WASHINGTON: Donald Trump said Thursday he had started a &quot;lengthy&quot; phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a day before Ukraine&#39;s Volodymyr Zelensky meets the US president to push for Tomahawk missiles. &quot;I am speaking to President Putin now. The conversation is ongoing, a lengthy one, and I will report the contents, as will President Putin, at its conclusion. Thank you for your attention to this matter!&quot; Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Americas

Europe

Donald Trump announced he was in a “lengthy” phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, just a day before Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with Trump to request Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine’s defense

Trump says 'lengthy' call to Putin has started

Gaitty Ara Anis

WASHINGTON: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Thursday said that Pakistan was making a deliberate shift towards export led growth driven by the private sector, aiming to end the reliance on consumption and import-fueled boom-bust cycles. While speaking to a panel at the Atlantic Council &mdash; a DC based think-tank focused on international affairs &mdash; during his visit to the US, the finance minister said that the government had adopted the bold National Tariff Policy (NTP) to enable the plans.&nbsp; Aurangzeb also provided an overview of the country&#39;s economic trajectory, structural reforms, and the immediate challenges posed by climate change, adding that the shift in the policy reflected an &quot;East Asia view&quot; of economic growth, aiming to significantly reduce custom duties, additional custom duties, and regulatory duties over the next few years.&nbsp; The finance minister said that the focus was on making raw materials and intermediate goods cheaper to boost the competitiveness of exporters.&nbsp; He said that while textiles remain the core export sector, IT services were set to play a crucial role.&nbsp; &ldquo;A major upcoming boost is the Reko Diq project, which is expected to inject approximately $2.8 billion in exports in its first year, representing about 10% of the current export base,&rdquo; he said. The finance minister said that the early signs of success included the auto industry starting to finally export.&nbsp; He said that the strategy to enable private-sector growth also involves tackling energy issues, specifically by addressing power sector circular debt and handing over distribution companies to the privatization side. Pakistan reached a Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund that has completed the second review of its loan program, allowing the country to access $1.2 billion after approval from the fund&#39;s board. The IMF will provide Pakistan $1 billion under its Extended Fund Facility and $200 million under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility, bringing total disbursements under the two arrangements to about $3.3 billion. While talking about managing the macroeconomic stability front &mdash; something the minister talked about on Wednesday during a meeting with the IMF managing director &mdash; the minister noted that Pakistan was on the right direction in this regard.&nbsp; The progress received significant external validation, including the successful completion of the IMF program reviews (EFF and RSF) and, importantly, the alignment and upgrading of Pakistan&#39;s credit ratings by all three major agencies: Fitch, S&amp;P, and Moody&#39;s. The minister agreed that a major element of the stability effort was addressing the nation&rsquo;s largest fiscal burden &mdash; &lsquo;debt servicing.&rsquo;&nbsp; To tackle the single biggest expense for the government, the ministry was employing liability management trades and buying back domestic debt.&nbsp; While responding to a question, the finance minister termed the recent decline in the policy rate a help in reducing the overall volume of debt service.&nbsp; He added that the government is preparing to initiate politically sensitive discussions around the National Finance Commission (NFC) award to reform the revenue-sharing arrangement between the Federation and the provinces.&nbsp; The current setup leaves the Federation with little fiscal liberty after debt servicing, and the minister stressed that it needed to be addressed for the system to remain sustainable. &ldquo;The path to long-term sustainability is anchored in aggressive tax reform. The ministry&rsquo;s commitment is clear, to raise the tax-to-revenue ratio from the previous year&rsquo;s 10.2% to 11% by the end of the current fiscal year, and ultimately to 13% under the IMF program,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; On how to broaden the tax base in Pakistan, he said that it would be achieved through a two-pronged strategy of broadening and deepening the tax base.&nbsp; Broadening efforts included legislating an agriculture income tax at the provincial level and moving to bring the retail, wholesale, and real estate sectors into the net.&nbsp; Deepening relies heavily on technology, utilizing data analytics and artificial intelligence for digital monitoring and invoicing to curb tax leakages in key sectors like cement, sugar, tobacco, and beverages. The minister termed climate change as one of the two existential threats facing Pakistan &mdash; alongside population growth. Following this year&#39;s flooding, the government opted to use its resources and existing fiscal space for rescue and relief given that the intensity and frequency of devastating floods were on the rise.&nbsp; Due to damage, particularly in the rice and cotton crops, country&rsquo;s GDP growth projection will be shaved down from over 4% but is still expected to land north of 3% for the year. Finmin vows deeper economic partnership Saudi ArabiaEarlier in the day, the finance minister reaffirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to fostering a deeper economic partnership with Saudi Arabia. During a meeting with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan on the sidelines of the IMF&ndash;World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington DC, Aurangzeb sought Saudi support for infrastructure development projects with both sides reviewing the growing trade and investment relations. According to Radio Pakistan, he apprised his Saudi counterpart of the ongoing privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and key airports, underscoring the government&rsquo;s resolve to attract strategic investments through transparency and efficiency. The two ministers agreed that institutions such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) could play a vital role in mobilizing and de-risking private sector investments in Pakistan. During a meeting with CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation in Washington DC, Aurangzeb highlighted significant investment opportunities with Pakistan&#39;s oil and gas, mines and minerals, agriculture, IT and pharmaceutical sectors. Finance Minister underscored the consensus at the leadership level to enhance trade and investment ties, welcoming DFC&#39;s interest in facilitating private sector-led funding for projects in Pakistan.

