Pakistan and Ethiopia discuss strengthening banking and financial connectivity

Grok Imagine released a three-minute AI-generated short film depicting the classic epic "The Odyssey". Elon Musk promised that the tool would eventually produce a complete, feature-length version of the story created entirely by artificial intelligence.

"Before this year ends, Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer," Musk said. The billionaire criticized the upcoming film before its official release, specifically targeting the casting choices for key roles.

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Musk expressed disapproval over the selection of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Achilles’ Ghost.

Hudson Williams will star in Apparatus alongside Dylan O’Brien. The actor is also scheduled to appear in Tyrant with Charlize Theron, Julia Garner, Demi Moore and Omar Apollo.

Williams is currently developing a new film while facing complications regarding a parallel to Heated Rivalry. Production on the second season of Heated Rivalry commenced in August 2026.

Yaga premiered on 23 October 2026.

Holland Taylor departed the sitcom Two and a Half Men because of a small paycheck. The actress spent six years portraying the character Evelyn Harper.

Producers described their reaction to her departure as "astonished". From 2003 to 2015, the comedy series aired for a total of 12 seasons.

Charlie Sheen exited the production in 2011 following his public struggles with substance abuse.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić admitted his party lost the snap parliamentary election to a student-led protest movement in Belgrade. Vučić delivered the announcement at the headquarters of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The leader stated, "We still do not have final results... it is clear that we have lost these elections." Preliminary data showed a record high turnout for the vote, which Vučić had called earlier.

Public unrest began after a train station canopy in Novi Sad collapsed in 2024, resulting in 16 deaths. Supporters of the Student List celebrated at their headquarters while crowds chanted "victory" throughout the streets of Belgrade.

Aleksandar Vučić said, "We still do not have final results... it is clear that we have lost these elections."

Aleksandar Vučić

The documentary 'You Can See Everything' premiered in cinemas on 16 October. Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim co-directed the project, which required more than three years of production.

The film depicts Elizabeth Holmes just one month before she started an 11-year prison sentence. It generated $15.6 million from 855 theatres during its debut weekend, marking the strongest start for a nonmusical documentary in two decades.

Revenue increased by $19.5 million after the release expanded to 2,655 venues. The production is eligible for the best documentary feature at the 99th Academy Awards.

Billy Evans appeared on the “All-In” podcast to discuss the film, which features a full-frontal shot of him. Evans said, "I haven’t seen it. I might think this is the dumbest thing I have ever done," and noted that it "looks insane."

Scott Walker released the album The Drift in 2006. The work examines themes of disease, tragedy, and death.

Visceral descriptions of the execution of Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci appear within the lyrics. Walker includes lyrics regarding the September 11 attacks and the Srebrenica genocide.

Personal history also informs the record, specifically lyrics about the stillborn twin brother of the artist. Listeners can stream the album on platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.

The collection is also accessible via Bandcamp, Qobuz, and Deezer.

To distribute larger profits among shareholders, these business firms are reducing their workforce sizes. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) are often incentivised through stock options to prioritise these goals.

To further minimise the labour force, CEOs outsource specific functions and hire contractual workers to lower wage bills. Firms from the cement, banking, insurance, textile, and pharmaceutical sub-sectors have engaged in share buybacks over the last four years.

Borrowings increase the corporate debt-to-equity ratio, and firms face financial constraints when credit access becomes difficult. A shareholder value orientation prevents business firms from investing in risky ventures.

This orientation increases the level of debt in the economy while decreasing real investment. Financialised households are involved in debt-financed consumption, which transfers income from low-income consumers to high-income ones.

A decline in aggregate demand resulting from these trends has contractive effects on the macroeconomy.

The Pakistan sugar industry incurred losses of 98 billion rupees as prices fell by 25 percent compared to the previous year. Twelve sugar mills have shut down amid a national surplus of 1.3 million tonnes.

Authorities granted permission to export 0.2 million tonnes of sugar, despite an appeal from the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association-North Zone (PSMA-NZ) for 0.8 million tonnes. Production for the upcoming crushing season is estimated to reach approximately 8.50 million tonnes.

