BRUSEELS: Belgium&#39;s foreign minister Maxime Prevot on Thursday slammed as &quot;unacceptable&quot; Israel&#39;s interception of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid flotilla headed towards Gaza, saying he has summoned the Israeli ambassador. &quot;The manner in which they were boarded and the location in international waters are unacceptable, which is why I summoned the ambassador,&quot; Prevot told lawmakers in Brussels.

Europe

Middle East

Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters as “unacceptable.” He told lawmakers he has summoned the Israeli ambassador to explain the boarding of pro-Palestinian activists.

Belgium summons Israeli ambassador over Gaza flotilla interception

Reuters/AP

A Red Cross vehicle moves along a road before the expected release of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Oct

The ICRC began a staged mission overseeing detainee swaps under a breakthrough truce after two years of war, with 20 captives slated for handover and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners to be freed, as world leaders arrive and aid convoys roll into the devastated enclave.

Hamas hands over first 7 hostages to Red Cross as part of Gaza ceasefire, Israeli army

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">POZA RICA: The death toll from Mexico&rsquo;s torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country, with authorities rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days after heavy rains drenched several parts of Mexico, the country saw over the weekend the extension of devastation in some states, where the flooding swept away vehicles and destroyed houses and roads.<figure><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/4f536df9-d91d-4b50-9b5c-33b6b9e0bb72-AP25285857233726.jpg" alt="Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)</figcaption></figure> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Claudia Sheinbaum traveled to several states and announced that the government will conduct a census among affected people to distribute aid. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mexico&#39;s Civil Protection agency said as of Sunday night, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico City. At least 12 people were killed in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Earlier, in the central state of Quer&eacute;taro, a child died while being caught in a landslide. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/e8c1a4cc-76d6-4bf1-a350-9a1ca933970d.png" style="width: 810px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Civil Protection said at least 38 people were missing in three different states<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to two tropical systems that formed off the western coast of Mexico and have since dissipated, Hurricane Pricilla and Tropical Storm Raymond. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of army personnel, police officers, and firefighters conducted rescue operations and set up temporary shelters where stranded residents could find food and medical attention. Thousands of residents across the country were still struggling with a lack of running water and electricity. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;There are still various communities in Veracruz that find themselves cut off, but fortunately, today they were able to establish air bridges to be able to take food, water, and attend to any sick people,&rdquo; Sheinbaum said on a visit to Veracruz on Sunday. &ldquo;We know that there is a lot of desperation and worry. We&rsquo;re going to get to everyone.&rdquo; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parts of Veracruz state received some 21 inches (54 centimeters) of rain from Oct. 6 to 9. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Poza Rica, an oil town 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, where Sheinbaum spoke with residents in muddy streets, some low-lying neighborhoods saw 12 feet of water or more when the Cazones River jumped its banks Friday.

A Marine helps a woman cross a flooded street in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Americas

The death toll rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country; authorities were rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.

Mexico rushes rescue efforts after torrential rains leave 47 dead

HONG KONG: China&#39;s exports to the United States fell 27% in September from the year before, even though growth in its global exports hit a six-month high.&nbsp;Customs figures released Monday showed that China&rsquo;s worldwide exports were 8.3% higher than a year earlier, at $328.5 billion, surpassing economists&rsquo; estimates. That was markedly better than the 4.4% year-on-year increase in August.&nbsp;Imports grew 7.4% last month, significantly better than a 1.3% increase by year in August, although a weaker domestic economy and a real estate sector downturn continue to weigh on demand and consumption.&nbsp;China&rsquo;s exports to the United States have fallen for six straight months. In August they dropped 33%.&nbsp;The outlook is cloudy as a truce between Beijing and Washington unravels and both sides hit out with new tariffs and other retaliatory measures.&nbsp;As exports to the United States have come under pressure from US President Donald Trump&#39;s policies aimed at trying to get manufacturers to shift factories to America, China has expanded markets for its products in other regions.&nbsp;Shipments to Southeast Asia grew 15.6% year-on-year in September. Exports to Latin America and Africa were up 15% and 56%, respectively.&nbsp;&ldquo;China&rsquo;s exports continue to show resilience given the low costs and limited choices for replacement globally despite the higher tariffs,&rdquo; said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis.&nbsp;Tensions with the US reignited Friday after Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on &ldquo;critical&rdquo; software.&nbsp;That came after China announced it would hit American ships with new port fees in response to a US plan to impose port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the country. Beijing also extended export controls on lithium-ion batteries and on exports of rare earths and related technologies.&nbsp;The friction could jeopardize plans for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October. It also suggests a lack of progress in efforts to forge a broad trade agreement between the world&#39;s two biggest economies.

