Reuters

The Trump administration has laid off dozens of employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its latest round of cuts, including &quot;disease detectives,&quot; high-ranking scientists and the entire Washington office, the New York Times reported on Saturday. The White House and the CDC did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Affected workers were sent layoff notices via email shortly before 9 pm ET (0100 GMT) on Friday, informing them that their duties were now deemed unnecessary or &quot;virtually identical&quot; to those being performed elsewhere in the agency, the newspaper said. US government shutdownThe exact number of affected CDC workers is yet to be confirmed, it said. The ongoing US government shutdown has sent hundreds of thousands of federal workers home, with staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the CDC, affected.

Americas

The latest round of cuts, includes "disease detectives," high-ranking scientists and the entire Washington office, the New York Times reported on Saturday.

Trump administration lays off dozens of CDC officials, NYT reports

WASHINGTON: The United States could impose export controls on Boeing plane parts as part of Washington&#39;s response to Chinese export limits on rare earth minerals, President Donald Trump said on Friday. Trump has frequently used Boeing in his aggressive efforts to reshape global trade since taking office in January. During clashes with Trump over trade, Beijing in April ordered Chinese airlines to temporarily stop taking deliveries of new Boeing jets. The planemaker has also landed several large sales from foreign carriers following visits by Trump.&nbsp;500 jets &nbsp;&quot;We have many things, including a big thing is airplane. They (China) have a lot of Boeing planes, and they need parts, and lots of things like that,&quot; Trump told reporters at the White House, when asked what items could the US impose export controls on. The planemaker is in talks to sell as many as 500 jets to China, Bloomberg reported in August. It would be the US planemaker&#39;s first major Chinese order since Trump&#39;s first term in office. Even if that falls through, the financial hit to Boeing will likely be small, said Scott Hamilton, an aerospace analyst with Leeham Co. &quot;It&#39;s sandpaper on Boeing&#39;s hide.&quot; Historically, China made up as much as 25% of Boeing&#39;s order book, but today it is less than 5%.&nbsp;222 Boeing jets ordered&nbsp;Chinese airlines have orders for at least 222 Boeing jets, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. The country has 1,855 Boeing airplanes in service.&nbsp;The vast majority of planes on order and in service are Boeing&#39;s popular 737 single-aisle jet. A ban on spare parts or exports would also hit CFM International, the joint venture between GE Aerospace and France&#39;s Safran, which makes the LEAP engine used on the Boeing 737 MAX. GE also makes engines for the 777 and 787, two larger jets that China has ordered.&nbsp;185 Airbus orders&nbsp;Boeing&#39;s European rival Airbus has only 185 orders from Chinese customers, according to Cirium. Airbus has a production facility in Tianjin, which turns out about four of its single-aisle A320 jets a month. China is trying to jumpstart its own commercial jetliner industry, largely with the COMAC C919, a competitor to the A320 and 737. Chinese customers have ordered 365 of the domestically-built jet, according to Cirium. US export controls on Western-supplied parts for the C919 have significantly slowed production of that aircraft. As of September, COMAC had delivered only five of the 32 jets Chinese customers expect this year.

Business

Once big, Chinese orders are now a small part of Boeing's backlog; financial effect of a ban would likely be relatively small for Boeing; Boeing, China have reportedly been in talks for 500-jet deal. 

Trump threatens China with export controls on Boeing parts

Twenty-three Ukrainian children and adolescents have been brought out of Russian-occupied areas of the country to territory under Kyiv&#39;s control, President Volodymyr Zelensky&#39;s chief of staff said on Thursday. Andriy Yermak, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said the rescue was carried out under the president&#39;s &quot;Bring Kids Back UA&quot; programme aimed at bringing to safe areas children deported to Russia or confined to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Yermak said those returning included two sisters who refused a demand to attend Russian schools made by Russia-installed authorities who had threatened to remove the girls from their mother&#39;s care. Refusal to attend Russian school&nbsp;Another teenage boy similarly refused to attend Russian school and one child and her mother were refused permission to leave occupied areas as one of their relatives was serving in the Ukrainian military. Ukraine says Russia has illegally deported or forcibly displaced more than 19,500 children to Russia and Belarus in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Research by Yale&#39;s School of Public Health suggested in September that the number could be closer to 35,000. Russia denies it has deported children from Ukraine, saying it has taken action to ensure they are safe from wartime hostilities.

Europe

Official says those returning included two sisters who refused a demand to attend Russian schools made by Russia-installed authorities; Ukraine says Russia has illegally deported or forcibly displaced more than 19,500 children to Russia.

