Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet US President Donald Trump on October 30 in Busan, South Korea, the Chinese mission to the United Nations confirmed on Wednesday. The two leaders are set to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, according to a post on X by the Chinese mission. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560" data-twitter-extracted-i1761750123097303026="true">经中美双方商定，国家主席习近平将于当地时间10月30日在韩国釜山同美国总统特朗普举行会晤，就中美关系和双方共同关心的问题交换意见。 As agreed between China and the US, President Xi Jinping will meet with President Donald Trump in Busan, the ROK, on October 30 local time to exchange&hellip;&mdash; Chinese Mission to UN (@Chinamission2un) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chinamission2un/status/1983524019992240164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote></div> More to follow...

Americas

China

The two leaders are set to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

Chinese President Xi to meet US President Trump in South Korea

GUWAHATI: South Africa thrashed England by 125 runs on Wednesday to reach their first-ever ODI Women&#39;s World Cup final.&nbsp;Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a majestic 169 to help South Africa thrash England by 125 runs and reach their first-ever ODI Women&#39;s World Cup final on Wednesday.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">South Africa posted 319-7 and then bowled out England for 194 in 42.3 overs with medium-pace bowler Marizanne Kapp returning figures of 5-20 in the first semi-final in Guwahati.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">The Proteas now await the winner of the second semi-final between holders Australia and India for the title clash on Sunday in the outskirts of Mumbai.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">South Africa made their third straight final of a women&#39;s World Cup -- two in T20 tournaments -- and their first in the 50-over marquee competition.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">They were beaten by England in the semi-finals of the last two ODI World Cups in 2017 and 2022.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Nadine de Klerk dismissed Linsey Smith for 27 as the last wicket to trigger celebrations in the South African camp.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;It still feels a bit unreal,&quot; said player of the match Wolvaardt.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;I think that&#39;s the sort of the thing that you dream about as a kid is scoring 100 in a World Cup, knockout game as well. Very special day and I&#39;m so glad we won in the end.&quot;<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Wolvaardt set up victory with her first World Cup century as she lay the foundations of the mammoth total in a 116-run stand with fellow opener Tazmin Brits, who made 45.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Wolvaardt reached her 10th ODI ton and then switched gears to take the attack to the opposition in the final few overs, ending with 20 fours and four sixes in her 143-ball knock.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">She reached the top of the tournament batting chart with 470 runs including one hundred and three half-tons in eight matches.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Knapp attack The elegant batter started with a crisp cover drive off Lauren Bell for a four and the opening pair hit regular boundaries to put England on the back foot.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone dented South Africa&#39;s surge with two wickets in one over as she bowled Brits for 45 and three balls later sent back Anneke Bosch for a duck.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">England struck regular blows but Wolvaardt stood firm and put on key partnerships with Kapp, who hit 42, and then Chloe Tryon, who made an unbeaten 33.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Wolvaardt finally fell in the 48th over off Bell and walked back to a standing ovation and handshakes from the opposition players.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Ecclestone stood out with figures of 4-44 after she was cleared to play despite suffering a shoulder injury in the previous game.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">South Africa pace spearhead Kapp rattled England with two wickets in the first over as she bowled Amy Jones and Heather Knight -- both out for ducks.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Ayabonga Khaka dismissed Tammy Beaumont for a golden duck in the second over and despite a rearguard by skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey the England innings fell apart.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">&quot;An incredible two innings from South Africa,&quot; said Sciver-Brunt. &quot;We were not at our best today and to beat the best teams, you have to put a whole game together. Did not do that and hugely disappointed.&quot;<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Sciver-Brunt, who top-scored with 64, and Capsey, who made 50, put on 107 runs for the third wicket but after their departure the South African bowlers hit back.<p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1em 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; line-height: 2; letter-spacing: normal; font-weight: 400; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: source-sans-pro, Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;">Kapp dismissed Sciver-Brunt and then got Sophia Dunkley and Charlie Dean caught behind to be on a hat-trick, which was avoided by Ecclestone.

Cricket

Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a majestic 169 to help South Africa thrash England by 125 runs and reach their first-ever ODI Women's World Cup final on Wednesday.

