Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: President Donald Trump said Thursday that his administration is working to regain control of Bagram Air Base from the Taliban, though details about the ongoing negotiations remain limited.&nbsp;Trump explained that part of his motivation to reacquire the former US military facility is its proximity to a site in China where &ldquo;nuclear weapons&rdquo; are reportedly produced. He criticized the previous administration&rsquo;s decision to abandon Bagram during the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.&nbsp;&ldquo;We gave it to &lsquo;em for nothing. We&rsquo;re trying to get it back, by the way,&rdquo; Trump said during a news conference alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.&nbsp;&ldquo;We&rsquo;re trying to get it back because they need things from us. We want that base back. One of the reasons is, as you know, it&rsquo;s an hour away from where China makes its nuclear weapons. So, a lot of things are happening, but I&rsquo;m very disappointed that that one&rsquo;s not settled,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The negotiations with the Taliban had not been previously disclosed. The hardline group continues to control Bagram, which was the largest US military base in Afghanistan prior to the withdrawal.

Afghanistan

US president revealed ongoing efforts to reclaim Bagram Air Base from the Taliban, citing strategic proximity to China’s nuclear facilities.

Trump vows to regain control of Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base

JERUSALEM: Israel plans to destroy what remains of Hamas&#39;s network of tunnels under Gaza, working with US approval after its hostages are freed, it said Sunday.&nbsp;Defence Minister Israel Katz said the operation would be conducted under an &quot;international mechanism&quot; led by the United States, sponsor of the three-day-old Gaza ceasefire.&nbsp;&quot;Israel&#39;s great challenge after the hostage release phase will be the destruction of all Hamas terrorist tunnels in Gaza,&quot; Katz said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;I have ordered the army to prepare to carry out this mission.&quot;&nbsp;Katz said the remainder would be destroyed under the framework of Hamas&#39;s disarming and demilitarisation, foreseen in the next stages of the US-backed ceasefire plan.&nbsp;Hamas has agreed to the first stage of the plan, which led to a ceasefire on Friday and on Monday should see the release of 48 Israeli hostages, living and dead.&nbsp;In exchange, Israel is expected to release 250 &quot;national security prisoners&quot;, including several blamed for deadly attacks, and 1,700 Gazans detained by the military.&nbsp;But Hamas has resisted calls to disarm, and on Sunday senior official Hossam Badran told AFP the second phase of the US plan &quot;contains many complexities and difficulties&quot;.

Middle East

Israel plans to destroy what remains of Hamas's network of tunnels under Gaza, Hamas has agreed to the first stage of the plan, which led to a ceasefire on Friday.

Israel vows to destroy Gaza tunnels once hostages free

WUHAN: Coco Gauff overcame Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 on Sunday to clinch the third WTA 1000 title of her career in an all-American final at the Wuhan Open.&nbsp;The third-seeded Gauff secured the trophy without dropping a set after a 1hr 42min battle in the central Chinese city.&nbsp;In the first final between the former doubles partners, Gauff erased multiple deficits in the second set to improve her head-to-head record against Pegula to 3-4.&nbsp;The 21-year-old in the process became the first player in the Open Era to win her first nine hard-court finals.&nbsp;The pair had contrasting routes to the final with Gauff breezing dropping a mere 16 games while Pegula battled through three-setters in all eight of her previous matches.&nbsp;Gauff won the first six points of the match and it set the tone for what was to come, as she leapt to a 3-0 advantage.&nbsp;Pegula recovered from her slow start and went on the attack in game seven, breaking with a fierce backhand winner that helped her get back on level terms at 4-4.&nbsp;It looked like the sixth seed had swung the momentum her way but Gauff found a tiny opening two games later and broke to secure the opening set in 47 minutes.&nbsp;Pegula had come back from 2-5 down in her deciding set against world number one Aryna Sabalenka the day before and was more than ready for another fightback.&nbsp;Gauff has been reworking her serve with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan since the end of August.&nbsp;And while her numbers have improved since she added him to her team, the shot remains susceptible to ebbs and flows during stressful situations.&nbsp;The world number three double-faulted six times, allowing Pegula to break her twice for a 3-0 lead, then steadied the ship by getting both breaks back to draw level.&nbsp;There was another exchange of breaks, Pegula inching ahead with a cunning drop shot and Gauff pegging her back thanks to winning 10 consecutive points.&nbsp;Shortly after, Gauff raised her arms in celebration as a Pegula volley sailed wide on match point.

