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    Two women killed, two girls injured in Lahore dome…

    A man has been arrested in Lahore after allegedly killing his mother and a neighboring woman during a domestic dispute in the Harbanspura area. The incident also left two girls injured, prompting a swift response from police and forensic investigators. According to police, the attack took place in Kotli Pir Abdul Rehman, a locality in Harbanspura, where the suspect allegedly assaulted multiple people using a screwdriver. Authorities said the victims suffered serious injuries during the attack, resulting in two fatalities and two injuries. The deceased have been identified as 70-year-old Kaneez Fatima, the suspect’s mother, and 52-year-old Sultana Imran, a neighboring resident. Police said both women died after sustaining multiple injuries during the incident. Two girls, identified as 23-year-old Aqsa and 13-year-old Arifa, were also injured in the attack. They were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital, where they received medical treatment. Officials have not yet released further details about their current condition. Police officers, forensic experts, and investigators arrived at the scene shortly after receiving reports of the incident. The area was secured while evidence was collected to assist in the investigation. Authorities also documented the crime scene and interviewed witnesses to determine the sequence of events. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the suspect was arrested at the scene along with the alleged weapon used in the attack. The accused has been identified as Aurangzeb, and investigators have begun formal legal proceedings. Police stated that the motive appears to be linked to a domestic dispute, although the exact circumstances remain under investigation. The bodies of the deceased were transferred to a hospital for medico-legal procedures and post-mortem examinations, while investigators continue to gather evidence and record witness statements. Officials said additional details will be released as the inquiry progresses. Incidents of domestic violence remain a serious concern, with authorities emphasizing the importance of early intervention in family disputes and improved access to conflict resolution and mental health support where appropriate. Police have urged the public to report threats or violent behavior promptly to help prevent similar tragedies. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to present the suspect before the relevant court in accordance with legal procedures. As with all criminal cases, the allegations against the accused remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.

  • Why Airplanes turn off the AC before takeoff

    Have you ever noticed that the cabin feels warmer just before a plane takes off? Many passengers wonder why the air conditioning seems to stop working at that moment. The reason is not a technical problem it is part of the aircraft’s normal operating procedure. When passengers board the plane the cabin is usually cooled by an external air conditioning system at the airport. This keeps everyone comfortable while the aircraft is parked at the gate. Just before departure the external power and cooling supply are disconnected.  At that point the aircraft switches to its Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) a small onboard engine that provides electricity and cool air until the main engines are fully running. During takeoff pilots need as much engine power as possible to safely lift the aircraft into the air.  To help achieve this some systems that are not essential during takeoff including parts of the air conditioning and climate control system may be temporarily reduced or switched off. This allows more engine power to be used for takeoff instead of running cabin cooling systems. Former American pilot John Cox explains that this short changeover happens because the aircraft moves from ground power to its own power systems. Once the engines are operating normally and the plane reaches a stable stage of flight the air conditioning returns to normal and the cabin quickly becomes comfortable again. So, if the cabin feels a little warm before takeoff there is usually no reason to worry. It is a normal part of the flight process designed to support a safe and efficient departure.

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    Trump criticizes oil companies over high profits a…