South Africa crush England to reach Women's World Cup final

SAN FRANCISCO: Startup Character.AI announced Wednesday it would eliminate chat capabilities for users under 18, a policy shift that follows the suicide of a 14-year-old who had become emotionally attached to one of its AI chatbots. The company said it would transition younger users to alternative creative features such as video, story and stream creation with AI characters, while maintaining a complete ban on direct conversations that will start on November 25. The platform will implement daily chat time limits of two hours for underage users during the transition period, with restrictions tightening progressively until the November deadline. &quot;These are extraordinary steps for our company, and ones that, in many respects, are more conservative than our peers,&quot; Character.AI said in a statement. &quot;But we believe they are the right thing to do.&quot; The Character.AI platform allows users -- many of them young people -- to interact with beloved characters as friends or to form romantic relationships with them. Sewell Setzer III shot himself in February after months of intimate exchanges with a &quot;Game of Thrones&quot;-inspired chatbot based on the character Daenerys Targaryen, according to a lawsuit filed by his mother, Megan Garcia. Character.AI cited &quot;recent news reports raising questions&quot; from regulators and safety experts about content exposure and the broader impact of open-ended AI interactions on teenagers as driving factors behind its decision. Setzer&#39;s case was the first in a series of reported suicides linked to AI chatbots that emerged this year, prompting ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and other artificial intelligence companies to face scrutiny over child safety. Matthew Raines, a California father, filed suit against OpenAI in August after his 16-year-old son died by suicide following conversations with ChatGPT that included advice on stealing alcohol and rope strength for self-harm. OpenAI this week released data suggesting that more than 1 million people using its generative AI chatbot weekly have expressed suicidal ideation. OpenAI has since increased parental controls for ChatGPT and introduced other guardrails. These include expanded access to crisis hotlines, automatic rerouting of sensitive conversations to safer models, and gentle reminders for users to take breaks during extended sessions. As part of its overhaul, Character.AI announced the creation of the AI Safety Lab, an independent nonprofit focused on developing safety protocols for next-generation AI entertainment features. The United States, like much of the world, lacks national regulations governing AI risks. California Governor Gavin Newsom this month signed a law requiring platforms to remind users that they are interacting with a chatbot and not a human. He vetoed, however, a bill that would have made tech companies legally liable for harm caused by AI models.

Artificial Intelligence

Character.AI will ban direct chats for users under 18 after a teen’s suicide linked to its chatbot. The company will shift minors to creative tools, impose time limits, and launch an independent AI Safety Lab

Character.AI to ban direct chat for minors after teen suicide

KYIV: A Russian strike on a children&#39;s hospital in southern Ukraine wounded at least nine people, including four children, authorities said Wednesday, while President Volodymyr Zelensky called it a &quot;deliberate&quot; attack that shows Moscow does not want peace.&nbsp;The strike in Kherson blasted out windows and left bloodstains on the floor of treatment rooms, with debris strewn across stretchers and medical equipment, footage published by Ukrainian officials showed.&nbsp;Russia has hit several hospitals and medical facilities during its invasion, drawing accusations of war crimes, though Moscow says it only targets military sites.&nbsp;&quot;They could not have been unaware of where they were striking. This was a deliberate Russian attack specifically against children, against medical personnel, against basic guarantees of life in the community,&quot; Zelensky said.&nbsp;Ukraine&#39;s ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said nine people were wounded. The youngest was aged eight, Zelensky said.&nbsp;Around 100 people were inside the hospital at the time of the attack, Zelensky added.&nbsp;Russia was &quot;not only dragging out its terrorist war but also trying to do everything possible to ensure that no opportunity to end the war succeeds,&quot; he said.&nbsp;Moscow has not commented on the strike.

Europe

A Russian strike hit a children’s hospital in Kherson, Ukraine, wounding nine people, including four kids. President Zelensky called it a deliberate attack, showing Russia doesn’t want peace. 


