Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), delivers a speech during the UNHCR&#39;s 76th annual Executive Committee meeting at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP)

FILE - Then French Defense minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and France's President Emmanuel Macron talk at the end of an address by the president to army leaders in Paris Sunday July 13, 2025, (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP, File)

Americas

UN refugee agency chief suggests that US deportation practices violate law

QUITO: Ecuadoran footballer Mario Pineida was shot and killed in the port city of Guayaquil on Wednesday, his team said. Guayaquil has become a hotspot for gang violence linked to drug trafficking and several football players in Ecuador have been targeted in recent months. Pineida, 33, was part of Ecuador&#39;s national team during the 2018 and 2022 World Cup games. He also played for Fluminense in 2022. In a post on X, his club, Barcelona SC, said it &quot;regrets to inform, with deep sorrow, that it has been officially notified of the death of our player Mario Pineida, an event that occurred following an attack against him&quot; in Guayaquil. Pineida&#39;s death was confirmed by the Interior Ministry, which said it has assigned a special police unit to the case. Digital news outlet Primicias reported Pineida was attacked by two people riding motorcycles, who opened fire on him, his mother and another woman. In September, three players from Ecuador&#39;s second division were killed, with one of them allegedly being linked to sports betting. A month later, local footballer Bryan Angula was wounded in a shooting. Ecuador, once one of Latin America&#39;s safest countries, has become a key cocaine transit hub between top producers Colombia and Peru, and consumers around the world. Car bombings, shootings and extortion have been on the rise in Guayaquil, which recorded 1,900 murders between January and September -- the highest toll in Ecuador.

Football

Ecuadoran footballer Mario Pineida was shot dead in gang-hit Guayaquil, highlighting rising violence targeting players as Ecuador grapples with drug trafficking and escalating insecurity nationwide

Ecuadorean footballer Mario Pineida shot and killed

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is weighing a formal legal framework to regulate cannabis cultivation for industrial and medical purposes, official documents show, as it explores new income streams for farmers and the wider economy. The initiative, which remains in the proposal stage, seeks to bring a long-stigmatized plant into a regulated system while assessing its benefits for local livelihoods, investment, and exports. A sub-committee of the Cannabis Regulatory Committee, chaired by Director General Excise Abdul Haleem Khan, met earlier this week, to discuss licensing structures, documentation requirements, and excise duty proposals, according to minutes obtained by Pakistan TV Digital. Under the framework being considered, a license to cultivate medicinal cannabis on five acres of land is proposed at Rs600,000, while an industrial hemp cultivation license with less than 0.3% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol content) for the same area is suggested at Rs300,000. Licensing for cannabis processing could cost Rs1.5 million per tenure, and industrial hemp processing licenses are proposed at Rs700,000. A combined license covering both cultivation and processing of cannabis or hemp could cost Rs2 million per tenure. The sub-committee also suggested that excise duties be levied only at the processing and finished-product stages, leaving cultivation and transport exempt in order to prevent high end-product prices. &ldquo;Hemp is widely used in the production of pharmaceuticals, CBD oil, and fibers,&rdquo; said Director General Khan. &ldquo;We are initially proposing it as an alternative cash crop in districts such as Orakzai and Khyber, where the plant grows naturally.&rdquo; Dr. Khan Bahadur, former Peshawar vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;Cannabis is a global commodity used in dozens of advanced economies. The plant is an incredible resource for manufacturing durable fabrics, sacks, rope, and a source for low-cost and sustainable paper.&rdquo; He also stressed the medical potential of cannabis, noting that refined extracts such as CBD oil are widely used to treat conditions like glaucoma. &ldquo;Pakistan must explore this industry with a scientific mindset and not shy away, as global demand continues to increase,&rdquo; Dr. Bahadur added. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, an agricultural landowner from KP, Farman Ullah, said: &ldquo;This is a great step for farmers. It provides a much-needed alternative source of income, as the &lsquo;bhang&rsquo; plant is hardy and can grow just about anywhere.&rdquo; While the proposals remain under review and require provincial cabinet approval, officials anticipate that a regulated cannabis and hemp industry could generate significant economic activity, potentially adding up to $1 billion within the first few years through exports of raw hemp and high-value derivatives such as CBD oil and industrial textiles. KP&rsquo;s favorable climate and fertile soil make it particularly suited for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis cultivation. By carefully developing a regulatory framework first, the government aims to ensure sustainable, phased development of the sector while balancing economic opportunity with regulatory oversight.

