WASHINGTON: A US federal jury convicted on Wednesday an Afghan man &mdash; arrested by Pakistani authorities in 2025 &mdash; for his role in the 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 American troops. Mohammad Sharifullah, an operative of the Islamic State Khorasan (ISK) branch in Afghanistan, was convicted in Virginia of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization. According to prosecutors, Sharifullah scouted out the route to the airport where the suicide bomber later detonated his device among packed crowds trying to flee days after the Taliban seized control of Kabul. The United States withdrew its last troops from Afghanistan in August 2021, ending a chaotic evacuation of tens of thousands of Afghans who had rushed to Kabul&#39;s airport in the hopes of boarding a flight out of the country. Sharifullah was extradited to the United States from Pakistan in March 2025 and put on trial in a federal court in Alexandria on the outskirts of the US capital. Sharifullah, who is also known as Jafar, faces up to 20 years in prison. According to US authorities, Sharifullah was involved in a number of ISK attacks between 2016 and his arrest by Pakistani authorities in 2025. They included a June 2016 suicide bombing that targeted Nepali security guards protecting the Canadian embassy in Kabul. Sharifullah was accused of conducting surveillance and transporting the suicide bomber to the attack site. He was also accused of giving weapons instructions to ISK gunmen who attacked the Crocus City Hall near Moscow in March 2024.

Americas

A US federal jury convicts a man for the suicide bombing at Kabul airport that killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 American troops; Sharifullah, a member of the ISK branch in Afghanistan, convicted in Virginia of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization.



Afghan terrorist arrested by Pakistani authorities convicted in US court 

SAN FRANCISCO: Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday defended massive spending on artificial intelligence that dragged down shares despite strong earnings boosted by the technology. The social networking colossus raised its capital expenditures for this year to a range of $125 billion to $145 billion without laying out exactly how that investment would translate into profit. &quot;The way to think about the investment is that we&#39;re making a bet (on) the individual things that people care about, and that people are going to be more important in the future,&quot; Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg said during an earnings call, as analysts pressed him about the company&#39;s heavy spending on AI. He gave the example of a hot trend in &quot;agentic&quot; AI in which digital assistants handle computer tasks independently at the behest of people. &quot;There are a lot of agents out there that people are building for different things, and there aren&#39;t that many that I would want to give to my mother,&quot; Zuckerberg said. &quot;I think getting to that quality bar is something that I care about more than hitting a specific week for launching (a new product) or something like that.&quot; Zuckerberg spotlighted a new Muse Spark AI model built by Meta&#39;s nascent &quot;Superintelligence Lab,&quot; saying its technology will be put to work in Meta&#39;s offerings such as smartglasses and its advertising system. &quot;We are trying novel things,&quot; Zuckerberg said. The AI investment from the company that owns Instagram and Facebook is not directly tied to a revenue stream as with Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, which sell their AI-powered cloud services to clients worldwide. Meta sent tremors on Wall Street by announcing in its earnings release that expenses at the tech giant notched up to $33.4 billion as it chases &quot;superintelligence&quot; through major infrastructure buys, and went on a hiring spree for top AI talent. Shares dropped more than 6 percent even though the company topped forecasts with a profit of $26.8 billion on revenue of $56.3 billion in the quarter. Headwinds and scrutinyAdding to investor unease about Meta, chief financial officer Susan Li told analysts Meta continues to monitor legal and regulatory &quot;headwinds&quot; in the US and Europe, including social media addiction lawsuits. &quot;We continue to see scrutiny on youth-related issues and have additional trials scheduled for this year in the US, which may ultimately result in a material loss,&quot; Li warned. A Los Angeles jury in March found Meta and YouTube liable for harming a young woman because of an addictive design of their social media platforms, ordering the companies to pay millions of dollars in damages. The verdict hands plaintiffs in more than a thousand similar pending cases significant leverage &mdash; and signals to the tech industry that juries are prepared to hold social media companies accountable for the mental health toll of their design choices.

