Governance

At the international poverty line of $3 a day, an additional 1.4 million people are estimated to have slipped into poverty between 2022 and 2025 due to stagnant labour incomes and persistent inflation that eroded the benefits of whatever growth occurred.

The UN assessment ends on a note of cautious urgency. The Seville Commitment, though imperfect, still represents the clearest roadmap available.

As the two-week ceasefire takes effect, markets will be watching closely for signs of sustained de-escalation. Yet even if fighting subsides, the economic scars of the Iran war may take far longer to heal, the three organisations said.

India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.6 per cent in fiscal year 2026-27 (FY27), a moderation from the 7.6 per cent expansion expected in FY26, as higher energy prices triggered by the Middle East conflict and supply chain disruptions weigh on activity.

The consultations underscore that the crisis is not merely statistical. It reflects lived realities in which women are increasingly isolated within their homes.

March 2026 presented a picture of cautious stability for vegetarian households and modest relief for non-vegetarian ones. While cheaper onions, potatoes and pulses delivered welcome savings, the surge in tomato, oil and fuel prices ensured that the overall impact remained balanced rather than decisively downward.

The narcotics ban is one of the Taliban’s most visible governance tests. It demonstrates their ability to impose nationwide edicts in a fragmented country, but it also exposes the limits of ideology without economic support.

Her story resonates far beyond Afghanistan, echoing in global conversations about women’s rights, freedom of expression, and the role of sport as a vehicle for empowerment. In a place where silence is enforced, her actions speak loudly.