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  • Unseen. Misunderstood. Suicidal

    Unseen. Misunderstood. Suicidal

    PUBLISHED
    July 06, 2025


    KARACHI:

    On paper, M* is living the life. She has a job she likes as a biomedical scientist and research fellow in women’s health. She has found her purpose: working to improve the lives of women with chronic health conditions through her FemTech start-up. So why does she want to kill herself every month?

    What is PMDD?

    M suffers from PMDD, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a much more severe form of PMS, premenstrual syndrome. According to Dr. Benicio Frey, a psychiatrist at the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton, Canada, both PMS and PMDD are recognised through mental and physical symptoms in the preceding 1-2 weeks before menstruation, in what is called the luteal phase. The mental symptoms may include emotional sensitivity, depression, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty paying attention, memory issues and irritability, while the physical symptoms may include breast tenderness, cramps, bloating, fatigue, increased appetite for carbs, changes in sleep, and changes in appetite.

    “Both PMDD and PMS affect the quality of life, but PMDD brings the patient to the hospital,” says Dr. Anum Aziz, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Agha Khan University Hospital in Karachi.

    PMDD has symptoms that “are severe enough to cause patients difficulty functioning in their daily life, whether it’s work, relationships, family dynamics, and so forth,” adds Dr. Frey. Another relatively common symptom of PMDD is suicidal ideation/thoughts that may lead to suicide attempts.

    “PMDD is a different beast from PMS. It’s a severe, disabling mood disorder linked to your cycle. We’re talking panic attacks, rage, crushing sadness, suicidal thoughts, and full-body dysregulation. It’s not bad PMS. It’s a hormonal hijacking of your brain chemistry,” says BACP-certified psychotherapist Shifa Lodhi.

    PMDD affects around 3% of the population. “3% is pretty significant if you think about it from a population perspective. Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population, it’s a big deal. OCD affects 2% of the population, it’s a big deal. Bipolar type 1 affects 1% of the population, it’s a big deal. So, 3% of PMDD is equally a big deal,” Dr. Frey says.

    What causes PMDD?

    Unlike other mental health conditions and mood disorders where the cause is often not easily pinpointed, researchers and doctors have been able to identify the cause of PMDD: the brain’s sensitivity to hormonal changes. “It is the estrogen hormone, which when deficient leads to irritability, and progesterone, if it is in abundant range, leads to emotional unwellness,” says Dr. Aziz.

    “It’s not the hormone itself, it’s the fluctuation from low to high, and sometimes from high to low, that really triggers the brain to respond with symptoms,” Dr. Frey elaborates. Those with PMDD have brains that are more sensitive to this change than those with just PMS or neither.

    “When progesterone drops, serotonin does too, especially in PMDD. That disrupts the brain’s ability to regulate distress. Cortisol may also spike, adding panic and anxiety. You end up with a chemical cocktail of despair, rage, and hopelessness,” adds Shifa.

    There are also pre-existing conditions that make people at a higher risk for PMDD. “There’s a high prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric conditions, especially PTSD and mood disorders. So someone suffering from PMDD, just about half of them, at least, have another psychiatric condition,” says Dr. Frey.

    “People often come with the problems of menstrual irregularities. So, that brings them to the hospital and then we diagnose them to have PMDD or PMS. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, is mostly related, as well as obesity, menstrual irregularities, and subfertility,” adds Dr. Aziz.

    Depression, anxiety, ADHD, generational trauma history, and thyroid disorders also make PMDD more likely, according to Shifa. “Think of PMDD as an amplifier for what’s already underneath. It doesn’t create the wound, but it rips off the scab,” she says.

    L*, a 44-year-old educator from Lahore with PMDD and complex PTSD adds to this, saying, “a lot of these diseases are definitely connected to traumas, especially childhood traumas. I’ve grown up in a very dysfunctional household. My dad was an alcoholic, with some serious mental health issues. My mom is sort of not emotionally there or available at all. So, wanting to disappear, wanting to kill myself, the ideation started pretty young and then there were attempts which usually had to do with my dad.”

    How can it make one suicidal?

    People with PMDD are almost seven times at higher risk of suicide attempt and almost four times as likely to exhibit suicidal ideation. The hormonal fluctuations that come with PMDD can cause patients to become so depressed and fatigued they become suicidal. “In many people, this is the only time in their lives that they feel suicidal. They don’t feel suicidal outside of the premenstrual phase,” says Dr. Frey, cementing just how alarming this condition sometimes is. He has had some patients who needed to stay at the hospital for a few days before their period because they felt unsafe during this time.

    “For many, it feels like their personality changes. The intrusive thoughts get louder. Hope disappears. The person doesn’t want to die, they just want the suffering to stop. But at that moment, it’s hard to tell the difference and many women can’t,” says Shifa. “I think I’m a monster for 10 days every month. I cry, scream, there have been instances I lashed out at my husband and children and then fantasized about ending it all. Then my period comes, and I’m okay again but ashamed,” one patient told Shifa. Another patient’s mood swings and sudden suicidal thoughts were so extreme she thought she had bipolar disorder.

    “The pain would become unbearable, sometimes so intense that I couldn’t get out of bed without help. I would feel completely drained and immobilised, both physically and mentally. It felt like I was losing control of myself for two weeks out of every month,” says M.

    M* also struggles with other chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. These conditions feed into her PMDD and vice versa. “Each condition flares at the same time or triggers the others, creating layers of pain, fatigue, and neurological disruption that feel inescapable. The physical suffering fuels emotional distress, and the emotional distress makes it even harder to cope physically. It’s relentless, month after month, with no real break in between,” she says.

    “The suicidal ideation doesn’t stem from a desire to die, but rather from a desperate need for the pain, physical, emotional, existential, to stop. In the darkest moments, it feels like I am drowning in something invisible and inescapable, and that there’s no lifeline in sight,” says M.

    Perhaps the most impacted area of life for those suffering from PMDD is their social life. “The relationships are mostly affected and people are affected by the irritability of that person,” says Dr. Aziz.

    “I’ve lost friendships and relationships because of this condition. People often don’t understand, or they grow tired of the inconsistency and unpredictability of my health. Being left behind or misunderstood by people I love has added another layer of grief and loneliness, fuelling further depression and anxiety,” says M.