Health

The provincial government is weighing a formal legal framework to regulate cannabis cultivation for industrial and medical purposes, official documents show, as it explores new income streams for farmers and the wider economy

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mulls legalizing cannabis cultivation for medicine, industry

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;The US Congress on Wednesday permanently ended sanctions imposed on Syria under ousted leader Bashar al-Assad, paving the way for the return of investment to the war-ravaged nation. President Donald Trump had already twice suspended the implementation of sanctions, in response to pleas from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, allies of the new government headed by former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa. But Sharaa had sought a permanent end to the sanctions, fearing that so long as the measures remained on the books they would deter businesses wary of legal risks in the world&#39;s largest economy. The Senate passed the repeal of the 2019 Caesar Act as part of a sweeping annual defense package. The Senate voted 77 to 20 in favor of the legislation, which was already approved by the House of Representatives and is expected to be signed by Trump. The repeal, broadly backed by lawmakers of both parties, &quot;is a decisive step toward giving the Syrian people a real chance to rebuild after decades of unimaginable suffering,&quot; said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Caesar Act, named after an anonymous photographer who documented atrocities in Assad&#39;s prisons, severely restricted investment and cut off Syria from the international banking system. The law was intended to prevent the influx of foreign businesses to rebuild Syria at a time when it had seemed that Assad had triumphed following more than a decade of brutal civil war that triggered a massive flow of refugees toward Europe and helped spawn the birth of the Islamic State extremist movement. Sharaa&#39;s fighters seized Damascus a year ago in a lightning offensive. Sharaa -- now dressed in a business suit and seeking better relations with the West -- has impressed Trump, including when they first met during the US leader&#39;s May trip to Riyadh.

Middle East

US Congress permanently repealed Syria’s Caesar Act sanctions, ending Assad-era restrictions to encourage investment and reconstruction after war, following bipartisan approval and earlier suspensions by President Trump



US Congress ends Syria sanctions

KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in Brussels on Thursday to convince European partners to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, despite Washington pressuring EU countries against the plan, a Ukrainian official told AFP. The European Union has laid out a plan to use the frozen assets to harness 90 billion euros ($105 billion) for a loan to help Ukraine repel Moscow&#39;s forces, with the money to be paid back by any eventual Russian reparations to Ukraine. &quot;The US administration is pressuring European countries to abandon the idea of using Russian assets to support Ukraine,&quot; a senior Ukrainian official said Wednesday. The plan has the strong backing of many member states, including Germany, but has drawn opposition from others, including Belgium -- home to international deposit organisation Euroclear, which holds most of the assets -- whose leaders fear Russian reprisals. The Ukrainian official said that seven countries so far opposed the plan. Zelensky &quot;is going to Brussels to motivate European countries to adopt this decision&quot; and tap the frozen assets, the source said. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has been in the spotlight over his opposition to using Russian assets for Ukraine, but there had been speculation that US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration was also weighing in on the debate. Washington appears to view the assets as a key bargaining chip and has looked to tempt Moscow to play ball by dangling the prospect it could get back some of the cash. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Wednesday that the Europeans were &quot;quietly asking us to intervene on this matter as they do not want to be publicly against it&quot;. &quot;They are afraid of the long-term damage it will do to long-term investments in their system and the credibility of their institutions,&quot; they added. A previous version of Trump&#39;s plan to end the war also provided for Washington to use some frozen Russian assets for a US-led reconstruction of the war-torn country. Around 200 billion euros in Russian central bank assets were frozen over Moscow&#39;s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said: &quot;Both the Ukrainians and the Russians have clearly stated positions regarding the frozen assets, and our only role is to facilitate a back-and-forth that can ultimately result in a deal.&quot;

Europe

President Zelensky seeks EU support to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, despite reported US pressure opposing the plan over fears of retaliation, investment risks, and use of assets as leverage

US 'pressuring' EU not to use frozen Russian assets for Kyiv: senior Ukraine official

