Faraz Saeed/Mariam Ellahi

LAHORE: As Pakistan grapples with devastating floods, health experts warn of increased risks to public health if preventive measures are not maintained.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since late June, heavier-than-usual monsoon rains have caused widespread flooding and landslides, impacting over 6 million people across the country, according to the United Nations.&nbsp;In Punjab, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported that over 4.7 million people have been affected, with more than 100 lives lost and thousands of homes, livestock, and crops destroyed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The floods have displaced 2.6 million people, leaving communities vulnerable to waterborne diseases.&nbsp;Health officials confirmed that the total number of patients treated in flood-affected areas has exceeded 900,000. Most cases involve respiratory issues, fever, skin allergies, diarrhea, and eye infections &mdash; conditions all related to flood contamination and poor living conditions.&nbsp;No danger of epidemicsDespite the surge in medical cases, authorities maintain that no major epidemic has been detected.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr Moiz Mansoor, Additional Director at the Punjab DGHS office, told Pakistan TV Digital that up to 20,000 health camps were established at the height of the floods. As waters recede, around 465 health camps &mdash; including mobile clinics and field hospitals &mdash; remain operational.&nbsp;&ldquo;At the peak, more than 51,000 patients were screened in a single day,&rdquo; Dr Moiz said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We are actively testing for malaria, diarrhea, eye diseases, and snake bites. While there has been a 2% to 3% increase in overall disease incidence, there is no evidence of an outbreak.&rdquo;&nbsp;However, public health experts remain cautious. Dr Masood Sheikh, a senior health specialist, noted that Pakistan is among the most frequently flood-affected countries in the world.&nbsp;&ldquo;The consequences can be immediate, in the form of fatalities, or longer-term through the spread of infectious diseases,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The actual health toll is probably underestimated due to the scale of displacement and the difficulties in gathering data, he added.&nbsp;Dr Sheikh warned that Punjab could see a rapid spread of preventable diseases like polio, measles, leishmaniasis, HIV, and COVID-19 if vaccination efforts are not strengthened.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many flood victims are already suffering from skin and waterborne infections caused by prolonged exposure to contaminated water, he added.&nbsp;Health services overwhelmedWhile provincial authorities focus on rescue efforts and setting up medical camps, reports from the field indicate that health services are overwhelmed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Doctors and aid workers describe clinics swamped with patients, shortages of essential medicines, and long waits for treatment. In some camps, anti-malarial drugs and rabies vaccines have reportedly run out, leaving residents at greater risk.&nbsp;The World Health Organization has warned of &ldquo;grave risks&rdquo; of epidemic outbreaks, urging immediate improvements in clean water, sanitation, and consistent medical supplies. Aid groups echo these concerns, pointing to unsanitary conditions in camps and stagnant floodwater breeding mosquitoes, which raises the threat of cholera, dysentery, and dengue.

Climate & Environment

Floods have displaced 2.6 million people, leaving communities vulnerable to waterborne diseases; PDMA reports over 4.7 million people have been affected, with more than 100 lives lost and thousands of homes, livestock, and crops destroyed. 





Punjab floods: Over 900,000 treated as authorities downplay outbreak fears

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Malaysia and the United States will facilitate a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Tuesday. Mohamad said he hopes the ceasefire will be signed during the upcoming ASEAN leaders meeting in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur from October 26 to 28, Reuters reported. The Malaysian foreign minister said that US President Donald Trump would be in Malaysia on October 26.&nbsp; Five-day conflict&nbsp;Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over undemarcated points along their 817-km (508-mile) land border erupted into a deadly five-day conflict in July. The worst fighting between the two countries in over a decade saw at least 48 people killed and hundreds of thousands temporarily displaced on both sides. US role&nbsp;On July 28, 2025, US President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, announced that both countries had reached a ceasefire.&nbsp; He stated: &quot;Just spoke to the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand and Prime Minister of Cambodia. I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE... I am proud to be the President of PEACE!&quot;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1949852573063618656&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=a5f79aa1301ada6679a4d5a7cf4559c93101e530&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1949852573063618656"></iframe></div></div>

Asia

Malaysian foreign minister says Malaysia and the United States will facilitate a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia; says US President Donald Trump will be in Malaysia on October 26. 