Business

China's exports to the US sink nearly 30% in September as trade truce unravels with new threats of higher tariffs.

China's US exports drop 30% as tariff tensions rise

SYDNEY: Pat Cummins has conceded he&#39;s a doubtful starter for Australia&#39;s Ashes series opener against England in Perth next month.&nbsp;&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t put a percentage on it, but I&rsquo;d say probably less likely than likely,&rdquo; the pace bowler told domestic media Monday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve still got a bit of time.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Australia captain has been sidelined for three months with a back stress injury, and speculation has mounted in recent weeks that he&#39;d miss at least the first test, and likely more, of the biggest test cricket series on the 2025 calendar.&nbsp;Cummins said he&#39;s back into physical training and &quot;each session feels better and better.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We get into slight bowling prep, I think next week,&quot; he said. &quot;I&rsquo;m probably a couple of weeks away before I actually put on these spikes and bowl on the turf.&quot;&nbsp;The five-test series starts Nov. 21 in Perth, followed by a day-night test in Brisbane from Dec. 4, before the series moves to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.&nbsp;The 32-year-old Cummins has not bowled since Australia&#39;s 3-0 series sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean in July.&nbsp;&ldquo;The immediate goal is to make sure I&rsquo;m giving myself a chance to be right for as much of (the series) as possible,&rdquo; Cummins said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really too early to kind of make some big decisions.&nbsp;&ldquo;With these things, it&rsquo;s pretty hard to go from not bowling or anything at all to suddenly playing five tests. The first step is trying to give us a shot at being (fit), and then we&rsquo;ll work it out a bit closer.&rdquo;&nbsp;Cummins said he wasn&#39;t in serious pain and was trying to increase his workload.&nbsp;&ldquo;A few of the symptoms hung around for a little bit longer than I would have liked,&quot; he said, &ldquo;but they&rsquo;re all gone now.&rdquo;&nbsp;If Cummins is ruled out, Scott Boland is likely to take his place in the pace attack that should include Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.&nbsp;Australia&#39;s white ball squad is preparing for a series of one-day and Twenty20 internationals against India starting Oct. 19.

Cricket

Cummins says he's back into physical training and "each session feels better and better.”

Pat Cummins is doubtful for Ashes series opener against England

ACCRA: A boat capsized on a lake in northeastern Ghana, killing 15 people, mostly children, maritime authorities said on Sunday. &quot;Tragically, 11 of the deceased were children between the ages of two and 14 years (five males and six females)&quot; in the incident that took place Saturday on Lake Volta in the Krachi West District of the Oti Region, the Ghana Maritime Authority said in a statement. The children and other victims, aged up to 64, were traveling from Okuma to Bovime when their vessel overturned, it added. Four adults survived, the statement said, describing the accident as &quot;a critical and unacceptable breach of safety standards.&quot; Preliminary findings suggested the boat was overloaded, the authority said. A specialized investigation team, including naval personnel, was deployed to determine the cause. The authority added that it would set up a high-level investigation committee with the transport ministry and launch a &quot;sustained lakeside safety enforcement operation&quot; to ensure compliance with passenger limits and life jacket rules. Boat disasters are common on Lake Volta, often caused by overloading and collisions with tree stumps. In August, six passengers died in a similar incident. In May 2023, 18 people were killed after their boat struck a submerged tree stump. The GMA said it &quot;remains resolute in unravelling the root causes of this disaster and implementing measures to ensure that no such tragedy ever occurs again.&quot;

Africa

Authority says it will set up a high-level investigation committee with the transport ministry, launch a "sustained lakeside safety enforcement operation" to ensure compliance with passenger limits and life jacket rules.



