Shabbir Wahgra

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is considering joining the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi confirmed to PakistanTV on Wednesday. In an exclusive interview, the foreign office spokesperson stated that Pakistan was weighing the option because the peace and prosperity of Gaza and Palestine remained its priority. &quot;This matter is under process,&quot; he said. The spokesperson stated that Pakistan has contributed to the UN peacekeeping missions worldwide for the past seven decades. He also noted that Pakistan has supported forces tasked with maintaining peace and security in conflict zones. The international stabilization force is part of a 20-point plan presented by US President Donald Trump. The plan calls for the US to work with Arab and international partners to create a temporary force for immediate deployment in Gaza. Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, T&uuml;rkiye, and Azerbaijan are being considered as contributors to the Gaza force.

SAT News Desk

Pakistan is considering its participation in the international stabilization force for Gaza, with the decision still under process.

Pakistan considering joining International Stabilization Force for Gaza: FO

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.

Gadgets

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

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

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.

Artificial Intelligence

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: Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned the renewed attacks by Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, terming them a &quot;flagrant violation of international law and a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement&quot;.&nbsp;In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan said the Israeli strikes had reportedly caused civilian casualties and warned that such aggressive actions threatened to undermine international efforts aimed at ensuring durable peace and stability in the region. <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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983459459847655559&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e5a7764e4b5f3f5afda3241472f87810c34e2d03&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 923px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div> &ldquo;These actions constitute a clear and flagrant violation of international law, as well as a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement,&rdquo; the statement read. &ldquo;Such aggressive measures by the Israeli occupation forces threaten to undermine international efforts aimed at establishing durable peace and stability in the region.&rdquo;</div>&nbsp;Pakistan urged the international community to take immediate steps to halt the ceasefire violations by Israeli forces.&nbsp;The statement reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s consistent and principled support for the Palestinian cause and called for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&nbsp;Pakistan reiterated that peace in the Middle East would remain elusive until a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue is achieved in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

Foreign Affairs

Says these actions constitute a clear and flagrant violation of international law, as well as a breach of the recently concluded peace agreement.

Pakistan condemns Israel’s violations of Gaza peace agreement

Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank estimates an untapped potential of nearly US$60 billion for Pakistan&#39;s exports, according to its latest Pakistan Development Update report released this week. The report stated that some structural constraints obstructed Pakistan&rsquo;s export competitiveness and productivity. &quot;While the country has made progress in recent years, more reforms are needed to support export-led growth and improve resilience,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The World Bank said some tariffs, regulations, and limited access to trade finance and logistics continue to hamper export performance.&nbsp;The report acknowledged recent government initiatives, including the five-year National Tariff Policy (2026-2030), which aims to reduce the average tariff rate from 20.2 percent to 9.7 percent by 2030. However, it said tariff reforms alone would need to be complemented by steps such as a market-determined exchange rate, stronger trade finance systems, and improved digital and energy infrastructure to boost exports.&nbsp;&ldquo;The government has placed export growth at the center of its development agenda and has made important strides in tackling policy and structural barriers,&rdquo; said Anna Twum, co-author of the report. &ldquo;However, tariff reforms alone will not suffice and must be complemented by broader measures to ensure a market-determined exchange rate, strengthen trade finance, enhance trade facilitation, and expand access to export markets,&rdquo; she added. The report also underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s growing potential in digital services, noting that while digitally delivered exports now account for about 10 percent of total exports, Pakistan&rsquo;s global share remains low at just 0.1 percent. It suggested investing in broadband expansion, fiber-optic connectivity, and modern digital regulations to enhance export capacity in the IT and technology sectors.&nbsp;With the World Bank revising Pakistan&rsquo;s growth projection to 2.6 percent, the report said that unlocking export potential will be key to achieving sustainable, debt-free growth and ensuring long-term economic stability.

Economy

The bank highlights that high tariffs, regulatory barriers, and limited access to trade finance and logistics continue to weigh on export performance.