Pakistan: Islamabad under lockdown for second day amid fears of TLP protest
Islamabad and Rawalpindi remained under partial lockdown for a second consecutive day on Saturday as authorities tightened security in anticipation of a demonstration by the hardline Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) group, reports 24brussels.
The government deployed over 1,200 paramilitary personnel throughout Punjab to prevent the protest march, which started from Lahore along the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, from reaching the capital. This heightened security follows a night of violence on Friday when clashes erupted between TLP protestors and police in Lahore.
The rally, termed the “Gaza March,” commenced after Friday prayers from the party’s headquarters on Multan Road, led by TLP chief Saad Rizvi. Thousands of supporters participated, many chanting religious slogans and wielding sticks and bricks. In response, the Islamabad Police noted multiple cases filed against TLP supporters for defying restrictions on public gatherings, leading to the arrest of around 90 individuals at Tarnol and another 54 at Kati Pahari.
In Tarnol, approximately 300 individuals gathered with TLP flags, prompting police to intervene after the group refused to disperse. In a separate incident, about 120 TLP supporters arrived at Kati Pahari, armed with batons and slingshots, prompting a police crackdown which resulted in additional arrests. To manage the situation, officials dispatched around 110 Frontier Corps personnel to Lahore and stationed another contingent in Gujrat to block the TLP march.
Meanwhile, Islamabad remained largely isolated, with major entry and exit points sealed using approximately 500 shipping containers. This lockdown has disrupted daily life and essential supply lines, affecting the availability of items such as milk, vegetables, and poultry. Traders reported stock shortages, particularly among dairy and poultry shops, alongside rising vegetable prices due to supply blockages. Many expressed hopes that key routes would be reopened by Sunday to alleviate shortages.
On Saturday night, some blockades were lifted to reduce public inconvenience. Roads leading to the airport, Zero Point, Srinagar Highway, Murree Road (Bara Kahu exit), and Expressway (Koral side) were reopened. Despite the heightened alert, no significant TLP demonstrations were reported in Rawalpindi or Islamabad, and the situation remained relatively calm. Nonetheless, residents continued to grapple with restricted movement and ongoing supply shortages.
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For Love & Money is a column from Business Insider answering your relationship and money questions.
This week, a reader worries that his girlfriend expects him to be a stepdad figure to her daughters.
Our columnist suggests he reflect on whether he’s willing to make compromises, given their different life stages.
Have a question for our columnist? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.
Dear For Love & Money,
I recently moved in with my girlfriend of three years. I am 29 and she is 35. She had a previous marriage and has two daughters; this is my first long-term relationship. Before we moved in together, she was careful to limit my relationship with her daughters. I understood she was trying to protect them from getting too attached, but now that we’ve moved in together, I guess she trusts my commitment more, and it seems like she expects me to go from a fun guy she brought around once in a while to their stepdad, including financially supporting them.
We agreed to a financial arrangement that worked for both of us before we moved in. We split the rent, utility bills, streaming services, and other expenses evenly. We should have discussed groceries, but didn’t. I planned to help out now and then, but mostly only pay for my own. She wants me to split the food costs, even though there are three of them and only one of me. She’s also put me in a position to pay school fees, take her daughters out, and cover other things that leave me paying for them. Her ex also pays child support.
I really like this woman and want this to work out, but I have goals, and I’m not yet financially or mentally ready to be a stepdad. Is it too late to set those boundaries?
Sincerely,
Too Fast
Dear Too Fast,
It’s clear that you and your girlfriend are at very different places in your lives; this is your first serious relationship, while she has already lived through a marriage and divorce. While this gap isn’t insurmountable, closing it will inevitably entail a great deal of compromise. And as your girlfriend’s life is shaped by the responsibilities that come with being a parent in her mid-thirties, that compromise will mostly have to come from you.
