Pakistan and Brazil agree to expand military cooperation during high-level talks

High Commissioner of Malaysia to Pakistan Dato Mohammad Azhar bin Mazlan will speak at the National Press Club Islamabad on 13 October. The interaction is set to begin at 3:15 pm during the signature 'Meet the Press' event.

Mazlan intends to share his perspectives on cooperation and matters of mutual interest regarding Pakistan-Malaysia bilateral relations. Dr Furqan Rao, the National Press Club Secretary, issued an invitation for this engagement on 12 October.

No Man’s Sky will arrive on iOS platforms starting 28 October 2026. The game will be playable on the iPhone 11, the third-generation iPad Air, and any newer models.

A 5GB download size will accommodate the mobile version of the title. Developers have included touch controls, mouse and keyboard support for iPad, controller compatibility, and screen casting features.

Multiplayer functionality and planetary settlements are omitted from the mobile release. Sean Murray stated, "I guess I should say this is not No Man’s Sky Lite."

The studio focused on battery life and thermodynamics to allow for extended play sessions, according to Murray. Players can try the game for free at launch following the September release of the Cosmos update.

Sean Murray said, "Perhaps most importantly we’ve put tons of work into battery life and thermodynamics, and we’re super proud that No Man’s Sky can be enjoyed for really long comfortable play sessions."

Sean Murray

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Department of Health, and International Medical Corps provided integrated healthcare services to 194 women. Medical teams delivered these services in Phandu and Pakha Ghulam through four separate outreach campaigns.

The initiative sought to enhance access to primary healthcare, reproductive services, and maternal care for women living in underserved communities. During the campaigns, staff offered nutrition screening, mental health support, psychosocial aid, and referrals for newborn care or emergency obstetric needs.

Meta is releasing two new models, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, to its technology suite. Subscribers of Muse Code will gain access to both versions starting 12 October 2026.

Developers can reach Wonder through the Meta Model API. The company intends to use Wonder as the engine for its Muse AI agent.

Meta stated it will create specific models that "can bring to everyone using Muse." These new releases are expected by Meta to compete with GPT-6 Astra, Claude Opus 5.5, and Claude Fable 5.1.

The Superintelligence Labs division recently introduced Muse Spark as part of its expanding portfolio. Additional recent launches from the firm include an AI agent named Muse and a dedicated image model called Muse Image.

Houthi rebels claimed they launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Monday. Yahya Saree stated, "Our armed forces were able to target (King) Khalid International Airport in the Saudi enemy’s capital Riyadh this evening with a ballistic missile and the hit was precise."

A Saudi-led coalition reported that it successfully shot down one missile over the capital. The rebels also deployed a drone to strike the Khamis Mushait base located in the southern part of the kingdom.

Yahya Saree stated, "Our armed forces were able to target (King) Khalid International Airport in the Saudi enemy’s capital Riyadh this evening with a ballistic missile and the hit was precise."

Yahya Saree

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has officially recognised the District Health Office (DHO) Islamabad for its work to eradicate Hepatitis C and advance public health. Dr. Syeda Rashida Batool visited the NAB Headquarters in Islamabad to receive the commendation.

During her visit, she met with the Director General of NAB and was presented with a shield as a token of appreciation. This acknowledgement highlights the necessity of consistent initiatives to bolster disease prevention and healthcare awareness within the capital.

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Department will launch its first province-wide vaccination campaign against cervical cancer between 2 November and 14 November. Officials aim to vaccinate approximately 2.9 million girls aged nine to 14 during the two-week period.

The target group comprises 1.6 million school-going girls and 1.3 million girls who are out of school. Punjab and Sindh initiated similar HPV vaccination campaigns one year ago.

Cervical cancer causes more than 350,000 deaths every year globally, while Pakistan estimates over 3,000 annual deaths and more than 5,000 new cases. Asad Zia stated awareness campaigns are being conducted in schools, mosques and communities to educate parents about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine.

Health officials met religious scholars, community leaders and residents in remote Kurram district to address questions about the vaccine.