    L adds to this, talking about how her PMDD has affected her relationship with her partner. “I might start snapping and yelling at him. I got my period yesterday and the day before yesterday, everything he was doing was getting on my nerves. So my patience level gets really low. I want to cry and I want to just disappear,” she says.

    PMDD can also aggravate other pre-existing mental illnesses or traumas to make the patient suicidal. “Quite often the premenstrual period is a period of exacerbation of other psychiatric conditions as well. So the hormonal sensitivity may play a role worsening whatever else someone might be suffering from,” says Dr. Frey.

    For M this looked like worse mental symptoms following her father’s death and for one of Dr. Aziz’s patients, it looked like needing to be admitted into the psychiatric ward after being on the verge of killing herself because of bullying. L’s symptoms also worsened after her father’s death, along with perimenopause, leading to her not having her period at all for 2 months.

    How can PMDD be treated?

    Despite the severity of PMDD, all is not lost. Since we know the exact cause of the disorder, PMDD can be treated.

    The first step is diagnosis. “The diagnosis requires a two-menstrual cycle daily symptom charting for us to be really accurate about the validity of the diagnosis of PMDD. So, people need to track their symptoms daily for two months and bring that information to the clinician so we can confirm that it is a case of PMDD,” says Dr. Frey. Then the patient’s mental symptoms can be tracked on the DSM scale, a manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and disorders, according to Dr. Aziz.

    Once a diagnosis has been secured, treatment can begin. There are several methods of treating PMDD. “First line treatments tend to be serotonin-based antidepressants.Then the hormonal treatments, like oral contraceptives, are second-line treatment,” says Dr. Frey. “If they cannot use hormones and antidepressants also didn’t work, there is a natural compound, a berry called Chasteberry or Vitex, which has been shown in some meta-analysis to help people with particularly milder forms of PMDD or PMS,” he adds.

    “We should not be treating just their physical symptoms. The focus should be on mental well-being, as well as their lifestyle choices,” says Dr. Aziz, advocating for a more multi-faceted approach in PMDD treatment. Shifa suggests talk therapy and CBT, while M advocates for making more compassionate and thorough mental health resources that focus on hormonal disorders readily available.

    “First of all, there’s very few trauma-informed therapists. Secondly, there are next to none trauma-informed gynecologists. In all of Pakistan, I found one,” adds L.

    “Healthcare systems should also integrate holistic care models that consider the interplay of PMDD with other chronic conditions, such as endometriosis or fibromyalgia, rather than treating symptoms in isolation,” says M.

    “Some choose to suppress ovulation entirely. In extreme cases, even hysterectomy is considered. It’s that serious,” says Shifa, highlighting the severity of the condition.

    Why have you not heard about this?

    If PMDD is such a big deal, why have you not heard about it and its link to suicidal ideation? The answer is simple: our society deems both women’s bodies and mental health too taboo to talk about.

    A prime example of how women’s bodies are often overlooked in the medical and scientific field is how painkillers are less effective on women because the majority of them are tested only on men. “Science was built for men, by men. For centuries, female bodies were considered too complicated to study. Female hormone cycles were excluded from research to avoid data variability. It’s sexist, lazy science,” says Shifa.

    Shifa also talks about how women’s bodies themselves are often considered too ‘vulgar’ to talk about in Pakistan, even if just natural processes like menstruation are being discussed. “Sadly, we live in a society which in some sectors doesn’t even acknowledge that women have periods,” she says, “We don’t talk about periods, pain, or mental health. Patriarchy wants women to be strong but not too emotional. It’s also tied to control, silencing women’s experiences keeps them manageable.”

    “Women’s health, including women’s mental health, has been largely dismissed, neglected and minimized throughout the years,” says Dr. Frey. “The PMDD and suicidal ideation connection isn’t mainstream knowledge partly because many doctors aren’t trained to spot it, and partly because women are taught to downplay their pain,” adds Shifa.

    Dr. Aziz talks about how often when she brings up psychiatric help to her patients, their families refuse the idea because of how controversial the topic is in Pakistan. “They have to plan for their marriage. And if their in-laws or proposed in-laws know that the patient is visiting the psychiatrist, there would be a threat to her future life. They would rather go to some spiritual hakim instead of going to a proper psychiatrist,” she says.

    L elaborates on this saying that she is reluctant to voice her suicidal thoughts out of fear of people taking advantage of her mental state rather than understanding it. She also expressed how rather than viewing suicidal ideation as a mental health crisis, people in Pakistan often view it as a “comment on one’s character being bad.”

    In fact, this is also the reason PMDD is underdiagnosed, which then feeds back into the cycle of lack of awareness about it since many people don’t know they have it to begin with.“It’s because PMDD and even women’s mental health in general is not a core part of the educational curriculum in training health professionals. if we don’t train professionals on assessment and diagnosis and treatment, you know, what can they do when they see people with PMDD?,” says Dr. Frey.

    “I did notice it in my 20s but there was no validation for it until my 40s. So I would say I did notice it pretty young but at the time there was no talk of PMDD. It didn’t exist technically back then, this idea that women are emotional, and they are just crazy, especially around their period. I felt like I was constantly fighting that. So I didn’t pay attention to my own PMS because I felt that that would do a disservice to women in the world,” adds L.

    “The diagnosis of PMDD is DSM-5 scale-based diagnosis. Physicians do not use this scale as it is mostly used by the psychiatrist or a specialist. So, it is not well diagnosed,” adds Dr. Aziz.

    This lack of awareness in doctors often leads to them misdiagnosing patients, undermining them and simply refusing to hear them out. “I believe doctors need to have good bedside manners, to be empathetic, compassionate, and truly listen to their patients instead of dismissing their experiences or approaching medical care with a god syndrome attitude,” says M. L agrees with the notion that Pakistani doctors’ bedside manner needs improvement, saying, “our doctors really are not good with that.”

    Raising awareness

    So now that you know about PMDD, what should you do? “Normalize it. De-shame it. And create spaces where people can say, ‘I think I have PMDD’ without being dismissed,” says Shifa. She emphasizes the need for government and private companies to play their part as well as social media in destigmatising menstrual health.

