A tiny, little-known world beyond Pluto appears to have an atmosphere, Japanese astronomers said on Monday, defying what had been thought possible for icy objects in our cosmic backyard.

If confirmed, the roughly 500-kilometre-wide rock would become just the second world past Neptune in our Solar System to host an atmosphere — after only Pluto itself.

Formerly classified as a planet, Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006, in part because astronomers were discovering other similar objects in a distant region called the Kuiper Belt.

While Nasa under US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of restoring Pluto’s planet status, the discovery of another atmosphere nearby could undermine the argument for its reinstatement.

For the new discovery, Japanese researchers and an amateur astronomer pointed their telescopes at an object with the unwieldy name of (612533) 2002 XV93.

The icy world is nearly 40 times further from the Sun than Earth — or roughly six billion kilometres away.

These dark objects can only be seen when they pass in front of a distant star.

When this happened in January 2024, the astronomers observed that the starlight did not immediately reappear, suggesting a thin atmosphere was filtering some of the light.

They estimate that the world has an atmosphere five to 10 million times thinner than Earth’s, according to a new study in Nature Astronomy.

“This is important because, until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere,” lead study author Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan told AFP.

Such small worlds had not been thought capable of hosting an atmosphere.

“This discovery therefore challenges the conventional view that small icy worlds in the outer Solar System are mostly inactive and unchanging,” he added.

Ice volcanoes or comet smash?

The researchers could not say for sure what created the atmosphere, which is nowhere near thick enough to support life.

But they suggested it could have been made by gas being shot out from the world’s interior by erupting ice volcanoes.

Or it could have been kicked up by a comet smashing into the world, which would mean it will gradually disappear.

Jose-Luis Ortiz, a Spanish astronomer not involved in the research who studies dwarf planets beyond Neptune, said the results were interesting, but urged caution.

“I still doubt that it is an atmosphere. We need more data,” he told AFP.

An alternative explanation for the observations could be that the object has a ring close to its body, Ortiz said.

Ko Arimatsu acknowledged that he could not rule out “exotic alternatives” to an atmosphere.

However, “a nearly edge-on ring does not seem consistent with the main features of our observations,” he added.

Both astronomers called for further observations to reveal more about this strange world — particularly with the James Webb space telescope.

There have also been suggestions that a dwarf planet called Makemake, which is slightly smaller than Pluto, could have a very thin atmosphere, though some scientists are sceptical.

Last week, Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman suggested the US space agency was considering reinstating Pluto as a fully-fledged planet.

Isaacman made the comments while endorsing a proposal to halve Nasa’s science budget, riling some astronomers, Nature reported.

“It’s wild to ‘make Pluto a planet again’ while decimating the careers of those of us that study it!” planetary scientist Adeene Denton wrote on Bluesky.

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The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortion is provided across the nation. The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor. Those rules had been in effect for several years until a federal appeal court imposed new restrictions last week. Most abortions...

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) announced on Monday that it remains firmly committed to supporting Pakistan in strengthening midwifery education, workforce development and health systems.

In a statement to mark the observance of ‘International Day of the Midwife’ on May 5, UNFPA’s representative in Pakistan, Dr Luay Shabaneh, said that the Fund will continue to work in close partnership with the government and all stakeholders to advance this agenda.

“The path forward is clear, the evidence is strong and the returns are undeniable. The question is not whether we can afford to invest in midwives, but whether we can afford not (to do) so.

“Let us stand with our midwives by protecting them, valuing their contribution and enabling them to reach their full potential, investing not only in health, but in the dignity, prosperity and future of Pakistan,” the UNFPA representative said.

He added that Pakistan now had an opportunity to act by expanding midwifery education, scaling up the B.S. Midwifery Programme, strengthening training standards and ensuring recruitment and deployment where they were most needed.

Shabaneh called for midwives to be fully integrated into the health system with clear career pathways, professional recognition and leadership opportunities. He added that they should be paid fairly, protected legally and prioritised in health sector planning and budgets.

“Access to skilled midwifery care is a fundamental right. No woman should lose her life while giving life,” he said.

The representative termed midwives “guardians of life at its most critical moments, ensuring the safety of mothers, newborns and families, and supporting health and well-being far beyond birth”.

He noted that they were often the first and most trusted point of care in rural and underserved communities across Pakistan — providing skilled care, preventing complications, identifying risks early and ensuring timely referrals during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period.

Yet the reality and state of midwives is worrying, he pointed out, noting that Pakistan accounts for approximately four per cent of global maternal deaths. Nearly 100 women die for every 100,000 live births, most from preventable causes, he added.

According to Shabaneh, the country faces a shortage of nearly 82,000 midwives, with only 2.2 midwives per 10,000 people — half the global average.

“These are not just statistics,” he said. “They represent lives lost, families changed forever and a gap that must and can be closed.”

When properly educated, supported and integrated into the health system, the representative added that midwives could deliver most essential maternal and newborn health services, reduce preventable deaths, improve health outcomes and strengthen primary health care.

He highlighted that investing in midwives was a “smart economic choice” as it reduced costly emergency care, lowered pressure on hospitals, improved workforce productivity, and strengthened families and communities, delivering long-term returns in both human and economic development.

However, he said, “midwives in Pakistan are too often expected to carry this responsibility without adequate support”. This support includes essential equipment, medicines, supervision, safe working conditions and fair compensation.

An advanced midwifery clinical skills training programme was launched in Tharparkar in March. According to a press release, the programme aims at enhancing maternal and neonatal healthcare services in one of the most underserved areas of the province.

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ISLAMABAD: Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar on Monday took notice of security lapses and poor facilities at the Parliament Lodges, summoning the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and security officials and ordering a comprehensive report within three days.

Parliament Lodges house members of the National Assembly and Senate in the capital. Security and maintenance issues have been a recurring issue at the lodges.

Chairing an emergency meeting at Parliament House, Nasar expressed displeasure over the unauthorised entry of unrelated persons in the Parliament Lodges and termed the security flaws a “serious threat”.

He directed authorities to submit details of all complaints received at the lodges and the subsequent action taken.

The deputy chairman also raised questions over delays in renovation and repair work, and expressed dismay at the poor condition of lifts.

Citing his own experience of getting stuck in a lift, he called such incidents an “administrative failure”.

Lack of progress despite repeated complaints by senators was termed negligence.

Nasar also sought the complete allotment record of Parliament Lodges. He demanded details, cost breakdown, and reasons for the delay in the project for 104 new blocks. Nasar expressed regret over the hold-up and directed immediate action.

Describing the hygiene situation at the lodges as “deplorable”, the deputy chairman noted that there was an alarming number of rats. He also took note of a social media video showing the entry of an unrelated woman into the lodge and ordered an inquiry into the matter.

“No compromise is acceptable on the security of residents,” Nasar said, ordering all repair work to be completed immediately and complaints redressed.

Senators at the meeting expressed reservations over the administration’s inattention to their complaints.

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We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Quad summit plan turns uneasy as India pushes ahead without top leaders: sources A stretch of awkward diplomacy was unfolding in the Indo-Pacific in April: New Delhi was planning to host a foreign ministers’ meeting that could have been framed as a leaders-level discussion, even if the top...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday revealed the ‘Team of the Year’ for the 11th HBL Pakistan Super League edition, with Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam leading the side after finishing as the highest run-getter for the season, said a press release issued by the board.

The 11th HBL PSL season culminated on Sunday with Peshawar Zalmi lifting the title for the second time since 2017, after beating tournament debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen by five wickets in Lahore.

“The team was selected by a five-member committee from the esteemed commentary team. The jury also selected an emerging team of the tournament as well, comprising young Pakistan players,” the PCB said.

Babar, who scored 558 runs in 11 innings, was named as the captain of the side. He also struck two spectacular centuries in the season against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United.

Peshawar Zalmi’s Kusal Mendis and Lahore Qalandars’ Fakhar Zaman are also part of the team for scoring the maximum number of runs after Babar.

Multan Sultans’ batter and Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood also earned a place in the team, along with Hyderabad Kingsmen wicket-keeper batter Usman Khan.

Islamabad United captain and all-rounder Shadab Khan was included in the team after taking 17 wickets in the season. He was also named the season’s best all-rounder.

Hyderabad Kingsmen’s Hassan Khan and Hunain Shah were also included in the team, along with Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Triumphant Peshawar Zalmi spinner Sufyan Muqeem was added to the side after taking 22 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 14.40. He also won the Best Bowler and Player of the Tournament awards for his outstanding performance.

Islamabad United pacer Richard Gleeson was also included. Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators’ Hassan Ayaz was named as the 12th player in the team.

No player from Karachi Kings or the Rawalpindi franchise could make it into the final XI.

Furthermore, the HBL PSL 11 Emerging Team of the Year was announced, featuring several promising names.”

Sameer Minhas, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Baig, Farhan Yousuf, Saad Masood, Hunain Shah, Ali Raza, Mohammad Ismail, Ubaid Shah, Momin Qamar, and Mohammad Farooque were included.

(END)

ISLAMABAD: A delegation of 16 Pakistani entrepreneurs and business leaders is participating in the ‘SelectUSA Investment Summit’ that has opened in National Harbour, Maryland, to establish new connections and opportunities to grow through investing in the United States.

The four-day Investment Summit, which opened on Sunday, is the highest-profile event in the United States to facilitate business investment by connecting thousands of investors, companies, economic development organisations (EDOs), and industry experts to make deals happen.

US Charge d’ Affaires Natalie A. Baker, in a video statement issued on Monday, welcomed the Pakistani delegation’s participation in the summit, stating that strong economic ties are the heart of the US-Pakistan relationship.

“I look forward to helping Pakistani investors expand their global footprint in the United States,” the acting US envoy said.

“This is the premier event to promote foreign direct investment in the United States. By facilitating investment, innovation, and private sector collaboration, we can create jobs, drive growth, and build long-term prosperity for both our nations,” she said.

The summit is expected to draw around 6,000 attendees, including around 3,000 business investors from over 100 countries. It is a gateway to connecting directly with American leaders to identify investment opportunities across the US, Baker said.

Hosted by the US Department of Commerce, the SelectUSA Investment Summit is a one-stop shop for companies considering expanding to the US and provides EDOs with the opportunity to meet directly with international companies to facilitate investment deals.

Since its inception, the summit has attracted thousands of international companies and economic development representatives, generating over $256 billion in new US investment projects supporting more than 130,000 jobs across the United States and its territories.

The previous SelectUSA Investment Summit saw record-breaking numbers with more than 5,500 participants, including EDO representatives from 54 US states and territories and over 2,700 business investors from over 100 countries.

Islamabad’s trade surplus with Washington was around $3bn in 2024, mainly due to textile exports. The United States is Pakistan’s biggest market for textiles.

In February, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with US Commerce Secretary Howard A. Lutnick in Washington, where the two sides expressed the desire to enhance economic cooperation, especially in the fields of trade and investment.

Earlier that month, Pakistan participated in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial at the US Department of State, as Islamabad sought to expand foreign investment and forge strategic partnerships in the minerals and energy sectors.

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