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  • Life on Mars? NASA discovers potential biosignatures in Martian mudstones

    Life on Mars? NASA discovers potential biosignatures in Martian mudstones

    Data and images from NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover reveals that recently discovered rocks in Jezero crater are organic carbon bearing mudstones. The findings, detailed in a paper published in Nature, indicate that these mudstones experienced chemical processes that left behind colorful, enigmatic textures in the rock that represent potential biosignatures.

    The paper, led by Joel Hurowitz, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Stony Brook University, builds upon ongoing research conducted with the rover since it landed in 2021 – work aimed at characterizing early Martian geological processes and collecting samples that may someday be returned to Earth.

    Upon entering the Jezero crater’s western edge, Perseverance investigated distinctive mudstone outcrops of the Bright Angel formation. There, the Mars 2020 science team conducted a detailed geological, petrographic, and geochemical survey of these rocks and found traces of carbon matter along with minerals, namely ferrous iron phosphate and iron sulfide.

    While the research team is not claiming to have found some form of fossilized life on Mars, they do believe the rocks contain features that could have been formed by life – a potential biosignature. A potential biosignature is any characteristic, element, molecule, substance, or feature that could have been formed by past biological life, but which also could have formed in the absence of life. While a compelling find, the team points out that more data is needed before any conclusion can be made about whether microbial activity is responsible for the development of the features observed in the mudstones.

    “These mudstones provide information about Mars’ surface environmental conditions at a time hundreds of millions of years after the planet formed, and thus they can be seen as a great record of the planetary environment and habitability during that period,” says Hurowitz, who has been involved with Mars rover research since he was a graduate student at Stony Brook University in 2004.

    “We will need to conduct broader research into both living and non-living processes that will help us to better understand the conditions under which the collection of minerals and organic phases in the Bright Angel formation were formed,” he explains.

    More specifically, the researchers concluded the following during their analyses:

    • The organic carbon detected appears to have participated in post-depositional redox reactions that produced the observed iron phosphate and iron sulfide minerals. And these reactions occurred in a sedimentary rock environment at low temperature. Redox reactions are a type of chemical reaction that all living things derive energy from, and in low temperature sedimentary environments on Earth, these redox reactions are commonly driven by microbial life.
    • A review of the various pathways by which redox reactions that involve organic matter can produce the observed suite of iron, sulfur, and phosphorus-bearing minerals reveals that both abiotic (physical not biological) and biological processes can explain the unique features observed in the Bright Angel formation.
    • Their observations in the Bright Angel formation challenge some aspects of a purely abiotic explanation, and thus the researchers suggest that the iron and sulfur and phosphorus-bearing nodules and reaction fronts should be considered a potential biosignature.

    Continued research will be done to assess the rocks and mudstone features. For the time being, the researchers ultimately conclude that analysis of the core sample collected from this unit using high-sensitivity instrumentation on Earth will enable the measurements required to determine the origin of the minerals, organics, and textures it contains.”

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  • Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

    Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

    People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age-along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans-than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

    The study found that people with chronic insomnia-trouble sleeping at least three days a week for three months or more-had a 40% higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia than those without insomnia, which is the equivalent of 3.5 additional years of aging. The study does not prove that insomnia causes brain aging, it only shows an association.

    Insomnia doesn’t just affect how you feel the next day-it may also impact your brain health over time. We saw faster decline in thinking skills and changes in the brain that suggest chronic insomnia could be an early warning sign or even a contributor to future cognitive problems.”


    Diego Z. Carvalho, MD, study author of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and member of the American Academy of Neurology

    The study tracked a group of cognitively healthy older adults-2,750 people with an average age of 70-for an average of 5.6 years. Of participants, 16% had chronic insomnia.

    At the start of the study, participants were asked whether they had been sleeping more or less than usual during the past two weeks. They also took yearly thinking and memory tests, and some had brain scans to look for white matter hyperintensities-areas where small vessel disease may have damaged brain tissue-and for amyloid plaques, a protein that can build up and is linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

    During the study, 14% of the people with chronic insomnia developed mild cognitive impairment or dementia, compared to 10% of those who did not have insomnia.

