Syed Faisal Shakeel

ISLAMABAD: Referring to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, US President Donald Trump said he would work &ldquo;very hard&rdquo; to end something that &ldquo;should have not started.&rdquo;&nbsp;Trump made the statement early Wednesday during a meeting with Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UNGA summit. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also present on the occasion.&nbsp;Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani thanked President Trump for hosting the meeting, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was seated beside him.&nbsp;Trump remarked that he &ldquo;did not want to insult anybody,&rdquo; shortly after the Qatari emir expressed gratitude to him for organizing the meeting aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Palestine. &ldquo;I have had 32 meetings here. This is the one which is most important to me,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp;Earlier, Reuters reported that the US president would present a formula to Arab and Muslim countries to help end the war in Gaza. The news agency said Trump would propose deploying troops from Muslim countries to Gaza, enabling Israel to withdraw.&nbsp;Quoting Axios, the agency also reported that Trump would request Muslim countries to provide financial assistance for Gaza. Prominent Pakistani journalist Syed Talat Hussain told Pakistan TV Digital that the details of the proposal, if any, have not been officially confirmed.&nbsp;Hussain added that Qatar could play an important role in the release of hostages, provided the US ensures an end to the war on Gaza.&nbsp;During the meeting, the US president also emphasized the release of hostages held by Hamas. Referring to the Arab and Muslim leaders, Trump said this was the most important group that could help secure their release.&nbsp;According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Prime Minister Sharif attended the Arab-Islamic Summit on Tuesday, hosted by US President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.&nbsp;Prior to the meeting, the Pakistani prime minister also held bilateral talks with Qatar&rsquo;s emir, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.&nbsp;These meetings were characterized by warm handshakes, informal and candid conversations, and meaningful exchanges among world leaders, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Sharif&rsquo;s office.

Middle East

Leaders of Arab-Islamic countries can help with the release of hostages in Hamas custody, says Trump. PM Shehbaz Sharif attends what the US president dubs the most important meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA.

Trump vows to work 'very hard' to end Gaza war in meeting with Arab-Islamic leaders

SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced Monday it is teaming up with chip giant Broadcom to design and build its own specialized computer processors for artificial intelligence.&nbsp;The partnership was the latest in a series of recent announcements by OpenAI as it seeks to strengthen its position as the preeminent company of the generative AI revolution that began with the release of ChatGPT in November 2022.&nbsp;In the past few weeks, under the leadership of CEO Sam Altman, OpenAI has signed huge investments in data centers and AI chips with US companies Nvidia and AMD, as well as with South Korea&#39;s Samsung and SK Hynix.&nbsp;The partnerships come even as there are no real signs that the AI business is close to breaking even, despite its strong growth.&nbsp;The deals to build out AI&#39;s immense infrastructure needs also threaten further stress on electricity providers, with AI data centers demanding significant power and resources to deliver the computing necessary for the expected usage of the technology.&nbsp;The financial terms of the deal were not part of the announcements and remain unclear for many of the recent deals, drawing some skepticism from observers who worry the AI frenzy may have created a financial bubble, posing a risk to investors.&nbsp;By designing its own chips rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf processors, OpenAI says it can build hardware specifically tailored to how its AI models work, potentially making them faster and more powerful.&nbsp;&quot;Partnering with Broadcom is a critical step in building the infrastructure needed to unlock AI&#39;s potential and deliver real benefits for people and businesses,&quot; said Altman, OpenAI&#39;s co-founder and chief executive.&nbsp;The custom processors will be installed in data centers operated by OpenAI and its partners to keep up with soaring worldwide demand for AI services.&nbsp;OpenAI has grown rapidly to more than 800 million people using its services weekly since its 2022 launch.&nbsp;Broadcom, which will manufacture and help develop the chips, called the collaboration &quot;a pivotal moment&quot; in AI development.

