At the 13th Forum of UNESCO Chair in Media and Gender, held recently in Beijing, experts emphasized the urgent need for gender equality in the digital future. The event, co-organized by the UNESCO Chair and the Global Exchange and Cooperation Center for Digital Empowerment of Women, brought together over 100 participants from 27 countries. Key discussions focused on creating inclusive digital ecosystems, enhancing artificial intelligence literacy, and ensuring women benefit equally from technological advancements. Zhang Dongmei, Vice-President of the All-China Women’s Federation, highlighted the importance of building a fair digital ecosystem to accelerate women’s development. Hu Bangsheng, a member of the China Writers’ Association, noted the digital era’s potential to empower women in literature. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, stressed the need for AI ethics, media literacy, and cross-sector partnerships to support women in the digital age. The forum coincided with the 7th Global Women’s Development Seminar, organized by the Global Women’s Development Institute, which has been held annually since 2019.
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Pakistan recall Babar Azam for T20Is nearly year after bring dropped
In a significant development for Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam has been reinstated to the national Twenty20 International (T20I) squad after nearly a year of absence. The star batsman was dropped following his last T20 appearance against South Africa in December 2024, primarily due to concerns over his strike rate. His return comes as Pakistan prepares for a three-match T20I series against South Africa, starting on October 28 in Rawalpindi, followed by a tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe next month. The 15-man squad, led by captain Salman Agha, also includes new faces such as pacer Naseem Shah, batter Abdul Samad, and wicketkeeper Usman Khan. Notably, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan remains excluded, while opener Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, and fast bowler Haris Rauf have been dropped from the squad. Despite finishing as runners-up in the recent Asia Cup, Pakistan faced a disappointing run with three consecutive losses against arch-rivals India. Following the T20Is, Pakistan will host South Africa for a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8, with Shaheen Shah Afridi leading the ODI squad and Rizwan included in the lineup.
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Dubai school postpones events after sudden death of former student
The GEMS Our Own Indian School in Dubai has postponed all upcoming events following the sudden and tragic death of Vaishnav Krishnakumar, an 18-year-old former student who passed away on Tuesday night. Vaishnav, who had recently graduated from the school in August 2025, collapsed during Diwali celebrations with friends. Preliminary reports suggest the cause of death was cardiac arrest. Vaishnav had spent 14 years at the school and was pursuing a BBA in Marketing at Middlesex University Dubai. His mother, Vidhu Krishnakumar, is a STEAM teacher at the school, and his younger sister is also a student there. The school community has been deeply affected by the loss, with the administration issuing a circular to parents expressing their grief and requesting prayers for the family. All planned festivities, including Pink Day and the Family First Carnival, have been deferred or rescheduled. Vaishnav was remembered by friends and faculty as a bright, accomplished, and beloved student who had served as Head of the School Council and excelled in debating and academics. His body has been repatriated to Kerala, and the community awaits the post-mortem report for further clarity on the cause of his untimely demise.
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German ‘Maddie’ suspect living on streets, says report
Christian Brueckner, the prime suspect in the high-profile disappearance of British toddler Madeleine McCann, is reportedly living on the streets following his release from prison last month. According to German media reports, Brueckner, who was identified as a suspect in the ‘Maddie’ case in 2020 but never formally charged, was released on September 17 after serving a sentence for unrelated rape charges. Since his release, Brueckner has been moving between temporary accommodations, including a tent in a park in Kiel, northern Germany, where he is under constant police protection due to public hostility. His attempts to settle in a halfway house in Neumuenster were thwarted when local residents discovered his presence, leading to verbal abuse and threats that forced him to leave. Brueckner also reportedly traveled to Braunschweig to confront prosecutors who accuse him of abducting Maddie but was denied access. Madeleine McCann vanished from her family’s holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da Luz in May 2007, sparking a global manhunt and intense media scrutiny. Despite German prosecutors naming Brueckner as their top suspect in 2020, citing ‘concrete evidence,’ they have refrained from charging him due to insufficient proof for a conviction. Brueckner has a lengthy criminal record, including convictions for theft, drug trafficking, assault, child pornography, child abuse, and rape.
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Pump prices could rise after US, EU hit Russian oil companies with new sanctions and oil spikes
In a significant move to pressure Russia amid its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, the United States imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia’s oil industry on Thursday. This decision sent shockwaves through global energy markets, with U.S. benchmark crude prices surging by 6% to $62 per barrel. Analysts predict that American consumers could soon face higher gasoline prices, with the full impact expected to materialize within days. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, noted that while the exact timeline remains uncertain, motorists are likely to see price increases at the pump as early as next week. The sanctions target major Russian oil companies, including Rosneft and Lukoil, and come in response to bipartisan calls for stronger economic measures against Moscow. The European Union also announced parallel sanctions on Russian oil and gas, further intensifying the global response. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose by $3.57 to $66.15 per barrel, reflecting the market’s reaction to the geopolitical tensions. The OPEC+ alliance, which includes Russia as a key non-OPEC member, has been gradually increasing oil production this year, but the new sanctions could disrupt this stability. The broader economic implications include potential inflationary pressures, as higher energy costs often ripple through various industries, affecting prices for goods and services. The situation remains fluid, with analysts suggesting that the duration of these price increases will depend on how Russia and the U.S. respond in the coming weeks.