The social networking colossus raised its capital expenditures for this year to a range of $125 billion to $145 billion without laying out exactly how that investment would translate into profit.

Meta chief Zuckerberg doubles down on AI spending 

This live blog follows updates for Day 62 of the US-Israel war on Iran. For a recap of Day 61, go <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-61" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">here</a>.<hr style="line-height: 2;"><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The United States considers extending its naval blockade of Iran for months</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Iran says blockade pressure fails and oil storage capacity remains sufficient</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Oil prices rise sharply amid fears of prolonged Hormuz disruption</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Diplomatic contacts continue as leaders discuss ceasefire and regional developments</li><li id="isPasted" style="line-height: 2; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Officials warn military escalation risks severe consequences for the wider international community.</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Oil prices surge as Trump warns Iran blockade could last &#39;months if needed&#39;Published: April 30, 2026 | 00:05 GMT | by Web Desk President Donald Trump says a US naval blockade against Iran could last months, leading oil prices to spike to their highest in more than four years. Brent crude oil futures jumped 8% to $120 per barrel, hitting their highest level since June 2022 as markets priced in dim prospects for a near-term resolution to the Iran conflict or the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Meeting oil executives, Trump contended the blockade of Iranian ports &mdash; which Tehran has demanded must end before any deal &mdash; was more effective than bombing. Trump, at the meeting that took place on Tuesday, discussed his efforts &ldquo;to alleviate global oil markets and steps we could take to continue the current blockade for months if needed and minimize impact on American consumers,&rdquo; a White House official said on condition of anonymity. With diplomacy between Iran and the United States at a standstill after false starts, Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who warned him of &ldquo;damaging consequences&rdquo; if the United States and Israel resume their war on Iran. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Iran parliament speaker says no oil wells &lsquo;exploded&rsquo; under US blockadePublished: April 29, 2026 | 23:26 GMT | by Web Desk Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that US measures to halt Iran&rsquo;s sale of oil have yet to see its storage tanks reach capacity and have simply resulted in oil prices going up. &ldquo;Three days in, no well exploded,&rdquo; Ghalibaf said in a post on X. &ldquo;We could extend to 30 and livestream the well here.&rdquo; The speaker for Iran&rsquo;s parliament added that members of the US administration, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who claimed the blockade would put pressure on Iran, are acting on &ldquo;junk advice&rdquo;. &ldquo;[They] push the blockade theory and cranked oil up to $120+. Next stop: 140. The issue isn&rsquo;t the theory, it&rsquo;s the mindset.&rdquo; <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Gaza-bound aid ship blocked by Israeli military speedboatsPublished: April 29, 2026 | 21:14 GMT | by Web Desk Organisers of a humanitarian aid ship sailing towards Gaza with the aim of breaking Israel&rsquo;s blockade say their vessel has been approached by apparent Israeli speedboats. &ldquo;Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as &lsquo;Israel&rsquo;, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,&rdquo; said the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission. &ldquo;Boat communications are being jammed, and a SOS was issued.&rdquo; <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Putin warned US against new military action in Iran in Trump call: KremlinPublished: April 29, 2026 | 19:56 GMT | by AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart against &quot;damaging consequences&quot; of a new military action in Iran, Kremlin aide told reporters Wednesday after the two leaders spoke by phone. Putin &quot;highlighted the inevitable and extremely damaging consequences not only for Iran and its neighbours, but also for the entire international community, should the US and Israel resort to military action once again,&quot; said Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Iran&rsquo;s Araghchi speaks with Lebanese parliament speakerPublished: April 29, 2026 | 20:26 GMT | by Web Desk Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says he spoke by phone with Lebanon&rsquo;s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry, Al Jazeera reported. In a post on his official Telegram account, Araghchi said the two officials &ldquo;discussed and exchanged views on the latest regional developments&rdquo;. As we reported, Araghchi also spoke by phone earlier with India&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, discussing Iran&rsquo;s ceasefire with the US and other regional and international developments. <hr>

Middle East

Iran’s Araghchi discusses views on the latest regional developments in call with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry; Ghalibaf says no oil wells ‘exploded’ under US blockade; Putin warns Trump against "damaging consequences" of a new military action in Iran.