    M seconds this, saying “building a strong support network of understanding friends, family, and healthcare professionals has been crucial. I also use my platform on social media to share my experience, which not only helps me process my feelings but also connects me with others going through similar challenges.” “Advocating for myself and connecting with others who understand what I’m going through has been empowering,” she adds.

    Dr. Frey backs this, further emphasizing the need for community when dealing with PMDD. “I would also recommend they be linked to support groups like IAPMD and PMDD Canada, these are open to international people.They have peer support, educational programs, tons of reliable information people can get about their premenstrual disorders and get help and support,” he says.

    “Greater awareness and education are crucial, both among healthcare professionals and the general public. Many people, including doctors, still underestimate how severe and disabling PMDD can be, which leads to delayed diagnosis and inadequate support,” says M. “If there had been more awareness and honest conversations when I first started experiencing symptoms, I might have felt less isolated and more empowered to seek help sooner,” she adds.

    “I think if therapists sort of take a lead and say that this is a real thing, and there’s solutions for it, and it can happen to a lot of people. It’ll be up to the psychologists or therapists to put out videos, explainers, things like that, that have outreach, especially for our population,” says L.

    Pakistan is a country where the entire reproductive chapter is often ripped out of school books or simply skipped. This has a long lasting impact on how ill-informed the general public is on life altering and saving information about their bodies. Dr. Aziz brings up how menstrual and mental health should be topics that are covered in school curriculums. She adds that doctors like herself are willing to hold information sessions in schools if teachers are unable or unwilling to teach about this necessary topic.

    It is also important to remember that just because the emotional symptoms and suicidal ideation caused by PMDD are a result of a hormonal imbalance, they are not any less valid and acting like they are can have a further detrimental effect on patient’s mental health.

    “Because it’s connected to menstruation, there’s often a tendency for others, sometimes even healthcare professionals, to minimize or dismiss the emotional pain as “just hormones” or typical PMS. This can make the pain feel misunderstood or invalidated, which is incredibly frustrating when the symptoms are so severe and disabling. So, while the link to the menstrual cycle brings clarity for me, it doesn’t always translate into better understanding or empathy from others,” says M.

    “For those who don’t get it: believe her. Don’t gaslight or joke about ‘that time of the month.’ This is serious, and your empathy might just be her lifeline,” adds Shifa.

    This increased awareness can help lead to a diagnosis which in turn validates people’s struggles and helps them prepare for their symptoms. “Getting a name for what I was experiencing was both a relief and a wake-up call; it validated my pain and gave me the motivation to seek proper support,” says M.

    Getting a diagnosis can also help people with PMDD explain their symptoms to loved ones and be understood. “People around me have also understood it a lot better including the boomer lot, like my parents. By the end of his life, with my diagnosis, my dad would just flat out say, you’re about to get your period, like, is this the situation? My mother’s even become aware of it,” says L.

    “If people knew suicidal thoughts were hormonally driven and treatable, they’d get help instead of feeling broken. Awareness doesn’t just validate Pakistani women’s experience, it saves lives,” Shifa concludes.

     

    *Names changed to preserve privacy

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  • CAF Unveils Technical Study Group for TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON, Morocco 2024

    CAF Unveils Technical Study Group for TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON, Morocco 2024


    Published:

    • TSG to be led by Raul Chipenda and will feature Shilene Booysen, Lamia Boumehdi and Clementine Touré, among others
    • Team to share technical & tactical insights on all 26 matches
    • Group to produce a post-tournament technical report

    The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) has unveiled the Technical Study Group (TSG) for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024.

    The Technical Study Group (TSG) of the WAFCON 2024 Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) is a team of experienced football experts, former coaches, technical directors, instructors, and analysts, tasked with studying, analysing, and documenting CAF competitions.

    They will analyse tactical trends, playing systems, and individual and team performances, producing detailed technical reports that summarize these observations. These reports not only highlight strategies and best practices but also provide practical recommendations to CAF Member Associations, coaches, and development departments to help elevate the standard of the game across the continent.

    In addition to analysis and reporting, the TSG will select official awards such as “Woman of the Match,” “Best XI,” and the tournament’s best player, goalkeeper, or young talent. They will also contribute to CAF’s broader technical strategy by supporting coaching education, creating learning materials, and sharing findings from tournaments through workshops and courses.

     


     

    Ultimately, the TSG’s work helps align CAF’s development initiatives with CAF’s development strategy, ensuring continuous improvement in coaching standards, player development, and the overall quality of football in Africa.

    The TSG members for WAFCON 2024, led by the director of CAF Technical development division, Raul Chipenda, are also tasked with providing a Fair play report after each match.

     

    Meet the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024 Technical Study Group:

    Sheryl Botes (South Africa)

    A senior CAF coaching instructor and long-standing women’s football advocate, Botes brings decades of experience in technical development, coach education, and tournament analysis across the continent. Currently, Sheryl is serving as the head coach of the Uganda women’s national team. 

    Leah Sweetness (South Africa)

    With a strong background in women’s football development, Sweetness is a CAF-certified instructor and former player dedicated to nurturing young talent and advancing the women’s game in southern Africa. She is the TSG lead for the COSAFA Zone.

    Lamia Boumehdi (Morocco)

    A former coach of the Morocco U20 Women’s National Team, Boumehdi has been instrumental in the rise of Moroccan women’s football, contributing both at club and national levels with a focus on technical excellence and youth progression. She guided TP Mazembe to a first ever CAF Women’s Champions League title 2024.

    Radia Fertoul (Algeria)

    A former head coach of the Algerian women’s national team, Fertoul is a respected tactician with rich experience in North African football. She has also served as a development coach and mentor for young female athletes.

    Jacqueline Shipanga (Namibia)

    One of the most recognisable figures in Namibian football, Shipanga is a CAF and FIFA coaching instructor and former Brave Gladiators coach, known for her leadership in both technical and administrative roles. Shipanga is the technical director of the NFA, the only women to occupy the role in our continent currently.

    Shilene Booysen (South Africa)

    Booysen is a highly regarded tactician with experience coaching South Sudan’s women’s national team and as a former analyst for Banyana Banyana. Her deep analytical approach makes her a key member of the group.