    After accounting for factors like age, high blood pressure, use of sleep medications and a diagnosis of sleep apnea, they found that people with insomnia were 40% more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment or dementia than those without insomnia. They also had faster declines on tests measuring different thinking skills.

    Among those with insomnia, researchers determined the type: those getting less sleep than usual in the past two weeks; or those getting more sleep than usual in the past two weeks.

    People who reported getting less sleep than usual were more likely to have lower cognitive test scores at the beginning of the study, comparable to being four years older. They also had more white matter hyperintensities and amyloid plaques. For amyloid, the effect was similar to what is seen in people with the APOE ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor.

    People who reported getting more sleep than usual, on the other hand, were more likely to have fewer white matter hyperintensities at the start of the study.

    Some groups were especially vulnerable. Participants who carry the APOE ε4 gene-linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk-showed steeper declines in memory and thinking skills.

    “Our results suggest that insomnia may affect the brain in different ways, involving not only amyloid plaques, but also small vessels supplying blood to the brain,” Carvalho said. “This reinforces the importance of treating chronic insomnia-not just to improve sleep quality but potentially to protect brain health as we age. Our results also add to a growing body of evidence that sleep isn’t just about rest-it’s also about brain resilience.”

    A limitation of the study was that insomnia diagnoses came from medical records, which do not capture undiagnosed cases or reflect how severe symptoms are.

    The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health, GHR Foundation, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, and a grant from Sleep Number Corporation to the Mayo Clinic.

    Source:

    American Academy of Neurology

    Journal reference:

    Carvalho, D. Z., et al. (2025) Associations of Chronic Insomnia, Longitudinal Cognitive Outcomes, Amyloid-PET, and White Matter Changes in Cognitively Normal Older Adults. Neurology. doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214155.

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  • Japan, Taiwan shares set records on tech boost, Fed cut hope – Reuters

    1. Japan, Taiwan shares set records on tech boost, Fed cut hope  Reuters
    2. Japan’s Nikkei tracks Wall Street higher  Business Recorder
    3. Once again, we anticipate the formation of a trend focused on the 44,000 yen level.  富途牛牛
    4. investingLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: Another record high for Japan’s Nikkei  investingLive
    5. Japan’s Nikkei 225 hits a new high as SoftBank surges nearly 10%  CNBC

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  • Green tea extract reduces weight and improves glucose control in obese mice

    Green tea extract reduces weight and improves glucose control in obese mice

    Green tea is an ancient beverage recognized for its medicinal and antioxidant properties. It has been widely studied for its beneficial effects on metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Recent studies funded by FAPESP (19/10616-5, 21/08498-4 and 23/11295-3) have deepened our understanding of the mechanisms of action of this infusion and revealed that green tea treatment reduced weight and significantly improved glucose sensitivity and insulin resistance in obese mice. These results reinforce the potential relevance of the beverage as an adjunct in the treatment of obesity in humans.

    Rosemari Otton led the studies from the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Health Sciences at Cruzeiro do Sul University in São Paulo, Brazil. The scientist, who has dedicated more than 15 years to green tea research, explains that her initial motivation came from curiosity about the truth behind the popular belief that the drink aids in weight loss. The results of her most recent study were published in the journal Cell Biochemistry & Function.

    To study the effects of green tea on obesity, the research team fed mice a high-calorie diet for four weeks, with both fat and what they call a “cafeteria diet,” which mimics the Western diet.

    We give them chocolate, filled cookies, dulce de leche, condensed milk… In other words, the same type of food that many people consume on a daily basis,”


    Rosemari Otton, Cruzeiro do Sul University in São Paulo

    After this initial phase, the animals underwent the green tea experiment for another 12 weeks. During this period, they continued on the high-calorie diet, but some of them began receiving standardized green tea extract at a dose of 500 mg per kilogram of body weight, administered intragastrically (via gavage).

    “It’s a method that ensures they all receive the exact dose we want to study. If we put it in water, for example, we’d have no way of knowing how much the animal actually ingested,” says the researcher. For humans, this amount would be equivalent to consuming about 3 grams of green tea per day, or three cups.