Ukraine slams Russian attack on children's hospital

NEW YORK: Boeing reported a $5.4-billion third-quarter loss on Wednesday as massive added costs from the delayed certification of its 777X aircraft weighed down its results. The aviation giant scored a 30-percent jump in revenues to $23.3 billion following much higher commercial plane deliveries compared with the year-ago level. But the performance was marred by a one-time charge of $4.9 billion on the 777X program, which has faced a prolonged certification process with US air officials. Chief Executive Kelly Ortberg pointed to the October approval by the Federal Aviation Administration of an increased monthly production rate on the 737 MAX as a sign of the company&#39;s progress. He also noted that Boeing generated positive free cash flow during the quarter, a benchmark closely watched by Wall Street. But Ortberg said more work is still needed to turn Boeing around after a series of safety problems, including two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that have led to more intense FAA scrutiny over new plane certifications. Boeing has repeatedly pushed back the timeframe on the 777X. Under the latest shift, commercial deliveries will commence in 2027 from the prior 2026 timeframe. &quot;While we are disappointed in the 777X schedule delay, the airplane continues to perform well in flight testing, and we remain focused on the work ahead to complete our development programs and stabilize our operations in order to fully recover our company&#39;s performance and restore trust with all of our stakeholders,&quot; Ortberg said. In 2020, Boeing booked a $6.5 billion charge on the 777X, citing the lengthy FAA certification process and the pushing back of demand from airlines for the jet due to Covid-19. Ortberg said there were no issues with the aircraft&#39;s engine or airframe, but that the company had &quot;fallen behind&quot; schedule on FAA authorizations for testing, affecting Boeing&#39;s ability to &quot;fly and get certification credit,&quot; he told CNBC. There may be a &quot;minor&quot; impact on the process from the ongoing US government shutdown, &quot;but clearly the government shutdown did not drive this charge,&quot; Ortberg said. In a message to employees, Ortberg said the company&#39;s defense operation in St. Louis is &quot;effectively executing our strike contingency plans&quot; following the vote Sunday by more than 3,000 workers to reject the company&#39;s latest contract offer. Local Boeing officials in St. Louis have said the company is accelerating recruitment of replacement workers and welcoming back employees who cross the picket line. Union leaders have described Boeing as refusing to negotiate in good faith.

Business

Boeing performance was marred by a one-time charge of $4.9 billion on the 777X program, which has faced a prolonged certification process with US air officials

Boeing reports $5.4-bn loss from 777X aircraft delays

NEW YORK: AI chip juggernaut Nvidia became the world&#39;s first $5 trillion company on Wednesday, as investors remain confident that artificial intelligence will deliver a new wave of innovation and growth.&nbsp;The California-based tech giant saw its share price rise by 4.91 percent to $210.90 at the open of trading on Wall Street, pushing Nvidia&#39;s market capitalization past the never-before-seen threshold.&nbsp;The surge in the company&#39;s share price follows continued strong sales, a flurry of new deals -- including a partnership with Europe&#39;s Nokia announced on Tuesday -- as well as expectations that the company may soon regain access to China.&nbsp;Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is expected in South Korea this week, where he will attend the sidelines of the APEC summit at which US President Donald Trump will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, with issues related to AI development expected to be discussed.&nbsp;Nvidia chips are currently not sold in China due to a combination of Chinese government bans, national security concerns, and ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China.&nbsp;The Trump administration favors a more nuanced approach to selling AI chips to Beijing, but faces deep skepticism from China hawks across the US political spectrum who favor tougher bans on AI technology.&nbsp;Nvidia has announced a series of partnerships in recent weeks, including an intention to invest up to $100 billion in ChatGPT-maker OpenAI over the coming years.&nbsp;It also said it would invest $5 billion in struggling chip rival Intel, in response to the Trump administration&#39;s desire to bring back more manufacturing of semiconductors to the United States.&nbsp;Nvidia produces the advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) that power most generative AI systems, including those behind ChatGPT and other large language models.

Nvidia became the first company worth $5 trillion after its stock jumped nearly 5%. The rise came from strong AI chip sales, new deals, and big investments in OpenAI and Intel.


