In Herat, once an important stop on the famous Silk Route, a few families are struggling to keep a once-splendid silk industry alive amid competition from cheaper synthetic silk from China and Pakistan. The Herat region of northern Afghanistan has historically been the centre of silk production, textiles, and a burgeoning garment industry. However, this industry like the rest of the country was devastated and dismantled by over two decades of war. – Photos by AFP

More Multimedia

Pakistan still reeling in the elections and its aftermath
Re-polling ended in 43 polling stations of Karachi’s NA-250 constituency after a low voter turnout was witnessed amidst tight security…

Re-polling in NA-250, Shah Mehmood Qureshi pays tribute to voters
One week after a violence-plagued national election, some Pakistan districts are finally getting their chance to vote. Andrew Raven (Reuters) reports.

Zahra Shahid Hussain – PTI leader gunned down
Anguished relatives and friends react to the news that Zahra Shahid Hussain, a politician in the PTI party was gunned down by unknown assailants. Deborah Gembara (Reuters) reports.

Napoleon’s ‘death mask’ on auction
The mask made shortly after Napoleon's death is estimated to sell for 40,000 - 60,000 GB pounds (US $60,000 - 91,000.

Accelerating activism
This is a gallery of images from the world of people rising for human rights, against Guantanamo Bay, corruption in sports and the wrongful deaths in the Middle East.