This shop in Qissa Khwani Bazaar is one of the oldest; the bazaar has changed, but the shop has stayed the same.&rdquo; Stepping inside a traditional Kahwakhana is a journey through time. The air is heavy with the aroma of cardamom and wood smoke, rising from massive copper samovars that constantly bubble with boiling water. Kahwa is served in green teapots called chainaks and sipped from delicate bone china cups. Rituals of service, pouring boiling Kahwa into successive cups to rinse them before the first sip, preserve the centuries-old tradition. In the narrow bazaar alleys, young boys navigate the crowd carrying trays of kahwa, a testament to how deeply the drink permeates commerce and daily life. Tourists like Yashal are struck by the ambience: &ldquo;It genuinely feels like a second home&hellip; so many people have been here before us, in buildings that are 200&ndash;300 years old.&rdquo; The recipe is simple, green tea, cardamom, and sugar, yet its significance is profound. Fazal Karim notes its health benefits: &ldquo;Kahwa is very good for digestion after a meal. It also reduces weight.&rdquo; While Pakistan imports much of its Kahwa, local vendors praise Vietnamese Kahwa for its flavor, underscoring the city&rsquo;s pursuit of quality in every cup. Whether for taste, wellness, or connection to history, Kahwa remains the soul of Peshawar, a tradition flowing hot and strong through the city&rsquo;s streets. A reminder that even as empires rise and fall, the simple pleasure of a cup of tea endures.

Kahwa culture, centered in Peshawar’s Qissa Khwani Bazaar, blends history, hospitality, and commerce, with traditional green tea serving as a social, cultural, and culinary staple.

Peshawar’s kahwa tradition endures centuries, blending culture, hospitality and history

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board (KPITB) has officially designated 2026 as the &ldquo;Year of AI,&rdquo; signaling a shift from basic digitization to a future where artificial intelligence becomes a standard public utility. One of the province&rsquo;s most ambitious initiatives under the Smarter Governance Program is the rollout of GovGPT, an AI-driven tool developed through the Durshal Government Fellowship Program. The system is designed to assist government employees across KP in navigating complex regulations and procedures efficiently. &ldquo;We are working on governance digitization that provides real facilitation to citizens as well as the people who serve them,&rdquo; said Ibrahim Saleem, who oversees key projects at the Durshal Fellowship Lab, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital. Complementing this initiative, the Dastak App now features AI chatbots to respond to citizen queries, while Citizen Facilitation Centers (CFCs) serve as physical hubs where AI-backed systems help process documents such as birth and death certificates or domiciles, allowing citizens to track progress through a single window. KPITB is also using AI as a tool for social change. Karishma Zakaullah, head of growth and partnerships at Code for Pakistan, highlighted a gender-inclusive initiative under the D4WEE (Digitization for Women Economic Empowerment) program, run in collaboration with UN Women. The program trains 6,000 girls from Mardan, Swabi, and Peshawar in advanced AI and digital skills. &ldquo;This is the first-of-its-kind Women Digital Internship,&rdquo; Zakaullah said. &ldquo;Girls from far-flung areas like Chitral and DI Khan receive a stipend of Rs30,000, plus mobile phones and internet access, to learn high-demand ICT skills remotely.&rdquo; For urban residents, AI is being deployed to improve daily life. The KP Open Data Portal now powers intelligent traffic management, automatically adjusting congestion points using camera data and traffic flow metrics. Geospatial mapping and air sensors are being used to identify pollution hotspots and improve environmental health. Looking ahead, Voice2Gov is being developed to allow rural residents to access government services via voice commands in local languages such as Pashto and Urdu. By training both graduating students and government personnel in AI, KPITB is ensuring that the &ldquo;Year of AI&rdquo; represents a long-term transformation rather than a temporary trend. &ldquo;Our goal is the proper utilization of the full potential of AI to make life simpler for every citizen of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,&rdquo; Saleem said. A female visitor at the Durshal offices added, &ldquo;The focus is to make Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a leader in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence while making people&rsquo;s lives easier and smarter.&rdquo;

Economy

System is designed to assist government employees across KP in navigating complex regulations and procedures efficiently; Dastak App now features AI chatbots to respond to citizen queries, while CFCs serve as physical hubs where AI-backed systems help process documents such as birth and death certificates or domiciles, allowing citizens to track progress through a single window.

Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa declares 2026 'Year of AI,' drives inclusive governance

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has increased its police budget by 408% over the last 12 years, prioritizing security spending above all other provincial departments to combat rising security challenges.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to official documents obtained from the Central Police Office (CPO), the total funding provided to the police force over the last decade has reached Rs824.3 billion.&nbsp;This increase is significant considering the uptick in terror attacks in 2025, which was the deadliest year for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in more than a decade. To keep pace with the scale and pace of terrorism, these funds are being used to empower the police force with additional personnel, state-of-the-art equipment, and training.&nbsp;For the current fiscal year (2025-26), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police budget has been set at over Rs157.57 billion, marking a 26.6% increase from the previous year. This growth rate significantly outpaces other sectors, such as health (19.2%) and education (11%).&nbsp;A total of Rs126.27 billion (a 25% increase) is dedicated to personnel salaries. A total of Rs25.57 billion (a 35% increase) has been earmarked for operational costs and equipment.&nbsp;Beyond personnel costs, the provincial government is aggressively enhancing the force&#39;s tactical capabilities. The CPO confirmed that non-salary funds are being utilized to transform the police into a high-tech fighting force.&nbsp;Key procurements and ongoing upgrades include investments in advanced equipment like anti-drone systems, night-vision guns, and armored command vehicles. Twenty bulletproof cars have already been delivered to the force.&nbsp; Over 2,000 Kalashnikov rifles, along with specialized sniper rifles, have been provided to enhance field capacity.&nbsp;The scale of this financial shift is clearer than in fiscal year 2014-15, when the total police budget was a mere 29.9 billion rupees. Over the years, the &quot;Non-Salary&quot; budget, essential for weapons and fuel, has grown from Rs3.61 billion in 2014 to over Rs25 billion today, reflecting a shift toward modernization and upgradation.&nbsp;The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government maintains that these funds are essential to enhancing police capacity and ensuring the province&#39;s safety amid evolving security threats.

The increase, spread over 12 years, is significant considering the uptick in terror attacks in 2025, which was the deadliest year for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in more than a decade.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police budget surges by record 408% to over Rs150 billion

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA) recorded 30 foreign tourists and 75,000 domestic visitors across the province&rsquo;s key destinations during the brief New Year period. As 2025 drew to a close, Pakistan&#39;s northwestern province witnessed a massive surge in tourism fueled by a picturesque winter spell, a fitting end to a record-breaking year.&nbsp; According to data released by KPCTA, a powerful weather system brought heavy snowfall and rain across the province, ending a prolonged dry spell and drawing thousands of visitors eager to witness the seasonal transformation. The Swat Valley emerged as the premier attraction, welcoming a staggering 52,788 domestic tourists and 28 foreign visitors during the final days of December.&nbsp; Other regions also saw significant activity; Naran and Kaghan hosted 3,300 visitors, while even remote areas like the Kumrat Valley and the Kalash Valley recorded hundreds of arrivals.&nbsp; The Galiyat region, in particular, became a focal point for winter enthusiasts.&nbsp; While 19,000 tourists visited the area in the final days of December, the influx intensified as the year turned to 2026. Shah Rukh Ali, Director General of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), reported that more than 30,000 tourists flooded the area during the first two days of the new year. Approximately 6,200 vehicles ferried travelers into the region. Despite this heavy volume, traffic flow remained smooth, mainly because tourists used the Harnu and Barrian routes from Abbottabad.&nbsp; More importantly, DG Shah Rukh Ali confirmed that this high volume of visitors was handled safely, with no accidents or complaints reported across the region. The success was achieved through the strategic deployment of newly renovated snow-clearing machinery and the constant vigilance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Police.&nbsp; The efforts of the local authorities ensured that the transition into 2026 was both a festive and secure experience for travelers from across the country.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province saw a surge in tourism fueled by a picturesque winter spell.

Over 75,000 tourists visit Pakistan's northwestern hill resorts during New Year's