Tennis

Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4, 7-5 in the Wuhan Open final, claiming her third WTA 1000 title. Gauff rallied from multiple deficits, showcasing resilience and strong returns to win without dropping a set.

Gauff beats Pegula in straight sets to win Wuhan Open

LAHORE: Pakistan rode on a brilliant 93 from Imam-ul-Haq to reach 313-5 after a brief fightback from South Africa on the opening day of the first Test in Lahore on Sunday.&nbsp;Shan Masood hit 76, but Haq missed out on his hundred as Pakistan slumped to 199-5 as four wickets fell quickly.&nbsp;Mohammad Rizwan, 62 not out, and Salman Agha, unbeaten 52 at the close, rebuilt the innings during an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 114 in the final session on a spin-friendly Gaddafi Stadium pitch.&nbsp;Rizwan hit two fours and two sixes in his 12th Test half-century while Agha had two fours and a six in reaching his 10th fifty.&nbsp;Pakistan dominated most of the first two sessions, but then had a mini-collapse from 163-1 to 199-5 as they lost four wickets for 36 runs, the last three without adding a run either side of the tea interval.&nbsp;Spinner Prenelan Subrayen trapped Masood lbw for 76, including nine fours and a six, to end a 161-run stand with Haq.&nbsp;Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy then had Haq caught at short-leg by Tony de Zorzi, after a 236-minute knock that included seven fours and a six.&nbsp;Next ball, the last before tea , Muthusamy had Saud Shakeel caught and bowled to bring South Africa back into the game at 199-4.&nbsp;Local hero Babar Azam fell for 23, trapped leg-before by off-spinner Simon Harmer after the interval to make it 199-5 and leave a good 10,000 holiday crowd disappointed.&nbsp;South Africa could have been in a better position had they not dropped Masood on 61 and Haq on 72 with Subrayen the unlucky bowler on both occasions.&nbsp;With the pitch likely to turn, Masood opted to bat after winning the toss and named specialist spin duo Noman Ali and Sajid Khan in the team&nbsp;Pakistan lost opener Abdullah Shafique leg before to pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada off the third ball of the day.&nbsp;South African captain Aiden Markram turned to his spinners in the sixth over and by lunch had used all three -- Subrayen, Harmer and Muthusamy.&nbsp;But there were no further dramas in the opening session as Pakistan reached 107-1 at lunch after Haq had brought up his 10th Test fifty.&nbsp;The two-match series is part of the new World Test Championship two-year cycle. South Africa won the title by beating Australia in June.

Cricket

Pakistan reached 313-5 on day one of the Lahore Test against South Africa, led by Imam-ul-Haq’s 93 and a 114-run stand between Rizwan (62*) and Agha (52*) after a mid-innings collapse from 163-1 to 199-5.

Pakistan recover to 313-5 after South Africa strike back in first Test

MADRID: Israel has released the five remaining Spanish detainees from flotillas it blocked while they were carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists to devastated Gaza, sources at Spain&#39;s foreign ministry said on Sunday. Israel has this month intercepted in international waters two flotillas aiming to break its blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has declared a famine after two years of brutal conflict. Israel arrested the crews, with Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg among the dozens of activists of various nationalities, sparking huge protests in Europe. Israel has been releasing them over recent days, with Spanish foreign ministry sources saying: &quot;The last five members of the flotilla held by Israel are now on their way to Spain.&quot; Among them is a member of the first flotilla who was not included in a first wave of releases after allegedly biting an Israeli prison officer. &quot;There are no more Spaniards from the flotilla detained in Israel,&quot; the ministry sources added. Almost 50 other Spanish flotilla members had returned home during the past week. The activists have complained of mistreatment during their detention in Israel. Israeli authorities have denied the allegations.

