What do you want people to have now? Why wait for death to share things you want to share? For example, you might want to give people access to photos and videos. You might also share important documents that are actively in use—health files, children’s immunization records, pet health records—with one or two trusted people.
The best cloud storage services let you securely share files and folders. Keeping documents in cloud storage also means they’re backed up, so copies of your documents are safe in the event of a fire, flood, theft, or local data loss.
What do you want a trusted person to access quickly and easily if you’re incapacitated or die unexpectedly? One of my fears is that I’ll be hospitalized and no one will remember that I prepared and signed an advance health care directive. If you don’t have a lawyer who holds your important documents (and maybe even if you do), make sure at least two people can access digital copies of them quickly and easily.
Just as with other important documents, you can share these files securely via cloud storage, but put them into a clearly labeled folder, like _IMPORTANT FILES. Using an underscore ensures that the folder appears at the top of the list when files are sorted alphabetically. Because these documents contain sensitive information, make sure you review the security settings when you enable sharing so that only your trusted persons can access them.
Examples of papers to include are your will, power of attorney form, advance health directive, deeds and titles, certificates (birth, marriage, divorce), and identity papers (Social Security cards, naturalization papers).
What do you want people to have only after you die? You might not want your sibling or your spouse to have the keys to your email or your Instagram account now, but do you want them to post on your behalf after you die? Do you want them to permanently delete any accounts once you’re gone?
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with limited targeted treatment options. Achieving a pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy strongly predicts improved survival outcomes. The addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as pembrolizumab, to standard chemotherapy has significantly increased pCR and event-free survival rates, as shown in the KEYNOTE-522 trial. However, access to full-dose pembrolizumab remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries due to cost. Exploring low-dose pembrolizumab (LDPm) offers a promising strategy to maintain efficacy while reducing toxicity and improving affordability.
Design and Methods
This was a phase II, open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted at a single tertiary cancer center in New Delhi, India. The study enrolled patients with untreated stage II–III triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who had not received any prior systemic therapy. Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two treatment arms.
The experimental arm received standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of four cycles of dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, followed by four cycles of dose-dense paclitaxel, in combination with low-dose pembrolizumab (50 mg every six weeks for three doses). The control arm received the same neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen without pembrolizumab.
The primary endpoint of the trial was the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in the intention-to-treat (ITT)population. Secondary objectives included evaluating pCR among patients who underwent surgery, assessing safety profiles, and exploring other clinical and biological outcomes relevant to treatment efficacy and tolerability.
Results
A total of 157 patients were enrolled in the study, with 78 assigned to the low-dose pembrolizumab (LDPm) arm and 79 to the control arm. Among them, 152 patients successfully completed neoadjuvant therapy and underwent surgery.In the modified intention-to-treat population, the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate was 53.8% (42 of 78 patients) in the LDPm group compared with 40.5% (32 of 79 patients) in the control group. This corresponds to an absolute improvement of 13.3% (one-sided P = 0.047).
When the analysis was limited to patients who underwent surgery, the pCR rate remained higher with LDPm—56.7% versus 41.0% in the control arm, showing an absolute difference of 15.7% (one-sided P = 0.031). Regarding safety, grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 50% of patients in the experimental arm and 59.5% in the control arm, indicating comparable toxicity between the two groups. However, there was one treatment-related death in the pembrolizumab group, attributed to toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Baseline characteristics such as age, tumor stage, nodal status, and menopausal status were well balanced between both treatment arms, ensuring comparability of the study groups.
Conclusions
The addition of low-dose pembrolizumab resulted in a numerically higher pCR rate (absolute ~13–16 %) compared with chemotherapy alone.
The magnitude of the increase is in the same ballpark as what has been observed with full-dose pembrolizumab in prior trials (e.g. KEYNOTE-522 showed ~13.6 % pCR increment)
Safety appears broadly acceptable, though serious immune-related toxicity (though rare) remains a concern.
In resource-constrained settings where standard-dose pembrolizumab is inaccessible, a low-dose alternative might represent a pragmatic option to improve outcomes in TNBC.