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is considering a formal legal framework to regulate cannabis cultivation for industrial and medical purposes, according to official documents, as it explores new income streams for farmers and the wider economy. The initiative, which remains in the proposal stage, seeks to bring a long-stigmatized plant into a regulated system while assessing its benefits for local livelihoods, investment, and exports. A sub-committee of the Cannabis Regulatory Committee, chaired by Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan, met earlier this week to discuss licensing structures, documentation requirements, and excise duty proposals, according to minutes obtained by Pakistan TV Digital. Under the framework being considered, a license to cultivate medicinal cannabis on five acres of land is proposed at Rs600,000, while an industrial hemp cultivation license with less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol content) for the same area is suggested at Rs300,000. Licensing for cannabis processing could cost Rs1.5 million per tenure, and industrial hemp processing licenses are proposed at Rs700,000 per tenure. A combined license covering both cultivation and processing of cannabis or hemp could cost Rs2 million per tenure. The sub-committee also suggested that excise duties be levied only at the processing and finished-product stages, leaving cultivation and transport exempt to prevent high-end product prices. &ldquo;Hemp is widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals, CBD [cannabidiol, a compound] oil, and fibers,&rdquo; said Director General Khan. &ldquo;We are initially proposing it as an alternative cash crop in districts such as Orakzai and Khyber, where the plant grows naturally.&rdquo; Dr Khan Bahadur, former Peshawar vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;Cannabis is a global commodity used in dozens of advanced economies. The plant is an incredible resource for manufacturing durable fabrics, sacks, rope, and a source for low-cost and sustainable paper.&rdquo; He also stressed the medical potential of cannabis, noting that refined extracts such as CBD oil are widely used to treat conditions like glaucoma. &ldquo;Pakistan must explore this industry with a scientific mindset and not shy away, as global demand continues to increase,&rdquo; Dr Bahadur added. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, an agricultural landowner from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Farman Ullah, said: &ldquo;This is a great step for farmers. It provides a much-needed alternative source of income, as the &lsquo;bhang&rsquo; (cannabis) plant is hardy and can grow just about anywhere.&rdquo; While the proposals remain under review and require provincial cabinet approval, officials anticipate that a regulated cannabis and hemp industry could generate significant economic activity, potentially adding up to $1 billion within the first few years through exports of raw hemp and high-value derivatives such as CBD oil and industrial textiles. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s favorable climate and fertile soil make it particularly suited for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis cultivation. By carefully developing a regulatory framework first, the government aims to ensure sustainable, phased development of the sector while balancing economic opportunity with regulatory oversight. At the federal level, Pakistan set up the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority, a regulatory body&nbsp;established in 2024 to manage industrial and medicinal cannabis.

Health

The provincial government is weighing a formal legal framework to regulate cannabis cultivation for industrial and medical purposes, official documents show, as it explores new income streams for farmers and the wider economy

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mulls legalizing cannabis cultivation for medicine, industry

PESHAWAR: On a quiet weekday afternoon inside the University of Peshawar&rsquo;s business incubation center, Farishta Noor Uthmankhel speaks calmly about elections, community service, and the everyday boundaries faced by women in her hometown of Malakand in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.&nbsp;Her voice is measured, but her journey carries far beyond the walls of the small office where she now runs her startup.&nbsp;Soft-spoken by nature, Noor has emerged as a recognizable advocate for women from Pakistan&rsquo;s tribal regions, taking local concerns to national and international platforms. Raised in Malakand, she is currently pursuing a master&rsquo;s degree in journalism while serving as a member of the Prime Minister&rsquo;s National Youth Council and developing her own business venture.&nbsp;Her work recently earned international recognition when she was named runner-up in the Asian category of the Women Changing the World Awards, bringing renewed attention to grassroots efforts led by young Pakistani women.&nbsp;&ldquo;I was nominated by someone in China,&rdquo; Noor said, recalling the announcement. &ldquo;It was not at all in my subconscious that I would even be a runner-up, because it was a competition between many countries.&rdquo;&nbsp;She remembers watching the virtual ceremony from her office. &ldquo;I was holding my heart, fingers crossed, praying to God,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;When I heard my name, I felt this was a great achievement, not only for the women of Pakistan, but especially for tribal girls.&rdquo;&nbsp;For Noor, the recognition reflects years of community-based work aimed at presenting a fuller picture of life in Pakistan&rsquo;s tribal areas. &ldquo;We are not violent as is portrayed,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We are actually a very peaceful society, and I want the world to see that.&rdquo;&nbsp;Her advocacy is rooted in Malakand and across KP, where she has focused on issues often left unspoken. Noor was the youngest Pakistani woman to contest local government elections, a step she described as necessary to ensure women&rsquo;s voices were present in decision-making spaces.&nbsp;She has consistently raised awareness about gender-based challenges, writing and speaking against practices that reduce women&rsquo;s agency. &ldquo;A woman cannot be a commodity for anything,&rdquo; she said, explaining the principle guiding her activism.&nbsp;One of her most visible initiatives addresses menstrual health, a subject often treated with silence. Noor visited schools and held discussions with young girls to encourage openness and understanding. &ldquo;If we do not talk about it, the problem remains,&rdquo; she explained.&nbsp;Her commitment also takes practical form. As a peace activist, she organized two medical camps in her hometown of Hariankot, becoming the first woman to do so there. The camps served more than 2,900 patients, many of them women seeking guidance on health concerns that had long gone unaddressed.&nbsp;Noor is preparing to represent Pakistan at the global Women Changing the World Awards ceremony in Paris on April 22 next year. &ldquo;I will be going there as a face of Pakhtun women and as a Pakhtun girl,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;She hopes the platform will allow her to highlight positive contributions from Pakhtun society and to amplify the work of women whose efforts often remain unseen.&nbsp;&ldquo;There are many Pakhtun girls doing remarkable work in their own fields,&rdquo; she noted. &ldquo;They just need a medium.&rdquo;&nbsp;While international recognition has broadened her reach, Noor says her long-term goal remains rooted at home. She envisions entering politics to help shape policies affecting her community. &ldquo;I want to go to the assemblies where I can do policy making, where I can speak about my community,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Her concern is particularly for girls still outside the education system. &ldquo;My girls are still out of school, whether they are in Khyber or Waziristan or Mohmand,&rdquo; Noor said. &ldquo;I want to open a medium for them as well.&rdquo;&nbsp;Farishta Noor Uthmankhel is not seeking attention for herself alone. Through steady work and quiet resolve, she hopes to set a path for others to follow. &ldquo;I want Pakhtun women to illuminate the name of the country and the nation everywhere in the world,&rdquo; she said. An affirmation that meaningful change can begin with a single, determined voice.

