Business

    – Pakistan’s federal state-owned enterprises held about $36.5 billion in debt at the end of December 2025. The total increased 14.3% from a year earlier, adding roughly $4.7 billion at current exchange rates. Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance reported the figures

    – The UAE recorded $63.353 billion in outward foreign direct investment during 2025, according to UN Trade and Development. The country’s total outward FDI stock reached $402.729 billion at the end of the year. That figure stood at $55.560 billion

    – Pakistan raised petrol prices again on October 6, extending an increase announced three days earlier. Petrol climbed by Rs0.88 to Rs393.64 per litre under the latest fuel revision. High-speed diesel fell by Rs1.88 to Rs397.76 per litre. The move

    – Oil prices traded near $102 a barrel on Monday after an early jump pushed Brent above $103. Brent crude futures stood at $102.30 a barrel at 0900 GMT, up 5 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $90.62,

    – Renault Group plans to invest more than €10 billion in France over the next five years. Chief Executive François Provost announced the commitment on October 3. The spending will support electric vehicles and lower-cost models. Renault made about 500,000

    Persistent gains in fresh agricultural produce and energy commodities pushed South Korea’s September inflation rate to an annual 2.9 percent growth rate. Macroeconomic filings published by Statistics Korea confirm that severe weather patterns during the summer months disrupted national crop

    Sports

    Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland lead the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Organizers released the nominees on September 8 ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London. Ousmane Dembélé, Rodri and Vinícius Júnior also

    Technology

    – The European Commission has proposed a new EU Critical Communication System to connect first responders across European borders. The plan would link national networks used by police, firefighters, emergency medical services and civil protection teams. It covers all EU

    Apple introduced the iPhone Duo on Sept. 9, marking its first foldable iPhone. The device starts at $1,999 in the U.S. and opens to a 7.6-inch inner display. When closed, it uses a 5.4-inch outer screen for standard phone tasks.

    Apple has unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with major camera, performance and battery upgrades. The new models feature a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, a first for the iPhone. Both phones run on

    Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, with sales set to begin October 23. The new model opens to a 7.6-inch inner screen and carries a 5.4-inch outer display. Apple says the larger panel offers the biggest

    The United States is expanding domestic battery production as it works to reduce dependence on China. The larger challenge sits deeper in the supply chain. China still dominates battery materials, processing and key manufacturing technologies used worldwide. U.S. factories have

    Japan is expanding its fight against investment fraud with a new system that uses artificial intelligence to spot warning signs earlier. The Consumer Affairs Agency announced the package on September 1. It will analyze consumer complaints for language and patterns

    China’s digital industry generated 20.71 trillion yuan in revenue during the first half of 2026, up 13.6% from a year earlier. Total profit reached 1.79 trillion yuan, an increase of 19.3%. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said the

    Japan successfully launched its H3 rocket carrying the Michibiki No. 7 navigation satellite on Tuesday. H3 Flight No. 9 lifted off at 4:23:31 a.m. Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, confirmed satellite