WASHINGTON: Kazakhstan said Thursday it was &ldquo;natural and logical&rdquo; for it to join the so-called Abraham Accords, a move that is largely symbolic as the central Asian republic already has diplomatic ties with Israel. &ldquo;Our anticipated accession to the Abraham Accords represents a natural and logical continuation of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s foreign policy course &mdash; grounded in dialogue, mutual respect, and regional stability,&rdquo; the country&rsquo;s government said in a statement. Kazakhstan said Thursday it was &ldquo;natural and logical&rdquo; for it to join the so-called Abraham Accords, a move that is largely symbolic as the central Asian republic already has diplomatic ties with Israel. &ldquo;Our anticipated accession to the Abraham Accords represents a natural and logical continuation of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s foreign policy course &mdash; grounded in dialogue, mutual respect, and regional stability,&rdquo; the country&rsquo;s government said in a statement.

Central Asia

Says step consistent with its foreign policy of dialogue and regional stability, with a move largely symbolic, as Kazakhstan already maintains diplomatic relations with Israel.

Kazakhstan says joining Abraham Accords ‘natural and logical’

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A privately organized cricket league in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir collapsed mid-tournament this week after its organizers allegedly fled Srinagar, leaving behind unpaid hotel bills, stranded players and officials, according to a police report lodged at Rajbagh Police Station.&nbsp;The &quot;Indian Heaven Premier League (IHPL),&quot; promoted as one of the region&rsquo;s biggest cricketing events, began on October 25 at Bakshi Stadium with eight teams and international names, including West Indies batsman Chris Gayle and New Zealand&rsquo;s Jesse Ryder.&nbsp;However, the event drew minimal public attendance, with only a few hundred spectators in stands built to seat tens of thousands.&nbsp;On Friday night, the tournament&rsquo;s Indian organizers, identified in the First Information Report (FIR) as Parminder Singh and Ashudhani from the Punjab-based Yuva Society, allegedly left the venue and hotels without settling dues.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have not received any payment. The organisers are missing, and we have been stranded here,&rdquo; English umpire Mellisa Juniper told police while seeking assistance. Hotel management had reportedly locked players and match officials inside the premises after unpaid bills surpassed $57,000.&nbsp;&ldquo;The league had to finished early,&rdquo; she told local Kashmiri media outlets. &ldquo;League management is nowhere to be seen.&rdquo;&nbsp;Juniper contacted the British High Commission in New Delhi, after which a temporary arrangement was made allowing foreign players and staff to leave, but no outstanding payments were cleared.&nbsp;The final, scheduled for November 8, was cancelled, and streaming service FanCode marked all remaining matches as &ldquo;abandoned.&rdquo;&nbsp;Police, on the other hand, have registered a case of &ldquo;cheating and criminal breach of trust&rdquo; and dispatched teams to Chandigarh and Delhi to trace the accused organizers.&nbsp;The Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council sought to distance itself from the controversy. Council Secretary Nuzhat Gul stated the venue had been rented out in a standard commercial arrangement and &ldquo;the council had no role in organizing or managing the event.&rdquo;&nbsp;Local cricketers, who had hoped the tournament would provide exposure and opportunity, expressed frustration at being left unpaid and misled. The organizers&rsquo; website has since gone offline, displaying only a single message: &ldquo;Get ready, something cool is coming!&rdquo;&nbsp;The incident has added to growing concerns about privately run sports events in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where political instability, heavy securitization, and lack of regulatory oversight continue to undermine professional sporting development.

Cricket

A privately run cricket league collapsed after organizers fled, leaving foreign and local players stranded with unpaid bills. Authorities have filed cheating charges and are tracing the accused.

