Aurangzeb urges microfinance sector shift toward cashflow lending practices

The Netflix series East of Eden amassed 6.5 million views during its initial four days of streaming. The project also secured the top position on the streamer’s weekly television rankings.

Zoe Kazan created the project, and Florence Pugh stars in the series. Following the greenlight announcement, Penguin Classics experienced a 200% rise in sales.

Meanwhile, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story reached 5.7 million views by its third week of streaming.

Small Prophets will stream on Apple TV on 7 October 2026. The series centres on Michael Sleep, who has lived like a hermit since his girlfriend Clea disappeared without a trace seven years ago.

Michael Sleep partners with his coworker Kacey (Lauren Patel) to cultivate creatures known as homunculi. Michael Sleep's father, Michael Palin, suggests using an alchemical recipe to cultivate tiny magical beings capable of answering any question.

Meanwhile, Clea’s brother, Roy (Paul Kaye), attempts to claim the house for sale to settle outstanding debts. Apple TV's upcoming schedule features a serial killer thriller titled Nocturne, a heist drama called 12 12 12, and a science fiction show named Neuromancer.

Amazon currently discounts the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition to $169.99, marking a reduction from its usual $249.99 price point. Separately, the standard Paperwhite model is available for $149.99, down from its previous price of $199.99.

The 2024 edition Kindle Paperwhite features a 300ppi screen, an auto-adjusting front light, and an IPX8 waterproof design. The Signature Edition boasts 32GB of storage, wireless charging capability, and an ambient light sensor.

Conversely, the standard Paperwhite possesses less storage, lacks wireless charging, and displays lockscreen advertisements when compared to the Signature Edition.

Chancellor I’Ashea L. Myles granted a delay request on 6 October, rescheduling a hearing originally set for 9 October to 20 October. The initial hearing date was previously set for 9 October.

Lawsuit filings on 5 October stated that Bryan Seaver attempted to evade service. Furthermore, the court issued a two-week temporary restraining order on 23 September.

The judge stated that the defendants' conduct showed evidence of a present and continuing disruption and threat to She’s Alive’s operations and personnel. The judge added that the communications described concerned future conduct and threatened harmful retaliation, posing a current irreparable threat to the plaintiff.

The temporary restraining order will remain active until 20 October. Seaver is due to submit his written response by 13 October.

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro received endorsements from Ronaldo Caiado and Romeu Zema on Monday in Brazil. Anthony Pereira suggested that Lula's path to victory involves galvanising voters who did not participate in the first round.

Pereira further claimed that Flavio Bolsonaro might gain support from voters who backed other right-wing candidates, who could then shift their votes to him. This potential migration of votes could make Bolsonaro's victory in the second round appear easier compared to Lula's chances.

Amazon's October Big Deal Days are currently running, offering discounts on Apple products and accessories across various retailers. Some of the available discounts require a Prime membership to access the special pricing.

Other retailers are matching or beating Amazon's prices, providing consumers with alternative savings options. A comprehensive roundup details over 100 of the best deals available from the October Prime Day event.

Andrew Garfield may secure an Academy Award nomination for his performance in 'Artificial' and his portrayal of Sam Altman, inspired by Norman Bates. The movie recounts the actual events of the five days in November 2023, detailing when OpenAI's board dismissed its CEO, witnessed over 700 staff threatening to walk out, and subsequently reinstated him.

Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter Simon Rich build a compelling and often humorous argument that those five days represented humanity's final opportunity to slow the pace of artificial intelligence. Neon is submitting Borisov as the lead actor and Garfield in a supporting capacity for the awards season.

Borisov, who was nominated for an Oscar for 'Anora' in 2024, delivers a notably powerful performance. The film will screen next at the BFI London Film Festival before showing in select cinemas on Christmas Day, followed by a wider release in January.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting concerning National Highway Authority (NHA) projects, confirming that Pakistan is set to complete sixteen major road and highway projects. Among the major undertakings nearing finalisation is the upgrade of the GT Road, spanning from Tee Chowk in Islamabad to Banth.

During the last fiscal year, NHA revenue rose from Rs. 109 billion to Rs. 130 billion. Furthermore, the NHA revenue is projected to reach Rs. 160 billion in the current fiscal year.

Prime Minister Shehbaz directed that all ongoing NHA projects must undergo third-party audits. He also called for devising a strategy to develop national highways, motorways, and expressways through public-private partnerships.

A potential development involves the Mansehra-Chilas Expressway through Naran, which might cut the distance between the two towns by 146 kilometres.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities to finalize a comprehensive gas load management plan and take necessary steps in advance. A meeting chaired by the prime minister reviewed preparations for managing gas supplies during the winter season.

Pakistan is preparing a comprehensive plan to manage gas supplies during the upcoming winter. The government intends to launch a public awareness campaign encouraging households to use alternative energy sources instead of locally produced gas.

Furthermore, the government is taking measures to guarantee uninterrupted gas transmission from reserves situated in the northern areas of the country. A proposal to offer bank financing for electric appliances used for water and space heating is currently under consideration.

Separately, the government plans to install 2,900 surveillance cameras in Quetta as part of a new security arrangement. Additionally, Government Pakistan and Turkmenistan are considering establishing direct flights to boost trade relations between the two nations.

The FTSE 100 advanced 0.4% to 24,215.33 points, while the FTSE 250 climbed 0.4% during trading. Meanwhile, 10- and 30-year gilt yields surged to multi-decade highs.

Oil prices saw a decline, with Brent crude oil falling by 2%. Market expectations suggest a high probability of the Bank of England raising its rate by 25 basis points or more in November.

In the corporate sector, BAE Systems, Babcock International, and Rolls-Royce experienced drops ranging between 2% and 4%. A Times report indicated that the government considered postponing plans to establish a trajectory for raising defence spending to 3% of GDP.

Informa rose by 3%, and the company plans to acquire events organiser Clarion for £2.24 billion ($2.98 billion). Clarkson saw a gain of 2.2%, contrasting with ASOS, which dropped 9.6%.

Catherine Mann asserted that inflation has become embedded within the UK economy.

Donald Trump announced the opening of a new $6.6bn shipbuilding factory in Baltimore, which Anduril Industries owns. The facility, designated “Arsenal Two,” will construct torpedo tubes and other sections for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Funding for the venture comprises $2.9bn from the US navy and an additional $3.7bn in private funding. Trump stated that US taxpayers would receive a 40% stake in the shipyard.

Acting navy secretary Hung Cao described the plant as a “partnership between the navy and Anduril that breaks through bureaucratic red tape.” Furthermore, Cao promised the sailors that “Anduril will be making these systems for you!”

Pete Hegseth named Palmer Luckey as an adviser to the Pentagon’s “Project Meridien.” Trump referred to Palmer Luckey as “a friend of mine” and a “brilliant guy.”

Cao repeatedly endorsed Trump’s new term for artificial intelligence, calling it “super intelligence.”

Apple is collaborating with LG to create a new collection of smart home devices. This new range of gadgets will incorporate LG branding across the products.

The forthcoming smart home gear will include items such as a video doorbell, an indoor camera, and a thermostat. Furthermore, the lineup will feature an outdoor security camera, a floodlight camera, and a deadbolt lock.

Several of these devices are set to support the smart home protocols Thread and Matter. The door lock component, specifically, will incorporate an ultra-wideband feature.

Apple is also developing a smart home hub that will feature Siri AI capabilities. This central hub is anticipated to possess a six-inch display.

