Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Google Trends for the year 2025 provide insight into the evolving cultural and digital landscape both within Pakistan and across the world. Here is a look at Google Trends for this year in Pakistan and worldwide.&nbsp; Google Trends in Pakistan &nbsp;In 2025, Pakistanis&rsquo; online searches reflected a strong focus on cricket, local developments, emerging technology, and lifestyle interests, according to Google Trends data. Cricket dominates searchesCricket remained the nation&rsquo;s most popular online interest, with Pakistan&rsquo;s international fixtures drawing significant attention.&nbsp; Top searches included Pakistan vs South Africa, Pakistan Super League, Asia Cup, Pakistan vs India, and Pakistan vs New Zealand.&nbsp; The popularity of these events underscores cricket&rsquo;s continued cultural significance in the country. Rising athletes capture attention&nbsp;Searches for athletes highlighted a mix of established and emerging talent.&nbsp; Abhishek Sharma, Hassan Nawaz, Irfan Khan Niazi, Sahibzada Farhan, and Muhammad Abbas were among the most-searched sports figures, reflecting public curiosity about both domestic and international cricket stars. Local news trendsPakistanis also focused on pressing domestic issues. The top news searches included the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry, floods in Karachi, developments in Iran, the Asaan Karobar Card initiative, and the flood situation near the Chenab River.&nbsp; These trends suggest heightened awareness and concern over regional governance, natural disasters, and international relations. Technology and lifestyle interestsTech trends in Pakistan showed growing interest in innovation, with searches for platforms like Gemini, Tamasha, DeepSeek, myco, and On4t.&nbsp; Lifestyle and culinary interests were also evident, with searches for sandwich recipes, food fusion recipes, quinoa recipes, dough recipes, and sweet dish recipes. How-to searchesPractical &ldquo;how-to&rdquo; queries dominated everyday concerns.&nbsp; Leading searches included instructions on checking E-Challan in Karachi, viewing unsent Instagram messages, obtaining car insurance, and investing in crypto and the stock market. Global trends in 2025Worldwide, Google searches revealed a mix of sports, entertainment, and geopolitical interests. Top search terms included Gemini, India vs England, Charlie Kirk, the Club World Cup, and India vs Australia. Global news interest focused on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, ongoing developments in Iran, a US government shutdown, the selection of a new Pope, and the LA wildfires. Entertainment figures dominated global searches in the &ldquo;People&rdquo; category, with d4vd, Kendrick Lamar, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Robinson, and Pope Leo XIV trending online. In addition, public attention was drawn to the deaths of notable figures, including Charlie Kirk, Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan, Michelle Trachtenberg, and Diane Keaton.&nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence

The 2025 Google Trends data reveals Pakistanis’ engagement with cricket, local affairs, emerging technology, and lifestyle content, while global interests remain strongly influenced by sports, politics, and entertainment.