Pro-Palestinian supporters wave flags as they wait for the arrival of South African activists at OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park

Europe

Israel released the last five detained Spanish flotilla members aiming to break Gaza’s blockade, ending Spain’s detentions amid protests and claims of mistreatment.

Spain says Israel frees its last Gaza flotilla members

BEIRUT: The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon said Sunday that one of its members was wounded by an Israeli grenade dropped near a UN position in the country&#39;s south, the third incident of its kind in just over a month. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been working with the Lebanese army to support a November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and militant group Hezbollah that culminated in two months of open war. &quot;Just before noon yesterday, an Israeli drone dropped a grenade that exploded near a UNIFIL position&quot; in Kfar Kela, the force said in a statement published on Sunday. &quot;One peacekeeper was lightly injured and received medical assistance.&quot; Earlier this month, UNIFIL said Israeli drones had dropped multiple grenades near peacekeepers providing security for workers clearing rubble left over from the war. And in a similar episode in September, UNIFIL said Israeli drones had dropped four grenades near peacekeepers, with Israel insisting at the time that there had been &quot;no intentional fire&quot; directed at the force. UNIFIL said Saturday&#39;s incident represented &quot;another serious violation of resolution 1701 and concerning disregard for the safety of peacekeepers&quot;. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 ended a 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and formed the basis of the November ceasefire. Under the US-brokered ceasefire, Hezbollah and Israel were both required to withdraw from south Lebanon, while UNIFIL deployed there alongside the Lebanese military, in part to help dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure. Israel has kept up regular strikes in Lebanon on what it says are Hezbollah targets despite the truce, and has maintained its troops in five locations it deems strategic. &quot;We again call on the (Israeli army) to cease attacks on or near peacekeepers, who are working to rebuild the stability that both Israel and Lebanon have committed to restore,&quot; the UN peacekeeping force said. UNIFIL has been deployed since 1978 to separate Israel and Lebanon, and numbers some 10,000 personnel from almost 50 countries. In August, the Security Council voted to end UNIFIL&#39;s mission in 2027.

Firefighters douse the flames at the site of an overnight Israeli strike in Al-Msayleh area in southern Lebanon on October 11, 2025.

A UN peacekeeper in Lebanon was lightly injured by an Israeli grenade near a UNIFIL position, marking the third such incident in just over a month.

UN force in Lebanon says peacekeeper wounded by Israeli grenade

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani forces repelled an &ldquo;unprovoked&rdquo; cross‑border assault overnight and inflicted heavy losses on Afghan Taliban fighters and affiliated militants, the military&rsquo;s media wing said, estimating more than 200 enemy fighters neutralized while 23 Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Afghan Taliban and Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij launched coordinated attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late on Oct. 11. The assaults, which included gunfire and limited physical raids, were described by the military as attempts to destabilize border regions and facilitate terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Exercising the right of self-defense, the alert Armed Forces of Pakistan repelled the assault decisively all along the border and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and affiliated Khwarjis,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The military said Pakistani forces targeted Taliban camps, posts, training facilities, and support networks operating from Afghan territory, including elements linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan, and ISKP/Daesh. Precision strikes and physical raids were carried out while &ldquo;all possible measures were taken to avoid collateral damage and protect civilian lives.&rdquo;&nbsp;Multiple Taliban locations were reportedly destroyed, and 21 hostile positions on the Afghan side were briefly captured. Infrastructure at Taliban posts, camps, and headquarters suffered extensive tactical and operational damage.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Armed Forces of Pakistan remain ever ready to protect the territorial integrity, life, and property of the people of Pakistan,&rdquo; the ISPR added. &ldquo;Our resolve to defend Pakistan&rsquo;s territorial integrity and to defeat those who threaten our security is unwavering.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ISPR linked the attack to recent developments, noting the Afghan Taliban Foreign Minister&rsquo;s visit to India, calling it &ldquo;the biggest sponsor of terrorism in the region.&rdquo; The statement urged the Taliban government to take &ldquo;immediate and verifiable actions&rdquo; against terrorist groups or face continued Pakistani operations.&nbsp;The overnight clashes follow the deadly assault on the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan earlier this week, in which five militants were killed and six policemen martyred, ISPR said.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Qatar have called for restraint and dialogue to ease tensions, while key border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, remain closed due to the ongoing security situation. This is a developing story....