Home » TOURISM NEWS » SpiceJet’s New Flights to Najaf Propel Iraq’s Hospitality Industry, Boosting Hotel Bookings in Karbala and Najaf
Published on
October 18, 2025
SpiceJet’s new direct flights from India to Najaf, Iraq, mark a significant milestone in both the airline and hospitality sectors, bringing a wave of opportunities for pilgrims and tourists alike. With India, Pakistan, Iran, and Lebanon being some of the most prominent contributors to the influx of visitors, these new routes will offer more convenience for travelers making their way to the revered city of Najaf. This development comes at a time when Iraq’s hospitality industry is already witnessing substantial growth, with cities like Karbala and Najaf experiencing an increase in hotel bookings and infrastructure improvements. SpiceJet’s direct flights not only streamline travel for religious tourists but also contribute to Iraq’s expanding tourism market, positioning the country as a key destination for spiritual and cultural journeys.
Spike in Hotel Bookings in Karbala and Najaf Due to SpiceJet’s New Flights to Najaf
Traveling the world is becoming easier every day, and the need for direct access to pilgrimage sites is growing. SpiceJet, one of the important recent developments in Indian aviation, has started offering direct flights from Mumbai and Ahmedabad to Najaf, Iraq. This is a very important step in religious tourism, and Indian pilgrims and tourists as well as pilgrims from other countries will have additional travel opportunities. Since Najaf is a major location for Shia Muslim pilgrims, the impact on the aviation and hospitality sectors in Iraq will be considerable.
SpiceJet’s New Flights to Najaf Boost Religious Tourism
As of October 18, 2025, SpiceJet became the first Indian airline to fly to Najaf, a city of great importance to the Muslim faith. SpiceJet has grown to be a low prize airline for Indians. These new flights from Ahmedabad, which began on October 19, 2025, are centered to the massive Indian Shia pilgrim population. Direct flights to Najaf will positively influence the flow of traffic for those planning pilgrimages to Najaf for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which is for Shia Muslims. Each year, Shia Muslims gather to commemorate the 40th day of mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
Before SpiceJet’s new flights, pilgrims made circuitous flights through the Middle East to reach Najaf. SpiceJet’s flights will provide pilgrims with a much more direct path to reach their destination. These flights will be a much more useful and time-effective for all religious pilgrims using SpiceJet.
SpiceJet’s New Flights to Najaf Propel Iraq’s Hospitality Industry.
The impact of direct flights from India will be felt most than any other region in Iraq’s hospitality sectors in Najaf and Karbala. Najaf is home to the shrine of Imam Ali, and the influx of pilgrims to the region is expected to grow with the New SpiceJet routes, as Najaf is particularly popular with pilgrims.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2023, more than 22 million pilgrims crossed Iraq’s borders, and 22 million was just the undocumented number, and many of those undocumented were coming from India. Hospitality businesses are thriving and in peak seasons like Arbaeen, skyrocketing demand for beds literally turns the region into a full for that season in under a week. In Najaf and Karbala, and for a multitude of service businesses, over 60% of the year’s revenue is generated during the peak season. For these businesses, and the region’s economy as a whole, the importance of religious tourism is undeniable.
Thanks to SpiceJet’s newly launched flights to Najaf and Karbala, Iraq’s hotel industry is booming. Al-Mukhtar and Burj al Karbala are expecting their booking rates to soar. Karbala and Najaf are both luxury hotel destinations that cater to pilgrims and they are likely to add more hotels in the upcoming years. The Muslim hospitality infrastructure is preparing for a longer stay of international pilgrims and holidayers as the governement is taking charge of hotels, making improvements in hospitality services and facilities supplied to pilgrims.
Flight Details: SpiceJet Najaf Sector
Travel to holy places in the city of Najaf is made easier and more convenient as SpiceJet expands direct flights. The new routes are set to further ease the hassle for Indian travelers and pilgrims to undertake their journeys to holy cities as they will no longer have to deal with multiple flights and long layover times, and they will be able to fly directly from Mumbai and Ahmedabad on a weekly basis, SpiceJet said.
Flight from Mumbai to Najaf: The new flights on the Mumbai-Najaf route is set to open on October 18, 2023 with weekly direct flights for pilgrims eliminating the need for layovers, travel, and SpiceJet. schönen 737 will offer long haul comfort and services on these flights.
Flight from Ahmedabad to Najaf: Following the success of the Mumbai route, SpiceJet will also operate a direct flight from Ahmedabad to Najaf on October 19, 2025. The frequency of these flights will be customized to demand from western Indian pilgrims.
SpiceJet aims to facilitate religious tourism by offering budget-friendly international flights, and ensuring that air travel is economically viable for pilgrims as well as for those flying for leisure. SpiceJet expanding routes to Najaf illustrates the demand for religious air travel and the potential in global markets.
