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Express Tribune
27-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir holds key security talks in Tehran
Listen to article The Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met senior Iranian military officials in Tehran on Tuesday to discuss deepening defence cooperation and improving border security mechanisms. During his visit to the General Staff Headquarters, the army chief held talks with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces. Both officials exchanged views on the evolving regional security environment and agreed to boost military-to-military coordination. Discussions also covered joint efforts to transform the shared border into a hub for trade and economic activity, with both nations underscoring the need to promote regional peace and prosperity. The army chief was received with full military honours, including a ceremonial guard of honour by a contingent of the Iranian Armed Forces. The Field Marshal also accompanied the Prime Minister of Pakistan during meetings with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The visit is part of an ongoing official tour to Türkiye, Iran and Azerbaijan by Pakistan's high-level delegation. Previously, Pakistan's First Lady, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, met a senior Iranian delegation at Bilawal House on Monday, reaffirming Islamabad's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting regional cooperation with Tehran. The visiting delegation was led by Dr Reyhaneh Sadat Raeisi, daughter of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. She was accompanied by senior Iranian officials, including Dr Vahed Asghari, chargé d'affaires at the Iranian Consulate General; Dr Saeid Talebi Nia, director general and cultural attaché at Khana-e-Farhang Iran; and others. Pakistani dignitaries including Senator Saleem Mandviwalla and Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho also attended the meeting. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in healthcare, cultural exchange, and diplomatic engagement. The First Lady emphasised the historic and cultural bonds shared by the two nations and appreciated Iran's longstanding support for Pakistan. 'We have always valued Iran's unwavering support,' Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said. 'Our countries share a deep-rooted relationship grounded in mutual respect and shared aspirations.' She also lauded Iran's achievements in healthcare, noting consistent praise from Minister Pechuho after visits to Iranian institutions. Dr Raeisi expressed gratitude for Pakistan's solidarity after the passing of her father and conveyed a message of thanks to President Asif Ali Zardari. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Azerbaijan as part of a four-nation regional tour aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties. The visit follows earlier stops in Turkiye and Iran, where the prime minister held high-level discussions on bilateral cooperation, regional connectivity, and mutual development goals. The tour will conclude in Tajikistan, where the prime minister is slated to attend the International Conference on Glaciers on May 29–30.
North Wales Live
06-05-2025
- General
- North Wales Live
'Mini jaws' off North Wales coast as public urged to keep distance
A two metre long shark - nicknamed 'mini-Jaws' - has been spotted next to the shoreline at two beaches in Wales in recent days. The first incident was on Friday evening at Aberystwyth's North Beach. Onlookers spotted the shark close to the wooden jetty on the beach. It was reported to sealife charities and also the coastguard over concerns it was at risk of beaching itself. The public were urged to stay away from the Porbeagle shark over concerns they could get injured and also cause additional stress for the animal. The second spotting was in Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, on Sunday - where Simon Howes and Owen Davies were among those who captured pictures and a video of what is understood to be the same shark. Simon Howes said: "Wow, sharks in Aberdyfi." Owen Davies said: "That's a first for me in Aberdyfi - a SHARK up by the Penhelig Arms hotel." One person said: "Probably the same one that was in Aberystwyth." Another added: "Wow! He was in Aber Friday evening, nearly beached himself." On the Aberystwyth incident the coastguard said: "HM Coastguard Aberystwyth were tasked at the request of MRCC Milford Haven to assist the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) with a 2m long juvenile Porbeagle shark swimming in the area between the pier and the bandstand that was thought to be ill/injured and in danger of beaching itself. "The CRT were tasked to provide safety cover for BDMLR and also to provide a bit of crowd control to ensure no members of the public put themselves in harms way, or inadvertently caused the shark further distress. "After low tide and no further sightings, 'mini jaws' had seemingly made it out of the bay and so the CRT were stood down." Porbeagle sharks: The porbeagle shark belongs to the same family as the great white and Mako sharks. These are fast-swimming, powerful hunters, perfectly adapted to life in the open ocean. They can reach lengths of up to 12 feet (3.65 meters) and weigh over 500 pounds (230 kilograms). Porbeagles are instantly recognizable by their streamlined, torpedo-shaped bodies, large black eyes, and a short, conical snout. Their dorsal side is a sleek bluish-grey, contrasting with a snowy white belly—classic countershading that helps them ambush prey. One tell-tale feature for identification is a distinctive white patch at the base of their dorsal fin, a marker that sets them apart from similar species. Porbeagle sharks are currently listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN globally. In the UK, they are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and it is illegal to intentionally catch or kill them in British waters. Historically targeted for their meat, fins, and sport (particularly during the 1950s–70s), porbeagles were once a common trophy in offshore game fishing. Today, those practices have largely ceased, but their populations have yet to fully recover. Although porbeagles are physically capable of attacking humans, very few attacks have been attributed to the species. According to the International Shark Attack File, there have only been three incidents involving a porbeagle bite - one provoked and two on boats when fishers were boarding the shark.