‘Kashmir Cricket League’ collapses amid scandal in Indian-occupied Srinagar

BEL&Eacute;M: World leaders attending a climate summit in Brazil launched a fund on Thursday to save the world&#39;s forests, quickly raking in over $5 billion in pledges to reward tropical countries for not chopping down trees. The initial government commitments still fall far short of what is needed for the fund to attract the private investment it seeks, but Brazil&rsquo;s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva still described the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as unprecedented. Ultimately, Brazil &mdash; the fund&#39;s political sponsor &mdash; seeks to create a $125 billion facility that would pay out a share of profits to developing countries for every hectare of forest they leave standing. Private investors would also receive a return from funds invested mainly in emerging market bonds. &quot;Such a fund, which will help us, comes at the right time,&quot; Abe Assamoi, an Ivory Coast representative, told AFP in Belem, a city at the edge of the Amazon rainforest. &quot;We have certainly lost a lot of forests, but we have implemented a comprehensive strategy to reforest our country... We have ambitious goals,&quot; but these require money, he added. The fund was launched in Belem Thursday as heads of state and government met ahead of an annual round of UN climate talks starting next week. &#39;Things can change&#39;&nbsp;The designers of the fund envision raising $10 billion in initial contributions from governments within a year &mdash; a figure revised downward in the face of an initial lackluster response. The $10 billion should be increased to $25 billion in the longer term &mdash; startup money that will then attract private investments worth another $100 billion. Brazil hopes the fund will create a reliable, long-term revenue stream, an alternative to tropical countries cutting down forests for economic gain. Earth&#39;s forests are often described as its lungs, expelling oxygen and taking in planet-warming carbon while housing a rich variety of animal and plant life. Brazil had put in the first $1 billion pledge for the fund, matched by fellow forest nation Indonesia. The UK said it would not contribute, while Finland&#39;s government told AFP it would be &quot;difficult to find new resources&quot; in uncertain economic climate. &quot;Things can change, this is a long-term project,&quot; Brazil&#39;s chief climate negotiator Mauricio Lyrio told AFP about countries that have not yet joined the initiative. Brazil&rsquo;s Finance Minister Fernando Haddad was also positive, saying &quot;we have already surpassed 50% of what we envisioned&quot; to raise until the next climate conference in 2026. France pledged a conditional 500 million euros, Portugal added a more modest $1 million, and Germany made an unspecified commitment. Norway on Thursday pledged 30 billion kroner ($3 billion) for loans, but with strings attached. &quot;It is vital to stop deforestation to reduce the impacts of climate change and limit biodiversity loss,&quot; the Norwegian government said in a statement. &#39;Weaknesses remain&#39;&nbsp;Some countries and observer groups have expressed reservations about the design and oversight of the fund. Greenpeace has &quot;cautiously&quot; welcomed the TFFF, with its Brazilian executive director Carolina Pasquali telling AFP that &quot;weaknesses remain.&quot; &quot;For example, where the money will be invested, what industries are out. We think it&#39;s a good step forward, but it needs work,&quot; she said on Wednesday aboard the organization&#39;s Rainbow Warrior flagship, docked in Belem. Brazil has identified more than 70 developing countries that could be eligible for annual payments from the fund. If they were to stamp out deforestation entirely, Brazil, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo could earn hundreds of millions of dollars a year each. Mauricio Bianco, vice president of Conservation International Brazil, said forest conservation was the answer to two planetary crises at once: climate change and biodiversity loss. &quot;These are threats that demand financial commitments commensurate with their scale,&quot; he said, adding it was imperative to put the fund into operation as soon as possible. For Lula, &quot;forests are worth more standing than cut down.&quot; &quot;In a few years, we will see the fruits of this fund. We will be proud to remember that it was in the heart of the Amazon rainforest that we took this step together,&quot; he told summit delegates.

Climate

Brazil seeks to create a $125 billion facility that will pay out a share of profits to developing countries for every hectare of forest they leave standing; private investors would also receive a return from funds invested mainly in emerging market bonds.