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI is partnering with Broadcom to develop custom AI chips, aiming to boost performance and reduce reliance on standard processors. This move supports growing AI demands despite financial concerns and energy challenges.

OpenAI announces Broadcom partnership to build AI chips

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday hailed the &quot;extraordinary&quot; Gaza ceasefire as bringing hope that US President Donald Trump could broker an end to the Russian invasion of his country.&nbsp;&quot;When peace is achieved for one part of the world, it brings more hope for peace in other regions,&quot; Zelensky said on social media.&nbsp;He added: &quot;If a ceasefire and peace have been achieved for the Middle East, the leadership and determination of global actors can certainly work for us too, in Ukraine.&quot;&nbsp;Trump had once vowed he could end the war in a matter of hours, but despite several rounds of talks and a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been no significant progress towards a peace deal.&nbsp;Russia has refused multiple calls for a ceasefire and outlined hardline demands, essentially calling for Kyiv to capitulate in exchange for peace.&nbsp;The US leader has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin in recent weeks and recently said he could see Ukraine reclaiming every inch of territory seized by Russia.&nbsp;Moscow&#39;s army currently controls around a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, which it captured and annexed in 2014.&nbsp;German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged Trump to carry the momentum from brokering the Israel-Hamas ceasefire into efforts on Ukraine.&nbsp;&quot;We also hope that the American president will now use the influence he has exerted on the parties involved in the Middle East to work with us on the Russian government,&quot; Merz said in Egypt, where he was to attend a summit of world leaders, including Trump.&nbsp;Merz added that he will discuss the Russia-Ukraine war settlement with Trump at the summit.

Europe

Ukrainian President Zelensky praised the Gaza ceasefire as a hopeful sign for Ukraine, urging US President Trump to apply similar efforts toward ending Russia's invasion. German Chancellor Merz echoed support for renewed peace talks.

Gaza deal brings hope for Ukraine: Zelensky

NAIROBI: Around 300,000 South Sudanese have fled the country in 2025 alone, largely due to escalating conflict, the UN Commission on Human Rights said on Monday. South Sudan has been beset by political instability and ethnic violence since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011. A fragile power-sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and his first vice-president Riek Machar, suspended last month, has been unravelling for months in the world&#39;s youngest country. &quot;Armed clashes are occurring on a scale not seen since a cessation of hostilities was signed in 2017, with civilians bearing the brunt of human rights violations and displacements,&quot; the United Nations said in a statement. &quot;Women remain disproportionately affected, bearing the greatest burdens and risks of forcible displacement,&quot; the statement continued. The Commission&#39;s chairman, Yasmin Sooka, blamed the crisis on the &quot;deliberate choices&quot; of South Sudanese leaders, saying they have &quot;put their interests above those of their people&quot;.

Former child soldiers stand in line waiting to be registered with UNICEF to receive a release package, in Yambio, South Sudan. (AP)

Africa

South Sudan has been beset by political instability and ethnic violence since it gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

Around 300,000 South Sudanese fled country in 2025, largely due to conflict: UN

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Law enforcement agencies dispersed violent protesters in Muridke on Monday, resulting in casualties on both sides after street protests by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) activists. According to law enforcement agency sources, authorities launched an operation to break up the unruly protest but faced resistance from the TLP members. The protesters pelted policemen with stones, attacked officers with spiked batons, and hurled petrol bombs. Authorities said the situation worsened quickly when the unruly protesters randomly opened fire on law enforcement officials and civilians in the area. Security forces were compelled to take limited defensive action to protect themselves and restore order. The confrontation resulted in significant casualties before the protest was brought under control. One Punjab police Station House Officer (SHO) was martyred, 48 were injured, and 17 suffered gunshot wounds. Authorities report that three TLP protesters were killed in the clashes, along with one bystander, while eight civilians were injured. The unruly protesters also set fire to 40 government and private vehicles before they were dispersed. After the dispersal, law enforcement agencies arrested several people involved in the violence. A search operation is ongoing as authorities seek to apprehend more suspects and keep the area secure.