Whether or not you feel ready to be a stepdad, any time you pursue a serious relationship with someone who has children, it’s a package deal. Kids are powerless in their parents’ love lives but unavoidably impacted by them. This becomes even more true when you decide to join households and move in together. As an adult who has committed to a relationship with a woman with two daughters, you have a responsibility to make sure that impact is, at the very least, minimally harmful. This means figuring out how sure you feel about your partner — and the two children who come along with her — as soon as possible.
It’s fair that you feel thrown off-balance by all of this. Going from your girlfriend’s daughters being minimally present in your life due to her protective instincts to suddenly being expected to treat them like your own children is quite an abrupt adjustment that most of us would struggle to navigate. However, it’s also understandable that, now that you’ve decided to join domestic lives, your girlfriend doesn’t feel it’s possible or desirable to coexist separately anymore.
So, to answer your question, “Is it too late to set boundaries?” I have to be honest: In this situation, setting strict boundaries isn’t really the answer. I can see what you may be imagining — grocery shopping for yourself, quietly stepping aside while your girlfriend pays for her daughters’ ice cream, and not being bothered with the tedium of her children’s administrative needs, let alone their school fees.
The problem, though, is that your girlfriend is a mother, and her girls are a significant part of her life and her identity. Erecting boundaries that separate your relationship from those other parts of her would effectively communicate that you’d prefer to avoid half of who she is and how she lives her life.
None of this is to say you must either completely finance her and her children’s lives or end your relationship. Talk to your girlfriend honestly about what you need and what you’re willing to give. Share your own financial goals with her, as well as your concerns. Perhaps there are some shared bills you’re willing to split without getting into nickels and dimes, but others, like their school fees, that you’d prefer not to be responsible for.
However, also be prepared for her potentially having different expectations. With open communication and a mutual commitment to supporting one another’s dreams, conversations about how much you want and can afford to spend will help you both get more clarity on whether you can make this work.
However, this issue goes beyond just spending money; as you said, you don’t feel mentally ready to be a stepdad. That may be the case, but you must recognize that your girlfriend’s life is a one-way train that has already left the station, and her daughters are her priority. You’ll either need to hop on board or find a different route to your destination.
In other words, you can’t just be the shadowy boyfriend figure hiding in the back bedroom until the girls are with their dad for the weekend. Joining lives with your girlfriend requires you to participate in the household as another adult, even if not necessarily as a full stepfather figure. Sometimes this will mean grocery shopping for the whole family, giving the girls a little spending money because you’re the only one with cash on hand, or simply joining in on family game night.
If anything about that description made you wince because it sounds boring, expensive, or annoying, examine that reaction with nonjudgmental curiosity. Maybe you aren’t ready to sacrifice your young adult years for someone else’s family. If so, not only is that understandable, it’s perfectly OK. Sometimes what people need from each other just isn’t compatible, and it’s no one’s fault. But if you look into your girlfriend’s eyes and realize being with her (and her daughters) is what you want, it’s important that you talk to her and figure out how you can make that work together.
No matter what you choose, you may always wonder about the road not taken — what if you leave and she was the one, and you could have settled into a cozy family life with the woman of your dreams? Or if you stay, what job opportunities might you have chased if you’d left? Who else might you have met? What family could you have built from scratch?
The key is deciding which “what if” you can live with, and which you have to experience for yourself.
Rooting for you,
For Love & Money
Looking for advice on how your savings, debt, or another financial challenge is affecting your relationships? Write to For Love & Money using this Google form.
If he doesn’t find a job soon, he’s planning to move across the country to live with his family.
Carter is among the many tech professionals who have struggled to find work amid a hiring slowdown.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ian Carter, a 33-year-old job seeker in Redmond, Washington, who previously worked as a technical program manager at Microsoft. It has been edited for length and clarity.
On May 13, I was getting lunch at a Panera Bread when I just happened to check my email. When I read it, it felt like a gut punch. I’d been laid off from my Microsoft job.
My mind started racing. Could I have done something different? Could I have been better? However, I eventually realized it was simply a business decision. I’d seen the company lay off a lot of people in recent years, and it felt like it didn’t matter if you were a great worker or not — everybody was at risk.