    Clementine Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)

    She is the former head coach of Côte d’Ivoire’s women’s national team, Touré is a trailblazer in African women’s football. She led Equatorial Guinea to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup and has vast experience at WAFCON level. She also served as TSG in both 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women World Cups.

    Bernadette Anong (Cameroon)

    A former Indomitable Lioness and current coach, Anong is deeply involved in talent development in Cameroon. She brings a blend of tactical insight and player-centred analysis to the TSG. Anong was part of the coaching staff that lead the Cameroon women national team to their First World Cup and Olympic qualifications.

    The TSG’s work will be published in a post-tournament technical report that will inform future training, talent identification, and development programmes across the continent.

    As the TotalEnergies TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 kicks off on Saturday, 05 July, the TSG team will be at the heart of CAF’s mission to deepen the understanding of the women’s game and further elevate its standards.

    For more information on the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2024, visit www.cafonline.com.

     

    For further Inquiries:

    communications@cafonline.com

    CAF | Communication Department


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  • See how Max Verstappen beat Oscar Piastri to pole at Silverstone with our ‘Ghost Car’ feature

    See how Max Verstappen beat Oscar Piastri to pole at Silverstone with our ‘Ghost Car’ feature

    Max Verstappen put together a masterful performance in Qualifying at the British Grand Prix to beat McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to pole position.

    While Piastri had initially grabbed provisional pole during the opening runs of Q3, Verstappen outpaced the Australian during the decisive final runs by pumping in a lap of 1m 24.892s.

    This put him 0.103s ahead of Piastri, giving the Red Bull driver his 44th pole position as he guns for win number 66 on Sunday at Silverstone.

    To see where Verstappen made the difference in his lap, hit go on the video player above to check out our latest ‘Ghost Car’ feature.

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  • The flood came fast. The failure did not

    The flood came fast. The failure did not

    PUBLISHED
    July 06, 2025


    SWAT:

    On June 28, the summer sun rose over the Swat Valley to start a picture perfect day. A favourite retreat for holidaymakers from across the country fleeing the searing heat of urban centres, Swat was in peak tourist season. The valley’s winding roads were packed with vehicles carrying families in search of cool breezes, mountain views and memories.

    Around 8am, two families arrived in Mingora’s Babozai area among the many other travellers. One family came from Mardan and the other had come from Sialkot. After a light breakfast at a roadside hotel, they made their way to a scenic spot along the River Swat. With the water flowing gently nearby, the children laughed, elders sipped tea, and everyone posed for photos, to capture moments of a memorable trip.

    But danger was quietly building in the skies above.

    A sudden flash flood

    What began as a light drizzle soon turned into a torrential downpour. Unaware of any cloudburst warnings or weather alerts, the families continued enjoying their riverside break. As the water level began to rise, they moved to what seemed like higher ground — possibly more out of panic than strategy.

    Eyewitnesses later noted that the water level at first wasn’t more than a foot deep — still shallow enough to walk through to safety. But then came the deluge. Within minutes, a surge in flow transformed the mild current into a raging torrent. The makeshift high ground was engulfed, and the families were swept away.

    Only three people survived. Fourteen were lost in a matter of minutes.

    Could it have been prevented?

    The tragedy sparked nationwide grief and anger. Many questioned whether this was simply a natural disaster — or something that could have been avoided with better foresight and response.

    Hazrat Ali Bacha, a senior journalist based in Swat, pointed to serious administrative lapses. “Babozai is not a designated tourist spot. These families were just stopping en route to Kalam,” he said. “They were trapped for nearly an hour. A trained, properly equipped rescue team could’ve saved them.”

    Bacha also revealed a troubling infrastructure flaw. “The district government had recently built a jogging track along the river. To do that, a contractor temporarily diverted the water flow with a wall — which was never dismantled after the project ended. During the rain, that wall collapsed, redirecting the full force of the river toward where the tourists stood.”

    He added that local rescue units, particularly Rescue 1122, were not only slow to act but inadequately prepared — claiming that many of its personnel were recruited based on political affiliation, not merit.

    The real first responders

    As the official response faltered, local heroes stepped in. Hilal, a well-known local fisherman and diver, had just returned from rescuing seven people elsewhere when someone informed him of the unfolding tragedy in Babozai.

    “When I arrived, rescue diver Asmat was preparing his raft. We pulled it together and managed to save three people,” Hilal recalled. “Later, I found two bodies. I’m heartbroken I didn’t get there sooner.”

    Hilal isn’t a volunteer by chance — rescue work runs in his family. His father served as a local lifeguard and fisherman for 35 years. Today, Hilal and his brothers carry on that legacy.

    He was also critical of standard rescue gear. “Inflatable boats with rotors are useless in the Swat River — it’s too shallow and rocky. We still use the traditional ‘Jala’ (wooden raft), which works far better here.”

    Hilal and Asmat were later invited to the Governor’s House and publicly praised for their bravery. However, behind the accolades is a troubling truth: those without uniforms are often the ones doing the most critical work.

    Rescue 1122 responds

    Facing public scrutiny, Director General Rescue 1122 Shah Fahad defended his department’s actions.

    “Swat River on a normal day has a discharge of 3,000 to 4,000 cusecs. On that Friday, it surged to 77,000 cusecs in just 45 minutes. This was an extreme flash flood,” he explained.

    Fahad acknowledged a key delay in the rescue response: the first emergency call received at 9:49 am mistakenly reported that tourists were trapped in a hotel. “We dispatched an ambulance. When it turned out to be a water emergency, only then did we send the appropriate team. That miscommunication cost us time.”

    He refuted claims that Rescue 1122 was poorly equipped. “We have both inflatable boats and ‘Jala’ rafts, life jackets, and trained divers,” he said. “We’ve also collected CCTV footage and videos from locals to reconstruct what happened.”

    Government action and public backlash

    The tragedy triggered an immediate administrative response from the provincial government. Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, confirmed that disciplinary actions had been taken.

    “The Chief Minister suspended the Assistant Commissioners of Babozai and Khwazakhela, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief), and the District Head of Rescue 1122,” Saif said. “A full inquiry has been launched by the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team.”