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Beijing set to ensure heating readiness amid early cold snap
In response to an unexpected early cold snap, the Beijing Commission of Urban Management has mandated that all heating service providers complete essential preparations by October 31. These include system pressurization, water filling, cold-run debugging, and household inspections to ensure centralized heating systems are operational by November 1. The commission has intensified its collaboration with the Beijing Meteorological Observatory since mid-October to monitor the unusually cold weather. The city will rely on meteorological data to determine the precise timing for activating heating systems, adhering to established protocols. Approximately 1.07 billion square meters of urban areas in Beijing will benefit from centralized heating, with 701 million square meters allocated for residential use and 369 million square meters for nonresidential purposes. This year, Beijing has addressed over 950 potential hazards, upgraded around 1,300 kilometers of outdated heating pipelines, and implemented smart retrofitting for heating systems in 30 million square meters of existing buildings. On October 22, the city recorded its first sub-zero temperature of the autumn. Zhao Wei, the chief forecaster, described the cold wave as ‘seeping,’ with successive waves of cold air preventing a quick temperature rebound. While temperatures are expected to rise gradually, minor fluctuations may occur due to weak cold air movements later in the month.
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Dubai-based Emirates NBD’s profit before tax surges to Dh23.4 billion
Emirates NBD, one of the Middle East’s leading banking groups, has announced a remarkable financial performance for the first nine months of 2025, with income soaring to Dh36.7 billion. The bank’s operating profit rose by 10% year-on-year to Dh25.5 billion, while profit before tax climbed 6% to Dh23.4 billion, despite reduced recoveries in the third quarter. This robust growth was driven by exceptional loan and deposit expansion across all regions and segments, offsetting the impact of global interest rate cuts.
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Gunmen kill Pakistan militia chief and five others
In a violent incident that has escalated tensions in Pakistan’s northwestern border region, gunmen attacked and killed a pro-government militia leader along with five others. The assailants reportedly opened fire on the victims, doused their vehicle with fuel, and set it ablaze, according to a senior administration official who spoke to AFP on Thursday under the condition of anonymity. The attack occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an area that has seen a surge in violence since the Taliban regained control of neighboring Afghanistan in 2021. The official stated that the attackers’ intent was to instill fear, as the bodies of the six victims were completely charred. While no group has claimed responsibility, the official suggested that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban, may have orchestrated the attack. The TTP had allegedly demanded extortion money from the militia leader, who refused to comply, leading to his execution. Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan of harboring TTP militants and facilitating cross-border attacks, a claim that Kabul denies. The border between the two nations was recently closed following clashes earlier this month, which were triggered by an explosion in Kabul on October 9 that resulted in significant civilian and military casualties on both sides. Afghanistan’s Taliban government blamed Pakistan for the blast and launched a retaliatory offensive along the border. A ceasefire brokered over the weekend remained in effect as of Thursday, with officials from both countries scheduled to meet in Turkey on Saturday to discuss the ongoing tensions.
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Dubai Mansions: Emaar launches new Dh100-billion ultra-luxury residential project
Emaar Properties, a leading master developer, has announced the launch of its ambitious Dh100-billion Dubai Mansions project, set to redefine luxury living in the heart of Emaar Hills, Dubai’s newest master-planned community. The project will feature 40,000 ultra-luxury mansions, each ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet, offering unparalleled opulence and exclusivity. Residents will enjoy direct access to a championship golf course, state-of-the-art wellness and leisure facilities, premium retail destinations, and meticulously landscaped parks designed to foster a sense of community and balance. Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Emaar, described Dubai Mansions as the crown jewel of Emaar Hills, emphasizing its unmatched attention to detail and its embodiment of harmony, prestige, and a lifestyle that is unrivaled globally. The project is poised to solidify Dubai’s reputation as a hub for ultra-luxury real estate, attracting discerning buyers from around the world.
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Morocco’s $15bn promise falls short of GenZ 212 demands for real change
In response to widespread protests led by Morocco’s Generation Z, the royal cabinet announced a significant allocation of nearly $15 billion to the health and education sectors by 2026, marking a 16 percent increase from the previous year. The protests, which have shaken the North African nation, were sparked by the tragic deaths of eight women following C-sections in a public hospital in Agadir, as well as concerns over disproportionate investment in football infrastructure ahead of the 2030 World Cup at the expense of public services. The government also pledged to create over 27,000 jobs in these sectors. However, skepticism remains among experts and the GenZ 212 movement, who question the adequacy of the funds and their implementation. In a statement, the movement urged vigilance, emphasizing the need for anti-corruption measures and transparency. Redouane Amimi, a professor at Mohammed V University, described the allocation as a ‘positive political signal’ but stressed that its impact would be limited without structural reforms. Corruption continues to plague Morocco, with Transparency International ranking it 99th out of 180 countries in its 2024 Corruption Perception Index. Critics argue that the sudden budget announcement appears reactive rather than part of a long-term strategy. Insaf Elouard, a GenZ 212 activist, likened the government’s response to its handling of the Arab Spring protests in 2011, suggesting that superficial reforms may not address systemic issues. The protests have been met with harsh repression, with hundreds of young demonstrators arrested and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Despite the challenges, the youth-led movement represents a historic generational revolt against the Moroccan regime, driven by demands for meaningful change. While King Mohammed VI has called for reforms and greater social impact, the path forward remains fraught with bureaucratic inefficiencies and regional disparities. Separately, the government has proposed measures to encourage youth participation in politics ahead of next year’s general election. The 2026 draft budget will be presented to parliament next week for detailed discussion.