ROLAND GARROS BOWS TO RAFAEL NADAL IN A HEART-WRENCHING GOODBYE TO A LIVING LEGEND

· Rafael Nadal received an emotional farewell at Roland Garros, where his legacy was honored with heartfelt tributes.
· Nadal, who won a record 14 French Open titles, was celebrated by fans in red “Merci Rafa” shirts and a standing ovation on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
· The 38-year-old tennis icon reflected on his 20-year journey at the tournament, calling the clay court the most important of his career.
· Joined by rivals Federer, Djokovic, and Murray, Nadal received a footprint plaque and bid farewell alongside his young son, marking the end of an era.

Mahtab Bashir
mahtabbashir@gmail.com

+92 333 53 63 248

These days in Pakistan, the phrase “Rafale Nadhaal” has taken on a triumphant tone, as the Pakistan Air Force recently downed Indian Rafale jets in a show of aerial dominance. But thousands of miles away in Paris, the name "Rafael Nadal" boomed for a very different reason.

At Roland Garros, it wasn’t fighter jets but a tennis legend being saluted. Amid tears, cheers, and a wave of brick-red T-shirts emblazoned with “Merci Rafa,” the French Open paid a heartfelt tribute to Rafael Nadal - the undisputed king of clay who ruled its courts like no other.

Few names in the history of sport are as intrinsically linked to a single tournament as Rafael Nadal is to the French Open. For two decades, the Spaniard reigned supreme on the clay courts of Roland Garros, claiming an unmatched 14 titles and creating a legacy that transcends tennis. On Sunday, the tournament returned the favour, bidding a deeply emotional farewell to its greatest champion.

Now 38 and retired from professional tennis since last year, Nadal was honoured in a touching ceremony that opened this year’s French Open. The moment was both a celebration and a goodbye, as thousands of fans rose to their feet in a standing ovation, many donning red shirts emblazoned with the heartfelt message, “Merci Rafa.”

As Nadal stepped onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, the stage where he carved out much of his legend, a montage of his most iconic moments began to roll on the big screens. The 22-time Grand Slam winner -visibly moved- fought back tears, overwhelmed by the emotion of a place that had been his battlefield and his home.

In a voice trembling with sentiment, Nadal began his speech in French: “This is tough… I don’t know where to start after playing on this court for the past 20 years.” He then switched between English and Spanish, reflecting on a journey that began when he was just 18 years old. Over the years, he compiled a staggering 112-4 record at Roland Garros, winning every single one of his 14 finals played on this very court- a place he called, “without doubt, the most important tennis court of my career.”

Nadal gave heartfelt thanks to those who stood by him throughout, including his longtime coach and uncle, Toni Nadal. As emotions peaked, three of his greatest rivals - Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray - joined him on court. Their embrace was a symbol of fierce competition blended with mutual respect.

“We showed the world how to fight hard and still remain good colleagues,” Nadal said. “You pushed me to my limits, and I’m grateful for it.”

The ceremony closed with Nadal receiving a plaque of his footprint, now immortalized at Roland Garros. With his young son by his side, Nadal waved goodbye, saying, “I can no longer play in front of you, but my heart will always remain here.”

FROM TRAINING PORTERS TO PROTECTING PEAKS, GALLO'S MISSION BLENDS SUSTAINABILITY, COMMUNITY UPLIFT & ECO-TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

· Maurizio Gallo is spearheading the creation of Gilgit-Baltistan’s first world-class mountaineering school to promote sustainable and eco-friendly tourism.
· His four-point action plan includes improving communication, skill certification, attitude transformation, and aligning with international mountaineering standards.
· Gallo has worked in Pakistan since 2004, introducing rescue systems, eco-toilets, and waste incinerators, yet waste management remains a major challenge.
· He views local porters as unsung heroes and is committed to empowering them through training, recognition, and Sherpa-style skill development.
· Despite bureaucratic hurdles and lack of infrastructure, Gallo continues his mission to protect mountain ecosystems and uplift mountain communities across Pakistan.

Mahtab Bashir

ISLAMABAD: High in the shadows of the world’s greatest peaks, where the air thins and silence dominates, a quiet revolution is underway - not of flags planted or records broken, but of knowledge shared and futures reshaped.