The smart home hub is scheduled to launch on 13 October 2026. Apple is expected to reveal the smart home hub later this month.

The Wi-Fi Alliance certified two unannounced PlayStation products, which could be updates to the PlayStation Portal. The new models bear the model numbers CFI-Y2000 and CFI-Y2105, and both operate using Android 15.

These devices achieve certification for both 1x1 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi standards. Sony noted that cloud streaming requires minimal memory, positioning it as an attractive, low-cost thin client device amid rising memory prices.

The initial PlayStation Portal launched towards the end of 2023.

Four Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) personnel died on Tuesday following separate firing incidents in Dera Ismail Khan. Armed men opened fire on FBR personnel near the Abhaya Bridge in DI Khan.

Separately, a police van came under fire near Bannu Road, resulting in the death of one constable and injuring another policeman. Nationally, Pakistan recorded 225 militant attacks across the country during September.

Authorities in Punjab have since installed panic buttons and cameras on major overhead bridges. Furthermore, the FIA arrested a former bank manager at Lahore Airport concerning an alleged fraud amounting to Rs 10 Million.

Tobias Rausch was elected parliament speaker in Saxony-Anhalt, securing the position with the support of nine Members of Parliament from other parties. The election of a far-right speaker of parliament, according to Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, represents a watershed moment.

Sziborra-Seidlitz further asserted that they would not allow themselves to be intimidated or remain silent when rights face curtailment. Domestic intelligence classifies the Alternative for Germany (AfD) as a "right-wing extremist" group within Saxony-Anhalt.

The AfD party is generally viewed as being both anti-immigrant and pro-Russian. Protesters voiced their anger at the AfD's victory outside the parliament building, with more than 300 people attending the demonstration.

Meanwhile, Ulrich Siegmund is aiming to become the state premier in December, a role requiring the backing of 42 MPs. The BSW has formally declined to enter into a coalition agreement with the AfD.

HBO Max and Paramount Plus will combine into one streaming service named Skydance, according to reports. David Ellison stated that merging the two platforms would grant the combined entity slightly more than 200 million direct-to-consumer subscribers.

Casey Bloys, the CEO of HBO, will manage the operations of the newly merged streamers. For comparison, Netflix reported having 325 million subscribers as of January.

Southern California experienced an unprecedented heatwave, with Santa Ana recording a record high of 106F, or 41.1C, on Monday. Downtown Los Angeles also reached a record high of 104F, equating to 40C, on Monday.

Extreme heat warnings remain in effect along the coast, spanning from Santa Barbara to San Diego through Thursday. The National Weather Service attributed this intense heat to a ridge of high pressure.

Los Angeles recorded a streak of four consecutive days this past week where temperatures reached 100F or higher. Forecasters predict that overnight temperatures in Los Angeles and San Diego will settle in the mid to upper 70s.

Cooler conditions are anticipated for California’s coastal areas, with a cooling trend expected to begin on Thursday. Furthermore, the state's interior regions might see a drop in temperatures on Friday and Saturday.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar is currently available for purchase at $359, marking a significant discount for consumers. This sale represents a $140 reduction from the soundbar's standard retail cost.

Furthermore, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 incorporates Dolby Atmos support, enhancing the home audio experience. The soundbar also supports eARC, allowing for shared power and volume controls with a television set.

For comparison, the Sonos Beam Ultra model carries a listed price of $699.

Ocesa announced that Fuerza Regida will host ten consecutive performances at Palacio de los Deportes throughout 2027. The promoter also confirmed two extra dates for the band's concert series.

These scheduled concerts will run from 28 January to 7 February 2027. Ocesa stated that the band selected Palacio de los Deportes because of its proximity to the audience.

Furthermore, Fuerza Regida is scheduled to perform at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards ceremony. The group will also take part in Billboard Latin Music Week in Miami Beach, Florida, two nights before the awards event.

Additionally, the Billboard Vanguard Award will be presented to Fuerza Regida at the 2026 Billboard Latin Music Awards. Ticket sales for the newly added shows commence on 8 October via Ticketmaster Mexico.

India beat West Indies in the T20 opener at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 6 October 2026. The Indian side won the T20 match by eight wickets.

Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 102 runs from just 43 balls. This innings marked Iyer's maiden T20 International century.

Following this win, India now leads the five-match series by one match to zero. Ishan Kishan contributed 37 runs during the match.

Naman Dhir recorded figures of 3 wickets for 31 runs. The second T20 fixture is set for Friday in Ranchi.

player of the match Iyer stated, “Definitely exultant — that’s the word I would use today”.

player of the match Iyer

The All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association postponed its wheel-jam strike originally scheduled for 10 October 2026. President Nabeel Mahmood Tariq chaired an emergency meeting where the decision to postpone the strike was reached.

The association withdrew the strike decision due to the PTI sit-in situation. Nabeel Mahmood Tariq stated that the goods transport community supports the government.

Furthermore, Tariq demanded that the government secure transporters to ensure the country's supply chain continues. Tariq also called for an end to container seizures and compensation for those already detained.

Transporters indicated that they will determine any future action regarding the strike after the long march.

The Lahore High Court ruled that a deficiency in providing precise details regarding alleged fraud cannot establish an oral gift. Furthermore, the court confirmed that a mutation record only documents an asserted transaction and cannot serve as proof of the original gift.

To rely on an oral gift, an individual must independently establish three key elements: the donor's declaration, the donee's acceptance, and the actual delivery of possession. The LHC also stated that the law does not allow for the reversal of burdens of proof.

The Lahore High Court subsequently allowed the civil revision, thereby setting aside the judgments and decrees issued by the lower courts. The court ultimately decreed the petitioners’ suit.

Previously, the trial court dismissed the suit in 2015. The appellate court upheld that 2015 decision in 2016.

Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister, Member of the Council of Ministers and Coordinator of Special Services of the Republic of Poland, met with President Asif Ali Zardari. During the meeting, Poland expressed its desire to strengthen economic cooperation with Pakistan.

Furthermore, the two nations explored cooperation across several sectors, including security, immigration, and combating terrorism. President Asif Ali Zardari affirmed that Pakistan values its cordial relations with Poland, basing them on mutual respect.

The President also acknowledged Poland’s recognition of Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts during the US-Iran crisis. Poland's economy reportedly reached a trillion-dollar size since 1991.

In a separate development, one street in Islamabad is being named after Air Commodore Wladyslaw Józef Marian Turowicz. Air Commodore Wladyslaw Józef Marian Turowicz arrived in Pakistan in 1948.

Polish Air Force pilots and technicians previously contributed to Pakistan's defense ties.

Skeet Ulrich stated that his planned 'three-film arc' could not be completed following the firing of Melissa Barrera from the 'Scream' franchise. Jenna Ortega confirmed she would not participate in 'Scream 7'.

Matthew Lillard, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Mason Gooding appeared in the recent 'Scream' film. Lillard expressed feeling 'ashamed' regarding his participation in 'Scream 7' after Barrera's dismissal.

David Ellison denied that Skydance intends to politicize its operations, confirming the company does not want to politicize it. Instead, Ellison asserted that the company aims to operate within a sphere of truth and trust.

Furthermore, he confirmed that Cable news network and CBS News will maintain editorial independence. Regarding relationships, Ellison stated he maintains a good relationship with the administration, and also noted good relationships with Tim Scott and Gavin Newsom.

