A Pakistani separatist group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for a deadly bombing late Sunday night that targeted a convoy of Chinese nationals near Karachi’s largest airport. The attack, which killed two Chinese workers and injured eight others, including police officers escorting the convoy, is the latest in a series of violent assaults on Chinese interests in Pakistan.

The bombing occurred as a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors left the airport around 11 p.m. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad confirmed that the victims were employed by the Port Qasim Electric Power Company, a joint China-Pakistan venture. Initially, conflicting reports suggested the explosion might have been caused by an oil tanker, but authorities later confirmed it was a bomb attack.

The BLA, based primarily in the volatile Balochistan province, has been involved in insurgent activities, often targeting foreign nationals and Pakistani security forces. A spokesman for the group claimed that one of their suicide bombers carried out the attack, continuing their longstanding opposition to Chinese presence in Balochistan, where Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is developing major infrastructure projects.

The attack comes just a week before Pakistan is set to host a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, a security grouping led by China and Russia. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, calling it a “heinous terrorist attack” and vowing to punish those responsible. He extended condolences to China and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the safety of Chinese workers.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is rich in oil and minerals but has long been a hub of ethnic Baloch separatist activity. The insurgents claim discrimination and exploitation by the central government. The BLA has targeted Chinese nationals before, including a 2018 attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi and other incidents at BRI sites.

Billionaire Elon Musk has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, signaling his support by changing his X (formerly Twitter) profile picture to one of himself wearing a “Make America Great Again” cap against the backdrop of the American flag. The endorsement comes as Trump prepares for the election on November 5, 2024, and is seen as a significant, though not entirely surprising, move by Musk.

Musk has expressed support for Trump in the past and recently attended a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was nearly assassinated in July. Musk was spotted wearing the same MAGA cap he later shared on X. During the rally, Trump acknowledged Musk’s presence, inviting him on stage and praising him as an “incredible guy.” The two exchanged words of admiration as Musk delivered a speech to the crowd.

Taking a dig at U.S. President Joe Biden, Musk quipped, “We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who is fist-pumping after getting shot,” in reference to the July assassination attempt on Trump. He stressed the importance of Trump’s re-election, stating, “Trump must win to preserve democracy in America.”

Trump, standing behind bulletproof glass, recounted the July 13 assassination attempt, in which a bullet narrowly missed his ear. He described the assailant as a “vicious monster.” Musk, referencing the incident, called the 2024 election “the most important of our lifetime,” urging the crowd to rally behind Trump to ensure his victory.

Musk’s message didn’t stop at words of support. He passionately encouraged the audience to take action, saying, “Get everyone you know, and everyone you don’t know, to register to vote. If they don’t, this will be the last election. That’s my prediction.” His remarks emphasized the high stakes of the election, presenting Trump as the key figure in securing America’s future.

Following the rally, Musk took to X to warn of what he sees as potential consequences if Trump loses. In a post, he claimed, “The Democratic Party will legalize so many illegals that there will be no swing states. America will become a single-party socialist state, just like California, where they just made requiring voter ID illegal.” Musk’s statement reflected his belief that Trump is crucial to stopping a political shift that he argues could reshape the country’s identity.

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are locked in a fiercely competitive race. With just over a month until Election Day on November 5, the race is shaping up to be one of the tightest in modern U.S. history, with critical battleground states determining the outcome.

Under the Electoral College system, candidates need 270 of 538 electors to win, and the contest is heavily focused on seven key swing states. Pennsylvania, a state with 19 electoral votes, remains a focal point. Trump, who survived an assassination attempt at a rally there in July, appeals to rural voters, while Harris promotes infrastructure investments. Both candidates are aggressively campaigning in the state, where margins have been razor-thin in past elections.

In Georgia, Trump faces legal battles over alleged election interference but has seen a boost as the case is delayed. Harris is looking to benefit from demographic shifts, especially among minority voters.

North Carolina, historically a Republican state, is seeing a more diverse electorate, giving Harris hope for a flip. However, Trump faces additional challenges with local scandals affecting his party.

Michigan, with its large unionized workforce and Black community, has flipped between both parties in recent elections. Harris risks losing Arab-American voters due to dissatisfaction with the administration's foreign policy, while Trump is seeking to regain lost ground.

Arizona, another critical state, remains a toss-up, though Trump holds a slight polling advantage due to dissatisfaction with immigration policies. Harris has recently visited the border to address these concerns.

Wisconsin, a key Midwestern state, has shown fluctuating support. While Trump led early on, Harris now holds a narrow polling advantage, signaling a tight race.

In Nevada, where the economy is driven by the hospitality industry, Harris has made gains with small business owners, closing an early lead that Trump held.

With polls shifting and both candidates battling fiercely in these battlegrounds, the 2024 election will likely hinge on voter turnout and last-minute shifts in public sentiment, making it one of the most closely watched races in U.S. history.

On Sunday, SpaceX's Crew-9 mission successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS), marking the beginning of the long-awaited return journey for two astronauts stranded aboard the orbiting laboratory. The mission, launched by a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, took off at 1:17 pm on Saturday and docked with the ISS at 5:30 pm the following day.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov, aboard the Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft, were warmly greeted by their fellow astronauts upon boarding the station just after 7:00 pm. "What a fabulous day it was today," NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy remarked at a press conference following the successful docking.