    US President Donald Trump has criticized major oil companies over their growing profits, saying that energy firms are earning excessive amounts of money amid rising fuel prices. His remarks come as global oil markets face uncertainty due to geopolitical tensions and disruptions affecting energy supplies. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he supports free markets but expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as unusually high earnings by oil companies. He stated that while businesses have the right to operate freely, current market conditions have allowed some energy companies to generate profits beyond what he considers reasonable. The increase in crude oil prices has significantly boosted the revenues of several major energy companies worldwide. Market uncertainty linked to tensions between the United States and Iran has contributed to higher oil prices, creating favorable conditions for large oil producers and companies. Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco reported a significant increase in quarterly profit, announcing earnings of $33.4 billion, compared with $25.2 billion during the same period last year. This represents a substantial rise in profits. US-based energy companies have also recorded strong financial results. ExxonMobil reported quarterly earnings of $14.5 billion, more than double compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, Chevron posted a profit of $12.1 billion, marking a significant increase from the same period previously. British energy company Shell also reported nearly $10 billion in quarterly profits, making it one of the company’s strongest financial performances in recent years. While energy companies benefit from higher crude oil prices, consumers in the United States have faced increased fuel costs. Average petrol prices have risen significantly since the beginning of the conflict-related market disruptions, adding further pressure on households already dealing with inflation. Fuel prices have become a major political issue ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Lowering petrol costs has emerged as a key priority for the Trump administration, as high energy prices often influence public opinion and economic sentiment. A major factor behind the rise in oil prices has been disruption in key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Reduced oil transportation through the region has affected global supply and contributed to market volatility. Although diplomatic efforts have reportedly aimed at reducing tensions and improving shipping access, uncertainty remains in global energy markets. Security concerns in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait have also affected oil transportation routes. Energy analysts believe that major oil companies may continue benefiting from elevated prices in the short term. However, they suggest that increased global supply or improved conditions in strategic waterways could eventually push crude oil prices lower. The ongoing debate highlights the challenge faced by governments worldwide: balancing energy company profits, market stability, and the need to provide affordable fuel for consumers.

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    An alien planet

    Imagine living on a world where the start of the day and the end of the day aren’t just different times, but entirely different environments. On one horizon, morning arrives in a chilly mist where vaporized rocks might condense into glittering, mineral clouds. On the opposite horizon, evening sets in as a roaring, hyper-heated furnace hot enough to shred water molecules into raw hydrogen and oxygen. This isn’t sci-fi world-building, it is the reality of WASP-121 b, an extreme exoplanet located roughly 850 light-years from Earth. Astronomers analyzing data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have uncovered unprecedented details about this distant world, proving for the first time that its morning and evening twilight zones are fundamentally different from one another. A World Locked in Perpetual Extremes WASP-121 b belongs to a class of cosmic objects known as hot Jupiters: giant gas planets that orbit extraordinarily close to their parent stars. Because of this extreme proximity, the planet is tidally locked. Just as the Moon always presents the same face to Earth, WASP-121 b always presents the exact same hemisphere to its star. One side endures an unrelenting, eternal day with scorching temperatures topping 2,500 degrees Celsius (4,500 degrees Fahrenheit). The opposite side faces permanent night, staring into cold space. For years, astrophysicists hypothesized that the narrow transition zones between day and night. The planet’s terminators might harbor complex, asymmetrical weather patterns. However, confirming this required measuring subtle variations in starlight as the planet passed in front of its star. How Jet Streams Reshape Alien Skies Using JWST’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), researchers tracked how starlight filtered through different parts of WASP-121 b’s atmosphere. The findings revealed a dramatic contrast between the morning transition and the evening transition. The driver behind this strange weather is a planetary-scale jet stream. Superheated air on the dayside doesn’t stay still; it rushes toward the cooler nightside at extreme speeds. Because the planet rotates toward the east, these violent winds carry thermal energy around the globe and dump the bulk of that heat directly into the evening region. As a result, WASP-121 b’s evening atmosphere grows significantly hotter than its morning counterpart. Heat causes gases to expand, puffing up the evening sky like a inflated balloon. When starlight filters through this swollen atmospheric layer, it reveals an environment so fierce that water molecules cannot survive intact. Clouds of Metal and Torn Molecules In the searing furnace of the evening sky, chemical bonds break. Water vapor brought in from the dayside is torn apart by the heat, leaving behind a sky depleted of chemical stability. As those same winds continue their journey around the cold nightside, the atmosphere gradually cools down. By the time the air sweeps around to form the morning twilight, the story flips. Here, temperatures drop enough for chemical compounds to reassemble. Scientists suspect that in this cooler morning zone, minerals such as silicates condense out of the gas phase. Instead of water clouds like those on Earth, WASP-121 b’s morning sky likely features reflective clouds made of liquid rock or iron droplets. These metallic clouds block radiation from deeper layers, making the morning side appear even cooler to space observatories. A New Era of Exoplanet Meteorology Until recently, studying alien worlds meant treating entire planets as single, uniform points of light. This discovery demonstrates that modern space telescopes can resolve climate dynamics across distinct regions of a world hundreds of light-years away.   By capturing the contrast between a planet’s morning and evening, astronomers are moving from simply discovering exoplanets to mapping their active weather systems. WASP-121 b may be far too hostile for life as we know it, but understanding its violent atmospheric currents brings us one step closer to reading the skies of smaller, cooler, and potentially habitable worlds in the future.

