- Defense spending rises 18% to Rs3 trillion ($10.79 billion) after 2025 conflict with India
- Government targets fiscal deficit of 3.6% of GDP under $7 billion IMF-backed reform program
- Families greet returning pilgrims with flower garlands, airport convoys and community celebrations
- Visitors flock to pilgrims’ homes seeking prayers, blessings and stories from the sacred journey
- Shehbaz Sharif says economic stabilization has enabled benefits to reach citizens
- PM describes Budget 2026-27 as focused on welfare, jobs, investment and tax relief
- Authorities urge public to use official channels for charitable donations
- Kingdom links begging to wider social, economic and security concerns
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- Several Iran-aligned factions say they will place weapons under state control, but doubts remain over implementation
- Analysts warn structural reforms may simply rebrand militia influence unless Baghdad secures genuine control of arms
- The government said existing sanctions were not being lifted
- New sanctions were being phased in
- Conflict has disrupted energy exports, trade routes and investment across economies worth almost $4 trillion, Asharq Business with Bloomberg analysis shows
- Report suggests that recovery hinges on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and preventing a return to regional conflict
- McTominay, 29, is coming off a season in which he scored 14 goals in all competitions
- “I think I have got 26 superstars here. To try and put so much onto one person is not fair,” said Clarke
In-Focus
Pakistan Budget 2026-27
- Defense allocation rises to $10.8 billion, though it remains far below India’s spending
- Officials say military modernization and evolving warfare are driving higher costs
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Decoders
What's Dariyah?
Located in Saudi Arabia's central region of Qassim, Dariyah was an important stop on ancient trade and pilgrimage routes and is now one of the Kingdom's significant archaeological sites. Earlier this week, the Saudi Heritage Commission announced that a collection of 100 pieces of gold jewelry dating back to the Abbasid era has been discovered in the site.
Who is “The Joshie-Man”?
It’s a name given by social media fans to Joshua Harris, a 12-year-old autistic and non-verbal Briton, who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country. On a recent trip to Madinah with his father, “The Joshie-Man” turned his ‘Cake not hate’ campaign to ‘Dates not hate’ by handing out the holy city’s famous ajwa and ambar dates people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque.
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In-Focus
Islamabad Talks
- PM Shehbaz Sharif says ‘incessant misinformation’ being used to sabotage peace process
- Trump and Iranian officials have publicly offered conflicting accounts of proposed deal
