Economy
A severe energy crisis linked to the war in Iran is forcing governments across Asia to impose emergency austerity measures, as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz choke vital oil and gas supplies to heavily import-dependent economies. Pakistan announced it would cancel its annual Pakistan Day military......
China has begun releasing nearly 10 million tons of fertilizer from its national reserves while boosting domestic production to record levels as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz enters its third week, threatening global agricultural supply chains at the start of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring......
Gold prices stabilized on Thursday after recovering from an earlier decline of nearly 1 percent, as bargain buying balanced pressure from a stronger U.S. dollar and fading expectations of near term interest rate cuts. Spot gold slipped 0.1 percent to around $5,173 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for......
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates sought to reassure investors as tensions escalated in the Gulf, with Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama stating that the country’s financial system remains resilient despite Iranian missile and drone strikes. In an official statement, Balama said the UAE’s......
Industrial production across parts of South Asia has begun to slow or halt after the suspension of liquefied natural gas output in Qatar disrupted fuel supplies to major manufacturing and fertilizer sectors in India and Pakistan. The shutdown followed Iranian drone strikes on energy infrastructure at......
Saudi Aramco has withheld its March 2026 crude shipment to a Pakistani refinery, reflecting tighter global supply patterns as sanctions and shifting demand reshape trade routes. According to industry sources cited by Pakistan Today, the state oil company has redirected volumes toward larger Asian......
Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have signed 25 commercial agreements worth more than $300 million at a trade connectivity conference aimed at strengthening bilateral commerce and investment between Kabul and Tashkent. According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the agreements span......
Russia’s oil trade is under growing strain after a new wave of Western sanctions targeted companies, traders, and vessels linked to its so-called shadow fleet. Britain and the European Union unveiled coordinated measures aimed at curbing Moscow’s circumvention of energy restrictions and tightening......
The World Bank has raised concerns over the sharp decline in women’s participation in Morocco’s labor force, urging comprehensive reforms to address social, structural, and legal barriers limiting their economic contributions. Female labor force participation has dropped from 29% in 2000......
Morocco’s economy is expected to expand by 4.4% in 2025, according to the World Bank’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAAP). The updated forecast highlights stronger-than-expected performance across agriculture, tourism, and......
India-China relations thaw amid border discussions India and China are witnessing a notable warming of ties as U.S.-India relations face growing strain under President Donald Trump. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting New Delhi for the first time in over three years to meet with National Security......
Pakistan has unveiled a significant gold discovery in the Attock district, with reserves estimated at 32.64 tons valued at approximately 800 billion Pakistani rupees (USD 2.87 billion). The announcement came from former Punjab Mining Minister Ibrahim Hasan Murad, following extensive geological surveys......
China has initiated the construction of a groundbreaking railway line connecting Kashgar, a city in the northwest of the country, with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. This ambitious project, in planning since the 1990s, involves a total investment of $8 billion and is scheduled for completion by 2030. Stretching......