At the heart of this movement is Maurizio Gallo, an ecotourism visionary with the Italian organization EvK2CNR, who has devoted the past two decades to the untamed beauty and untapped potential of Pakistan’s mountain regions.

File photo of Maurizio Gallo 

While others come to conquer summits, Gallo comes to build from the ground up. With a deep respect for nature and a tireless commitment to the communities that live in its harshest corners, he is now leading efforts to establish Gilgit-Baltistan’s first world-class mountaineering school - a pioneering institution designed not only to elevate climbers but to anchor sustainable, eco-friendly tourism in the heart of the Karakoram.

For Gallo, a 70 years old from Italy, the mountain is not a place to leave footprints, but a place to build foundations. “The people who live and work here -especially the porters - are the true heroes of every expedition,” he says. “It’s time we gave them the tools, training, and recognition they deserve.”

Speaking to this scribe alongside a handful of journalists covering climate and environmental issues, Maurizio Gallo delivered his message with quiet urgency: the mountains are sending a distress signal- and we can no longer afford to delay. “The time to act is now,” he stressed.

Media persons with Maurizio Gallo. Regional Manager EvK2CNR, Arif Hussain, also seen in the picture.  

Gallo laid out a four-point action plan he believes is vital to reshaping the future of mountaineering in Gilgit-Baltistan: enhancing communication, certifying skills, cultivating a mindset of responsibility, and aligning practices with international standards. These aren’t just recommendations- they’re the foundation stones for building a sustainable, globally respected mountaineering culture in one of the world’s most majestic yet vulnerable regions.

Since 2004, EvK2CNR has been deeply involved in northern Pakistan’s environmental and tourism sectors -setting up eco-toilets at multiple high-altitude camps, developing rescue systems, installing waste incinerators, and launching training and awareness programs. But despite these efforts, Gallo concedes that waste management, especially in areas like Karakoram National Park, remains a major unresolved challenge.

He emphasizes that the mountaineering school will not only elevate technical skills and rescue readiness but also introduce Sherpa-style training and sustainable tourism practices that respect both the environment and local culture.

“Our work extends beyond mountaineering,” Gallo said, highlighting projects related to climate change, water resource management, and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage in collaboration with local stakeholders. EvK2CNR has also developed the management plans for both Karakoram and Deosai National Parks.

However, Gallo warns that barriers such as complicated permit systems, lack of basic facilities, unregulated mountaineering fees, and the absence of proper bylaws continue to hinder progress in ecotourism and cultural tourism. Even so, his determination remains unshaken.

He lamented that while Nepal proudly boasts 35 internationally certified porters accompanying mountaineers, Pakistan has yet to produce even one—a glaring gap in recognition and preparedness. 

With experience from similar initiatives in Nepal, Rwanda, and Italy, Gallo’s mission in Pakistan is not just about reaching summits -but about uplifting communities and protecting some of the world's most fragile, awe-inspiring landscapes for generations to come.

Mahtab Bashir is a passionate nature enthusiast, a journalist, and an M.Phil scholar at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad who can be reached at mahtabbashir@gmail.com or 0333 5363248.

FROM SONIC DREAMS TO SMOKING WRECKS: THE RISE & FALL OF CONCORDE & RAFALE

* Concorde: A supersonic icon that cut transatlantic flights to 3.5 hours, grounded forever after a fatal 2000 crash.
* Rafale: A symbol of modern airpower, its aura dimmed in May, 2025 when Pakistan downed Indian Rafales, shaking assumptions of air superiority.

Mahtab Bashir 

mahtabbashir@gmail.com

+92 333 53 63 248 

Islamabad 

In the annals of aviation, few names stir the soul like Concorde and Rafale. One was a sleek silver dart that tore through the stratosphere at twice the speed of sound, the other, a predator of the skies- deadly, agile, and born from the crucible of modern air warfare. These two marvels, born of French engineering and ambition, have written stories not just in the sky, but in history itself.

Concorde: The Supersonic Swan
Birth of a Dream:

In the 1960s, when the Cold War fed the world's hunger for speed and spectacle, Britain and France joined hands to birth a revolution. The result: Concorde, a supersonic passenger jet that looked like a bird from the future and flew like one too.

With its pointed nose- drooping humbly during takeoff and rising like a lance in flight- Concorde was more than transportation. It was an experience reserved for the elite, slicing New York–London travel time to just under 3.5 hours.