Security

Violent clashes erupted in Muridke as TLP protesters confronted law enforcement, resulting in multiple deaths, injuries, and property damage. Police restored order after using defensive action and launched arrests and search operations to secure the area

LEAs disperse protesters in Muridke

LAHORE: Spinner Noman Ali grabbed four wickets to restrict South Africa to 216-6 at the close of play on day two of the first Test in Lahore on Monday, despite a fighting half-century from Tony de Zorzi.&nbsp;Spinners dominated on a turning Gaddafi Stadium pitch as all the day&#39;s 11 wickets went to slow bowlers, with South African left-armer Senuran Muthusamy taking a career-best 6-117 to dismiss Pakistan for 378.&nbsp;Zorzi was holding the fort at the close with 81 not out and Muthusamy on six as South Africa trail by 162 runs in the first innings.&nbsp;Zorzi batted with guts, knocking nine boundaries and a six, combating Noman, who claimed 4-85.&nbsp;South Africa started off well with 45-0 on the board when Noman removed touring skipper Aiden Markram for 20 and Wiaan Mulder for 17, both caught behind by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.&nbsp;Ryan Rickelton, who scored a punishing 71 with two sixes and nine boundaries, and Zorzi added 94 for the third wicket, taking on the spinners with some aggressive shots.&nbsp;It was part-timer Salman Agha who broke the stand by forcing an edge from Rickelton with Babar Azam taking a smart low catch in the slips.&nbsp;Noman returned for his third spell to get Tristan Stubbs caught behind for eight and Kyle Kyle Verreynne leg-before for two while Sajid Khan removed Dewald Brevis for a golden duck.&nbsp;Earlier, it was Noman&#39;s like-for-like left-armer Muthusamy who destroyed Pakistan after they resumed on 313-5, losing their last five wickets for just 16 runs.&nbsp;Agha hit five fours and three sixes in his 93 and was last man out, caught in the deep off spinner Prenelan Subrayen, who took 2-78.&nbsp;Agha added 49 with Rizwan to take their sixth-wicket stand to 163 before Muthusamy ripped out the middle order with three wickets in the 12th over of the day.&nbsp;Rizwan was the first to go, for 75, when he edged a sharply turning ball to wicketkeeper Verreynne after a knock containing two fours and two sixes.&nbsp;Two balls later Noman went without scoring, bowled when he played down the wrong line and then Sajid Khan followed first ball, caught in the slips.&nbsp;It became 378-9 when Muthusamy bowled Shaheen Shah Afridi, on seven, for his sixth wicket.&nbsp;His previous Test best was 4-45 against Bangladesh in Chattogram last year.

Cricket

Spinner Noman Ali’s four wickets reduced South Africa to 216-6 in reply to Pakistan’s 378 on day two of the Lahore Test, despite Tony de Zorzi’s unbeaten 81. Earlier, Muthusamy claimed a career-best 6-117.

Noman derails South Africa to 216-6 in first Pakistan Test

KHAN YUNIS: Several buses carrying prisoners released by Israel in exchange for hostages freed on Monday by Hamas arrived in the Gazan city of Khan Yunis, an AFP journalist saw. Thousands of people gathered to welcome the prisoners, cheering and waving Palestinian and Hamas flags in celebration