A PSMA-NZ spokesman stated that since the closure of the 2025-26 crushing season, the association has repeatedly highlighted the 1.3 million tonne surplus, but the government ignored requests for timely exports, causing a serious financial crisis. The spokesman also claimed that sugar prices in Pakistan are the lowest in the world and requested the complete de-regulation of the sugar sector.

IE University is investigating ways to increase its involvement with Pakistan, including the possibility of opening a local office. Carlos Aragón Gil de la Serna attended a gathering in an Islamabad hotel as the chief guest to discuss these developments.

More than 100 people joined the event, which included notable figures such as Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Other participants at the meeting included Andrea Vélez, Venisse Garcia, and Chaudhry Azaan Jandad Asghar.

Asghar, an alumnus of the institution, serves as the university's representative in Pakistan. IE University also offers executive education and postgraduate programmes.

ISE REIT Management Company Limited appointed Zahid Latif Khan as Chairman of its Board of Directors. The company held its inaugural Annual General Meeting on 10 October 2026.

Nine directors were elected to the board during that session. The newly formed board convened for a meeting on 23 October 2026.

Zahid Latif Khan serves as a Non-Executive Shareholders’ Director. Other Non-Executive Shareholders’ Directors include Adil Khan Swati, Haider Khaqan Abbasi, Haroon Ihsan Piracha, Marium, and Sohail Altaf.

Independent Directors Malik Qamar Afzal, Shaista Bano Gilani, and Syed Mukhtar Hussain Jaffery also join the board. ISE REIT Management Company Limited operates as a licensed Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC).

The firm holds a REIT Management Services licence granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).

The Natak Theatre Group from Punjab University performed ‘Ik Boota Ambi Da’ during the Third Punjab Maas International Theatre Festival 2026. Lahore Arts Council Alhamra hosted the event, which was organised jointly by the Maas Foundation and the council.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Ali attended the performance as the Chief Guest, while Professor Dr. Mehboob Hussain served as the Guest of Honour. Festival Director Aamir Nawaz welcomed the attendees to the venue.

Faha Shawal directed the play, which was conceived as a tribute to Professor Mohan Singh. Israr Chishti developed the creative concept and provided the music and voice-over for the production.

Mian Ahmed acted as Associate Director, while Professor Dr. Ahmed Bilal served as the Producer. The cast featured Faha Shawal, Faiz Rajput, and Mian Ahmed.

Professor Shehnawaz Zaidi contributed to the festival as an adviser.

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed an inspection team to visit the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Rajanpur. Special Assistant Shoaib Mirza led the official delegation during the site visit.

The team gathered feedback from visitors and patients regarding the services provided at the facility. Officials expressed satisfaction with the cleanliness arrangements maintained throughout the hospital.

Inspectors also examined the portions of the hospital currently under construction. CEO Health Rajanpur and the Medical Superintendent of DHQ Hospital Rajanpur received praise for upholding high cleanliness standards.

The CEO Health Rajanpur and the Medical Superintendent were further commended for ensuring that patients receive free medicines.

Obsession claimed five awards at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Curry Barker received the Best Director honour for his work on the film.

Inde Navarrette earned the Best Lead Performance award for the same production. Three trophies went to Backrooms during the ceremony.

The production won Best First Feature, Best Cinematography, and Best Score. Widow’s Bay was named Best Series.

Resident Evil: Requiem took home the Best Video Game title. Armen Aghaeian served as an executive producer for the event.

Amanda Grace Collins acted as the lead producer, while Varrati also served as a producer.

Resident Evil claimed the leading position at the mainland China box office for the third weekend in a row. The film earned RMB37.6 million, which converts to approximately $5.6 million.

This weekend's total surpassed the amount the movie grossed during the 23–25 October period. Traces of Justice occupied the second spot, bringing in $4.7 million.

Since its premiere on 1 October, the title has accumulated a total of $92.4 million. Once Upon a Time in the Middle East ranked fourth with a haul of $800,000.

The production has generated $355.5 million since it launched on 11 August. All Wishes Come True! completed the top five list, earning $600,000.

The film has grossed $306.6 million since its opening on 18 July. A total of $18.6 million was reported in a related figure, while the broader market context shows a 29.1% change.

The overall market figures reached $4.7 billion.