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    Creative expression as survival in times of crisis

    In times of severe military occupation, state violence, and political trauma, art and literature undergo a fundamental transformation. They shift from aesthetic expression to vital tools for survival, record-keeping, and resistance. When conventional channels of news, speech, and movement are heavily restricted or censored, art and literature fulfill critical functions within a society. Documenting Counter-Narratives and Resisting Erasure In occupied zones, official narratives often frame political conflict using terms like normalcy or integration. They sanitize structural violence and human suffering. Kashmiri writers, poets, and essayists use narrative to preserve collective memory against state-enforced amnesia. Through poetry, fiction, and memoirs, literature captures the psychological reality of curfews, enforced disappearances, communication blackouts. It reminds of the loss of autonomy, rendering the lived experience of civilians indelible. Fine arts, illustration, and graphic art record incidents and emotional states that photojournalism or state-approved media often cannot access or transmit.  Processing Collective and Intergenerational Trauma Art creates a necessary intellectual and emotional container for a traumatized populace. Concepts such as unheimlich (the uncanny, or feeling un-homed in one’s own land) or grief over exile and displacement find structural expression through creative metaphors. Poetic forms allow writers to articulate loss, mourning, and fear in ways that transcend direct prose. The work of iconic Kashmiri poets such as the late Agha Shahid Ali, whose poetry continues to resonate. It demonstrates how verse can turn localized grief into a universal cry for human dignity. Artists frequently turn to raw mediums like paint, installation, and physical textiles to project the interiority of living under siege, using symbolic motifs like barren land, barbed wire, cages, or domestic objects disrupted by violence. Evading Censorship Through Metaphor and Allegory When direct political discourse leads to state surveillance, detentions, or legal suppression, creative expression relies on metaphor, symbolism, and myth. Playwrights and novelists weave political critiques into historical, mythological, or surreal settings, allowing themes of oppression, tyranny, and liberation to be discussed safely. On the ground, quick visual mediums like graffiti, posters, and digital art become decentralized tools. The mediums act for mass communication and solidarity, circulating rapidly across networks even during communication rollbacks.  Transcending Boundaries and Building Global Solidarity Art and literature serve onnect the isolated region to the global diaspora and international human rights communities. On memorial dates like August 5 (observed as Youm-e-Istehsal or Black Day by Kashmiris and solidarity groups worldwide), exhibitions, literary readings, poster competitions, and performance art allow communities across the world to bear witness to the ongoing struggle. Art transforms passive sympathy into active political consciousness. It forces the global audiences to confront physical realities of occupation beyond distant headlines. In times of intense crisis, art does not exist as an escape from reality. Rather, it becomes the definitive site where human dignity, historical truth, and resistance are actively preserved.  