    Saif also detailed new government initiatives in response: a complete ban on riverbed mining in Swat; a crackdown on encroachments including hotels built too close to the river; deployment of modern rescue tools such as drones and life jackets; establishment of a Unified Response Center in Swat; mobile patrol units along riverbanks throughout Malakand Division; and a reassessment of the Irrigation Department’s flood early warning system.

    He added that over 75 stranded individuals were rescued from different parts of the valley in the hours following the flood and that financial compensation was being distributed to affected families.

    “The Chief Minister personally visited the families to offer condolences,” Saif said. “While we cannot prevent natural disasters, we are committed to ensuring negligent officials are held accountable.”

    A system on the edge

    Despite reassurances, many locals believe these are reactive measures — too little, too late. Year after year, monsoon season exposes just how stretched and under-resourced the province’s emergency services really are.

    In many areas, Rescue 1122 personnel are not trained for specific terrains like the rocky Swat River. Equipment is often unsuitable or outdated. In wildfire emergencies, responders have even been seen trying to douse flames using tree branches.

    There’s also no consistent deployment of officers along rivers during flood seasons. Mobilising local volunteers like Hilal could bridge this gap — but doing so requires long-term planning, which critics say is still lacking.

    “This isn’t just about one bad day. It’s about a system that hasn’t been built to withstand the realities of this region,” said Bacha.

    Failed infrastructure

    The floods also highlighted a long-running issue: the fragility of modern infrastructure. Across Swat and much of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, roads, bridges, and culverts routinely collapse under the strain of heavy rains. Tellingly, many of the bridges built during British colonial rule over a century ago remain standing, while newer ones built just 10–15 years ago crumble.

    This isn’t just a matter of bad luck — it reflects questionable construction practices, lack of oversight, and compromised quality in public works. The consequences are deadly.

    Every destroyed bridge or collapsed road during a flood isn’t just a logistical inconvenience — it’s a lifeline severed, often at the worst possible moment.

    A tourist spot or death trap?

    Swat Valley has long drawn travellers with its breathtaking beauty, rich history, and hospitality. But every disaster like this chips away at its reputation. When safety is not guaranteed, tourists will think twice — and the local economy, heavily reliant on tourism, will suffer.

    Yet amid the heartbreak, there is also hope. The tragedy has sparked long-overdue conversations about rescue capacity, climate resilience, and infrastructure integrity. Whether those conversations translate into lasting reform remains to be seen.

    A man-made crisis?

    What happened in Babozai on June 28 was not just a freak act of nature. It was the result of cascading failures — ignored warnings, incomplete projects, and systemic neglect.

    The water came quickly. But the gaps in the system were building for years.

    As Swat begins to heal, one truth remains: if real reform doesn’t follow this tragedy, then the next one is only a monsoon away.

     

    Riaz Ahmad is a freelance journalist and contributor

    All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the author

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  • Earth-Like Planets May Be ‘Abundant’ Around Red Dwarfs, Scientists Say

    Earth-Like Planets May Be ‘Abundant’ Around Red Dwarfs, Scientists Say

    There could be potentially hundreds of Earth-like planets close to the solar system, according to a new study that has found them to be common around the most typical kind of star.

    Red dwarf stars — low-mas stars about a tenth to a fifth the mass of the sun — make up about 80% of the stars in the Milky Way, according to the European Southern Observatory. It’s also thought that 20 out of the 30 stars near Earth are red dwarfs, including the closest star, Proxima Centauri, which was recently discovered to have potentially two planets in orbit.

    Now, results from a new project called CARMENES have led to the identification of four new exoplanets — and a powerful new insight into where more are likely to be found.

    ForbesA Nearby Planet Could Be Earth 2.0 Or An ‘Evil Twin,’ Say Scientists

    Four New Exoplanets

    An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the sun. Using an instrument called CARMENES at the Calar Alto Observatory near Almería, Spain, astronomers studied 15 red dwarf stars and discovered four new planets. Three of the planets were Earth-sized, while one was 14 times larger.

    Extrapolating that data in a new paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics shows that stars with less than 16% of the star’s mass have, on average, about two planets that are less than three times the mass of Earth.

    ForbesInside The Webb Telescope’s Search For Planets Around Alpha Centauri

    ‘Quite Remarkable’ Findings

    The discovery is limited to small planets — large planets appear to be rare around red dwarfs. “It is quite remarkable how often small planets occur around very low-mass stars,” said lead author Dr Adrian Kaminski from the Königstuhl Observatory at the Center for Astronomy at Heidelberg University, Germany. “This suggests that low-mass stars tend to form smaller planets in close orbits.”

    ForbesA Nearby Planet Could Be Earth 2.0 Or An ‘Evil Twin,’ Say Scientists

    Red Dwarves And ‘Earth 2.0’

    Of the 5,000 exoplanets discovered so far, none is a twin of Earth in terms of the type of star it orbits or its mass, radius and surface temperature. However, aside from orbiting a red dwarf star, the three small planets discovered using CARMENES do meet other criteria.

    “Small, rocky planets in the so-called habitable zone – the area around a star where water could exist in liquid form – are potential candidates for habitable worlds,” said Prof. Dr Andreas Quirrenbach, director of the Königstuhl Observatory. He added that since they’re common and long-lived, red dwarf stars could provide stable environments for the development of life.

    Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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  • Samsung finally fixing a 4-year-old mistake with the Galaxy S26 Ultra

    Samsung finally fixing a 4-year-old mistake with the Galaxy S26 Ultra

    It was recently revealed that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will retain 200MP primary, 50MP ultrawide, and 50MP telephoto (5x zoom) cameras from its predecessor. Now, information about the rest of its cameras has surfaced, and Samsung could fix its four-year-old mistake with the phone.

    Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature improved selfie and telephoto cameras

    Samsung hasn’t upgraded the 3x zoom telephoto camera since the Galaxy S21 Ultra, and a new leak claims that it is finally getting upgraded. Android Headlines claims that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will use a 12MP sensor for its telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. It will be an upgrade over the 10MP camera used on Samsung’s existing flagships.

    The Galaxy S26 Ultra will reportedly feature an improved front-facing camera as well, but its specifications haven’t been revealed yet. Its primary 200MP camera is said to have a newer lens. It will use a new laser AF sensor for faster and more reliable focus.