Zeinab Faraj survived an Israeli drone attack in Lebanon after being buried under rubble alongside a dying colleague. The journalist was documenting the aftermath of the war in southern Lebanon with Amal Khalil when they reached the village of al-Tiri on 22 April.

A car carrying 27-year-old Ali Nabil Bazzi and 37-year-old Mohammed Hourani was struck by a missile and caught fire ahead of the two women. Amal Khalil died approximately one hour before paramedics returned to the area, having previously shouted, "Oh God, they’re gone."

The Israeli military identified the targets as saboteurs violating the ceasefire, which Israel agreed to in mid-April. An Israeli military spokesperson described Khalil's video as “terrorist media,” while human rights groups called the attack a war crime.

Khalil had previously received death threats from Israeli numbers.

Actor Eric Bauza died on 25 October at the age of 46 from hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Born in Scarborough, Toronto, on 7 December 1979, Bauza started his professional journey as a character designer at a Hollywood production studio.

The performer accumulated more than 400 acting credits, beginning with a role in "The Ripping Friends" in 2001. Bauza provided the voices for prominent characters including Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, and appeared in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" and "Avatar: The Last Airbender".

Recent projects in pre-production included the role of The Shogun King in "The Dragon Masters" and a portrayal of Daffy Duck in "Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical".

Danyal Zafar is taking a break from his professional commitments after reaching a physical breaking point. The actor shared a story from a hospital following a fever he suffered on 6 October.

For 415 days, Zafar has remained on the road, maintaining a consistent work schedule for two years. Zafar described his recent schedule as "a tumultuous feat," noting that he has rarely stayed in one location for more than a few days between album recordings, shows, and shoots.

Everything must go on hold so he can "rest, recover and find my way back to full health," Zafar said. Previous projects for the actor include lead roles in the dramas Raqaas and Zanjeerain.

His studio album, STORMS & serenity, is scheduled for release on 31 October 2026.

Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) will implement traffic diversions at Khanna Pul and Lehtrar Road starting 26 October. These changes remain in effect until further notice to accommodate ongoing construction work.

Drivers heading toward Ali Pur, Lehtrar Road, and Tramri Chowk are directed to use Park Road, Rawal Dam Chowk, and Faizabad instead. Motorists moving from Khanna Pul toward the Islamabad Expressway should instead take the Ghauri Town Link Road.

Personnel from the ITP will be stationed at major locations to provide guidance to motorists.

President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on his re-election as the President of Brazil on 26 October. Zardari expressed confidence that the bond between Pakistan and Brazil would continue to grow and strengthen.

The Pakistani leader emphasised the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment, trade, and agriculture. He also voiced hope that the two nations would further solidify their relations within multilateral forums.

President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to Naik Saif Ali Janjua on the 78th anniversary of his martyrdom. The decorated soldier received the Hilal-i-Kashmir (Nishan-i-Haider) for his actions during the Kashmir War of Independence.

During the conflict, Janjua repulsed an intense attack by an enemy that possessed superior numbers and resources. President Zardari stated that Janjua continued to lead his unit even after sustaining severe injuries.

The commander inflicted a humiliating defeat on the opposing forces, according to the president. Pakistan would forever remain indebted to its martyrs, Zardari said.

Federal Minister Jam Kamal Khan is representing Pakistan at the ninth World Investment Forum (WIF) 2026 in Doha from 25 to 27 October. The forum, which focuses on the theme "Investing in the Future", is organised in partnership with the State of Qatar and the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Embassy of Pakistan in Doha is facilitating the participation of the Federal Minister during the three-day event. Mustafa Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, held a bilateral meeting with Khan to discuss economic cooperation.

Khan also invited Hassad Food to take part in FoodAg 2026, an event scheduled for 23 to 26 November in Karachi.

Islamabad postponed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's scheduled visit to Moscow on 1 March 2026. The regional and internal situation necessitated the delay of the trip.

Fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan has escalated recently. A wider regional crisis was triggered by the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Pakistan focused on the evacuation of its nationals from Iran during the unrest. Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation across the region and within the country.

Earlier this month, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev travelled to Islamabad. The Prime Minister noted there is "positive momentum" regarding bilateral ties.

Shehbaz called for greater cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and economic development. Pakistan and Russia explored cooperation in agriculture, connectivity, energy, and trade.

