cappadocia host annual
| |

Cappadocia to host annual hot air balloon festival

ByJustpaste.in

Türkiye’s famous UNESCO World Heritage region of Cappadocia is preparing to host the seventh annual Cappadocia Balloon Festival, featuring 30 special-shaped hot air balloons from 10 countries soaring above the region’s iconic fairy chimneys and rock formations.
Organized by Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, the four-day event is scheduled to run from July 30 to August 2. International balloon pilots and crews from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Brazil, Slovakia, Austria, Poland, and Türkiye have begun arriving in the country as final preparations wrap up.
The festival’s lineup includes balloons designed in unique figurative shapes, including the Turkish flag, an octopus, an owl, a clown, a chick, a wolf, a duck, a parrot, a rocket, a heart, and the Earth. The special-shaped balloons will ascend each morning at sunrise alongside the 156 standard commercial hot air balloons that operate daily in the region, returning in the evenings for illuminated “balloon glow” displays at the Pasabag Open-Air Museum.
Highlighting the event’s distinct appeal, festival coordinator Mehmet Halis Aydogan explained how Cappadocia’s natural geography and existing flight operations set it apart from other international ballooning venues:
“Balloon festivals are held in many parts of the world, including major events in the United States, France, Belgium, and Mexico. Cappadocia’s greatest advantage is its extraordinary landscape, where 156 balloons fly every day. It is a place where thousands of people come both to fly in hot air balloons and to watch them. When we decorate the skies with special-shaped balloons, it creates an incredible spectacle. That is what distinguishes us most from other festivals.”
A key highlight of this year’s gathering will be the debut of a whale-shaped balloon designed by sixth-grade student Bengi Serra Kaya. Her entry won first prize in the “My Dream Balloon Design Competition,” organized for primary and middle school students, and the specially manufactured balloon will take its inaugural flight during the festival.
Cappadocia remains one of the world’s premier hot air balloon destinations, drawing hundreds of thousands of international tourists annually. Organizers note that while global interest in the festival continues to rise, participation numbers are carefully managed to accommodate the region’s busy daily airspace safely.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Pakistan invites foreign investors as UK peer prai…

    ByJustpaste.in

    Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has assured foreign investors of full government support, saying Pakistan is ready to facilitate investment and provide opportunities across different sectors. Naqvi made the remarks during a meeting with British House of Lords member Lord Zamir Choudrey in Islamabad on Saturday. The interior minister said Pakistan has significant investment potential and that the government wants to create an environment where foreign investors can operate with greater confidence. He assured investors that all possible facilities would be provided to support their business activities in the country. The discussion also covered regional peace and stability. Naqvi said Pakistan was continuing its efforts to promote lasting peace in the region. He expressed optimism that the country’s diplomatic and peace initiatives would produce positive results. Lord Zamir Choudrey appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to contribute to regional stability. He also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts to promote peace. Choudrey said the government’s policies were helping create new opportunities for investment in Pakistan. The meeting comes as Islamabad seeks to strengthen economic ties with international partners while promoting Pakistan as an attractive destination for foreign investment. Pakistan has also been increasing cooperation with China on security and counterterrorism matters. Earlier this month, Naqvi met Chinese Minister of State for Public Security and Special Service Bureau chief Ling Zhifeng at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in internal security. Their discussions included border management, illegal immigration and efforts against drug trafficking. Meanwhile, security concerns surrounding Chinese nationals working in Pakistan remain a major issue. The CPEC Secretariat has decided to purchase a new bulletproof vehicle costing Rs95 million to strengthen security arrangements for Chinese citizens. The vehicle will reportedly be a 3,500cc Toyota Land Cruiser. It will be added to the existing fleet of security vehicles used for the protection of Chinese nationals. Government departments have also acquired or are seeking additional bulletproof vehicles and helicopters for security purposes. Officials have said Chinese citizens face significant security risks in Pakistan. As a result, they are generally restricted from travelling in ordinary, non-bulletproof vehicles. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the protection of Chinese nationals is a key responsibility of the Pakistani government. The purchase also highlights the security challenges linked to major China-Pakistan economic projects. The government is balancing efforts to attract more foreign investment with measures aimed at improving the security of international investors and workers.