    Thanks to its new chipset, the phone is said to feature the next-gen ProVisual Engine for enhanced images and videos. Samsung has reportedly decided to remove the controversial camera rings that appeared glued to the back.

    The report also claims that the Galaxy S26 Ultra will feature Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 processor globally, and that there will be no Samsung Foundry-made 2nm version of the chip. It will use a 20% bigger vapour chamber system for better sustained performance and 16GB RAM as standard across 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage variants.

    galaxy s25 ultra s pen air command

    Samsung is said to have tested the new S Pen without a digitizer but found unsatisfactory results. So, the company will continue to use the same S Pen as the Galaxy S25 Ultra for its next flagship.

    The phone’s display is claimed to have even thinner bezels. The device is said to be thinner and have the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

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  • PSG lean on new-found championship mentality as they target Club World Cup triumph

    PSG lean on new-found championship mentality as they target Club World Cup triumph

    Before the 2025 Champions League final, Paris Saint-Germain was a side known for wilting under the pressure of high expectations.

    In previous years, even with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the starting XI, PSG could not get past the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Manchester City in Europe’s top club competition. 

    Over the last decade, PSG was like the star Hollywood actor accustomed to being snubbed on Oscar night: rich and powerful, talented and ambitious, but ultimately judged as second best to more established colleagues. Until the team’s glorious display in Munich on May 31, a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan, this club was the Leonardo Di Caprio of European football. 

    Di Caprio won his first Oscar in 2016 after years of hearing someone else’s name as the winner was revealed. It is fitting, then, that Di Caprio’s Oscar win came after his performance in The Revenant, a survival drama where he plays resilient frontiersman Hugh Glass.

    On Saturday in Atlanta, one of the most anticipated games of this novel Club World Cup saw Bayern Munich, the intimidating German champions, pummel PSG for nearly 80 minutes. PSG striker Desire Doue ended the match battered and bloodied. 


    Doue came through a rugged encounter to make a decisive contribution against Bayern (Sven Hoppe / picture alliance via Getty Images)

    Throughout long stretches of the match, Bayern’s physical and relentless aggression tamed the talented French side. PSG had to dig even deeper after Doue’s 78th-minute goal was followed by red cards for Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez. 

    Resilience was what kept Di Caprio’s Glass alive in the frigid temperatures of the American wilderness. Under the air-conditioned roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, resilience kept PSG alive in the Club World Cup in the American South.  

    “We’ve spoken a lot about resilience and we are a resilient team,” said PSG head coach Luis Enrique after the win. “We’re prepared to compete in any situation. The result doesn’t matter. We suffered a lot during this past season. But we suffered together.

    “We weren’t as efficient as we could’ve been, both during league play and in the Champions League. But we showed our team spirit. We fight together.”

    The day before, Enrique had reminded the French press in Atlanta that they had often criticized his young team — and particularly PSG’s front line — during the Ligue 1 season. He may have reason to riposte, but before their impressive win in the Champions League final, PSG underwhelmed in league play and, initially, underachieved in Europe. 

    Losses to Atletico Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern led to a 15th-place finish in the overall table before the Champions League knockout round. Enrique’s side were not as well drilled as they appear to be today. For a while, it looked as if PSG and their Spanish coach were on the same path as his predecessors Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel — big names who fell short.

    Yet, after recovering to lift the Champions League trophy, PSG’s next challenge was to sustain their success.

    The club embodied the type of European power that could have looked upon the Club World Cup as a nuisance after a tiring season. Instead, as one of the youngest squads at the competition, PSG is rewriting its own history.

    Leading 1-0 but down two men late on, PSG still pushed for a second goal. A team replete with young flair players like Doue, 20, Bradley Barcola, 22, Vitinha, 25 and Joao Neves 20, weathered Bayern’s frenzied search for an equalizer in a stadium on the verge of bedlam after each attacking sequence. 

    After a fantastic individual move by Achraf Hakimi, second-half substitute Ousmane Dembele smashed home the decisive second goal from close range six minutes into added time at the end. Dembele blew kisses towards his Moroccan team-mate before they embraced, as they celebrated their passage to the semifinals.

    It was the culmination of a professional performance that was far from flawless. Bayern were sharper, but PSG’s players had revenge on their minds. In football, those emotional motivators are often the difference when tactics and principles of play are so evenly matched. 


    A motivated Barcola had revenge on his mind against Bayern (Sven Hoppe / picture alliance via Getty Images)

    “Revenge? Maybe a little,” Barcola said on the eve of the quarterfinal. “It’s our biggest source of motivation right now.” 

    Barcola epitomizes the confidence that oozes from PSG’s dressing room. It’s not arrogance, although it can be mistaken as such. PSG is a brash outfit of highly-skilled internationals who do not want to be mentioned in the same breath as the club’s disappointing sides of the past. A 1-0 loss at the Allianz Arena during the Champions League group stage in November was a turning point in PSG’s season, Barcola said.

    At that point, PSG were on the ropes yet again in Europe. 

    “It’s really that feeling of revenge because we lost at their place,” continued Barcola. “It was very tough for us, even afterwards, but that’s why we really have the desire to win. I think it’s that loss that hurt us. It made us realize that, at that moment, we didn’t have many chances left to continue in the Champions League. And it motivated us even more to push even harder.”

    PSG’s win over Inter finally put an end to the notion that the perennial French champions were overqualified domestically, but ill-prepared mentally for Europe’s top club competition. Saturday’s win over Bayern reinforced the point. There is a mental fortitude to this group. This is a team of true champions.

    “We can really learn from this match because it took us out of our comfort zone,” said PSG captain Marquinhos. “We had a few chances that we missed and some dangerous balls that gave them some chances. These little things will help us grow moving forward. And this shows the mentality of our group, because that’s something we talk about a lot.

    “Winning is already very difficult — but continuing to win is even harder. That’s the mentality we have.” 


    Captain Marquinhos and Enrique appear in determined mood heading into the semifinals (Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    Efficiency in front of goal, Marquinhos said, was the difference on the day. But when he was asked where the newfound attitude comes from, the Brazilian international wasted no time in crediting his manager. 

    “Our coach — he brought his philosophy, his mindset, and he prepared the team very well from the first day he arrived,” Marquinhos said. “He started from scratch with how he wanted us to play. He worked on improving the team mentally so we’d be ready for anything that could happen during a match.” 