Impact on Iraq’s Tourism Industry
Because of the direct flights being made available by SpiceJet, the religious tourism industry in Iraq will be able to develop and expand. Tourism in Iraq is growing, and continues to center around its religious heritage. For the year 2024, the revenue became close to 5.7 billion after a 25% increase, and religious tourism helped contribute to that growth. Iraq is improving its tourism infrastructure to increase the number of incoming pilgrims to the country, which is also increasing the number of international travelers.
Considering the new flight availability, I expect more Indian tourists to come to Iraq, particularly during major religious occasions, such as Arbaeen. This period is noted as the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, during which Iraq hosts one of the largest pilgrimages worldwide, attracting millions of which, during this period, Iraq hosts one of the world largest pilgrimages attracting millions of visitors. Direct flights should improve travelers’ logistical issues to some extent.
Iraq’s Hospitality Sector and Hotel Boom
Iraq’s rapid development in the hospitality industry is in line with the Increase in international tourist arrivals. The hotels located in Najaf and Karbala have risen to the occasion with an increase of bookings during the religious tourism season. For Example, Al-Mukhtar Hotel in Najaf located within the proximity of pilgrims as accounted of recent peak occupancy rates. Karbala hotels, particularly, Burj al Karbala and Karbala Hotel have been providing pilgrimages with necessary services during religious ceremonies.
Improvements to the infrastructure in these major cities has also been prioritized by the Iraqi government. Najaf has seen the openings of over 30 hotels in the last few years, with more in the planning stages to accommodate the growing clientele. Also, the government has planned a $620 million investment for infrastructure, which includes the construction of hotels and improvement of road, and waste sanitation systems in religious tourism cities like Najaf and Karbala.
The increase in hotel occupancy is not only limited to luxury hotels, but has also extended to mid-range and budget hotels, which serve a wide range of pilgrims. This is a trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future, with demand for religious tourism remaining constant. The introduction of direct flights by SpiceJet is likely to further increase demand for Iraq’s religious tourism.
Tips for Pilgrimage Travel
Traveling for pilgrimage to Najaf and Karbala? Here are a few travel tips to help structure your pilgrimage:
Prioritize Early Booking: Spending time to reserve lodgings is necessary due to the increasing number of people seeking accommodations. During the Arbaeen pilgrimage season, it is particularly necessary to reserve a hotel room for your pilgrimage. Popular lodgings in Najaf and Karbala take reservations months in advance.
**Traveling for the Pilgrimage can be physically strenuous, particularly the walk between Karbala and Najaf. Bring plenty of drinking water, wear shoes that are easy to walk in, and take a light loose fitting covering as a to show respect for the customs of the area.
Religious observance: Visitors are expected to wear appropriate and modest robes. Hence, if you have immodest clothing that is also overly oscentatious you should refrain from wearing that to the pilgrimage.
Travel Health and Safety: Safeguarding your health Travel can become risky when it is not thoughtfully planned. Carry prescriptions that you would need for a pilgrimage. Your health and travel should be aligned with any travel advisories.
Visa and Documentation: As of 2025, Iraq has improved its visa system and begun allowing tourists from select countries to apply for an e-visa to visit Iraq. Again, ensure to check the visa requirements for the relevant country far in advance to avoid any last-minute complications.
SpiceJet’s new direct flights from India to Najaf, Iraq, offer convenient travel for pilgrims from countries like India, Iran, and Pakistan. This move boosts Iraq’s hospitality sector, enhancing hotel bookings in Najaf and Karbala.
The Future of Pilgrimage Tourism:
The commencement of SpiceJet’s direct flights to Najaf does not only benefits Ian carrier the airline’s operations. It is also instrumental for the development of Iraq’s religious tourism. There is an active demand for religious tourism accommodation in Iraq, especially in Najaf and Karbala, as millions of religious pilgrims visit Iraq annually. The introduction of direct flight routes simplify the travel for pilgrims by minimizing the complexity and expenses of the travel routes. The increase in accommodation and the heavy investments on infrastructure by the Iraq government indicates the demand for religious tourism in Iraq is only projected to increase.
With more airlines starting to connect important cities to Iraq like SpiceJet does, we can anticipate a continued rise in religious tourism specifically from heavily Shia Muslim countries like India, Pakistan, and Iran. With more than adequate infrastructure, more connected flights, and a more extensive range of accommodation, it will ensure Iraq remains a key center for religious tourism in the foreseeable future.
