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Just ahead of the International Monetary Fund’s visit to Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates has rolled over a $2 billion loan to Islamabad for another two months, providing crucial support to the country’s external financing position. The development comes as Pakistan prepares for the IMF’s third economic review under its $7 billion loan program. According to officials from the Ministry of Finance, the UAE has extended the $2 billion deposit until April 16 and 22. Previously, the UAE had rolled over the same amount for only one month, with that extension set to expire on February 16 and 22. Pakistan…

The much-anticipated T20 World Cup clash between Pakistan and India could face disruption due to rain, with thunderstorms forecast in Colombo on match day. According to the Meteorological Department, there is a strong likelihood of rainfall during the scheduled match hours, raising concerns for fans and teams alike. Weather officials have predicted thunderstorms in Colombo on Sunday, with intermittent rain and gusty winds expected throughout the day. The forecast shows a 55 to 60% chance of rain in the afternoon and evening, while reports indicate a 55 to 59% probability of rainfall between 1:30pm and 6:30pm — directly overlapping with…

Residents across parts of Sindh and Balochistan were shaken after earthquake tremors were felt in multiple cities on Friday. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck near Khuzdar, with tremors recorded at a depth of 13 kilometers. The tremors were felt in Zehri and its adjacent areas located in the eastern part of Khuzdar district. The PMD confirmed that the earthquake measured 5.6 on the Richter scale, with its depth recorded at 13km beneath the surface. Despite the noticeable shaking, there were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage from the affected areas. Tremors…

Just weeks after a dramatic purge of China’s top general, the CIA is moving to capitalize on any resulting discord with a new public video targeting potential informants in the Chinese military. The US spy agency on Thursday rolled out the video depicting a disillusioned mid-level Chinese military officer, in the latest US step in a campaign to ramp up human intelligence gathering on Washington’s strategic rival. It follows a similar effort last May that focused on fictional figures within China’s ruling Communist Party that provided detailed Chinese-language instructions on how to securely contact US intelligence. CIA Director John Ratcliffe…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday the US needed to put more pressure on Russia if it wanted the war to end by summer, adding it was unclear whether Moscow would attend US-brokered peace talks next week. The Ukrainian leader, who has said previously that Washington wants to end the four-year-old war by June, said Russia was still deliberating over whether to participate in the proposed next round of trilateral peace talks in Miami. Zelenskiy said Ukraine was ready to attend the meeting, which follows two rounds of trilateral negotiations in Abu Dhabi over the past month that have…

US President Donald Trump is planning to scale back some tariffs on steel and aluminium goods, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Trump hit steel and aluminium imports with tariffs of up to 50% last year, including the country rate on the non-steel and non-aluminum content. The administration is now reviewing the list of products affected by the levies and plans to exempt some items, halt the expansion of the lists and instead launch more targeted national security probes into specific goods, the report added. Reuters could not immediately verify the report.

Less than two months after returning from nearly two decades of self-imposed exile in London, Tarique Rahman is poised to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister following a dramatic electoral turnaround. A coalition led by his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) crossed the halfway mark in parliamentary elections during early counting on Friday, according to local broadcaster Ekattor TV — marking one of the most remarkable political comebacks in the country’s history. Thursday’s election signaled a stunning reversal of fortune for the soft-spoken 60-year-old leader. Rahman left Bangladesh in 2008 after being released from detention under a military-backed caretaker government that had…

Pakistan has congratulated the people of Bangladesh and the newly elected leadership following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s sweeping victory in the general elections. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended their best wishes to BNP leader Tariq Rahman, reiterating Islamabad’s commitment to strengthening historic and brotherly bilateral ties. President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for securing a landslide victory and earning the mandate to form the next government. In his message, the president described the elections in Bangladesh as an opportunity for South Asia to move forward from past phases. He said the…

MINSK : Trade between Belarus and China can be significantly increased, as China has demand for Belarusian goods, political scientist Piotr Petrovsky said in a new episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA’s YouTube channel. “I believe that the share of Belarusian-Chinese trade could be doubled or even increased two and a half times. There is demand for this. The fact is that China is transitioning to a so-called dual circulation economy, where exports and imports need to be balanced,” Piotr Petrovsky said. Currently, a significant portion of goods manufactured in China is exported. In the analyst’s…

BEIJING : As the retail landscape for Spring Festival unfolds, traditional models of holiday shopping are being replaced by a focus on lifestyle, experience and emotional connections, compelling retailers and brands alike to rethink their strategies for the 2026 season, according to an industry report. NielsenIQ’s latest report,”2026 Year of the Horse Spring Festival Retail Trends Outlook”, found that to thrive in this holiday season market, retailers are encouraged to focus on two core growth drivers — creating meaningful rituals and cost-effective gifting. Retailers must also tap into the growing potential in lower-tier markets, fueled by a surge in return-home…