Security

Heavy clashes erupted along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border as Pakistani forces repelled Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij attacks, neutralizing over 200 militants, capturing multiple positions, and sustaining 23 soldier fatalities while ongoing tensions continue to threaten regional stability.

Over 200 Taliban, affiliates killed; 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred in border clashes: Pak Army

DOHA: A Hamas source close to the group&#39;s negotiating committee told AFP on Sunday that it will not participate in post-war Gaza governance, as world leaders prepare to converge on Egypt for a Gaza peace summit. The source&#39;s comments come days after an Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect, and as both sides discuss implementing US President Donald Trump&#39;s 20-point plan to end the war, which calls for Hamas&#39; disarmament and for the group not to be involved in running post-war Gaza. &quot;For Hamas, the governance of the Gaza Strip is a closed issue. Hamas will not participate at all in the transitional phase, which means it has relinquished control of the Strip, but it remains a fundamental part of the Palestinian fabric,&quot; the source told AFP, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Unlike other more top-heavy militant organisations in the region, Hamas&#39; leadership has in the past been divided on key issues, including on the future administration of Gaza. But where there appears to be no division among top members is on the question of disarmament, which the group has long described as a red line. &quot;Hamas agrees to a long-term truce, and for its weapons not to be used at all during this period, except in the event of an Israeli attack on Gaza,&quot; the source said. Another Hamas official who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive topics had earlier told AFP that Hamas&#39; disarmament was &quot;out of the question&quot;. The first clause of Trump&#39;s 20-point plan calls for Gaza to become a &quot;deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors&quot;. The plan also states Hamas will not have a role in future governance of the Strip, and that its military infrastructure and weapons should be &quot;destroyed and not rebuilt&quot;. Under Trump&#39;s plan, a temporary technocratic and apolitical Palestinian committee would be charged with the day-to-day running of public services. The source close to the negotiators said they had asked for mediator Egypt to call a meeting before the end of next week to agree on the composition of this committee, adding that &quot;the names are almost ready&quot;. &quot;Hamas, along with the other factions, have submitted 40 names. There is absolutely no veto over them, and none of them belong to Hamas,&quot; he added.

Palestinian children walk past destroyed buildings in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, after Israel and Hamas agreed to a pause in their war and the release of the remaining hostages. (AP)

A Hamas source said the group will not govern post-war Gaza, supporting a technocratic committee instead, amid US-brokered ceasefire and peace plan talks.

Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza after war, says source close to negotiators

