Pakistan, IMF open talks on 1st review of $7bn programme – Business
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday confirmed that discussions between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan for the first biannual review of the $7 billion programme had begun, adding that the country was “well-positioned” for the talks. Pakistan and the IMF had reached a three-year, $7bn aid package deal in July, with the new […]
Champions Trophy: India take on Australia in first semi-final seeking exorcising World Cup demons – Sport
India will take on Australia on Tuesday in the first ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final in Dubai, looking seeking redemption following their 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia. India have stuck to their position of not touring Pakistan because of the strained political relations between the Asian neighbours, who play each other only in […]
Aramco expects sharp drop in 2025 dividends as 2024 profit falls – Business
Saudi oil giant Aramco said on Tuesday that it expects to declare total dividends of $85.4 billion in 2025, a near 30 per cent drop from payouts in 2024 as it faced lower sales and higher costs. Aramco paid about $124.25bn in dividends in 2024 and had $97.78bn in payouts in 2023. Aramco is the […]
Cricket integrity has been hit for six but it’s no big deal for players – Sport
LAHORE: It was a quiet Sunday, the buzz of the Champions Trophy conspicuous by its absence in Lahore. The last-four lineup had been confirmed; the stage reached at which any tournament across any sport builds towards its crescendo. Any excitement, if there was any, was discreet, unnoticeable. India’s takeover of the first International Cricket Council […]
Trade wars erupt as Trump hits Canada, Mexico, China with steep tariffs – World
US President Donald Trump’s new 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada took effect on Tuesday, along with a doubling of duties on Chinese goods to 20pc, launching new trade conflicts with the top three US trading partners. The tariff actions, which could upend nearly $2.2 trillion in two-way annual US trade […]
Setback for prosecution as suspect in Mustafa murder case refuses to record confession before magistrate – Pakistan
KARACHI: The case of prosecution suffered a setback on Monday when a suspect in the Mustafa Amir murder case informed a judicial magistrate that he was not willing to record his confessional statement. Investigating Officer (IO)Muhammad Ali brought Syed Shiraz Hussain Bukhari before Judicial Magistrate (South) Aasim Aslam to record his confessional statement under Section […]
IPPs can opt for audit or arbitration, lenders told – Business
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday assured major international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, that independent power producers (IPPs) unwilling to renegotiate contracts could opt for either a forensic audit or international arbitration, following recent protests over ‘forced contract revisions’. Power Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari also informed the lenders […]
Trump pauses all US military aid to Ukraine after angry clash with Zelensky – World
US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a White House official said, sharply escalating pressure on Kyiv to agree to peace negotiations with Russia. The move comes just days after a stunning public clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump, who is seeking a rapid end to the war. Trump […]
US orders pause in cyberoffensive against Russia – World
KARACHI: US President Donald Trump’s administration is pausing its offensive cyber operations against Russia, officials say, as a diplomatic push continues to end the Ukraine war, BBC News reported. The reasoning for the instruction has not been publicly stated, and it is not clear how long the halt might last. The defence department has declined […]
Is all well?
IT’S been a good week for the government. It truly has. It completed a year with great fanfare (and advertising). There seems to be no immediate threat on the horizon, leading everyone in power or close to them to boast of a long run. No wonder, then, that the federal government has also expanded the […]