The leadership team, according to Ellison, will spend several months detailing the merger specifics. Ellison also endorsed Mark Thompson and Bari Weiss, and Skydance confirmed that Weiss will remain in her role.

Thompson will continue working at the merged company, and Ellison stated that the most anticipated savings from the merger will not originate from job losses.

Deguchi Natsuki, Makita Aju, Mori Nana, and Ishikawa Ruka joined Kore-eda for the film's production. The film begins and concludes with views of Deguchi seen from behind.

Kore-eda stated that the animation sequence Fujino later creates represents a future the pair never shared. Fujino remarked that her aspiration was to see her manga animated following a competition victory.

Kore-eda stated, "It is a city and a film festival for which I have exceptionally strong feelings". Deguchi recounted that she filmed alone after an extended period shooting in Akita with her co-star.

Regarding a specific shot, Deguchi stated, "It felt like she was there, but not there… so with my heart feeling completely empty, I did that shot". Makita Aju attended Busan for the first time.

Mori Nana previously participated in the Venice red carpet event.

Kore-eda stated, "Show Kyoko through your back".

Kore-eda

Megyn Kelly criticised Olivia Rodrigo for supporting Jane Doe in the lawsuit concerning the Cornell University rape allegation. Doe initiated a lawsuit against Cornell University and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity.

The alleged assault took place in October 2024. Furthermore, Doe claimed that Cornell failed to provide protection or justice after she first reported her allegations to school officials two years prior.

The accused Chi Phi alumni denied any wrongdoing, according to reporting from The New York Times. Conversely, Olivia Rodrigo, Florence Pugh, and Lzzy Hale publicly voiced their support for Doe.

Kelly and other figures publicly backed the defendants in the matter. For support, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) offers free, confidential assistance to victims of sexual assault.

RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline remains available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

SpaceX intends to raise $40 billion to purchase Nvidia AI chips, a transaction anticipated to conclude in 2027. This funding structure will comprise $10 billion sourced from bank loans and an additional $30 billion from investment-grade debt.

Morgan Stanley estimates that the entire AI infrastructure sector will require $1.5 trillion in external financing by 2028. Musk stated that xAI’s Colossus 2 data center could potentially double the quantity of Nvidia chips it employs by December.

The company plans to build its data centres using Nvidia hardware exclusively. Furthermore, Nvidia has partnered with Apollo, BlackRock, Blackstone, Brookfield, Goldman Sachs, and KKR on financing platforms designed to mobilize over $500 billion for AI infrastructure projects.

In related market movements, shares of the rocket and spacecraft manufacturer dropped 1% during extended trading. Conversely, Nvidia’s stock saw a rise of 0.5%.

Huawei is backing near-packaged optics (NPO) instead of co-packaged optics (CPO) for its next-generation AI infrastructure development. NPO provides a better balance of cost, manufacturability, reliability, and serviceability as optical interconnects advance.

Separately, Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) launched two research programs. These initiatives target silicon photonics (SiPh) and next-generation AI data center power systems.

The research programs aim to address energy and performance bottlenecks associated with high-speed computing.

Busta Rhymes discussed his album Dillagence II at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles. The record Dillagence II includes contributions from D’Angelo, Ludacris, Lil Wayne, and Jon Batiste.

Recalling past interactions, Busta Rhymes mentioned visiting Dilla at his mother’s residence in Detroit. He stated that Dilla frequently provided beat CDs containing twenty-five beats each.

Furthermore, Busta Rhymes laid down verses for the song “This Woman,” which featured D’Angelo, after receiving the vocals in February. Anderson .Paak also inquired about the tracks “What We Got in Common” and “Kingpin (Knock Ya Head Off).”

Busta Rhymes stated, “Interestingly, a lot of the beats that I have, he personally gave them to me. Dilla always gave these beat CDs that had 25 beats on them.”

Busta Rhymes

President Asif Ali Zardari approved three summaries on Monday, which included the appointment of the Chairman and a member of the Federal Service Tribunal. The approved summaries also encompassed the Pakistan Infrastructure Development and Assets Management Authority Bill, 2026, and the Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Parliament previously passed the Pakistan Infrastructure Development and Assets Management Authority Bill, 2026. This infrastructure bill intends to create a central body to enhance the planning, execution, and management of public works and federal assets.

Furthermore, the legislation aims to improve asset management, prevent unauthorized building, and ensure development projects adhere to modern standards. The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to streamline administrative decision-making and boost efficiency within the federal civil service.

This law intends to delegate routine powers currently held by the Prime Minister and Federal Cabinet to relevant federal secretaries or competent authorities, thereby reducing administrative delays.

Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Chairman Noor-ul-Haq Baloch called upon Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed SI(M), S.Bt (Retd.). During the meeting, the two officials reviewed current traffic statistics for both Karachi and Gwadar ports.

Furthermore, the sides discussed the changing geopolitical environment and its impact on regional shipping routes. The discussion focused on practical, forward-looking measures to improve connectivity, boost competitiveness, and unlock more potential within Pakistan’s maritime economy.

Israeli forces demolished a five-storey residential building in Al-Tur, an area annexed east Jerusalem, on Monday. The structure housed approximately 70 people, according to reports.

The local Palestinian authority asserted that the demolition action targeted forcible transfer. Israeli police arrived in the At-Tur neighbourhood during the early hours of the morning.

Residents were given a ten-minute window to vacate the apartments. During coverage of settler violence, Israeli settlers reportedly beat and fired at a photojournalist.

Jaafar Ashtiyeh, a photographer, sustained bruises to his head and torso from the incident. Ambulance personnel transported Ashtiyeh to a hospital.

Furthermore, a Palestinian man reportedly received a gunshot wound to his foot. Ashtiyeh remains conscious and is receiving twenty-four-hour supervision at a hospital in Nablus.

Ben Gvir stated, "I love hearing this noise. We demolish what is illegal".

Ben Gvir

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) withdrew the mandatory requirement of passing the MDCAT for Pakistani students planning to study medicine or dentistry abroad. The PMDC formally announced this decision on 5 October 2026.

This action exempts Pakistani students from needing the MDCAT as a prerequisite for gaining admission into foreign medical and dental institutions. PMDC President Dr Rizwan Taj stated that the decision followed a recommendation from a parliamentary committee.

Students who continue their medical or dental education overseas remain exempt from the MDCAT requirement. Conversely, students wishing to transfer to a university within Pakistan during their studies must clear the NEB assessment.

Furthermore, any individual intending to practice medicine in Pakistan after completing their education abroad must pass the registration examination for foreign medical graduates. The PMDC conducts the NEB examination twice annually for medical graduates who have completed their studies overseas.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to continue consultations and pursue dialogue with the opposition concerning the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This understanding to resume talks with the PTI was reached during a meeting attended by senior leaders from the PPP and PML-N.

The gathering concentrated on the nation's general political and security state, paying specific attention to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march.

Jack White criticised Donald Trump, labelling him 'The Worst American of All Time'. Donald Trump made remarks concerning potential attacks from Iran regarding Los Angeles and San Diego.

These comments came after Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, 5 October 2026. Steven Cheung and the administration’s rapid-response accounts stated that the White House argued Trump was discussing potential threats from a nuclear-armed Iran, rather than advocating for an attack on American cities.

White posted on Instagram on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, addressing Republicans and conservatives in Southern California.

