Category: English

Pakistan’s finance ministry has projected inflation in the range of 9.5% to 10.5% for the outgoing month of October 2026 amid elevated energy and food prices in the country, in line with global trends, while the domestic economic outlook is expected to remain promising for the ongoing fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27). The inflation rate was recorded at 10.3% in September 2026 compared to 5.8% in September 2025. “Headline inflation (the benchmark CPI/Consumer Price Index) is projected in the range of 9.5 to 10.5% for October 2026, with the subsequent path…

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The government has increased the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) by 85 paise per litre while keeping petrol prices unchanged, according to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division on Thursday. Following the revision, the price of diesel has risen to Rs400.67 per litre from Rs399.82, while petrol remains unchanged at Rs377.91 per litre. The revised prices will take effect on Friday, October 30, 2026. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) said the adjustment was necessitated by global developments, including changes in Platts rates, premiums and incidentals. On Wednesday,…

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Pavan Rathnayake’s brilliant century went in vain as England stopped Sri Lanka from chasing a big 387 target, winning the dead rubber by 55 runs in Lahore on Thursday. On the same day last week, Rathnayake scored an epic 130 in Sri Lanka’s 430-run chase in Rawalpindi, but this time his 77-ball 118 was not enough as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 331 in 45.1 overs. England opener Ben Duckett had earlier smashed his highest ODI score of 167 to propel England to 386-5. With 87 needed in the last…

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Five members of one family died after allegedly eating poisoned kheer in Kangan Pur, plunging the area into mourning. The dead are Qasim Ali, his wife Hasna Bibi and their three sons — Nazim Ali, 25, Asif Ali, 28, and Amanat Ali, 15. According to rescue officials, the family’s condition worsened suddenly after they ate the kheer. All the affected family members were shifted to Lahore in critical condition. Nazim Ali died first during treatment. Asif Ali and Amanat Ali followed. The father, Qasim Ali, and the mother, Hasna Bibi,…

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Iranian media reported on Thursday that Tehran had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance but had not yet responded, amid efforts to revive peace talks between the countries. Tasnim news agency reported that “Iran has received the letter but has not yet responded”, while Fars news agency carried a similar account, citing “a source familiar with the matter”. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Vance had sent the letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei at the direction of US President Donald Trump, in a…

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Senior Democrats demanded on Thursday that US President Donald Trump preserve records of any official exchanges with artificial intelligence chatbots, raising questions about whether Elon Musk’s Grok influenced sensitive military decisions. In a letter dated Wednesday and first obtained by Politico, congressmen Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia said questions submitted by Trump and White House aides — and the chatbots’ answers — constituted presidential records that must be preserved under federal law. They requested a closed-door briefing by November 11 covering the president’s use of AI, security safeguards and whether…

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Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday rejected accusations “made by certain Israeli politicians and their contacts in the media” that his country had interfered in the Israeli elections. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp, which appears unable to secure a majority in parliamentary elections, has, without evidence, accused Arab parties of receiving money from Qatar. Partial election results showed the two Arab lists securing a strong position in the new parliament, making them potential kingmakers. “We categorically deny allegations that Qatar has interfered in Israeli elections or funded any activities…

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Iranian media reported on Thursday that Tehran had received a letter from US Vice President JD Vance but had not yet responded, amid efforts to revive peace talks between the countries. Tasnim news agency reported that “Iran has received the letter but has not yet responded”, while Fars news agency carried a similar account, citing “a source familiar with the matter”. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that Vance had sent the letter to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei at the direction of US President Donald Trump, in a…

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The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday held interest rates steady despite rising inflation fuelled by the Iran war energy shock, just hours after President Christine Lagarde announced she would step down early. As expected by economists, the central bank for the 21 nations that use the euro left its benchmark rate unchanged at 2.5 per cent, after having already lifted it twice this year. The ECB is seeking to walk a fine line between tamping down inflation — which hit a three-year high of 3.8 per cent in September…

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Benjamin Netanyahu alleged on Thursday, without providing evidence, that Arab parties’ record gains in an election this week were driven in part by voter ​fraud, a charge rejected by Arab leaders who accused the premier of incitement. The allegation represents an escalation of anti-Arab rhetoric by Netanyahu and his far-right partners after high Arab turnout in a national ballot on Tuesday effectively blocked a smooth path to power for either him or his main Jewish rivals. Israeli election officials said on Thursday that there was a probe into fraud allegations,…

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