Specifications:
Top Speed: Mach 2.04 (2,180 km/h)
Cruising Altitude: 60,000 ft (where you could literally see the curvature of the Earth)
Engines: 4 × Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 turbojets
Range: 7,222 km
Passenger Capacity: ~92–128
Unit Cost (1970s): ~$23 million (equivalent to over $150 million today)

Tragic Silence:
Concorde's reign ended with a tragedy that echoed through aerospace corridors. On July 25, 2000, Air France Flight 4590 burst into flames shortly after takeoff from Paris. A stray strip of metal on the runway punctured a fuel tank. 113 lives were lost. Though Concorde returned to the skies briefly, its days were numbered. By 2003, the icon was retired—its thunder silenced.

Rafale: The French Falcon of War
A New Kind of Warrior:

If Concorde was poetry in motion, the Dassault Rafale is a symphony of steel and storm. Developed by Dassault Aviation and introduced in 2001, Rafale, French for “gust of wind”is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter built not just to dominate air-to-air combat, but also strike ground targets with clinical precision.

Its lines are elegant, its reflexes feline. In the cockpit sits a single pilot, surrounded by sensors, data fusion magic, and an arsenal that would make even seasoned generals nod in approval.

Specifications:
Top Speed: Mach 1.8 (2,222 km/h)
Range: 3,700 km (ferry), 1,852 km (combat radius)
Engines: 2 × Snecma M88-2 turbofans
Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Weapons: Meteor missiles, SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER bombs, Exocet anti-ship missiles, and a 30mm DEFA 791B cannon
Radar: Thales RBE2 AESA radar
Unit Cost: ~$85–120 million (depending on configuration)

India and Beyond:
In 2016, India inked a landmark deal for 36 Rafale jets, a decision that stirred domestic political storms but gave the Indian Air Force a formidable edge. Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE have also acquired the aircraft, further polishing its global combat reputation.

Crashes in the Clouds
Despite its agility, even the Rafale has met the fury of gravity. Over the years, a handful of crashes have been reported:

December 2007: A French Air Force Rafale crashed in southern France during a training mission—pilot ejected safely.

September 2009: A tragic mid-air collision during a training flight off the Mediterranean coast claimed the life of one pilot.

July 2022: A Rafale M (naval version) experienced a landing mishap aboard the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle—the pilot survived.

Each incident has led to reviews, system upgrades, and deeper respect for the machine’s complexity and lethality.

In the early hours of May 7, 2025, reports emerged claiming that Pakistan's military had downed multiple Indian fighter jets, including French-made Rafale aircraft, during a series of aerial engagements along the Line of Control (LoC). These reports have sparked significant attention and debate within the defence community.

The Claims and Initial Reactions
Pakistani officials asserted that their air force had successfully targeted and destroyed five Indian aircraft, comprising three Rafale jets, a MiG-29, and a Sukhoi Su-30MKI. These claims were supported by images of wreckage and electronic signatures purportedly identifying the downed aircraft. Additionally, a senior French intelligence official reportedly confirmed the loss of at least one Rafale jet. 

In response, shares of Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of the Rafale, experienced a decline, while stocks of China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), producer of the JF-17 and J-10C jets used by Pakistan, saw a significant increase .

Scrutiny and Counterclaims
Despite the initial reports, several defence analysts and experts have raised questions about the veracity of the claims. A detailed analysis by The Economic Times highlighted discrepancies in the evidence provided, suggesting that the images and electronic data might not conclusively support the assertion that Rafale jets were downed .

According to The Guardian, U.S. officials confirmed that at least two Indian jets were downed by Pakistan, including a Rafale, but noted that the downing was likely achieved using Chinese-made J-10C aircraft and PL-15 missiles, rather than Pakistan's indigenous JF-17s .

Skyline Shift: Strategic Ripples in Modern Air Combat
With the reported downing of India’s Rafale jets, a new chapter in aerial warfare has been written, one not just of shifting technology, but of sheer human resolve. Once hailed as near-invincible, the Rafale’s fall to the ground has stirred deep reflections on the limits of Western aerospace might when met by Eastern innovation. Yet beyond the hardware, it is the hands on the controls that have captured the world’s imagination.