Education

Farishta Noor Uthmankhel, a young activist from Malakand in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has gained international recognition for amplifying the voices of Pathan women through grassroots activism and global advocacy.

From Malakand to world stage, Farishta Noor amplifies Pathan women

NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance announced Thursday it will acquire Warner Bros. Discovery in a deal valuing the combined company at $110 billion, after beating Netflix in a bruising bidding war.&nbsp;The agreement ends a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/paramount-poised-to-acquire-warner-bros-after-netflix-walks-away" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">five-month bidding saga</a>&nbsp;and creates an entertainment behemoth whose impact on a struggling media landscape &mdash; and connections to Donald Trump&#39;s White House &mdash; will be closely scrutinized.&nbsp;The merged entity will include CNN, HBO and Nickelodeon as well as some of Hollywood&#39;s most valuable franchises, including Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, Mission Impossible and SpongeBob SquarePants.&nbsp;Under the terms of the agreement,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/paramount-counters-netflix-with-hostile-bid-for-warner-bros" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Paramount</a>will pay $31.00 per share in cash for all outstanding Warner Bros. Discovery shares, implying an equity value of $81 billion &mdash; and $110 billion when including the debt Paramount will take on.&nbsp;The transaction has been unanimously approved by both companies&#39; boards and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, the companies said.&nbsp;&quot;Our pursuit of Warner Bros. Discovery has been guided by a clear purpose: to honor the legacy of two iconic companies while accelerating our vision of building a next-generation media and entertainment company,&quot; said Paramount Chairman and CEO David Ellison.&nbsp;The deal closes a saga that ended Thursday when Netflix walked away, unwilling to match Paramount&#39;s latest offer.&nbsp;Questions now pivot to the Ellison family, which will control a constellation of media properties spanning the globe.&nbsp;Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison is the father of Paramount CEO David Ellison and largely financed his son&#39;s takeover of Paramount and his subsequent bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.&nbsp;Larry Ellison is also a longtime ally of President Trump. Both Paramount and Netflix have sought to curry favor with the White House, with Paramount winning out.&nbsp;The Paramount offer includes financing from three Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds -- those of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi -- which could attract regulatory scrutiny.&nbsp;Paramount has also offered a $7 billion regulatory termination fee should the deal fail to close on regulatory grounds, and has covered the $2.8 billion breakup fee Warner Bros. owed Netflix when it walked away from their agreement.

The Paramount sign is seen outside the Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, California, on December 9, 2025. (Photo: AF/File)

Entertainment

The agreement ends a five-month bidding saga and creates an entertainment behemoth whose impact on a struggling media landscape — and connections to Donald Trump's White House — will be closely scrutinized.