Buses carrying Palestinian prisoners arrive in Gaza's Khan Yunis

THE HAGUE: The Dutch government took effective control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia, in what it said was a &ldquo;highly exceptional&rdquo; move over worries that corporate governance shortcomings pose a potential risk to European economic security. In a statement late Sunday, the Dutch ministry of economic affairs said it had invoked the rarely used Goods Availability Act to intervene in the business of Nexperia, which makes semiconductors used in the automotive and consumer technology industries.<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" 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=1977462365701501128&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=79f3e8bbfb6998ee9f3d17259b8297858543e04e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 487px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1977462365701501128"></iframe></div></div>Nexperia based in the Dutch city of Nijmegen but owned by China&#39;s Wingtech Technology.&nbsp;Risk to economic security&nbsp;Concerns about Nexperia&rsquo;s governance &ldquo;posed a threat to the continuity and safeguarding on Dutch and European soil of crucial technological knowledge and capabilities,&quot; the ministry said. &ldquo;Losing these capabilities could pose a risk to Dutch and European economic security,&rdquo; it said, without elaborating. The government said it wanted to prevent a situation in which Nexperia&#39;s chips would &ldquo;become unavailable in an emergency.&rdquo; The government provided few details about its decision to invoke the act on September 30, but the move underscores wider geopolitical tensions between China and the West over the development and mastery of advanced technologies such as computer chips. Nexperia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. &lsquo;Politicization of commercial matters&rsquo;Wingtech said in a social media post that it &ldquo;firmly opposes the politicization of commercial matters.&quot; Wingtech called the Dutch government&#39;s move &ldquo;an excessive intervention based on geopolitical bias rather than a fact-based risk assessment&rdquo; that&#39;s based on the &ldquo;unfounded pretext of national security.&quot; Wingtech shares slumped 10% - the daily limit - on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Wingtech told the exchange that the decision &ldquo;temporarily restricts&quot; its control over Nexperia. The Dutch government said it wanted to prevent a situation in which Nexperia&rsquo;s chips would &ldquo;become unavailable in an emergency.&rdquo;Nexperia&rsquo;s &ldquo;regular production process can continue,&rdquo; it added. &lsquo;Legal remedies&rsquo;The company said it would pursue &ldquo;legal remedies,&rdquo; vowed to protect the rights and interests of the company and its shareholders; and is &ldquo;actively contacting relevant government departments to seek support.&rdquo; The Dutch government said its move to exert control means &ldquo;company decisions may be blocked or reversed by the Minister of Economic Affairs if they are (potentially) harmful to the interests of the company, to its future as a Dutch and European enterprise, and/or to the preservation of this critical value chain for Europe.&rdquo; Nexperia was spun off from Phillips Semiconductors two decades ago and then purchased in 2018 by Wingtech. In 2023, the British government blocked Nexperia&#39;s bid to acquire Wales-based chipmaker Newport Wafer Fab, citing national security risks. Late last year, the US Commerce Department included Wingtech in an expanded list of Chinese technology companies subject to export controls. &lsquo;Risk to our national security&rsquo;&nbsp;Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said the move was intended to impair China&rsquo;s ability to use advanced technologies that &ldquo;pose a risk to our national security.&rdquo; China &ldquo;consistently opposes the overstretching of national security concepts and discriminatory practices targeting companies from specific countries,&rdquo; Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Lin Jian said Monday when asked about the issue. &ldquo;Relevant countries should genuinely uphold market principles and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues.&rdquo; The European Union has been in &ldquo;close contact&rdquo; with Dutch authorities and will now work with the Netherlands on &ldquo;next steps&rdquo; over securing crucial technological capabilities on the continent, European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said.

Dutch ministry of economic affairs says it invoked Goods Availability Act to intervene in the business of Nexperia, which makes semiconductors; Nexperia based in the Dutch city of Nijmegen is owned by China's Wingtech Technology.

Dutch govt takes control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia 

Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have deepened following a surge in cross-border terrorist attacks and retaliatory strikes by Pakistani forces, as Islamabad accuses Kabul of allowing banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists to operate freely from Afghan soil.&nbsp;Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, currently on a week-long visit to India has denied the presence of the TTP in Afghanistan. His remarks came just days after TTP terrorists ambushed a Pakistani military convoy in the northwestern Orakzai&nbsp;District, killing 11 soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and a major.&nbsp;Soon after, the TTP launched coordinated cross-border assaults on Pakistani military posts, exposing what security analysts describe as a growing nexus between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP.&nbsp;In response, Pakistani forces carried out precision strikes targeting TTP and Daesh hideouts inside Afghanistan, reportedly eliminating more than 200 terrorists.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent goodwill toward KabulPakistan has long supported the Taliban-led government in Kabul. Islamabad was one of the few countries to keep its embassy open after the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover in August 2021 and has consistently advocated for unfreezing Afghanistan&rsquo;s $9 billion in foreign assets.&nbsp;Through regional forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Pakistan repeatedly urged the international community to extend humanitarian and economic support to Afghanistan.&nbsp;Islamabad&rsquo;s approach has long been guided by the belief that a stable and friendly government in Kabul is essential for regional peace and the security of Pakistan&rsquo;s western borders.&nbsp;In this spirit, Pakistan even extended an invitation to Afghanistan to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), envisioning trilateral cooperation with China to bring investment, energy connectivity, and infrastructure development to the war-torn country.&nbsp;Goodwill met with denial and hostilityHowever, officials and observers say this goodwill has largely been met with mistrust and denial from the Afghan side.&nbsp;&ldquo;All Pakistan expected in return was for the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against TTP terrorists using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan,&rdquo; said retired Air Commodore Khalid Chishti. &ldquo;But instead of cooperation, we are witnessing denial, deflection, and, increasingly, alignment with India.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chishti said the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s outright denial of TTP&#39;s presence &ldquo;amounts to making fun of themselves.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The whole world knows the TTP is operating from Afghanistan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Either the Taliban are part of it or they are helpless. When they claim control over all of Afghanistan yet deny cross-border attacks, it shows either a lack of capacity or will.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi &ldquo;spent much of his youth in Pakistan and served as the Taliban&rsquo;s information minister during their first regime from 1996 to 2001,&rdquo; describing him as &ldquo;someone for whom Pakistan was like a second home.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;This is the same individual once listed as a terrorist&mdash;whom India accused of hijacking its plane&mdash;but now welcomed in New Delhi simply because he shares an anti-Pakistan stance,&rdquo; Chishti noted.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s expanding footprint in AfghanistanThe retired air commodore said India has long used Afghanistan as a strategic pressure point against Pakistan, pouring billions into infrastructure, education, and development projects to gain political leverage.&nbsp;&ldquo;India cannot compete with Pakistan on the eastern border,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;So, it funds proxies across the western border&mdash;buying loyalty, outsourcing terrorism, and using the TTP as a rented force.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chishti also cited a 2016 statement attributed to India&rsquo;s current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in which he reportedly said India would use the Taliban &ldquo;the way we want,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;They are mercenaries. India is a much bigger economy. We will inject more funds, and they will be on our side.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the statement reflects India&rsquo;s long-standing intent to exploit instability in Afghanistan to its advantage.&nbsp;During the US presence in Afghanistan, Chishti noted, &ldquo;around 2,700 contractors were told to pay protection money to the Taliban&mdash;nearly $47 million per week&mdash;which shows how the group learned to monetize conflict and power.&rdquo;&nbsp;Terrorism data paints grim pictureAccording to data from the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), terrorist attacks in Pakistan surged from 89 in 2021 to 262 in 2022, 306 in 2023, and 521 in 2024. In the first 10 months of 2025 alone, 585 attacks have been recorded&mdash;the highest escalation in recent years.&nbsp;The situation worsened during Pakistan&rsquo;s brief conflict with India in May 2025, when a 40-member TTP group&mdash;including the son of a Taliban official&mdash;reportedly attempted to open a western front against Pakistan. Analysts say this highlights a dangerous convergence between anti-Pakistan groups operating from Afghan territory and external actors seeking to destabilize the region.&nbsp;The latest escalation came after the October 8 attacks in Orakzai and Dera Ismail Khan, which killed 18 security personnel. Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory strikes were followed by a terrorist assault on the DI Khan Police Training School by a group linked to the Taliban, killing seven policemen and injuring several others.&nbsp;According to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan witnessed a 46% rise in violence in the third quarter of 2025, with at least 901 fatalities and 599 injuries in 329 incidents of terrorism and counterterror operations.&nbsp;A looming questionChishti said the growing threat underscores the need for a &ldquo;clearer regional strategy.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We must protect our borders and people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But continued tolerance for terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan endangers not just Pakistan&rsquo;s security&mdash;it threatens regional peace and stability as a whole.&rdquo;&nbsp;As Pakistan re-evaluates its policy toward Kabul, one question looms large: Are the Afghan Taliban truly living up to India&rsquo;s expectations&mdash;or merely playing into a dangerous regional game that could consume them next?

Pakistan’s goodwill toward the Afghan Taliban government is straining as TTP attacks surge, fueling suspicions of Indian influence.

TTP resurgence strains Pakistan-Afghanistan ties, fuels suspicions of Indian hand

ISLAMABAD: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their work explaining how innovation drives sustained economic growth. The 11 million Swedish kronor ($1.156 million) prize was split half to Mokyr, half shared between Aghion and Howitt. Joel Mokyr Joel Mokyr was born in 1946 in Leiden, the Netherlands. He is a professor at Northwestern University, US. Awarded half of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, he identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress. Mokyr&rsquo;s research shows that for continuous innovation, societies need both knowledge that innovations work and scientific explanations of why. He also emphasized the importance of openness to new ideas and allowing change for growth to flourish. Philippe Aghion Philippe Aghion was born in 1956 in Paris, France. He shares half of the prize with Peter Howitt. He is a professor at Coll&egrave;ge de France, INSEAD, and the London School of Economics. Aghion co-developed a mathematical model explaining sustained growth through creative destruction, where new and better products replace older ones, driving economic progress but also disrupting existing companies. Peter Howitt Peter Howitt, born in 1946 in Canada, is a professor at Brown University, USA. He jointly received half the prize with Aghion for their theory of creative destruction. Howitt&rsquo;s work focuses on how firms innovate by developing better products and processes in a competitive rivalry that fuels economic growth, balanced by the social and economic effects of displaced businesses. Laureates&rsquo; research Over the past two centuries, economic growth fueled by technological progress has radically transformed societies. The laureates&rsquo; research uncovers why this sustained growth emerged and how the process of creative destruction underpins ongoing innovation and prosperity. Laureates recognized for explaining innovation-driven growth The Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences 2025 is divided with one half awarded to Joel Mokyr of Northwestern University, US, &ldquo;for having identified the prerequisites for sustained growth through technological progress.&rdquo; The other half is shared by Philippe Aghion of Coll&egrave;ge de France, INSEAD, and the London School of Economics, UK, and Peter Howitt of Brown University, US, &ldquo;for the theory of sustained growth through creative destruction.&rdquo; From centuries of stagnation to continuous growth For most of human history, economic growth was stagnant and irregular, despite occasional breakthroughs. Mokyr&rsquo;s historical research explains that sustained growth requires not only knowing that a technology works but understanding why it works scientifically. This connection between propositional knowledge (scientific explanation) and prescriptive knowledge (practical instruction) created a self-reinforcing cycle essential for continuous innovation. Mokyr also highlights society&rsquo;s openness to new ideas as vital, as during the Enlightenment in Europe, when institutions limited the blocking of innovation by privileged groups. The economic model of creative destruction Aghion and Howitt developed a 1992 mathematical model describing creative destruction, where companies with innovations outcompete older ones, leading to sustained progress. Their macroeconomic model captures the balance between research investment, market competition, and the monopoly profits that incentivise innovation. This process is &ldquo;creative&rdquo; because it fosters new technologies but also &ldquo;destructive&rdquo; as older technologies become obsolete. Economic growth beyond GDP The laureates stated that growth means more than a rise in GDP; it encompasses advances in education, healthcare, job opportunities, and overall quality of life. Since the Industrial Revolution, countries like Sweden and the UK have experienced steady annual growth rates of about 1.5% to 2%. Practical and social foundations for growth Mokyr&rsquo;s work stresses practical and commercial knowledge&rsquo;s importance in turning ideas into innovations. Britain&rsquo;s early growth benefited from skilled artisans and engineers who translated concepts into products. Sustained growth creates winners and losers, often provoking resistance from displaced groups. Managing these conflicts through social institutions is essential for ongoing innovation. Balancing innovation and its social costs Aghion and Howitt show that innovation benefits society but can impose losses on existing firms and their workers. This dual effect requires policies that balance encouraging research and development while addressing social impacts, such as supporting displaced workers through flexible labor arrangements. Insights for future economic policy Their research sheds light on recent challenges, like slowing growth and market dominance reducing competition. Encouraging social mobility and supporting innovators remain crucial.&nbsp;The laureates also warn sustained growth is not synonymous with sustainability, as well-designed policies are needed to address climate change, pollution, and inequality. John Hassler, chair of the Nobel committee, said: &ldquo;Economic growth cannot be taken for granted. We must uphold the mechanisms that underly creative destruction, so that we do not fall back into stagnation.&rdquo;

Professor John Hassler, from left, Hans Ellegren, Permanent Secretary of the Academy of Sciences and Professor Kerstin Enflo, announce Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt as the recipients of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics (AP)

Innovation’s role in economic growth wins Nobel Prize for Economics

BEITUNIA: Under a ceasefire deal many hope will finally turn the page on a two-year war, Israel has been preparing to exchange nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners for the 48 hostages &mdash; some alive, some dead &mdash; still held in the Gaza Strip. The releases have a powerful resonance on both sides. For Israelis, they&#39;re deeply painful, since some of those being released have been convicted over attacks that killed civilians and soldiers. For Palestinians, the issue of prisoners is among the most politically charged, with nearly every Palestinian having a friend or family member who has been jailed by Israel, particularly young men. While Israel views them as terrorists, many Palestinians consider the prisoners as freedom fighters resisting a decades-long Israeli military occupation. In previous exchanges, both sides have sought to tightly manage the releases &mdash; including the images, clothing and ceremonies &mdash; because of their political sensitivity. The 2,000 include some 1,700 of the several thousand Palestinians that Israeli troops seized from Gaza during the 2-year war and have held without charge. Those slated for release also include 250 Palestinians sentenced to prison terms, most of them convicted of murder and terrorism in deadly attacks on Israelis dating back decades, as well as others convicted on lesser charges, according to Israel&#39;s Justice Ministry. The longest serving among them has been imprisoned for nearly 40 years. How the Palestinians&#39; release is to play outIsrael&#39;s Prison Service said it has been preparing the prisoners held at two prisons &mdash; Ofer, near Jerusalem, and Ketziot, in the southern Negev desert. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Sunday the release would take place after the living hostages are freed. Those seized from Gaza during the war will be returned there. Some of the 250 convicted Palestinians will return home to East Jerusalem or the West Bank or Gaza, while a majority will be sent to Gaza or into exile abroad. Palestinians on Monday morning gathered at viewpoints on the hills overlooking Ofer Prison, from which some of the detainees and prisoners are expected to be freed. Eagerly awaiting their friends and relatives, they drank coffee and said they hoped the agreement could pave a path toward peace. An armored Israeli vehicle drove up the hill from the prison fired tear gas and rubber bullets at one side of the hill. As drones buzzed overhead, the crowd scattered. The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called &ldquo;terrorist organizations&rdquo; risked arrest. &ldquo;You have been warned,&rdquo; read the flier, which AP obtained on site. Israel has warned people in the West Bank against celebrating, as has frequently happened in past releases, a Palestinian Authority official and the family of a prisoner told AP. In neighborhoods where prisoners&rsquo; families live, Israeli forces distributed fliers warning that &ldquo;anyone who participates in such activities exposes himself to punishment and arrest,&rdquo; the official said. The Associated Press reviewed a copy of the flier. Israel&rsquo;s military did not respond to questions about the flier or restrictions. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press, and the family because they feared reprisals. Israel&rsquo;s military did not respond to questions about restrictions or warnings. Who is on the listThe rapid developments since last week&rsquo;s ceasefire agreement have left questions up to the last minute over who will be freed. Israel released a list of some 250 convicted prisoners it would free, but Hamas sought changes. Early Monday, Hamas published the names of just over 1,900 prisoners and detainees it said were slated for release, though Israel did not confirm the list. Israel has provided little information about the 1,700 from Gaza to be freed. Israeli forces detained thousands of Palestinians over the course of the war during raids on shelters and hospitals, and at checkpoints stopping families as they were fleeing their homes amid military operations. Hundreds have been released over the course of the war. Monday&#39;s release would still leave about 1,300 Palestinians from Gaza in Israeli custody, according to a count of detainees in September by the Israeli human rights group Hamoked. According to Hamas&#39;s list, the Gaza detainees to be freed include two women, six teenagers under 18, and around 30 men over 60. Most of the detainees have been held under new laws passed in Israel at the start of the war that allowed Palestinians to be detained for months as &ldquo;unlawful combatants&rdquo; without judicial review or access to lawyers. Rights groups, the UN, and detainees have reported routine abuse in the detention facilities, including beatings and insufficient food. Israel says it adheres to its prison standards under law and investigates any reports of violations. The list of 250 convicted prisoners to be freed, ranging in age from 19 to 64, includes 159 affiliated with Fatah, the political party that runs the Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank, and 63 associated with Hamas. The remainder are unaffiliated or belong to other groups. Many were arrested in the early 2000s, which saw the eruption of the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising fueled by anger over continued occupation despite years of peace talks. The uprising turned bloody, with Palestinian armed groups carrying out attacks that killed hundreds of Israelis, and the Israeli military killing several thousand Palestinians. Some were convicted in military trials that rights advocates say often lack due process. Others have been incarcerated for months or years without trial in what is known as administrative detention. Israel says the practice, widely criticized by Palestinians and human rights groups, is needed to prevent attacks and avoid sharing sensitive intelligence. The list does not include the roughly half dozen highest-profile prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, Hassan Salameh, Ahmed Saadat, and Abbas Al-Sayyed. Barghouti is widely seen as a potential successor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel&#39;s list includes:Raed SheikhA 51-year-old Palestinian police officer and Fatah member, Sheikh was sentenced to multiple life terms in 2000 for his role in the killing of two Israeli soldiers who were attacked by a mob at a West Bank police station, including one thrown from the station&#39;s window. Mahmoud IssaA 57-year-old Hamas commander imprisoned for life in 1993 &mdash; before the Oslo interim peace accords &mdash; Issa was among those convicted of kidnapping and killing a 29-year-old Israeli border police officer that year. Much of his more than three decades behind bars were spent in solitary confinement, conditions that have made him a symbol among prisoners&rsquo; rights advocates. Shamasneh brothersThe two brothers &mdash; 56-year-old Mohammed and 62-year-old Abdel Jawad Shamasneh &mdash; were in 1993 sentenced to multiple life terms for their role in a stabbing attack that killed Israeli hitchhikers whose bodies were later found in a Jerusalem riverbed in 1990 during the first Palestinian intifada. Iyad FataftaA 47-year-old Fatah member serving a life sentence, Fatafta was one of two men convicted of murder for stabbing American tourist Kristine Luken and a friend who was hiking with her and survived.

Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for 48 Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal, marking a tense, politically charged moment for both sides.

Articles by Syed Faisal Shakeel