By Dr. Ansab AliLahore, PakistanLAHORE — As Pakistan enters the New Year with renewed emphasis on economic stability and growth, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the country’s SME ecosystem through expanded access to finance, formalization, digital capacity-building and export readiness in 2026.A senior SMEDA official said…
By Farzana ChaudhryLahore, PakistanLAHORE — The Businessmen Panel (BMP) of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has strongly criticized the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) decision to allow duty- and tax-free imports of Chinese goods through the Sost Dry Port for Gilgit-Baltistan, warning that the move could trigger widespread smuggling, under-invoicing…
By Farzana ChaudhryLahore, PakistanLAHORE — President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Faheem ur Rehman Saigol has described the decline in Pakistan’s inflation rate to 5.6 percent in December 2025 as a significant and encouraging signal for the country’s economic recovery.In a statement, Saigol said the second consecutive monthly fall in inflation…
A hiker is believed to have been killed by at least one mountain lion in the US state of Colorado on Wednesday, according to wildlife officials. If confirmed, it would be the first fatal attack there since 1999. A group of hikers found the woman’s body on a remote trail and spotted a lion nearby….
Makuochi Okafor,BBC Africa, Lagosand Ian Aikman Social Media The former heavyweight champion was a passenger in the crash, which killed his team members Latif Ayodele (left) and Sina Ghami (right) Anthony Joshua’s driver has been charged after a crash in Nigeria injured the boxer and killed two of his team members, police have said. Adeniyi…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff, just over a month after his previous top aide resigned amid a corruption row. “At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues,” Zelensky said in a post on social media, publishing a photo of his meeting with…
Russia has accused Ukraine of killing at least 27 people in a drone strike on a New Year’s party in a hotel and cafe in the Russian-occupied southern Kherson region. According to the Russia-installed regional governor, Vladimir Saldo, more than 30 people were injured in the alleged attack, which he said happened in the village…
SOFIA — Bulgaria has formally joined the euro zone, adopting the euro as its official currency from 2026, in a move widely seen as a major milestone in the country’s long-term European integration.The decision carries significant geopolitical and economic weight, reinforcing Bulgaria’s alignment with the European Union and its core financial structures. However, analysts note…
LONDON — British Muslims are among the most generous charitable donors in the United Kingdom, giving an estimated $3 billion annually, around four times the national average, according to new research published by the think tank Equi.The study found that while the majority of donations have traditionally been directed toward international humanitarian causes, there is…
CARACAS — Venezuelan authorities have released 88 people detained during protests following the country’s recent elections, the government announced on New Year’s Day.The move marks the second mass release within a week, coming amid growing pressure from the United States on President Nicolás Maduro’s government over human rights concerns.The detainees were arrested during demonstrations that…