Ghana boat capsize kills 15, mostly children: authorities

GAZA CITY: Hamas was set to release all surviving hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as US President Donald Trump headed to the region for a peace summit having declared the war &quot;over.&quot; Trump&#39;s lightning visit to Israel and Egypt aims to celebrate his role in brokering last week&#39;s ceasefire and hostage release deal &mdash; but comes at a precarious time as Israel and Hamas negotiate what comes next. Under the US president&#39;s proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange. Israel expects all 20 living hostages to be released to the Red Cross &quot;early Monday morning&quot;, according to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s office. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One at the start of the &quot;very special&quot; visit, Trump brushed off concerns about whether the ceasefire would endure. &quot;I think it&#39;s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It&#39;s been centuries,&quot; he said of the fighting. &quot;The war is over. Okay? You understand that?&quot; the US president added. In Israel, Trump is due to meet the families of hostages seized by Hamas in the deadly cross-border attack two years ago that sparked the war, before addressing the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. His trip is partly a victory lap over the Gaza deal he helped broker with a 20-point peace plan announced in late September. &quot;Everybody&#39;s very excited about this moment in time,&quot; Trump said earlier as he prepared to board the plane at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. Key US officials travelling with him included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and top military officer Dan Caine. Peace summit&nbsp;After visiting Israel, Trump will head to Egypt where he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a summit of more than 20 world leaders to back his plan to end the Gaza war and promote Middle East peace. Trump will be looking to resolve some of the huge uncertainty around the next phases of the peace plan &mdash; including Hamas&#39;s refusal to disarm and Israel&#39;s failure to pledge a full withdrawal from the devastated territory. Trump insisted he had &quot;guarantees&quot; from both sides and other key regional players about the initial phase of the deal, and the future stages. &quot;I don&#39;t think they&#39;re going to want to disappoint me,&quot; he said. Trump also said he would be &quot;proud&quot; to visit Gaza itself, but did not say when such a difficult security challenge would be possible. A new governing body for devastated Gaza &mdash; which Trump himself would head under his own plan &mdash; would be established &quot;very quickly,&quot; he added. Under the plan, as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal from Gaza, it will be replaced by a multi-national force coordinated by a US-led command center in Israel. Israel&#39;s campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,806 people, according to figures from the health ministry in the territory that the United Nations considers credible. The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.

Under the US president's proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange.

Hamas and Israel set for hostage and prisoner exchanges

MEXICO CITY: The death toll from Mexico&#39;s torrential rains increased to 44 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides across the country, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to convene governors from hard-hit states to direct an emergency response plan. Mexico&rsquo;s National Coordination of Civil Protection reported that as of Sunday, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico City.&nbsp; At least nine people were killed in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Earlier, in the central state of Quer&eacute;taro, a child died being caught in a landslide. That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday. In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of army personnel, police officers and firefighters conducted rescue operations and set up temporary shelters where stranded residents could find food and medical attention.&nbsp; Thousands of residents across the country were still struggling with a lack of running water and electricity. &ldquo;We will not leave anyone helpless,&rdquo; President Sheinbaum wrote on social media.&nbsp; On Sunday, surveying authorities&#39; aid distribution in the hard-hit Huauchinango municipality in Puebla, Sheinbaum said that Sunday&#39;s improved weather offered a chance to reach communities still entirely isolated. Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to Tropical Storm Priscilla, formerly a hurricane, and Tropical Storm Raymond, both off the western coast of Mexico.

Toll can still rise as rescue workers continue to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud, debris.



Mexico's president convenes governors as death toll from torrential rains rises to 44

JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump declared the Gaza war &quot;over&quot; on Sunday as he headed to the region to host a peace summit, while Hamas prepared to release surviving hostages after two years in captivity. Under the US president&#39;s proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange. But negotiators were still wrangling late on Sunday over the final arrangements, with two Hamas sources telling AFP the group was insisting that Israel include seven senior Palestinian leaders on the list of those to be released. A confident Trump told reporters travelling with him that &quot;the war is over,&quot; as he took off from Washington for &quot;a very special&quot; trip. The US leader is due to arrive in Israel shortly after the expected release, and will address the Israeli parliament before heading to Egypt to host a meeting of world leaders to back his plan to end the two-year-old Gaza war and promote Middle East peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: &quot;Together we achieved tremendous victories, victories that amazed the whole world ... But at the same time, I must tell you, the fight is not over.&quot; &quot;This is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy, because tomorrow our children will return to our borders,&quot; Netanyahu said, quoting a biblical verse. Israel&#39;s army chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, also claimed victory. &quot;The military pressure we applied over the past two years, together with complementary diplomatic measures, constitute a victory over Hamas,&quot; Zamir said. Shosh Bedrosian, a spokesperson for Netanyahu&#39;s office, said the hostage release will begin early on Monday, with Israel &quot;expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time.&quot; A senior Israeli military official however told reporters: &quot;Unfortunately... we anticipate that not all fallen hostages will be returned tomorrow.&quot; Bedrosian earlier said an &quot;international body&quot; would be set up to locate the remains of those not returned as part of Monday&#39;s exchange. &#39;Completed all preparations&#39; &quot;Palestinian prisoners will be released once Israel has confirmation that all of our hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel,&quot; Bedrosian said. Two Hamas sources, meanwhile, told AFP the group was insisting Israel free seven prominent Palestinian figures as part of the exchange &mdash; at least one of whom Israel has previously refused to release. The source said that the group and its allies had nevertheless &quot;completed all preparations&quot; for handing over to Israel all the living hostages. Under the plan, Hamas is to release the remaining 47 hostages &mdash; living and dead &mdash; who were abducted on October 7, 2023, during a cross-border Hamas attack that left 1,219 people dead, and triggered Israel&#39;s devastating campaign. Hamas is also expected to hand over remains of a soldier killed in 2014 during a previous Gaza war. Among the Palestinian prisoners to be released, 250 are security detainees, including many convicted of killing Israelis, while about 1,700 were detained by the Israeli army in Gaza during the war. After his Israel visit, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will chair a summit of leaders from more than 20 countries in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. &#39;Fear and worry&#39; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he will attend, as have leaders from Britain, Italy, Spain, France and King Abdullah of Jordan. No Israeli nor Hamas officials will be present, officials from both camps confirmed. The third day of the ceasefire saw some aid trucks cross into Gaza, but residents in Khan Younis, in the south of the Strip, said some shipments were being ransacked by starving residents in chaotic scenes that saw food parcels trampled. For Mahmud al-Muzain, a bystander, the scuffle showed that Gazans did not trust that the US-led negotiations would lead to a long-term peace. &quot;Everyone fears the war will return,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;We stockpile food out of fear and worry that the war will come back.&quot; In Israel, the mother of 25-year-old hostage Matan Zangauker described her intense longing. &quot;My emotions are immense, there are no words to describe them &mdash; for me, for us, for all of Israel, which wants the hostages home and waits to see them all return,&quot; said Einav Zangauker. &#39;A long-term truce&#39; Hamas has over the past two years suffered staggering losses including the killing of its top leaders both in Gaza and in exile. But the movement has not been crushed, and a source close to its negotiating committee told AFP on Sunday that while it would not participate in post-war Gaza governance, it will not lay down its weapons. Under the Trump plan, as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal from Gaza, it will be replaced by a multi-national force coordinated by a US-led command center in Israel. Israel&#39;s campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,806 people, according to the health ministry in the territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

Under the US president's proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange.

Trump declares Gaza war 'over,' hostages due home

PARIS: France&#39;s President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new government on Sunday, after marathon talks to cobble together a cabinet and prevent the country from slipping deeper into a political crisis. The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu&#39;s second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of deadlock and pass a much-needed budget through a hung parliament. Last Sunday he presented his first cabinet, but resigned a day later after the lineup was criticized for not having enough new faces. Macron reappointed him on Friday to try again. &quot;A mission-driven government has been appointed to provide France with a budget before the end of the year,&quot; Lecornu wrote on X on Sunday.<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; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977464958712500451&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=aee2e4f9e0ae9f799ef8acc74c4194d5785ce556&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 392px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><a href="https://twitter.com/SebLecornu/status/1977464958712500451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 18px; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);"></a></div>According to the lineup published by the presidency, Jean-Noel Barrot remained as foreign minister. Outgoing labor minister Catherine Vautrin took on the defense portfolio. Roland Lescure, a Macron loyalist, is in charge of the economy, with next year&#39;s budget as a top priority. There were also new faces. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez took over the interior ministry, replacing Bruno Retailleau whose right-wing Republicans party said it would not be part in any government this weekend. Monique Barbut, the former France director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), was to head the ministry of environmental transition. Gerald Darmanin however stayed on as justice minister. And Rachida Dati, a scandal-ridden culture minister who is set to stand trial for corruption next year, also retained her post.

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with European and Arab foreign ministers at the foreign ministry in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Thomas Samson, Pool Photo via AP)

The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of deadlock and pass a much-needed budget through a hung parliament.

