E-Paper | October 21, 2026

PM Shehbaz vows to strengthen Maldives ties for 'all time to come'; 20 MoUs signed

PM Shehbaz vows to strengthen Maldives ties for 'all time to come'; 20 MoUs signed

Both sides agree to enhance bilateral trade to $200m in 2 years; premier briefs Muizzu on Kashmir dispute, IWT issue.

Updated 21 Oct, 2026 02:44pm

Related

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia sign 'Badr' defence cooperation pact

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia sign 'Badr' defence cooperation pact

Khawaja Asif signs MoU in Doha, according to Turkish ministry; the Foreign Office has not yet issued a statement on the defence pact.

Updated 21 Oct, 2026 05:50pm

Macron takes aim at Trump for using France riots for election gain

Macron takes aim at Trump for using France riots for election gain

"There are people who campaign at France's expense," French president tells reporters in Doha.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 04:53pm

Makkah alliance binds partners to decade-long pact

Makkah alliance binds partners to decade-long pact

Turkiye seeks parliamentary nod for defence agreement; officials say Ankara’s support may be limited to provision of weapons, equipment and intelligence sharing.

Updated 21 Oct, 2026 07:35am

Nigeria confirms its first Ebola case is Bundibugyo strain

Nigeria confirms its first Ebola case is Bundibugyo strain

The case in Nigeria was detected in a woman who had travelled from Uganda to the capital Abuja on Oct 3.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 03:29pm

Branded Content

A deeper connection to Madinah: Knowledge economic city makes its Pakistan debut at the Saudi-Pakistan Real Estate Expo

A deeper connection to Madinah: Knowledge economic city makes its Pakistan debut at the Saudi-Pakistan Real Estate Expo

KEC will present its full masterplan and Al Alyaa residential community, introducing a connected lifestyle destination in a city cherished by generations of Pakistani families.

K&N's SmartCooking Recipes: Fun Nuggets Bun Pizza

K&N's SmartCooking Recipes: Fun Nuggets Bun Pizza

A quick and easy bun pizza topped with crispy Fun Nuggets, melted mozzarella and colourful vegetables.

PARCO Gunvor Limited becomes the first OMC in Pakistan to win a Blue Dragon for Best Campaign of Pakistan at Dragons of Asia 2026

PARCO Gunvor Limited becomes the first OMC in Pakistan to win a Blue Dragon for Best Campaign of Pakistan at Dragons of Asia 2026

SplitTheTimeTax campaign under Bangles of Strength platform has earn a Blue Dragon for Best Campaign of Pakistan and Gold in the Small Budget Category

Monitoring the monitors: US states prepare for surge of Justice Dept election watchers

Monitoring the monitors: US states prepare for surge of Justice Dept election watchers

Fear as Indians struggle to prove voting rights

Fear as Indians struggle to prove voting rights

Landmark biodiversity fund collapses with just $7,085 raised

Landmark biodiversity fund collapses with just $7,085 raised

Highlights

Over 150 writers and stars urge UK to halt 'draconian' Palestine Action ban as Rooney sales end

Over 150 writers and stars urge UK to halt 'draconian' Palestine Action ban as Rooney sales end

The end of an era: Hermes' Birkin bag is losing its scarcity appeal

The end of an era: Hermes' Birkin bag is losing its scarcity appeal

Arooj Aftab says musicians are entitled to compensation if their work has been used to train AI

Arooj Aftab says musicians are entitled to compensation if their work has been used to train AI

Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility for attack on Bollywood's Tiger Shroff: Indian media

Lawrence Bishnoi gang claims responsibility for attack on Bollywood's Tiger Shroff: Indian media

The Louvre's $100 million crown jewels still missing 1 year after heist

The Louvre's $100 million crown jewels still missing 1 year after heist

Netizens say Elon Musk's 'flying car' can't fly — and it certainly can't get insurance

Netizens say Elon Musk's 'flying car' can't fly — and it certainly can't get insurance

US envoy to meet Putin after 'positive' talks with Zelensky

US envoy to meet Putin after 'positive' talks with Zelensky

Steve Witkoff's planned meeting with the Russian president will include Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, participating virtually.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 01:40pm

Pakistan warns India against attempt to alter strategic balance

Pakistan warns India against attempt to alter strategic balance

NCA adviser Khalid Kidwai reminds India of Pakistan’s Full Spectrum Deterrence policy; says Pakistan never has and never will accept strategic imbalances to be induced in South Asia.

Updated 21 Oct, 2026 07:53am

CDF Munir-Pezeshkian meeting raises peace hopes

CDF Munir-Pezeshkian meeting raises peace hopes

Tehran says acceptance of its 7-point proposal can be starting point for renewed talks with US.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 07:01am

Trump urges Ukraine to make deal to end war with Russia

Trump urges Ukraine to make deal to end war with Russia

US envoy Steve Witkoff meets Zelensky in Norway, will travel to Moscow today.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 07:05am

French PM accuses radicals of forging ‘insurrectionary plan’

French PM accuses radicals of forging ‘insurrectionary plan’

Italy to send 500 troops to Milan after clashes.

Published 21 Oct, 2026 07:05am

South Asia

PM Shehbaz vows to strengthen Maldives ties for 'all time to come'; 20 MoUs signed

PM Shehbaz vows to strengthen Maldives ties for 'all time to come'; 20 MoUs signed

Fear as Indians struggle to prove voting rights

Fear as Indians struggle to prove voting rights

Pakistan warns India against attempt to alter strategic balance

Pakistan warns India against attempt to alter strategic balance

Indian military doctrines with 'poor' strategic sense of nuclear realities endanger South Asia: NCA adviser

Indian military doctrines with 'poor' strategic sense of nuclear realities endanger South Asia: NCA adviser

Middle East

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia sign 'Badr' defence cooperation pact

Pakistan, Qatar, Turkiye and Indonesia sign 'Badr' defence cooperation pact

Houthis inflict major losses on Yemeni forces

Houthis inflict major losses on Yemeni forces

Pakistan providing 'whatever support' Saudi Arabia needs for its defence: DG ISPR

Pakistan providing 'whatever support' Saudi Arabia needs for its defence: DG ISPR

Pakistan stresses diplomacy as Iran rejects US ‘threats’

Pakistan stresses diplomacy as Iran rejects US ‘threats’

Newspaper

Alberta separatists lose vote on leaving Canada

Sikh referendum in Canada draws 23,000 votes, expands campaign against Modi

French PM accuses radicals of forging ‘insurrectionary plan’

Amanpour to leave CNN after 43 years

Australian lawmaker hurt in car attack loses leg

Landmark biodiversity fund collapses with just $7,085 raised

Power outage hits Google Cloud services, disrupting UK banks

Meta’s board signals ‘recurring’ failures in oversight of election content

Israeli strikes kill seven Palestinians in Gaza

Trump urges Ukraine to make deal to end war with Russia

Drone attack by Sudan’s army kills 53 in disputed region

Shark kills swimmer off South Africa’s coast

China pulls out of port project in Sri Lanka

Zelensky says he got no warning of missile strike

Rubio seeks more access for US companies to markets in Central Asia

‘Cockroach’ party leaders’ detention extended

Wounded soldier airlifted with drone in ‘world first’

Nations urged to curb harmful subsidies at UN nature summit

Trump creates task force for women’s health

Trump launches seven-state blitz amid fears of Democratic gains

US-sanctioned ICC shortlisted for EU’s rights prize

French premier hints at emergency as curfew clamped on four cities

Japan launches rocket for Mars moon mission

Drone strikes across Sudan kill more than 100