Hollywood vs censorville

Film fans in India were outraged to learn that a 33-second kiss scene in Superman was shortened to just a few seconds by their country’s censors. Despite the film’s 13+ rating, India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) felt compelled to sanitise the embrace they described as “overly sensual.” When it was created through the […]

Daughters-in-law should go out to work, says Asma Abbas

Asma Abbas recently appeared on Good Morning Pakistan, where she and her youngest daughter-in-law, Sameen Ahmed, were featured in the special Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law segment. Sameen and Asma’s youngest son, Ahmed got married in January of this year. Asma’s message for her daughters-in-law, particularly Sameen, was both relevant and empowering. She shared her thoughts on […]

Belated but bold

France’s decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine is a seismic diplomatic shift in Europe’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While long overdue, this step by President Emmanuel Macron — set to be formalised at the UN General Assembly in September — could prove pivotal for Palestine’s position in the international arena. With this announcement, […]

K-IV delays

Karachi has been desperately water-stressed for longer than many of its citizens have been alive, but after almost a decade of work on a solution that millions had pinned their hopes on, the project is still several years behind schedule. The Greater Karachi Bulk Water Supply Scheme (K-IV) was designed to alleviate Karachi’s chronic water […]

Beyond the numbers

The recent release of the QS World University Rankings 2026 has yet again underscored the troubling reality of higher education in Pakistan. This year, as in previous years, no university from Pakistan was ranked among the top 350 institutions globally. The country’s top-ranked institution, Quaid-i-Azam University, stands at 354 a, placement that, rather than celebrating, […]

Monsoon red wedding

The monsoon session of the Indian parliament has just begun. And so far, it is shaping up to be an event reminiscent of the Red Wedding from the Game of Thrones series. Ergo, monsoon red wedding. Neat, right? Let me also posit that the title’s resemblance to the movie, Monsoon Wedding, by the inimitable Mira […]