    However, according to the researcher, not all commercial green tea meets the necessary quality standards. “Ready-made tea bags do not always guarantee the quantity or quality of the compounds. The ideal for consumption would be to use standardized green tea extract, like those found in compounding pharmacies. This is a concentrated way of using the plant, with a guarantee of the presence of flavonoids, which are the health-beneficial compounds present in the green tea plant,” Otton points out.

    One methodological difference in the study was the controlled room temperature. The animals were kept in a thermoneutral environment (28 °C) throughout the experiment. Animal facilities generally maintain an average temperature of 22 °C, which represents chronic cold for mice.

    “Excessive cold activates compensatory regulatory mechanisms in the animals’ bodies, causing them to expend more energy to stay warm. This can mask the real effects of any substance,” explains the researcher. “If the animals are in a colder environment, the effect of the tea is enhanced by the activation of energy expenditure due to the cold. But by maintaining thermoneutrality, we were able to see the effects of green tea in a ‘clean’ way, without environmental interference,” she explains.

    A previous study published in August 2022 in the European Journal of Nutrition found that obese mice treated with green tea experienced a reduction of up to 30% in body weight. “If a person loses 5% to 10% of their body weight, that’s already a lot. So this result in animals is very significant,” says the professor.

    Muscular effect

    Another highlight of the most recent study was the preservation of muscle morphology. Obesity typically causes a reduction in muscle fiber diameter, but green tea prevented this muscle atrophy. “One way to assess muscle function is to look at fiber diameter. If it increases, we have more active muscle components. Green tea managed to maintain this diameter, showing that it protects muscle against the harmful effects of obesity,” Otton explains.

    In addition to morphological data, the researchers evaluated the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism. Treatment with green tea increased the expression of Insr, Irs1, Glut4, Hk1, and Pi3k – genes that are important for glucose uptake and use in muscles. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an enzyme that is essential for glucose metabolism, was also restored.

    According to Otton, there is evidence indicating that green tea does not affect the weight of lean animals, suggesting that it acts selectively against excess body fat. “It makes obese animals lose weight but keeps lean animals at a balanced weight. This shows that the tea seems to need an environment with excess nutrients to act, which supports the hypothesis that it acts directly on fat cells.”

    Another aspect investigated by the team was the action of the compounds in isolation. “Green tea is a complex matrix with dozens of bioactive compounds. We’ve tried to separate these compounds and study their effects individually, but the whole extract is always more effective. There’s a synergy between the compounds that we can’t reproduce when they’re isolated,” she says.

    According to the scientist, one hypothesis explaining the mechanism by which green tea affects obesity involves adiponectin, a protein produced by adipocytes that has anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulation functions. “We conducted a study with adiponectin-knockout mice, meaning they don’t produce it. And in these animals, green tea had no effect. This suggests that adiponectin is a key player in the mechanism of action of the tea,” she comments.

    Real-life effects

    Despite the encouraging results of the mouse study, Otton points out that it is not yet possible to determine a safe and effective dose of green tea for humans. This is mainly due to the variability of the extracts and the fact that each person behaves differently. “The ideal is chronic consumption, as we see in Asian countries. In Japan, for example, people consume green tea every day, throughout their lives, and obesity rates are low. But this is different from drinking tea for five months and expecting a miraculous weight loss effect,” she ponders.

    The researcher argues that natural and accessible treatments should gain ground in the fight against obesity, especially as alternatives to expensive medications that often have side effects. “The idea is to have safe, natural, effective, and high-quality compounds. The Camellia sinensis plant offers this. We’re still studying all the compounds involved, but there’s no doubt that green tea, as a plant matrix rich in flavonoids, has important therapeutic potential.”

    The researcher emphasizes that science always seeks to develop practical solutions. “What we see in animals doesn’t always reproduce in humans. But if we want to make this translation to real life, we need to think about all the details, such as ambient temperature. It’s these precautions that increase the validity of our data. We’re far from having all the answers, but we’re getting closer and closer.”

    Source:

    São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)

    Journal reference:

    Sousa-Filho, C. P. B., et al. (2025). Does Green Tea Ameliorate Obesity in Mice Kept at Thermoneutrality by Modulating Skeletal Muscle Metabolism? Cell Biochemistry and Function. doi.org/10.1002/cbf.70094

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  • Opposition parties slam Sindh govt, civic bodies over rain disasters – Newspaper

    Opposition parties slam Sindh govt, civic bodies over rain disasters – Newspaper

    KARACHI: Opposition parties on Wednesday strongly criticised the Sindh government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as well as Karachi’s civic administration for their “failure” to manage the recent monsoon rains.