"Cervical cancer is increasing rapidly in Pakistan and vaccination offers an important means of preventing the disease. If parents have any questions or concerns, they should discuss them with the Health Department's vaccination teams and seek clarification," said Dr Bawar Shah.

Dr Bawar Shah

The Islamabad district administration decided to expand its Plastic-Free Islamabad campaign by launching a crackdown on single-use plastic bottles starting 13 October. This next phase of the drive prohibits both single-use plastic bags and bottles throughout the city.

Enforcement teams will take action against violations involving the sale or use of these prohibited items. Indiscriminate action against plastic bottles will begin across the capital on 13 October to address pollution.

Officials are already conducting daily operations to ensure compliance with the campaign's rules. Ongoing action against polythene bags will continue as part of the broader initiative.

Daily enforcement operations would continue to ensure implementation of the campaign's goals. The district administration has called on traders and citizens to cooperate with the Plastic-Free Islamabad initiative.

Residents are urged by authorities to avoid banned items and play their part in reducing plastic waste in the city.

President Asif Ali Zardari called for regional cooperation and global initiatives to bolster disaster risk reduction on 13 October, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Zardari emphasised that nations must shift their focus from responding to disasters toward active preparedness.

Pakistan has faced a history of floods, earthquakes, heatwaves, and droughts. To modernise its management system, the country is integrating satellite technology, artificial intelligence, and real-time data.

The president advocated for a global water resilience programme alongside an initiative to protect the cryosphere. He also proposed the creation of a global fund dedicated to climate adaptation and food security.

Regionalisation of disaster risk reduction is necessary by strengthening ties among areas sharing common risks, Zardari urged. Stronger environmental protection laws and international cooperation on shared rivers are essential to address common disaster threats.

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) reduced the price of motor spirit for a 24-hour period, lowering it by Rs. 2.93 to Rs. 395.37 per litre. Diesel prices rose by Rs. 0.61 to reach Rs. 396.85 per litre during the same update.

Previous adjustments on 9 October saw petrol prices fall by Rs. 0.66 to Rs. 398.3 per litre, while diesel costs increased by Rs. 0.52 to Rs. 396.24 per litre. Since the daily fuel rate updates began, petrol prices have climbed by Rs. 84.26 per litre and diesel has risen by Rs. 72.33 per litre.

Records show petrol prices fluctuated between Rs. 370.80 per litre on 10 September and a peak of Rs. 398.96 per litre on 8 October. The price of petrol stood at Rs. 395.37 per litre on 12 October, following a steady trend from Rs. 387.40 per litre on 30 September.

The Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has deployed 67 Quick Response Units (QRUs) across 10 hotspot districts to manage agricultural waste fires. These units are equipped with tractor-mounted fire bowsers and stationed along major motorway routes.

Abdullah Nayyer Sheikh conducted a surprise inspection of the units along the Gujranwala-Sialkot Motorway on 11 October. During the visit, Sheikh confirmed that all units were at their designated locations with staff present.

Coordination on monitoring rice-harvesting activities was reviewed by the EPA chief during a meeting with agriculture department officials. Fire-anomaly detection, drone surveillance, and motorway patrolling have been used over the past three days to identify stubble-burning incidents.

The initiative aims to reduce the impact on air quality during the smog season.

The second leg of the W-15 Islamabad Junaid Family Foundation World Tennis Women’s Championships 2026 starts on 13 October. Main draw matches are scheduled to commence at 10:00 at the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Tennis Complex.

Thirty-one players from 17 countries will compete in the championship, which is sponsored by the Junaid Family Foundation. Participating nations include France, China, Russia, Denmark, Mexico, Uzbekistan, South Africa, the Netherlands, Korea, Nepal, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Thailand, Türkiye, the Czech Republic, and Pakistan.

Five Pakistani athletes are taking part in the event: Ushna Suhail, Mahin Aftab Qureshi, Meheq Khokhar, Romaisa Malik, and Hajra Sohail. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi serves as the President of the PTF, while Col. (R) Zia-ud-Din Tufail holds the position of Secretary General.