Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: While Israel and Hamas have signed the first phase of a long-awaited peace agreement, analysts urge &ldquo;necessary caution,&rdquo; warning that without addressing the core political questions of Palestinian sovereignty and statehood, the ceasefire risks becoming yet another short-lived truce. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, includes a temporary pause in fighting, a swap of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and a partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The announcement sparked cautious optimism across global capitals, but also deep skepticism among regional experts interviewed by Pakistan TV Digital. Canada-based decolonial scholar and activist Dr Sabreena Ghaffar said the euphoria surrounding the truce overlooks painful lessons from the past. &ldquo;In January, we saw a deal made and people rejoiced, but the bombardment didn&rsquo;t stop,&rdquo; she said, noting that over 30 Palestinians had been killed since the latest announcement. &ldquo;Even now, airstrikes continue. Until the root causes are addressed, no ceasefire will hold.&rdquo; According to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, one of the deal&rsquo;s key mediators, an immediate ceasefire must precede the agreement&rsquo;s implementation to prevent further loss of life. Arif Ansar, chief analyst at PolitTact, shared cautious optimism, saying, &ldquo;A ceasefire at all costs saves lives.&rdquo; But he emphasized that the underlying challenges, particularly disarmament and governance, could derail the process. Under the agreement, Hamas and Israel have pledged to begin phased de-escalation. The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages. Israel&rsquo;s military aggression in Gaza has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 170,000, according to Gaza&rsquo;s Health Ministry, with roughly half of the casualties being women and children. Dr Ghaffar noted that the agreement makes no mention of Hamas disarming.&nbsp; &ldquo;Hamas will disarm when there is a Palestinian state,&rdquo; she stated, arguing that the demand for unilateral disarmament is unrealistic. Ansar agreed, describing Hamas&rsquo;s weapons as &ldquo;an existential and ideological symbol of resistance.&rdquo; Disarmament without a roadmap for statehood, he said, would be seen by Hamas as &ldquo;total moral and political surrender.&rdquo; Analysts also expressed concern over reported plans for a foreign-led &ldquo;Board of Peace&rdquo; to administer Gaza. &ldquo;An externally imposed trusteeship, featuring figures like Tony Blair, will lack legitimacy and fuel resentment,&rdquo; Ansar warned. &ldquo;Any unelected authority risks being branded a new occupation.&rdquo; Dr Ghaffar added that Blair&rsquo;s role would be &ldquo;deeply problematic,&rdquo; recalling his controversial record during the 2003 Iraq War. Both experts stressed that true peace requires addressing fundamental political issues. Sovereignty, self-determination, and justice. &ldquo;Ignoring these in favor of reconstruction or investment-only deals turns peace into a real estate project,&rdquo; said Ansar.&nbsp; Dr Ghaffar concurred, describing Israel&rsquo;s approach as &ldquo;colonial and PR-driven,&rdquo; warning that global opinion may be shifting but &ldquo;not fast enough to save unarmed Palestinians.&rdquo; The analysts agreed that without confronting the legacy of occupation and ensuring accountability, any peace plan would be doomed to repeat history. &ldquo;The Oslo Accords failed for the same reasons,&rdquo; said Ansar. &ldquo;Key questions, statehood, refugees, Jerusalem, were postponed, and that &lsquo;later phase&rsquo; never arrived.&rdquo; As the world cautiously welcomes the latest truce, regional observers insist the real test lies not in ending the violence, but in addressing the injustices that fuel it.

Middle East

Experts caution that the Gaza ceasefire, while a welcome pause in bloodshed, risks collapse without concrete guarantees on Palestinian sovereignty, disarmament terms, and legitimate post-war governance free from external control.