When I was laid off, I was on medical leave for a personal health issue and had been planning to return to work in the coming days. I collected my last paycheck in mid-July and then received some severance pay, but I started applying for jobs almost immediately. My mindset was “I can cry while I apply.”
I decided to share that I’d been laid off on LinkedIn, and the post received over 115,000 impressions. I began receiving messages from recruiters about opportunities, and I’ve landed interviews at companies that include Disney and Nintendo.
But it’s now been five months since my layoff, and I’m still looking for a job. I’ve been drawing on my savings to pay the bills and renting my one-bedroom apartment on a month-to-month lease for about $2,700 — all while crossing my fingers that I land a role soon.
My lease ends the week of October 20, and if I don’t have a job offer by then, I’m planning to move across the country to Florida to live with my family and save money until I find a job. Rent is expensive, but rent without income coming in is doubly expensive.
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that finding a job in tech has become significantly more difficult. Before my layoff, I regularly heard from college students struggling to break into the industry. The market already seemed tougher than when I graduated — and now, I’m seeing that firsthand.
I’m in a spot where I have nearly four years of full-time experience — not quite a new grad, but not senior level, either. I think some companies are looking for one or the other, which has made my search harder. Others are seeking very specific skill sets, while mine can sometimes be viewed as more generalist.
As I’ve searched for work, I’ve been trying to develop my AI skills, as job postings suggest that companies are increasingly valuing this expertise. Working at Microsoft also gave me insight into the value of AI skills. During my last year, I didn’t personally feel that my performance expectations had risen too much, but I did feel some pressure to find ways to incorporate AI into my work.
My networking strategies are creating opportunities — but not job offers
During my job search, I’ve tried to replicate the strategies that got me to this point in my career.
I dropped out of high school in 2009 for health-related reasons,but I eventually earned my GED and enrolled at a community college, where I earned my associate degree and then went on to attend Florida State University. During this period, I built my network on LinkedIn — I now have more than 8,700 followers — which helped me secure interviews and ultimately land an internship at Salesforce. A company recruiter reached out to me, which is how I learned about the role and landed an interview.
Having the internship on my résumé helped me land full-time interviews after graduation. I had a list of dream companies — including Microsoft, Amazon, and Netflix — and I applied to a program manager role at Microsoft without a referral. After an interview, I eventually received a job offer. In 2021, I graduated from Florida State with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and began working remotely for Microsoft due to the pandemic. In 2022, I moved to Redmond, Washington — where the company is headquartered — and before I was laid off, I had a six-figure salary.
As I’ve searched for work — targeting program manager, project manager, and product management roles — I’ve tried to rely on my existing network and make new connections.
When I see a role that interests me, I reach out to the recruiter or someone with a similar job title at the company and ask what they think their company is looking for in a candidate. I then tailor my résumé accordingly.
Since I have a LinkedIn Premium account, I have more visibility into who views my profile. If they have an interesting job title, I’ll send them a message. Most of the time, they respond because they recall visiting my page, which leads to a conversation.
When I connect with people, I usually ask for advice rather than a referral. But if someone offers to give me one, I gladly accept.
While these connections have helped me land some interviews, I’m still looking for a job offer.
Layoffs can take a mental toll
Going forward, my plan is to continue doing what I’m doing — applying for jobs, networking as much as possible, and developing my AI skills. However, if my job search drags on, I might consider pursuing a graduate degree, such as an MBA or a degree related to AI.
In addition to networking for job opportunities, I’ve also reached out to others who’ve been laid off to discuss our shared experiences. Layoffs take a mental toll, and it’s nice to talk to people who can relate.
I sometimes visit the private “MSFT Survivors” Facebook group, which includes people who’ve been laid off throughout the company’s history. It’s always interesting to read about what others are going through and their stories. It makes me feel like I’m not alone.
RJD MLA Vibha Devi resigns from her post ahead of Bihar polls; praises Nitish Kumar’s governance
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Vibha Devi Yadav has resigned from her position as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), praising the governance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, reports 24brussels.