  • |

    UK leaders mourn former Cambridge professor Arday

    ByJustpaste.in

    UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday as “a tragedy on so many levels” and urged people to reflect before reaching conclusions about the circumstances surrounding his death. Arday, 41, was found dead at a property in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon. His family said they were devastated by the loss of the academic, describing him as a loving father, partner, brother, uncle and son. In a statement released through his publisher, Simon & Schuster UK, the family said Arday had been struggling amid what they described as a campaign of misinformation. Burnham, speaking during a visit to Cornwall, said the situation required reflection rather than immediate judgement. Arday resigned from his position as Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge last week following allegations concerning plagiarism and questions about some claims surrounding his career. He rejected the allegations, although he acknowledged errors in some of his earlier academic work. Friends and colleagues have spoken about the pressure Arday faced in the weeks before his death. Eamonn McCrystal, a friend from St Mary’s University College London, said Arday had described feeling “destroyed” and expressed concern after his US travel visa was revoked. McCrystal remembered him as a kind and gentle person who had been involved with student radio during their university years. Cambridge Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said the university community was deeply saddened by Arday’s death and extended sympathy to his family and friends. Education Secretary Lucy Powell also expressed shock and urged the public to remember the human impact of intense public scrutiny. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Arday had faced sustained media attention and described the treatment he received as an unacceptable campaign of public abuse. He called the death a wake-up call. The University and College Union also called for scrutiny of the harassment Arday experienced, including allegations of racism. Other prominent figures in British public life similarly raised concerns about the treatment of Black academics and the pressures faced by people from underrepresented backgrounds. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, said he had spoken to Arday on the morning of his death. He described him as a caring and gentle person and said Arday had felt unable to leave his home. Professor Kehinde Andrews, a friend of Arday, said the academic had been deeply distressed after leaving Cambridge and had withdrawn from public life. The controversy surrounding Arday began after questions were raised about sections of his academic work. He denied plagiarism and said some errors were linked to the way he processed information as an autistic academic. Further questions were also raised about claims related to aspects of his personal history, including a long-distance charity run and fundraising achievements. Arday later clarified details surrounding both claims. His appointment at Cambridge in 2023 had been celebrated as a significant milestone, making him the university’s youngest Black professor at the time. When announcing his resignation, Arday said the personal cost of the controversy had become too great. He maintained that his decision to leave Cambridge should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the allegations made against him. Cambridge has announced an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his appointment. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his PhD in 2015, previously concluded that he had not committed plagiarism.

  • |

    Netanyahu accuses New York Mayor Mamdani of ‘fomenting hate’ and rejects ICC war crimes charges

    ByJustpaste.in

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of “fomenting hate” and attempting to divide the city’s population. The sharp exchange follows comments by Mamdani asserting that Netanyahu is unwelcome in New York City due to ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes charges linked to the war in Gaza, and urging federal authorities to execute the court’s arrest warrant when the prime minister attends the United Nations General Assembly in September. Appearing on Fox News Channel, Netanyahu dismissed the ICC charges as “bogus” and claimed the allegations were designed to divert attention from internal misconduct within the prosecutor’s office. He expressed concern over eroding bipartisan support for Israel within the United States, warning that political rhetoric from progressive Democrats risks fueling rising anti-Semitism in major American cities. Despite the mayor’s stance, US President Donald Trump has publicly assured Netanyahu that he will face no risk of arrest during his visits to the United States.

  • | | |

    PM Shehbaz accuses India of backing terrorism, urg…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday accused India of playing a direct role in terrorism inside Pakistan and urged Afghanistan’s interim government to prevent militant groups from using its territory to launch attacks across the border. Addressing participants at the Balochistan National Workshop, the prime minister said Pakistan had successfully eliminated terrorism by 2018, but claimed that violence later resurfaced as part of what he described as a “well-organized conspiracy.” “India’s role in terrorism inside Pakistan is evident,” Shehbaz said, adding that the country had paid an enormous price in the fight against militancy, with more than 90,000 Pakistanis losing their lives over the years. Referring to the recent killing of a session judge in Mastung, the prime minister described the incident as another reminder of the continuing terrorist threat facing the country. He stressed that defeating terrorism requires a united national response involving state institutions and the public. Shehbaz also called on Afghanistan’s interim authorities to ensure that Afghan soil is not used by militant groups to carry out attacks against Pakistan. While emphasizing the importance of good relations between the two neighboring countries, he expressed regret that the Afghan administration had failed to stop terrorist elements operating from its territory. The prime minister said Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts for regional peace had received international recognition, adding that the country’s recent achievements had unsettled its adversaries. He praised Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar for their diplomatic initiatives aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s regional and international engagement. Turning to development, Shehbaz highlighted the strategic importance of Balochistan, describing it as Pakistan’s largest province by area and the smallest by population. He said the people of Balochistan had always played a vital role in strengthening the federation and assured them that their sacrifices would never be forgotten. He also announced that construction work on the dual carriageway linking Karachi and Chaman was progressing, calling it a major infrastructure project expected to improve connectivity and economic activity in the province. Discussing the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the prime minister said Punjab had made significant contributions for Balochistan while the other provinces had also extended full support. He pledged to correct past shortcomings and ensure every province receives its constitutional share of national resources. Responding to questions from workshop participants, Shehbaz said Pakistan’s future prosperity depends on the collective efforts of all four provinces, expressing confidence that the country is ready to embark on a new phase of national development while continuing its fight against terrorism.