Tourist eager to go to Najaf and Karbala should maximize the new flight arrangements and stay at more established hotels while fully preparing for the special experience in one of the oldest and holiest places in the world.
Parents will be able to block their children’s interactions with Meta’s AI character chatbots, as the tech company addresses concerns over inappropriate conversations.
The social media company is adding new safeguards to its “teen accounts”, which are a default setting for under-18 users, by letting parents turn off their children’s chats with AI characters. These chatbots, which are created by users, are available on Facebook, Instagram and the Meta AI app.
Parents will also be able to block specific AI characters if they don’t want to stop their children from interacting with chatbots altogether. They will also get “insights” into the topics their children are chatting about with AI characters, which Meta said would allow them to have “thoughtful” conversations with their children about AI interactions.
“We recognise parents already have a lot on their plates when it comes to navigating the internet safely with their teens, and we’re committed to providing them with helpful tools and resources that make things simpler for them, especially as they think about new technology like AI,” said Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, and Alexander Wang, Meta’s chief AI officer, in a blog post.
Meta said the changes would be rolled out early next year, initially to the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Instagram announced this weekthat it was adopting a version of the PG-13 cinema rating system to give parents stronger controls over their children’s use of the social media platform. As part of the tougher restrictions, its AI characters will not discuss self-harm, suicide or disordered eating with teenagers. Under-18s will only be able to discuss age-appropriate topics such as education and sport, Meta added, but would not be able to discuss romance or “other inappropriate content”.
The changes follow reports that Meta’s chatbots were engaging in inappropriate conversations with under-18s. Reuters reported in August that Meta had permitted the bots to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”. Meta said it would revise the guidelines and such conversations with children never should have been allowed.
In April, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) found that user-created chatbots would engage in sexual conversations with minors – or simulated the personas of minors. Meta described the WSJ’s testing as manipulative and unrepresentative of how most users engaged with AI companions, but made changes to its products afterwards, the WSJ reported.
In one AI conversation reported by the WSJ, a chatbot using the voice of actor John Cena – one of several celebrities who signed deals to let Meta use their voices in the chatbots – told a user identifying as a 14-year-old girl “I want you, but I need to know you’re ready”, before referring to a graphic sexual scenario. WSJ reported that Cena’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment. WSJ also reported that chatbots called “Hottie Boy” and “Submissive Schoolgirl,” had attempted to steer conversations towards sexting.
Sale of shares to settle inheritance tax raising concerns over retail investor sentiment
The mother and two sisters of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) Chairman Jay Y. Lee plan to sell some 1.73 trillion South Korean won ($1.22 billion) worth of shares in the South Korean tech firm, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The purpose of the sale of 17.7 million shares, or a 0.3% stake in Samsung Electronics, is to cover tax payments and loan repayment, according to the late Friday filing with the Korea Exchange.
Experts view the sale by Lee’s sisters Lee Boo-jin and Lee Seo-hyun and his mother, Hong Ra-hee, as part of the owner family’s efforts to secure funds to pay their inheritance tax estimated at about 12 trillion won, following the 2020 death of Samsung patriarch Lee Kun-hee.
The sale will be handled by Shinhan Bank under a trust contract and completed by next April, according to the filing.
Samsung shares have jumped more than 48% since it announced a chip-supply deal with Tesla in July. It has secured supply deals with other major customers such as OpenAI, and expectations have risen that the company will be able to supply its latest high-bandwidth memory products to Nvidia (NVDA.O).
The stock is up more than 84% this year, gaining 0.2% on Friday to 97,900 won.
“Samsung’s 10 trillion won share buyback plan last year was aimed at protecting the stock value, which would help the Samsung family to secure fund for inheritance tax,” said Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm Leaders Index.
With Samsung’s share price now nearing 100,000 won, the planned sale likely aims to complete inheritance tax payments.
“One disappointing aspect is that the owner family is selling shares at a time like this, which could dampen sentiment among retail investors,” he said.
“After all, Samsung Electronics is practically a ‘national stock’, owned by about 5 million retail shareholders who have been eagerly watching the shares approach the 100,000-won mark after the recent rally.”
Gold and silver continued to rally this week, despite a Friday tumble, amid renewed trade tensions between the world’s top economies.