World leaders launch fund to save forests, get first $5 billion 

Staff Reporter

KARACHI: Pakistan&rsquo;s economic future is increasingly linked to the sea, with sustainable &ldquo;blue growth&rdquo; positioned to drive the country toward a $100 billion maritime economy, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday.&nbsp;He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Pakistan International Maritime Expo &amp; Conference (PIMEC) 2025 at the Expo Center Karachi.&nbsp;&ldquo;The sea is becoming the axis of Pakistan&rsquo;s trade and climate resilience,&rdquo; Chaudhry said, announcing that two new ships have joined the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) fleet, with three more expected soon.&nbsp;He also confirmed that Pakistan has issued a license for its first private ferry service, describing it as &ldquo;an important step toward sustainable maritime travel and regional connectivity.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chaudhry outlined plans for Pakistan&rsquo;s first green ship repair and recycling yard at Port Qasim, part of what he called a &ldquo;Sea-to-Steel Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that the government has allocated Rs12 billion [$42 million] to modernize the shipbreaking facilities at Gaddani to ensure compliance with international environmental standards.&nbsp;The four-day PIMEC exhibition, organized jointly by the Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, featured more than 150 domestic and 28 foreign exhibitors from 20 countries.&nbsp;Displays ranged from marine biotechnology and aquaculture to ocean renewable energy systems, digital navigation, autonomous marine vessels, and maritime defense technologies.&nbsp;Speaking at the opening session, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described Pakistan as a &ldquo;natural maritime bridge between the East and West.&rdquo;&nbsp;However, he noted that the maritime sector currently contributes less than one percent to Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP, well below the four to seven percent share seen in comparable maritime economies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We must unlock the economic potential of our seas,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;This year&rsquo;s expo saw a notable rise in homegrown innovation. The National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP) showcased the SAFRAH Drone-Jamming Gun, which exhibitors said can neutralize drones within a 1.5 kilometer radius. Stingray Technologies displayed unmanned surface vessels for reconnaissance and logistics.&nbsp;Students from Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology introduced marine safety IoT devices, while Zarwah Enterprises highlighted bio-secure aquaculture systems for coastal livelihoods.&nbsp;The Gwadar Development Authority presented its Smart Port City Master Plan 2050, signaling long-term coastal urban development, while the Sindh People&rsquo;s Housing for Flood Affectees pavilion demonstrated climate-resilient housing models with strong women-led participation in post-flood reconstruction.&nbsp;Panelists at the parallel International Maritime Conference stressed that turning maritime innovation into large-scale economic gains will require coordinated policy, long-term financing, and stronger public-private collaboration.&nbsp;Chaudhry said Pakistan&rsquo;s shift toward a sustainable blue economy is not only an economic strategy but a climate resilience imperative.&nbsp;&ldquo;If nurtured strategically, Pakistan&rsquo;s blue economy can evolve into a $100 billion sector by 2047,&rdquo; he said, adding that building a &ldquo;green, secure, and competitive maritime sector&rdquo; is now a national priority.

Economy

Pakistan highlights sustainable “blue growth” to drive a $100bn maritime economy, as Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announces new shipping expansion, green shipyard development, and stricter environmental standards at PIMEC 2025 in Karachi.

Sustainable ‘blue growth’ key to Pakistan’s $100 billion maritime future, says minister

SAN FRANCISCO: The newest installment to the blockbuster &quot;Grand Theft Auto&quot; video game franchise has been delayed again, this time until November 2026, its creators announced on Wednesday. &quot;We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve,&quot; Rockstar Games said in a post on X.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1986540361011880167&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=83fe19cae27d0c2a6efa6cff4b9d8f32995d1efc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1986540361011880167">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Release of the game had already been pushed from late 2025 to early 2026. Rockstar said it will now come out on November 19 of next year. Shares of Rockstar-parent Take-Two Interactive sank more than 8% in after-hours trades. Word of the delay came the same day dozens of people protested outside Rockstar offices in Edinburgh, Scotland, accusing the multibillion-dollar studio of &quot;blatant union busting&quot; by firing 31 people. Rockstar, whose upcoming sixth edition of the cash-cow series is among the hottest releases of 2026, has accused the employees of &quot;distributing and discussing confidential information in a public forum, a violation of our company policies.&quot; But the Independent Workers&#39; Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which called the demonstration, rejected that claim, arguing that the sacked workers were all members of a private discussion channel linked to the union. Rockstar did not immediately respond to an AFP inquiry. &quot;GTA VI&quot; is on course to become one of the biggest entertainment product launches of all time. As popular as it is notorious for its sexual and violent content, the franchise has allowed players to roleplay as criminals doing dirty deeds across sprawling cityscapes since its first entry in 1997. Outlaw couple?&nbsp;The newest game was originally due to be released later this year, with a trailer having shown that it would be set in Miami-like Vice City and would feature a playable female protagonist for the first time. Set to the Tom Petty song &quot;Love Is A Long Road,&quot; it opens with a female character named Lucia being released from prison in what appears to be a fictionalized version of Florida. Near the close of the one-minute-and-30-second clip, she tells her male partner in crime: &quot;The only way we are going to get through this is by sticking together, being a team.&quot; The pair go on to burst into a store with pistols drawn and bandanas covering the lower halves of their faces. Fans saw the scene as confirmation that rumors of a &quot;Bonnie and Clyde&quot; type crime couple are coming true. Along with its wild success, the GTA series has faced criticism over its violent content. Critics have from the beginning accused Grand Theft Auto of glorifying violence and encouraging players to engage in criminal behavior &mdash; allegations rejected by New York-based Take-Two Interactive. GTA players sell drugs, fight, rob, go on car rampages and more. Gameplay options also included assaulting sex workers and going to strip clubs, raising the ire of activists.

