Good afternoon,

Today’s news: Globally, updates from Russia, Argentina, and China. Locally, PM allows RLNG connections after a 4-year ban, Pak-Afghan peace talks drag on, and over 32,000 students sit for Sindh’s MDCAT exams.

☕ Grab your chaye, let’s go.

P.S. First time reading? Subscribe here for free.

Around The World

Bringing the dough. The US and China have agreed on the framework of a potential trade deal that will be discussed when their respective leaders meet later this week. Both nations are seeking to avoid further escalation in a trade war between the world's two largest economies, as the US and Chinese officials wrapped a weekend of negotiations on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, President Trump has arrived in Japan, the next stop on his Asia diplomatic tour, where he will soon meet Emperor Naruhito before meeting Chinese leader Xi on Thursday on the sidelines of the APEC summit in South Korea.

Landslide. Argentina's president, Javier Milei, achieved a landslide victory in Sunday's midterm elections after defining the first two years of his presidency with radical spending cuts and free-market reforms. His party, La Libertad Avanza, won nearly 41% of the vote, taking 13 of 24 Senate seats and 64 of the 127 lower-house seats that were contested.

President Trump congratulated Milei on social media. He had also made it clear before the vote that a $40bn US lifeline for Argentina would depend on Milei keeping political momentum. Milei's supporters welcomed that, though critics accused Trump of foreign interference in Argentina's elections.

A bird, a plane. Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile and will work towards deploying the weapon, Russian President Putin said on Sunday, which comes as Moscow launched its second deadly attack on Ukraine in two nights. The timing of the missile test comes the same week that a potential summit with President Trump broke down, and the White House placed sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies.

Pakistan

Fired up. PM Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the lifting of the four-year ban on new domestic gas connections, allowing consumers to access regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) for the first time since 2021. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Sharif said the decision fulfilled public demand, following years of supply shortages that forced the government to halt new connections despite completed infrastructure. 

Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik had earlier confirmed that applicants could opt for RLNG-based connections by paying the required security fee, acknowledging RLNG’s higher cost compared to natural gas but emphasizing it remains 30–35% cheaper than LPG.

Straight talk. Afghan and Pakistani officials met in Istanbul for a third day of Turkey-mediated peace talks after failing to secure a lasting truce following border clashes that killed dozens last month. The talks aimed to build on an October 19 ceasefire, but tensions persist as Pakistan accuses the Afghan Taliban of enabling cross-border terrorism and not cooperating, while the Taliban insists discussions are progressing positively. Pakistan’s defense minister warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to “open war,” while US President Trump reiterated his offer to mediate, saying he could “solve it quickly.”

Tried & tested. A total of 32,531 candidates appeared in the 2025 Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT) conducted by Sukkur IBA Testing Service across nine centers in Sindh and one in Islamabad. Examination centers were set up in Karachi, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Shaheed Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Jacobabad, Sukkur, and the federal capital for Sindh candidates. Strict security measures were enforced, barring mobile phones and electronic devices. 

What Else Is Happening?

💎Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewels from Paris’ Louvre museum, a week after the heist that stunned the world and sparked a massive manhunt.

🏦Authorities have merged one of Iran’s largest private lenders into the country’s biggest state-run bank in a move that highlights a deeply troubled economy and will further squeeze average citizens as pressure from the West grows.

🌏Google’s new Earth AI has merged with Gemini AI to transform immense satellite data into actionable environmental insights that track climate and ecosystem changes—such as rising sea levels, surface temperature trends, and pollution shifts.