Skepticism clouds Gaza truce as analysts warn of deeper fault lines

MARYLAND: Students in the United States (US) gathered in solemn silence on the campus lawns today, Tuesday, marking two years since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The peaceful protest, held on the anniversary of the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, was a stark reminder of the ongoing violence that has claimed over 67,000 lives in Gaza. Though Washington D.C. is typically a hub for large-scale protests, the capital city has seen fewer demonstrations in recent years due to stricter law enforcement measures. As National Guard troops now patrol the city, protests have shifted to universities like the University of Maryland, where students continue to speak out against the war. &quot;We&#39;ve been protesting against this war from day one,&quot; said Khaula T. (name changed for privacy), an engineering student who was arrested in April 2024 for participating in a similar protest. &quot;Today, we reflect on how far we&#39;ve come, but also on the lives lost.&quot; The protest took a quieter, more reflective form today, with students sitting together in peaceful solidarity. Rather than chanting or marching, they participated in interactive discussions with experts and faculty members, focusing on the call for universities in the US to sever financial and academic ties with institutions in Israel. Zahid Khan, a Pakistani-American student, echoed the sentiments of many in attendance. &quot;We can&rsquo;t let the world forget what&rsquo;s happening in Gaza,&quot; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &quot;This isn&rsquo;t just another headline. It&rsquo;s real lives that are being lost every day.&quot; The event also included discussions on the history of Palestine, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and efforts to raise awareness among their peers. Eric, a Jewish political science graduate student, shared his personal perspective: &quot;I know what&rsquo;s right and wrong. This isn&rsquo;t about politics; it&rsquo;s about humanity.&quot; As the day progressed, some students worked on artwork while others sat in quiet contemplation. Maliha, one of the participants, created a piece that read &ldquo;Falasteen,&rdquo; a tribute to the Palestinian people. &quot;This is about honoring the martyrs and standing for peace,&quot; she explained. The University of Maryland has been a focal point of student activism, notably for its role in challenging administrative restrictions. In August 2025, the university settled a lawsuit filed by the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group after it attempted to ban a vigil for Gaza victims. A judge ruled the ban unconstitutional, and the university agreed to a $100,000 settlement. Dr. Joe Frank, an activist and researcher, noted that the history of student-led protests in the US is long and storied. &quot;From Vietnam to Gaza, students have always been at the forefront of calling for peace, even when their voices have been silenced,&quot; Frank told Pakistan TV Digital. As the protest came to a close, many students expressed hope that a newly announced peace plan might bring an end to the conflict, though skepticism remained among others. Regardless of the outcome, the students at the University of Maryland made one thing clear: their fight for peace will continue.

Americas

University of Maryland students stage a silent protest, calling for an end to the conflict, urging US universities to sever ties with Israeli institutions supporting the war.

US students protest as Gaza war marks two-year anniversary

US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s newly announced 20-point plan to end Israel&rsquo;s war in Gaza and release hostages held by Hamas has sparked mixed reactions across the Middle East. It was initially widely praised but was soon followed by criticism from key regional allies. Pakistan issued a joint statement with seven other Muslim countries during the announcement of the 20-point peace plan, praising President Trump&#39;s sincere efforts to end the war. Later, Pakistan, along with Qatar, noted that changes had been made to the originally-proposed draft. The changes are being called out as benefiting Israel rather than the Palestinians and requiring the inclusion of other points that were previously discussed with the US. &lsquo;Lack of Palestinian input&rsquo;Experts on the Middle East believe there are many obstacles to implementing the plan, from the supposed disagreement within the Hamas leadership to doubts about Israel&rsquo;s intentions to carry it out. Dr Jason Campbell, an expert on defense and regional security at The Middle East Institute, called it a sign of &ldquo;general frustrations&rdquo; that seem to center on a handful of factors stipulated in the plan. &ldquo;Lack of Palestinian input in the drafting has been a justifiable criticism,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Particularly given that it was Israel&#39;s unwarranted attack on Hamas negotiators in Doha that derailed previous collaborative discussions.&rdquo; This is a view shared by Areig Elhag, Arabic Content Editor at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. She says that the plan was shaped mainly around US and Israeli priorities. &ldquo;Without solid guarantees for Palestinian sovereignty, regional actors recognized that implementation depends on reforms within the Palestinian Authority and the disarmament of Hamas&rdquo; &mdash; conditions she believes seem highly unrealistic to materialize in the near term. &lsquo;Product of extensive consultation&rsquo;Trump described his plan as the product of &ldquo;extensive consultation with friends and partners throughout the region.&rdquo;&nbsp; Under the plan, hostilities would end immediately once both parties accepted. Israeli forces would withdraw to agreed positions, and all military operations would be frozen. Within 72 hours, all hostages would be returned, and Israel would release Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and those detained. Hamas members who agree to disarm and &ldquo;commit to peaceful co-existence&rdquo; would receive amnesty, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage to third countries. As proposed by President Trump in the draft, a &ldquo;Peace Board&rdquo; would take over control of the administration in Gaza, headed by President Trump himself; however, the rest of the composition remains unclear. A few names have been floated, said Dr Campbell, such as Tony Blair&rsquo;s.&nbsp; However, many consider the former British prime minister a controversial figure, often questioned for his allegedly misleading policies during the Iraq War. Blair&#39;s decision to lead the UK into the 2003 Iraq War remains one of the most controversial events of his career. Given that context, analysts believe this is also drawing criticism, particularly from Palestinians. Elhag notes that concerns in such a situation are justified. She explains that they stem from a lack of clear mechanisms for enforcing the plan, causing the 20 points to seem more like a &ldquo;political gesture than a practical roadmap.&rdquo; Accept now. Discuss details later?Dr Campbell considers it a concern that the peace draft does not specify conditions for fully removing Israeli forces from Gaza. Despite this flaw, he says, reports indicate that key mediators, including Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, are &ldquo;recommending&rdquo; that Hamas negotiators accept the plan &ldquo;in principle&rdquo; and iron out the details during implementation. This approach aligns with the stance many Islamic countries are also adopting, as Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, pointed out the absence of several critical points from the peace plan but expressed hope that they will be included in the future.Is there any alternative to this plan? There have been numerous ceasefire deals that were tabled over the past two years of Israel&rsquo;s war against Palestine, but none of those have borne any fruit. &ldquo;The reality is that there are no other alternatives currently on the table, and the continuation of the war is in no one&#39;s interest.&rdquo; Regarding whether Hamas and Israel will follow the plan, Elhag said, &ldquo;It is difficult to imagine both sides fully committing. Hamas remains divided &mdash; some leaders are pragmatic, while others are hardline. This internal split weakens the chances of success.&rdquo; On the Israeli side, the government faces significant domestic political pressure. Prime Minister Netanyahu may publicly support the plan, but he must proceed cautiously to avoid alienating his coalition partners. Over the past two years, there remain strong doubts about the seriousness of this proposal. While Dr Jason Campbell also shares this skepticism, he said that predicting anything is impossible. However, based on recent history, he believes both sides will try to follow the plan in words, if not in practice. There is sufficient ambiguity in the points to allow each side to claim they are following the agreement, even if no real progress is being made.What does this plan mean for a common Gazan? Both Elhag and Dr Campbell agree that the world is exhausted from witnessing the widespread devastation and human suffering in Gaza, and the priority is to stop it immediately. &ldquo;The reported sentiment is one of ending the incessant attacks, even if the points presented are imperfect.&rdquo; Elhag believes that &ldquo;many Gazans are likely to see it less as a genuine peace agreement and more as a managed truce, one that temporarily improves daily life but postpones core political issues such as statehood and sovereignty.&rdquo; &ldquo;Without addressing the fundamentals,&rdquo; she fears, &ldquo;the plan risks becoming just another transitional arrangement rather than a lasting solution.&rdquo;While the plan gains momentum as more Western nations acknowledge Palestine&#39;s statehood, President Trump has made it clear that he &ldquo;will be the one deciding when Hamas has run out of time.&rdquo;

The plan was initially widely praised but was soon followed by criticism from key regional allies.

Gaza peace plan faces Mideast skepticism

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called on US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. He was accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir NI (M), HJ, Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Army Staff.&nbsp; The meeting, which lasted more than 90 minutes, focused on regional security and trade relations between the two countries. PM Sharif lauded President Trump&#39;s efforts to bring about an immediate end to the war in Gaza and his initiative to bring together key leaders of the Muslim world in New York earlier this week for an exchange of views for the restoration of peace in the Middle East, according to a press release from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. The PM thanked the US president for the tariff arrangement that was concluded between Pakistan and the US earlier this year. He invited American companies to invest in Pakistan&#39;s agriculture, IT, mining, mineral, and energy sectors. During the meeting, the prime minister described President Trump as a &quot;man of peace&quot; who was engaged in sincere efforts to resolve conflicts around the world. He appreciated President Trump&#39;s decisive leadership that had facilitated the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, thereby helping to avert a major catastrophe in South Asia, according to the press release. The two leaders discussed regional security, including counter-terrorism cooperation. The PM thanked the president for his public endorsement of Pakistan&#39;s role in counter-terrorism and stressed the need to enhance cooperation in security and intelligence further. PM Sharif also extended an invitation to President Trump to undertake an official visit to Pakistan. The cordial atmosphere was clear in the photos from the meeting, where PM Sharif, President Trump, and Field Marshal Munir looked relaxed. Ahead of his visit, security around the White House was heightened, and many roads leading to the White House were closed or diverted to accommodate traffic. Before the talks, Trump praised both Sharif and Munir as &ldquo;very great people.&rdquo;&nbsp; It was the first time Trump had hosted Sharif at the White House since he resumed office last year. The meeting comes at a juncture when the relations between the US and Pakistan have started to take off, following years of tensions. Regional security and trade deal&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s meeting with President Trump is being described by observers as a major reset of Pakistan-US bilateral ties. PM Sharif is in the US to attend and lead Pakistan&#39;s delegation at the United Nations General Assembly session. The US halted military aid to Pakistan in 2018 following its exit from Afghanistan, and relations further sank over Washington&rsquo;s drone strike program and India&rsquo;s increasing influence in DC. Under the Biden administration, relations between Pakistan and the US reached a new low, with virtually no high-level engagement between the two countries. The meeting, therefore, has set a new frequency for both countries to pursue their new common goals that were discussed today. New York-based Farwa Aamer, who is the Director of South Asian Initiatives at the Asia Policy Institute, while speaking with Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Now with trade, crypto, regional security, and critical minerals on the table, there is an opportunity for Islamabad to develop a win-win, forward-looking partnership with Washington.&rdquo; She added that, &ldquo;Washington cares for deliverables, so all eyes would be on how well Pakistan can leverage the current critical minerals potential, especially.&rdquo; Significant developmentField Marshal Asim Munir&rsquo;s earlier visit to the US was seen as a major development, especially by South Asian analysts, following his meeting with the US president last June, which included a private lunch at the White House. His second visit to the Oval Office is even more significant in terms of the changing &ldquo;geo-political situation&rdquo; globally, Farwa added. An Islamabad-based journalist, Anas Malick, who was covering the PM&rsquo;s visit, said that &ldquo;India keeps denying all peace efforts made by President Trump, something he believes has negatively impacted US-India relations.&rdquo; While announcing the trade deal in July, Trump stated that the US would work with Pakistan on developing &ldquo;their massive oil reserves,&rdquo; adding that the US was in the process of selecting an oil company to lead the partnership. On Tuesday, Trump and Sharif had met briefly when the US president and the emir of Qatar hosted a meeting of Arab-Islamic leaders on the sidelines of the 80th UNGA session, which focused on establishing peace in the Middle East, especially in Gaza.

Shehbaz calls Trump a man of peace; meeting lasts more than 90 minutes; accompanied by Field Marshal Asim Munir. Analysts term it opportunity for Islamabad to develop a win-win, forward-looking partnership with Washington.

Trump, Sharif discuss regional security, trade at White House meeting

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that progress could soon be made toward agreements on Gaza, signaling that talks with key Middle Eastern partners were moving forward even as he prepared for a high-profile meeting with Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp;&ldquo;It could be today,&rdquo; Trump told reporters, stressing that discussions with regional leaders had been &ldquo;very strong.&rdquo;&nbsp;He pointed to meetings with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan as particularly productive.&nbsp;&ldquo;We had a really great meeting. I think a lot was determined at that meeting. And I have to meet with Israel, and I have to do that also. They know what I want, and we think, I think we can get that one done. I hope we can get it done.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s comments come at a time of renewed urgency in addressing the Gaza conflict, with Washington seeking to position itself as a broker in the region while balancing its relationships with Arab states, Israel, and NATO ally Turkey.&nbsp;Talks with ErdoganTrump hosted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House for a two-hour meeting focused on defense cooperation and Turkey&rsquo;s role in the broader Middle East.&nbsp;The discussion centered in part on Ankara&rsquo;s push to rejoin the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was expelled after purchasing Russia&rsquo;s S-400 missile defense system.&nbsp;Trump suggested a resolution might be close.&nbsp;&ldquo;He needs certain things, and we need certain things, and we&rsquo;re going to come to a conclusion. You&rsquo;ll know by the end of the day,&rdquo; Trump said, adding to Erdogan: &ldquo;And I think you&rsquo;ll be successful with buying the things you would like to buy.&rdquo; While calling the meeting &ldquo;good,&rdquo; Trump also pressed Erdogan to scale back Turkey&rsquo;s reliance on Russian energy imports, warning that continued purchases risk undermining Western efforts to isolate Moscow.&nbsp;&ldquo;The best thing he could do is not buy oil and gas from Russia,&rdquo; Trump remarked.&nbsp;Despite tensions over Turkey&rsquo;s human rights record and its strained ties with Israel, Trump described Erdogan as a leader respected by both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;I think he could have a big influence if he wants to,&rdquo; the US president said.&nbsp;Gaza and SyriaThe Erdogan meeting also touched on Gaza, where Turkey has been an outspoken critic of Israel&rsquo;s military campaign since October 2023.&nbsp;In his UN address this week, Erdogan accused Israel of genocide, charges both Washington and Tel Aviv reject. Trump, however, has urged Israel to remain &ldquo;reasonable&rdquo; in its dealings with Ankara, recognizing Turkey&rsquo;s growing influence across Syria and the wider Middle East.&nbsp;Trump credited Erdogan with playing a pivotal role in Syria, where Ankara-backed rebel groups toppled President Bashar al-Assad late last year.&nbsp;&ldquo;I think President Erdogan is the one responsible for Syria, for the successful fight in ridding Syria of its past leader,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;Meeting with Pakistan&rsquo;s SharifTrump will now turn his attention to Pakistan, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Washington. According to Radio Pakistan, the talks will focus on counter-terrorism cooperation, economic ties, and regional security, including Afghanistan.&nbsp;A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that the White House remains committed to &ldquo;advancing US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and the government leaders.&rdquo;&nbsp;The meeting, Sharif&rsquo;s first official visit to Washington since assuming office, is seen as a chance to strengthen bilateral relations after years of strain. It follows a US-Pakistan trade deal announced in July and comes amid delicate regional maneuvering involving India, where Washington is still pursuing a trade agreement.&nbsp;Sharif is expected to use the broader international stage to highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s concerns about Kashmir, Palestine, and climate change when he addresses the UN General Assembly on September 26.&nbsp;As Trump positions himself at the center of negotiations spanning Gaza, Ukraine, and South Asia, his back-to-back meetings with Erdogan and Sharif underscore both the opportunities and challenges facing US diplomacy in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.

US president said Gaza agreements could be near after talks with Arab leaders, met Erdogan on defense and Russia ties, and will meet Pakistan’s Sharif to discuss counter-terrorism, trade, and regional security.

Trump says Gaza deals on horizon ahead of meeting with Pakistan PM

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington today, with the two leaders expected to discuss matters of mutual interest, as well as regional and global issues, according to Radio Pakistan. Following his time at the United Nations, PM Sharif will travel to Washington, DC, for the highly anticipated one-on-one meeting with President Trump at White House.&nbsp; A Trump administration official told Reuters on Wednesday that the US and Pakistan are &ldquo;working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.&rdquo; &quot;And so the president remains focused on advancing US interests in the region, which includes engaging with Pakistan and their government leaders,&quot; the official said. Meeting to cover range of issuesPM Sharif&rsquo;s visit, his first to the US Capitol for a direct meeting with Trump, is seen by analysts as a pivotal moment for the newly reset relationship between Washington and Islamabad. Their discussion is expected to cover a range of critical topics, including strengthening bilateral relations, counter-terrorism efforts, regional stability in Afghanistan, and expanding trade, including pressing&nbsp;international matters.&nbsp; He earlier met with the US president during a separate meeting of Islamic and Arab nations focused on establishing sustainable peace in Palestine and the Middle East. After his meeting in DC, PM Sharif will return to New York to prepare for his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26.&nbsp; He is expected to use the platform to call for action on key issues, including the right to self-determination for Kashmiris and Palestinians and the global challenge of climate change, which has had a devastating impact on Pakistan.&nbsp; Trade with Pakistan, IndiaThe United States and Pakistan announced a trade deal on July 31 with a 19% tariff rate imposed by Washington. Trump has yet to reach a trade deal with India. When asked about frictions with India, the official said Trump believed in being frank about frustrations in ties, but the relationship was strong. Washington viewed New Delhi as a good friend and partner, and felt that their relationship would define the 21st century, the Trump administration official said. He added that Washington had been working on planning for a summit of the Quad grouping, comprising India, Australia, Japan, and the United States, which was expected to take place in November. That would happen, &quot;if not this year, [then] early next year,&quot; the official said.

Trump administration official says US-Pakistan are “working through a number of issues when it comes to counter-terrorism, when it comes to economic and trade ties.”



PM Sharif, Trump to meet in Washington today

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that NATO countries should shoot down Russian military aircraft if they violate NATO airspace, escalating his administration&rsquo;s rhetoric toward Moscow amid renewed regional tensions.&nbsp;&quot;Yes, I do,&quot; Trump said when asked by reporters if he supports such military action. He added that whether the US would back it militarily &ldquo;depends on the circumstance,&rdquo; as he prepared for a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.&nbsp;The comments come as NATO faces mounting pressure to respond to recent airspace violations. Poland and Estonia reported separate incidents involving Russian drones and fighter jets earlier this month, prompting NATO to warn Russia it would use &ldquo;all means&rdquo; to defend allied territory.&nbsp;Airspace breachesThe Kremlin has denied deliberate incursions, but NATO officials say the pattern of violations is increasingly aggressive. The alliance has bolstered its air defenses in Eastern Europe and reiterated its Article 5 commitment, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s approval of potential shootdowns could mark a significant policy shift, signaling a more confrontational stance by the US in defending NATO airspace.&nbsp;Trump slams UN&nbsp;Earlier, during an opening session of the 80th UN General Assembly, Trump criticized the global body for being ineffective in resolving global conflicts.&nbsp;&ldquo;I ended seven wars&hellip; and never even received a phone call from the United Nations offering to help,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;All I got from the United Nations was an escalator that, on the way up, stopped right in the middle&hellip; and a teleprompter that didn&rsquo;t work.&rdquo;&nbsp;He claimed his administration helped end conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and others through direct US diplomacy, without any UN involvement. Trump listed Cambodia and Thailand, Congo and Rwanda, Israel and Iran, and Egypt and Ethiopia among conflicts he claimed to have defused.&nbsp;&ldquo;Empty words don&rsquo;t solve war,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The only thing that solves wars is action.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump also pointed to the Abraham Accords, normalization deals between Israel and several Arab states brokered during his presidency, as examples of US leadership in global peace efforts, claiming the UN gave him &quot;no credit&quot; for the historic achievement.&nbsp;Trump on UkraineIn a notable policy shift, Trump said he now believes Ukraine can retake all of the territory lost to Russia since the 2022 invasion, if it receives sustained support from Europe and NATO.&nbsp;&quot;With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started is very much an option,&quot; Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.&nbsp;He added that Russia has been fighting &quot;aimlessly&quot; in a war that a &quot;real military power&quot; would have won in less than a week, describing the Russian military effort as ineffective and faltering.&nbsp;&quot;Paper tiger&quot;Trump went further, describing Russia as a &ldquo;paper tiger&rdquo; and warning that internal unrest could grow as citizens in Moscow and elsewhere come to grips with the war&rsquo;s cost.&nbsp;&quot;When the people living in Moscow... find out what is really going on with this war... Ukraine would be able to take back their country in its original form, and who knows, maybe even go further than that!&quot; he wrote.&nbsp;Support for NATOWhile stopping short of promising direct US military involvement in Ukraine, Trump reaffirmed America&#39;s commitment to arming NATO allies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them. Good luck to all,&rdquo; he concluded in his post.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s remarks are expected to spark renewed debate among US lawmakers and NATO allies about the West&rsquo;s strategy toward Russia, and how far the US is willing to go in defending Eastern Europe from further aggression. Additional inputs from AP

Criticizes the UN for failing to resolve global conflicts, claiming his administration ended seven wars in seven months without any help from the world body.

Trump backs shooting down Russian jets if NATO airspace violated

WASHINGTON: The world&rsquo;s eyes are on the United Nations as the UN General Assembly, scheduled for September 22 in New York, aims to address the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;This comes amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed. The conference seeks to revive efforts for a two-state solution, which proposes separate states for Israel and Palestine.&nbsp;The diplomatic momentum toward a two-state solution gained a significant boost when the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine as a state on Sunday. This move defied opposition from Israel and the US, signaling a shift in Western foreign policy toward supporting Palestinian statehood.&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement in a televised address, writing on X, &ldquo;Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognizes the State of Palestine.&rdquo;&nbsp;Canada followed suit, with Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasizing Canada&rsquo;s commitment to peace: &ldquo;Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.&rdquo;&nbsp;Australia, too, formally recognized Palestine as an &ldquo;independent and sovereign&rdquo; state. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated, &ldquo;This recognition reflects Australia&rsquo;s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for both Israeli and Palestinian peoples.&rdquo;&nbsp;Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin praised the recognition, saying, &ldquo;Countries recognizing a Palestinian state this week are taking an irreversible step that preserves the two-state solution and brings Palestinian independence closer.&rdquo; She added, &quot;It might not end the war tomorrow, but it&#39;s a step forward, which we need to build on and amplify.&quot;&nbsp;UN Conference: Will it make a difference?The UN conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, is seen as a continuation of earlier discussions aimed at a peaceful resolution. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed regret that the two-state solution appeared &ldquo;farther than ever&rdquo; amid ongoing hostilities. Despite this, the conference holds significant potential, particularly given Saudi Arabia&#39;s increasing diplomatic influence.&nbsp;Dr. Kamran Bokhari, senior director at The News Lines, told Pakistan TV, &ldquo;While this conference may be largely symbolic, it brings together both Western and Arab nations at a time when the Gaza war and Israel&#39;s international standing are reshaping Middle Eastern politics.&rdquo; He added that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s co-chairmanship &ldquo;underscores Riyadh&rsquo;s efforts to bridge Arab and Western positions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan, which has long been a strong advocate for Palestinian rights and has condemned Israeli military actions, will play a crucial role in the conference. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation at the UNGA, where he is expected to emphasize Pakistan&#39;s position on Kashmir and Palestine. His address will focus on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and call for urgent international action.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role in this conference is significant. Its position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council amplifies its diplomatic leverage, particularly on the Palestinian issue.&rdquo;&nbsp;Challenging path to peaceAlthough international recognition of Palestine is a positive step, many remain skeptical about the conference&rsquo;s effectiveness in achieving lasting peace.&nbsp;Dr. Hassan Abbas, professor of International Relations at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies, told Pakistan TV: &ldquo;The countries opposing the two-state solution over the past two years wield significant global political power.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Without their positive participation, this initiative will likely fail to materialize,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;The US has repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, citing concerns over Hamas and Israel&rsquo;s security.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari noted that Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s role is crucial in bridging gaps between pro-peace nations and those opposing the two-state solution.&nbsp;&ldquo;The KSA&rsquo;s co-chairmanship could serve as a bridge between countries supporting Palestinian statehood and those who believe it will empower Hamas,&rdquo; he said, referring to the 2020 Abraham Accords between Israel and several Arab nations.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic strategyPakistan&rsquo;s unwavering support for Palestine remains a cornerstone of its foreign policy. With its recent defense pact with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan&rsquo;s influence in the region continues to grow.&nbsp;Dr. Bokhari said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a moral advocate for Palestine, alongside its growing diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia, positions it as a key player in shaping the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;As the UNGA approaches, the fate of the Two-State Solution remains uncertain. While the growing recognition of Palestine offers hope, it is unclear whether this will be enough to secure a lasting peace.&nbsp;However, the active participation of countries like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and France underscores the international community&rsquo;s commitment to resolving the conflict. The coming days may prove pivotal in determining whether a lasting peace is possible for Israel and Palestine.

Britain, Canada, and Australia recognized Palestine ahead of the UNGA, signaling support for a two-state solution, amid ongoing violence in Gaza and global tensions.

Two-State Solution: A final chance for peace?

WASHINGTON: Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh has said that Islamabad&rsquo;s importance to the US is not temporary; it is rooted in history. Speaking at the launch of Pakistan TV, the ambassador shared his thoughts on the Pakistan-US relationship and its significance in the context of shifting global politics. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, he said that Pakistan, with over 250 million people, has a large portion of its population under 23. Therefore, the importance of such a vast and strategically vital country can only be long-lasting and increasing. Replying to a question, the ambassador said, &ldquo;Over the past 78 years, they have seen many twists and turns, but it&#39;s the strategic location and geopolitical significance of Pakistan that continues to be a constant in bilateral ties with the United States. This new phase is certainly as promising as it has ever been.&rdquo; Regarding the utilization of the newly agreed-upon agreement to explore oil and rare earth minerals in Pakistan, he said that the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the US was perhaps only the beginning. &ldquo;We believe more American companies will be interested in joining us in this effort to unlock the wealth beneath the surface and use it as an international public good, not only for the benefit of our two countries but also for the broader good of humanity.&rdquo; He said that Pakistan does not plan to limit itself to just one sector, as it aims to expand into industries like IT. &ldquo;Pakistan&#39;s cost-effectiveness in the IT sector is 70% lower than in the United States and 20% to 30% more cost-effective than any of our competitors, whether it&#39;s India, Egypt, or the Philippines,&rdquo; he added. Talking about US-India relations, he said that Pakistan does not believe in viewing our relations with the U.S. through the lens of any other country. &ldquo;Our relations with the United States should not be contingent on or compared to any other country, whether in the region or anywhere in the world. We are a mega country. The relationship between two mega countries is certainly futuristic and stands on its own.&rdquo; Commenting on the upcoming UNGA meeting, he said that the delegation will be led by the prime minister. As an active member of the UN, Pakistan has always used its geostrategic and geoeconomic position to &ldquo;punch above our weight in multilateral relations,&rdquo; he said, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s presence at the UN forum this time would also be strong.

Economy

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan's US ambassador emphasizes long-term bilateral ties, strategic value, economic opportunities, and independent foreign policy amid global shifts, especially in energy, IT, and multilateral diplomacy.

Pakistan’s strategic value to US is enduring: envoy

<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, as the authorities were 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 some of the states and said the government will begin 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 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 that 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 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)

The death toll from Mexico’s torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country, as the 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)

Europe

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.

Security

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.

Pakistan desirous of peaceful, stable, friendly, prosperous Afghanistan: foreign office

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved Pakistan&rsquo;s landmark proposal to tackle disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech while safeguarding freedom of expression.&nbsp;The initiative, presented by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at the 222nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, received overwhelming cross-regional support, underscoring Islamabad&rsquo;s growing role in shaping global digital policy.&nbsp;The proposal calls for stronger international cooperation to build a safe, trustworthy, and human rights&ndash;based digital environment, one that balances free speech with responsibility in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and algorithmic influence.&nbsp;&ldquo;UNESCO&rsquo;s centrality to promoting a safe, reliable, and inclusive information environment that upholds human rights, democratic values, and access to information for all remains essential,&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s statement noted.&nbsp;Member States lauded the proposal for addressing pressing challenges in the age of emerging technologies, including AI, neuro-technology, and immersive digital platforms.&nbsp;The Executive Board emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability from digital platforms, urging measures to detect and label AI-generated or manipulated content and to strengthen content authentication systems.&nbsp;UNESCO works to build peace through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. It plays a leading role in promoting media freedom, ethical AI, and digital literacy worldwide.&nbsp;By championing this initiative, Pakistan has positioned itself as an emerging voice in the global effort to safeguard information integrity and strengthen digital safety. Observers say the proposal&rsquo;s adoption marks a forward-looking step toward creating international standards that protect both truth and transparency in the digital age.

UNESCO has endorsed Pakistan’s proposal to combat disinformation and promote digital integrity, highlighting Islamabad’s leadership in shaping global digital policy and balancing free expression with accountability.

Articles by Gaitty Ara Anis