Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday, October 16, that Islamabad is ready to hold talks with Afghanistan to resolve their ongoing conflict, as a temporary ceasefire largely held after days of intense fighting between the two former allies. The South Asian neighbors had clashed on the ground, and Pakistan conducted airstrikes along the disputed border, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, before agreeing to a 48-hour truce starting at 1300 GMT on Wednesday. Sharif told his cabinet that Pakistan had “retaliated” after losing patience with Afghanistan following a series of militant attacks.
Sharif emphasized that Pakistan is open to dialogue on its terms and that the ball is now in Kabul’s court, warning that if the ceasefire is merely a tactic to buy time, Pakistan will not accept it. Kabul did not immediately respond, though Afghan Defence Ministry spokesperson Enayatullah Khowarazmi said the ceasefire was holding so far. The Afghan Taliban’s Interior Ministry added that Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani met senior Iranian officials, expressing Afghanistan’s desire for good relations with all countries, especially its neighbors, and stressing that just as they respect others’ sovereignty and dignity, they expect the same in return.
The latest clashes mark the worst fighting between the two countries in decades. Tensions escalated after Pakistan demanded that Afghanistan curb militants who have increased attacks in Pakistani territory, claiming they operate from Afghan havens. The Taliban denies these allegations and accuses Pakistan of spreading misinformation, provoking border tensions, and harboring ISIS-linked militants to undermine Afghanistan’s stability. Pakistan rejects these claims. Since October 10, at least 18 Afghan civilians have been killed and over 360 wounded, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Pakistan reported killing 34 militants in three operations during the same period.
In Kabul’s Taimani neighborhood, residents are still recovering from an airstrike that occurred hours before the ceasefire took effect. Bashir Ahmad, a doctor at EMERGENCY’s Surgical Centre, said 34 people were brought in with serious injuries, including fractures and burns. Abdul Kabir, who works in the area, recalled the terrifyingly loud explosion, describing how everything suddenly went dark and how a nearby building was completely destroyed. Taimani, a mixed residential and commercial area with high-rise buildings about 20 minutes from central Kabul, saw another victim, Mawludin, trapped under glass and rescued by friends. He described the scene outside as dark and dusty, with people of all ages badly injured.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
US and Brazilian officials held trade discussions on Thursday, October 16, which both sides described as positive, agreeing to work toward arranging a meeting between President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva "as soon as possible." In a joint statement, the delegations said they would "pursue discussions on multiple fronts in the near term and establish a path forward," although no specific date was set for the proposed Trump-Lula meeting.
The talks in Washington included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. They mark the latest diplomatic engagement between the two nations after months of a stalled relationship. Vieira described the talks as "an auspicious start to a negotiation process aimed at normalizing and opening new avenues for bilateral relations."
Earlier, Trump had raised tariffs on most Brazilian imports from 10 percent to 50 percent in August, citing what he called a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro was later sentenced in September by a Supreme Court panel to over 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss to Lula.
Last week, Trump and Lula spoke by phone after a brief encounter at the United Nations in September, with both leaders describing the conversation positively. They agreed to meet in person, raising hopes for a recovery in bilateral ties, which have been at their lowest in decades. Vieira described Thursday’s discussions as "great," noting a productive and technical-focused tone. The meeting lasted about an hour, including a 20-minute private session with Rubio.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
YouTube sensation MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, has left fans buzzing after sharing a rare photo with Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan. The picture, seemingly snapped at a lavish event in Riyadh, captures all three Khans alongside MrBeast, giving fans a glimpse of a meeting that is unusual and highly anticipated.
In the photo, SRK and Salman Khan looked sharp in formal suits, while Aamir Khan chose a black kurta paired with white trousers. MrBeast, known for his extravagant online challenges and generous giveaways, kept his look simple in an all-black ensemble. Accompanying the image, he captioned it, "Hey India, should we all do something together?" — instantly igniting speculation about a potential collaboration between the YouTube star and Bollywood’s most celebrated actors.
The three Khans have been dominant figures in Hindi cinema for over thirty years, delivering some of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters. Fans were quick to react to the post, with many sharing excitement over the possibility of a joint project between MrBeast and the trio. Recently, all three Khans appeared in Aryan Khan’s directorial debut web series, The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, though not in the same scenes. The Netflix satirical series critiques Bollywood’s workings, including nepotism, scandals, and inflated egos, and follows the story of an outsider entangled in a forbidden romance with a star’s daughter.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from instagram/@mrbeast.
Early Friday morning, a collision between two buses near Pardi bypass in Gujarat resulted in the deaths of two women and left several others injured. The injured have been admitted to Savar Civil Hospital for treatment. The accident occurred at 4:20 am, affecting over 10 passengers, with five critically injured being referred to Baroda for further care.
Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Medical Officer at Civil Hospital Godhra, confirmed, “Two women died in the accident. Five are seriously injured and have been referred to Baroda, while five others are receiving treatment at the Civil Hospital.” According to passengers, one bus was traveling from Limdi to Rajgarh in Dhar district, while the other was en route from Rajkot to Madhya Pradesh via Ahmedabad when the collision occurred. Most of the passengers were laborers returning home to celebrate Diwali.
A survivor recounted, “I was traveling from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh for Diwali when the buses suddenly collided. I was on the Limdi-Rajgarh bus, which was crowded, and many passengers were injured.” Another passenger said, “We were on the Rajkot-Madhya Pradesh bus via Ahmedabad when it collided with the other bus. We were all heading home for Diwali.”
In a separate incident last week, a Mateshwari wet-lease bus collided with a tempo traveller near Plaza bus stop in Dadar, resulting in one death and four injuries. The accident occurred around 11:30 pm when the bus, on route number 169 returning from Worli Depot to Pratiksha Nagar Depot, was struck by the tempo traveller, which lost control and hit the bus’s right front tyre.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
A soldier from the 24th Mechanized Brigade, named after King Danylo, of the Ukrainian Armed Forces sets up anti-drone nets across a road in the frontline town of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on October 15.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.
As the world navigates an era deeply driven by AI advancements and increasing international labor mobility, countries and corporations are fiercely vying to attract the top-tier talent. The challenge now isn’t just about offering competitive salaries but creating environments that appeal to the modern workforce, especially the elusive Gen Z. Countries and companies with innovative talent policies, flexible visa systems, and a high quality of life are emerging as frontrunners in this global contest. The future of innovation and economic growth depends heavily on who successfully lures the finest minds from around the world.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Questions are rising over the sudden collapse of the trial against a teacher and a parliamentary researcher accused of spying for China. Arrested in 2023 amid warnings of Chinese influence, the case fell apart just days before it was due to start, leaving experts and the media stunned. The incident raises new questions about UK-China relations.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from The Gaurdain
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire reached a critical stage on Monday (Oct 13) with the handover of the first group of Israeli hostages, to be followed shortly by the release of Palestinian prisoners. The development coincides with US President Donald Trump’s visit to Israel, where he is set to be honored in parliament for facilitating the agreement. For further insights, Hairianto Diman talks with Mouin Rabbani, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
Recent reports indicate an increase in online threats and scams, alongside a local company under police investigation for suspected involvement in a Cambodian scam operation. What do these incidents reveal about our digital vulnerabilities? Hairianto Diman discusses this with Helena Huang, Associate Research Fellow at the Digital Impact Research team, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.
