Pakistan’s GDP growth to remain modest at 2.6% in FY26 amid flood impact: World Bank

Pakistan’s economy is projected to grow modestly by 2.6% in FY2025-26, as catastrophic floods weigh on agricultural output and inflation pressures resurface, noted the latest World Bank economic report on the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan...

World Bank raises MENA growth outlook for 2025, warns on Iran slump

The World Bank has lifted its growth outlook for the region encompassing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan for 2025, though trimmed its forecast for next year, citing conflict and lower oil production in Iran and Libya. The...

AFG vs BAN 2025: Mohammad Saleem Safi Ruled Out of Afghanistan’s ODI Squad for Series Against Bangladesh Due to Injury, Bilal Sami Named Replacement

Mumbai, October 7: Afghanistan's young right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh due to a groin overload injury. The series is scheduled to begin on October 8 in Abu...

World Bank lifts growth forecast for Middle East region, Iran suffers contraction

LONDON - The World Bank has lifted its growth outlook for the region encompassing the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan for 2025, though trimmed its forecast for next year, citing conflict and lower oil production in Iran and...

Uzbekistan Announces Substantial Trade Volume With Principal Partner China

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 7. Uzbekistan's trade turnover with China reached $9.7 billion from January through August 2025, solidifying China's position as the country's largest trading partner, Trend reports....

Xavier Dolan’s ‘Rage,’ Andrew Leung’s ‘Ancient China of Mars,’ Eléa Gobbe-Mévellec’s ‘The Northern Star’ Among Highlights at Rome’s MIA Market

New projects from Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan (“Mommy,” “It’s Only the End of the World”), Marvel and Disney concept artist Andrew Leung (“Mulan,” “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and French animator and director Eléa Gobbe-Mévellec (“The...

Japan-India and the Eurasian Trade Compact Waiting to Happen

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tokyo in August 2025 was presented primarily as another step in strengthening the security and strategic dimensions of the Japan-India partnership. Commentaries by various analysts highlighted the renewal of...

The 2025 mid-year market outlook: Opportunity amid uncertainty

When the US Federal Reserve chairman says “uncertainty remains unusually elevated”, investors should take notice. The reason is straightforward. Doubt can cause investors to freeze at exactly the wrong time. This is a real disadvantage, because in...

West’s Hypocrisy on Afghan Repatriation

There is a certain irony in how the world’s moral compass often swings not toward justice but convenience. When Pakistan, after hosting millions of Afghan refugees for nearly five decades, decides to bring order to its borders, the loudest critics...

Pakistan’s Special Envoy Holds Talks with Chinese and Russian Diplomats on Afghanistan

Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan held talks with senior Chinese and Russian diplomats on regional security, counterterrorism, and efforts to stabilize Afghanistan through coordinated cooperation. Pakistan’s Special Representative for...

The D Brief: Trump declares war on cartels; Feds storm Chicago apartments; Europe’s ‘drone wall’; Shadow economies; And a bit more.

Weeks after ordering the U.S. military to kill 17 people in boats off Venezuela, the Trump administration justified the much-criticized strikes by telling Congress this week it believes the United States is in a formal “armed conflict” with drug...

Pakistan urges international community to help with Afghan repatriation efforts

Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam on Monday pressed the international community to help Pakistan in repatriating Afghan refugees to their country. Muqam was speaking at the 76th Session of the Executive Committee of the...

Afghanistan: Taliban rejects Trump's demand to hand over Bagram Air Base to US

The Taliban's chief spokesman has firmly rejected Donald Trump's push to "take back" Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. In a new interview with Sky News, Zabihullah Mujahid said: "Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under...

Off-licence that sold illegal tobacco to reopen as new business

Uni Food & Wine in Park End Street lost its licence in March after an investigation from Trading Standards found it had been selling illegal products. Now, the company has been taken over by the former owner’s son, 18-year-old Rajmeet Singh...

UN orders Afghanistan human rights probe

The UN’s top human rights body agreed on Monday to set up an ongoing probe of human rights violations in Afghanistan under the Taliban, including against women and girls, in a measure pushed for by the European Union. With no opposition and only...

UN Rights Council Creates Afghanistan War Crimes Investigation Body

GENEVA: The United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday adopted a landmark resolution establishing an independent investigative mechanism to examine grave human rights abuses in Afghanistan — a move Human Rights Watch (HRW) hailed as a major...

Pakistan reconsiders frontier policy as Kabul resists action against Tehrik-i-Taliban

The current situation on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is highly tense due to the complex situation between the countries. The government in Islamabad is facing pressure from a growing wave of violence and has therefore been...

Afghans struggle with rising poverty and unemployment despite government efforts

Despite the Islamic Emirate’s pledges to tackle poverty and unemployment, Afghanistan’s economic situation remains dire, with many citizens struggling to afford even basic food items, Tolo News reported. According to Tolo News, several residents...

UNHCR faces financial crisis, cuts 5,000 jobs globally

Published on: October 6, 2025 10:35 PM The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the loss of nearly 5,000 jobs this year as the agency grapples with a severe funding shortage amid rising global displacement. The...

Mohammad Saleem ruled out of Afghanistan’s ODI squad for series against Bangladesh due to injury

Afghanistan’s young right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Saleem Safi has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh due to a groin overload injury. The series is scheduled to begin on October 8 in Abu Dhabi. Saleem will...