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Thousands detained as India’s “largest democracy” faces criticism

The UN, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have criticised India over the mass detention of protesters, opposition leaders, lawyers and journalists in Delhi.

Islamabad beats New York, London and Paris in quality of life index

Pakistan's capital has beaten Paris, New York and London in Numbeo's 2026 Mid-Year Quality of Life Index, scoring 140.7, in a ranking that highlights Islamabad's safety, climate and affordability.

Opposition leaders detained at CJP protest in Delhi

Former chief ministers Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Pinarayi Vijayan were among those held as the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar demanded the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation

IMF, Pakistan reach staff-level deal potentially unlocking $1.2bn

he International Monetary Fund and Pakistan have reached a staff-level agreement on two programme reviews, potentially unlocking about $1.2 billion in financing, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board.

Trump welcomes Pakistan, Türkiye military support for Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump welcomed Pakistan and Türkiye's military support for Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Alliance, saying "I think that's great."

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye agree to activate Makkah pact

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye decided at an emergency meeting in Riyadh on 5 October to move to the practical implementation of collective defence commitments under the Makkah Alliance for Defense, including rapid deployment of agreed forces in the Kingdom.

ICC unseals four arrest warrants against Taliban leaders

The International Criminal Court on 5 October 2026 unsealed four arrest warrants in the Afghanistan situation against senior Taliban figures, including Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani.

Maryam Nawaz receives UN-Habitat award for Apni Chhat Apna Ghar

Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award 2026 for Apni Chhat Apna Ghar at a World Habitat Day ceremony in Muscat, Oman.

Houthi drone hits Madinah power station serving Prophet’s Mosque

Houthi forces carried out a drone attack on a power distribution station in Madinah that supplies electricity to the Prophet's Mosque, the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen says, the latest in a string of attacks it says has targeted Islam's two holiest cities.

Trump open to easing Iran sanctions for nuclear progress

Trump’s silent endorsement of Shehbaz’s UN speech

Trump shared PM Shehbaz Sharif's UN speech on Truth Social, without comment, as Sharif thanked him for his "resolute and visionary leadership" and credited him with saving 30 million lives in South Asia during the India-Pakistan conflict.

Netanyahu dodges Mamdani, grounding fears steer landing away from JFK

Israeli security officials have rerouted the prime minister's aircraft away from JFK over fears New York's mayor could disrupt it, though one Israeli source says the change is about parking and security rather than politics.

Trump to meet Mamdani in New York

President Trump will meet NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday, his first visit to the mayor's own city despite months of public sparring between the two.

After Pakistan, Turkiye vows “no difficulty” defending Saudi Arabia under Makkah pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told NTV that Ankara would have "no difficulty" meeting Saudi Arabia's military needs under the Makkah Defence Alliance, following similar commitments already made by Pakistani officials, as the pact nears full institutionalisation.

Saudi Arabia Shoots Down Houthi Drone Near Makkah, Calls Holy City a ‘Red Line’

Imran Khan’s ex-wife Jemima Goldsmith marries Cameron O’Reilly

Jemima Goldsmith, Imran Khan's ex-wife, has married Irish-Australian financier Cameron O'Reilly in a private ceremony, more than two decades after her divorce from the former Pakistani PM.

Pakistan warns Iran to rein in Houthis as Saudi strikes back

Pakistan has moved on two fronts over the Houthi assault on Saudi Arabia this week: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif warning the Makkah Defence Pact could become operational, and Pakistan separately delivering a direct diplomatic warning to Iran, Reuters reports, urging Tehran to rein in the Houthis.

Trump did not object to UK’s Israel settlement sanctions

US President Donald Trump did not push back on British plans to sanction Israeli settlements when briefed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a Western official told The Times of Israel.

UK PM Burnham announces sanctions on Israeli settlements

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced a package of measures targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including a trade ban, a formal declaration that the occupation is unlawful, and sanctions on individuals and companies profiting from settlement expansion, calling it a decisive break from years of British hesitancy.

Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation in talks to invest in Pakistan mining

Pakistan's Special Investment Facilitation Council has brought Japanese trading conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation into discussions about potential mining and minerals investment. Talks have begun, but no project, financial commitment, or timeline has been announced.

Elon Musk tops Forbes’ richest people list

Elon Musk remains the world's richest person by a wide margin, with a fortune of $908.2 billion, according to Forbes' Real-Time Billionaires list. His nearest rival, Google co-founder Larry Page, trails by more than $630 billion, while Michael Dell has climbed into fourth place.

Pakistan among eight nations condemning Israeli Gaza displacement remarks

Pakistan joined Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and the UAE in condemning remarks by Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Katz on displacing Palestinians from Gaza, calling the proposals a violation of international law and a threat to Trump's plan to end the Gaza conflict.

Trump $1 coin sells out hours after entering circulation

The US Mint put a $1 coin bearing President Trump's image into circulation on September 2, making him only the second sitting US president in history to appear on American currency. The coins reportedly sold out within hours of going on sale.

Lahore becomes sister city with Kyrgyzstan’s Osh

Lahore has become a sister city with Osh, Kyrgyzstan's second-largest city, under an agreement signed as PM Shehbaz Sharif met Kyrgyz President Zhaparov in Bishkek.

Lahore named SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital

Lahore has been designated the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-2027, under a resolution signed at the same Bishkek summit where Pakistan assumed the SCO chairmanship, with four flagship cultural events planned in the city.

Pakistan assumes SCO chairmanship for 2026-27

Pakistan formally assumed the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State on September 1, taking over from Kyrgyzstan at the conclusion of the Bishkek summit. It's Pakistan's first time holding the role since joining as a full member in 2017, and Islamabad will host the organisation's 2027 summit.

First Makkah Defence Alliance secretary general to be from Pakistan

The defence pact signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye three weeks ago will be known as the Makkah Defence Alliance, its secretariat has been established in Riyadh, and its first secretary general will be appointed from among Pakistanis, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced in Istanbul on Monday.

Pakistan welcomes Hague ruling that Indus treaty remains in force

The Court of Arbitration in The Hague has issued its Award on the Status of the Indus Waters Treaty and its Decision on Interim Measures, finding that India's decision to place the treaty in abeyance is not permissible and that the accord remains fully in force, according to Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Neither text has been published yet, with publication expected within about a week.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye hold first Makkah pact meeting

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye convene the first session of the committee created under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul on Monday, each sending their foreign minister, defence minister and military chief. It is the first institutional step since the pact was signed three weeks ago, and the agenda covers defence capabilities, interoperability and, according to Pakistani reporting, joint production.

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan hold first Makkah pact meeting

Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan are holding the first committee meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement in Istanbul, with foreign ministers, defence ministers, and chiefs of staff in attendance, even as a separate Regional Four meeting including Egypt converges on the same city.

PM orders suspensions, criminal action over PIMS fire

PM Shehbaz Sharif ordered eight PIMS officials suspended and criminal proceedings launched after an investigation found no fire safety systems in the ward where newborns died.

Bangladesh to buy same jets that downed India’s Rafales by Pakistan

Bangladesh has confirmed a draft agreement to buy Chinese J-10CE jets, becoming only the second country after Pakistan to move toward operating the aircraft, and citing Pakistan's combat performance against India as the direct basis for the decision.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign Makkah Joint Defence Agreement

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement at Al-Safa Palace, a trilateral pact under which an armed attack against any one of the three states will be regarded as an attack against them all.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey expected to sign defence pact on Friday

Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are expected to sign a joint defence agreement in Saudi Arabia on Friday, according to Reuters, citing two regional sources. Erdogan arrives in Riyadh to meet Mohammed bin Salman and Shehbaz Sharif, with Field Marshal Asim Munir already in the Kingdom.

US makes $10,000 visa bond permanent for 50 countries, Pakistan excluded

The United States has permanently adopted a refundable visa bond scheme requiring selected applicants from 50 countries to deposit between $10,000 and $20,000 before receiving tourist or business visas. Pakistan is not among the affected countries.

Andy Burnham becomes UK Prime Minister as Starmer resigns

Andy Burnham has become the United Kingdom's 59th Prime Minister, succeeding Keir Starmer after being invited by King Charles III to form a government. The former Manchester mayor, Britain's seventh PM in a decade, promised "a circuit breaker for Britain."

Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain have won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina, ending a tightly contested final with a decisive breakthrough.

FBI captures Indian national wanted over crime network links

The FBI has confirmed the capture of Nitish Kaushal, a 26-year-old Indian national wanted over his alleged role as an enforcer for the Bhagwanpuria crime network. He was arrested in Vermont near the US-Canada border, the first confirmed capture among the fugitives named under Operation Hard Ball.

Argentina stun England with dramatic late comeback to reach World Cup Final

Argentina scored twice in the final minutes to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback over England in Atlanta and advance to a second consecutive FIFA World Cup final.

China now viewed more positively than the US in most countries, Pew finds

For the first time, more people view China favourably than the US across most of 36 countries surveyed, Pew Research Center finds, with more expressing confidence in Xi than Trump. The US leads China in just six countries. In Pakistan, 84% call China a reliable partner against 36% for the US.