Twenty-three children rescued from Russian-occupied areas: Ukrainian official 

OSLO:&nbsp;Venezuelan opposition leader Mar&iacute;a Corina Machado, an industrial engineer and founder of the vote-monitoring organization S&uacute;mate, has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long advocacy for democracy and human rights in Venezuela. <p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2; font-family: Knowledge; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; 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;" id="isPasted">She won &quot;for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy,&quot; the Norwegian Nobel Committee said in its citation.<p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2; font-family: Knowledge; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; 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;">Machado, a 58-year-old industrial engineer who lives in hiding, was blocked in 2024 by Venezuela&#39;s courts from running for president and thus challenging President Nicolas Maduro, who has been in power since 2013.&quot;When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognise courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist,&quot; it said in its citation. The lead-up to this year&#39;s award had been dominated by US President Donald Trump&#39;s repeated public statements that he deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee took its final decision before a ceasefire and hostage deal under the first phase of Trump&#39;s initiative to end the war in Gaza was announced on Wednesday. Ahead of the Nobel announcement, experts on the award had also said Trump was very unlikely to win as his policies were seen as dismantling the international world order the Nobel committee cherishes. The Nobel Peace Prize, worth 11 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.2 million, is due to be presented in Oslo on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, who founded the awards in his 1895 will. <p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2; font-family: Knowledge; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; 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;" id="isPasted">

FILE - Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addresses supporters at a protest against President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Jan. 9, 2025, the day before his inauguration for a third term. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

The opposition leader won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her decades-long advocacy for democracy and human rights in Venezuela. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized her for promoting democratic rights and pursuing a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy despite political persecution.

Venezuela's Maria Corina Machado wins 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

Sweden will invest 3.5 billion Swedish crowns ($367.11 million) in more anti-drone systems, its defence minister said on Friday, citing a growing threat posed by aerial violations.

Sweden to invest $370 million in anti-drone systems

MUMBAI: Britain said on Thursday it had signed a 350 million-pound ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with U.K.-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of a deepening weapons and defense partnership between the two countries. The announcement came as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, where the two leaders highlighted the potential for stronger commercial links following their months-old trade deal. In its statement on the defense deal, the British government said the new contract for Lightweight Multirole Missiles, made by Thales in Northern Ireland, would secure 700 jobs at a factory that currently produces the same weapons for Ukraine. &ldquo;The deal paves the way for a broader complex weapons partnership between the U.K. and India, currently under negotiation between the two governments,&rdquo; the statement said. Starmer has, over the past 12 months, thrown his support behind Britain&rsquo;s defense sector to spur economic growth, pledging to raise spending in line with NATO targets and focusing on winning exports, such as a recent $13.5 billion frigate contract with Norway. Britain also said on Thursday it reached a new milestone with India on a collaboration for electric-powered engines for naval ships, as both countries signed the next phase of the deal, worth an initial 250 million pounds.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, left and and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend the India-UK CEO Forum at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

United Kingdom

Asia

Britain said on Thursday it had signed a 350 million-pound ($468 million) contract to supply the Indian army with U.K.-manufactured lightweight missiles, as part of a deepening weapons and defense partnership between the two countries.

UK signs $468 million deal to supply India with missiles

BRUSSELS: The EU expects to mobilize over 400 billion euros ($464.5 billion) by 2027 in investments for Global Gateway, its program to boost investments in the Global South, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday. Global Gateway was originally designed to invest 300 billion euros, half of it in Africa, from 2021 to 2027, as an alternative to China&#39;s rival scheme. The projects are in areas such as energy, transport, education and research, along with partnerships to help the European Union secure minerals critical for its green transition and reduce reliance on China. She added that the EU today is launching a Global Gateway Investment Hub, a single-entry platform for companies to propose investments.

The bloc plans to mobilize over €400 billion by 2027 through Global Gateway, investing in energy, transport, education, and minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on China and support development in the Global South.

EU aims for over €400B in Global Gateway investments: von der Leyen 

OSLO: The winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on October 10. There are 338 nominees this year. Here is a look at how the award works: Who decides?The Norwegian Nobel Committee, comprising five individuals appointed by the Norwegian parliament, is proposed by Norwegian political parties. Their appointments reflect the balance of power in Norway&#39;s parliament. Who can win?Whoever fits the description set out in the 1895 will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, it says the prize should go to the person &quot;who has done the most or best to advance fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses.&quot; The more complicated answer is that the prize &quot;needs to be placed in the current context,&quot; according to Kristian Berg Harpviken, the secretary of the award committee, who prepares the work for the award body. He participates in the deliberations but does not vote. Who can nominate?Thousands of people can propose names, including members of governments and parliaments, current heads of state, university professors of history, social sciences, law, and philosophy, as well as former Nobel Peace Prize laureates, among others. This year, there are 338 nominees. The full list is locked in a vault for 50 years. How does the committee decide?Nominations close on January 31. Members of the committee can submit their nominations no later than their first meeting in February. They discuss all the nominations, then establish a shortlist. Each nominee is then assessed and examined by a group of permanent advisers and other experts. The committee meets roughly once a month to discuss the nominations. The committee seeks to reach a consensus on its selection. If it cannot, the decision is made by majority vote. Who is nominated?While the full list of nominations is kept secret, nominators are free to disclose them. Among the names disclosed this year are the International Criminal Court, NATO, jailed Hong Kong activist Chow Hang-tung, and Canadian human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler. The leaders of Cambodia, Israel, and Pakistan have said they nominated US President Donald Trump. Their nominations were made in spring and summer, after the January 31 deadline, so they are not valid for the 2025 prize. Could Trump win?Only if he changes his policies, according to Nobel experts who argue that he is at present dismantling the international world order that the award committee cherishes. Instead, the committee may wish to highlight a humanitarian organization, journalists, or a United Nations institution, they say. Or they could spring a surprise. What does the laureate get?A medal, a diploma, 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.19 million), and immediate global attention.