Economy

Aiming to end country’s historical reliance on consumption, import-fueled boom-bust cycles.

Pakistani finmin tells experts government making deliberate shift towards export led growth

PARIS: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two confidence motions on Thursday, just days after appointing his new government and making a key political concession to stay in power. The votes followed Lecornu&#39;s decision on Tuesday to back suspending a divisive 2023 pension reform, in a bid to keep his cabinet afloat long enough to pass a much-needed austerity budget by year&#39;s end. The leftist Socialist (PS) party had threatened to vote to oust the premier if he didn&#39;t move to freeze the reform that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Without PS support, two separate motions brought on Thursday by the hard-left France Unbowed and far-right National Rally fell short of the votes needed to topple Lecornu. After the results, Lecornu he was ready to &quot;get down to work&quot; on budget negotiations, due to start in parliament next week. &quot;You can see how serious the situation is,&quot; the head of government told BFMTV. But Socialist leader Olivier Faure warned that his party could still back a move to topple the government. &quot;If the government does not honor its commitments, particularly regarding the suspension of the pension reform, we would immediately vote against the cabinet,&quot; Faure said on X. Lecornu has said he will propose an amendment to put the retirement age on hold in parliament &quot;as early as November.&quot; France, the eurozone&#39;s second-largest economy, has been mired in political paralysis since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last year, aiming to consolidate his power. The vote instead resulted in a hung parliament and gains for the far right. &#39;Terror of elections&#39;&nbsp;The president&#39;s seventh premier since 2017, Lecornu must now steer a cost-cutting budget through a deeply divided parliament before the end of the year, in what is expected to be a bruising fight. Lecornu, who became prime minister last month, resigned last Monday after criticism of his first cabinet, only to be reappointed days later and unveil a reshuffled team in time to submit a draft budget to parliament. Under pressure from the European Union to rein in its deficit and debt, France faces an uphill battle over cost-cutting measures that felled Lecornu&#39;s two predecessors. France&#39;s debt-to-GDP ratio is the European Union&#39;s third-highest after Greece and Italy, and is close to twice the bloc&#39;s 60% ceiling. Lecornu has pledged not to invoke a constitutional tool used to push through every budget without a vote since 2022 and vowed to put all bills to debate. &quot;The government will make suggestions, we will debate, and you will vote,&quot; the 39-year-old Macron loyalist emphasized in a speech to lawmakers on Tuesday. But the opposition has challenged his optimism. The National Rally&#39;s Marine Le Pen accused lawmakers of granting Lecornu a reprieve out of &quot;terror of elections,&quot; saying she was waiting with &quot;growing impatience&quot; for parliament&#39;s dissolution. The far right sees its best chance yet to take power in the 2027 presidential race, when Macron&#39;s second and final term ends. Edouard Philippe, who was Macron&#39;s first prime minister from 2017 to 2020, said the president should leave office before his term is up. &quot;It&#39;s the only dignified decision that can avoid 18 months of indecision and crisis, which will end badly, I fear, for the country,&quot; he added.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure warns party could still back move to topple the government; Without PS support, two separate motions brought fall short of the votes needed to topple Lecornu.