Shehbaz described the current state of relations as having "positive momentum".

Shehbaz

AirSial launched a new daily flight service connecting Islamabad and Quetta on 25 October. The airline operates these flights in both directions every day using Airbus A320 aircraft.

Flight PF163 leaves Islamabad at 12:00 PM and reaches Quetta at 1:30 PM, covering the distance in 1 hour and 30 minutes. Departing Quetta at 2:30 PM, flight PF164 arrives in Islamabad at 3:55 PM after a journey of 1 hour and 25 minutes.

The price of 24-karat gold per tola rose by Rs1,400 to reach Rs423,436. International gold prices increased by $14, reaching a level of $4,009 per ounce.

A 10-gram unit of 24-karat gold saw a price hike of Rs1,201, bringing the cost to Rs363,028. The 10-gram price for 22-karat gold rose by Rs1,101 to hit Rs332,787.

Silver prices per tola increased by Rs20, reaching Rs5,878. Global silver prices rose by $0.20 to reach $54 per ounce.

The price of 10 grams of 24-karat silver rose by Rs17 to reach Rs5,039.

The Education Testing Council (ETC) has released the roll number slips for the Daanish Schools Authority Test 2026 via its official online portal. Candidates may download the required documents from the website https://etc.hec.gov.pk/#/webpage.

Examinations are set to take place over a three-day period from 30 October to 1 November 2026. Applicants seeking guidance or having queries can contact the HEC Online Help Portal at https://onlinehelp.hec.gov.pk.

The government recently announced the provision of 500,000 Chromebooks to support students. In Sindh, authorities declared seven batches of six different medicines as fake.

Pakistan secured a one-wicket victory over England in the fourth match of the ODI tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium. England established a target of 242 runs but lost early wickets including those of Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman.

Shadab Khan anchored the chase with 113 runs from 96 deliveries, striking 13 boundaries and 5 sixes to claim his first ODI century. The tenth-wicket partnership between Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, who scored 7 runs off 19 balls, added 89 runs to the total.

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Nasser Hussain said, "When England were put under pressure here at the end, they crumbled. Brilliant change of intent from Shadab Khan. That game had gone from them to one individual, backed up by Haris Rauf, to bring it back. Incredible run change." The win ensures Pakistan's qualification for the final of the tri-series.

Director General Enforcement of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority visited Lahore to meet with various service providers. The official held several sessions with Fixed Line Licensees, Class Value Added Services licensees, and Data Class Value Added Services licensees.

Representatives from major licensees across different cities in Punjab attended the discussions at the PTA Zonal Office. Participants discussed specific measures to enhance the quality of fixed broadband services for end users.

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The Director General Enforcement emphasized the necessity of bringing all cable operators providing internet services into the PTA licensing framework. To support this transition, the authority would provide all possible facilitation and support to eligible operators.

Promoting the expansion of fixed broadband services across Pakistan remains a key objective for the PTA. The regulator aims to ensure that consumers receive the bandwidth committed by service providers and benefit from improved quality of service.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the homes of the late Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf and the late Malik Nadeem Kamran on 26 October. Sharif expressed his sympathies to the families of both men during the visits.

Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf previously served as a Member of the National Assembly. Malik Nadeem Kamran held the position of Punjab provincial minister for Planning and Development.

The Prime Minister noted that Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf and Malik Nadeem Kamran had always served the people of their constituencies and worked for the cause of democracy. Accompanying the Prime Minister were Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Federal Minister Attaullah Tarar.

Malik Qasim Nadeem, a member of the Punjab Assembly, is the son of Malik Nadeem Kamran.

VelociPastor 2 premiered at the Sunday FilmQuest in Provo, Utah, where it joined a series of roadshow screenings. Jesse Gouldsbury directed and co-wrote the film, which is currently seeking distribution.

Attendees at the festival met the rise of artificial intelligence in the industry with near-universal distrust and disinterest. Organisers promised that feature presentations will not include AI before every screening.

The Meteorological Department predicted a powerful spell of rain to enter Punjab from 28 October. Temperatures across the province are anticipated to drop significantly.

The intensity of cold is expected to increase across the province. The government announced 500,000 Chromebooks for students.