AI chip giant Nvidia becomes world's first $5 trillion company

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Lahore continues to rank as the world&rsquo;s most polluted city for a fifth straight day, as cross-border smoke from widespread crop burning in India mixes with local emissions to drive smog to dangerous levels across Pakistan&rsquo;s Punjab.&nbsp;According to the Swiss air monitoring platform IQAir, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Pakistan&rsquo;s second largest city surged to 567 on Wednesday morning, placing it in the &ldquo;hazardous&rdquo; category and prompting health advisories and enforcement actions.&nbsp;Earlier this week, Lahore&rsquo;s AQI had peaked at 424, while PM2.5 levels reached 287 &micro;g/m&sup3;, far exceeding safe limits. Karachi also recorded severe pollution on October 28, ranking third globally with an AQI of 174, while New Delhi placed second with 276.&nbsp;In response, the Punjab government has revised school timings, with classes now beginning at 8:45 am, to limit children&rsquo;s exposure during peak smog hours.&nbsp;Environmental experts say stagnant winter air, vehicle emissions, industrial output, and agricultural fires are collectively worsening conditions. However, smoke from crop residue burning across the border in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Haryana has notably intensified smog, elevating PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations across Pakistan&rsquo;s largest province.&nbsp;Health professionals warn that prolonged exposure to such hazardous air can lead to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illness, and lung cancer. Residents have been advised to wear masks and avoid outdoor activities, particularly during early morning and late evening.&nbsp;The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has declared a high alert across Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Faisalabad, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan.&nbsp;&ldquo;The intensity of smog is expected to increase from November to mid-December,&rdquo; said PDMA Director Hameedullah Malik in a statement to Pakistan TV Digital. He said a ban is in place on burning crop residues, solid waste, tires, plastic, and rubber, adding that legal action will be taken against violators.&nbsp;Tech-driven crackdownThe Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has deployed drone surveillance to identify active pollution sources. Over the past 48 hours, authorities detected more than 756 violations, according to PSCA.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change is promoting sustainable alternatives to burning. At a seminar in Kabirwala, farmers were trained to manage rice stubble without setting fields ablaze. Officials explained how agricultural waste can be converted into biomass energy, turning residue into a resource rather than smoke.&nbsp;&ldquo;Smog is a serious environmental and public health issue, requiring collective and coordinated efforts,&rdquo; said Project Coordinator Dr. Younus Zahid.&nbsp;Citizens have been urged to report smog-causing activities to the helpline 15.&nbsp;Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said nine departments are carrying out joint anti-smog operations, with environmental squads in the field and drone monitoring of brick kilns. She said AQI forecasting has been introduced in Punjab for early intervention, in addition to high-powered anti-smog guns deployed by the Environment Protection Agency.&nbsp;She advised vulnerable groups to stay indoors at night. &ldquo;Already a ban is in place on all types of outdoor activities at schools,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Local innovation for pollution controlEngineers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) have developed an anti-smog gun with a 40-meter spray range, designed to suppress dust at high-pollution sites.&nbsp;UET Vice Chancellor Professor Munir, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said the system would be deployed at construction sites, stone-crushing plants, and mining operations, all major contributors to airborne particulate pollution.

Climate & Environment

In Lahore, hazardous smog persists for a fifth day as cross-border crop burning from India and local emissions drive pollution to dangerous levels, triggering health warnings, school adjustments, and province-wide enforcement.

Pakistan battles severe smog as Indian crop burning intensifies air crisis

BRUSSELS: NATO said Wednesday it had been informed in advance of US plans to reduce some of its troops deployed on the alliance&#39;s eastern flank, describing the move as an &quot;adjustment&quot; and nothing &quot;unusual.&quot; Washington&#39;s commitment to the alliance remained &quot;clear,&quot; and its presence in Europe sizeable, a NATO official told AFP. &quot;Even with this adjustment, the US force posture in Europe remains larger than it has been for many years, with many more US forces on the continent than before 2022,&quot; the official said. The US has been expected to announce drawdowns in Europe following a review of its military deployments worldwide &mdash; but no move has been officially communicated yet. Romania&#39;s Defense Ministry, however, previewed the scale-down Wednesday, saying Washington was to halt the rotation of a brigade that had elements in several NATO countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. The prospect of a US pullout is fraying the nerves of allies, especially given fears that Russia could look to attack a NATO country within the next few years if the war in Ukraine dies down. But NATO swiftly downplayed the significance of the planned US reduction in personnel. &quot;The US commitment to NATO is clear,&quot; the official said. &quot;NATO has robust defense plans in place, and we are working to ensure we maintain the right forces and capabilities to deter potential aggression and provide for our collective defense.&quot;

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Oct. 22, 2025. (Alex Wong/Getty Images via AFP)

NATO said Wednesday it had been informed in advance of US plans to reduce some of its troops deployed on the alliance's eastern flank, describing the move as an "adjustment" and nothing "unusual."

