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AI rapidly improving, could vastly boost US GDP, Anthropic's Clark tells policymakers

Rapidly improving artificial intelligence capabilities will ​bring far faster change across all fields, Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said on Saturday, with one of the company's internal models ‌forecasting that under certain conditions it could increase US economic output by almost 50% by 2030. Clark, speaking at IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, said that international cooperation was needed to erect "unusual and serious rules" for the transformative technology, and there was a shrinking window for policymakers to act. Clark said that the estimated potential US GDP of $44 trillion, which compares ​to the current level of just over $30 trillion, "sounds very outlandish, I know." But he added that AI was vastly increasing scientific discovery. He said the forecast ​assumed "the technology continuing to get better. And if GDP were to grow this much, then economic doctrine suggests that ⁠new industries and inventions would need to h...
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'France is burning', Trump blames immigration for riots

US President Donald Trump on Sunday blamed immigration for the widespread rioting that erupted in cities across France, stating that France was "burning", further urging authorities to "take control" and close borders. The protests in France began last ‌month at high schools in Paris' working-class northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and shabby facilities evolved into a broader movement focused on inequality, public spending and living standards. In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote that "France is burning!", accusing immigrants of "shattering a once great country". Read: Trump blames France unrest on 'mass migration', Islam "The immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country." Trump further urged French authorities to "close your borders and take control, before it is too late!" Meanwhile, US...
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Ambassador Sheikh calls for stronger Pakistan-US tech collaboration

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has highlighted the potential for mutually beneficial investment and cooperation in emerging technologies, urging Pakistani and American businesses to strengthen partnerships and expand collaboration in the technology sector. Speaking at Pak-US Tech Connect 2026 in Silicon Valley, Sheikh underscored the importance of strengthening economic engagement between the two countries through technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted Pakistan’s information technology sector and encouraged greater collaboration between businesses in the two countries to develop mutually beneficial partnerships, expand market access and promote investment in emerging technologies. Read: Ambassador Sheikh urges Pakistani-Americans to drive 'mutually rewarding' economic engagement The event was aimed at promoting cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in technology, innovation and digital ...
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Islamabad ATC sends former G-B CM Khalid Khurshid to jail on 14-day judicial remand

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Saturday rejected the police’s request for physical remand of former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Khalid Khurshid and sent him to jail on a 14-day judicial remand. Khurshid, who was arrested by the federal police, was produced before ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain. The police had sought a 30-day physical remand, but the court rejected the request and ordered that he be sent to jail on judicial remand. A case has been registered against Khurshid at Islamabad’s Aabpara police station in connection with a protest held on Nov 26. Read: Former G-B CM Khalid Khurshid sentenced to 34 years In December 2024, an ATC sentenced Khurshid to 34 years in prison on charges of threatening security agencies. The charges stemmed from an incident on May 26, 2024, during a PTI public gathering, where Khurshid allegedly threatened G-B’s chief secretary, chief election commissioner and securit...
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Outrage after Israeli settlers attack US photographer covering West Bank violence

There was a flurry of outrage after Israeli settlers on Friday beat an American photojournalist working for The Washington Post while she was covering ongoing violence against Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank. Heidi Levine, a veteran photographer, was taken to hospital in Ramallah following the attack, with AFP photos showing her lying on a gurney with injuries to her leg and hand. The incident comes 10 days after settlers beat an AFP photographer covering the West Bank olive harvest, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, leaving him also requiring hospital treatment. Read: Israeli settlers attack West Bank village, blocking family's return home Speaking to journalists from her hospital bed, Levine said that "more than 50" masked settlers holding sticks suddenly attacked her while she was working near the Palestinian villages of Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya in the central West Bank. "All of a sudden they jumped me, and I luckily had my helmet and flak jacket on ...
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Kundi orders action against those responsible for Peshawar school roof collapse

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on Friday ordered action against those responsible for the collapse of a school roof in Dir Colony, calling for strict enforcement of safety standards and registration requirements for private educational institutions across the province. At least 30 children and a female teacher were killed on Thursday when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, while more than 50 others were injured. A meeting chaired by the governor reviewed the incident and related administrative matters. Adviser to the Education Department Amir Abdullah, Peshawar Commissioner Capt (retd) Khalid Mahmood, Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir and relevant education officials attended the meeting. During the briefing, the Peshawar commissioner informed the governor that the school owner had obtained 16 marlas of land on a 10-year lease and constructed the school building on it. The school was registered in 2026, but its administration had failed to comply w...
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K-P orders safety inspections of all government schools after Peshawar tragedy

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government on Thursday directed the Communication and Works (C&W) Department to form technical teams to inspect all government school buildings across the province following the deadly collapse of a classroom roof at a private school in Peshawar that claimed at least 31 lives. In a letter issued on Oct 15, the provincial Elementary and Secondary Education Department asked the C&W Department to nominate qualified technical teams in every district to conduct a comprehensive assessment of school buildings in coordination with the relevant district education authorities. The move follows the roof collapse at Al-Khair Education System in Dir Colony, where at least 30 students and a teacher were reported killed, while several others were injured, raising concerns about the structural safety of educational institutions. {{PDF}} According to the directive, the technical teams will inspect roofs, ceilings, walls, beams, foundations, staircases and other s...
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