Google Trends 2025: Pakistan’s cricket craze and global interests revealed

WASHINGTON: US House Democrats on Thursday published a fresh batch of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein&#39;s estate, stepping up pressure on Donald Trump&#39;s administration on the eve of its deadline to release federal files on the late financier and convicted sex offender.&nbsp;The 68 images -- shared without added context -- are part of a much larger cache that Congress obtained from Epstein&#39;s estate and has been drip-feeding to the public in recent days, stoking political drama in Washington.&nbsp;Among the newly released photos are shots of passports and identity documents from multiple countries, most of the personal details redacted.&nbsp;Several documents are marked &quot;female,&quot; including passports from places such as Ukraine and Russia, and a number of faces in the images are obscured to protect identities.&nbsp;Other photographs include two images showing public intellectual Noam Chomsky seated with Epstein on what appears to be an aircraft, and pictures of Bill Gates posing beside a woman whose face is blurred.&nbsp;The cache also includes images of filmmaker Woody Allen and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon -- both of whom featured in an earlier photo release.&nbsp;The latest batch of photographs do not appear to depict any unlawful conduct by any of the subjects.&nbsp;But one screenshot shows a snippet of a text exchange in which an unknown sender appears to discuss recruiting young women.&nbsp;&quot;I have a friend scout she sent me some girls today. But she asks 1000$ per girl. I will send u girls now. Maybe someone will be good for J?&quot; the post says.&nbsp;The screenshot includes a partially redacted physical description and the line &quot;18 y old,&quot; but provides no names or clear indication of who is speaking.&nbsp;A separate image shows a woman&#39;s foot bearing a handwritten quote from Vladimir Nabokov&#39;s &quot;Lolita,&quot; a novel about a man&#39;s sexual obsession with a child -- another detail released without explanation.&nbsp;Democrats say they are publishing material as it arrives while redacting identifying information for victims and anyone who could be a victim. Republicans, who control the Oversight Committee that is tasked with ensuring government transparency and accountability, have accused Democrats of &quot;cherry-picking&quot; to shape a narrative.&nbsp;The Justice Department (DOJ) has remained silent on whether it will meet Friday&#39;s deadline, set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed last month with bipartisan support.&nbsp;The law requires the DOJ to publish the most comprehensive set of Epstein-related materials yet, while safeguarding victims&#39; identities.&nbsp;Epstein, a convicted sex offender with ties to global elites, died in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death -- ruled a suicide -- fueled conspiracy theories and demands for accountability.&nbsp;&quot;Oversight Democrats will continue to release photographs and documents from the Epstein estate to provide transparency for the American people,&quot; the committee&rsquo;s top Democrat, Robert Garcia, said, calling for the Justice Department to &quot;release the Epstein files now.&quot;

Americas

House Democrats released 68 new Epstein estate photos, intensifying pressure on the Trump administration to meet a DOJ deadline. Images show documents and prominent figures, spark political dispute, but depict no clear crimes so far.

New photo dump fuels Capitol Hill push on Epstein files release

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) figure, according to intelligence sources. He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan, the sources said. According to sources, Azzam was born in 1978 in Olaswali Badi Kot village of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the University of Nangarhar, where he studied Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqa Qanoon), completing his degree in 2005. He later worked with an FM radio station in Jalalabad. Sources said Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and went on to become a prominent member of the group&rsquo;s leadership council, or Shura. He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP&rsquo;s Al Azzam media outlet. The United States designated Azzam as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in November 2021. This is a developing story.&nbsp;

Security

Pakistan has detained Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior media operative for the Islamic State-Khorasan Province and founder of the al-Azaim media outlet.

Head of ISKP media outlet in Pakistan custody: sources 

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police arrested three men Thursday on charges of cruelty to animals after a viral video showed them setting a wild elephant on fire.&nbsp;Police said the suspects, aged between 42 and 50, were taken into custody in the north-central district of Anuradhapura, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of Colombo.&nbsp;They were placed on remand until December 24 pending further investigations into the incident, which sparked widespread revulsion after the footage was shared on social media.&nbsp;Wildlife officials said the animal had first been shot and wounded before being set alight, and that veterinary surgeons&#39; attempts to save its life failed.&nbsp;Elephants are considered sacred in Sri Lanka and are protected by law, but farmers and residents in remote villages sometimes attack wild elephants that destroy crops.&nbsp;Elephants are protected under Sri Lankan law and poachers can face the death penalty for killing one. However, the country has not carried out an execution since 1976 and the death penalty is automatically commuted to life imprisonment.&nbsp;Escalating human&ndash;elephant conflict has claimed around 400 elephant and 200 human lives annually over the past five years.&nbsp;Sri Lanka has an estimated 7,000 wild elephants, regarded as a national treasure in part because of their importance in Buddhist culture.

Wildlife

Sri Lankan police arrested three men for fatally shooting and burning a wild elephant. The viral video sparked national outrage, highlighting the escalating human-wildlife conflict involving the country’s legally protected national treasure.

Sri Lanka arrests three men for burning elephant alive

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Syeda Amna Batool has made history by becoming the first Pakistani to be appointed to the FIFA Institutional Reforms Committee, a key body within world football&rsquo;s global governance structure.&nbsp;The appointment marks a significant step in Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing efforts to re-establish itself in the international football arena.&nbsp;Batool, a member of Pakistan&rsquo;s National Assembly, participated in the committee&rsquo;s plenary sessions and meetings this week in Qatar. According to an official statement, Batool is currently the only Pakistani serving on a FIFA committee, underscoring the importance of this achievement.&nbsp;The FIFA Institutional Reforms Committee is tasked with reviewing and recommending reforms to governance frameworks, transparency standards, and institutional practices within global football. As part of the committee, Batool&rsquo;s role will involve evaluating existing policies and driving reforms that ensure greater accountability and inclusivity across the sport.&nbsp;In a statement, Batool expressed her commitment to working within the committee to strengthen FIFA&rsquo;s reform mechanisms.&nbsp;&quot;My goal is to bring credible, transparent, and sustainable change to global football governance,&quot; she said. &quot;This is a significant opportunity for Pakistan to contribute to shaping the future of football worldwide.&quot;&nbsp;Batool&rsquo;s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Pakistan&rsquo;s football scene, which has been marred by years of political and administrative instability. Pakistan&rsquo;s football administration has faced a long period of disarray, with internal disputes and external challenges tarnishing its reputation on the international stage.&nbsp;However, with Batool&rsquo;s inclusion in FIFA&#39;s reform efforts, Pakistan is beginning to rebuild its standing. This move is seen as part of a broader strategy by the government to reassert its position in global football.&nbsp;Officials noted that the government, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is keen to stabilize football governance in the country and align with global standards.&nbsp;&quot;Football is not only a sport in Pakistan; it&rsquo;s a tool for youth engagement and social development,&quot; said a government source close to the matter. &quot;With over 60% of Pakistan&rsquo;s population under the age of 30, football has the potential to unite and empower our young people.&quot;&nbsp;In recent months, PM Sharif has engaged with senior officials from regional and international football bodies, including AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.&nbsp;Sharif has emphasized Pakistan&#39;s commitment to an autonomous and merit-based football system, an essential step in restoring credibility to the national federation.&nbsp;Batool&#39;s appointment reflects these ongoing efforts to position Pakistan as a constructive partner in the global football community. As one of the few women from South Asia in the FIFA structure, her role is also seen as an important representation of gender inclusion in football governance.&nbsp;In parallel, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), under President Syed Mohsin Gilani, has been pursuing both local and international initiatives aimed at reviving the federation after a prolonged period of leadership challenges. Gilani has highlighted the importance of stabilizing the federation&rsquo;s operations and ensuring Pakistan&#39;s compliance with international football standards.&nbsp;Batool, reflecting on her responsibility, said, &ldquo;This is an opportunity not just to contribute to FIFA&rsquo;s reforms, but to ensure that Pakistan becomes a credible and constructive member of the global football family.&rdquo;&nbsp;With sustained efforts on both the governmental and football federation fronts, Batool&rsquo;s appointment signals a hopeful chapter for Pakistan&rsquo;s football future. While much work remains, officials are optimistic that the reform-driven momentum will contribute to Pakistan&rsquo;s successful reintegration into the global football ecosystem.

Football

Pakistan's Syeda Amna Batool makes history as the first Pakistani appointed to FIFA's Institutional Reforms Committee, advancing the nation's role in global football governance. 

In a first, Pakistan's Amna Batool appointed to FIFA institutional reforms committee

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: capitalize; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;">MONTREAL:&nbsp;After accepting a job near Montreal, Mansef Aloui packed up his life in Tunisia, hopeful his children would thrive in Canada -- but his pathway to settle in the country has been shut down.&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m broken. My life has been upended. My daughter is in her room, she cries day and night,&quot; the 50-year-old told AFP, his voice faltering over an impending departure from a country where he had hoped to stay.&nbsp;For decades, Canada was viewed as one of the world&#39;s most coveted destinations for immigrants, especially among people from the developing world.&nbsp;Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney has tightened immigration levels, echoing moves by his predecessor Justin Trudeau, who conceded last year that Canada had let in too many people to address labor shortages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp;Carney&#39;s budget, narrowly approved last month, said: &quot;We are taking back control of our immigration system and putting Canada on a trajectory to bring immigration back to sustainable levels.&quot;&nbsp;Aloui was hired two years ago to be a supervisor at a factory in Laval, near Montreal, in Canada&#39;s French-speaking Quebec province.&nbsp;A program for skilled workers that would have allowed him to apply for permanent residency, known by its French acronym PEQ, was scrapped by the provincial government last month.&nbsp;&quot;Everything is blurry for me,&quot; Aloui said, a month before the expiration of his legal rights to remain in Canada.&nbsp;Canadian values&nbsp;Canada plans to authorize 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026, down from the 395,000 approved this year and a substantial decrease from the half-million people given rights to settle in 2024.&nbsp;Temporary resident permits are set to be trimmed nearly by half, with the 2026 target set at 385,000, compared to 673,650 this year, as the government massively curbs foreign student visa slots.&nbsp;The national statistics agency reported Wednesday that Canada&#39;s population declined by 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2025 -- currently standing at 41,575,585 -- the first contraction since 2020, and caused primarily by foreign student departures.&nbsp;For Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director at the Canadian Council of Refugees, &quot;there has been no fundamental shift in Canadian values&quot; broadly supportive of immigration.&nbsp;But she accused Canadian politicians of exploiting &quot;a global current&quot; surrounding immigration, where newcomers are blamed for a range of challenges, including housing shortages and overstretched healthcare systems.&nbsp;&quot;Canada&#39;s population is declining and immigration is essential to our future prosperity,&quot; she said, warning against the use of &quot;toxic and xenophobic narratives&quot; that can harden attitudes against newcomers.&nbsp;Data also points towards shifting public sentiment.&nbsp;In 2022, 27 percent of Canadians believed the country was accepting too many migrants, a figure that has risen to 56 percent, according to the Environics Institute.&nbsp;The consensus has frayed Sergio da Silva told AFP he feels &quot;betrayed&quot; by the cancellation of Quebec&#39;s PEQ program.&nbsp;&quot;We studied, we speak French. We meet all the conditions to stay,&quot; said the 36-year-old Brazilian, who is also set to lose his Canadian residency rights.&nbsp;University of Montreal immigration expert Catherine Xardez said Canada had established a uniquely pro-immigration consensus, with cross-party support for welcoming people and bureaucratic processes that allowed migrants to stay.&nbsp;&quot;Canadian exceptionalism in immigration has been shaken,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;The consensus has frayed, that&#39;s obvious.&quot;&nbsp;She said a central challenge is that Canada&#39;s system was built to accommodate candidates for permanent residency.&nbsp;But the influx of temporary immigrants, especially hundreds of thousands of foreign students, has caused friction in multiple communities.&nbsp;Xardez said the situation in Canada was &quot;in no way comparable&quot; to developments in Europe or the United States, where politicians have achieved electoral successes fueled in large part by anti-immigration messaging.

Canada's immigration system is shifting as the government reduces immigration targets and cancels key programs like Quebec's PEQ. While some Canadians express concerns about housing and labor shortages, experts warn against rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

Migrants forced to leave Canada after policy change feel 'betrayed'

Malik Waqar Ahmed

RAWALPINDI: For months, she told her family she was visiting a friend. Instead, she was slipping into a classroom, learning how to design logos for strangers thousands of miles away. The secret held until the day she earned her first $80.&nbsp;She showed the payment to her father.&nbsp;&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t say anything at first,&rdquo; recalls the academy&rsquo;s founder, who watched the moment unfold. &ldquo;Then his expression changed. He gave permission. After that, he started telling the neighbors himself.&rdquo;&nbsp;That single transaction did what months of arguments could not.&nbsp;She isn&rsquo;t alone.&nbsp;When 28-year-old Haal-e-Noor arrives at the small skills center in densely populated Rawalpindi, after sunset, she is already exhausted. Tucked inside a crowded neighborhood of narrow streets and concrete homes, her day has been split between an eight-hour job and household responsibilities. Her feet ache. Her hands are sore. Still, she sits down in front of a computer, eyes locked onto the screen, carefully adjusting the colors of a logo.&nbsp;&ldquo;This course of mine is almost three months long. I&rsquo;ve completed half of it and there&rsquo;s a little time left,&rdquo; she tells Pakistan TV Digital, barely looking away. &ldquo;I chose graphic designing because I want to earn from home in the future. In my opinion, the international freelancing market is a huge source of income.&rdquo;<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/665e4240-bc44-46ae-a013-34a778fbd8fa-1228f304-e2c9-4801-916e-0ca5cfff7f12.jpg" alt="1228f304-e2c9-4801-916e-0ca5cfff7f12.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">Haal-e-Noor works on a design project during her evening class in Rawalpindi.</figcaption></figure> For Noor, this is not simply about mastering software. It is about autonomy. About earning her own money, making her own choices, and proving, to herself as much as to others, that her life does not have to be limited by expectation.&nbsp;She is one of hundreds of women enrolled at this tuition-free academy, where quiet transformations take place every evening. Some students arrive straight from college. Others rush in after work.A few are young mothers who study while their children sleep in the next room.&nbsp;In just two years, more than 600 women have passed through these classrooms. 60% are now earning on international freelancing platforms, designing logos for clients in New York, managing social media pages for businesses in London, and building websites for startups in Dubai.&nbsp;Yet the hardest lessons have little to do with design.&nbsp;&ldquo;Encouraging girls toward freelancing is the most difficult part,&rdquo; says Areeba Sajjad, the instructor who founded the academy. &ldquo;Sometimes husbands don&rsquo;t allow it. Sometimes parents say, &lsquo;Why does she need this? She&rsquo;ll get married anyway.&rsquo; We face these barriers every day.&rdquo;&nbsp;She pauses, then adds quietly, &ldquo;But we keep trying. We keep explaining.&rdquo;&nbsp;The story of the girl who studied in secret is one Areeba knows well. Months of hidden classes. One completed logo. Eighty dollars. And a father who suddenly saw possibility where he once saw risk.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our institute&rsquo;s goal is to make women self-reliant,&rdquo; Areeba says. &ldquo;Our entire staff is female. Many girls who learn here are earning well now. Most come from middle-class families. They are educated but have no opportunities. We want them to earn, to stand on their own feet, and to play a role in Pakistan&rsquo;s progress.&rdquo;&nbsp;The impact reaches far beyond individual lives. In the last fiscal year, Pakistani freelancers generated $400 million in foreign exchange earnings. Women are claiming an increasingly visible share of that digital economy, often from bedrooms, kitchens, and borrowed desks.&nbsp;From this modest classroom on the outskirts of Pakistani capital, Noor and women like her are quietly challenging deeply held assumptions about women&rsquo;s roles and worth. They are connecting to a global marketplace that does not ask permission, only skill.&nbsp;As Noor saves her work and shuts down the computer for the night, she is already thinking about the next class. The obstacles remain real, and the journey is far from over. But for the first time, the future feels like something she is building herself, pixel by pixel, decision by decision.

Economy

In crowded Rawalpindi, women like Haal-e-Noor gain digital skills, earning global incomes while challenging social barriers, reshaping futures through freelancing, determination, and quiet resilience.

Pakistani women quietly reshape futures through screens, skills, and stubborn hope

BESAN&Ccedil;ON: A French court on Thursday sentenced a doctor to life in jail for poisoning 30 child and adult patients, 12 of whom died, in an alleged attempt to discredit co-workers. Frederic Pechier, 53, worked as an anesthetist in two clinics in the eastern city of Besancon, when patients went into cardiac arrest in suspicious circumstances between 2008 and 2017.&nbsp; Twelve could not be resuscitated. Pechier&rsquo;s youngest alleged victim, four-year-old Teddy, survived two cardiac arrests during a routine tonsil surgery in 2016. &ldquo;You will be incarcerated immediately,&rdquo; presiding judge Delphine Thibierge said. Pechier, who has denied wrongdoing and not been detained since the start of the probe, appeared unmoved. The doctor&rsquo;s oldest alleged victim was 89. An investigation was launched in 2017, after suspicious cardiac arrests during operations on patients otherwise considered low-risk.&nbsp;

Europe

Frederic Pechier, 53, worked as an anesthetist in two clinics in the eastern city of Besancon, when patients went into cardiac arrest in suspicious circumstances between 2008 and 2017; twelve could not be resuscitated.

French court jails doctor for life for poisoning 30 patients, killing 12

BEIRUT: Israel launched several strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday, Lebanese state media reported, as the Israeli military said it targeted Hezbollah infrastructure including a military compound. Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon and has also maintained troops in five southern areas it deems strategic. &lsquo;Several strikes&rsquo;&nbsp;Lebanon&#39;s state-run National News Agency reported&nbsp;several strikes on mountainous areas in the south and east. The Israeli military claimed it targeted &ldquo;terror infrastructure sites in multiple areas across Lebanon&rdquo; including &ldquo;a military compound used by Hezbollah to conduct training and courses&rdquo; for the group&#39;s members. In another statement, the military also said: &ldquo;A short while ago, the IDF struck a Hezbollah terrorist in the area of Taybeh in southern Lebanon.&rdquo; Monitoring committee meeting&nbsp;The attacks come as the ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes the United States and France, are set to meet on Friday. On Tuesday, two people were killed in Israeli strikes, one of them 30 kilometers (20 miles) south of Beirut. Around 340 people have been killed by Israeli attacks on Lebanon since the ceasefire agreement went into force, according to an AFP tally of health ministry reports.

Middle East

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported several strikes on mountainous areas in the south and east; attacks come as the ceasefire monitoring committee, which includes the United States and France, are set to meet on Friday. 

Israel launches series of strikes on Lebanon

ISLAMABAD: Climate change and natural disasters are driving an unprecedented wave of human displacement worldwide, reshaping migration patterns and challenging governments&rsquo; ability to respond.&nbsp;According to the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), in 2023, nearly 47 million new internal displacements were recorded globally, with 53% triggered by disasters, including storms, floods, wildfires, and earthquakes.&nbsp;The report notes that by the end of 2023, nearly 8 million people were living as internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to disasters across 82 countries and territories.&nbsp;In his message on International Migrants Day (IMD) on December 18, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to addressing climate and disaster displacement, saying:&nbsp;&ldquo;Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Pakistan &mdash; one of the countries most affected by extreme weather events &mdash; stands ready to deepen regional cooperation, strengthen early warning systems, and expand disaster-resilient infrastructure to protect affected populations and support those forced to flee their homes.&rdquo;&nbsp;Conflict and broader displacement crisisWhile disasters drive mobility, conflict remains the primary driver of displacement. Oxfam reports that more than 82 million people worldwide are currently forcibly displaced, the highest number since World War II.&nbsp;Five countries, Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan, and Myanmar, account for two-thirds of cross-border displacement, with Syria alone responsible for 13.2 million refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons, Oxfam notes.&nbsp;Climate change as a driverThe UN&rsquo;s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) first warned in 1990 that climate impacts such as shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and agricultural disruption could force millions to migrate.&nbsp;According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), climate and environmental stressors, ranging from slow-onset events like desertification and water scarcity to sudden disasters such as floods and storms, will increasingly shape migration trends in the coming decades.&nbsp;Impacts and protection gapsForced migration, whether climate- or conflict-driven, undermines development by placing pressure on urban infrastructure, slowing economic growth, increasing conflict risk, and negatively affecting health and education outcomes for displaced populations.&nbsp;However, climate migrants remain largely outside international refugee protections, leaving a significant legal and humanitarian gap.&nbsp;According to IOM, addressing climate- and disaster-driven displacement requires integrated planning that combines disaster risk reduction, infrastructure resilience, legal protections for migrants, and international cooperation.&nbsp;With extreme weather events projected to increase, the scale of displacement is likely to rise, making policy responses more urgent than ever, the IOM notes.

Climate

Climate and disaster-driven displacement are reshaping global migration

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces,&nbsp;Field Marshal&nbsp;Syed Asim Munir, on Thursday called on Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces,&nbsp;Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Saddam Khalifa Haftar.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the meeting, the two sides discussed avenues to strengthen bilateral defense ties, the Inter-Services Public Relations, the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement.&nbsp;On arrival in Libya, Field Marshal Munir was received by a Guard of Honor from a smartly turned-out contingent of the Libyan Armed Forces, underscoring the visit&#39;s ceremonial and strategic significance.&nbsp;During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on regional security dynamics, mutual defense interests, and opportunities to enhance military-to-military cooperation. Emphasis was placed on collaboration in training, capacity building, and counter-terrorism initiatives.&nbsp;Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to bolstering defense relations with Libya based on shared strategic interests, while Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar lauded the professionalism of the Pakistan Armed Forces and expressed his interest in further expanding defense cooperation between the two countries.&nbsp;The discussions underscore Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing efforts to strengthen regional partnerships and enhance defense collaboration with friendly countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

The two sides discuss avenues for strengthening bilateral defense ties, the military's media wing said in a statement.