    As parts of the city face yet another urban flooding crisis, opposition leaders said that the disaster was not solely a result of natural causes, but rather the consequence of years of negligence and misuse of public funds intended for drainage and infrastructure development.

    The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) expressed serious concern over the damage caused to Shahrah-i-Bhutto and several sections of the new Hub Canal during the latest spell of monsoon rains, blaming the PPP government for widespread corruption and poor planning.

    In a strongly worded statement, MQM-P leaders said the PPP’s “bogus and corrupt projects” had failed to endure even the first significant downpour, which exposed the provincial government’s incompetence and negligence.

    Muttahida, PTI, Jamaat, JUI-F and PML-N question performance of ruling PPP and its local govt set-up

    The party further alleged that the Sindh government ignored international environmental assessment guidelines during the construction of Shahrah-i-Bhutto. As a result, the Malir River “reclaimed” land along the newly built road and washed away entire sections.

    Highlighting the collapse of the New Hub Canal, which was constructed at a cost of Rs12 billion, MQM-P leaders pointed out that the project did not last even twelve weeks.

    The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) held the Sindh government and Karachi mayor responsible for what it termed a “complete administrative failure.” PTI Sindh chapter president Haleem Adil Sheikh said that overflowing streams and reservoirs had inundated dozens of neighbourhoods.

    “Malir River is in spate, Gadap is facing flash floods, and Thado Dam has overflowed, sending water into homes. Areas including Sohrab Goth are submerged, and traffic on the M-9 was suspended for hours,” he said.

    Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also questioned the performance of both the Sindh government and Karachi’s mayor, claiming that the root causes of the city’s issues lie in mismanagement and corruption—problems that must be addressed before any real progress can be made on civic matters.

    JI Karachi chief Monem Zafar, while visiting several rain-affected areas of Orangi Town, stressed that Karachi is the economic backbone of the country yet its citizens are deprived of even the most basic facilities.

    Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl also condemned local representatives in Karachi and accused them of focusing more on “photo opportunities than the worsening crisis.” Party spokesperson Muhammad Aslam Ghouri lambasted the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), led by Mayor Murtaza Wahab, for what he described as a total failure in fulfilling their responsibilities, calling Mr Wahab “one of the most unsuccessful mayors of this century.”

    Even the PPP’s key ally at the Centre, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), criticised the Sindh government over “poor governance and alleged corruption.” In a statement, PML-N Sindh spokesperson Asad Usmani urged the CM to reflect on his own performance rather than deflecting blame.

    “Murad Ali Shah should examine his own shortcomings instead of pointing fingers at others,” he said.

    Referring to the PPP’s 18-year rule in Sindh, Mr Usmani described it as a period marked by “inefficiency and failure,” and lamented that the party had “tarnished” the legacy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

    Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2025

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  • Federal cabinet declares climate, agriculture emergency – Newspaper

    Federal cabinet declares climate, agriculture emergency – Newspaper

    • PM forms committee to formulate post-flood strategy, seeks roadmap to tackle climate change • Apex moot of all CMs soon; climate minister asked to submit report in 15 days
    • Minister admits failure to protect forestland, prevent encroachments on waterways
    • Cabinet lifts ban on new gas connections

    ISLAMABAD: The federal government imposed a climate and agriculture emergency on Wednesday in the wake of floods that devastated dozens of districts across the country, particularly in Punjab, giving rise to fears of food inflation.

    The decision was made during a meeting of the federal cabinet, chaired by Prime Min­ister Shehbaz Sharif. The cabinet also announced the formation of a special committee led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal to recommend measures to mitigate the impacts of the deluge on the economy. The terms of reference (TORs) of the special committee will be devised soon, the source added.

    In a post-meeting press conference, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, flanked by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, said the PM had directed the immediate enforcement of a climate emergency.

    Climate change, one of the most debated subjects globally, has been severely affecting Pakistan due to the shifting weather patterns, the minister said.