France's president unveils new cabinet lineup

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan desired a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan, the foreign office said late Sunday, following its forces repelling an &ldquo;unprovoked&rdquo; cross-border assault overnight by the neighboring country. The Pakistani military said the overnight assault of October 11&ndash;12 saw Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launch coordinated attacks along multiple border sectors. Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). ISPR said the Taliban were joined by Fitna al-Khawarij, Islamabad&rsquo;s term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), along with Fitna al-Hindustan, referring to Indian-sponsored proxies, and Daesh/ISKP. &ldquo;Exercising the right of self-defense, Pakistan&rsquo;s forces repelled the assault and inflicted heavy casualties,&rdquo; ISPR said, adding that precision strikes destroyed multiple Taliban posts and training centers inside Afghanistan. Islamabad calls for responsibility and restraintIn a statement issued later by the foreign office, Pakistan reiterated its long-standing desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan, emphasizing that Islamabad sought &ldquo;a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977430286989492596&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=51a0539cd1ad8431fa5f54b10ba1a403d113dd99&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;Pakistan expects the Taliban regime to act responsibly, honor its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil,&rdquo; the statement said. The foreign office expressed &ldquo;deep concern at the unwarranted aggression,&rdquo; adding that such unprovoked actions aimed at destabilizing the border &ldquo;belie the overall spirit of peaceful neighborhood and cooperative relations between the two brotherly countries.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan, exercising its right of self-defense, not only effectively repulsed the assaults all along the border, but also inflicted heavy losses on Taliban forces and affiliated Khawarij, in terms of men, material, and infrastructure,&rdquo; the statement continued. &ldquo;These infrastructures were used to plan and facilitate terrorist attacks against Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;In our targeted and precise response, all possible measures were taken to prevent collateral damage and protect civilians.&rdquo; The ministry emphasized that Pakistan values &ldquo;dialogue and diplomacy and a mutually beneficial relationship with Afghanistan,&rdquo; but warned that continued provocation would not be tolerated. &ldquo;At the same time, the Government of Pakistan continues to closely monitor the situation and would take all possible measures to safeguard its territory and the lives of its people,&rdquo; the ministry said. &ldquo;Any further provocations will be met with an unwavering and befitting response.&rdquo; India&rsquo;s role and Afghan minister&rsquo;s remarksThe foreign office strongly rejected what it called &ldquo;baseless insinuations&rdquo; made by Afghanistan&rsquo;s Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to India, saying he attempted to divert attention from the presence of terrorist elements operating freely in Afghanistan. &ldquo;By making these baseless assertions, the Taliban regime cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities toward regional peace and stability,&rdquo; it said. &ldquo;Continued presence of terrorist elements on Afghan soil and the freedom of activities enjoyed by them in Afghanistan are well-documented in UN Monitoring Team reports.&rdquo; The statement noted that Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to Kabul about the activities of Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan operating from Afghan territory, warning that these elements enjoy active support from India. &ldquo;Pakistan expects concrete and verifiable actions against these terrorist elements by the Taliban regime,&rdquo; the foreign office added. The ministry also drew attention to the timing of the border provocation, which coincided with the Taliban foreign minister&rsquo;s visit to New Delhi, &ldquo;the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the region,&rdquo; according to ISPR. Islamabad views this as further evidence of Indian efforts to exploit Afghan soil to destabilize Pakistan. National leadership stands unitedPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Armed Forces for their professionalism and valor in defending Pakistan&rsquo;s borders, saying there would be &ldquo;no compromise on national defense.&rdquo; &ldquo;Every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response,&rdquo; the prime minister said, while offering prayers for the 23 soldiers who embraced martyrdom and extending condolences to their families. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the cross-border attacks as a &ldquo;blatant violation of international law,&rdquo; saying Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces &ldquo;have shown with an immediate and effective response that any provocation will not be tolerated.&rdquo; &ldquo;The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; Naqvi said, referring to India. &ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response &mdash; just as India was.&rdquo; Border closuresFollowing the clashes, Pakistan closed all major crossings along the 2,600-kilometer (1615.5 miles) Pak-Afghan border, including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan, officials confirmed. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing policy of humanitarian engagement with Afghanistan, the foreign office said: &ldquo;In the spirit of good neighborliness, Islamic brotherhood, and humanity, Pakistan has generously hosted around four million Afghans for more than four decades.&rdquo; The statement added that Pakistan would continue to regulate the presence of Afghan nationals on its territory &ldquo;in accordance with international norms and laws.&rdquo; &ldquo;We also hope that one day, the Afghan people will be emancipated and governed by a truly representative government,&rdquo; it concluded.

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Says country expects Taliban regime to act responsibly, honor its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil.