World

At least five Afghans were killed and dozens injured in Pakistani airstrikes on Kabul, while 20,000 families fled Kandahar’s Spin Boldak after fresh cross-border clashes. Three Afghan cricketers also died in a strike in Paktika, prompting Doha-mediated peace talks.

Pakistan’s escalating conflict with Afghanistan threatens to spiral into a long-term crisis, analysts warn, as Islamabad seeks to assert military dominance while risking internal rebellion, Taliban backlash, and friction with China over its CPEC investments.

US President Donald Trump claimed resolving the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict would be “easy” for him, citing his record of saving millions of lives. His remarks coincided with fresh Pakistani airstrikes and uncertainty over fragile ceasefire talks in Doha.

US President Donald Trump claimed India has stopped buying Russian oil and reiterated his role in mediating India-Pakistan hostilities. India clarified it is diversifying energy sourcing, while Washington’s tariffs on Indian goods continue to strain bilateral ties.

Three Afghan cricketers were killed in a Pakistani airstrike in Paktika province, alongside five civilians. In response, the Afghanistan Cricket Board withdrew from the upcoming Tri-Nation T20I Series against Pakistan, with Rashid Khan condemning the attacks as a grave human rights violation.

After meeting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine and Russia to “stop where they are” and end the war, signaling a shift toward accepting existing battle lines following renewed contact with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the seven-year prison sentence of former US Rep. George Santos, who pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft. The controversial Republican’s release drew sharp political reactions, marking Trump’s latest high-profile act of clemency.

President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Zelenskyy amid tensions over U.S. reluctance to supply Tomahawk missiles. Following a call with Putin, Trump downplayed arms support, emphasizing diplomacy. A separate U.S.-Russia meeting in Hungary is also planned to discuss the war

Gnana Dattu of Telangana, playing in his first world juniors, defeated 8th seed Garret Tan of USA 15-12, 15-13 in boys’ singles, while Bhavya and Vishakha fought back after losing the opening game

Serving as the culmination of World Boxing’s annual series, the Cup Finals will see male and female contenders across ten weight categories vie for top honours in Olympic-style boxing

India reaffirmed its commitment to a negotiated two-state solution for Palestine at the NAM Ministerial Committee in Kampala. The country stressed support for Palestinian sovereignty, humanitarian aid, and constructive engagement with NAM partners to achieve lasting peace with Israel

Following the Gaza ceasefire, President Donald Trump said his focus has turned to ending Russia’s war on Ukraine. He plans to host Zelenskyy and is weighing Tomahawk missile sales to Kyiv as leverage to push Moscow toward peace talks.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “frightened” of US President Donald Trump, allowing him to announce India’s decision to stop Russian oil imports. The Congress leader also accused Modi of outsourcing key policy decisions to Washington.

A US federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the ongoing government shutdown, siding with unions that argued the layoffs were unlawful and politically motivated. The injunction affects over 4,000 workers.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “a great man” and claimed India has assured him it will stop buying Russian oil. Trump said he may meet Modi during the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to draft plans to resume a Gaza offensive if Hamas fails to demilitarise and return all hostage remains, warning that Israel — with U.S. coordination — would act to defeat Hamas and dismantle its infrastructure.

Noman Ali claimed 10 wickets and Shaheen Afridi produced a late reverse swing burst as Pakistan defeated South Africa by 93 runs in Lahore to take a 1-0 lead in the series and end South Africa’s 10-Test unbeaten run

Pakistan’s hopes of a historic win over England were dashed by rain, as their Women’s World Cup match ended in a no result in Colombo. Fatima Sana took 4 for 27, but Pakistan’s chase was cut short at 34/0

China swept both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Asian Table Tennis Championship in Bhubaneswar. Lin Shidong, Wang Chuqin, and Liang Jingkun led the men’s victory, while the women secured a dominant 3–0 win over Japan

Indian shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu remains in contention for a medal at the ISSF World Championship Shotgun in Greece, finishing day 1 with 49 hits. Vivaan Kapoor and Bhowneesh Mendiratta also perform well in the men’s trap qualification

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire following intense border clashes that left dozens dead. The truce comes after Pakistan launched precision strikes on Taliban positions in Kandahar and Kabul, and repelled multiple attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Commonwealth Sport Executive Board has recommended Ahmedabad as the host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The final decision will be made on November 26. The bid is significant for India’s aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics, also in Ahmedabad

The Indian and Indonesian navies are conducting Exercise Samudra Shakti in Visakhapatnam from October 14–17. Featuring INS Kavaratti and KRI John Lie, the drill enhances cooperation, interoperability, and shared maritime security efforts in the Indo-Pacific region

Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement for a $1.2 billion loan under EFF and RSF programmes, pending board approval. The IMF lauded macroeconomic progress but noted flood-related risks to growth and stressed climate resilience measures.