  • Easy tips for dark circles

    Dark circles under the eyes are common and can appear for many reasons including lack of sleep and tiredness. They can make the face look dull but they are not always caused by poor sleep. Lifestyle habits aging allergies and genetics can also play a role. Getting enough sleep every night is one of the most important steps.  Resting well may help reduce the appearance of dark circles especially if they are caused by fatigue. If dark circles remain even after getting enough sleep you can try a few simple home remedies. Cucumber slices Place chilled cucumber slices over your closed eyes for a few minutes.  The cool feeling may help soothe tired eyes and reduce puffiness for a short time. Some people also use potato slices for dark circles. While they are a popular home remedy there is limited scientific evidence that they provide long term results. Eat healthy fruits A balanced diet is important for healthy skin.  Fruits such as bananas papaya and guava provide vitamins and nutrients that support overall skin health. However eating these fruits alone cannot guarantee that dark circles will disappear. Lemon juice and Oil Some home remedies suggest mixing lemon juice with jasmine oil and applying it around the eyes. However you should be very careful because lemon juice can irritate the delicate skin around the eyes and should never get into the eyes. Dark circles can have different causes in different people including genetics aging allergies skin tone and lack of sleep. If they continue for a long time or are accompanied by swelling or other unusual symptoms it is best to consult a dermatologist.

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    Pakistan stock exchange slides over 1,100 points 

      KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) experienced a volatile trading session on Tuesday as strong gains recorded in early trading quickly disappeared, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index ending the day more than 1,100 points lower. Widespread profit-taking in major sectors, combined with cautious investor sentiment influenced by global market uncertainty, weighed heavily on the market. The benchmark KSE-100 Index initially climbed to an intraday high of 178,768.83 points, reflecting optimism among investors during the opening hours. However, the momentum proved short-lived as selling pressure gradually intensified across the market. By the close of trading, the index had fallen to 177,083.22 points, registering a decline of 1,116.80 points, or 0.63%, after touching an intraday low of 177,043.10 points. Market participants attributed the sharp reversal to extensive profit-booking in several heavyweight sectors. Commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, cement manufacturers, investment firms, and fertiliser stocks all came under significant selling pressure, dragging the benchmark index into negative territory despite its promising start. Investor confidence also remained subdued due to mixed developments in international financial markets. Asian stock markets traded without a clear direction as investors balanced encouraging corporate earnings from the United States against continuing geopolitical tensions. At the same time, international oil prices climbed by more than two percent as uncertainty surrounding diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran persisted. Concerns over potential disruptions to global oil supplies through major shipping routes also contributed to market caution. Commenting on the day’s performance, Ahmed Sheraz, an equity trader at KTrade Securities, said the KSE-100 Index remained under pressure throughout the session because the market lacked fresh positive catalysts capable of sustaining its recent upward momentum. According to him, the absence of encouraging economic or corporate developments prompted investors to lock in profits after recent gains. Sheraz noted that selling activity was widespread across key sectors, particularly banking, oil and gas, cement, investment companies, and fertilisers. He added that despite Brent crude oil trading between $84 and $86 per barrel, investors largely preferred to stay on the sidelines while waiting for stronger economic indicators and corporate earnings announcements before making new investment decisions. Looking ahead, Sheraz believes the stock market is likely to remain highly sensitive to news flow. Upcoming corporate earnings reports, macroeconomic indicators, and foreign investment activity are expected to play a decisive role in shaping market sentiment over the coming weeks. He also identified the 176,500 to 177,000-point range as an important technical support level for the benchmark index, suggesting that maintaining this level could help stabilise the market. Trading activity slowed compared with the previous session. Total market volume declined to 711.2 million shares, down from 785.3 million shares recorded on Monday. Meanwhile, the total value of traded shares stood at Rs25.8 billion. A total of 495 companiesparticipated in trading during the session. Among them, 161 stocks closed higher, 295 stocks ended in negative territory, while 39 stocks remained unchanged. Pakistan International Bulk Terminal emerged as the session’s most actively traded stock, with approximately 89.8 million shares changing hands. The company’s share price declined by Rs0.34, closing the session at Rs16.74.