    We’ve all seen the video of Enrique’s inspired speech, in which he told Kylian Mbappe that, in order to become a truly great leader, he’d have to emulate NBA great Michael Jordan. 

    “I’ve read that you like Michael Jordan,” Enrique told the then PSG striker. “Michael Jordan grabbed all his team-mates by the balls and defended like a son of a b****. You have to set that example first — as a person and as a player — by pressing.” 

    It took time for PSG to adopt Enrique’s demands. The talent was there; this team is gifted in nearly every position. They rebuilt and reset after Mbappe left for Real Madrid. And the commitment to the collective over the individual star was a drastic shift from the PSG of old.

    On Friday, Enrique was told that Dembele had discussed the freedom that the player enjoys on the pitch in an interview with PSG’s social media team. “It’s not just about playing well or doing your part — it has to benefit the team,” said the coach. “And that involves a set of responsibilities and hard work.

    “If people want to call that ‘freedom’, then freedom is fighting for your team-mate. Freedom is fighting for your team. Freedom is fighting for your club — playing football, which is what we’re aiming for.”

    Madrid are next, in a massive semifinal at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

    A reunion with Mbappe will fuel the run-up to the match. But can a battle-tested PSG go from conquering Europe to conquering the world? 

    (Top photo: Sven Hoppe / picture alliance via Getty Images)

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  • ‘Simple Buddhist monk’ Dalai Lama marks landmark 90th birthday – World

    ‘Simple Buddhist monk’ Dalai Lama marks landmark 90th birthday – World

    Calling himself a “simple Buddhist monk” who usually didn’t celebrate birthdays, the Dalai Lama marked his 90th on Sunday by praying for peace after China insisted it would have the final say on who succeeded the Tibetan spiritual leader.

    Chanting of red-robed monks and nuns rang out from Himalayan hilltop forested temples in India, home to the Dalai Lama since he and thousands of other Tibetans fled Chinese troops who crushed an uprising in their capital Lhasa in 1959.

    “I am just a simple Buddhist monk; I don’t normally engage in birthday celebrations,” the Dalai Lama said in a message, thanking those marking it with him for using the opportunity “to cultivate peace of mind and compassion”.

    Dressed in traditional robes and a flowing yellow wrap, he walked with the aid of two monks while flashing his trademark beaming smile to thousands of followers.

    Beijing condemns the Nobel Peace Prize winner — who has led a lifelong campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau — as a rebel and separatist.

    Alongside the celebrations, however, is the worry for Tibetans in exile that China will name its successor to bolster control over the territory it poured troops into in 1950 and has ruled ever since.

    That raises the likelihood of rival challengers to the post; one by self-declared atheist Beijing, the other by the Dalai Lama’s office based in neighbouring India, a regional rival of China.

    ‘Good heart’

    The celebrations on Sunday are the culmination of days of long-life prayers for Tenzin Gyatso, who followers believe is the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, a man whose moral teachings and idiosyncratic humour have made him one of the world’s most popular religious leaders.

    “While it is important to work for material development, it is vital to focus on achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate, not just toward near and dear ones, but toward everyone,” he said in his birthday message.

    “Through this, you will contribute to making the world a better place.”

    The celebrations also included his key announcement that, after being inundated with messages of support from fellow Tibetans both inside and in exile, the spiritual institution would continue after his death.

    He said he had received appeals from followers from across the Himalayan region, Mongolia and parts of Russia and China.

    The seemingly esoteric matters of reincarnation have real-world political consequences, with Tibetans fearing his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for the Himalayan region.

    The Dalai Lama said his India-based office alone would “exclusively” identify that successor — prompting a swift and sharp reply from China that the reincarnation “must be approved by the central government” in Beijing.

    China said the succession would be carried out “by drawing lots from a golden urn”, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters on Wednesday.

    That urn is held by Beijing, and the Dalai Lama has warned that, when used dishonestly, it lacks “any spiritual quality”.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered effusive birthday greetings on Sunday, calling the Dalai Lama an “enduring symbol of love”.

    India and China are intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia, but have sought to repair ties after a 2020 border clash.

    ‘Freedom and dignity’

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said in a statement that Washington was “committed to promoting respect for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Tibetans”.

    Among the crowds attending the celebrations was Hollywood star Richard Gere, a longtime backer of the Tibetans in exile, who on Sunday said the Dalai Lama “totally embodies selflessness, complete love and compassion and wisdom”.

    Messages of support were also given by former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, as well as Barack Obama, who said the Dalai Lama had shown what it means to “speak up for freedom and dignity”.

    The ceremony ended with the Dalai Lama eating a slice of cake and thousands singing “happy birthday”.

    No details have been released for the future succession.

    All so far have been men or boys, often identified as toddlers and taking up the role only as teenagers.

    The current Dalai Lama, himself identified in 1937, has said that if there is a successor it will come from the “free world” outside China’s control.

    In a speech to followers on Sunday, the Dalai Lama said his practice of Buddhism meant he had dedicated his life towards seeking compassion.

    “I’m now 90 and… when I reflect on my life, I see that I have not wasted my life at all”, he said, speaking in Tibetan.

    “I would not have regrets at the time of my death; rather I would be able to die very peacefully.”

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  • FAN VOTE: Who will be the best player in the Final?

    FAN VOTE: Who will be the best player in the Final?

    LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – The stage is set for the Final of the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025, as Germany and USA prepare to battle for the crown. With so much talent on the floor, the spotlight will shine brightly on the stars expected to step up when it matters most.

    Let us know what you think and vote:

    Who will be crowned U19 World Cup 2025 champions?

    From Christian Anderson and Hannes Steinbach leading the charge for Germany, to USA’s deep arsenal featuring Mikel Brown Jr. and AJ Dybantsa, the so-called “Final MVP” could come from anywhere.

    Who do you think will be the best player in the Final?

    Cast your vote below and have your say!

    Disclaimer: This Fan Vote is not an official statement from FIBA. It is created solely to enhance the experience of the fans following the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025.

    Let us know what you think and vote:

    Who will be named FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 TISSOT MVP?