    “Unfortunately, in past decades, we failed to protect our forests and trees, while encro­achments narrowed natural waterways — rivers, streams, and channels that once allo­w­ed easy passage of rainwater. This has worsened the flooding situation we see today,” he said.

    He said the climate minister, Musadik Malik, had been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report to the prime minister within 15 days. The cabinet would then deliberate on the report to determine how Pakistan could cope with climate change and prepare effective strategies to protect the nation from such devastating losses in the future.

    “Since 2022, we have witnessed the devastation caused by floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Punjab. Now, this water is flowing into Sindh from the five-river basin, and our prayers and efforts are focused on minimising the losses there as well,” the minister added.

    He said the cabinet discussed the destruction, particularly to agriculture, along with human and financial losses, in detail. An agriculture emergency will help assess the extent of damage to agriculture across the country and determine how farmers could be compensated for their losses, he said, adding that these challenges could not be addressed without the cooperation, support, and consultation of the provincial governments.

    “Therefore, the prime minister has decided to convene an immediate meeting of all provincial stakeholders under the leadership of their respective chief ministers. This country belongs to all of us, and together we must overcome its challenges,” he said, adding that stakeholders from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir would also participate.

    Earlier, PM Shehbaz stressed the need for formulating a comprehensive roadmap and strategy to overcome the challenges posed by climate change.

    “We cannot deal with climate change overnight,” he said while chairing the cabinet meeting, adding that Pakistan could not tackle the challenge alone and that everyone had to come together for this task, a statement by the PM’s Office quoted the premier as saying. He said an apex-level meeting would follow the cabinet meeting, to be attended by the four chief ministers, to formulate a policy to cope with the current situation.

    It may be noted that the monsoon floods affected 4.2 million people, 1.58m animals, and more than 4,400 villages across Punjab, as per a report by the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority. Besides Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan also bore the brunt of flash and glacial floods, wiping out houses and agricultural land.

    Ban on gas connections lifted

    The cabinet also decided to lift a four-year-long ban on domestic gas connections and supply regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG).

    Dr Chaudhry said PM Shehbaz decided to lift the ban on new gas connections imposed in 2021, addressing a longstanding public demand. He expressed gratitude to the PM and the petroleum minister for resolving a major issue that households had been facing for years. “The difficulties caused by the suspension of gas connections will now be resolved,” he added.

    Speaking on the occasion, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the two state-run gas companies, SNGPL and SSGCL, had been asked to seek applications for new gas connections from consumers. The petroleum minister said RLNG would be 30-35 per cent cheaper than the imported Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), adding that consumers, who had already applied for the gas connections, would have the option to switch their connections to RLNG. They would deposit their security fee as per the decision of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, he added.

    Mr Malik assured that efforts were underway to enhance local gas production to reduce dependency on RLNG in the future and ensure more affordable energy for the public.

    The cabinet also approved the trilateral intergovernmental framework agreement for a joint feasibility study between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, based on the recommendation of the railways ministry.

    The agreement, signed last month, is considered a key project for regional trade and connectivity. The cabinet also endorsed decisions made by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Governmental Commercial Transactions, and the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases.

    Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2025

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  • Israeli strikes on Houthis in Yemen claim 35 lives – World

    Israeli strikes on Houthis in Yemen claim 35 lives – World

    SANAA: Thirty-five people were killed in Israeli strikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen on Wednesday.

    “The number of martyrs and injured among citizens from the treacherous Zionist crime has risen… to 35 martyrs and 131 wounded,” the rebels’ health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi posted on X, adding it was not a final toll.

    The Houthi armed forces’ media operation in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital, was hit in the attacks, along with a Houthi complex in Jawf province, the group said.

    Israel has launched repeated attacks on Houthi targets during the Gaza conflict, as the Iran-backed rebels fire missiles and drones at Israel and Red Sea shipping, claiming solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

    “Civil defence, ambulances and rescue teams are still searching for the missing,” he added.

    The toll included seven dead and 100 wounded at the media building in Sanaa, and two dead and 20 wounded in Jawf, which borders Saudi Arabia, Alasbahi said.

