Afghanistan Industry & Trade: A new standard laboratory in Herat was inaugurated to test food, medicines and health products, aiming to curb counterfeit imports and boost confidence in Afghan goods for export markets. Energy & Infrastructure: Humla’s electricity grid connection has been delayed by one year, with slow construction, monsoon risks, and incomplete surveys blamed for pushing completion to March 2027. Mining & Safety: Afghanistan’s gold rush in Badakhshan is expanding fast, but residents report polluted rivers, dust damage and broken restoration promises, while the sector is now packed with hundreds of companies and thousands of manual workers. Regional Connectivity: Pakistan says it will reopen border crossings and transit routes with Afghanistan, a move that could ease trade disruptions after closures that have stretched beyond 300 days. Industrial Policy & Quality: A $30m oil refinery in Sar-e-Pul has begun operations, using locally sourced crude to produce diesel, petrol and mazut and creating over 100 jobs. Governance & Business Climate: A US think tank warns Afghanistan’s mining sector is marked by opacity and insurgent-style revenue control, raising risks for investors and long-term development.