CAIRO: Preparations were underway Sunday for a ramp-up of aid entering the war-battered Gaza Strip under a new ceasefire deal that many are hoping will signal an end to the devastating 2-year-long war. The Israeli defense body in charge of humanitarian aid in Gaza, COGAT, said that the amount of aid entering Gaza Strip is expected to ramp up on Sunday to around 600 trucks per day, as stipulated in the agreement. Egypt said it is sending 400 trucks carrying aid into Gaza Sunday. The trucks will have to be inspected by Israeli forces before being allowed in. Associated Press footage showed dozens of trucks crossing the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing. The Egyptian Red Crescent said the trucks include medical supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel. The trucks will head to the inspection area in the Kerem Shalom crossing for screening by Israeli troops. In recent months, the UN and its partners have been able to deliver only 20% of the aid needed in Gaza because of the fighting, border closures and Israeli restrictions on what enters. Expanding Israeli offensives and restrictions on humanitarian aid have triggered a hunger crisis, including famine in parts of the territory. The United Nations has said that it has about 170,000 metric tons of food, medicine and other humanitarian aid ready to enter Gaza once Israel gives the green light. Gaza Humanitarian Fund future in questionThe fate of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli- and US-backed contractor that replaced the UN aid operation in Gaza in May as the primary food supplier, remains unclear. Food distribution sites operated by the group in the southernmost city of Rafah and central Gaza were dismantled following the ceasefire deal, several Palestinians said Sunday. Hoda Goda, who used to go to the GHF sites in Rafah earlier this year, said people had dismantled the structures and taken wood and metal fences GHF workers used to control the crowds. Another Palestinian, Ehab Abu Majed, said the site in eastern Khan Younis was also dismantled, and there was no food distribution in the past two days. Ahmed al-Masri, a man living in the central Nuseirat refugee camp, said a third site in the Netzarim corridor area was also dismantled. GHF had been touted by Israel and the United States as an alternative system to prevent Hamas from taking over aid. However, its operations were mired in chaos and hundreds of Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire while heading to its four sites. The Israeli military has said its troops fired warning shots to control crowds. A GHF representative declined to comment Sunday. Preparations for hostage, prisoner release, Trump visitPreparations were also underway Sunday for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. A message sent Saturday from Gal Hirsch, Israel&rsquo;s coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing and obtained by The Associated Press, told hostage families to prepare for the release of their loved ones starting Monday morning. One of the families of the hostages confirmed the note&rsquo;s authenticity. Hirsch said preparations in hospitals and in Rei&rsquo;im camp were complete to receive the live hostages, while the dead will be transferred to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification. An international task force will start working to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within the 72-hour period, said Hirsch. Officials have said the search for the bodies of the dead, some of whom may be buried under rubble, could take time. Israeli officials believe about 20 of the hostages out of 48 held by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in Gaza are still alive. All of the living hostages are expected to be released Monday. US President Donald Trump, who pushed to clinch the ceasefire deal, is expected to arrive in Israel Monday morning. He will meet with families of hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel&rsquo;s parliament, according to a schedule released by the White House. Trump will then continue on to Egypt, where the office of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has said he will co-chair a &ldquo;peace summit&rdquo; on Monday with attendance by regional and international leaders. Timing has not yet been announced for the release of some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel who are to be freed under the deal. They include 250 people serving life sentences in addition to 1,700 people seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. Gaza residents return homePalestinians continued to move back to areas vacated by Israeli forces Sunday, although many were returning to homes reduced to rubble. Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed a line of vehicles traveling north to Gaza City. The photos taken Saturday showed a line of vehicles on Al Rashid Street, which runs north-south along the Gaza Strip&rsquo;s coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. Tents along the coast also could be seen near Gaza City&rsquo;s marina. Many people have been living along the sea to avoid being targeted in Israeli bombardment of the city. Armed police were seen in Gaza City and southern Gaza patrolling the streets and securing aid trucks driving through areas from which the Israeli military had withdrawn, according to residents. The police force is part of the Hamas-run Interior Ministry. Two years of war have wrought devastationThe war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. In Israel&rsquo;s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, which doesn&rsquo;t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.&nbsp; The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies. While both Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza welcomed the initial halt to the fighting and plans to release the hostages and prisoners, the longer-term fate of the ceasefire remains murky. Key questions about governance of Gaza and the post-war fate of Hamas have yet to be resolved. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X that he had instructed the Israel military to prepare to begin destroying the network of tunnels built by Hamas under Gaza &quot;through the international mechanism that will be established under the leadership and supervision of the US&rdquo; once the hostages are released.