    A large plume of grey smoke billowed above Sanaa as the strikes echoed across the city, which has been controlled by the Houthis for more than a decade.

    High-profile assassinations

    The Houthis’ prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, nine ministers and two cabinet officials were killed as they attended a government meeting in the Sanaa area last month.

    The killings were the most high-profile assassinations of Houthi officials during nearly two years of hostilities with Israel over the Gaza war.

    The latest air strikes come after a drone launched from Yemen struck Ramon airport in southern Israel on Sunday, wounding one person.

    Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen on Sept 10, 2025. — Reuters/Stringer

    Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said journalists working for the September 26 and al-Yaman newspapers were among those killed at the “Moral Guidance Headquarters” in Sanaa.

    The Israeli military also said it struck the armed forces’ media operations, among other facilities.

    The targets included “military camps in which operatives of the terrorist regime were identified, the Houthis’ military public relations headquarters and a fuel storage facility that was used by the terrorist regime”, an Israeli military statement said.

    The Huthis’ Al-Masirah television said the strikes in Jawf hit a Central Bank branch building in the city of Al-Hazm, wounding employees.

    They said they fought back with air defences, without giving details. Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, the Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks against Israel.

    In response, Israel has carried out rounds of retaliatory strikes in Yemen, mainly targeting infrastructure such as ports, power stations and the international airport in Sanaa. The strikes are the latest in a series of attacks and counterstrikes between Israel and Houthi militants in Yemen, part of a spillover from the conflict in Gaza.

    Sanaa residents said the attack had targeted a hideout between two mountains that is used as a command and control headquarters.

    The extent of any damage was not immediately clear. The Israeli strikes also targeted the Houthi defence ministry, witnesses said.

    Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2025

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  • Pakistan, Bahrain agree to expand cooperation in multiple sectors – Pakistan

    Pakistan, Bahrain agree to expand cooperation in multiple sectors – Pakistan

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bahrain on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, and immigration.

    The agreement was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bahraini counterpart, General Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa.

    During the meeting, the two sides also agreed to establish a Joint Working Group (JWG) to enhance collaboration across multiple sectors, including counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, coast guard operations, border security, immigration and police training.

    They also decided to sign Mem­oranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering extradition, mutual legal assistance, and specialised battalion training.

    Both sides agree to form a joint working group for the purpose

    Speaking on the occasion, Interior Minister Naqvi emphasised the importance of intensified efforts against drug trafficking, saying: “Cooperation in counter-narcotics is of utmost importance — it concerns the future of our coming generations.”

    He praised Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) for achieving a record-breaking $146 million recovery despite limited resources, and welcomed Bahrain’s move to appoint a Drug Liaison Officer at its embassy in the federal capital.

    Highlighting the strong people-to-people ties, Mr Naqvi pointed out that over 120,000 Pakistanis living in Bahrain contribute significantly to the development of both countries.

    Bahrain’s interior minister reaffirmed his country’s commitment to Pakistan, stating, “Bahrain attaches great importance to its brotherly relations with Pakistan and seeks to advance cooperation in all sectors”.

    He said that formation of a Joint Working Group and signing of MoUs would provide fresh momentum to bilateral relations.

    He said his country was keen to advance relations with Pakistan in all sectors. He said the establishment of the JWG and the signing of the MOU will promote cooperation between the two countries.

    Delegation-level talks were also held between officials of the interior ministries of Pakistan and Bahrain, during which detailed discussions were held on enhancing cooperation in various fields.

    Both sides also agreed to form a joint working group to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

    Later, the Bahrani interior minister also met President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif separately.

    According to the PM Office, the PM during the meeting expressed Pakistan’s desire to enhance cooperation with Bahrain in trade and other diverse sectors.

    The prime minister said that Pakistan was providing expedited visa processing facilities for Bahraini businessmen.

    He expressed the hope that Bahrain would invest in various sectors of Pakistan, emphasising the country’s commitment to offer maximum facilitation to foreign investors and entrepreneurs.

    Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2025

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  • Justice Shah again denied NOC to travel abroad

    Justice Shah again denied NOC to travel abroad


    ISLAMABAD:

    Once again, Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi has refused to grant an NOC to senior puisne judge Mansoor Ali Shah to travel abroad to attend events.