    FIBA

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  • Dalai Lama marks his 90th birthday as crowds throng his home-in-exile

    Dalai Lama marks his 90th birthday as crowds throng his home-in-exile


    Dharamshala / Hong Kong
    CNN
     — 

    Thousands of people gathered in India’s Dharamshala on Sunday to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama – a key milestone in the life of the spiritual leader and Nobel Peace laureate known for his message of compassion and his quest for greater freedoms for Tibet under Beijing’s rule.

    Undeterred by heavy monsoon rain and thick fog, crowds dressed in their finery packed the narrow streets from early morning and queued in droves hoping to catch a glimpse of the Dalai Lama at the Tsuklakhang Tibetan Buddhist complex.

    Hundreds of hopeful attendees were left waiting to see if they would be allowed into the temple, which reached full capacity before the festivities began and was heavily manned by Indian police and security personnel.

    Masked dancers in traditional outfits twirled to the sounds of gongs, pipes and horns as the Dalai Lama was led into the complex by two attendants.

    Indian government ministers spoke at the event, as well as Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a longtime supporter of the Dalai Lama.

    Singing performances filled the courtyard as the Dalai Lama was served a slice of his birthday cake, topped with fresh fruit and a white lily.

    The gathering marked the culmination of a days-long celebration that brought supporters and spiritual heads to the small city in India’s Himalayan foothills, which has served as the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile and home of the Dalai Lama since he fled Tibet during a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese communist rule.

    Many had traveled far to join the celebration, such as Namgyal Dorjee Gongpa, from New Jersey in the United States.

    The 49-year-old, at the celebration with his wife and three sons, told CNN: “This is a very momentous occasion for myself and my family.”

    “Every year, we take trips to India, which is the epicenter of the exile Tibetan setup so that my kids who are born in a foreign country… get back to their roots and learn and live their culture. So this is a great occasion because we can all take part in the celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday.”

    In a birthday message on X, the Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of “achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and by being compassionate.” Woven into his reflections was a pledge to continue promoting human values, religious harmony, ancient Indian wisdom and Tibetan culture, which “has so much potential to contribute to the world.”

    At a ceremony on Saturday, as attendees prayed for his long life, he assured them of his “great physical condition” and raised his longevity goal to 130, two decades beyond his previous prediction.

    As he was led out the temple, video showed the Dalai Lama gently swaying to more live music, before continuing outside and leaving on his golf cart.

    This year’s festivities carry heightened significance as a stage for the charismatic leader to address the looming question of what happens after his death.

    In a video message to religious elders on Wednesday, the Dalai Lama announced that he will have a successor after his death, and affirmed that his office has the “sole authority” to recognize his future reincarnation.

    “No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said in his recorded message.

    The statement sets the stage for a struggle over his succession between Tibetan Buddhist leaders in exile and China’s atheist Communist Party, which insists it alone holds the authority to approve the next dalai lama.

    The Dalai Lama’s announcement was welcomed by many Tibetan Buddhists, who had been waiting for his decision on whether the centuries-old institution would end with his death – a question he had earlier said he would re-evaluate around his 90th birthday.

    Speaking from the crowds, Tenzin Nyidon, 26, originally from Odisha, eastern India, told CNN she holds his reincarnation “with deep respect” and raised concerns over China’s “attempts to politicize” this process.

    “I feel that he has thoughtfully considered the future and made it clear that the decision will be guided by the Tibetan people and Buddhist traditions and not by any external political interference,” she added.

    “At the same time, like many Tibetans, I do have concerns about China’s attempts to politicize the reincarnation process by potentially appointing its own dalai lama… Their appointment of a dalai lama would not only be a distortion of our faith but also a strategy to undermine Tibetan identity.”

    Students wait in line for the gates to open at the Tsuklakhang Tibetan Buddhist complex on Sunday.

    Tibetan Buddhists believe in the circle of rebirth, and that when an enlightened spiritual master like the Dalai Lama dies, he will be able to choose the place and time of his rebirth through the force of compassion and prayer.

    But the religious tradition has increasingly become a battleground for the control of Tibetan hearts and minds, and experts expect that Beijing will seek to establish its own dalai lama after the current one – part of the Comunist Party’s campaign to “sinicize” religion to ensure it aligns with Communist Party leadership and maintain its tightening grip over Tibet.

    The Dalai Lama has previously stated that his successor will be born in the “free world” outside China, urging his followers to reject any candidate selected by Beijing.

    Asked about the Dalai Lama’s latest statement on his reincarnation, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday reiterated Beijing’s long-held stance that the spiritual leader’s reincarnation must comply with Chinese laws and regulations, with search and identification conducted in China and approved by the central government.

    Beijing has long sought to discredit the Dalai Lama and claims he is a dangerous “separatist.”

    Since the 1970s, however, the Dalai Lama has maintained that he no longer seeks full independence for Tibet, but “meaningful” autonomy that would allow Tibetans to preserve their distinct culture, religion and identity. His commitment to the nonviolent “middle way” approach has earned him international support and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

    As China’s political and economic clout has grown, however, the Dalai Lama’s global influence appears to be waning, especially as old age makes it difficult to sustain his extensive globe-trotting. The spiritual leader has not met a sitting US president since Barack Obama in 2016, after numerous visits to the White House since 1991.

    On his birthday, however, heartfelt messages poured in from world leaders, politicians, lawmakers and artists in a video played at the event and compiled by Tibet TV, run by the Tibetan government-in-exile.

    Actor Richard Gere, right, kisses the the Dalai Lama's hand at an event celebrating his 90th birthday in Dharamshala, India, on Sunday.

    Obama wished a “very happy birthday to the youngest 90-year-old I know,” and thanked the Dalai Lama for his friendship.

    “You’ve shown generations what it means to practice compassion and speak up for freedom and dignity. Not bad for someone who describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk,” he added.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement on X which was read at the event: “I join 1.4 billion Indians in extending our warmest wishes to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.

    “He has been an enduring symbol of love, compassion, patience and moral discipline. His message has inspired respect and admiration across all faiths. We pray for his continued good health and long life.”

    In an official statement, also read at the event, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for efforts to preserve Tibetans’ heritage, “including their ability to freely choose and venerate religious leaders without interference.”

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