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The government has approved a proposal to raise the house rent allowance (HRA) for federal employees. According to details surfaced on Thursday, a summary sent by the Ministry of Housing and Works recommended a uniform increase for all federal employees from grade one to grade 22. The federal cabinet has agreed to 85 per cent increase in the allowance. The rise in house rent allowance will benefit hundreds of government staff. The increase will take effect once it receives circulation approval from the federal cabinet. The move will add an annual burden of 12 billion rupees to the national exchequer.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had agreed with President Xi Jinping to trim tariffs on China in exchange for Beijing cracking down on the illicit fentanyl trade, resuming U.S. soybean purchases and keeping rare earths exports flowing. Trump’s face-to-face talks with Xi in the South Korean city of Busan, their first since 2019, marked the finale of a whirlwind Asia trip on which he also touted trade breakthroughs with South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian nations. The deal, according to Beijing, also included a US pledge to delay for a year a new measure — strongly opposed…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated on Thursday the Youth Laptop Scheme 2025, promising to distribute 100,000 laptops to students based on merit. Speaking at the ceremony, he emphasised that Pakistan must advance in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The prime minister announced that Saudi Arabia had offered to provide education in AI and information technology to Pakistani youth. He maintained that millions of students from Pakistan will be sent to Saudi Arabia for training, adding that the Saudi government also pledged to offer significant opportunities to Pakistani professionals in AI. Trained Pakistani personnel will take part in Saudi Vision…

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called on members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system. “We must practice true multilateralism, and enhance the authority and effectiveness of the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core,” Xi said while addressing the first session of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, the Republic of Korea. The Chinese president put forward a five-point proposal for promoting a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and building an Asia-Pacific community. In addition to calling for safeguarding the multilateral trading system, Xi also…

The 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting is set to take place in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea from October 31 to November 1. Amid weak global economic growth and rising protectionism, the gathering carries high expectations from the Asia-Pacific and the broader international community for advancing an open world economy and achieving shared prosperity. Experts from Indonesia and Germany note that China has long championed regional integration and connectivity with an open approach, injecting fresh momentum into the Asia-Pacific – the world’s most dynamic region and a key driver of global growth. Rino F. Boer, professor at the London School of…

Economic growth in the APEC region is projected at 3.1 percent in 2025, slightly higher than earlier estimates, according to the latest APEC Regional Trends Analysis. The upgraded forecast was supported by resilient trade and strong demand for high-tech goods, according to the report. However, the report warned that growth could ease to 2.9 percent in 2026 as public debt rises and temporary drivers fade. Trade expanded solidly in the first half of 2025, with export and import values rising by 6.5 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively. Export growth is expected to slow to around 1 percent next year as…

In a major breakthrough, security forces killed four terrorists, including top Fitna al-Khawarij, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), commander in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on the night of October 29 and 30, the movement of a group of terrorists, who were trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by the security forces in Bajaur district. “Own troops effectively engaged and thwarted Khawarij’s attempt to infiltrate,” it said, adding that as a result of precise and skilful engagement, four militants, including kharji leader and…

China has urged the United States to uphold its international obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to resume nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with Russia and China. The statement marks a sharp response from Beijing amid growing regional tensions over nuclear expansion. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing “hopes the U.S. will abide by the CTBT and maintain its commitment to suspend nuclear tests.” The comments, reported by China’s state-run Global Times, came shortly after Trump’s directive reignited concerns about a potential new arms race among nuclear powers.…

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that economic and trade teams of China and the United States held in-depth talks and reached consensus on solutions to problems. He made the remarks during a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, after landing in Busan for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, and a state visit to South Korea. Noting that economic and trade interactions should remain ballast and driver of ties, not obstacles or sources of conflict, Xi called on both sides to focus on long-term benefits brought by cooperation…

BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday that the Chinese economy is like a vast ocean, big, resilient and promising, and that we have the confidence and capability to navigate all kinds of risks and challenges. He made the remarks during a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, after landing in Busan for the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, and a state visit to South Korea. Xi stressed that there is a good momentum in China’s economic development. In the first three quarters of this year, China’s economy increased by…