In China, credit growth slowed, dragged by government bond sales and sluggish loan demand among households and companies. In the US, private-sector gauges of inflation showed signs of tariffs boosting the prices of some goods in the absence of official government data.
Mari Energies Limited has announced a commercial oil and gas discovery at its Mari Ghazij CF-B1 exploration well in Sindh, according to a material disclosure sent to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday.
The formal announcement, made in compliance with Section 96 Securities Act, 2015, confirms the success of the company’s exploratory campaign. The discovery was made in the Mari Development and Production Lease (D&PL) area.
Section 96 of the Securities Act mandates issuers disclosure of material information to the public, particularly information that could reasonably be expected to affect the price of any securities.
Read: Mari Energies buys 20% stake in Indus-C Block
The company stated that the drilling operation commenced on September 12, 2025, and the well was successfully drilled to a total depth of 1,195 meters into the Sui Upper Limestone (SUL) formation, targeting oil-prone zones within the Ghazij formation.
During initial testing, the well flowed at a rate of 305 barrels of oil per day and 3 Million Standard Cubic Feet per Day (MMSCFD) of natural gas, with a wellhead flowing pressure of 225 pounds per square inch (Psi).
Mari Energies holds a 100% working interest and is the operator of the Mari D&PL, giving it full ownership and control over the production from this discovery.
Earlier this week, Mari Energies acquired a 20% working interest in the Eastern Offshore Indus-C Block from Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), alongside Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC).
Read more: Mari to produce 25,000 bpd in UAE
The agreement also included TPOC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortakl?g? (TPAO), Türkiye’s national oil company, and Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
This discovery adds new, domestically produced hydrocarbons to Pakistan’s energy inventory, which is crucial for reducing the costly reliance on energy imports and improving the nation’s energy security.
The company is already a cornerstone of Pakistan’s energy landscape, operating the country’s largest gas field at Dharki Mari and holding the position of the nation’s largest natural gas producer with an approximate 30% market share.
A Vestas wind turbine near Baekmarksbro in Jutland.
Afp | Getty Images
Danish wind turbine maker Vestas has shelved plans to open its biggest factory in Poland, the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters on Saturday, citing weaker-than-expected demand in Europe.
Vestas announced plans for a second offshore wind turbine plant in Poland last year. The factory, which was expected to create more than 1,000 jobs, would produce blades and start operations in 2026.
However, plans for the development have now been paused, “due to lower than projected demand for offshore wind in Europe,” the company said, adding that it “continues to invest in a local manufacturing footprint where the offshore wind market volume and certainty allow.”
The suspension of plans was first reported by the Financial Times.
In August, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill meant to ease rules for building onshore wind farms. A week later Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters that the country would “radically increase onshore wind capacity,” adding that the government was working on a resolution to allow more efficient wind turbines to be installed at existing wind farms.
Renewable energy production has been increasing in Poland at the expense of coal-fired power, though the latter still dominates the mix. In 2024, nearly 30% of Polish electricity was generated from renewable sources.
The proposals are for more than 2,000 acres in rural Wiltshire
Controversial plans for a solar farm spread across more than 2,000 acres have taken a step forward with the planning inspectorate confirming it will examine the scheme.
The Lime Down Solar Park project is planned for countryside near Malmesbury in north Wiltshire with a 14-mile cable planned to connect it to the National Grid near Melksham.
The project is large enough to be designated a nationally significant infrastructure project which requires consent from the government, rather than Wiltshire Council.
Many residents have campaigned against the project, with concerns about the impact on the countryside and farmland.
Now the application has been accepted, it is in a pre-examination stage, which takes around three months.
It is also the period of time when there will be an opening for people to be able to register to have their say on the application.
The application will then go through several stages – which could take more than a year – before construction work begins.
The decision can be appealed and grounds for a judicial review can be reviewed at the High Court.
Previously local residents as well as Wiltshire Council leader Ian Thorn have been critical of the plans.
Thorn told the BBC: “We are supportive of renewable energy, of traditional solar farms, but this is a monstrosity that is a step too far.”
Campaigners have argued the Malmesbury project is not the right way to develop solar energy.
Sir Mike Pitt, spokesperson for Stop Lime Down campaign said the group was “dismayed” by the inspectorate’s decision and the plans were “significantly flawed”.
But developers Island Green Power have said the project would power 115,000 homes and “support national and regional aims to decarbonise our electricity systems and bolster our energy security”.
