Gohar Rasheed criticises Aurat March posters

Italy is confronting a growing childhood obesity problem as traditional Mediterranean eating habits are increasingly replaced by calorie-heavy and highly processed foods. The issue is particularly serious in southern Italy. In parts of the Campania region, more than 40% of children aged eight and nine are reported to be overweight. Naples and surrounding communities have become major areas of concern for health professionals. Doctors say they are seeing increasingly younger patients with severe obesity. At a hospital in Naples, specialists who once mainly treated adults are now treating teenagers with serious weight-related problems. In severe cases, patients may require bariatric surgery to reduce the size of the stomach. However, doctors say some teenagers are now arriving at weights that make such procedures too risky. Some are first given medical treatment to help control appetite and lose enough weight to undergo surgery safely. Health experts point to major changes in Italian eating habits as one factor behind the trend. The traditional Mediterranean diet, built around vegetables, legumes, whole grains, olive oil and fish, is becoming less common. Instead, children are increasingly exposed to processed snacks, sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates and calorie-dense foods. Experts say the problem is not necessarily one particular meal but the cumulative effect of frequent snacking and poor diet quality. Doctors also say many parents struggle to recognise when their children are overweight. In some communities, a heavier child may traditionally be viewed as healthy or well-fed, making it harder for families to identify a potential health problem early. Physical activity can also be difficult for some children. Many schools operate in historic buildings that were not designed to provide adequate space for modern sports and exercise. Authorities are now attempting to address the problem through schools and community programmes. A regional initiative in Campania plans to involve more than 17,000 students across 25 schools in nutrition education and healthy lifestyle programmes, with families also receiving guidance. Italy has also taken a broader approach to obesity. In 2025, it became the first country to introduce a national law recognising obesity as a chronic, progressive and relapsing disease. Campania is also being used to test new approaches, including a controlled “fast-mimicking” diet for overweight adolescents. Researchers hope the programme could improve metabolic health, although some paediatric specialists have raised concerns about the limited evidence and possible psychological effects of restrictive diets on young people. Health experts stress that tackling childhood obesity will require more than simply telling children to eat less or exercise more. Families, schools, healthcare providers and policymakers all have a role in changing the environment around young people.

LONDON: Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Tipu Usman, has called for closer engagement with Pakistani media in the UK to strengthen outreach to the Pakistani diaspora and ensure the community remains informed about initiatives and reforms aimed at facilitating overseas Pakistanis. The High Commissioner made the remarks during an introductory meeting with representatives of Pakistani media houses working in London. Tipu Usman appreciated the positive role played by Pakistani media in the UK during Marka-e-Haq, particularly its contribution to keeping the Pakistani diaspora informed about important national developments and issues affecting the community. He said the Pakistan High Commission in London remained committed to working closely with Pakistani media representatives to enhance outreach and effectively communicate initiatives and reforms that would facilitate members of the Pakistani diaspora across the UK. The High Commissioner stressed the importance of effective communication and engagement with the Pakistani community, saying the media could play an important role in ensuring that information about government initiatives and services reaches overseas Pakistanis in a timely and effective manner. The representatives of Pakistani media houses welcomed Tipu Usman on assuming his responsibilities as Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the UK and conveyed their best wishes for his tenure. During the interactive session, media representatives shared various suggestions aimed at improving the High Commission’s outreach to the Pakistani diaspora and strengthening efforts for the welfare of the Pakistani community residing across the United Kingdom. The participants discussed the importance of maintaining regular engagement between the High Commission and Pakistani media to improve communication with the community and provide greater awareness of initiatives, services and reforms relevant to overseas Pakistanis. The meeting provided an opportunity for an open exchange of views on ways to further strengthen coordination between the Pakistan High Commission, Pakistani media and the wider Pakistani diaspora in the UK. The High Commissioner welcomed the suggestions put forward by the media representatives and reaffirmed the High Commission’s readiness to work collaboratively with the media for more effective engagement with the Pakistani community across Britain.

Yemen’s Houthi movement has rejected reports claiming it plans to charge commercial vessels for passing through the Red Sea, insisting that navigation through the strategic waterway remains free. In a statement issued by the Houthi-run Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center (HOCC), the group said its safe transit service for ships using the Bab al-Mandeb Strait is voluntary and does not involve any fees. It emphasized that no authorized Houthi body is collecting payments from shipping companies. The HOCC also warned shipping operators against making payments or sharing sensitive information with unauthorized individuals or organizations claiming to represent the group. It said any such demands are fraudulent and should not be recognized as official. The clarification came after recent reports suggested that the Houthis were considering introducing transit charges for vessels passing through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. The reports claimed the proposal had been discussed during meetings with Iranian officials and that plans were being explored to establish a system for regulating such payments. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most important maritime routes, linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Thousands of commercial vessels carrying oil, fuel and other goods use the passage every year, making it a vital corridor for global trade between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Security concerns in the Red Sea have remained high since attacks on commercial shipping began in late 2023. The conflict significantly disrupted international shipping, forcing many companies to divert vessels to longer and more expensive routes around southern Africa. Although attacks temporarily declined following a ceasefire last year, commercial traffic through the region has yet to return to previous levels. Shipping companies continue to monitor the security situation closely before routing vessels through the area. The latest reports have also prompted regional efforts to strengthen maritime security. Saudi Arabia recently announced a multinational maritime coalition aimed at protecting freedom of navigation in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.