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    Mill’s “On Liberty” in the era of censorship

    In his 1859 political treatise On Liberty, Victorian philosopher John Stuart Mill issued this timeless warning. The greatest threat to humanity is not monarchical despotism, but the tyranny of the majority enforced through state power. The Harm Principle At the heart of Mill’s philosophy lies the Harm Principle. The radical assertion that authority can only be legitimately exercised over a member of a civilized community against their will to prevent harm to others. Beyond this minimal threshold, individual autonomy over mind, body, and speech must remain absolute. Re-reading Mill today reveals a truth. His warnings are no longer abstract political theory. They provide a precise mirror for contemporary state overreach. This overreach is illustrated by the erosion of civil liberties in Indian-administered Kashmir and the systemic suppression of media outlets like Al Jazeera. The Harm Principle and the Disfranchisement of Kashmir Mill argued that suppressing individual self-determination degrades both the citizen and the state. In Kashmir, the unilateral revocation of constitutional autonomy, prolonged blackouts, and detentions of political leaders represent a case of majoritarian coercion. A state strips millions of their basic political rights under the justification of order or national integration. So, it violates the core of Millian liberty: consent and self-governance. Mill cautioned against treating entire populations as passive subjects incapable of directing their own political destiny. By denying Kashmiris the freedom to assembly, political self-expression, and uninhibited digital communication, state machinery replaces organic democratic engagement with enforced compliance. In Mill’s framework, a government that fears the peaceful political expression of its people reveals the fragility of its own moral authority. Ban on Al Jazeera Mill’s second chapter, dedicated to freedom of thought provides the intellectual critique of state censorship. He argued that silencing an opinion is a unique crime against humanity because it presumes the state possesses infallibility. Even if an perspective is deemed antagonistic, banning it deprives the public of testing truth against error. This principle directly challenges the recent enforcement of the Al Jazeera Law, under which the Israeli government shut down the Qatari broadcaster’s local operations, confiscated equipment, and blocked access to its platforms. Citing national security threats, state authorities effectively declared themselves the sole arbiters of acceptable news coverage. Mill would argue that invoking national security to silence reporting—especially during conflicts where independent oversight is most vital—is a classic instrument of state self-protection, not public safety. When a state decides which facts citizens and the international community are allowed to hear, it undermines the very foundation of a free society. Why Mill Matters Today   On Liberty remains an indispensable framework because it demonstrates that liberty is not a luxury granted by governments, but an essential condition for truth and justice. Whether in the militarized silence enforced upon Kashmir or the legislative bans silencing journalists, the modern state increasingly employs legal mechanisms to enforce conformity. Mill reminds us that a society that trades fundamental liberties for state-defined security ultimately preserves neither.

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    Pakistan defeat South Korea to clinch test series …

      ISLAMABAD:Pakistan’s national hockey team continued its impressive run by defeating South Korea in the third match of the four-Test series, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead and sealing the series with one game still to be played. The third Test, played at the Nasir Bunda Hockey Stadium in Islamabad, turned out to be an exciting contest filled with momentum shifts, dramatic goals, and a spirited comeback by the home side. Pakistan displayed resilience and determination, recovering from two separate deficits before claiming a memorable victory in front of the home crowd. South Korea made the stronger start and took the lead in the opening quarter. Their early pressure paid off in the 11th minute, when Lim Deun found the back of the net with a well-taken goal, giving the visitors a 1-0 advantage. Pakistan attempted to respond before the end of the first quarter but was unable to create a clear scoring opportunity. The second quarter saw Pakistan dominate possession and launch several attacks on the Korean goal. The hosts earned promising opportunities and repeatedly tested the opposition’s defence, but they failed to convert their chances into goals. South Korea remained organised at the back and successfully protected its narrow lead. As a result, neither side managed to score during the second quarter, and the visitors went into halftime leading 1-0. Pakistan finally restored parity in the third quarter when Hayat scored an important equaliser, lifting the spirits of both the players and the spectators. However, the celebrations were short-lived as South Korea responded quickly. Kim scored to put the visitors back in front, allowing Korea to end the third quarter with a 2-1 advantage. The fourth and final quarter produced the most thrilling action of the match, with a total of four goals scored. Pakistan came out with renewed energy and determination, pressing aggressively in search of another equaliser. Their persistence paid off as they erased South Korea’s lead and brought the match level once again. The visitors briefly regained the advantage by scoring another goal to make it 3-2 increasing the pressure on the Pakistani side. However, Pakistan refused to give up. During the final ten minutes, the home team produced an outstanding display of attacking hockey, dominating possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities. Pakistan’s relentless pressure eventually overwhelmed the Korean defence. The hosts not only equalised once more but also scored the decisive winning goal, completing a remarkable comeback. The Pakistani defence then held firm in the closing moments to preserve the lead until the final whistle, sealing another impressive victory. With this win, Pakistan secured a commanding 3-0 lead in the four-match Test series, ensuring the series title before the final fixture. The result reflects the team’s growing confidence and consistency, providing a major boost as it continues preparations for upcoming international competitions. Following the match, Pakistan Hockey Federation President Mohiuddin Wani distributed awards to the players in recognition of their performances. The ceremony was also attended by two legendary figures of Pakistan hockey, Olympians Samiullah and Hassan Sardar, who were present as special guests and applauded the team’s fighting spirit and successful series-winning performance.