Oil prices surge as Trump warns Iran blockade could last 'months if needed'

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is accelerating maritime reforms to strengthen its ports as regional trans-shipment hubs and boost trade resilience, as the government seeks to position the country as a key economic gateway amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said Pakistan&rsquo;s ports, Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port, are being repositioned under a government-led strategy to enhance regional connectivity and ensure uninterrupted trade flows.&nbsp;Speaking at a seminar on maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region, Chaudhry said the reforms are aimed at reducing logistical bottlenecks and improving efficiency.&nbsp;&ldquo;Swift and coordinated decisions in the national interest have reduced risks to trade, energy and logistics,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He said a high-level committee formed under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in March has already delivered operational gains, including record trans-shipment volumes at Karachi Port, zero backlog at Port Qasim and expanded activity at Gwadar Port.&nbsp;Chaudhry said customs reforms, introduced in coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue, replaced full cargo scanning with risk-based management, cutting clearance times and lowering export costs. Charges for exporters at Karachi Port were reduced by 60%, while perishable goods now face minimal inspection delays.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan has turned challenges into opportunities, maintaining trade continuity and building shipping resilience,&rdquo; the minister said, adding that the country could emerge as &ldquo;a rising regional economic power&rdquo; through sustained maritime modernization.&nbsp;Karachi Port Trust Chairman Shahid Ahmed said additional freight rail links and upgraded port infrastructure would further strengthen logistics capacity, as Pakistan advances its broader strategy to become a regional maritime and trade hub.

Economy

Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says Pakistan is accelerating maritime reforms to upgrade Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port, aiming to boost trade efficiency and position itself as a regional trans-shipment hub.

Pakistan pushes maritime reforms to boost trade, strengthen regional hub

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar intensified diplomatic outreach on Wednesday, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to dialogue and engagement as efforts continue to sustain momentum from Iran-related negotiations hosted in Pakistan. In a call with UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Dar discussed the evolving regional situation and reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to &ldquo;promoting dialogue, diplomacy and constructive engagement&rdquo; between the parties, according to a statement from Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office. The outreach comes amid continued diplomatic activity following Pakistan-facilitated Iran-US talks earlier this month, which followed a fragile ceasefire after weeks of conflict that disrupted energy routes, unsettled oil markets and raised concerns of broader regional escalation. According to the Foreign Office, Cooper appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;sustained efforts for peace and stability in the region&rdquo; and its continued engagement in support of diplomacy. Islamabad has since maintained active contacts with regional and international partners to build consensus for continued negotiations. Separately, Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki met Dar to discuss recent regional developments. Dar stressed the importance of dialogue for peace and stability and thanked Saudi Arabia for its support and appreciation of Pakistan&rsquo;s peace efforts. The Foreign Office said both sides reaffirmed the &ldquo;enduring and fraternal relationship&rdquo; between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Islamabad&rsquo;s broader regional diplomacy as it continues efforts to support a negotiated path toward lasting peace.

Foreign Affairs

Ishaq Dar steps up diplomatic outreach, engaging the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia to support dialogue and sustain momentum in Iran-related negotiations.

Pakistan ramps up diplomacy as regional peace efforts continue

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: &ldquo;Pakistan has been working as a key intermediary, trying to bridge gaps between Washington and Tehran,&rdquo; says former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, highlighting Islamabad&rsquo;s significant diplomatic role amid tensions between Iran and the United States.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking exclusively on a Pakistan TV program, Beyond Borders, former US NSA stressed that while Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts are significant, the wide gap between the two sides continues to challenge any breakthrough.&nbsp;Bolton says the core issue remains the deep mistrust and conflicting objectives between Tehran and Washington, making negotiations extremely difficult at this stage. He noted that Iran may be seeking to delay critical discussions, particularly around its nuclear program, while trying to recover from recent economic and military pressure.&nbsp;Bolton pointed to the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the ongoing blockade is severely impacting Iran&rsquo;s economy while also putting global energy markets under strain. He suggested that opening the Strait for Gulf states, while maintaining pressure on Iran, could provide much-needed stability to international oil supplies.&nbsp;He argued that sustained economic pressure could deepen alleged internal divisions within Iran&rsquo;s leadership, potentially leading to significant political shifts. Despite ongoing mediation by Pakistan, Bolton cautioned that the situation remains volatile, with serious implications for regional security and the global economy.