Reduced US military presence in Europe an 'adjustment': NATO

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister&rsquo;s Focal Person on Polio, Ayesha Raza Farooq, has been named Pakistan&rsquo;s first Gender Champion by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), in recognition of her leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality and women&rsquo;s empowerment in public health, said a press release issued by GPEI on Wednesday. &ldquo;The appointment highlights Farooq&rsquo;s continued efforts to integrate gender perspectives into Pakistan&rsquo;s polio eradication program and strengthen the leadership and visibility of women across all levels of implementation,&rdquo; it said. Over 0.4m frontline health workers&nbsp;&ldquo;Across the country, more than 400,000 frontline health workers, nearly 60% of whom are women, form the backbone of the national effort to reach every child with the life-saving polio vaccine.&rdquo;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/5f98bdbd-741d-4aa1-a04e-d7c367bd8dd0-Untitled(11).jpg" alt="Untitled(11).jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 1000px; height: 563px;"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">A health worker climbs during a door-to-door poliovirus vaccination campaign amidst heavy snow in the Bakwali-Surgan area of Azad Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Neelum Valley, on February 4, 2025. -- Photo by AFP/File</figcaption></figure> &ldquo;Their courage, trust, and determination continue to be central to Pakistan&rsquo;s success in the fight to end polio,&rdquo; the statement added. &ldquo;For me, the fight against polio is not only about protecting children&rsquo;s health - it&rsquo;s about equity, opportunity, and empowerment,&rdquo; said Farooq. &lsquo;Breaking barriers&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Every day, I see how women are the true drivers of this mission: leading vaccination teams, breaking barriers in their communities, and carrying the hope of a healthier future.&rdquo; Farooq&rsquo;s recognition by GPEI underscores the essential link between gender equality and health outcomes, as well as Pakistan&rsquo;s growing leadership in championing inclusive approaches to global health. &ldquo;As Gender Champion, Farooq has reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for women&rsquo;s leadership in health, amplifying the voices and stories of female frontline workers, and ensuring gender integration and accountability remain central to the program&rsquo;s work,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;Farooq&rsquo;s role as Pakistan&rsquo;s first Gender Champion reflects both the nation&rsquo;s leadership in the global fight to eradicate polio and its deep commitment to a more equitable and inclusive future for every child,&rdquo; the press release concluded.

Health

The appointment highlights Ayesha Raza Farooq’s continued efforts to integrate gender perspectives into Pakistan’s polio eradication program, says a statement; Farooq says ‘women are the true drivers of this mission.’

Pakistan’s focal person on polio named ‘Gender Champion’ by international body 

ISLAMABAD: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $250 million for a regional adaptation programme supporting nine countries, including Pakistan, to manage the rising risks of glacial melt and water stress linked to climate change. The initiative, titled &ldquo;Glaciers to Farms,&rdquo; will be implemented by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It aims to strengthen climate resilience in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, with an emphasis on the four primary glacier-fed basins &mdash; the Naryn, Pyanj, Kura, and Swat rivers &mdash; where temperature increases have accelerated snow and ice loss. The program aims to strengthen irrigation, watershed management, early warning systems, and data sharing to reduce the likelihood of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and droughts.&nbsp; According to the ADB, over 13 million people will benefit directly from climate-resilient infrastructure and agricultural practices established through this initiative. &ldquo;Rapid glacial retreat is one of the most complex development challenges faced by our region,&rdquo; says Yasmin Siddiqi, ADB Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development. &nbsp;&ldquo;We need practical, scalable, and science-based solutions to help communities adapt. With catalytic support from GCF, Glaciers to Farms will help move the region beyond fragmented projects toward systemic, long-term resilience that protects lives and livelihoods.&rdquo; According to the UNDP Pakistan project brief, the initiative in Pakistan expands on existing national efforts led by the Ministry of Climate Change, specifically the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II) project, which was implemented in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative was approved at the GCF&#39;s 43rd Board Meeting on Monday. Funding will be distributed primarily through grants, with an additional $3.25 billion in ADB investments expected over the next decade.

Climate

The initiative aims to address rapid glacial retreat by improving water systems, early warnings, and agriculture resilience across nine Asian countries, aiming to protect 13 million people from increasing flood and drought risks caused by climate change. 

Chinese President Xi to meet US President Trump in South Korea

Related Articles

Reduced US military presence in Europe an 'adjustment': NATO

Trump says 'nothing' will jeopardize Gaza ceasefire after Israeli strikes

'Seven brand new, beautiful planes' shot down during Pakistan-India conflict: Trump

Latest News

South Africa crush England to reach Women's World Cup final

Character.AI to ban direct chat for minors after teen suicide

Ukraine slams Russian attack on children's hospital

Boeing reports $5.4-bn loss from 777X aircraft delays

Chinese President Xi to meet US President Trump in South Korea