ANKARA: Pakistan’s 79th Independence Day was celebrated with a grand ceremony at Pakistan House in Ankara, where Türkiye’s senior leadership joined Pakistani officials, diplomats and members of the community to highlight the deep and enduring friendship between the two countries. Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz attended the event as chief guest, joined by senior political, military and diplomatic officials. The high-level participation underscored the importance Ankara attaches to its relationship with Islamabad and the longstanding bonds between the two nations. Among those attending were Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler, Chief of General Staff Gen Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, Naval Forces Commander Adm Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, Land Forces Commander Gen Metin Tokel and Air Force Commander Gen Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu. Former senior officials, members of parliament, ambassadors, diplomatic representatives, Pakistani community members and media representatives also attended the ceremony. The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthems of Pakistan and Türkiye. Students from the Pakistan Embassy International Study Group School added a colourful touch to the celebrations with national songs and traditional performances. Guests warmly applauded the cultural presentation. A documentary showcasing Pakistan’s history, cultural heritage, natural beauty, tourism potential and social and economic development was also screened. Yilmaz: Pakistan-Türkiye ties go beyond diplomacy Addressing the gathering, Vice President Yilmaz conveyed greetings from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people to the government and people of Pakistan. He emphasised that the relationship between Pakistan and Türkiye went far beyond conventional diplomatic ties, describing it as a unique brotherly bond rooted in shared history and mutual solidarity. Yilmaz recalled the support shown by Muslims of the subcontinent to the Turkish people during the Turkish War of Independence, saying the historic connection continued to shape relations between the two countries. He reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation with Pakistan and said both countries would continue working together to promote peace and stability in the region. The Turkish vice president also highlighted the importance of strengthening strategic cooperation and exploring new avenues for regional collaboration, including greater trilateral cooperation among Türkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan envoy highlights sacrifices behind independence Pakistan’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Dr Yousaf Junaid, paid tribute to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the sacrifices made during the Pakistan Movement. He said Pakistan’s independence was achieved through extraordinary courage, perseverance, determination and sacrifice. The ambassador urged Pakistanis to strengthen national unity and work collectively for the country’s stability, prosperity and development. Referring to Pakistan-Türkiye relations, Junaid said the partnership was based not merely on formal diplomacy but on shared values, history, mutual trust and strong public sentiment. He said cooperation between the two countries was expanding across defence, trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people contacts. Jinnah exhibition adds historic touch The ceremony also featured a special photographic exhibition marking the 150th birth anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Vice President Yilmaz, Ambassador Junaid and other dignitaries jointly inaugurated the exhibition, which highlighted Jinnah’s life, political vision, leadership and historic role in the creation of Pakistan. The event concluded with a traditional Pakistani dinner hosted in the gardens of Pakistan House. Against the backdrop of Pakistan’s green and white flags and warm Turkish hospitality, the Ankara celebration became more than an Independence Day ceremony. It served as a vivid reminder of a relationship built on history, affection and mutual trust — and of the two countries’ shared ambition to take that friendship into a stronger and broader future.