Authorities declared seven batches of six medicines fake in Sindh. Daanish Schools Authority test roll number slips are issued now.

The BISE Gujranwala Board announced the 11th class result 2026.

Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) issued a critical warning regarding eight compromised security keys used by eMudhra’s emSign service. Six of these compromised keys were designated for Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates, while two were used to verify software through code signing.

The private keys involved utilized the ECDSA P-384 cryptographic method but were generated with insufficient randomness. Mozilla independently recovered the keys within hours of the initial report.

No malicious exploitation had been publicly confirmed at the time the advisory was released. Google stated that no TLS certificates linked to the six compromised intermediates appeared in Certificate Transparency logs before the certificates were blocked.

National CERT warned against removing root certificates indiscriminately.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke with Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani by telephone on 26 October. During the discussion, the two leaders confirmed the close and fraternal nature of the relationship between Pakistan and Bahrain.

Dar and Al Zayani explored methods to bolster mutual cooperation within multilateral forums, specifically mentioning the United Nations. The officials also shared perspectives on various regional developments and highlighted the necessity of frequent consultations to pursue common goals.

The Pakistan Cycling Federation will host the 71st Pakistan National Track Cycling Championship from 11 to 13 December 2026. Lahore's Nishtar Stadium, Qaddafi Stadium, and Cycling Velodrome will serve as the venues for the event.

Elite and junior men’s and women’s categories will feature in the championship. Teams from the Pakistan Army, Sui Southern Gas Company, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, Bikestan Cycling Academy, and Crank Addicts are scheduled to participate.

Cyclists from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the four provinces will compete in the tournament. The Pakistan Sports Board, Union Cycliste Internationale, and the Asian Cycling Confederation support the federation's organisation of the competition.

"The 71st National Track Cycling Championship is an important step towards promoting cycling in Pakistan. Our focus is on providing competitive opportunities to elite and junior athletes, encouraging young talent and raising the standard of track cycling in the country," said Syed Azhar Ali Shah, Pakistan Cycling Federation President.

Saudi Arabia will face Palestine in the opening match of the Asian Cup on 7 January 2027. Riyadh's King Fahd Sports City Stadium will serve as the venue for both the tournament's first game and the final.

The competition runs from 7 January until 5 February 2027 and includes a total of 51 matches. Eight stadiums across three cities will host the 24 participating teams.

Riyadh will provide five venues, while Jeddah hosts two and Al Khobar provides one. Other scheduled fixtures include Qatar against Thailand and Japan against Indonesia on 11 January.

Additional matchups feature South Korea facing Yemen, Australia taking on Singapore, and Iran meeting China. Group stage play concludes on 20 January, with knockout rounds commencing on 22 January.

This marks the first time Saudi Arabia will host the Asian Cup. The kingdom is also set to stage the 2034 World Cup.

Pharmacists and qualified persons seeking drug sale licences in Islamabad Capital Territory must now disclose all current and past professional roles across Pakistan. The Pharmacy Services and Drug Control department issued this advisory to ensure applicants provide a complete history of their work.

Authorities will cross-check submitted data against records held by Pharmacy Councils and other drug regulatory bodies to verify the information. Providing false declarations or concealing professional ties could result in the rejection of applications and the cancellation of existing licences.

Official sources stated that strict legal action will be taken on submitting false declarations or concealment of information. Proprietors are encouraged to perform thorough due diligence before they submit their formal requests to the department.

Violators may also face disciplinary proceedings referred to the relevant Pharmacy Council.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Dr Musadik Malik urged the international community to collaborate on research concerning mountains and glaciers during a pre-COP31 dialogue. Malik stated, "The first hit is taken by the mountains," while highlighting the urgent need for vulnerable nations to secure more climate finance.

Pakistan has identified approximately 13,500 glaciers and is currently evaluating the dangers posed by glacial lakes and potential outburst floods. A disaster linked to the Shishper glacier recently struck Hasanabad in Hunza.

To combat these issues, the minister suggested creating a virtual Green University, for which Pakistan has already secured agreements with two other countries. Ongoing research partnerships exist with Italy, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom.

Dr Musadik Malik said, "The first hit is taken by the mountains."

Dr Musadik Malik