All you need to know about how the Nobel Peace Prize is decided, who nominates, how the committee selects from 338 candidates, and what makes the world’s most prestigious peace honor both secretive and globally significant.

How is the Nobel Peace Prize decided?

BUENOS AIRES: China&#39;s largest carmaker on Wednesday launched sales of its EVs in Argentina, taking advantage of the lifting of import tariffs for electric and hybrid vehicles and boosting its fast-growing footprint in South America.&nbsp;The models for sale are the electric Yuan Pro SUV, Song Pro plug-in hybrid SUV, and the electric Dolphin Mini.&nbsp; They all have a price of under $16,000 at origin before taxes and fees to take advantage of a new measure by Argentina&#39;s government to allow up to 50,000 electric and hybrid vehicles without tariffs in 2026.&nbsp;Chinese brands dominate this sector, and Argentina has said it expects imports of about 40,000 electric and hybrid vehicles to enter the country by the end of January.&nbsp;Normally, imported cars from brands that do not have manufacturing operations in Argentina or other members of South America&#39;s trade bloc Mercosur, which includes Brazil, pay a 35% tariff.&nbsp;Stephen Deng, the country manager for BYD in Argentina, said that BYD can currently import about 7,800 electric and hybrid cars under an allocation it was given by Argentina.&nbsp;&quot;We see great potential in the long term for Argentina to develop electromobility,&quot; Deng told Reuters at a launch event on Wednesday, calling the new policy a &quot;tremendous opportunity.&quot;&nbsp;Local dealers say the tariff scheme will likely benefit lower-cost Chinese carmakers such as BYD, which is expanding across South America.&nbsp;&quot;We will see a rebound, demand will finally take off in Argentina,&quot; said Felipe Munoz, a global automotive analyst at JATO Dynamics based in Italy, referring to local EV sales.&nbsp;Argentina has the second-largest car market in South America, after Brazil, but it also has the region&#39;s smallest penetration of electric vehicles.&nbsp;From January through August 2025, only 486 electric cars out of a total of 421,000 were sold in Argentina, according to Munoz. For years, importers faced unfavorable exchange rates to import electric vehicles, forcing many consumers to buy combustion-engine cars manufactured locally.&nbsp;Argentina&#39;s overall car market as measured in new vehicles registered, jumped 60.4% in the first nine months of the year compared with a year prior, buoyed by tariff reductions and improved credit lines, industry data from September show.

China’s BYD launched its electric and hybrid vehicles in Argentina after tariff cuts, expanding its South American presence as the country aims to import 50,000 EVs by 2026.

China's BYD expands South American footprint with Argentina EV launch

Gold surged past the $4,000 an ounce level for the first time on Wednesday, building on a record-breaking rally as broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty, as well as expectations of US interest rate cuts, sent investors flocking to the safe-haven asset.&nbsp;Silver also climbed to a record high on Wednesday, latching on to gold&#39;s record streak as investors flocked to the metal.&nbsp;&quot;Gold&#39;s strength reflects an extremely positive macroeconomic and geopolitical background for safe-haven assets, plus concerns over other traditional safe havens,&quot; said Matthew Piggott, director of gold and silver at Metals Focus.&nbsp;Gold, traditionally seen as a store of value during times of instability, is up 52% year-to-date, after gaining 27% in 2024. It is one of the best-performing assets of 2025, outpacing advances in global equity markets and bitcoin and losses for the US dollar and crude oil.&nbsp;Silver was up 71% so far this year, benefiting from the same factors driving gold&#39;s rally as well as tightness in the spot market.&nbsp;&quot;The silver market continues to tighten, with rising lease rates, as Comex stocks scale record highs and amid India&#39;s seasonal demand strength. The recent rally has been supported by hefty ETP inflows,&quot; said Suki Cooper, Global Head, Commodities Research at Standard Chartered Bank.&nbsp;The metals&#39; rally has been propelled by a combination of factors, including expectations of US interest rate cuts, mounting political and economic uncertainty, strong central bank buying, hefty inflows into ETFs and a weakening dollar.&nbsp;&quot;With these factors persisting into 2026, we fail to see any catalyst for gold to meaningfully retrace at present. Therefore, we expect gold to continue to push up throughout the year to attempt a challenge of $5,000/oz,&quot; Piggott added.&nbsp;The US government shutdown entered its eighth day on Wednesday, delaying the release of key economic data and forcing investors to rely on non-government sources to assess the timing and scope of Fed rate cuts.&nbsp;Markets are pricing in a 25-basis-point rate cut at the Fed&#39;s upcoming meeting, with a similar reduction expected in December.&nbsp;&nbsp;Global crises, such as the Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine, have stoked demand for bullion, while political turmoil in France and Japan added to the flight to gold.&nbsp;Globally, inflows into gold ETFs hit $64 billion year-to-date, according to data from the World Gold Council, with a record $17.3 billion in September alone.&nbsp;A &quot;fear of missing out&quot; is also boosting the rally, analysts said.&nbsp;On a technical basis, gold&#39;s Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 88, indicating the metal is overbought.

Gold hit a record $4,000 an ounce and silver reached new highs as investors sought safety amid global crises, US rate-cut expectations, and economic uncertainty.

Gold tops $4,000, silver hits record as investors seek safety

DOHA: The United Arab Emirates edged past Oman 2-1 in the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Saturday. UAE now needs a draw against host Qatar on Tuesday to reach the finals for the first time since 1990.&nbsp;The loss ended Oman&rsquo;s chances of winning the three-team Group A and securing automatic qualification for a first World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. But the team can still finish second and advance to the fifth round.&nbsp;Oman, who drew 0-0 with Qatar on Wednesday, took the lead in the 12th minute when an Amjad Al Harthi shot was deflected in by defender Kouame Autonne at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.&nbsp;After holding on for most of the match, Oman&rsquo;s defense was finally opened up in the 76th minute when Marcus Meloni headed in an Ali Saleh cross at the far post.&nbsp;Seven minutes later, Caio Lucas delivered a cross from the left that eluded everyone to give the UAE the lead to the delight of 5,000 traveling fans.&nbsp;In Group B, Iraq defeated Indonesia 1-0 to move level on points with Saudi Arabia ahead of their meeting on Tuesday.&nbsp;Former Manchester United youth player Zidane Iqbal scored the only goal on 76 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the area.&nbsp;Iraq must defeat group leader Saudi Arabia in Jeddah on Tuesday to qualify for a first World Cup since 1986, as the host has scored more goals, having beaten Indonesia 3-2 on Wednesday.&nbsp;The two losses mean Indonesia cannot qualify.

Football

The United Arab Emirates defeated Oman 2-1 in Doha, moving within a draw of qualifying for their first World Cup since 1990. Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas scored late to overturn Oman’s early lead.



UAE on verge of first World Cup appearance since 1990

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A brilliant century from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt powered England to a commanding 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in their ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.&nbsp;Opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s decision proved costly as England posted a formidable 253 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.&nbsp;Sciver-Brunt led from the front with a superb 117 off 117 balls, studded with nine fours and two sixes. Tammy Beaumont (32) and Heather Knight (29) provided valuable support in building England&rsquo;s total.&nbsp;For Sri Lanka, Inoka Ranaweera stood out with impressive figures of 3 for 33, while Sugandika Kumari and Udeshika Prabodhani chipped in with two wickets apiece.&nbsp;In reply, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s chase never gained momentum as they were bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs. Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) offered brief resistance, but England&rsquo;s disciplined bowling attack proved too strong. Sophie Ecclestone was exceptional, claiming 4 for 17 in her 10 overs, while Charlie Dean and Sciver-Brunt picked up two wickets each.&nbsp;The emphatic win lifted England to the top of the World Cup standings with six points from three matches, moving past Australia. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, remained in seventh place with just one point from their three outings.

Cricket

England posted 253/9 as Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed 117 (117), while Sri Lanka managed just 164 in reply. Sophie Ecclestone starred with 4/17, sealing England’s 89-run win and top spot in the standings.

England crush Sri Lanka by 89 runs in Women’s World Cup

BELGRADE: Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic announced late Saturday he was quitting after his team lost to Albania 0-1 in their World Cup qualifier at home.&nbsp;&quot;This defeat should not have happened, and I accept responsibility. I&#39;m here to face the consequences,&quot; Stojkovic told a press conference after the match played in the southern town of Leskovac.&nbsp;&quot;I spoke with the president and secretary general of the Serbian Football Association.&nbsp;&quot;I have offered my resignation, they will make an announcement also, but I will not travel to Andorra and lead the team,&quot; he said, quoted by the state-run RTS broadcaster.&nbsp;He referred to Serbia&#39;s next World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Tuesday.&nbsp;Saturday&#39;s result was &quot;really poor, I did not expect this&quot;, the 60-year-old said, blaming himself for the loss.&nbsp;&quot;I have also spoken to the players and told them everything. It&#39;s not a tragedy when a coach leaves, and Serbia will always have a great supporter in me. I have led my country more than 50 times.&quot;&nbsp;The former midfielder, nicknamed Piksi, took over as Serbia coach in 2021.&nbsp;As a player he made 84 appearances for the former Yugoslavia between 1983 and 2001, and was one of the first top-tier European players to venture into Japanese football.&nbsp;Stojkovic was with J-League side Nagoya Grampus Eight between 1994 and 2001.&nbsp;After retiring as a player, Stojkovic was briefly chairman of Red Star Belgrade, before turning to coaching first Nagoya, and later Chinese side Guangzhou.&nbsp;Serbia are third in their group K, with England on top and Albania second.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Serbian media reported that Stojkovic could be replaced by former player and football manager Veljko Paunovic.&nbsp;Saturday&#39;s match has been moved from the capital Belgrade to Leskovac upon Serbia&#39;s request to UEFA over security fears.

Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic resigned after a 1-0 home defeat to Albania in a World Cup qualifier, accepting responsibility for the loss. The 60-year-old will not lead the team against Andorra on Tuesday.

Stojkovic quits as Serbia coach after World Cup qualifier defeat

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is on an official seven-day visit to India, emphasizing the potential of Iran&rsquo;s Chabahar Port as a vital trade link between India and Afghanistan.&nbsp;The visit, delayed earlier due to visa clearance issues, marks the first official trip by an Afghan interim minister to India since the Taliban takeover. Previously, India&rsquo;s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval visited Kabul in January 2021 during former president Ashraf Ghani&rsquo;s tenure.&nbsp;Addressing a press conference at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi, Muttaqi underlined the significance of Chabahar Port, calling it a &ldquo;good option for trade.&rdquo; He urged both India and Afghanistan to &ldquo;remove obstacles&rdquo; to its full utilization, noting that &ldquo;US sanctions have complicated operations.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chabahar is not a new trade idea for Afghanistan. Successive governments have explored it as an alternative route connecting Afghanistan to global markets through Iran, bypassing Pakistan. Yet, questions remain over whether it can become a reliable trade corridor that benefits Afghan traders and strengthens regional ties.&nbsp;Why Chabahar matters for India?Located along Iran&rsquo;s southeastern coast on the Gulf of Oman, Chabahar holds strategic importance for India. It lies just 550 nautical miles from Gujarat&rsquo;s Kandla port and offers New Delhi a direct trade corridor to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe, circumventing Pakistan.&nbsp;Since 2016, India has invested heavily in the project, spending nearly half of its allocated 4 billion Indian rupees. A year ago, India signed a 10-year agreement with Iran&rsquo;s Ports and Maritime Organization to manage and develop the port through India Ports Global Limited (IPGL).&nbsp;The initiative is part of India&rsquo;s broader vision to integrate Chabahar into the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), linking India to Russia via Iran. Originally proposed in 2003 as a counterbalance to Pakistan&rsquo;s Gwadar Port, developed under China&rsquo;s Belt and Road Initiative, the Chabahar project has faced repeated delays due to sanctions and bureaucratic hurdles.&nbsp;Challenges facing the projectDespite India&rsquo;s commitment, challenges persist. Afghan experts say Kabul remains skeptical of India&rsquo;s reliability as a partner.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghanistan continues not to see India as a dependable ally because New Delhi has traditionally remained distant from Kabul,&rdquo; said Zia Ur Rehman, a Pakistan-based expert on Afghan affairs, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He added, &ldquo;India&rsquo;s renewed interest in Afghanistan is driven by geopolitical signaling aimed at maintaining influence along Pakistan&rsquo;s western border.&rdquo;&nbsp;India&rsquo;s caution stems from its fraught history with the Taliban. The hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in 1999 and the 2008 Kabul embassy bombing, both linked by India to Taliban elements, continue to shape New Delhi&rsquo;s approach.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Afghan traders remain reluctant to abandon the shorter and cheaper trade routes through Pakistan. &ldquo;Chabahar increases transport costs, and those dealing in perishable goods cannot afford delays of several days,&rdquo; said Qudrat Ullah, a local trader speaking to Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;Sanctions and strategic setbacksComplicating matters further, the Trump administration&rsquo;s decision to revoke the US sanctions waiver on Chabahar has disrupted India&rsquo;s plans. The exemption, granted in 2018, allowed India to operate freely at Iran&rsquo;s Makran coast despite broader sanctions on Tehran.&nbsp;&ldquo;This move will disrupt New Delhi&rsquo;s strategic and economic ambitions in Iran and Central Asia,&rdquo; said Rehman, adding that the decision exposes Indian operators at Chabahar&rsquo;s Shahid Beheshti terminal to punitive action under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act (IFCA).&nbsp;As Afghanistan&rsquo;s acting foreign minister pushes for renewed cooperation, India faces a delicate balancing act, navigating strained regional dynamics, economic sanctions, and a skeptical Kabul, all while striving to keep its Chabahar ambitions afloat. NOTE: $1 was equal to ₹88.72 (Indian Rupees) at the time of publishing of this article.

India

Experts warn India’s Chabahar ambitions face major setbacks after the Trump administration revoked sanctions waivers, exposing Indian operators to punitive action and disrupting New Delhi’s strategic trade and connectivity plans in Iran and Central Asia.

New Delhi’s Chabahar ambitions face hurdles amid Afghan FM’s India visit

TALLINN: Italy beat Estonia 3-1 in Saturday&#39;s 2026 World Cup qualifier in Tallinn before a Group I fixture with Israel which will be flanked by pro-Palestinian demonstrations.&nbsp;Goals from Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui and Pio Esposito were enough for Italy to move three points ahead of Israel in second place, which offers a play-off spot for qualification to the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.&nbsp;Gennaro Gattuso&#39;s team are on 12 points, six behind group leaders Norway who have a goal difference which is 19 superior to Italy&#39;s and are all-but guaranteed a place at the World Cup.&nbsp;Estonia, who scored through Rauno Sappinen in the 76th minute thanks to Gianluigi Donnarumma dropping a cross at his feet, have three points and cannot qualify.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m very pleased, we&#39;re on the right track. The boys showed desire and professionalism,&quot; said Gattuso.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re progressing match after match, but often the second game (in the international break) is the one which causes us more difficulty.&quot;&nbsp;The Azzurri might be without Kean for Tuesday&#39;s match with Israel as the Fiorentina striker hobbled off the field with an ankle problem shortly after curling in his sixth goal in four games for his country in the the fifth minute.&nbsp;Kean&#39;s striker partner Retegui doubled Italy&#39;s lead in the 38th minute, making up for failing to score from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.&nbsp;And Inter Milan forward Esposito made sure of the points two minutes before Donnarumma&#39;s howler with his first international goal, drilling home Leonardo Spinazzola&#39;s cross from the left.&nbsp;Italy have a game in hand on both third-placed Israel and Norway and can effectively secure second in the group in Udine next week, but the match is destined to be a sideshow.&nbsp;Only 5,000 tickets have been sold for the fixture, meaning that the Bluenergy stadium is set to have huge patches of empty seats while potentially thousands more protest elsewhere in the city.&nbsp;The demonstrations will be in response to Israel&#39;s military operation in the Gaza Strip. During massive strike action in support of the Palestinians earlier this month, demonstrators went to the Italian national team&#39;s training centre in Florence to demand the match be called off.&nbsp;Udine&#39;s mayor Alberto Felice De Toni has also asked for the match to be postponed over fears of potential violence in the small city, in Italy&#39;s far north-east.

Italy defeated Estonia 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier with goals from Kean, Retegui, and Esposito. The win moved Italy to second place before their next match against Israel, set amid planned demonstrations in Udine.

Italy beat Estonia in World Cup qualifier before Israel clash

LOS ANGELES: Actress Diane Keaton, known for her Oscar-winning performance in 1977&#39;s &quot;Annie Hall&quot; and her role in &quot;The Godfather&quot; films, has died at age 79.&nbsp;Details were not immediately available and Keaton&#39;s loved ones have asked for privacy, a family spokesperson told People, which confirmed that the actress died on Saturday in California.&nbsp;Keaton was a frequent collaborator of director Woody Allen, portraying the titular character in &quot;Annie Hall,&quot; the charming girlfriend of Allen&#39;s comic Alvy Singer.&nbsp;The film also garnered Oscars for best picture, best director and best original screenplay, cementing Keaton&#39;s place as one of the industry&#39;s top actresses and an offbeat style icon as well.&nbsp;The actress made her mark co-starring in eight Allen movies, from &quot;Play It Again, Sam&quot; (1972) to &quot;Manhattan&quot; (1979) and &quot;Manhattan Murder Mystery&quot; (1993).&nbsp;In &quot;The Godfather&quot; films, she played Kay Adams, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Al Pacino&#39;s Michael Corleone.&nbsp;Apart from the Allen cannon, fans adored her portrayal as Steve Martin&#39;s wife in 1991 comedy &quot;Father of the Bride,&quot; as the nervous and doting couple plan an extravagant wedding for their daughter.&nbsp;Late in her career, Keaton starred in two movies about aging women: &quot;Book Club&quot; (2018), with its message that love has no age, and &quot;Poms&quot; (2019), the story of a terminally ill woman who moves to a retirement community to die, but winds up forming a cheerleading squad.&nbsp;A BAFTA and Golden Globe winner, Keaton scored Oscar nominations three other times for best actress, for &quot;Reds,&quot; &quot;Marvin&#39;s Room&quot; and &quot;Something&#39;s Gotta Give.&quot;&nbsp;In 2017, she was honored with a Life Achievement Award by the American Film Institute, which called Keaton &quot;unconventional, iconoclastic and left-of-center.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;I feel so lucky to have spent any time with this marvelous woman, and I&#39;m heartbroken that she is gone,&quot; said actress Andie MacDowell, who starred in &quot;Unstrung Hero&quot; (1995), one of a handful of films Keaton directed.

Film & TV

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, famed for “Annie Hall” and “The Godfather,” has died at 79 in California. The versatile star earned multiple Oscar nominations and a Life Achievement Award for her iconic career.

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton dead at 79

GAZA CITY: A top Hamas official told AFP Saturday that the release of 48 mostly Israeli hostages held by Palestinian in Gaza would begin on Monday morning. &quot;According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin on Monday morning as agreed, and there are no new developments on this matter,&quot; Osama Hamdan said in an interview with AFP. Hamas on the ground have not yet notified the movement&#39;s leadership about the logistics of the hostages&#39; handover, Hamdan added. Following the return of the captives from Gaza, Israel will proceed with the release of about 2,000 Palestinian detainees from its prisons, according to the terms of the first stage of a ceasefire deal signed by the two parties under US mediation. Hamdan said that the list of Palestinian prisoners slated for release was still under negotiation. Hamas&#39;s &quot;prisoners office has said that, so far, the process has not been finalized. Israel is still refusing to release certain names. However, the negotiating delegation is making every effort to secure their release,&quot; the official said, adding that the final list would be ready on Saturday night or by Sunday morning &quot;at the latest&quot;. Hamdan further highlighted that under the agreement, five entry points for humanitarian aid are expected to be opened, and said that the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will reopen &quot;for individuals in both directions starting next Wednesday&quot;. Italy said that the Rafah crossing would reopen on Tuesday under the supervision of an EU monitoring mission, with a police presence from Italy, Spain and France.

Middle East

Hamas official Osama Hamdan said the hostage-prisoner exchange will begin Monday, involving 48 hostages and about 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Negotiations continue over final names, and Rafah crossing is set to reopen next week.

Hamas official says hostages release to begin on Monday morning

Muhammad Usman Amin

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI/PESHAWAR: Afghanistan has requested Pakistan to halt its &ldquo;heavy counteraction&rdquo; after the Pakistan Army launched a strong and sustained response to unprovoked cross-border firing from Afghan forces, security sources told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;According to the sources, Afghan troops carried out unprovoked firing late Saturday night across multiple points along the Pak-Afghan border, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baramcha in Balochistan, allegedly to facilitate the infiltration of Khawarij formations, a faction Islamabad identifies as Indian-sponsored proxies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).&nbsp;Pakistan Army positions responded with full force using artillery, tanks, and aerial assets, effectively targeting Afghan military posts and militant hideouts.&nbsp;&ldquo;A strong and decisive response from the Pakistan Army against Afghan forces is ongoing. Afghan forces are in a state of panic due to the intense retaliation,&rdquo; security sources said. &ldquo;Several Afghan posts have been abandoned as a result of heavy losses.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghan soldiers fled, leaving behind multiple bodies at their posts following Pakistan&rsquo;s effective and intense response.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security sources confirmed that Afghanistan has formally requested Pakistan to halt its counteraction, as Pakistani forces continue to target positions linked to Khawarij and Daesh elements operating from Afghan territory.&nbsp;The sources further revealed that Pakistani forces employed a combination of precision artillery and drone strikes to destroy multiple Afghan posts. &ldquo;The Army&rsquo;s timely and decisive action has neutralized key militant hideouts under the protection of Afghan authorities,&rdquo; one official added.&nbsp;District administration officials confirmed that several missiles were fired from the Afghan side targeting civilian areas across the border, prompting Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;measured but powerful&rdquo; military response to protect its citizens.&nbsp;Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned Afghanistan&rsquo;s unprovoked firing, calling it a &ldquo;blatant violation of international law.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s brave forces have shown, with an immediate and effective response, that any provocation will not be tolerated,&rdquo; Naqvi said.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our forces are vigilant, and Afghanistan is being answered brick for brick. The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; he added, referring to India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response, just as India was, so it will not dare cast a covetous eye toward Pakistan,&rdquo; the minister warned.&nbsp;Defence analyst Hassan Khan told Pakistan TV that the current Afghan behavior reflected a deep betrayal of Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing support.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan hosted millions of Afghans for decades. Now, their behavior has completely changed,&rdquo; Khan said. &ldquo;Afghanistan is harbouring and providing hideouts to groups like the TTP, BLA, and Majeed Brigade. Their forces are now giving cover to Fitna al-Khawarij to harm Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;Another analyst, Agha Iqrar, stressed that Pakistan must reassess its Afghan strategy.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Afghan Taliban are not only hosting, harbouring, and funding TTP and Fitna al-Khawarij, but more than 42 militant groups are operating from Afghan soil,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;Pakistan must take decisive action and redefine its Afghan policy.&rdquo;&nbsp;Taliban officials in Kunar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Khost, and Helmand confirmed to AFP that clashes were ongoing along several points of the border.&nbsp;The escalation follows two days after a deadly terrorist attack on the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan, in which six policemen, including trainees, embraced martyrdom. According to ISPR, the members of &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij&rdquo; rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the facility but were eliminated after an intense firefight.&nbsp;In the wake of the rising tensions, Saudi Arabia and Iran have both called for restraint and dialogue.&nbsp;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in a statement by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said:&nbsp;&ldquo;The Kingdom is following with concern the tensions and clashes along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. We urge both sides to exercise self-restraint, avoid escalation, and prioritize dialogue and wisdom to preserve regional stability.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Saudi Arabia reaffirms its support for all regional and international efforts aimed at strengthening peace and prosperity for the two brotherly Pakistani and Afghan peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Iran&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed similar concern, urging both countries to resolve their differences peacefully.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iran is closely monitoring developments and calls on both sides to engage diplomatically to prevent further escalation,&rdquo; an Iranian spokesperson said in Tehran. &ldquo;Peace and cooperation must prevail over confrontation.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security officials in Islamabad reiterated that Pakistan remains resolute in defending its sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any future aggression or attempt to aid terrorist infiltration will be met with a strong and immediate response,&rdquo; one senior source emphasized.

Security

Islamabad’s security sources say Pakistan Army’s strong and coordinated retaliation destroyed multiple Afghan border posts, forcing Afghan troops to flee amid mounting casualties. The clashes follow recent militant attacks in Dera Ismail Khan linked to Afghan-based groups.