Paramount acquires Warner Bros. in $110B  mega-merger

WASHINGTON: Iran agreed in talks with the United States never to stockpile enriched uranium, mediator Oman&#39;s top diplomat said Friday, in what he called a breakthrough that he hoped would prevent war.&nbsp;Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi, whose country brokered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-urges-us-to-drop-excessive-demands-to-reach-deal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">talks between the United States and Iran</a>&nbsp;in Geneva on Thursday, said he believed all issues in a deal could be resolved &quot;amicably and comprehensively&quot; within three months.&nbsp;&quot;If the ultimate objective is to ensure forever that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, I think we have cracked that problem through these negotiations by agreeing on a very important breakthrough that has never been achieved any time before,&quot; Albusaidi told the CBS News program &quot;Face the Nation.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;I think if we can capture that and build on it, I think a deal is within our reach,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The minister added that Iran would not be able to stockpile enriched uranium and that there would be verification.&nbsp;He said Iran would also degrade its current stockpiles to &quot;the lowest level possible&quot; so that it is &quot;converted into fuel, and that fuel will be irreversible.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;This is something completely new. It really makes the enrichment argument less relevant, because now we are talking about zero stockpiling,&quot; said Albusaidi, who met earlier Friday with US Vice President JD Vance.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-not-thrilled-with-iran-but-undecided-on-attack" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">President Donald Trump&#39;s administration</a>&nbsp;accuses Tehran of intending to build a nuclear weapon. But &quot;if you cannot stockpile material that is enriched, then there is no way you can actually create a bomb,&quot; Albusaidi told CBS.&nbsp;In a 2015 agreement negotiated by former president Barack Obama, Iran agreed to keep enrichment only to a low level that is well below weapons grade.&nbsp;Trump ripped up the deal in his first term and imposed sanctions, and in recent weeks has deployed the US military in the region to levels not seen in years.&nbsp;Secretary of State Marco Rubio has insisted that any deal cover not just the nuclear program but also Iran&#39;s missiles.&nbsp;Asked about the missile issue, Albusaidi said: &quot;I believe Iran is open to discussing everything.&quot;

A handout picture provided by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on February 26, 2026, shows Iranian diplomats and a delegation during the Iran-US talks in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: AFP/File)

Middle East

Its foreign minister says talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva on Thursday, said he believed all issues in a deal could be resolved 'amicably and comprehensively' within three months.


Iran agreed not to stockpile enriched uranium: mediator Oman

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The United States has expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks, as US President Donald Trump publicly praised Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership amid escalating hostilities with Afghanistan. Speaking about Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership, Trump said, &ldquo;Well, I would, but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well, very very well.&rdquo; &ldquo;You have a great&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif], you have a great general</a>&nbsp;[Field Marshal Asim Munir] there, you have a great leader,&rdquo; he added.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2027488449171730683&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4471%2F&sessionId=18939436600dbe61445e0575651a7687a21e6f5f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2027488449171730683"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;But I think two of the people that I truly respect a lot, and I think that Pakistan is doing terrifically well.&rdquo; His remarks came as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan conducted its most extensive military strikes</a>&nbsp;inside Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, targeting multiple locations, including Kabul and Kandahar, declaring a state of &ldquo;war&rdquo; following unprovoked cross-border attacks. Washington&rsquo;s position was formally conveyed by Allison Hooker, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, who said the United States &ldquo;expressed support for Pakistan&rsquo;s right to defend itself against Taliban attacks&rdquo; after talks with a Pakistani counterpart. Pakistani officials say the strikes were a defensive response to sustained aggression from Afghan soil and aimed at degrading Taliban military capabilities used to threaten Pakistan&rsquo;s security. International reactions, however, were mixed. The European Union urged restraint, with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling on both sides to de-escalate and return to dialogue amid a sharp rise in violence. &ldquo;The EU reiterates that Afghan territory must not be used to threaten or attack other countries and calls on the Afghan de facto authorities to take effective action against all terrorist groups operating in or from Afghanistan,&rdquo; Kallas said in a statement. Concern over the situation was echoed by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, while Britain, Norway and Azerbaijan also called for immediate de-escalation. Diplomatic efforts were launched by China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help ease tensions, as Pakistan maintains that its actions fall within its sovereign right to self-defense against cross-border attacks.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House for Texas in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Americas

Praises the Pakistan leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir; says he believes Pakistan is 'doing terrifically well.'

US backs Pakistan’s self-defense as Trump praises leadership amid Afghan conflict

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Recent security developments have reinforced Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing assessment that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban operate as a mutually reinforcing nexus, where pressure on one group is met with retaliation by the other. The pattern was again visible this week after Pakistan launched <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Ghazab lil Haq</a>&nbsp;in response to unprovoked cross-border attacks. As <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan struck Afghan Taliban targets</a> inside Afghanistan, TTP elements attempted to escalate violence inside Pakistan, including failed drone attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that TTP-linked terrorists attempted to launch drones in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, but said Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-drone systems intercepted all of them, preventing any loss of life. &ldquo;These <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-responds-afghan-border-fire" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">incidents have again exposed direct linkages</a> between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement. Terrorist groups&#39; messaging, released the same day, removed any remaining ambiguity. A TTP faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, publicly issued directives to its terrorist operatives across Pakistan to escalate attacks on security forces, portraying the violence as retaliation for Pakistan&rsquo;s military action against Afghan Taliban targets. The message openly described attacks inside Pakistan as an act of &ldquo;solidarity&rdquo; with the Afghan Taliban. An earlier internal directive attributed to TTP leadership went further, declaring that the &ldquo;Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stands with our mujahideen&rdquo; and ordering commanders to escalate attacks while amplifying propaganda through media channels. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistani officials</a> say this coordinated messaging reflects an operational reality that has persisted since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021: Afghan soil has increasingly been used as a safe haven for groups targeting Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that the return of the Taliban to power removed constraints on terrorist networks, enabling training, planning and cross-border attacks with impunity. Security sources argue the sequence is now predictable. When Pakistan confronts terrorist infrastructure inside Afghanistan, TTP cells activate inside Pakistan. When TTP strikes Pakistani targets, protection and facilitation trace back across the border. Pakistan says repeated diplomatic engagements have failed to alter this behavior and that the Afghan Taliban regime has neither acknowledged nor acted against the presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on its territory. As military operations and militant reprisals continue in parallel, Pakistani authorities say the distinction between the Afghan Taliban and TTP is no longer theoretical but operational. A shared ecosystem in which an attack on one triggers a response from the other.