French PM survives two confidence votes days after reappointment

CAIRO: The World Health Organization has warned that infectious diseases are &quot;spiralling out of control&quot; in the Gaza Strip, with only 13 of the Palestinian territory&#39;s 36 hospitals even partially functioning. &quot;Whether meningitis... diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses, we&#39;re talking about a mammoth amount of work,&quot; Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the United Nations&#39; health body, told AFP in Cairo. A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has raised hopes of life-saving aid and healthcare finally reaching Palestinians in Gaza after two years of war, but Balkhy warned the challenges are &quot;unimaginable&quot;. &quot;We need more fuel to go into Gaza, we need more food, more medical equipment, medications, medics, doctors,&quot; she said in an interview on Wednesday, echoing demands by international leaders for Israel to allow in a massive increase of aid. WHO data shows there are only eight health facilities, all of them partially functioning, in Gaza City -- the territory&#39;s main urban hub. The organisation says the hospitals still standing are suffering dire shortages of medical personnel, who have themselves faced famine and Israel&#39;s relentless offensive, which has claimed nearly 68,000 lives according to the Hamas-run territory&#39;s health ministry. The UN considers those figures reliable. For Balkhy, when people talk about repairing Gaza&#39;s devastated hospitals, &quot;the question is how many of them are available for rehabilitation versus (having to) rebuild all over again?&quot; &quot;We&#39;re talking about billions of dollars, and we&#39;re talking about decades of work,&quot; she said, after the territory&#39;s healthcare was essentially &quot;dismantled&quot;. &#39;Very little left&#39;Since Hamas&#39;s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel which sparked the war, Gaza&#39;s health facilities have suffered more than 800 attacks, according to UN data. &quot;There is very little left of the healthcare system. You have children that were born over the past two years, who many of them, I&#39;m assuming, have received zero doses of immunisations.&quot; The UN says nearly 42,000 people are suffering life-changing injuries, a quarter of them children. Balkhy called for patients to be able to once again &quot;access the West Bank and Jerusalem, so that they can get the care that is available right close by, and that&#39;s the place where they used to go for care&quot;. Israel has severely limited permits for Palestinians to leave Gaza throughout the war, making medical evacuations nearly impossible. Mental health needs, on the other hand, have more than doubled among the more than two million Palestinians trapped under bombardment for two years, according to the WHO. Over one million people require &quot;urgent support&quot;, but available care falls far short. &quot;We&#39;re really hoping that the peace is fully sustained, so that we can start,&quot; Balkhy said.

Middle East

The World Health Organization warns infectious diseases are "spiralling out of control" in Gaza, with only 13 hospitals partly functional. WHO says Gaza’s health system is near collapse after two years of war and over 800 attacks

Infectious diseases 'spiralling out of control' in Gaza: WHO

Angelina Duaa Hashir

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani audiences have long waited for HBO to officially arrive &mdash; relying on VPNs, torrents, and secondhand access to stay part of the global conversation. That wait is finally over: HBO Max has launched in Pakistan, and, in a surprising turn, it landed here before India and even Germany. On social media, the longing for HBO had become almost a running joke. One user captured it perfectly when she tweeted:&nbsp;&ldquo;Mene Pakistan me Hbo dekhna ha meri sadgi dekh mai kia chahti Hu.&rdquo; &mdash;<a href="https://x.com/blueburiedd/status/1673718435342356481" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://x.com/blueburiedd/status/1673718435342356481" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">@blueburiedd</a>Translated: &ldquo;I want to watch HBO in Pakistan &mdash; look at my innocence, look at what I want.&rdquo; Others chimed in too, echoing the same wish to simply be able to access HBO in Pakistan, a mix of humor, frustration, and quiet hope that one day it would finally happen.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote></div><div class="fr-embed"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/58395a08-5fb1-4f50-9071-d2e0f9fedaf1.png" style="width: 414px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil">&nbsp;</div><div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote></div><div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote></div><div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote></div><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/d539e06a-d5b4-4149-a05c-048dae0baf6f.png" style="width: 417px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> And now, that wish has been granted. HBO Max is officially live in Pakistan, ending years of region locks, VPN workarounds, and wishful scrolling. Even more surprisingly, the platform made its debut here before India and Germany, a twist no one saw coming, and one the internet is celebrating with disbelief and delight.&nbsp;@harrypotter_pak wrote &lsquo;HBO MAX launching in Pakistan before India is very surpising to me&rsquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978582620498706676&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=8b6961a4bb5efa9ce1edf21f96ee4fb1aefe6756&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 847px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp; <div class="fr-embed">And of course, some reactions were just pure, unfiltered joy:</div>&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=true&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978503095186329862&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=8b6961a4bb5efa9ce1edf21f96ee4fb1aefe6756&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 225px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;The timing of it all added its own irony. As Pakistan tightens its stance on extremist groups, it simultaneously welcomes one of the world&rsquo;s most acclaimed entertainment platforms. As one user joked, the contrast itself feels like progress, a nation evolving in real time.&nbsp;This launch isn&rsquo;t just symbolic; it&rsquo;s strategic. With a fast-growing digital economy and a youthful, streaming-savvy population, Pakistan is an emerging market that global platforms can no longer ignore. And for millions of viewers, opening HBO Max without a VPN feels like more than convenience; it feels like inclusion.&nbsp;After years of restrictions and region locks, Pakistani viewers can finally stream freely. For once, the message on screen isn&rsquo;t &ldquo;not available in your region,&rdquo; but &ldquo;now streaming.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> </blockquote></div>