A ceasefire in Gaza has enabled increased aid deliveries, with 600 trucks expected daily. Hostage and prisoner releases are set to begin, while uncertainty remains over Gaza’s governance and post-war reconstruction.

Aid preparations ramp up in Gaza as ceasefire sparks hope to end 2-year war

Reuters

HONG KONG: US semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm admitted that it had not informed Chinese authorities when it completed its acquisition of Israel&#39;s Autotalks in June, China&#39;s market regulator said on Sunday.&nbsp;The disclosure was made two days after China launched an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, examining whether the US firm violated China&#39;s antitrust law by not declaring some details of its acquisition of the Israeli chip designer.&nbsp;Qualcomm did not immediately respond to Reuters&#39; request for comment.&nbsp;China&#39;s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) said it informed Qualcomm in March 2024 that the deal requires approval by the regulator, and the US firm in the same month notified SAMR it wouldn&#39;t pursue further.&nbsp;However, Qualcomm in June this year completed the deal without informing the authority, the regulator said, adding Qualcomm &quot;acknowledged above facts,&quot; based on which Beijing launched the antitrust probe.&nbsp;Qualcomm&#39;s shares fell more than 5% on Friday after US President Donald Trump threatened to hike tariffs against China and cancel a planned meeting with President Xi Jinping.

Business

The disclosure comes two days after China launched an antitrust investigation into Qualcomm, examining whether it violated China's antitrust law by not declaring some details of its acquisition of the Israeli chip designer.

China says Qualcomm admitted to acquiring Autotalks without informing regulator

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YAOUNDE: Polls opened in Cameroon on Sunday in an election that could see Africa&rsquo;s oldest leader extend his rule by another 7 years. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 8 million voters, including over 34,000 overseas, are registered to participate at more than 31,000 polling stations in the Central African nation. Cameroon had over 29 million people in 2024, and like many sub-Saharan African countries, its population is overwhelmingly young. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Polls are expected to close at 6 p.m., and the results are expected at the latest by Oct. 26. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Analysts have predicted a victory for current President Paul Biya, who first became president in 1982 following the resignation of Cameroon&#39;s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo, and has ruled the country since then. Biya was declared the winner of seven subsequent elections. Cameroon has seen just two leaders since independence in 1960. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;In the face of increasingly difficult international environment, the challenges facing us are more and more pressing,&rdquo; Biya said in announcing another run. &ldquo;In such a situation, I cannot shirk my mission.&rdquo; He did not give details. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If victorious, Biya would be 99 years old by the time his term finishes. His health has routinely been a topic of speculation as he spends most of his time in Europe, leaving day to day governing to key party officials and family members. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Biya faces nine opposition candidates, including some former allies and appointees. They include Bello Bouba Maigari, who was minister for tourism, and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who until recently served as the minister of employment. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At his first campaign rally, held last week in the northern city of Maroua, Biya promised change for one of Cameroon&rsquo;s poorest areas. The predominately Muslim north accounts for nearly 20% of the country&rsquo;s eligible voters, and Maigari and Bakary command strong followings in the Far North. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The country faces escalating security crises. In the western region, a secessionist war is being fought between mainly English-speaking separatists who claim they are marginalized by the French-speaking majority, and government forces. In the north, the Boko Haram insurgency spills over from neighboring Nigeria, with armed groups routinely attacking border towns. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At least 43% of the country&rsquo;s citizens live in poverty as measured by core living standards such as income, education and health, according to UN estimates.

Election officials arrange stacks of ballot papers before the start of voting at a polling station in Garoua, Cameroon, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Welba Yamo Pascal)

Africa

Polls opened in Cameroon on Sunday in an election that could see Africa’s oldest leader extend his rule by another 7 years.