The pilots of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) soared not just with machines, but with patriotism, courage, calculation, and unmatched composure. In the face of superior-rated jets, they executed precision strikes with surgical finesse—demonstrating not only the edge of their training but the steel of their nerves. Across defence circles worldwide, admiration now tilts toward the aviators who, with grit and grace, disrupted a decades-old balance in the sky. In that moment of conflict, it wasn’t just jets that clashed - it was doctrines, and the PAF rewrote them with valour inked at Mach speed.

From Sonic Dreams to Supersonic War-birds
Where Concorde was a phoenix that soared too close to the sun, Rafale is a relentless predator of modern skies. One was elegance and luxury incarnate; the other is the cutting edge of military aviation.

Together, they tell a story of France’s skybound ambition, of reaching beyond what is possible, and sometimes, paying the price for it. The Concorde may never return, but the Rafale may ensure that France’s legacy in the skies is far from over after Pakistan downs two Rafale fighters of India in recent border escalation. 

GLOBAL DISABILITY SUMMIT IN BERLIN: A GROUNDBREAKING STEP TOWARDS INCLUSION FOR 1 BILLION PEOPLE

Waqar Abbasi

Nawa-e-Waqt  

waqar051@gmail.com

Berlin, Germany — The third edition of the Global Disability Summit (GDS) has concluded in Berlin, marking a historic moment for the global disability movement. Co-hosted by Germany, Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the summit brought together over 4,500 participants from more than 100 countries, including a significant number of people with disabilities. The summit focused on fostering global collaboration to improve the lives of the 1 billion people living with disabilities worldwide.

Amman-Berlin Declaration Unveiled with Major Global Commitments

The highlight of the summit was the unveiling of the Amman-Berlin Declaration, a landmark agreement that sets a concrete goal: ensuring that 15% of all global development projects promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities. With the endorsement of over 100 countries and international organizations, this declaration establishes measurable targets for inclusion and accessibility, marking a significant step forward in the global fight for disability rights.

German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Svenja Schulze, hailed the declaration as a pivotal moment. "This initiative strengthens disability rights advocates worldwide. It sets the foundation for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," Schulze said.

Summit Draws Record Participation

The summit, hosted by the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), exceeded expectations in both scope and attendance. Delegates from government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the business sector, as well as more than 45 delegates from Pakistan, were present. The event also featured prominent leaders, including German Chancellor and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Jordan, who attended the opening ceremony.

Global Disability Summit 2025 – (From left to right): His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Ra'ad bin Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance, come together in a powerful show of global unity for inclusion. Photo Credit: Florian Gaertner / photothek.net

Over the course of two days, more than 60 sessions were held, where participants discussed a range of issues affecting the global disabled population, including education, rehabilitation, and equal access to opportunities. The summit's atmosphere was one of shared commitment, with over 800 pledges made to improve accessibility for people with disabilities worldwide.

Focus on Inclusive Development and Donor Engagement

One of the summit's key themes was the need for donor countries to become active partners in funding initiatives for persons with disabilities. This collaboration aims to secure at least 15% of development funds for the disability community, ensuring that projects for disabled people receive adequate support. The conference also saw intense discussions on the role of international organizations like the United Nations and UNICEF in providing education, rehabilitation, and grants for people with disabilities.

International Cooperation to Strengthen Disability Rights

Germany and the African Union have agreed to collaborate on strengthening organizations that represent disabled people on the African continent. This partnership will help ensure that by 2028, people with mental and physical disabilities in Africa will have access to critical data and resources.

Participants of GDS-2025 - Credit: Felix Zahn/ photothek.net

The summit also served as a platform for various countries to share successful models and programs aimed at addressing the needs of persons with disabilities. These shared experiences will serve as valuable tools for other nations looking to implement similar initiatives.

The Road Ahead: Inclusion for All

As the summit drew to a close, the international community reaffirmed its commitment to the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities. While the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been ratified by 192 countries, the summit underscored that much work remains to be done. The summit's collaborative spirit and the adoption of the Amman-Berlin Declaration signal a renewed global focus on making inclusion a reality for all.

Waqar Abbasi is a Senior Correspondent for Daily Nawa-e-Waqt and serves as the Finance Secretary of the National Press Club in Islamabad. He can be reached at waqar051@gmail.com