Afghanistan urges Pakistan to halt ‘heavy counteraction’: security sources

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine like in &quot;the Middle East&quot; during a phone call Saturday, saying if Trump could stop one war, &quot;others can be stopped as well&quot;. The call came a day after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine&#39;s energy grid, knocking out power to parts of the capital Kyiv and nine other Ukrainian regions. Diplomatic efforts to end Russia&#39;s invasion of Ukraine have slowed in recent months, in part because global attention has shifted to Israel&#39;s two-year war with Palestinian group Hamas, Kyiv says. Trump, who announced the first phase of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday, met Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks in August but failed to extract any kind of peace deal. &quot;I had a call with US President Donald Trump. A very positive and productive one,&quot; Zelensky said on Facebook, congratulating Trump for his &quot;outstanding&quot; ceasefire plan in the Middle East. &quot;If a war can be stopped in one region, then surely other wars can be stopped as well, including the Russian war,&quot; Zelensky added, calling for Trump to pressure the Kremlin into negotiations. Relations between the two leaders have warmed dramatically since February, when they sparred during a now infamous televised meeting at the White House. Trump has since grown more hostile towards Moscow while expressing sympathy for Ukraine. In September, he wrote on Truth Social that Kyiv should try to &quot;take back&quot; all its occupied territory with Europe&#39;s and NATO&#39;s help. US First Lady Melania Trump said Friday she had secured the release of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia after establishing an extraordinary back channel of communication with Putin. Strikes cut powerRussian attacks on Ukraine killed at least five people on Saturday and cut power to parts of Ukraine&#39;s southern Odesa region, according to Ukrainian officials. Two of the people died inside a church in Kostyantynivka when it was hit by a strike, according to local authorities. In Russia&#39;s border region of Belgorod, a truck driver was killed by a Ukrainian strike, according to local officials. Moscow has targeted Ukraine&#39;s energy grid each winter since it invaded in 2022, cutting power and heating to millions of households and disrupting water supply in what Kyiv says is a brazen war crime. Russia denies targeting civilians and says Ukraine uses the energy sites to power its military sector. Ukrainian drone attacks meanwhile killed two people in Russia, according to regional officials. Both countries have accused each other of frustrating progress towards a peace deal in recent months. Russia blames Kyiv and its European allies for the impasse, accusing them of undermining peace negotiations with Washington. Ukraine and Europe accuse Russia of playing for time so it can seize more Ukrainian territory. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, describing it as a &quot;special military operation&quot; to demilitarise the country and prevent the expansion of NATO. Kyiv and its European allies say the war is an illegal land grab that has resulted in tens of thousands of civilian and military casualties and widespread destruction. Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes since 2022, while Russia now occupies around a fifth of Ukrainian territory -- much of it ravaged by fighting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to mediate peace with Russia after major strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, praising Trump’s Middle East ceasefire plan and calling for similar efforts to end the Ukraine war

Zelensky urges Trump to end Ukraine war like in 'the Middle East'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed &ldquo;strong reservations&rdquo; over elements of the India-Afghanistan Joint Statement issued on October 10 in New Delhi and the accompanying remarks by the Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaqqi, the foreign office said, terming them contrary to international law and regional stability.&nbsp;According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Pakistan conveyed its strong objections to Afghanistan&rsquo;s diplomat in Islamabad, Sardar Ahmad Shekib, through the additional foreign secretary.&nbsp;The ministry said that the reference to Jammu and Kashmir as part of India in the joint statement was &ldquo;a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions&rdquo; and disregarded &ldquo;the legal and internationally recognized disputed status of the territory.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The statement is highly insensitive to the sacrifices and sentiments of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in their just struggle for the right to self-determination,&rdquo; MOFA said.&nbsp;Pakistan also strongly rejected the Afghan interim foreign minister&rsquo;s remarks suggesting that &ldquo;terrorism was Pakistan&rsquo;s internal problem.&rdquo; The foreign office termed the statement misleading and contrary to ground realities.&nbsp;It emphasized that Islamabad has repeatedly shared credible evidence with Kabul regarding the presence of Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan, factions identified as Indian-sponsored proxies of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), operating from Afghan soil with external support and conducting cross-border attacks inside Pakistan.&nbsp;The development comes amid heightened tensions following a deadly terrorist assault on the Police Training School in Dera Ismail Khan on the night of October 10&ndash;11. The attack, claimed by elements linked to Fitna al-Khawarij, resulted in the martyrdom of six policemen and injuries to several others. Pakistani security agencies have since reiterated their stance that such groups receive facilitation from across the border.&nbsp;&ldquo;It was underscored that deflecting the responsibility of controlling terrorism towards Pakistan cannot absolve the Interim Afghan Government of its obligations to ensure peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; the statement read.&nbsp;MOFA further noted that Pakistan has hosted nearly four million Afghans for over four decades out of goodwill and humanitarian concern. With improving conditions in Afghanistan, Islamabad reiterated its stance that unauthorized Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan should return to their homeland, while emphasizing that Pakistan continues to issue medical and study visas on humanitarian grounds.&nbsp;Reaffirming its commitment to regional peace and cooperation, Pakistan said it remains desirous of a &ldquo;peaceful, stable, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan.&rdquo; However, the statement concluded that Islamabad &ldquo;expects the Interim Afghan Government to take concrete steps to prevent its territory from being used by Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorist elements against Pakistan.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

Islamabad says it has shared evidence with Kabul on Indian-sponsored militant groups operating from Afghan soil and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir’s disputed status, reaffirmed by UN resolutions, cannot be altered by political statements or alliances.

Articles by Reuters