  • | | |

    IHC asked to frame rules for social media use by c…

    ByJustpaste.in

    ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has been petitioned to direct the federal government to introduce legislation and a comprehensive regulatory framework governing social media access by children below the age of 16. The petition, filed by advocates Muhammad Jalal Haider and Yahya Farid Khawaja, calls for a reliable age-verification system to prevent minors from creating or operating social media accounts without appropriate safeguards. The petitioners argue that children face growing risks online, including cyberbullying, harassment, exposure to inappropriate material and other forms of digital harm. They have urged the government to establish clear policies covering children’s digital rights, privacy and physical and psychological safety. They have also sought specific legal responsibilities for social media companies, including stronger safeguards for minors and the creation of an institutional mechanism dedicated to protecting children in the digital environment. The petition refers to measures adopted or proposed in countries including Australia, France, Britain, New Zealand and Spain, where authorities have considered age limits, parental consent and age-verification requirements for children’s social media use. Citing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and General Comment No. 25, the petitioners maintain that protecting children’s best interests is a legal responsibility of the state rather than merely a policy choice. They argue that the absence of an effective age-verification mechanism leaves minors exposed to online dangers and makes it difficult to enforce protections designed specifically for children. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority have been named as respondents. Punjab Assembly Resolution The development follows a resolution submitted to the Punjab Assembly last month calling for restrictions on social media accounts operated by children under 16 without parental consent. The resolution, moved by Punjab lawmaker Sarah Ahmad, urged the provincial government to recommend federal legislation aimed at regulating minors’ access to social media and strengthening online protection. It highlighted concerns over cyberbullying, online exploitation, inappropriate content, digital addiction and psychological distress among children, stressing that safeguarding their physical, mental and moral development is a responsibility of the state. The resolution proposed prohibiting children below 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts without verified parental or legal guardian consent. It also called on the PTA to develop and enforce effective age-verification mechanisms across platforms operating in Pakistan. It further recommended holding social media companies accountable for child-safety standards, including the timely removal of harmful content and measures to provide a safer online environment for minors.

  • | |

    DG ISPR holds special session with students during…

    ByJustpaste.in

    RAWALPINDI: The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) held a special interactive session with participants of the ISPR Summer Internship 2026, discussing national security, terrorism, misinformation and the responsible use of social media. According to ISPR, the internship programme has attracted more than 6,000 students from across Pakistan, who are participating at 21 different stations nationwide. The initiative aims to provide young people with greater awareness of national institutions, security issues and the challenges facing the country. During the session, the DG ISPR responded to a wide range of questions from students, offering detailed explanations on issues related to Pakistan’s security environment, information warfare and the importance of verifying information before sharing it on digital platforms. A key focus of the discussion was the growing challenge of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. Students were encouraged to critically evaluate online content and avoid circulating unverified news that could mislead the public or harm national interests. Participants said the session provided valuable guidance on identifying false narratives and understanding the impact of digital misinformation. They described the interaction as informative and said it helped clear up several misconceptions surrounding national security and current affairs. The briefing also covered the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, where participants were given an overview of Pakistan’s official position and regional developments. Students said the discussion helped them better understand the ground realities and the broader context of issues affecting the region. According to participants, the DG ISPR also addressed questions regarding what the military described as hostile propaganda campaigns and security threats. Students noted that the detailed responses helped clarify several issues that had previously caused confusion or uncertainty. At the conclusion of the session, participants expressed their commitment to promoting accurate information and exercising greater responsibility while using social media platforms. They also pledged to play a constructive role in countering false information by relying on verified sources and encouraging informed public discourse. The ISPR Summer Internship has become one of the military’s flagship youth engagement initiatives, bringing together students from universities across the country for interaction with officials, educational activities and discussions on national issues. Officials said the programme is intended to strengthen awareness among young Pakistanis, encourage critical thinking and promote responsible digital citizenship at a time when misinformation and online propaganda continue to pose growing challenges worldwide.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *