Pakistani media on significance of first Pakistani astronaut on China's space station mission

Pakistani media responded positively to the news that the country's first astronaut will join China's upcoming Shenzhou-24 manned mission, highlighting the friendly ties between the two countries.

A Pakistani astronaut will join the Shenzhou-24 crewed flight mission as a payload specialist, the China Manned Space Agency said on Saturday.

After completing a short on-orbit flight, the Pakistani astronaut will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.

With China's space station going to receive the first foreign visitor, the mission will mark the first joint flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of the country's manned space program.

The news soon drew the attention of the Pakistani media which responded with positive reviews.

On Saturday, several major Pakistani media outlets reported it.

Pakistan's The Express Tribune highlighted that the first Pakistani astronaut would participate in the mission as a payload specialist.

A report by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) stressed that this would mark the first joint flight between Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China's manned space program and provided details on the training of the two Pakistani astronaut candidates.

Pakistan's Dawn noted in its report that this space mission is a pride for the entire nation and expressed hope that it would add new depth to the brotherly relations between Pakistan and China.

Haris Malik, a researcher at the China-Pakistan Study Center of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, said the visit of the Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station not only marks a significant milestone for Pakistan's space program but also lays the foundation for further cooperation between the two countries in space exploration.

"This is a historic and proud moment for Pakistan, as far as the space cooperation between Pakistan and China is concerned. This is based on a very strong foundation and Pakistan can learn from the Chinese expertise and Chinese experience in the space domain. Whereas our young population, who aspires to become scientists, to learn science, to learn space, and excel in this field. So I think this cooperation provides a very important opportunity for Pakistan and its young population. This is a proud moment for every Pakistani. So I think I would prefer to watch it live with my family, with my friends, and celebrate this moment, this historic moment," he said.

Pakistani media on significance of first Pakistani astronaut on China's space station mission

Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday formally tasked opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot with forming a government, giving the former military chief a chance to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Netanyahu's right-wing coalition lost its parliamentary majority in October's election.

Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party, received recommendations from 67 lawmakers in the 120-seat parliament, compared with 46 for Netanyahu.

At the ceremony, Herzog called for unity and a "stable government that can last."

Eisenkot warned that Israel was facing a "critical moment," saying the objectives of its multi-front conflicts "remained unfulfilled," its international relations were in a "devastating crisis," and its democracy was facing one of its gravest challenges.

"If we continue on the current path, we risk reaching a point of no return," he said, calling for new leadership "that people can look in the eye and trust."

He said he was convinced it was possible to form a new government with a substantial majority in the Knesset, and that he was open to Netanyahu's Likud party and far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party joining a government under his leadership.

He said they were invited to "support the government under my leadership and the principles I've outlined."

"I intend to be the prime minister of all citizens of Israel, those who voted for me and those who haven't," Eisenkot said.

Eisenkot has 28 days to form a government, with a possible 14-day extension. Netanyahu will remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is sworn in.

Eisenkot's four-party alliance holds only 48 seats and would need support from Arab lawmakers or other parties to form a government.

Netanyahu on Saturday called for a national unity government, while Eisenkot's party said Likud could join a government led by Eisenkot if it abandoned its far-right allies.

Under Israeli law, if Eisenkot fails to form a government within the allotted time, Herzog may assign the task to another candidate, or at least 61 members of the 120-seat Knesset can ask the president to entrust the mandate to a candidate of their choice. If these efforts also fail, the Knesset will be dissolved and new elections will be held.

Israeli opposition leader Eisenkot officially receives mandate to form gov't