Blogs

Pakistan says recent drone attempts, militant directives, and retaliatory strikes demonstrate a coordinated operational pattern, where pressure on the Afghan Taliban consistently triggers Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan attacks inside Pakistan, reinforcing concerns over cross-border safe havens.

TTP–Taliban nexus exposed as attacks and retaliation mirror each other

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Friday that <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-kills-274-afghan-taliban-affiliates-as-operation-ghazab-lil-haq-continues" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">297 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed</a> and more than 450 injured in retaliatory military strikes across Afghanistan, as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denounced the Kabul administration as an &ldquo;illegitimate regime&rdquo; following unprovoked attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a post on social media platform X, Tarar said the action was carried out under Operation Ghazb lil Haq and involved precision air and ground strikes on 29 locations inside Afghanistan. The information minister said 89 Taliban check posts were destroyed, 18 captured, and 135 tanks and armed vehicles eliminated during the operation.<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; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2027449317087408548&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=485de7e742b2156c528f877ea42b0a2dc7039429&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2027449317087408548">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Earlier, while addressing a press briefing, Tarar said <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban regime</a> along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border was being and will continue to be responded to strongly and effectively. He described Pakistan&rsquo;s response as &ldquo;immediate and decisive,&rdquo; adding that Taliban fighters fled several positions, leaving behind weapons and bodies. The minister said the latest fighting further exposed what he called a direct&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" style="color:#0073e6;">nexus between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorist networks</a>&nbsp;targeting Pakistan. &ldquo;Afghan soil is being used for training, facilitation, and launching attacks that kill our civilians and security personnel,&rdquo; he said, referring to recent assaults on religious sites, judicial facilities, and Pakistani military officers. Tarar also launched a broad attack on the Taliban&rsquo;s governance, calling it &ldquo;a system based on repression and the perversion of religion.&rdquo; He quoted the government&rsquo;s position, saying, &ldquo;The activities of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable.&rdquo; He accused the Kabul authorities of ruling without legitimacy, denying fundamental rights and enforcing discriminatory laws against women, children, and minorities. &ldquo;This regime has nothing to do with Islam,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;It has imposed oppression on its own people and exported terrorism across the border.&rdquo; Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces remain on full alert and prepared to respond to any further aggression. &ldquo;Pakistan knows very well how to defend itself,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our response will remain strong, effective, and in defense of our sovereignty.&rdquo;

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slams the Afghan Taliban regime as illegitimate and repressive, says cross-border attacks trigger decisive military action, confirms heavy Taliban losses and vows zero tolerance while defending sovereignty, citizens and security.

Pakistan says 297 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan strikes

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Friday he was frustrated by Iran&#39;s position in talks but added he had not yet decided whether to carry out a threatened attack.&nbsp;A day after the United States and Iran held talks in Geneva, Trump said that the cleric-run state was &quot;not willing to give us what we have to have.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We haven&#39;t made a final decision,&quot; he told reporters when asked about the use of force.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and we&#39;re not thrilled with the way they&#39;re negotiating,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;&quot;We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they&#39;re not saying those golden words.&quot;&nbsp;Iran has said repeatedly that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and US intelligence has found no evidence that it has made a decision to do so.&nbsp;But the United States and Israel, which carried out a major bombing campaign in Iran in June, are skeptical of the statements by Iran, which backs Palestinian militants Hamas.&nbsp;Asked if an attack would trigger all-out war in the Middle East, Trump said, &quot;I guess you could always say there&#39;s always a risk.&nbsp;&quot;You know when there&#39;s war, there&#39;s a risk in anything, both good and bad.&quot;&nbsp;Trump was circumspect on whether a US attack would bring down the Islamic republic, a sworn enemy of the United States and Israel.&nbsp;Authorities last month killed thousands of people as they crushed mass protests in the biggest threat to the ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.&nbsp;&quot;Nobody knows. There might be and there might not be,&quot; Trump said of regime change.&nbsp;Trump in his first term ripped up a nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama in which Iran agreed to strict limits on uranium enrichment.