Beyond Borders

John Bolton says Pakistan is acting as a key intermediary between the United States and Iran, but warns deep mistrust and conflicting objectives hinder progress in negotiations.

Ex-US national security advisor says Pakistan key intermediary bridging gaps in US-Iran crisis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said Pakistan is continuing its efforts to maintain peace in the region, highlighting the country&rsquo;s diplomatic role in easing tensions and promoting stability, his office said.&nbsp;Addressing the federal cabinet, the prime minister said marathon talks between Iran and the United States held in Islamabad on April 11 lasted 21 hours and marked a major diplomatic breakthrough.&nbsp;He said Pakistan made sincere and coordinated efforts for the success of the negotiations, with contributions from Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and other senior officials.&nbsp;He said the efforts helped extend the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, which continues to hold. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also played an important role in the process, he added.&nbsp;The prime minister informed the cabinet that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Pakistan with his delegation and held multiple rounds of talks, including a two-hour meeting with the prime minister. According to PM Sharif, Araghchi assured that Iran would respond positively after consultations with its leadership.&nbsp;He, however, expressed concern over rising global crude oil prices, saying new prices were expected to be determined on Friday. He described the situation as challenging but said that collective wisdom and coordinated efforts would help keep matters under control.&nbsp;PM Sharif appreciated Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik and his team for maintaining stability in domestic fuel supply, saying Pakistan avoided panic at petrol pumps, unlike some other countries.&nbsp;He said the country&rsquo;s oil import bill had increased from $300 million before the conflict to $800 million, putting added pressure on the economy. He also noted a decline in petroleum consumption this week compared with the previous week.&nbsp;The prime minister said that although macroeconomic indicators had been improving, the recent war had affected gains made over the past two years toward economic stability.&nbsp;He further told the cabinet that Pakistan had repaid $3.5 billion in due loans and maintained its foreign exchange reserves with support from Saudi Arabia. He particularly acknowledged the role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in helping Pakistan sustain its reserve levels.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting on the promotion of investment in Islamabad, on 28 April, 2026 (Photo: PID)

Says Pakistan is making sincere and coordinated efforts for the success of negotiations, with contributions from Field Marshal Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and other senior officials.

