China's Huawei Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province has opened as the world's new tallest bridge, standing 625 meters above the Beipan River. The 2,890-meter-long structure is nearly nine times taller than San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, dramatically reducing canyon crossing time from two hours to just two minutes. Guizhou province now hosts almost half of the world's tallest bridges, establishing itself as a global engineering hub. This infrastructure achievement represents China's continued advancement in bridge construction technology and highlights the province's strategic importance in connecting previously isolated regions through innovative transportation solutions that overcome challenging mountainous terrain.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir presented rare earth minerals to US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting, aiming to strengthen Pakistan-US ties. The 90-minute Oval Office discussion included VP JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, covering security, economic engagement, counterterrorism, and investment opportunities. The US expressed strong interest in Pakistan's rare earth minerals, crypto mining potential, and oil exploration prospects. Earlier this month, US Strategic Metals signed a $500 million investment deal with Pakistan covering critical minerals including antimony, copper, gold, and tungsten. Pakistan claims mineral reserves worth trillions of dollars, hoping foreign investment will help overcome its prolonged financial crisis. (PC: X)

Ukraine faced one of its heaviest Russian attacks in recent months. The 12-hour bombardment involved nearly 600 drones and dozens of missiles. At least 4 people were killed in Kyiv, including a 12-year-old girl, and more than 70 were injured across Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strikes “vile” and vowed that Ukraine “will strike back.” He said over 100 civilian sites were damaged, including homes, a bakery, a rubber factory, and Kyiv’s Institute of Cardiology, where two people died. Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and other regions were also hit. Zelensky urged Europe and the US to respond strongly. (PC: BBC)

Russian freediver Alexey Molchanov plunged 126 meters (413 feet) beneath the Mediterranean Sea in a single breath to establish a new world record in freediving. The record was achieved under the auspices of AIDA International, the governing body for freediving competitions. Molchanov’s feat underscores the limits of human breath-hold diving and raises the bar for depth performance in the discipline. Observers say the dive was executed with exceptional control over ascent and descent, and will be widely celebrated in the freediving community.  

Andee Vaughan, a U.S. volunteer nurse who recently left Gaza, recounted the harrowing conditions at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. She shared messages from former colleagues expressing fear, saying, "They are telling me they are going to die." During Israel's two-week ground offensive, two clinics were destroyed and two damaged hospitals shut down. A children’s hospital and an eye center also ceased operations. Shortages of medicine, equipment, food, and fuel have left facilities barely functioning. Patients and staff were forced to evacuate, leaving few medical personnel to care for the most vulnerable.

On September 28, 2025, Russia launched one of its largest drone and missile strikes on Kyiv since the full-scale war began. The early morning assault triggered widespread air raid alerts across multiple Ukrainian regions. At least six people were reported injured, and residents sought shelter in metro stations as anti-aircraft fire lit up the skies. Neighboring Poland temporarily closed airspace near two southeastern cities and scrambled fighter jets in response. The ongoing attacks highlight escalating threats to civilian infrastructure and regional security, underscoring the intensifying conflict between Russia and Ukraine. (PC: Reuters)

The United States has unveiled a 21-point blueprint aimed at resolving the war in Gaza, calling for Israel’s phased withdrawal and Hamas’ disarmament. The proposal includes immediate release of hostages, amnesty for Hamas members who commit to peaceful conduct, and rehabilitation for Gaza under international oversight. It envisions an interim technocratic government, strict demilitarisation, and reconstruction efforts led by foreign and regional partners. The plan also reintroduces support for a future Palestinian state—marking a shift away from prior US stances.  

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivered a wide-ranging speech at the UN General Assembly, denying Russia has intentions to attack EU or NATO states while warning of "decisive response" to aggression. He criticized Western threats as "increasingly common" and accused NATO/EU of declaring "real war" through Ukraine. Lavrov held over 35 meetings during UNGA, including talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He condemned Israeli actions in Gaza, calling Palestinian killings unjustified despite condemning Hamas's October 7 attacks. Lavrov criticized Western sabotage of Iran diplomacy and questioned timing of Palestinian state recognition by UK and France. He praised Trump administration's "pragmatic cooperation" approach, noting shift from previous ideological stance toward realistic Ukrainian crisis resolution.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a viral interview with Mehdi Hasan on Zeteo, exposed the country’s deep civil-military imbalance. When asked if he could dismiss Army Chief General Asim Munir, Asif evaded a direct answer, citing “consensus” and “practical necessity.” Intelligence sources interpreted this as a calculated move prioritizing political survival over constitutional civilian supremacy. Analysts argue that admitting such authority could provoke military backlash, while affirming it might destabilize the fragile Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition. The interview has sparked intense debate, reinforcing perceptions that Pakistan’s democracy operates under military constraints. Asif’s stance highlights the enduring shadow of the armed forces over elected leadership.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif clarified that the strategic defence pact with Saudi Arabia was not a direct reaction to Israel’s strike in Qatar, though it may have accelerated the agreement. Asif emphasized the pact formalizes a decades-long defence relationship that was previously transactional. While he had earlier hinted at Pakistan’s nuclear umbrella extending to Riyadh, he later denied nuclear weapons were part of the deal, stating they were “not on the radar.” He declined to discuss specifics, citing the confidential nature of defence pacts. The joint statement highlighted historic ties, Islamic solidarity, and shared strategic interests between the two nations. (PC: X & NDTV)