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Iran after Geneva talks, saying no final decision on military action has been made. He demanded Iran abandon nuclear ambitions, while US and Israeli skepticism persists amid regional tensions.

Trump 'not thrilled' with Iran but undecided on attack

ISTANBUL: Flights from Istanbul airport to Tehran were cancelled on Friday night amid a mounting US military buildup around Iran.&nbsp;Istanbul airport said flights by Turkish Airlines and two Iranian companies to the Iranian capital had been cancelled.&nbsp;Four flights to Tehran scheduled for Saturday were also cancelled, though six others remained on the schedule. A Turkish Airlines flight to the northern Iranian city of Tabriz, due to leave early Saturday, was called off.&nbsp;Turkish authorities made no comment on events in Iran on Friday, declining to join the litany of nations advising their citizens against travel to the Islamic republic.&nbsp;Turkey has a 550 kilometer (340 mile) frontier with Iran that has three crossing points.

Asia

Flights from Istanbul Airport to Tehran were cancelled Friday night amid rising US military tensions around Iran. Turkish Airlines and Iranian carriers halted services, affecting several Saturday flights, while Turkey issued no travel warning despite the situation.

Istanbul flights to Tehran cancelled Friday night: airport

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA on Friday said it would revise its Artemis lunar program that has suffered multiple delays in recent years, in a bid to ensure Americans can return to the Moon&#39;s surface by 2028.&nbsp;The US space agency will add missions between this spring&#39;s Artemis 2 and the ultimate lunar landing, a strategic revision that NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told a briefing would allow for improved launch &quot;muscle memory.&quot;&nbsp;That means Artemis 3, which was meant to send astronauts to the Moon&#39;s surface, will now have the alternate goal of &quot;rendezvous in low-Earth orbit&quot; of at least one lunar lander.&nbsp;The next phase, Artemis 4, will aim for a lunar landing in early 2028. Isaacman said he hoped that mission could be followed relatively quickly by a second Moon landing within the year.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re not necessarily committing to launching two missions in 2028,&quot; he said, &quot;but we want to have the opportunity to be able to do that.&quot;&nbsp;The NASA chief said speeding up the cadence of Artemis launches would allow for building more institutional knowledge in the model of the Apollo program, which originally put Americans on the Moon.&nbsp;&quot;Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, through the shuttle program -- I don&#39;t think it would surprise many of the folks in the room that our average launch cadence was closer to three months throughout all those programs, not three years,&quot; he said. &quot;We need to start getting back to basics and moving in this direction.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Launching every three years, your skills atrophy, you lose muscle memory.&quot;&nbsp;Space raceThe revised architecture announcement comes in the wake of repeated delays to the Artemis 2 mission, which now will not launch before April.&nbsp;It is meant to see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century.&nbsp;Earlier this week, the US space agency rolled back its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft off the launchpad to investigate its problems and make necessary repairs.&nbsp;President Donald Trump announced he wanted Americans to once again set foot on the lunar surface in his first term.&nbsp;The US space agency now hopes to put humans back on the Moon as China forges ahead with its own effort, which is targeting 2030 at the latest for a first crewed mission.&nbsp;China&#39;s uncrewed Chang&#39;e 7 mission is expected to be launched in 2026 for an exploration of the Moon&#39;s south pole, and testing of its crewed spacecraft Mengzhou is also set to go ahead this year.&nbsp;Queried on the so-called &quot;space race,&quot; Isaacman said Friday that &quot;I think competition is good.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re here talking to you about what is a common-sense approach to achieve the objective, whether we had a great rival in the running or not.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

NASA will revise its Artemis program after delays, adding missions before a planned 2028 lunar landing. Artemis 3 will test lunar lander rendezvous in low-Earth orbit, while Artemis 4 targets Moon landing as China advances its space ambitions.