    It is learnt that last month, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was invited to attend Global Constitutionalism 2025 at Yale Law School, Yale University, USA from September 10 to 13.

    Justice Shah was being invited for the past five years to attend the event, wherein senior judges from across the world engage in dialogue with leading scholars from Yale, Harvard, and Princeton.

    This year, Justice Shah was supposed to present a paper on ‘Artificial Intelligence and Judging’.

    Even Yale Law School had formally written to CJP Afridi, seeking Justice Shah’s official nomination. On August 6, Justice Shah also made the same request.

    Later, the SC Registrar had responded to Yale Law School that the Supreme Court of Pakistan would not be in a position to facilitate participation of Justice Shah in the event.

    Giving reason, the registrar said that the judicial year of the Supreme commenced on September 8 each year and this occasion is traditionally marked by significant institutional activities, including a comprehensive full court session of judges to review and strategise for the year ahead, as well as an interactive engagement with the legal fraternity.

    It is also said that this year, the day assumes particular importance as the Supreme Court has recently promulgated a new edition of its Rules, establishing a more comprehensive, technology-driven framework for the Court’s operations. In this context, the presence and participation of all judges in the opening of the Judicial Year is indispensable for collective deliberation, priority setting, and institutional direction.

    “In view of these compelling commitments, the Supreme Court of Pakistan would not be in a position to facilitate participation of the Hon’ble Judge in your esteemed event. We deeply value our institutional and academic ties and remain hopeful of future opportunities for collaboration and engagement,” says the letter written by SC Registrar to Yale Law School.

    On August 15, Justice Shah wrote a letter to CJP Afridi to get his response of his request for NOC.

    He had given several reasons to justify his visit abroad. Justice Shah said that he did not fully exhaust the summer vacations and during CJP Afridi tenure, he decided 3956 cases.

    Likewise, Justice Shah said that neither is he a member of the Constitutional Bench or any administrative committee, and now that the court has a strength of 25 judges therefore, his temporary absence would in no way disrupt the functioning of the court.

    Justice Shah said that his travel is scheduled to commence during the summer vacation (5th September) and conclude shortly thereafter (13th September).

    Justice Shah has also told CJP Afridi that undue delay or unreasoned refusal in a matter of this nature risks creating the perception that some Judges are being penalized for holding independent views—particularly when leave has been granted to other judges for events of far less academic or professional standing.

    “Such perceptions, whether accurate or not, can be deeply damaging to the credibility and collegiality of this Court. As the senior puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, I am making this request in the expectation that it will be dealt with in the fashion and with the courtesy it deserves”, says Justice Shah letter.

    Justice also told CJP that in case he does not decide his request then he would be constrained to share this correspondence with the inviting institutions so that they know why he is unable to travel and so that they may evaluate for themselves the transparency, collegiality, and respect for judicial independence within this court.

    Justice Shah had also emphasised that the Supreme Court is not a regimented force like the civil service or the armed forces; it does not operate on a system of command and control but derives its strength from the independence of its judges.

    “Restrictions, procedural hurdles, and delays of the kind encountered under your administration risk being perceived as measures intended to steer Judges towards compliance rather than independence—a course that would weaken the Court’s constitutional foundations and corrode the very principles on which its authority rests”, says the letter.

    Despite Justice Shah letter, CJP Afridi had refused to issue NOC to him to travel USA.

    It is also learnt that Justice Shah was also invited to speak at the New York City Bar Association on September 8 and to participate in an academic dialogue with Professor Noah Feldman at Harvard University on September 10.

    This is not first time CJP Afridi did not allow him.

    In February he could not fly to Saudi Arabia for attending two events at the arbitration for want of ex- Pakistan leave.

    Justice Shah was invited to deliver key notes at two events at the Arbitration week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia organised by the Al Baraka Forum and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation- Arbitration Center (OIC-AC).

    During that week, Justice Shah also wanted to perform Umrah before the start of Ramazan.

    The senior puisne judge had made a request to CJP Yahya Afridi for ex-Pakistan leave well in time, which remained unanswered, compelling Justice Mansoor to cancel his trip to Saudi Arabia as his leaves could not be sanctioned.