Lionel Messi scored one goal and provided two assists during a 3-0 friendly victory against Benin. Furthermore, Messi acquired majority ownership of the Spanish club Eldense.

The Argentine football president stated that Messi alone will determine the timing of his retirement. Messi supplied the assist for Nicolas Otamendi to score Argentina's opening goal of the match.

He also set up Nico Paz to score the second goal for the national team. The star converted a penalty kick to secure the 3-0 scoreline, marking his 126th international goal.

Messi remains the country's most-capped player with 208 appearances and holds the record for most goals scored. A massive No. 10 shirt bearing the inscription “Gracias” was unfurled at the National Flag Memorial in Rosario.

Lillie Kolich secured four-chair turns during the Blind Auditions on Tuesday night's episode of NBC's The Voice. The Blind Auditions concluded with the broadcast on Tuesday night.

The Voice is currently airing its 30th season. Episodes of The Voice air on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Following Lillie Kolich's successful audition, the Battle Rounds commenced. Riley Green paired Nashville baker Brandy Neelly with the sisters Ferryn and Brinkley.

The sisters Ferryn and Brinkley advanced to Cut Week after Riley Green selected them. Kelly Clarkson praised Kolich's performance, stating, "Dude, you’re rad. Your tone…sombr is like one of my favorite artists to be listening to right now. That one I never even thought about being into that vibe."

Adam Levine commented on the performance, declaring, "I’m awesome." Battle performances are scheduled to continue on Monday, 12 October.

Pakistan dropped Salman Ali Agha as the team's T20 captain following recent decisions. Sahibzada Farhan now assumes the T20 captaincy for the national side.

The team will begin its three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka on Friday in Rawalpindi. Furthermore, the ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka is scheduled to commence on 18 October.

Shaheen Shah Afridi retains the captaincy for the ODI tri-series, and Babar Azam was included in the ODI squad.

Pakistan imported 105,121 used smartphones in September, amounting to a value of $14.03 million. Used smartphones constituted the majority of all fully built phones brought into Pakistan during September.

In contrast, only 23,616 new fully built mobile phones entered the country in September, valued at $19.40 million. Collectively, imports of both new and used fully built smartphones reached 128,737 units in September, with a combined worth of $33.43 million.

Specifically, used smartphones represented nearly 82 percent of the total fully built phones imported. Local smartphone production saw a decline, registering 628,030 units in September.

Furthermore, local manufacturers managed to produce 1.053 million feature phones during September. Aamir Allahwala, senior vice president of the Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association, warned that factories might face closure if local manufacturing proves commercially unsustainable.

Muhammad Farooq Naseem, Chairman and CEO of DWP Group, was elected Chairman of the Pakistan Electronics Manufacturers Association (PEMA). The Association formally announced the election of its new Executive Committee and Office Bearers following the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Naseem will lead PEMA alongside Umar Ahsan Khan, CEO of Dawlance, as Senior Vice Chairman, and Muhammad Faisal Afzal, CEO of Super Asia, as Vice Chairman. PEMA represents Pakistan’s manufacturing sector for Home Appliances and Electronic products.

The organization's strategic focus includes advocating for government policy, market affairs, vendor development, and export development. The incoming leadership, including Naseem, reiterated a commitment to modernising and scaling up Pakistan’s electronics manufacturing industry for international competitiveness and export capability.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar visited Shifa International Hospital on Monday to check on the health of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) Jalal Khan. Jalal Khan is currently receiving treatment at Shifa International Hospital.

During the visit, Tarar stated that Jalal Khan has always remained actively engaged in public service and in highlighting the problems faced by the people of his constituency. Badar Shahbaz Warraich accompanied Tarar throughout the visit.

Fatima Fertilizer secured the first position in the Human Rights category at the United Nations Global Compact Network Pakistan (GCNP) Sustainability Awards 2026. The company formally adopted the UNDP SDG Impact Framework in November 2024.

Furthermore, Fertilizer mapped its operations against 15 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 49 targets spanning eight key impact areas. The recognition specifically highlights progress toward SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Rabel Sadozai, Director Marketing and Sales, Fertilizer stated, "Being recognised in the Human Rights category is a meaningful affirmation of our people-centred approach to sustainability."

Thomas Tuchel stated that England has moved on from the disappointment of the World Cup semi-final match. The manager added, "I think it’s necessary to move on."

Tuchel also suggested the squad can build upon the progress achieved during the World Cup in preparation for Euro 2028. England previously secured a 3-2 defeat against Spain in their Nations League opening fixture.

The team subsequently won matches against both the Czech Republic and Croatia during the Nations League. At Wembley, England recorded a 3-0 victory over the Czech Republic.

Across their initial four Nations League contests, the England side registered a total of 14 goals. The Nations League campaign involving England and Croatia is scheduled to resume on 12 November.

The Wakhan Corridor holds considerable potential to become a key gateway for future commercial and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Tajikistan. Progress towards establishing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between the two nations appears promising.

Furthermore, the CASA-1000 project is noted for its potential to assist Pakistan in meeting its energy demands. Pakistan can grant Tajikistan enhanced access to the Arabian Sea and international maritime trade routes.

Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda Tohir, the Ambassador of Tajikistan to Pakistan, stated that Pakistan and Tajikistan share religious and cultural connections spanning centuries. The relationship between Pakistan and Tajikistan is reportedly founded on deep religious, cultural, and historical bonds dating back centuries.

Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the FPCCI, offered felicitations to the government and people of Tajikistan on their national day. Naushewan Khalil Khan also extended congratulations to the people and government of Tajikistan on their Independence Day.

The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) released the selling and buying rates for several major currencies today. For the US Dollar, the selling rate stood at 278.84, while the buying rate was set at 275.84.

The British Pound saw a selling rate of 369.56 and a corresponding buying rate of 365.20. Euro rates were published with a selling rate of 313.37 and a buying rate of 309.68.

Japanese Yen rates showed a selling rate of 1.7602 and a buying rate of 1.7395. Saudi Riyal rates were set at a selling rate of 74.29 and a buying rate of 73.41.

Finally, the UAE Dirham was quoted with a selling rate of 75.93 and a buying rate of 75.03.

Rosanna Brown received advice in 2023 to terminate her pregnancy with son William because he presented with Chaos syndrome, a rare and life-threatening medical condition. Jane Fisher, chief executive of the ARC Charity, stated that using the correct terminology is vital to dismantle the stigma and taboo surrounding this specific type of loss.

Approximately 5,000 women annually are offered a termination for medically fragile pregnancy. Brown stated, "I made a choice here, I didn't naturally lose my baby."

Following this, Rosanna and her husband welcomed a daughter earlier this year. Furthermore, Baby Loss Awareness Week is scheduled to take place from 9 to 15 October.

Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national, allegedly attempted to hijack an aircraft bound for Israel on 30 September. The alleged attempt to seize control of the flight destined for Tel Aviv involved 182 people onboard.

Authorities report that Hammami allegedly used a crash axe during the attempted terrorist attack. Australian security agencies initiated an investigation after it became known that Hammami resided in Australia for approximately two years as a student until 2017.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry called for a thorough review of Hammami’s connections within Australia, according to Alex Ryvchin. The flight's captain, Smit Machchhar, sustained a 'big blow' to the back of his head shortly after Hammami moved from his seat to pray.

Smit Machchhar later informed Benjamin Netanyahu that he realised the threat originated from the individual seated in the cockpit with him.