NASA announces overhaul of Artemis lunar program amid technical delays

COLOMBO: Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks smashed 44 off 16 balls to take England to a thrilling four-wicket T20 World Cup win in Colombo that denied New Zealand a guaranteed place in the semi-finals but kept Pakistan&#39;s slender hopes alive.&nbsp;New Zealand would have joined England in the knockouts with a win in their final Super Eights match and they scored 159-6 after opting to bat.&nbsp;England lost wickets early and looked like they would be squeezed out at 117-6, needing 43 from the last three overs.&nbsp;But Ahmed and Jacks took 22 off the 18th over from Glenn Phillips to turn the match on its head.&nbsp;Ahmed blasted 19 off seven balls in his first T20 World Cup match alongside Jacks, who made an unbeaten 32 off 18, to see England to 161-6 with three balls to spare.&nbsp;England will move on to a semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday against either India or the West Indies, who clash on Sunday to decide the final semi-final berth.&nbsp;New Zealand now have to wait on the outcome of Saturday&#39;s clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Kandy to know if they have qualified for a semi-final in Kolkata against South Africa.&nbsp;Pakistan have an inferior run rate so need to win by 65 runs or inside 13 overs to overtake the Kiwis and deny them a place in the final four. If Pakistan qualify then the semi-final would be played in Colombo.&nbsp;England used five spinners to bowl 16 of the 20 overs on a turning track. The 2010 and 2022 champions had never bowled so many overs of spin before in a T20 international.&nbsp;Jacks returned the best figures with 2-23, while Adil Rashid picked up 2-28 and is now England&#39;s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11.&nbsp;Rashid was complemented by fellow wrist spinner Ahmed, who was called up in place of Jamie Overton, and took a wicket with his first ball before finishing with 2-28 from three overs.&nbsp;Glenn Phillips top scored with 39 off 28 including four fours and a six while opener Tim Seifert scored 35.&nbsp;Liam Dawson (1-32) and Jacob Bethell (0-13) were the other spinners employed by England.

Cricket

England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo after Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks powered a late chase of 160. England reached 161-6, keeping Pakistan’s semi-final hopes alive while New Zealand await Sri Lanka-Pakistan result.

Ahmed, Jacks blast England to thrilling win over New Zealand

SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI announced Friday a massive $110 billion funding round valuing the ChatGPT maker at $730 billion, with SoftBank, Nvidia and Amazon each making multi-billion-dollar commitments as the artificial intelligence company races to meet surging global demand.&nbsp;The investment round -- one of the largest in Silicon Valley history -- includes $30 billion from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, $30 billion from chip giant Nvidia, and up to $50 billion from Amazon, with additional investors expected to join as the round progresses.&nbsp;Alongside the capital injection, OpenAI announced strategic partnerships with both Amazon, the world&#39;s biggest cloud company through its AWS division, and Nvidia, whose AI chips remain unparalleled in their capacity for AI training.&nbsp;&quot;SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon are long-term partners who share our ambition to turn real scientific progress into systems that deliver meaningful benefits for people at global scale,&quot; OpenAI said in a statement.&nbsp;The eye-watering level of funding reflects the soaring costs of computing power and comes amid lingering questions about whether OpenAI and other AI companies can generate sufficient revenue to cover those costs.&nbsp;The Amazon investment will begin with $15 billion, followed by another $35 billion in the coming months when certain conditions are met, the companies said.&nbsp;According to reports, these include OpenAI going public or achieving artificial general intelligence, a sometimes ill-defined standard of AI capability that more closely matches human-level ability.&nbsp;OpenAI and Amazon also struck a deal in which the ChatGPT maker will use two gigawatts of computing capacity powered by Amazon&#39;s in-house Trainium chips.&nbsp;Amazon&#39;s cloud computing rival Microsoft, which did not participate in the funding round, remains a major shareholder of OpenAI and a strategic partner.&nbsp;In the announcement, OpenAI cited a series of user metrics pointing to a breakneck pace of AI adoption.&nbsp;Even if short of its previous forecasts, ChatGPT now counts more than 900 million weekly active users and over 50 million paying consumer subscribers, with January and February on track to be the platform&#39;s biggest-ever months for new subscriptions, the company said.&nbsp;It added that more than nine million businesses pay to use ChatGPT for workplace tasks, while its Codex software development tool has seen weekly users more than triple since the start of the year to 1.6 million.&nbsp;The figures are intended to reassure more skeptical investors who have questioned OpenAI&#39;s ability to secure revenue, with user growth for its flagship ChatGPT slowing.&nbsp;The company this month began rolling out advertising for its non-premium users in a bid to bring in more revenue.&nbsp;According to The Information tech news, OpenAI now predicts that it will burn more than twice as much cash through 2030 than previously predicted, spending $665 billion on the costs of running and training its AI.&nbsp;Competition has ramped up too.&nbsp;Arch-rival Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees, continues to gain ground and grab headlines for its well-regarded Claude AI models.&nbsp;Anthropic earlier this year secured a $30 billion funding round.&nbsp;Google&#39;s AI model Gemini has also emerged as a potent competitor, with Elon Musk&#39;s xAI also attracting investment and users.

OpenAI announces a $110 billion funding round valuing it at $730 billion, with major backing from SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon, as it expands partnerships, scales computing capacity, and accelerates growth amid rising costs and intensifying AI competition.

Articles by Muhammad Usman Amin