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  • Deadly Nepal protests reflect a wider pattern of Gen Z political activism across Asia

    Deadly Nepal protests reflect a wider pattern of Gen Z political activism across Asia

    Earlier this week, thousands of mainly young people in Nepal took to the streets in mass protests triggered by the government’s decision to ban 26 social media platforms.

    Some 22 people died and hundreds were injured within in a few hours in the clashes between protesters and police.

    Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his cabinet ministers resigned in the face of growing public outrage and widespread criticism, both domestically and internationally, over the protesters’ deaths.

    What happened?

    Provoked by the deaths of the protesters on September 8, angry, young demonstrators burned down several government buildings across the country, including the parliament and supreme court.

    Several politicians’ residences were also set on fire, while leaders of major political parties went into hiding.

    The Nepal Army is currently mobilising troops on the streets to take control of the situation, but power has not yet been officially transferred to a new government.

    Unrest leads to protests

    Political protests and public uprisings are not new in Nepal. The country’s first mass uprising in 1990 (labelled “Jana Andolan I”) and the second in 2006 (“Jana Andolan II”) both called for major changes in the political system.

    The governments that followed failed to meet the public’s hopes for real reforms.

    For the first time in the country’s history, a protest of this size has been entirely led by young people from Generation Z (born roughly between 1997 and 2012). Out of nearly 30 million people in Nepal, about 40% belong to this generation.

    Growing up in a digital culture shaped by internet and social media platforms, this generation has lived through Nepal’s worst years of political instability and frequent government changes. There have been 14 governments in the past 15 years.

    In 2015, Nepal shifted from a constitutional monarchical system to a federal republic system. But this massive change has delivered few improvements for everyday people. Despite some improvements in roads, electricity and the internet, inequality, political corruption, elitism and nepotism continue.

    Making the situation even worse is an unemployment rate that exceeds 10% overall – and more than 20% for young people.

    The social media ban that sparked action

    In a country where more than 73% of households own a mobile phone and about 55% of the population uses the internet, social media platforms are not only a source of entertainment and networking, but also a way of amplifying political voices – especially when traditional media is perceived as being biased towards political interests.

    Nepal’s Gen Z is using social media both as a social and political space. #Nepobaby is often trending on TikTok, while Instagram posts detail the lavish lifestyle that politicians and their children enjoy compared to the hard reality of many young people, who work low-wage jobs or have to leave the country just to survive.

    On September 3, the government banned these social media platforms, citing a directive requiring companies to register in Nepal. The government justified the move as necessary to control fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

    But Gen Z saw the ban as censorship. The frustration spreading on social media quickly turned into a nationwide uprising.

    The government lifted the ban on September 8, but it could not save the coalition government.

    Similarities in other countries

    The protests in Nepal mirror similar movements led recently by young people elsewhere in Asia, especially Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

    Like Bangladesh in 2024, the young protesters in Nepal were frustrated with corruption and joblessness.

    Similar to Sri Lanka’s “Aragalaya” movement in 2022, Nepal’s protesters fought against inequality and nepotism, resulting in the collapse of the government.

    And like Indonesia’s student protests in recent weeks, the Nepali protesters relied on memes, hashtags and digital networks, rather than party machines to organise.

    Where to from here?

    What comes next for Nepal is unclear. The army chief is now coordinating with Gen Z activists to set up an interim civilian government that will prepare for fresh elections.

    This is a remarkable shift: the youth who shook the streets are being asked to help shape the country’s political future.

    Yet, challenges remain.

    The young protesters are still a loose, leaderless network lacking the experience to run a state system. After an online meeting September 10, the protesters reportedly agreed to propose former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, now in her 70s, as a leader of the interim civilian government.

    Nepal’s key institutions, such such as the courts, bureaucracy and security forces, are still largely dominated by older elites, as well. Any attempt to shift power may face resistance.

    Perhaps Nepal can take a lesson from Bangladesh’s recent experience, where young protesters stepped in to help form an interim government, under the leadership of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

    Despite the challenges ahead, the uprising has provided a historic opportunity to fix Nepal’s broken government system. But real change depends on how power shifts from the old guard to new leaders, and whether they can address the structural and systemic issues that drove young people to the streets.

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