Pakistan’s efforts to maintain regional peace continue: PM Sharif

BRUSSELS: The EU said on Wednesday that Meta is failing to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram, potentially exposing them to inappropriate content -- and putting the tech giant at risk of a massive fine. The European Union has in recent months stepped up efforts to protect children online, with several member countries considering social media bans for under-16s. The EU executive is also exploring a possible bloc-wide age limit on social media after coming under intense pressure to take broader action, following Australia&#39;s groundbreaking ban on the use of such platforms by under-16s. In its latest move to enhance protections for children online, the EU said a probe found Meta had broken digital content rules and told the US firm to &quot;strengthen&quot; its measures to prevent, detect and remove under-13s on Facebook and Instagram. Under Meta&#39;s own terms and conditions, the minimum age to access the social media platforms is 13. In its preliminary view, the EU found Meta had ineffective measures to enforce its own age restrictions. &quot;Terms and conditions should not be mere written statements, but rather the basis for concrete action to protect users -- including children,&quot; said EU tech tsar Henna Virkkunen. If the regulator&#39;s views on Meta are confirmed, the EU can impose a fine of up to 6% of the company&#39;s worldwide annual turnover. Meta disagreed with the EU&#39;s findings. &quot;We&#39;re clear that Instagram and Facebook are intended for people aged 13 and older, and we have measures in place to detect and remove accounts from anyone under that age,&quot; a Meta spokesperson said, adding the company would continue to engage with the EU. Ongoing Meta probeThe EU has vowed to ensure Big Tech gets to grips with the many online dangers for children. In February, it gave the unprecedented warning to China&#39;s TikTok to change its &quot;addictive design&quot; or risk heavy fines. Wednesday&#39;s preliminary findings against Meta come after the EU opened an investigation in May 2024 under the Digital Services Act (DSA), an online content law that has been fiercely criticized by US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration. The DSA is part of reinforced legal weaponry adopted by the EU in recent years to curb what Brussels describes as Big Tech&#39;s excesses. European regulators found Meta had &quot;no effective controls&quot; to check if children were simply creating accounts by entering false birth dates. The EU also said Meta&#39;s tool to report the presence of children on Facebook or Instagram was &quot;difficult to use and not effective, requiring up to seven clicks just to access the reporting form&quot;. Meta also &quot;inadequately&quot; identified the risks of children under 13 accessing the apps, and the potential for exposure to &quot;age-inappropriate experiences&quot;. An EU official said the risks to children included &quot;bullying, harassment&quot; and &quot;violent content&quot;. Brussels added that Meta&#39;s risk assessment &quot;contradicts large bodies of evidence&quot; from across the EU, indicating that around 10-12% of under-13s access the platforms. Meta can avoid fines by offering remedies for the breaches. &#39;Addictive&#39; design concerns&nbsp;The May 2024 probe into Meta is wide-ranging. EU regulators are still looking into how Meta protects users&#39; physical and mental well-being, as well as the &quot;addictive&quot; design of Facebook and Instagram. Alongside the EU&#39;s investigations into online platforms, Brussels this month said an EU-developed age-check app was ready to go. During a press conference in Strasbourg, Virkkunen urged EU member states to accelerate the app&#39;s rollout so European citizens can use it by the end of 2026. Wednesday&#39;s moves are part of several measures taken by the EU.

Europe

Says Meta failed to stop under-13s using Facebook and Instagram, exposing children to harmful content; company faces possible fines of up to 6% of global turnover.

EU finds Meta failing to keep under-13s off Facebook, Instagram

ISLAMABAD: United States President Donald Trump will appear on a new limited-edition US passport being issued to mark the country&rsquo;s 250th anniversary next July, the White House said on Wednesday.&nbsp;The commemorative passports are part of wider celebrations planned for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, with events scheduled across the country.&nbsp;Images released by the White House and the Department of State show Trump&rsquo;s portrait included in the passport design alongside elements of the Declaration of Independence and the American flag. The design also carries the president&rsquo;s signature in gold. Another page features an illustration of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1167px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2049249271946391799&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=57aa8c83d905caa0ac2d80ff10531f7f3d7fdd25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2049249271946391799"></iframe></div></div>State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott, as cited by Al-Jazeera, said the special passports would be released in limited numbers and made available to US citizens applying through the Washington Passport Agency. Distribution is expected to begin this summer and continue while supplies last. Current US passports already contain images linked to American history, including the Battle of Fort McHenry, the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, and symbols such as the Statue of Liberty.&nbsp;The passport redesign follows other efforts by Trump and his administration to place his name, image, or signature on national projects and institutions. This year&rsquo;s national park passes, for example, include Trump&rsquo;s image alongside George Washington, departing from the program&rsquo;s traditional focus on natural landscapes.&nbsp;The United States Mint has also released draft designs for a one-dollar coin featuring Trump&rsquo;s profile as part of the anniversary celebrations. Proposed imagery includes his portrait with the words &ldquo;Liberty&rdquo; and &ldquo;In God We Trust,&rdquo; while the reverse side shows him raising a clenched fist before an American flag with the phrase &ldquo;FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT,&rdquo; referencing a slogan he used after a 2024 assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 858px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1974156375891804229&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=57aa8c83d905caa0ac2d80ff10531f7f3d7fdd25&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1974156375891804229"></iframe></div></div>Trump has also sought to rename New York&rsquo;s Penn Station after himself, though the idea has failed to gain support.&nbsp;His name was also added to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington last year after a controversial vote by board members, marking the first time a major national institution was renamed after a sitting US president.