Video Game

Release of the game had already been pushed from late 2025 to early 2026; Rockstar says it will now come out on November 19 of next year.

'Grand Theft Auto VI' video game delayed again until Nov 2026

SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called on world governments Thursday to invest in AI infrastructure, as questions grow about whether the ChatGPT-maker, the world&rsquo;s most valuable private company, can absorb artificial intelligence&rsquo;s massive costs. &ldquo;What we do think might make sense is governments building (and owning) their own AI infrastructure, but then the upside of that should flow to the government as well,&rdquo; Altman wrote in a long post on X, clarifying OpenAI&rsquo;s position amid growing scrutiny of the company&rsquo;s ambitious spending plans. The company behind ChatGPT was facing scrutiny after its chief financial officer Sarah Friar told a business conference Wednesday that the US government could help attract the enormous investment needed for AI computing and infrastructure by guaranteeing loans to pay for the buildout. After fierce criticism, the executive later retracted the statement, saying her point was clumsily explained, which Altman reiterated in his own post. &ldquo;We do not have or want government guarantees for OpenAI datacenters,&rdquo; Altman wrote. &ldquo;We believe that governments should not pick winners or losers, and that taxpayers should not bail out companies that make bad business decisions or otherwise lose in the market,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;If we screw up and can&rsquo;t fix it, we should fail, and other companies will continue on doing good work.&rdquo; The comments came as OpenAI faces questions about its financial trajectory. OpenAI has become a highly pivotal company, with the AI race launched by the release of ChatGPT driving Wall Street to new records even as doubts grow about the broader health of the American economy. Altman said the company expects to reach over $20 billion in annualized revenue this year, a significant accomplishment for a startup, and is looking at infrastructure spending commitments of approximately $1.4 trillion over the next eight years. This includes a $300 billion partnership with Oracle and a $500 billion Stargate project with Oracle and SoftBank that was announced at the White House in January. He projected that OpenAI revenue will grow to hundreds of billions of dollars by 2030, driven by as-yet-unreleased consumer devices, robotics, and AI-powered scientific discovery. Given the strategic importance of the technology, Altman argued that building a &ldquo;strategic national reserve of computing power&rdquo; makes sense for governments, particularly as massive infrastructure projects take years to complete. He cited severe compute constraints already forcing OpenAI and competitors to limit availability of their products and delay new features, warning that the risk of insufficient computing power outweighs the risk of overbuilding.

Artificial Intelligence

Sam Altman urges governments to build and own AI computing infrastructure, saying it is essential to meet rising demand. He clarifies the company is not seeking government guarantees, despite growing concerns over AI development costs.

