Afghanistan International: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released a new report on drug cultivation and production in Afghanistan. Published on Thursday, 29 October, it says opium production reached nearly 1,500 tons in 2026, around five times the previous year’s level. According to figures presented in the report, Afghanistan’s total opium production increased from approximately 300 tones in 2025 to nearly 1,500 tons in 2026. The rise was driven by both an expansion in cultivation and higher crop yields resulting from improved rainfall conditions. According to UNODC, Afghanistan’s drug ban appears to have weakened in 2026. Click here to read more (external link).
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Khaama: At least 20 Afghan migrants were injured when an overloaded minibus overturned into a stream in Hakkari province in eastern Turkey after its driver allegedly tried to flee security forces, Turkish media reported on Thursday. Turkey is a key transit country for migrants seeking to reach Europe. Similar road accidents involving vehicles carrying migrants have been reported in eastern Turkey in previous years, highlighting the risks associated with overcrowded transport and irregular migration routes. 
Ariana: Afghanistan’s U-15 national football team defeated India 2-1 in the quarter-finals of Tier C at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan on Thursday. The match marked Afghanistan’s eighth appearance in the competition, with the young Afghan side recording their fifth victory. 
Ariana: The Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Emirate says several Pakistani soldiers were killed or wounded in retaliatory strikes by Afghan forces in Paktika province. In a statement, the ministry said Pakistani forces carried out four drone strikes on Angoor Adda Bazaar and the Commissioner’s Office, as well as nearby security installations, at around 1 p.m. on Monday. 
Amu: Residents of Dara Abdullah Khel district in Panjshir province say Taliban forces detained and beat local elders and religious scholars following a reported explosion in the district last week, allegations that Taliban authorities deny. Several residents told Amu TV that Taliban forces have also imposed restrictions on nighttime movement and searched homes, creating what they described as an atmosphere of fear. The circumstances of the reported explosion remain unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility. 
8am: A number of orchard owners in Koh Daman have complained about falling prices for their produce, a lack of cold storage facilities, and limited access to global markets. They say that because of the drop in prices in domestic markets, they have been forced to sell the fruits of their labor at very low prices, to the point that even production costs have not been recovered. Meanwhile, a number of economic experts warn that the shortage of standard cold storage facilities and limited access to global markets have restricted the opportunities to sell horticultural products and have reduced the income of orchard owners in Koh Daman and other parts of Afghanistan. 