Culture

HBO Max has officially launched in Pakistan — before India and Germany — ending years of VPN use and access restrictions. The move marks Pakistan’s growing digital relevance and has sparked nationwide excitement and disbelief online

HBO Max in Pakistan before India? Now that’s a plot twist

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Palestine on Thursday launched the first-ever Rectors&rsquo; Forum to strengthen academic cooperation and rebuild Gaza&rsquo;s war-ravaged higher education sector.&nbsp;Titled &ldquo;Higher Education and Scientific Research in Gaza: The Way Forward,&rdquo; the event was held at the OIC-COMSTECH Secretariat in Islamabad. It was hosted by COMSTECH, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation&rsquo;s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said the initiative marked &ldquo;an important step&rdquo; toward restoring Gaza&rsquo;s education and research capacities.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is a privilege to join this forum, which reflects our shared commitment to education, knowledge, and scientific progress, the foundation for peace and prosperity in the State of Palestine,&rdquo; Siddiqui said. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d31ac423-7184-478f-ba02-016ef1b5810b-pale.jpg" alt=" (COMSTECH/Facebook)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">(COMSTECH/Facebook)</figcaption></figure> The minister praised OIC-COMSTECH&rsquo;s role in advancing science and higher education across the Muslim world and announced support for the committee&rsquo;s plan to offer 5,000 fellowships to Palestinian students, calling it &ldquo;a remarkable initiative&rdquo; that would help shape a new generation of scientists and leaders.&nbsp;He also highlighted COMSTECH&rsquo;s Basic Life Support and Trauma Management Course for Palestinian healthcare workers and its technical and skills training programmes, describing them as &ldquo;tangible steps&rdquo; to strengthen human capacity and save lives in Gaza.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Palestine,&rdquo; Siddiqui said. &ldquo;We offer not just words, but cooperation in research, innovation, and higher education.&rdquo;&nbsp;He expressed hope that the forum would lead to joint research projects, faculty exchanges, scholarships, and lasting academic partnerships between institutions in both countries. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/2a157543-7120-4f9d-9a8b-6b71f653532e-pales.jpg" alt=" (COMSTECH/Facebook)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic">(COMSTECH/Facebook)</figcaption></figure>In his opening remarks, COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary said the forum aimed to create a roadmap for rebuilding Gaza&rsquo;s scientific and educational infrastructure.&nbsp;&ldquo;The systematic destruction of universities, research centres, and schools in Gaza has targeted not only buildings, but the intellectual foundations of an entire generation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He added that COMSTECH and its partner institutions would work with Palestinian counterparts to restore academic life, rebuild universities, and revive research and innovation in Gaza.&nbsp;A seven-member Palestinian delegation comprising university presidents, rectors, and senior academic officials is in Pakistan for a week-long visit facilitated by COMSTECH. The group will hold meetings at leading universities in Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Lahore to explore future collaborations.&nbsp;The event was attended by ambassadors, vice chancellors, senior academics, and officials from both countries.

Pakistan and Palestine held the first-ever Rectors’ Forum on Thursday to boost academic cooperation and rebuild higher education links between institutions in both countries. (COMSTECH/Facebook)

Foreign Affairs

Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui says the new Pakistan–Palestine Rectors’ Forum marks a vital step to rebuild Gaza’s higher education, as OIC-COMSTECH pledges 5,000 fellowships and joint research initiatives to restore academic life in Gaza.