OpenAI boss calls on governments to build AI infrastructure

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Lahore&rsquo;s air quality has improved significantly, with the city dropping from the world&rsquo;s most polluted city to 13th place in global Air Quality Index (AQI) rankings, according to IQAir.&nbsp;On November 6, the city&rsquo;s AQI fell to 119, a substantial decrease from the &ldquo;hazardous&rdquo; levels recorded just days earlier.&nbsp;The improvement follows a series of strict anti-smog actions launched by the Punjab government and district administration, including early market closures, sealing of polluting industrial units, and curbs on late-night commercial activity.&nbsp;Authorities have also intensified monitoring, using drones to detect illegal emissions and crop burning.&nbsp;Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said improved weather conditions have also helped clear the air.&nbsp;&ldquo;The current wind speed of around 11 kilometers per hour has dispersed pollutants and contributed to clearer skies,&rdquo; she said, highlighting that enforcement and natural factors worked &ldquo;hand in hand.&rdquo;&nbsp;Data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows Lahore&rsquo;s AQI averaged 125 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on November 6, compared to an AQI of 390 registered the previous day.&nbsp;More polluted pockets remained around Kahna Nau Hospital (164), LWMC (163), and UET (156), while relatively cleaner readings were recorded at Wagha Border (58) and Lathepur (68).&nbsp;Officials say the improvement reflects a coordinated approach. &ldquo;Smog is a multi-sectoral issue involving transportation, agriculture, and industry,&rdquo; said Sajid Bashir, Director at the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department.&nbsp;All agencies are working together, from data collection to execution, and this collaboration has been crucial in reducing smog levels.&rdquo;&nbsp;Bashir noted a 63% decline in stubble burning compared to last year, along with action against non-compliant brick kilns.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have destroyed 1,144 brick kilns that were not using zigzag technology,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Doctors in Lahore have also reported a drop in smog-related patients. At Services Hospital, pulmonologist Dr. Ali Raza said the reduction in pollution has translated directly into fewer cases of respiratory distress.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are relieved to see almost no new smog-related admissions. But if weather shifts and pollutants rise again, the health impact could return, especially for children, the elderly, and those with chronic lung conditions,&rdquo; he cautioned.&nbsp;While authorities welcome the improvement, officials and health experts stress that sustained effort is essential. The government&rsquo;s monitoring and enforcement measures will continue, particularly as seasonal weather changes can cause pollution levels to rise again.&nbsp;For now, Lahore is experiencing clearer skies, but the long-term challenge of clean air, officials say, will require continued public cooperation, consistent policy enforcement, and regional coordination to maintain progress.

Climate & Environment

According to IQAir, Lahore’s air quality improves sharply as AQI drops to 119, following strict anti-smog enforcement, reduced stubble burning, and favorable weather, with health officials reporting fewer smog-related patients but cautioning conditions may fluctuate.

Lahore’s air quality sees marked improvement after strict anti-smog measures

WASHINGTON: A US man charged with using a sandwich to assault a law enforcement officer was acquitted Thursday after a jury decided that charges brought by President Donald Trump&rsquo;s prosecutors were baloney. The prosecution made a surprise local hero of 37-year-old Sean Dunn, who was protesting Trump&rsquo;s shock takeover of law enforcement in the capital Washington. He was accused of flinging a &ldquo;sub-style sandwich&rdquo; at an armed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent on August 10 in a busy nightlife district after shouting expletives at the officer. The officer was part of a huge crackdown ordered by Trump, with multiple agencies and troops deploying in Washington and several other Democratic-run cities, ostensibly to fight what the Republican president says are crime waves and anarchy. Prosecutors wanted serious felony charges, but a grand jury refused to indict Dunn &mdash; a rare occurrence. A misdemeanor charge was filed and Dunn faced a maximum of one year in prison if convicted. While prosecutors ultimately proved ham-fisted, Dunn had appeared to be in a serious pickle. Right after hurling his sandwich he was chased down, then released, only to be arrested in a raid on his home that was publicized by the White House. As video of the initial altercation went viral, Dunn was quickly dubbed &ldquo;DC sandwich guy,&rdquo; becoming a symbol of resistance to Trump.&nbsp; Stylized images of him in mid-sandwich-attack appeared on posters, graffiti, T-shirts and even a popular Halloween costume. Trump&rsquo;s much-touted crime crackdown has seen an increase in arrests and indictments, but US media analysis of the data shows much of that has come from pursuing minor offenses in court. The top Trump-appointed prosecutor for Washington, Jeanine Pirro, has pursued maximum penalties for all arrests since taking office, including in the Dunn case. Dunn was a paralegal at the Justice Department at the time of the altercation and was fired from his position. On Monday, as proceedings opened, Judge Carl J. Nichols noted that he expected the trial to be a short one as &ldquo;this is the simplest case in the world.&rdquo; Dunn&rsquo;s defense did not dispute that he threw the sandwich at the officer, instead arguing that his action did not constitute an offense, and that the charges against him were a &ldquo;blatant abuse of power.&rdquo; Much of the case centered on the definition of key terms, including whether the throwing of a soft object constitutes an act that is &ldquo;forcible,&rdquo; and whether Dunn&rsquo;s action impeded the officer in the conduct of their duties. On the first day of court proceedings, the defendant, dressed in a black-and-white patterned sweater, appeared subdued as his defense team engaged in feverish consultation. Dunn&rsquo;s defense has contended that he was being selectively prosecuted due to his political views, having called the federal officers &ldquo;fascists&rdquo; before he threw the sandwich.