LOS ANGELES: The Oscars will be available to watch exclusively on YouTube from 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday.&nbsp;The new multi-year deal means Hollywood&#39;s most prestigious awards ceremony will be viewable only on streaming for the first time, ending a decades-long relationship with US broadcaster ABC.&nbsp;&quot;We are thrilled to enter into a multifaceted global partnership with YouTube to be the future home of the Oscars and our year-round Academy programming,&quot; Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Lynette Howell Taylor said in a statement.&nbsp;The annual Academy Awards, which celebrate the year&#39;s top achievements in film and draw the world&#39;s biggest A-list stars to a Hollywood theater, are regularly watched by around 20 million Americans and millions more globally.&nbsp;ABC&#39;s latest contract to broadcast the show had been due to end in 2028, with the 100th Academy Awards. The Disney-owned channel will continue to air the Oscars up until then.&nbsp;But the new deal with Google-owned YouTube represents a radical new direction for the show, and an industry that has long been wary about the impact of streamers on cinema.&nbsp;Hollywood has endured a challenging contraction in recent years, as it grapples with younger generations&#39; changing viewing habits.&nbsp;The most recent Oscars were viewed by 19.69 million people, a figure boosted by the ceremony being shown live simultaneously on Disney&#39;s streamer Hulu along with ABC for the first time.&nbsp;Disney said the broadcast was the most-watched Oscars in five years, although the Hulu stream was beset by technical glitches that left some viewers unable to see the final prizes.&nbsp;During the Covid-19 pandemic, Oscars ratings sank as low as 10.4 million.&nbsp;The Academy Awards telecast regularly topped 40 million just a decade ago

Artificial Intelligence

From 2029, the Oscars will stream exclusively on YouTube under a multi-year deal, ending ABC’s decades-long broadcast role after 2028, reflecting Hollywood’s shift toward streaming as TV ratings decline and changing viewing habits worldwide audiences.

Oscars to stream exclusively on YouTube from 2029: Academy

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s technology sector generated nearly half the country&#39;s total services exports in five months, outpacing all other industries with a $1.583 billion trade surplus, government figures showed Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, information and communications technology export remittances reached $1.799 billion from July through November. This is an 18.5% increase from the same period last year. The sector exported $356 million in November alone, the ministry said, approaching October&#39;s record of $386 million. The increase comes as Pakistan maintains zero income tax on IT and IT-enabled services exports through June 2025, according to the Ministry of Finance. Freelancers earning up to $12,000 annually are also exempt. The State Bank of Pakistan said record ICT exports and strong worker remittances have improved the country&#39;s balance of payments and current account balance. The central bank increased foreign currency retention limits for exporters from 35% to 50% while simplifying foreign currency account processes. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Software Export Board is establishing 250 e-Rozgaar centers by fiscal 2027 to support jobs and freelancing. The government is also building Software Technology Parks and National Incubation Centers for startups. Officials have set a $5 billion IT export target for the fiscal year ending in June 2026. The ICT industry consistently delivers the highest trade surplus among Pakistan&#39;s service sectors, accounting for nearly half of total services exports, ministry data showed.

Economy

Information and communications technology export remittances reached $1.799 billion from July through November, an 18.5% increase from the same period last year.

Pakistan tech exports hit $1.8B, surpass all services

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched its fourth Hangor-class submarine, &ldquo;Ghazi,&rdquo; at the Shuangliu Base in China&rsquo;s Wuhan, the official statement said, marking another milestone in the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s submarine modernization program.&nbsp;In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the launch reflects steady progress on the bilateral submarine project between Pakistan and China.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Pakistan Navy has achieved a major milestone as all four submarines being constructed in China are now undergoing rigorous sea trials and are in the final stages of handover to Pakistan,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The military&rsquo;s media wing said the submarine program is being executed under an agreement signed between the governments of Pakistan and China for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines.&nbsp;&ldquo;Under this contract, four submarines are being built in China, while the remaining four will be constructed in Pakistan by Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works Limited under Transfer of Technology,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp;According to the ISPR, the Hangor-class submarines will be equipped with advanced weapons and sensors, enabling them to engage targets from standoff ranges.&nbsp;It said submarines would play a &ldquo;key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.&rdquo;&nbsp;Senior officials from Pakistan and China attended the launching ceremony, underscoring the &ldquo;deepening bilateral cooperation&rdquo; between the two countries in the defense sector.&nbsp;The Hangor-class project is a central component of the Pakistan Navy&rsquo;s efforts to enhance its undersea warfare capabilities and strengthen maritime security.

Security

Pakistan Navy’s fourth Hangor-class submarine, Ghazi, launched in China, all four China-built vessels undergo sea trials, while remaining submarines will be locally built under technology transfer agreement.