Pakistan, Palestine launch forum to rebuild Gaza’s higher education sector

Saqib Tanveer

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan are set to hold talks to defuse ongoing border tensions, security sources confirmed to Pakistan TV Digital on Thursday, following a week of deadly clashes and a temporary 48-hour ceasefire. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing his cabinet earlier in the day in Islamabad, said the &ldquo;ball is in the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s court&rdquo; to ensure a lasting truce and address Pakistan&rsquo;s security concerns. &ldquo;If in 48 hours they want to resolve the issues and address our genuine demands, then we are ready for them,&rdquo; Sharif said, stressing that Afghan territory must not be used for attacks inside Pakistan. His remarks came as the Pakistan Army announced that more than 80 militants were killed in a series of counterterrorism operations along the frontier, even as the ceasefire remained in effect. According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces foiled a major infiltration attempt in the Mohmand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing at least 45 militants linked to Fitna al-Khwarij, a term used by Islamabad for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The ISPR said the attackers had crossed from Afghanistan intending to strike targets inside Pakistan. &ldquo;Between 45 and 50 militants were killed, while several others were injured,&rdquo; the statement added. In earlier operations between October 13 and 15, the army targeted militant hideouts in North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Bannu districts, killing 34 terrorists, including 18 in North Waziristan&rsquo;s Spinwam area, eight in South Waziristan, and another eight in Bannu, after intense exchanges of fire. The military described the operations as part of a broader campaign against groups backed by &ldquo;hostile intelligence networks.&rdquo; The clashes this week were among the most serious in months, leaving dozens of soldiers and civilians dead on both sides before the ceasefire took effect. The latest exchange comes after cross-border assaults on the night of October 11&ndash;12, when Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launched coordinated attacks along multiple sectors. Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the military&rsquo;s media wing ISPR. As both sides prepare for talks, Sharif&rsquo;s remarks signal Islamabad&rsquo;s firm stance: any enduring peace, officials say, will depend on Kabul&rsquo;s willingness to rein in militants operating from Afghan soil.

Security

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says the ball is in the Afghan Taliban’s court for lasting peace, as Pakistan’s military kills over 80 militants in border operations amid a temporary ceasefire with Afghanistan.

EXCLUSIVE: Pakistan, Afghanistan to hold talks as border tensions ease

ISLAMABAD: Australian cricketers have mocked India&rsquo;s &ldquo;no-handshake&rdquo; policy with Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025, playfully suggesting funny alternatives in a promo video . The video showed players like Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, and Alyssa Healy joking about India&rsquo;s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan. In the clip, the anchors humorously pointed out India&rsquo;s avoidance of traditional greetings, the anchor said &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve identified one critical weakness that they&rsquo;re not big fans of the traditional greeting,&rdquo; while mimicking a handshake. The Australian players then joined the joke with different gestures. Australian right-hand batsmen Maxwell and Nathan Ellis made mock fist-and-palm gestures, while Healy wiggled her fingers in a teasing way. Spinner Sophie Molineux used an &ldquo;Italian salute&rdquo; and even flipped the middle finger. Marsh suggested a &ldquo;finger in the ice cup&rdquo; gesture, and others added ideas like &ldquo;healing hands&rdquo; and &ldquo;salt on the popcorn.&rdquo; Hazlewood ended by joking, &ldquo;What about the shooter?&rdquo; causing laughter all around. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 560px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1978126585828982793&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=3ed902d1cf2731030846d574b9d050a3014412f7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">AUS players pre-India clip mocks India no-handshake theatre vs Pak. Why Aussie media &amp; players laughing at stance sold as national pride? <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@BCCI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JayShah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@JayShah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@GautamGambhir</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@narendramodi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@ICC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MithunManhas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@MithunManhas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/vikrantgupta73?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@vikrantgupta73</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rawatrahul9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@rawatrahul9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@mufaddal_vohra</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PadmajaJoshi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@PadmajaJoshi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ShivAroor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">@ShivAroor</a> <a href="https://t.co/lSbuyhEcui" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/lSbuyhEcui</a>&mdash; Maham Fazal (@MahamFazal_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MahamFazal_/status/1978126585828982793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote></div> Though the original video was taken down, clips are still circulating on social media. The incident reminded fans of the Asia Cup &ldquo;handshake saga,&rdquo; when Indian players skipped post-match handshakes with Pakistan on several occasions during the Asia Cup 2025. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later confirmed that Pycroft described the incident as a &ldquo;miscommunication&rdquo; and issued an apology. The ICC expressed readiness to investigate the recurring incidents. India is set to tour Australia for three ODIs and five T20Is starting October 19, before returning home to host South Africa for a Test and limited-overs series.

Australian cricketers have mocked India’s “no-handshake” policy with Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025, playfully suggesting funny alternatives in a promo video.

Cricket

Australian cricketers humorously mocked India’s “no-handshake” policy with Pakistan during Asia Cup 2025 in a now-deleted promo video, sparking social media buzz and recalling earlier controversies

Australian players mock India’s ‘no-handshake’ stance in promo video

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Afghan traders are feeling the pinch as key trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan remain closed for the fourth consecutive day. Afghan state-owned channel Tolo News reported growing concerns over the impact on trade and economic activities due to the border closure. The Afghan Border Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the continued closure has caused &ldquo;significant delays for traders&rdquo; and urged the Afghan government to take &ldquo;urgent steps to resolve the issue.&rdquo; Pakistan&#39;s prime minister recently remarked that the responsibility now lies with the Afghan Taliban to establish a lasting ceasefire. This statement came after a 48-hour ceasefire was declared &nbsp;on Wednesday in response to deadly clashes across the border. Several critical crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, such as Spin Boldak, have been shut down. On Wednesday, the Pakistani military&#39;s media wing, ISPR, reported that their security forces thwarted another assault by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border, resulting in the deaths of approximately 15 to 20 Taliban fighters. The ISPR stated that the &ldquo;cowardly&rdquo; strikes occurred at four different spots near Spin Boldak during the early morning hours. The Pakistani troops countered these offensives effectively, inflicting casualties and injuries on the attackers. Hostilities initially erupted on the night of October 11-12, 2025, when the Afghan Taliban, alongside an India-supported group, launched an unprovoked assault on Pakistani forces along the border. Islamabad has long maintained that Kabul must halt its support for militants from Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan. The conflict worsened late Saturday night, with 23 Pakistani soldiers killed and, according to ISPR, around 200 Taliban and allied militants killed during an attack originating from the Afghan side. This marks the most intense violence since early October.

Residents ride a loaded truck of belongings, as they flee the area, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, at the border crossing in Chaman, Balochistan province, Pakistan, October 15, 2025. (REUTERS)

Afghanistan

Afghan traders feel the pinch as key border crossings with Pakistan remain closed amid escalating clashes, disrupting trade for the fourth consecutive day and escalating regional tensions.

Afghan traders feel the pinch as borders with Pakistan remain closed

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s prime minister said on Thursday that &quot;the ball is in the Afghan Taliban&#39;s court&quot; for a permanent ceasefire, a day after a 48-hour truce was called in the wake of deadly cross-border clashes. &quot;If in 48 hours they want to resolve the issues and address our genuine demands, then we are ready for them,&quot; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told his cabinet, reiterating that Pakistani Taliban militants should be eliminated and that Afghan territory not be used to plot attacks. The remarks came a day after the 48-hour ceasefire was announced, following a week of violence along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier in which dozens of troops and civilians were killed on both sides. Pakistan is facing a resurgence of attacks against its security forces on its western border with Afghanistan, led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its affiliates. Islamabad has condemned&nbsp;Kabul of harbouring militant groups led by the TTP on its soil, a claim Kabul denies. Tensions spiked last week when explosions struck Afghan territory, including the capital, which Taliban officials blamed on Pakistan.&nbsp;Afghan Taliban forces launched an offensive near the border in response, prompting Islamabad to vow a strong retaliation. The temporary ceasefire, which came into effect at 6 pm Islamabad time (1300 GMT) on Wednesday, was aimed at halting the bloodshed and opening a window for talks. Pakistan has repeatedly called on the Taliban to stop militant groups from using Afghan territory as a staging ground for cross-border attacks since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Taliban security personnel on a Soviet-era tank are followed by motorcyclists as they ride towards the border, as clashes take place between Taliban security personnel and Pakistani border forces, in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar Province on Octobe

Pakistan's PM said the Afghan Taliban must ensure a permanent ceasefire after deadly border clashes; Islamabad demands TTP elimination and no Afghan soil for attacks