The United Nations General Assembly has approved a second four-year term for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. The decision was made despite strong opposition from the United States, Russia and Israel. The 193-member General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of the extension. A total of 144 countries voted for the proposal. Ten opposed it, while 13 abstained. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had proposed Turk for another full term. His current term is due to end in October. The vote came amid growing tensions between Washington and the United Nations. The US administration has reduced funding for several UN agencies. It has also withdrawn from a number of UN bodies. Washington had asked the General Assembly to delay the vote. US officials said more time was needed for consultations and review. The United States also warned that it could reconsider its relationship with the UN if the proposal was approved. US Representative for UN Management and Reform Jeff Bartos criticised the process before the vote. He said the decision did not allow enough time for discussion and oversight by member states. Bartos warned that the US could reassess its engagement, participation and funding of the United Nations. Despite the warning, most member states supported Turk. The European Union backed the extension. Several African and Latin American countries also voted in favour. China supported the proposal as well. Russia strongly opposed Turk’s reappointment. Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Dmitry Chumakov accused the rights chief of bias against Moscow. He also criticised Turk for making what Russia described as unfounded allegations against the country. Russia had proposed a shorter extension for Turk. Its plan would have kept him in the position only until the end of 2026. The General Assembly rejected that proposal by a large majority. Israel also opposed the decision. The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticised Guterres’ proposal and said the decision should have been left to the next UN secretary-general. Turk has faced criticism from several powerful countries because of his strong position on human rights issues. He has criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine. He has also raised concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza. Turk has further called for investigations into deaths involving people held in US immigration custody. Human rights organisations have defended his position. They say the UN human rights chief must be able to challenge powerful countries when fundamental freedoms are threatened. The position has become increasingly important as conflicts and restrictions on civil liberties continue in different parts of the world. Turk is an Austrian lawyer. He has worked with the United Nations for decades. His UN career has included senior positions in Geneva. He has also served in field locations, including Kosovo. With the General Assembly’s latest decision, Turk will become the first UN human rights chief to serve two complete four-year terms. His reappointment is likely to keep human rights at the centre of international debate. It may also further test relations between the United Nations and countries that have opposed his approach.

At least 17 passengers and crew members were injured after an Air India flight encountered severe turbulence while travelling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, prompting frightened passengers to fear the aircraft might crash. According to Indian media, the flight was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it was hit by sudden and intense turbulence mid-air. The violent shaking reportedly caused the aircraft to drop abruptly, leaving several passengers and crew members injured. The aircraft also sustained minor damage during the incident. The flight landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where emergency medical teams were waiting. Injured passengers were taken from the aircraft on stretchers and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. An Italian passenger described the ordeal as one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. She said the turbulence was so powerful that her sister was thrown out of her seat, while her mother suffered a head injury. She added that several passengers were hurt, including one man whose face was covered in blood. “We thought we were going to die,” the passenger said, recalling the frightening moments during the flight. Air India, however, said none of the passengers or crew members suffered life-threatening injuries. The airline stated that those injured were taken to hospital as a precaution for medical evaluation. According to the airline, five people were discharged shortly after receiving treatment, while the remaining injured passengers continue to receive medical care. The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers posed by severe in-flight turbulence, although aviation experts note that such events are relatively rare and commercial aircraft are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Palaeontologists have identified a new species of Late Triassic dinosaur from fossils discovered on the shores of Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe, offering fresh insights into prehistoric ecosystems across southern Africa. Named Musango matusadonaensis, the 4.5-metre-long creature lived approximately 210 million years ago, a pivotal era when dinosaurs were beginning to spread across the supercontinent Gondwana prior to becoming the planet’s dominant land animals. The discovery represents only the fifth dinosaur species formally named from Zimbabwe, stemming from a international research collaboration between institutions in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Lead researcher Professor Paul Barrett from London’s Natural History Museum, alongside co-authors publishing in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, detailed the anatomical characteristics of the fossilised skeleton, which included bones from the spine, arms, and feet. Musango was an early sauropodomorph, an evolutionary precursor to massive four-legged herbivores like Diplodocus, though this earlier relative was lightly built and walked primarily on two legs. Microscopic analysis of its fibula revealed eight distinct growth rings, indicating the animal was around eight years old and nearly fully grown when it died, while weighing an estimated 222 kilogrammes. The discovery challenges long-held scientific assumptions that Late Triassic dinosaur populations were uniform across the southern regions of Gondwana. Based on structural features of its skeleton and comparative ecosystem data, researchers believe Musango was an opportunistic omnivore that fed on plants, small reptiles, lungfish, and crocodile-like phytosaurs. The presence of a distinct species in the Lake Kariba region demonstrates that ancient southern Africa was divided into unique, localised environments with varied wildlife compositions, showing that regional climate and geography drove dinosaur diversification much earlier than previously understood.