Yadav, who represented Nawada in the Bihar Assembly, emphasized the importance of development in her resignation statement, stating, “I have given a resignation from the position of MLA…CM Nitish Kumar has done good work in Nawada and Bihar. He will continue to do the same…The public looks for development. The public will raise the question of whether there has been a development or not.”
Simultaneously, RJD leader and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, reiterated his poll promise of delivering government jobs to every family ahead of the upcoming two-phased Bihar assembly polls. The elections for 243 constituencies are scheduled for November 6 and November 11, with vote counting on November 14.
“The family that does not have a government job will get a government job, and from November 14 onwards, the people of Bihar will be free from unemployment,” Yadav remarked during a media interaction.
Political parties in Bihar are intensifying their preparations for the impending elections, conducting a series of meetings in both Delhi and Patna focused on finalizing seat allocations. The ruling NDA and the opposition Mahagathbandhan are engaged in extensive negotiations regarding seat claims. Reports indicate that the BJP Central Election Committee may meet on Sunday in the national capital to finalize candidates for the Bihar elections.
On Monday, the Election Commission announced the election schedule for the Bihar Assembly. The elections will take place in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the vote counting set for November 14. Alongside this, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists across the country.
In this election cycle, the NDA will contest against the INDIA bloc, which includes Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD, the Congress, the CPI (ML) led by Deepankar Bhattacharya, the CPI, and the CPM. Additionally, Mukesh Sahani’s Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) will participate, as will Prashant Kishor and his party Jan Suraaj, marking their debut in Bihar’s electoral landscape.
Ukrainian grain exports have become a cornerstone of the European Union’s food security strategy, providing both economic stability and supply chain continuity amid growing global market volatility. As of October 10, 2025, Ukraine has exported over 7.2 million tons of grain and legumes in the 2025/26 marketing year, according to AgroPortal. The flow of Ukrainian wheat, corn, and barley helps balance the EU’s agricultural market by filling supply gaps caused by weaker harvests and rising domestic demand across several European states.
Southern and Western Europe benefit from stable grain supplies
Countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands have emerged as key beneficiaries of Ukrainian exports. They rely on Ukrainian grain to sustain their agro-industrial sectors while reducing dependence on suppliers from other continents. In Spain, affordable Ukrainian corn plays a decisive role in maintaining a stable feed base for the livestock industry. Meanwhile, the Netherlands and Italy strengthen their food balance through steady wheat imports routed via European logistics hubs, reinforcing the integration of Ukrainian exports into the EU’s economic framework.
Eastern European transit routes drive regional growth
Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and the Baltic states also gain substantial advantages through transit and port infrastructure. The ports of Constanța, Burgas, Gdańsk, and Klaipėda have become critical gateways for Ukrainian grain, generating jobs, foreign currency inflows, and long-term investments in transport corridors. The EU’s “Solidarity Lanes” initiative continues to yield strong results, supporting the profitability of regions along these trade routes and turning logistics into a powerful driver of regional resilience and growth.
Moscow’s disinformation campaigns fail to undermine EU-Ukraine ties
Russia has sought to disrupt this economic balance by spreading disinformation narratives about the alleged “threat of Ukrainian grain” to European farmers. The Kremlin’s strategy aims to erode trust between Ukraine and its European partners by exploiting internal political divisions. However, market data indicates the opposite—Ukrainian grain exports have stabilized, not harmed, the EU’s agricultural sector. The food security ensured by Ukrainian supply lines has reduced the bloc’s exposure to global price fluctuations, confirming Kyiv’s role as a strategic stabilizer for Europe’s food and economic systems.
Grain trade deepens Europe’s economic and political unity
The impact of Ukraine’s agricultural cooperation with the EU extends well beyond the food sector. Shared economic interests now underpin a stronger foundation of political solidarity and resilience to external pressure. Ukrainian grain exports not only sustain European markets but also foster a new architecture of trust across Eastern and Western Europe. As Spain, Italy, Romania, and Poland continue to benefit from this partnership, the European Union’s commitment to Ukraine increasingly represents an investment in its own long-term security and stability.