Pakistan launches fourth Hangor-class submarine ‘Ghazi’ at China shipyard naval

ISLAMABAD: Wicked: For Good has positioned itself as the early technical frontrunner of the 98th Academy Awards season, appearing on 10 Oscar shortlists announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences across 12 categories.&nbsp;In a statement released by the Academy Press Office, the musical sequel was named among the shortlisted contenders for casting, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, original score, sound, and visual effects, along with two original song entries, The Girl In The Bubble and No Place Like Home.&nbsp;&ldquo;The shortlisted films represent exceptional achievement across craft disciplines,&rdquo; the Academy said in its official announcement, noting that the selections were drawn from hundreds of eligible submissions worldwide.&nbsp;Several other high-profile titles also made strong impressions. Frankenstein, Sinners and One Battle after Another each secured places on six shortlists, while Avatar: Fire and Ash and F1&nbsp;followed closely with five appearances apiece.&nbsp;The Academy released shortlists in animated short film, casting, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, international feature film, live action short film, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song, sound, and visual effects.&nbsp;In the international feature film category, 15 films advanced from a pool of 86 submissions. Among them were Palestine&rsquo;s Palestine&nbsp;36, Brazil&rsquo;s The Secret Agent, and Argentina&rsquo;s Bel&eacute;n, reflecting the Academy&rsquo;s increasingly global slate.&nbsp;Documentary feature film also narrowed to 15 titles from 201 eligible entries, including 2000 Meters to Andriivka&nbsp;and Mr. Nobody against Putin. Meanwhile, the animated short film category reduced 113 qualifying films to 15, and live action short film trimmed 207 entries to the same number.&nbsp;The casting category, which includes 10 shortlisted films, continues to stand out as one of the Academy&rsquo;s newest awards, formally recognizing casting directors for their role in shaping on-screen ensembles.&nbsp;The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on March 15 next year at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

Entertainment

The movie is positioned as a major contender ahead of the January 22, 2026 nominations announcement.

‘Wicked: For Good’ leads Oscar shortlists with 10 technical nods

PARIS: The winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive $50 million in prize money as part of a record financial contribution for the tournament from FIFA, world football&#39;s governing body announced on Wednesday.&nbsp;The total World Cup prize fund of $655 million (558.5 million euros) represents an increase of almost 50 percent from the $440 million distributed to teams taking part in the last tournament in Qatar in 2022.&nbsp;However, next year&#39;s World Cup -- to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 -- will be the first to feature 48 teams, a 50 percent increase from the 32 teams last time.&nbsp;The Argentine Football Association received $42 million in prize money after Lionel Messi inspired them to glory three years ago, when they won on penalties in the final against France.&nbsp;France received $30 million for their run to the final. This time, the beaten finalists will pocket $33 million, with the third-place finishers collecting $29 million and the other defeated semi-finalists getting $27 million.&nbsp;Teams eliminated in the group phase will receive $9 million, while all 48 participating nations will get an additional $1.5 million to cover &quot;preparation costs.&quot;

FIFA announced a record $655 million prize fund for the expanded 2026 World Cup, with winners earning $50 million, higher payouts across all stages, and all 48 teams receiving added preparation funding from governing body.

Winners of 2026 World Cup to pocket $50 million in prize money

NEW YORK: Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday rejected a hostile takeover bid by Paramount launched last week to trump plans by streaming giant Netflix to acquire the Hollywood giant and owner of CNN.&nbsp;In a statement, Warner Bros. said the terms of the Netflix merger were better, while the Paramount offer &quot;once again fails to address key concerns that we have consistently communicated...throughout our extensive engagement and review of their six previous proposals.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We are confident that our merger with Netflix represents superior, more certain value for our shareholders,&quot; it said.&nbsp;Netflix shocked the industry on December 5 by announcing it had sealed an agreement to buy the film and television studio for nearly $83 billion, the entertainment industry&#39;s biggest consolidation deal this decade.&nbsp;Three days later, Paramount -- whose CEO is David Ellison, the son of Larry Ellison, an ally of Donald Trump -- launched an all-cash tender offer valuing the entertainment giant at $108.4 billion.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump said last week that he wanted to ensure CNN gets new ownership as part of the Warner Bros. Discovery sale, targeting the news outlet he has long feuded with.<figure class="fr-media"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic"> </figcaption></figure>

Film & TV

Warner Bros. Discovery rejected Paramount’s hostile bid, backing Netflix’s $83 billion merger as offering greater certainty and value. Paramount countered with a $108 billion cash offer, amid political scrutiny over CNN’s future ownership and influence.