Hague and Gorbunov are scheduled to spend five months aboard the ISS, where they will conduct around 200 scientific experiments. Upon their return in February, they will bring home NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, whose mission was unexpectedly extended due to technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

Wilmore and Williams were originally expected to remain on the ISS for only eight days after arriving in June aboard the Starliner on its first crewed flight. However, propulsion system problems prompted NASA to delay their return. After weeks of testing, NASA decided to return the Starliner to Earth unmanned, leaving the two astronauts stranded. SpaceX’s Crew-9 was tasked with their rescue, postponing its launch from mid-August to late September due to technical reviews and delays caused by Hurricane Helene’s impact on Florida.

The success of Crew-9 highlights SpaceX's vital role in NASA’s crew rotation missions to the ISS, occurring every six months. The mission not only resolves the Starliner setback but also demonstrates SpaceX's reliability in ensuring the safe return of stranded astronauts.

Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, expressed strong support for India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council during his address at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that India's significant economic growth, population, and leadership in the Global South position it as a deserving candidate for permanent membership in a reformed Security Council. Tobgay argued that the UN must evolve to reflect today’s geopolitical and economic realities, as the current structure is outdated and no longer representative of the modern world.

He also extended support to Japan, recognizing the nation as a “leading donor and peacebuilder,” and called for its inclusion in the Security Council’s permanent membership.

Highlighting Bhutan’s own progress, Tobgay reflected on his country’s graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category in December 2023, after 52 years of membership in the UN. He credited this achievement to the resilience and dedication of the Bhutanese people, as well as the support from international partners, including Japan, the European Union, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank.

However, Tobgay reserved special gratitude for India, Bhutan’s "closest friend and neighbor." He praised India’s unwavering support throughout Bhutan’s development journey, acknowledging their crucial role in helping Bhutan reach this important milestone.

Tobgay’s remarks underscored the importance of reforming the UN to better serve the realities of the 21st century, while also reinforcing Bhutan’s long-standing friendship with India and advocating for greater representation for deserving nations in global governance.

The Indian stock market hit a significant milestone as the Sensex surged past 85,000 points for the first time, extending its record-breaking rally. This bullish momentum has been driven by strong performances in the steel and automotive sectors. The Nifty index is also nearing the 26,000-mark, as both indices reach unprecedented levels.

Among the 30-share Sensex constituents, top gainers included Tata Steel, JSW Steel, and Powergrid, with steelmakers particularly benefiting from robust demand and positive market sentiment. On the other hand, stocks such as Hindustan Unilever, Infosys, and Bajaj Finance faced losses, tempering the overall market gains slightly.

The rapid ascent of the Sensex is noteworthy, as it crossed the 84,000-point mark just four days ago, after having breached 83,000 on September 12. Prior to that, the 82,000-point threshold was surpassed on August 1, while the 81,000-mark was crossed on July 18. This accelerated rally, which saw the Sensex climb from 80,000 to 85,000 points in less than 12 weeks, underscores the strong momentum in the Indian markets.

Contributing to this surge has been a combination of factors, including favorable domestic economic indicators, robust corporate earnings in select sectors, and an overall positive global market sentiment. Steelmakers like Tata Steel and JSW Steel have been riding the wave of increased demand, particularly due to infrastructure development, while automakers have seen a revival in consumer spending.

Despite the ongoing gains, some experts caution about potential market volatility, especially as certain sectors experience profit-taking. However, the overall outlook remains optimistic as investors continue to show confidence in India’s economic growth prospects, keeping the markets buoyant. The record-breaking run of the Sensex reflects the strength of key sectors and investor enthusiasm in the country’s economic trajectory.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held a high-profile roundtable with leading American technology CEOs, aiming to strengthen collaboration and foster innovation between India and the U.S. The meeting, part of Modi's three-day visit to the United States, took place at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering hosting the event.

The roundtable featured prominent industry leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Adobe’s Shantanu Narayen, among others. These CEOs represent sectors at the cutting edge of technology—such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductors.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Prime Minister Modi shared his thoughts on the meeting, stating, “Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing aspects relating to technology, innovation, and more. Also highlighted the strides made by India in this field. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India.”

The roundtable focused on some of the most transformative technologies today. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that discussions revolved around global trends in AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, and semiconductor technology, and how these innovations can impact not only economies but also the well-being of people worldwide.

Modi emphasized India’s commitment to promoting "AI for All," with a focus on ethical and responsible use of the technology. He reassured the CEOs that India remains deeply committed to safeguarding intellectual property and creating a conducive environment for tech-driven innovation. The Prime Minister also highlighted India's trajectory towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world, underscoring the country’s potential as a key player in the global tech landscape.

The discussion also touched upon India’s vibrant startup ecosystem, with PM Modi inviting American companies to invest and engage with Indian startups, which are rapidly driving innovation in technology. He pointed out that these startups offer a crucial gateway for U.S. companies to enter the Indian market and contribute to cutting-edge solutions.

MIT Professor Anantha Chandrakasan, who chaired the session, expressed gratitude to PM Modi and the CEOs for their engagement. He reaffirmed MIT’s commitment to using technology for global good and promoting collaboration between the U.S. and India in key technology sectors.

The roundtable underscored the importance of ongoing cooperation in tech innovation, positioning both nations as leaders in the future of technology.