Thailand, Cambodia to sign ceasefire at ASEAN summit: Malaysian minister 

Reuters

SYDNEY: Australia will make a second billion-dollar payment to boost US nuclear submarine shipyards soon, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Washington on Tuesday, ahead of an official visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week. The AUKUS agreement to transfer nuclear-powered submarines to Australia is being reviewed by the Pentagon, although Australia has expressed confidence the deal, which also includes Britain, will proceed. In its first phase, Australia has pledged $3 billion to boost US submarine production rates, to later allow the sale of three Virginia-class submarines to Canberra, with a 2025 deadline for the first $2 billion. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve made a billion dollars. The plan is to provide another billion dollars shortly,&rdquo; Conroy told reporters in Washington, where he said he is meeting with Trump administration and defence industry officials. Albanese will travel to Washington next week for an official visit and his first formal meeting with US President Donald Trump, with the AUKUS defence partnership expected to be a focus of talks. Defence Minister Richard Marles told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday that Australia was contributing to a Pentagon review of AUKUS and had &ldquo;a sense of when this will conclude,&rdquo; without disclosing the timing. Australia is shifting to a model of defence co-development and co-production with the United States, including for the manufacture of guided weapons, and Albanese would highlight this to Trump, Conroy said. Australia expects to manufacture up to 4,000 Lockheed Martin guided missiles annually from a new factory to begin production by the end of the year, including supplying US&nbsp;defence needs, he said in a television interview with Sky News Australia. Australia is also working with the United States and Lockheed Martin to develop a longer-range Precision Strike Missile reaching &ldquo;in excess of a thousand kilometres,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;This is one example of us shifting to a co-design, co-development, co-production, co-sustainment model where we work in partnership with the United States and deepen the industrial base of both countries,&rdquo; he said.

Australasia

Australia will make a second billion-dollar payment to boost US nuclear submarine shipyards soon, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said in Washington on Tuesday, ahead of an official visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese next week.

Australia to make next billion-dollar AUKUS payment 'shortly', says minister

BEIJING: &nbsp;The United States and China on Tuesday will begin charging additional port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil, making the high seas a key front in the trade war between the world&#39;s two largest economies.&nbsp;China said it had started to collect the special charges on US-owned, operated, built, or flagged vessels, but clarified that Chinese-built ships would be exempted from the levies.&nbsp;In details published on Tuesday by state broadcaster CCTV, China spelled out specific provisions on exemptions, which also include empty ships entering Chinese shipyards for repair.&nbsp;The China-imposed extra port fees would be collected at the first port of entry on a single voyage or for the first five voyages within a year, following an annual billing cycle beginning on April 17.&nbsp;Early this year, US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration announced plans to levy the fees on China-linked ships to loosen that country&#39;s grip on the global maritime industry and bolster US shipbuilding. An investigation during former President Joe Biden&#39;s administration concluded China uses unfair policies and practices to dominate the global maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, clearing the way for those penalties.&nbsp;The US is also scheduled to begin collecting fees on October 14. Analysts expect China-owned container carrier COSCO 601919.SS to be the most affected, shouldering nearly half of that segment&#39;s expected $3.2 billion cost from those fees in 2026.&nbsp;China hit back last week, saying it would impose its own port fees on US-linked vessels from the same day. Jefferies analyst Omar Nokta noted that 13% of crude tankers and 11% of container ships in the global fleet would be affected.&nbsp;&quot;This tit-for-tat symmetry locks both economies into a spiral of maritime taxation that risks distorting global freight flows,&quot; Athens-based Xclusiv Shipbrokers Inc said in a research note.&nbsp;A Shanghai-based consultant advising global companies on trade with China noted that the new fees may not significantly disrupt the industry, and higher prices would likely offset any rising costs.&nbsp;&quot;What are we going to do? Stop shipping? Trade is already pretty disrupted with the US, but companies are finding a way,&quot; the consultant said, asking to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak with the media.&nbsp;In a reprisal against China for curbing exports of critical minerals, Trump on Friday threatened to impose additional 100% tariffs on goods from China and implement new export controls on &quot;any and all critical software&quot; by November 1.&nbsp;Administration officials, hours later, warned that countries voting in favor of a plan by the United Nations&#39; International Maritime Organization to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from ocean shipping this week could face sanctions, port bans, or punitive vessel charges. China has publicly supported the IMO plan.&nbsp;&quot;The weaponisation of both trade and environmental policy signals that shipping has moved from being a neutral conduit of global commerce to a direct instrument of statecraft,&quot; Xclusiv said.&nbsp;Shares in Shanghai-listed COSCO rose more than 2% in early trading on Tuesday. The company said its board had approved a plan to buy back up to 1.5 billion yuan ($210.3 million) worth of its shares within the next three months to maintain corporate value and safeguard shareholder interest.&nbsp;The shipping firm did not immediately respond to Reuters&#39; queries about the potential impact of the port fees.&nbsp;($1 = 7.1337 Chinese yuan)

Business

China says it has started to collect the special charges on US-owned, operated, built, or flagged vessels, but clarifies that Chinese-built ships would be exempted from the levies.

US, China to roll out tit-for-tat port fees, threatening more turmoil at sea

BEIJING: China&#39;s leading state-backed semiconductor association said Tuesday it &quot;firmly opposes&quot; Dutch authorities intervening over a European subsidiary of Chinese chip firm Wingtech. The Netherlands invoked the Goods Availability Act to take control of Dutch-based chip maker Nexperia in late September, citing national security concerns, a statement published by the Dutch government said Sunday. Blocked or reversed&nbsp;This means that while the company -- based in the Dutch city of Nijmegen -- can continue regular production, its decisions can be blocked or reversed by the Dutch government. The move was because of &quot;recent and acute signals of serious governance shortcomings and actions&quot; within Chinese-owned Nexperia, the statement said. The China Semiconductor Industry Association (CSIA) on Tuesday said it supported its member Wingtech in safeguarding its rights and interests, slamming the Dutch authorities&#39; latest moves. &quot;We oppose the practice of abusing the concept of &#39;national security&#39; and imposing selective and discriminatory restrictions on overseas branches of Chinese enterprises,&quot; the CSIA said in a statement. &lsquo;Discriminatory measures&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;Discriminatory measures targeting specific enterprises will undermine the open, inclusive, and collaborative global semiconductor ecosystem, and we firmly oppose such measures,&quot; it added. Once part of Dutch electronics giant Philips and its semiconductor spin-off NXP, Nexperia was eventually bought by China&#39;s Wingtech Technology in 2018. It makes chips for everyday goods such as cars and refrigerators. A European Commission spokesman said Monday that the Dutch government had intervened in Nexperia to &quot;ensure security of supply in a strategically sensitive sector&quot;. &quot;The Dutch government is addressing a potential risk to both Dutch and wider European economic security,&quot; he said. &lsquo;Relevant countries&rsquo;&nbsp;When asked about the case, China&#39;s foreign ministry urged &quot;relevant countries&quot; to &quot;earnestly adhere to market principles and refrain from politicizing economic and trade issues&quot;. &quot;China consistently opposes generalizing the concept of national security and discriminatory practices against firms from specific countries,&quot; spokesman Lin Jian told reporters at a new briefing Monday. Semiconductors have become a key battleground between China and the West. Washington&#39;s &lsquo;entity lists&rsquo;The United States and the Netherlands are among the powers that have imposed restrictions on exporting advanced chip-making equipment to China, fearing Beijing could use it to make cutting-edge weapons. Wingtech was put on one of Washington&#39;s &quot;entity lists&quot; in December, meaning it had been determined by the government to be acting contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

Says it supported its member Wingtech in safeguarding its rights; The Netherlands invoked the Goods Availability Act to take control of Dutch-based chip maker Nexperia in late September, citing national security concerns. 

China's semiconductor body slams Dutch intervention of Wingtech

Gold prices climbed to a record high on Tuesday (October 14) as renewed US-China trade tensions exacerbated broader uncertainty, bolstering safe-haven demand, while the prospects of US rate cuts lent support, with silver also reaching an all-time peak.&nbsp;Spot gold was up 0.4% at $4,124.79 per ounce, as of 0029 GMT, after having hit an all-time high of $4,131.52 earlier in the session.&nbsp;Safe-haven gold has surged 57% year-to-date, surpassing the crucial $4,100 milestone for the first time on Monday (October 13), bolstered by geopolitical and economic uncertainties, rate-cut expectations, strong central bank buying, and strong ETF inflows.&nbsp;Spot silver was up 0.3% at $52.49 per ounce, after hitting $52.70 earlier in the day, supported by factors driving gold and tightening in the spot market.&nbsp;Bank of America and Societe Generale analysts now forecast gold to hit $5,000 by 2026, while Standard Chartered raised its 2026 average forecast to $4,488.

Spot gold comes down to $4,124.79 per ounce, as of 0029 GMT, after having hit an all-time high of $4,131.52 earlier in the session.

Gold hits record high on safe-haven rush; silver follows suit

BEIJING: China said Tuesday it was ready to &quot;fight to the end&quot; in a trade war with the United States after President Donald Trump said he would slap additional 100% tariffs on goods from the country. The move, revealed in a Friday social media post, was in response to Beijing&#39;s announcement last week of sweeping new export controls in the strategic field of rare earths -- currently dominated by China. Trump also announced in the post that Washington would impose export controls &quot;on any and all critical software&quot; from November 1. The latest escalation has rattled markets and called into question a potential upcoming meeting with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in South Korea. &lsquo;Dialogue while threatening&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;On the matter of tariff wars and trade wars, China&#39;s position remains consistent,&quot; an unnamed commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. &quot;If you wish to fight, we shall fight to the end; if you wish to negotiate, our door remains open,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The United States cannot simultaneously seek dialogue while threatening to impose new restrictive measures. This is not the proper way to engage with China.&quot; &lsquo;It will all be fine&rsquo;Trump appeared to walk back his rhetoric in a Sunday social media post that said &quot;it will all be fine&quot;, adding that the United States wants to &quot;help&quot; China. On Monday, as the outlook for trade with the United States darkened, newly released official data for September showed that China&#39;s overseas shipments have remained resilient. Exports jumped 8.3% year-on-year last month, the fastest expansion since March and much faster than forecasts. Largest consumer market&nbsp;Shipments to the United States -- the world&#39;s largest consumer market -- picked up to reach $34.3 billion, the data showed. Chinese goods currently face US tariffs of at least 30% under levies that Trump imposed while accusing Beijing of aiding in the fentanyl trade as well as unfair trade practices. China&#39;s retaliatory tariffs are currently at 10%. The global impact of Trump&#39;s tariff onslaught is in the spotlight this week as a semi-annual gathering of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank takes place in Washington. The White House continues to insist that the long-term effect of tariffs will be positive for the United States, pointing to their relatively muted economic impact so far.

Latest escalation has rattled markets; Chinese goods currently face US tariffs of at least 30% under levies that Trump imposed; China's retaliatory tariffs are currently at 10%.

China says will 'fight to the end' in US trade war

SINGAPORE: Asian stocks stumbled on Tuesday, as signs the US and China were preparing for trade talks later this month were tempered by uncertainty over whether the two nations could strike a durable deal.&nbsp;Early gains for MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan. MIAPJ0000PUS and the S&amp;P 500 futures ESc1 petered out to trade flat. Markets had earlier joined the rebound from Monday&#39;s cash session after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told US President Donald Trump remains on track to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea in late October.&nbsp;Wall Street&#39;s main indexes ended as much as 2.2% higher overnight, led by chipmakers, after Trump struck a more conciliatory tone on trade tensions with China.&nbsp;Global equities had abruptly turned red on Friday after Trump announced 100% tariffs on China, reviving memories of the market volatility after April&#39;s &quot;Liberation Day&quot; announcement. The selloff only halted after the US president cooled his rhetoric on his Truth Social network.&nbsp;Citi analysts wrote in a research report that they do not expect an escalation of trade tensions between Beijing and Washington.&nbsp;&quot;The reason is not so much the reassuring President Trump tweet over the weekend, but the fact that China may be the only country with bargaining power, where the US may have to be more flexible in its negotiation stance.&quot;&nbsp;But a spokesperson for China&#39;s commerce ministry said on Tuesday the US cannot seek talks while also making threats, keeping markets on edge over the chances for a broader trade deal.&nbsp;The US and China on Tuesday will begin charging port fees on ocean shipping firms that move everything from holiday toys to crude oil, making the high seas a key front in the trade war between the world&#39;s two largest economies.&nbsp;After early gains in Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index. HSI fell 0.4%, while in the mainland, the CSI 300 gauge of blue-chip Chinese stocks. CSI300 slipped 0.1%.&nbsp;Asian stocks were led by a 0.8% surge in Taiwan&#39;s market. TWII as TSMC 2330.TW rose to a record, after OpenAI said it has partnered with Broadcom AVGO.O to produce its first in-house artificial intelligence processors.&nbsp;South Korea&#39;s Kospi index. KS11 gained 0.6% after Samsung Electronics 005930.KS on Tuesday projected a 32% rise in third-quarter operating profit from a year earlier, beating analysts&#39; estimates as demand for conventional memory chips helped offset the company&#39;s weaker high-bandwidth memory chip sales.&nbsp;Japan&#39;s Nikkei stock index. N225 fell 1.2% as the country&#39;s markets reopened after a holiday. Against the yen, the US dollar was little changed at 152.31 yen.&nbsp;The dollar index, which measures the greenback&#39;s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.1% lower at 99.246.&nbsp;Traders continue to expect easing from the Federal Reserve later this month is a near-certainty. Pricing of Fed funds futures implies a 96.7% probability of a 25-basis-point cut to interest rates at the Federal Open Market Committee&#39;s meeting on October 29, compared with a 98.3% chance a day earlier, according to the CME Group&#39;s FedWatch tool.&nbsp;The euro was barely moved at $1.1571 after French President Emmanuel Macron rejected calls to resign on Monday, as his latest government was threatened by two no-confidence motions that could bring it down by the end of the week.&nbsp;Brent crude LCOc1 was last up 0.2% at $63.45 per barrel after an OPEC report on Monday showed world oil supply is expected to closely match demand next year as the wider OPEC+ group increases production, marking a change from last month&#39;s outlook, which projected a supply shortfall in 2026.&nbsp;Gold gained 1.1% to $4,155.90 per ounce, showing little sign of pausing for breath as precious metals continue to set records.&nbsp;Bitcoin fell 1.9% to $113,629.29, while ether slipped 3% to $4,161.79.

Asian markets hesitant as investors wary of US-China trade tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Monday announced that a scheduled maintenance activity on submarine cables will cause internet service degradation across the country starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. In a statement posted on its official X, formerly Twitter, account, PTCL said the maintenance, aimed at repairing a faulty repeater, could last up to 18 hours.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1977749192136163451&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=086f7d0f09e8dad7cf22698210e87b840478d0ff&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1977749192136163451"></iframe></div></div> Other companies, including Nayatel and the telecom operator Ufone, also notified users about the expected slowdown and disruption in connectivity due to the same maintenance work.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 297px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=1977781749762379792&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=086f7d0f09e8dad7cf22698210e87b840478d0ff&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1977781749762379792"></iframe></div></div> Popular mobile payment services, Easypaisa and JazzCash, confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital that their platforms might experience disruptions. However, the call centers of both companies said their branches and offices would remain operational. This comes months after a similar fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar disrupted broadband services across Pakistan. PTCL had then said that the issue was resolved swiftly by technical teams.

Culture

Economy

Security

Service providers have announced that a scheduled maintenance activity on submarine cables will lead to internet service degradation across the country, starting at 11 a.m. today. The disruption may last for up to 18 hours.

Telecom operators announce planned internet downtime across Pakistan

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday he will go to Washington this week to see US President Donald Trump, to discuss air defenses and how to put more pressure on Russia. Zelensky said he would join a Ukrainian delegation there holding talks with US politicians and companies, and he hoped to have his meeting with Trump on Friday. Trump confirmed what would be the Ukrainian leader&#39;s third visit to the White House since January when a reporter asked if he plans to host Zelensky on Friday. &quot;I think so, yeah,&quot; the US president said during a brief fuel stop as he travelled back to Washington from the Middle East. Zelensky highlighted that he had two phone calls with Trump over the weekend, during which they discussed the &quot;challenges&quot; Ukraine faces as Russian strikes target the country&#39;s energy infrastructure, and the situation on the battlefield. &quot;We discussed some sensitive issues. That conversation was not enough, even though it was substantive,&quot; the Ukrainian leader said, as he hosted a visit to Kyiv by the EU&#39;s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. He said the Ukrainian delegation, which has already left for the United States, included Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as well as the heads of his presidential office and of the national security council, and diplomatic representatives. When Zelensky joins them, he said he planned to have more meetings, including with US military companies, senators and congressmen. &quot;The main topics are air defense and our possibilities... to pressure Russia,&quot; he said.