The redesigned US passport now prominently displays an image and signature of President Donald Trump. (Photo: Screengrab from X/The White House)

Trump to feature on limited-edition US passport for America’s 250th anniversary

ISLAMABAD: Europe was the fastest-warming continent in 2025, with heatwaves reaching inside the Arctic Circle, ocean temperatures at an all-time high, and wildfires burning more land than ever before measured, according to a joint report released Wednesday by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Rising temperatures across the continentThe European State of the Climate 2025 report found that at least 95% of the continent recorded above-average temperatures last year and has been warming at more than twice the global average rate since the 1980s.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/36bb727c-1826-4164-9fe2-1b8dd0acae03.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Date taken from: European State of the Climate 2025 report European land temperatures are now running approximately 2.4&deg;C above pre-industrial levels, the report said. &quot;Europe is the fastest-warming continent, and the impacts are already severe,&quot; said Florian Pappenberger, Director-General of the ECMWF, which co-produced the report. &quot;Almost the whole region has seen above-average annual temperatures.&quot; The WHO said in a statement accompanying the report that the continent experienced &quot;record heatwaves from the Mediterranean to the Arctic,&quot; alongside continued glacier retreat and rising sea surface temperatures. Oceans and glaciers in net lossAccording to the report summary, the annual sea surface temperature for the European ocean region was the highest on record in 2025, the fourth consecutive year that the record was broken. Glaciers across Europe recorded net mass loss, with Iceland experiencing its second-largest glacier loss on record.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/b11539b3-cff0-4bee-ac31-3b01a8228086.png" style="width: 475px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Date &nbsp;taken from: European State of the Climate 2025 report The Greenland Ice Sheet lost around 139 billion tonnes of ice, &quot;equivalent to losing 100 Olympic-sized swimming pools every single hour&quot;, said Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), which operates Copernicus. Wildfires and emissions surgeAround 1,034,000 hectares burned across Europe in 2025, an area larger than Cyprus, the report said, with wildfire emissions also reaching their highest recorded levels. Spain accounted for roughly half of those emissions, with fires across the Iberian Peninsula in August proving particularly destructive. Above-average spring rainfall had produced abundant vegetation that summer heat subsequently dried into fuel. Cyprus, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Germany each set national records for wildfire emissions. The report warned that peatland fires, which can smolder underground for months and release large stores of long-sequestered carbon when they burn, posed a compounding threat to both biodiversity and the climate. Biodiversity at riskThe report devoted significant attention this year to the accelerating link between climate change and biodiversity loss, finding that 2025&#39;s droughts, wildfires, and marine heatwaves caused measurable harm to species and habitats across marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The European Union&#39;s Biodiversity Strategy 2030, which includes legally binding targets to restore at least 20% of land and sea areas by 2030, had seen roughly half its recommended actions completed or underway by the end of 2025, the report said, but cautioned that progress must accelerate to keep pace with ecological loss. In a post on X, the agency described the findings as further evidence of accelerating climate change across the region, warning that the impacts are becoming increasingly severe and widespread.<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=2049322923572236613&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=cbbdbe87abe73c43dad314e8dd9a05a25de16f68&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> The Copernicus Climate Change Service warned that if warming continues at its present rate, the Paris Agreement&#39;s 1.5&deg;C long-term limit could be breached before the end of this decade, more than a decade ahead of the timeline envisioned when the accord was signed.

The Greenlandia expedition's sailing boat 'Kamak' sails between icebergs released by glaciers around Milne Land in the Scoresby Sound Fjord, Eastern Greenland, on August 15, 2023. (AFP)

Climate

The European State of the Climate 2025 report found that at least 95% of the continent recorded above-average temperatures last year and has been warming at more than twice the global average rate since the 1980s.

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