Month: October 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boasted of his endorsement from Donald Trump on the eve of Israel’s election, suggesting the ​two leaders could restart their war against Iran if he wins, after Trump said they should “finish the job”. “US President Donald Trump has come with a ‌friendship that has never existed before between an Israeli prime minister and an American president. And it is doubtful we will ever have such a friendly president again,” Netanyahu said in a televised appearance late on Sunday night. “He has another two years, and…

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The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised its policy rate to 12% amid concerns over rising energy prices and inflation driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Speaking after the monetary policy announcement, SBP Governor Jameel Ahmed said global crude oil prices had crossed $100 per barrel, putting pressure on inflation and affecting the country’s external accounts. Ahmed said nine of the 10 members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) supported the interest rate hike. The governor noted that inflation stood at 7.1% last year, while core…

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Pakistan has absorbed the oil shock better than expected. But as global monetary conditions tighten, political resistance to currency depreciation is narrowing the State Bank’s room to hold rates. The State Bank of Pakistan announces its monetary policy decision today. At its last meeting, three members of the monetary policy committee voted for a 100 basis-point increase, while the other seven opted to hold. This column argued for patience: wait to see how the war affects energy prices, inflation and the external account. Six weeks on, the uncertainty has only…

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The Lahore High Court on Monday disposed of a petition seeking the release of PTI founder Imran Khan’s three sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, after being informed that the Punjab government had extended their detention for another 30 days. Justice Abher Gul Khan heard the petition filed by Shahrez, seeking the recovery and production of the three women before the court. The government’s lawyer, Farukh Lodhi, submitted the home secretary’s report, which stated that the sisters’ detention had been extended for a further 30 days. The court…

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Iran on Monday accused the United States of undermining diplomatic efforts by repeatedly confusing negotiations with imposing demands on Tehran, as disputes over sanctions, regional security and the Strait of Hormuz continued to hamper efforts to ease tensions. “The American side is not serious about negotiations,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during his weekly news conference, according to state-run IRNA news agency. Baqaei accused Washington of making misleading statements about diplomacy, recalling that US President Donald Trump had expressed support for negotiations shortly before US military attacks on Iran…

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Gold prices in Pakistan increased on Monday, tracking gains in the international market, with the price of 24-karat gold rising by Rs1,400 per tola to Rs423,436. According to rates issued by the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the price of 10-gram gold also increased by Rs1,201 to Rs363,028. On Saturday, gold prices had fallen by Rs2,500 per tola to Rs422,036. In the international market, gold prices rose by $14 to reach $4,009 per ounce. Meanwhile, silver prices in the local market increased by Rs20 per tola to Rs5,878.

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President Donald Trump at a Sunday campaign rally ratcheted up ​his push to link US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to Muslim extremists, comparing him to the 9/11 attackers while saying Democrats would let violent anti-American ‌terrorists into the United States. “I’m here to keep a jihadist (sic), Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” the president told a receptive audience in Port Huron, which is in a Michigan area where 66% of the vote went to Trump in the 2024 presidential election. If El-Sayed wins, he would be…

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released opening batter Saim Ayub from the national squad for the remaining matches of the tri-nation ODI series after he requested permission to play domestic cricket to improve his batting form. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Ayub discussed the request with head coach Mike Hesson, and the team management and selection committee jointly approved it. The PCB said it respected his decision. Ayub scored just 21 runs in the first three matches of the series. T20 captain Sahibzada Farhan has been called up…

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