  • Why Airplane seats must stay upright

    Anyone who has traveled by plane has heard the announcement. “Please return your seat to the full upright position.” Many passengers think it is just a routine instruction but it is actually one of the most important safety rules in aviation. Behind this simple request are years of scientific research safety testing and efforts to save lives. Air travel is one of the safest ways to travel.  However aviation experts say that takeoff and landing are the most critical parts of any flight. Most aircraft accidents happen during these two stages because the plane is close to the ground giving pilots very little time to react if something goes wrong. That is why airlines strictly enforce safety rules during these moments including asking passengers to keep their seats fully upright. Although an airplane seat may look simple it is an important part of the aircraft’s safety system. According to aviation safety standards seats go through tough crash tests before they are approved for use. Engineers place crash test dummies in the seats and simulate accidents to make sure the seats can protect passengers during a strong impact. These safety tests are performed only when the seat is in the upright position. In this position the seat frame locking system and floor attachments work together to provide the best protection. A reclined seat has not been tested to the same safety standard. Seat belts are also designed to work best when passengers are sitting upright. Airplanes use a lap belt that is meant to rest across the strong hip bones. In a sudden stop or impact the force is directed to these bones helping reduce the risk of serious internal injuries. If the seat is reclined the body moves into a different position.  During a crash or heavy turbulence a passenger may slide under the seat belt. This is known as “submarining.” When this happens the belt can press against the stomach instead of the hips increasing the risk of injuries to the abdomen and spine. There is another simple reason as well. When a seat is reclined, the passenger’s head and upper body travel a greater distance before stopping during a sudden impact. This extra movement can increase the force of the collision and lead to more serious injuries. Safety is not only about surviving an accident. It is also about getting everyone out of the aircraft as quickly as possible. International aviation rules require an airplane to be evacuated within 90 seconds even if some emergency exits cannot be used. A reclined seat can block the person sitting behind from leaving quickly. In an emergency even a few seconds of delay can make a big difference. That is why cabin crew always check that every seat is upright before takeoff and landing. Many people wonder why airlines allow passengers to recline their seats during the flight if it is considered a safety issue. The answer is simple. Once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude the risk of an accident becomes much lower. At that stage airlines allow passengers to recline their seats for comfort. However as soon as the plane begins its descent or prepares for takeoff the safety rules come into effect again. Most flights end safely and many passengers may never realize why this rule is so important.  But aviation safety is based on being prepared for unexpected situations. Even small precautions can help save lives. So the next time a flight attendant asks you to return your seat to the upright position remember that it is not just a routine announcement. It is a safety measure backed by years of research testing and real world experience.