Americas

A US jury acquitted Sean Dunn, accused of assaulting a federal officer with a sandwich during protests against Donald Trump’s security deployment. Prosecutors sought jail time, but the defense argued the case was a political overreach.

Local hero: ‘DC sandwich guy’ found not guilty of assaulting officer with sub

ISLAMABAD: A brief exchange of fire along the Chaman&ndash;Spin Boldak border crossing coincided Thursday with ongoing Pakistan and Afghanistan peace talks in Istanbul, with Pakistan&rsquo;s information ministry rejected Afghan claims that Pakistani forces opened fire first.&nbsp;&ldquo;We strongly reject claims circulated by the Afghan side regarding today&rsquo;s incident at the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman,&rdquo; the ministry said in a statement posted on X.&nbsp;According to the statement, &ldquo;Firing was initiated from the Afghan side, to which our security forces responded immediately in a measured and responsible manner.&rdquo; It added that the situation was &ldquo;brought under control due to responsible action by Pakistani forces and the ceasefire remains intact.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ministry said Pakistan &ldquo;remains committed to ongoing dialogue and expects reciprocity from Afghan authorities.&rdquo;&nbsp;However, Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government offered a sharply different account.&nbsp;Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, claimed the firing started from the Pakistani side.&nbsp;&ldquo;While the third round of negotiations with Pakistan has begun in the city of Istanbul, it is regrettable to say that this afternoon, once again, firing was initiated by Pakistani forces at Spin Boldak, which has caused concern among the public,&rdquo; Mujahid said on X.&nbsp;He added that Afghan forces &ldquo;have so far not responded&rdquo; in order to avoid civilian casualties and &ldquo;out of respect for the negotiating team.&rdquo;&nbsp;Local police in Chaman confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital that Pakistani border units returned fire after the initial shots but reported no casualties on either side. The exchange lasted briefly and did not disrupt movement in nearby civilian areas, police official said.&nbsp;The incident unfolded as senior delegations from Islamabad and Kabul continued discussions in Istanbul aimed at establishing a verified mechanism to prevent cross-border militant infiltration into Pakistan.

Security

Reacting to Kabul’s accusations on Chaman border firing amid ongoing Istanbul negotiations, Pakistan’s Information Ministry says Pakistani forces responded responsibly and expects reciprocal restraint from Afghanistan.

Pakistan rejects Kabul’s border firing claims, urges ceasefire respect

GENEVA: This year is set to be among the very warmest ever recorded, capping more than a decade of unprecedented heat, the United Nations said Thursday. &quot;The alarming streak of exceptional temperatures continued in 2025, which is set to be either the second or third warmest year on record,&quot; the World Meteorological Organization said in an update on the state of the global climate released ahead of next week&#39;s COP30 UN climate summit in Brazil.

The United Nations’ World Meteorological Organization reports 2025 is on track to be the second or third warmest year ever recorded, marking over a decade of record-breaking global heat before COP30