Germany requested Pakistan implement GSP Plus reforms during a meeting with Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and German Ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel. Ambassador Lepel acknowledged Pakistan's legislative progress and positive developments in areas relevant to GSP Plus.

Jam Kamal appreciated Germany’s longstanding economic cooperation with Pakistan. Rana Isaan Afzal raised the matter of Pakistan’s Basmati rice Geographical Indication (GI) before the German Ambassador.

Lepel stressed the necessity of appropriate legal and institutional mechanisms to safeguard the interests of producers, farmers, and exporters. Jam Kamal Khan invited the German Ambassador and German companies to take part in the upcoming FoodAg exhibition in Karachi in November 2026.

Lepel noted that German involvement in FoodAg could help translate the bilateral engagement into tangible business and institutional cooperation.

Bahrain's Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, will visit Pakistan from 7 to 8 October 2026. During this visit, Al Zayani will co-chair the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Discussions between the two nations will cover cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, economic cooperation, defence and security, labour and manpower, and cultural exchanges. Furthermore, the ministers plan to discuss regional and international developments and cooperation at various multilateral forums.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam in Islamabad. During the meeting, discussions covered matters pertaining to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The Prime Minister directed that effective measures must continue to guarantee the welfare and development of the people in AJK and G-B, alongside providing basic facilities. Furthermore, the government intends for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to develop similarly to other areas of the country.

The Prime Minister also stated that the prosperity of the people and the development of AJK and G-B remain among the government’s key priorities.

Rana Sanaullah spoke at a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, asserting that the government cannot be pressured into accepting demands by holding the state hostage. He further stated that the government would not permit talks with the opposition to function as a “tool” for political demands, adding that negotiations could not be used to strong-arm the government.

Regarding the political climate, Sanaullah recalled PTI’s past protests in Islamabad and noted that the party has been “successful” in obstructing peace. The PML-N leader also remarked that politics has devolved into a culture of “below the belt” jabs at each other and a “culture of intolerance.”

Concerning the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sanaullah mentioned that the martyrs included children, civilians, and soldiers from KP, and that the attitude of the KP government was “unacceptable.” Despite the political tensions, Sanaullah confirmed that “Doors for talks are open.”

Harry Kane scored two goals against the Czech Republic during the recent match. The England player also reached 125 appearances for the national side.

Furthermore, sources confirm that Kane does not plan to retire in the near future. Thomas Tuchel praised the player, stating, "Amazing, he deserves the stage, he deserves the praise".

Kane debuted for the England team in 2015. The star is also mentioned as being a contender for the Ballon d'Or award in London later this month.

In other news, Kane broke a 49-year-old record by scoring 100 goals in the Bundesliga. Cristiano Ronaldo has accumulated 146 goals for Portugal.

Kane stated, "We'll see how far we can get".

Harry Kane

The KSE-100 Index dropped more than 2,300 points on Monday, closing at 168,155.48 points, representing a 1.5% fall last week. At 12:45pm on Monday, the KSE-100 Index stood at 165,843.38 points.

Saad Hanif, Head of Research at Ismail Iqbal Securities, stated that local political uncertainty and elevated oil prices are weighing on investor sentiment. Furthermore, Sana Tawfik, Head of Research at Arif Habib Limited, indicated that the market's direction will be set by oil prices and domestic political noise.

The Monetary Policy Statement's direction, according to Sana Tawfik of Arif Habib Limited, represents the most important trigger.

Justin Ellis scored the sole goal against Canada on Tuesday, helping the US men's team achieve four wins from four friendlies. Mathieu Choiniere whipped in a free kick that De Fougerolles volleyed in the 63rd minute of the match.

Furthermore, seven of the twelve US goals were scored by teenagers across four games. Ellis netted his goal in the 29th minute of the fixture.

Two yellow cards were issued to Oluwaseyi and Gio Reyna during the first half. Cole Campbell became the thirteenth US debutant during the post-World Cup international window.

Mauricio Pochettino stated, "For sure, the future with these young talented players, plus the senior players that we have, I think we have a very good mix."

Lu Po-Shun is currently seeking final financing for his debut feature, "Will You Still Be My Friend". The movie, a coming-of-age drama, weaves together themes of adolescent friendship, local politics, and solar energy development.

Festival screenings for the film proved highly successful, with all four showings at the San Sebastián festival selling out on the first day of ticket sales. Furthermore, the film maintained a position within the top three during the voting process for the festival’s youth award.

The theatrical release of the movie is set for Taiwan on 4 December 2026. Regarding upcoming industry events, Lu Po-Shun is approaching the Busan festival in dual capacities as both director and executive producer.

Producer Yu-Hao Su plans to work towards selling the film at the Busan market.

Local gold price per tola reached Rs434,436 after falling by Rs3,100 during the day, according to reports from S001. The international rate for gold declined by $31, settling at $4,119 per ounce, as noted in the same report.

Furthermore, the price for 10-gram gold stood at Rs372,458, reflecting a decrease of Rs2,658. On the preceding day, gold price per tola had seen a rise to Rs437,536, marking a gain of Rs1,200.

The international gold rate had steadied at $4,150 per ounce on Monday, according to S002. Silver prices also saw a reduction of Rs100, bringing the per tola rate to Rs6,488.

Honor launched the Play20C smartphone, which incorporates a secondary touchscreen located on the rear panel. The device boasts a 6.78-inch IPS LCD display, which provides HD+ resolution and operates at a 90Hz refresh rate.

Additionally, the Play20C includes a 2-inch touchscreen situated on its back surface. Potential colour options for the Play20C include Forest Green, Sunrise Gold, and Midnight Black.

Powering the phone are either the Unisoc T610 or the Unisoc T615 chipset. Storage capacity for the Play20C reaches up to 128GB.

Photography capabilities include a 50MP main camera setup. The device features a substantial 6,000mAh battery, supporting 15W wired charging.

For consumers opting for the 4GB/64GB configuration, the Play20C is priced at $113. The phone also incorporates a 13MP main camera, alongside a 5MP front camera.

Gold prices in Pakistan fell on Wednesday, with the metal settling at Rs. 434,436 per tola, according to reports. The metal experienced a loss of Rs. 3,100 across the board.

Specifically, the price for 10-gram gold declined to Rs. 372,458, marking a loss of Rs. 2,658. Meanwhile, silver prices also saw a dip, closing at Rs. 6,488 per tola after falling by Rs. 100.

International markets reflected a downturn, as gold lost $31 to finish at $4,119 per ounce. For comparison, the price of gold remained steady on Tuesday, holding at Rs. 437,536 per tola.

Jaguar unveiled the Type 01, an electric, four-door grand tourer, which serves as the production successor to the Type 00 concept. The vehicle generates up to 1,016 horsepower and produces 1,365 Nm of torque.

Accelerating from zero to 62 mph takes the car just 3.2 seconds. With its 118 kWh battery, the Type 01 offers a maximum range of 400 miles.

Furthermore, DC charging can replenish 200 miles of range in as little as 13 minutes. Jaguar has opened signups allowing people to register their interest in the Type 01.

The manufacturer anticipates opening orders for the Type 01 in early 2027. Shipments of the Type 01 are projected to commence during the second half of 2027.

One specific version of the Type 01 is priced at $130,500.

The Federal government intends to penalise automobile manufacturers and Tier-1 auto parts companies that fail to meet required export goals. This policy framework suggests implementing Mandatory Export Targets (METS) for both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 manufacturers.

Furthermore, the government plans to introduce a Duty and Tax Remission for Exporters (DLTL) scheme to support trade. The DLTL scheme offers a baseline compensation of five percent, alongside an extra ten percent compensation on any exports that increase.

An Export Facilitation Council will be established to manage export targets, promote market growth, and oversee international trade activities. Strengthening local auto parts makers and developing industrial clusters is also proposed through a Vendor Upgradation and Technology Transfer Programme.

Currently, the draft policy remains in the finalisation stage by the government. Separately, Punjab Industrial Zones secured Rs 76 Billion in investment and generated 7,000 jobs during September.

Google detailed an update for the Pixel Buds 2A and Pro 2, as announced in a Pixel Buds community forum post. The Pixel Watch-powered sleep detection feature will now pause music, silence notifications, and deactivate touch controls when the user falls asleep.

Users can now employ a tap-to-mute function, enabling quick muting or unmuting of the microphone during calls made with a Pixel phone. Furthermore, activating live translation requires only a single tap.

New Gemini voice commands allow users to manage active noise cancellation (ANC), adjust the equalizer, or switch touch controls on. The Buds Pro 2 receive a specific enhancement called Dynamic ANC, which adjusts both audio and ANC levels based on the seal quality within the ears.

Jed Mercurio submitted a bid to reboot the "Doctor Who" franchise for the BBC. He submitted his interest through Hat Trick Mercurio.

BBC drama boss Lindsay Salt, commissioning editor Nick Lambon, business head for scripted Geraldine Atlee, and business affairs manager James Dundas will select the winning bidder. The BBC intends to select a producing partner by March 2027.

Previously, the series finale of "Line of Duty" achieved over 15 million views for the BBC in 2021.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Henri B. Kagan and Kenso Soai. The Nobel Committee stated that molecules essential to all life, such as amino acids, possess chirality, meaning they exist as two mirror-image versions.

The two researchers addressed the fundamental question of why life prefers one specific mirror-image molecule over the other. In organic chemistry, chirality describes two symmetrical molecular forms, each exhibiting distinct characteristics.

Kagan and Soai focused their efforts on developing chemical reactions designed to generate increased quantities of the required, correct molecular version.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India's T20 squad for the tour of New Zealand, according to reports. The 16-member squad is scheduled for five matches commencing on 22 October in Christchurch.

India is slated to play five one-day internationals and two Tests during the tour. The cricketer, who is 36 years old, last featured in a T20 for India in November 2022.

Bhuvneshwar's inclusion follows two successful Indian Premier League seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. During the IPL 2026, Bhuvneshwar bowled a total of 28 wickets.

His economy rate for the IPL 2026 stood at 7.95. Varun Chakravarthy also rejoined the squad.

Shreyas Iyer will lead the squad. Jasprit Bumrah was rested from the tour due to workload management considerations.

Travis Head accused former test players of "putting a bullet" through the current team. Australia begins its first test match against South Africa in Durban on Friday.

Matthew Hayden accused the selectors of “promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity that we’ve seen in a generation of cricket”. Hayden further accused the selectors of “disrespecting first-class cricket”.

Nic Maddinson joined the squad in South Africa. Head stated that criticism from past players is unfair.

Praising Maddinson’s abilities, Head also noted the benefit of experienced players. Head asserted that mature players are necessary for test cricket.

Allan Border suggested that Head would face his toughest test as an opener against the South African bowling attack.

WhatsApp is deploying a new server-side capability that may prevent users from logging in if their mobile phone operates on an outdated version of Android or iOS. Should WhatsApp detect an older operating system on a device, it might display a warning screen and subsequently block account access.

The accompanying message advises users to open their phone's Settings and install the most recent system update before attempting to log in again. This new feature appears designed to enhance security by stopping devices with older software and known vulnerabilities from accessing the platform.

WhatsApp has not yet specified precisely which versions of Android and iOS will trigger this new login restriction.

The Social Reckoning chronicles Haugen’s time within Facebook, detailing the company's journey. The film uses Haugen’s story to illustrate how Facebook’s focus on exponential growth turned it into a societal threat.

The movie opens its narrative in 2019. Haugen begins to understand how hate speech and misinformation are being amplified by the platform’s algorithms.

Subsequently, Haugen turns to Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. The movie effectively depicts Facebook knowingly becoming a place where conspiracy groups could thrive and radicalize people.

Audiences can see the film in cinemas starting on October 9th.

Gary Lineker stated that Manchester City should accept punishment for financial rule breaches. Lineker further suggested that he would not be surprised if Manchester City were stripped of titles.

The Premier League found City guilty of charges relating to breaches of the league’s financial rules spanning nine seasons, from 2009-10 to 2017-18. The league determined that City employed 'sham' commercial contracts to inflate revenue and understate costs by more than 900 million £ across almost ten years.

During the Leaders Week sports industry conference held at Stamford Bridge, these issues were discussed. Man City subsequently appealed the Premier League's financial ruling.

Despite the ruling, Man City topped the Premier League standings on 15 points from five games.

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) developed an animated video in Sindhi to educate patients and healthcare professionals regarding the reporting of suspected adverse events linked to medicines. The National Pharmacovigilance Centre of DRAP created this video.

This video details the reporting channels for adverse events, directing submissions to the Provincial Pharmacovigilance Centre in Sindh and the National Pharmacovigilance Centre. DRAP stated that adverse event reporting constitutes a vital component of pharmacovigilance, thereby strengthening medicine safety.

Furthermore, the initiative seeks to improve public awareness concerning pharmacovigilance and make adverse event reporting more accessible to Sindhi-speaking communities.

France suspended the use of stun grenades during student protests, an action confirmed by the French government. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ordered the suspension of stun grenades for policing student demonstrations.

During a recent clash with riot police, a 15-year-old boy sustained the loss of his hand. High school students expressed anger regarding dilapidated school infrastructure, teacher shortages, overloaded timetables, and insufficient funding for education.

Evidence suggests French 15-year-olds scored 43 points lower in reading in 2025 compared to a decade prior. The CGT stated it will continue to support young people and shield them from police repression and violence.

Meanwhile, at least 107 people were arrested in connection with student protests in Liege, Belgium. In Portugal, FENPROF launched an indefinite strike in mid-September.

Teachers in Madrid have scheduled a strike for 14 October.

The Padres secured a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers during game three on Tuesday. The team entered the bottom half of the eighth inning holding a 4-3 advantage.

Over 43,000 fans sang a song for Tom DeLonge during the game. Tom DeLonge became emotional when the crowd sang a Blink-182 song at the Padres game.

One of the other game callers remarked that the scene was "that’s gotta be like a musician’s World Series right there". Game four is set to take place at Petco Park on 7 October.

OpenAI launched its Decisions API in public beta, making the tool available to developers immediately. This new API supports GPT-6 Luna and can process inputs consisting of text, images, or a combination of both.

Developers can expect the Decisions API to return decisions up to ten times faster than the Responses API using GPT-6 Luna. The API structure supports three primary output types: Predicates, Choices, and Scores.

Regarding cost, the Decisions API is priced at $0.10 for every one million input tokens. Furthermore, OpenAI confirmed that it does not charge separately for cache reads, cache writes, or output tokens when using the Decisions API.

OpenAI first revealed the API during DevDay 2026 in late September. The wider public beta rollout for the Decisions API commenced on October 6, 2026.

The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) rescheduled the NRE Step-1 examination to 8 November. A senior PMDC official stated that the decision to postpone stemmed from the prevailing political situation and potential road closures.

The Council cited "unavoidable circumstances" as the reason for altering the examination schedule. Authorities have intensified security arrangements across the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched a long march originating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa heading towards Islamabad. The PTI march was reportedly planned to reach Khairabad by 8 October.

The National University of Medical Sciences in Rawalpindi is one of the institutions mentioned in relation to these events. Foreign medical graduates must successfully clear two steps of the NRE examination.

The NRE examination is conducted in at least two steps on a bi-annual basis.

Sadiq Mohammad criticised the decision to exclude senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Salman Ali Agha, from the T20 squad. Regarding the squad selection, Sadiq stated, "It does not mean that if you have lost the previous series or tournament, and you drop all your senior players like Babar, Shaheen, and Salman. That is a ridiculous and immature decision."

He further asserted that Pakistan's batting issues demand more focus on shot selection, discipline, and technique. Moreover, Mohammad suggested that Babar Azam should have been included in the T20 squad.

Concerning domestic cricket, the former player advised that the PCB must seriously consider restructuring and properly scheduling both the President’s Trophy and the domestic one-day competition. Pakistan is scheduled to face Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series commencing on Friday at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi.

QSPL and NADRA Technologies Limited (NTL) entered into a strategic collaboration to enhance digital services. Mr. Muhammad Saad Khan, CEO QSPL, and Mr. M. Umar Khan Azad, CEO NTL, formally signed the agreements.

The Utility Bill Payment Switch will enable efficient and centralised processing of utility payments via an integrated technology platform. QSPL will use NTL’s expertise in biometric verification to support reliable and secure customer authentication.

Muhammad Saad Khan, CEO QSPL, stated that this partnership marks a key step toward QSPL’s goal of developing innovative financial and digital solutions for citizens and businesses.

Tim McGraw will receive induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame on 18 October 2026, joining the Modern Era inductees. The couple, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, married on 6 October 1996 in Rayville, LA.

McGraw stated, "In front of our closest family and friends, I was bound to the most beautiful soul." The pair share three daughters: Gracie, who is 29, Maggie, aged 28, and Audrey, who is 24.

Apple reportedly plans two separate product launches this month. The initial unveiling is rumoured for 13 October 2026, possibly introducing a new HomePod.

Furthermore, Apple might introduce several new Mac computers during the second round of announcements in the final week of October. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg claimed that Apple’s first touchscreen MacBook Pro models are anticipated next month.

The company may prepare a new MacBook Ultra range, alongside 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models utilising the M6 chip. Additionally, Apple could unveil a new Mac Studio powered by the M5 Ultra, with configurations reaching up to 512GB of RAM.

Sources also suggest Apple may announce a new iPad mini featuring an OLED display, which is expected to use the A20 Pro chipset.

The KSE-100 Index gained 120.30 points, finishing the trading day at 168,580.41 points. This performance represented a 0.07 percent change for the index.

The index had closed at 168,460.11 points during the preceding trading session. Ready market trading saw a volume of 586.861 million shares.

Furthermore, the total value traded in the ready market rose to Rs 22.365 billion. Market capitalisation increased, reaching Rs 18.747 trillion.

A total of 272 companies recorded gains within the ready market. K-Electric Ltd. led the volume chart, handling 82.659 million shares.

Unilever Pakistan Foods Limited saw a surge of Rs 440.02, closing its trading at Rs 25,680.00. Conversely, Nestle Pakistan Limited dropped by Rs 30.66, finishing at Rs 6,995.19.

The turnover in the Futures (DFC) market amounted to 174.910 million shares.

The BBC plans to reduce its workforce by up to 2,000 jobs, according to reports detailing the organisation's restructuring efforts. Matt Brittin disputed claims that low morale existed across the BBC.

However, Brittin conceded that the BBC would become a smaller entity. Staff members alleged that executives were being protected from cuts while junior staff bore the brunt of redundancies.

One staff member suggested the BBC operated as an incredibly top-heavy organisation. Anna Foster questioned whether the job reductions would fall unfairly upon junior employees.

Rhodri Talfan Davies confirmed that staffing reductions would also impact senior positions. To ease its financial difficulties, the BBC will see BBC Three and BBC Scotland cease operations.

Furthermore, the BBC is exploring the possibility of requiring viewers to pay the licence fee for any streaming service. Improvements to the iPlayer service will incorporate AI-assisted recommendations.

Stray Kids are scheduled for a World Tour ‘RUN IT’ Live Viewing on 7 November 2026. The group, comprising Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N., will also participate in the STRAYCITY festival tour across Colombia, Argentina, and Mexico.

Specific dates for the South American leg include an appearance in Mexico City on 24 October 2026. Furthermore, the itinerary lists a performance at the Kyocera Dome Osaka on 14 October 2026.

Wildwood will serve as the closing night film for the Animation Is Film Festival, which runs from 16 October to 19 October in Los Angeles. The film will screen on 19 October at the Academy Museum’s Geffen Theater.

Following the screening, Travis Knight will hold a conversation with Jason Reitman. The production, which draws inspiration from Colin Meloy’s 2011 novel of the same name, took fifteen years to complete.

Furthermore, Fathom Entertainment is distributing Wildwood theatrically across the United States, with the film opening in cinemas on 23 October.

Foreign buyers demonstrated strong interest in Pakistani handmade carpets during the 42nd World Exhibition held in Lahore on 7 October 2026. The exhibition saw the signing of several export deals.

Visitors to the event included buyers from the United States, Germany, Turkey, China, Russia, Sweden, and Indonesia. Muhammad Riaz and Khawaja Mir Mudassar briefed foreign buyers regarding the Pakistani handmade carpet industry.

Pakistani craftsmen create high-quality handmade carpets by merging centuries-old traditional crafts with contemporary global trends.

The series 'R91' premiered its world debut at the La Rochelle Fiction Festival in France. Brigitte Maccioni, who served with the French Navy citizen reserve, features in the production.

Mathilde Arnaud and Yoann Legave co-wrote the script for 'R91'. The series is scheduled to debut on Prime Video in the near future.

Following the Prime Video launch, 'R91' will air on M6.

Shafiqullah Ghafari signed a one-year contract extension with Durham for the 2027 season. During the 2026 campaign, Ghafari made 10 appearances in the One-Day Cup.

He secured the title of the club's top wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup that season, recording 16 wickets. At Old Trafford, Ghafari took 4 wickets for 36 runs against Lancashire in August.

Furthermore, Ghafari featured once when Durham achieved promotion in the County Championship Division Two against Lancashire. In the North Yorkshire and South Durham Premier League in 2026, Ghafari recorded 65 wickets across 23 games while playing for Richmondshire.

Regarding his tenure, Ghafari stated, "I have enjoyed being part of this team over the last couple of years and contributing when I can." An external source noted that Ghafari expressed hope that he could continue taking wickets for Durham across all formats into the next season.

Ghafari stated, "I have enjoyed being part of this team over the last couple of years and contributing when I can."

Ghafari

OpenAI is introducing new tools to ChatGPT specifically for teenagers to assist with the college application process. The College Planner feature consolidates application requirements, deadlines, tasks, and financial aid steps for a student's listed schools into a single plan.

OpenAI confirmed that the new College Planner functionality will arrive in the near future. Initially, ChatGPT will focus its US rollout on students in grades 10 through 12 who plan to attend a four-year college.

Furthermore, users on iOS can now employ a continuous, multi-photo capture function to upload several pictures at once and convert them into one PDF document. Additionally, ChatGPT gains the capability to generate flashcards directly from notes provided by a user.

Traffic police and the Environmental Protection Agency have decided to establish joint checkpoints to prevent smoke-emitting vehicles from entering highways. Syed Nadeem Abbas, SSP Headquarters, issued a letter to all CTOs and DPOs, directing strict action against vehicles that emit smoke.

Joint operations involving the traffic police, EPA, and the transport department have been ordered to enforce these measures. Authorities confirmed that no smoke-emitting vehicle will be permitted to travel on the roads.

Furthermore, action will be taken against open vehicles that carry sand, debris, and husk. Vehicles transporting construction material must now be covered with tarpaulin.

All vehicles, including motorcycles, must keep their headlights and taillights functional. Commercial and heavy vehicles, loaders, and tractor-trolleys are required to install reflective tapes and stickers.

The crackdown on dangerous driving, racing, and overspeeding will be intensified. Additionally, parking heavy vehicles on the carriageway and road shoulders in fog-prone areas must cease.

Vienna and Beijing teams created the world's first two operating nuclear clocks on 7 October 2026. The two groups, comprising Vienna and Beijing, successfully developed these novel timekeeping instruments.

Nuclear clocks measure time by making subatomic particles, specifically protons and neutrons, jump between energy levels within an atom's nucleus, using lasers to achieve this process with thorium-229. Experts suggest that nuclear clocks possess the capability to surpass the performance of existing top conventional atomic clocks.

However, Thorsten Schumm noted that the nuclear clock remains "far from its target performance." According to Schumm, the Vienna team possesses slightly superior thorium crystals, featuring both higher concentration and better optical properties, while the Beijing team has secured a stronger laser.

Demonstrating the clock's utility, the Vienna team conducted a precision physics experiment aiming to detect dark matter. The experiment, however, did not confirm the presence of dark matter.

Saudi Arabia selected 'A Matter of Life and Death' for the Oscars international feature film category. The film debuted at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah during December last year.

The movie subsequently opened in cinemas across Saudi Arabia in June, earning around $600,000. Taibah secured an acting award at the Saudi Film Festival for her portrayal of Hayat.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce the shortlist for the 2027 Oscar nominations on 15 December 2026. Furthermore, the final Oscar selections are set to be revealed on 21 January 2027.

The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on 14 March 2027.

Kevin Roose's book, The AGI Chronicles, documents the last decade of artificial intelligence progress, covering the period from OpenAI's establishment up to the present day. Roose argues that the pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI) represents the 21st century's parallel to the Manhattan Project.

The author conducted interviews with over 150 industry insiders across organisations including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind. According to Roose, artificial intelligence is set to reach general, human-level intelligence in the near future.

The formation of OpenAI resulted from concerns that DeepMind might achieve AGI first, prompting Altman, Musk, and others to create the company. Anthropic was established as a company purportedly focused on safety-first artificial intelligence development.

The book also covered the 'agentic' developments that occurred in early 2026.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review lending for housing, small and medium enterprises, and agriculture. The government has set a goal to supply Rs 700 billion in housing loans, covering 125,000 residential units this year under the Prime Minister’s Apna Ghar scheme.

Furthermore, the administration plans to simplify financing for SMEs, ensuring access to modern technology and funds needed for international market competition. To aid small and medium enterprises, the government will launch an SME portal by the close of November to improve financing access.

Regarding housing finance, the National Bank of Pakistan reported an approval rate of 76 percent.

Jean Allen Grantham questioned the emotional response to music in a recent piece for New Scientist. The long-running series 'Last Word' accepts submissions that must concern scientific enquiries about everyday phenomena.

For consideration, submissions require a postal address, a daytime telephone number, and an email address. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT or Claude, to compose questions or answers is prohibited for entries.

Research indicates that olfactory illusions may act as a possible precursor to migraine attacks. Richard Towers experienced occasional migraine attacks spanning from his teenage years up to his early sixties.

These migraine episodes were previously accompanied by symptoms such as auras, partial vision loss, trouble reading, and sensitivity to light and sound. At one point, Richard Towers also experienced odours without any clear source.

The AI era may change how people access information across the board. Institutions now face a many-to-one assault from information due to AI's rise.

People are currently employing AI in dealings with courts, schools, and local officials. The preprint server arXiv has seen its submissions double over the last two years.

arXiv recently announced it will restrict submissions to a maximum of two per month. Handling truth from AI attacks on maths conclusions requires keeping a human in the loop.

Donald Trump stated he would dismiss advisers Chris LaCivita and James Blair should any conflict arise. The New York Times reported that Chris LaCivita and Blair visited Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Previously, Trump appointed LaCivita and Blair to manage campaign operations for the November 3 US midterm election. Trump also asserted that the advisers function only as outside consultants and do not work for him.

A mirror reflection retains fine detail of a person's appearance. Conversely, photographs may exaggerate features that are closer to the lens, especially the nose.

Furthermore, the photograph version of a face might appear slightly incorrect because human faces lack perfect symmetry, and individuals are accustomed to viewing their mirror image. Mirror appearances are dynamic, whereas images captured in photographs remain static.

People receive constant feedback when looking in a mirror, prompting them to adjust their expression, head angle, posture, and gaze.

Sohail Afridi vowed he would not permit another military operation within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The Chief Minister stated, “I will not allow another military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; I will resist anti-people policies till I am the chief minister”.

The PTI march, originally set for 27 September, was rescheduled to 4 October. On 4 October, the procession commenced from Lakki Marwat and Karak.

The march reached Peshawar on Thursday and plans to remain overnight in Charsadda. Afridi further asserted, “But I will never become a part of this policy”.

He claimed that the Centre had withheld funds meant for erstwhile tribal areas, including Khyber. Regarding financial aid, Afridi stated that his government disbursed Rs21 billion for families impacted by military operations.

Travis Kelce celebrated his birthday with Taylor Swift. The Chiefs secured a 30-27 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 5.

Travis stated, "If we would’ve lost, it would’ve ruined my birthday." Separately, Taylor Swift achieved her sixteenth No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the song “Patient Zero.”

Furthermore, the 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl maintained its position atop the Billboard 200 for another week.

Sony's anime service Crunchyroll launched a new division named Crunchyroll Storyworks. This new Storyworks division will concentrate on anime and live-action adaptations developed through collaboration with Japan’s creative ecosystem.

The division plans to adapt worldwide narratives into anime formats, while also transforming Japanese anime into live-action pieces. Crunchyroll Storyworks intends to work closely with Japanese creators to maintain and prioritise the original creative vision.

Operating within Crunchyroll’s content group, the division will expand the stream of high-quality, greenlight-ready projects for HAYATE, Crunchyroll’s joint venture with Aniplex. Iokibe, the head of Crunchyroll Storyworks, will report directly to Asa Suehira, Crunchyroll’s chief content officer.

Pakistan Railways approached the Punjab Archaeology Department to restore the historic British-era Khewra Railway Station for use as a tourist attraction. Passenger services at the station ceased in 2011, leaving the facility non-operational since that time.

The Chalisa-Khewra railway section first opened in August 1887. Initially, the railway primarily moved rock salt, coal, and other minerals, alongside carrying passengers from nearby regions.

Freight movement on the line saw a gradual decline starting in the 1990s.