Americas

Europe

Ukrainian president says plans to have more meetings, including with US military companies, senators, and congressmen.

Zelensky to visit Trump in Washington this week

JOHANNESBURG: Cape Verde beat Eswatini 3-0 on Monday to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup, booking their place in football&#39;s global showpiece for the very first time. The team from an archipelago off the coast of Senegal, with about 550,000 inhabitants, becomes the second-least populous nation to reach the World Cup, after Iceland, with just over 350,000, at Russia 2018. Cape Verde won Group D with 23 points, four more than Cameroon, who hold the African record for World Cup appearances with eight. Cameroon were held 0-0 by Angola in Yaounde. &quot;Giving this happiness to these people is enormous... It&#39;s a victory for all the Cape Verdean people and, above all, a victory for those who fought for our independence,&quot; coach Pedro Brito told reporters. &quot;It&#39;s a special moment in this celebration of the 50th anniversary of our independence.&quot; An emotional Vozinha, the 39-year-old goalkeeper, admitted: &quot;I have been dreaming of this moment since I was a child. It&#39;s time to celebrate. &quot;We knew we could do better (in the second half), and that&#39;s it... It&#39;s time to celebrate.&quot; After dominating the first half of the final round qualifier, but seldom threatening to score, the Blue Sharks struck twice through Dailon Livramento and Willy Semedo in the first nine minutes after half-time before a 15,000 flag-waving crowd in Praia. Livramento claimed his fourth goal of the 10-round qualifying campaign in 48 minutes and Semedo struck six minutes later. Both goals came from close-range tap-ins. Cape Verde added a third goal in added time when Stopira, a substitute for Joao Paulo, pounced on a loose ball to score. Cape Verde rely heavily on players born outside the nation to Cape Verdean parents or grandparents. Livramento was born in Rotterdam and Semedo near Paris. Eswatini had come to the 10-island archipelago with little attacking ambition, adopting a 5-4-1 formation in front of goalkeeper Khanyakwezwe Shabalala. &#39;Too emotional&#39;&nbsp;But after conceding twice, there was no way back for the team from southern Africa, who lost seven qualifiers and drew the other three. &quot;It&#39;s too emotional. I embrace all the Cape Verdean people, at home and in our great diaspora,&quot; said scorer Stopira. Captain and striker Ryan Mendes added: &quot;Honestly, I don&#39;t have the words to describe this moment. I&#39;m very, very happy.&quot; Cape Verde spread the national team net wide with three starters based in Portugal and one each in the United States, Republic of Ireland, UAE, Romania, Russia, Netherlands, Turkey, and Cyprus. The remarkable qualification of Cape Verde came after they made a disappointing start to the campaign, drawing 0-0 at home with Angola and slumping to a 4-1 loss in Cameroon. Those results left the Blue Sharks with four points from a possible nine, having won away to Eswatini in between. But after the matchday three loss in Yaounde, Cape Verde won five consecutive qualifiers, including a crucial one-goal victories away to Angola and at home to Cameroon. That left the islanders needing three points from their final two qualifiers this month, and a drama-filled 3-3 in Libya secured one before hosting Eswatini. Last year, in the midst of the World Cup campaign, Cape Verde fared poorly in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, winning only one match of six and failing to secure a place at the tournament. Despite flopping in a group from which Egypt and Botswana advanced, Cape Verdean officials retained faith in long-serving Brito. After two stints as assistant coach of the national team and spells with five local clubs, the coach popularly known as Bubista took charge of Cape Verde in 2020. The 55-year-old former center-back, who represented his country 21 times, guided Cape Verde to successive AFCON tournaments, in Cameroon three years ago and Ivory Coast last year. They reached the knockout phase each time, making a last-16 exit, then losing a quarter-final against South Africa on penalties after having four spot-kicks saved.

Football

The team from an archipelago off the coast of Senegal, with about 550,000 inhabitants, becomes the second-least populous nation to reach the World Cup.



Articles by Faraz Saeed/Mariam Ellahi