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ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved two projects worth $540 million to support state-owned enterprise (SOE) reforms in Pakistan and strengthen disaster resilience in Sindh&rsquo;s coastal districts, state-run APP reported on Friday.&nbsp;The financing includes a $400 million results-based loan for the Accelerating SOE Transformation Program and a $140 million concessional loan for the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project, according to an ADB press release received here. ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan said the SOE reform program aims to improve governance and commercial performance of Pakistan&rsquo;s SOEs, which are critical for economic stability and development. She said the program will also focus on restructuring and commercialization of the National Highway Authority, one of the largest entities in Pakistan&rsquo;s SOE portfolio. The initiative marks ADB&rsquo;s first results-based loan dedicated solely to public sector management reform. Over the past five years, ADB has supported Pakistan&rsquo;s SOE reforms, including enactment of the SOE Act and SOE Policy in 2023 and the establishment of a central monitoring unit. ADB has also approved a $750,000 technical assistance grant to support capacity building and effective implementation of the reforms. Sindh coastal resilience projectMeanwhile, the Sindh Coastal Resilience Sector Project aims to enhance disaster resilience in the coastal districts of Badin, Sujawal and Thatta. The project is expected to benefit more than 500,000 people, protect 150,000 hectares of agricultural land and restore 22,000 hectares of forest, in line with Pakistan&rsquo;s National Flood Protection Plan IV and Sindh Climate Change Policy. The project is co-financed by a $20 million grant and a $20 million concessional loan from the Green Climate Fund, administered by ADB.&nbsp;ADB said the project will focus on flood protection, improved drainage systems, restoration of mangroves and forests, and community-based resilience planning, with at least 25 percent of funds allocated to women-led initiatives.

People evacuating from a flood-struck area. — AFP/File

Economy

The Asian Development Bank approves $540 million for Pakistan to support state-owned enterprise reforms and boost disaster resilience in Sindh’s coastal districts, benefiting over 500,000 people.

ADB approves $540M Pakistan SOE reforms, Sindh coastal resilience projects

SANTIAGO: After his victory Sunday, Chile&#39;s hard-right president-elect Jose Antonio Kast, will inherit a stalled economy, high crime rates and a fractured congress. Here are the main challenges facing the 59-year-old veteran politico when he takes office on March 11. - Crime and punishment -Although Chile is among Latin America&#39;s safest countries, crime is a top concern, and a concern that Kast has promised to solve. But he will have to contend with a plethora of transnational gangs like Venezuela&#39;s Tren de Aragua, who arrived in Chile hoping to expand their business. As a result, the homicide rate rose 140 percent in the past decade before stabilizing.&nbsp;Kidnappings also surged. Kast plans a frontal attack on organized crime and drug trafficking, mass expulsions of undocumented migrants, more police firepower, and military deployment in critical areas. His anti-immigration plan, which opponents call unrealistic, involves inviting undocumented migrants to leave. Kast has said he rejects raids, like those carried out in the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump. &quot;If migration doesn&#39;t decrease and insecurity perception doesn&#39;t improve, it could blow up in his face (&hellip;) He may face a very complex scenario if results don&#39;t come quickly,&rdquo; said Alejandro Olivares, political analyst at the University of Chile. - It&#39;s the economy... -Kast has said that within 18 months he will reduce public spending by $6 billion. But he has given few details about how this would be done and how he would avoid sparking a recession. &quot;There will be cuts to shrink the state, similar to those seen in other regional countries,&quot; said Stephanie Alenda, researcher at Andr&eacute;s Bello University. Kast said he wants to boost investment through lower taxes and fewer regulations, aiming for four percent annual growth, above 2024&#39;s rate of 2.6 percent. - Tax cuts -Though the right holds a parliamentary majority, Kast may need center-left votes, especially in the Senate, if he wants to pass legislation. It would be a change in course for his Republican Party who, during its six-year history, has shunned deals with the government and traditional right -- which he has dubbed the &quot;cowardly right.&quot; &quot;Most reforms he seeks will necessarily go through Congress,&quot; warns Rodrigo Arellano, political analyst at the Development University. &quot;They&#39;ll try to block us. But we&#39;ll fight for Chile&#39;s destiny,&quot; Kast said at his last campaign rally, sounding less than conciliatory. - Street opposition -Kast&#39;s defense of Augusto Pinochet&#39;s dictatorship has turbocharged the opposition against him He has previously criticized memorials for victims but avoided such topics during the campaign. He has also quieted his ultraconservative agenda against abortion and same-sex marriage. However, he is willing to consider pardons for human rights violators. &quot;He&#39;ll confront street opposition, unions, students, and we&#39;ll see how he handles it,&quot; said Roberto Funk, political scientist at the University of Chile.

Americas

Chile’s president-elect Jose Antonio Kast faces stalled economy, rising crime, migration pressures and fragmented Congress, forcing choices on security, spending cuts, tax reforms and managing opposition over Pinochet legacy concerns

Chile president-elect Kast faces tough economic, security and political challenges

GUATEMALA: Clashes in the Guatemalan Indigenous town of Nahuala have left 13 dead, the mayor told AFP on Sunday, blaming the army for the incident. &quot;Thirteen people were brutally killed in an ambush carried out by the Guatemalan army and people from Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan,&quot; Manuel Garchaj said, contradicting the government&#39;s official toll of five dead. Located west of Guatemala City, Nahuala and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan have fought for more than a century over a boundary between the two Maya communities, which has left several dead in recent years.

Clashes in Guatemala’s Indigenous town Nahuala left 13 dead, mayor says, accusing army involvement, disputing official toll, amid a century-old boundary dispute with neighboring Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan communities west region

13 dead in clashes in Guatemalan Indigenous region: mayor

ISLAMABAD: Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old fruit seller, emerged as a central figure in Australia&rsquo;s deadliest mass shooting in years after confronting and disarming a gunman during a deadly attack on a Jewish gathering celebrating Hanukkah.&nbsp;Footage circulating on social media shows Ahmed rushing toward the armed attacker as shots are fired off-camera. He is seen grabbing the gunman, wrestling the weapon from his hands, and forcing the assailant to retreat at gunpoint.&nbsp;Australian broadcaster 7News identified Ahmed as the man in the video and reported that he sustained two gunshot wounds during the struggle. He is currently hospitalized.&nbsp;A relative, identified only as Mustapha, confirmed Ahmed&rsquo;s condition and praised his actions. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s in hospital and we don&rsquo;t know exactly what&rsquo;s going on inside,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We do hope he will be fine. He&rsquo;s a hero 100 percent.&rdquo;&nbsp;Authorities said the attack killed 16 people and wounded many others. Police described the shooting as a terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community.&nbsp;Australian leaders publicly praised Ahmed&rsquo;s actions. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described him and others who intervened as &ldquo;heroes.&rdquo; New South Wales Premier Chris Minns echoed that sentiment during a late-night briefing.&nbsp;&ldquo;In all of this evil, in all of this sadness, there are still wonderful, brave Australians that are prepared to risk their lives to help a complete stranger,&rdquo; Minns said.&nbsp;Ahmed&rsquo;s actions also drew international attention. US President Donald Trump publicly commended him, saying his intervention prevented further bloodshed.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s been a very, very brave person, actually, who went and attacked frontally one of the shooters, and saved a lot of lives,&rdquo; Trump said, adding that Ahmed &ldquo;is right now in the hospital, pretty seriously wounded.&rdquo;&nbsp;As investigations continue, Ahmed al Ahmed is being widely recognized across Australia as a civilian who risked his life to stop a gunman and protect others.

Australasia

43-year-old Muslim man hailed as a hero after disarming a gunman during a deadly Sydney attack, sustaining gunshot wounds while saving lives

Who is Ahmed al Ahmed, man who disarmed Sydney gunman

ISLAMABAD: The deadly shooting near Sydney&rsquo;s Bondi Beach has sparked concern in Pakistan after sections of Indian media, followed by some Israeli and Afghan social media accounts, rushed to link the attack to Pakistan despite no confirmation from Australian authorities. Soon after the incident, multiple Indian media outlets circulated the name Naveed Akram, portraying him as a &ldquo;Pakistani attacker.&rdquo; The claim quickly unraveled when a Pakistani-Australian man with the same name publicly denied any connection, calling the allegations false and dangerous. Akram said his photographs were taken from his personal social media accounts and falsely linked to the attacker. &ldquo;That is not me and I have nothing to do with that incident or with that person,&rdquo; he said, stressing that the misinformation has placed his safety at risk. &ldquo;This issue is very serious. I am stressed, scared, and cannot even go outside safely,&rdquo; Akram added, describing the &ldquo;dual trauma&rdquo; caused first by the tragedy itself and then by being falsely identified online. Investigators have tentatively identified one of the attackers, according to Sky News citing three senior law enforcement officials in the US and Australia. New South Wales Police have confirmed that 16 people were killed and 40 remain in hospital following Sunday&rsquo;s shooting. The police added that &ldquo;more information will be made available soon&rdquo; and that Bondi Beach and surrounding roads would remain closed as investigators continue processing the crime scene. Nevertheless, unverified narratives continued to circulate online, with some Indian, Israeli, and Afghan-based accounts attempting to associate the attack with Pakistan. International Relations scholar Ahmad Hassan Al-Arbi noted on X that reports suggested &ldquo;at least one Afghan national may have been involved,&rdquo; while emphasizing that official details remain limited and investigations are ongoing. The rapid spread of unverified claims has renewed concerns over misinformation during crises. Observers note that Indian media, frequently criticized for disinformation, once again amplified an unsubstantiated narrative targeting Pakistan, which was then echoed across aligned online platforms. Islamabad has strongly criticized New Delhi for a recurring pattern of baseless accusations against Pakistan in the aftermath of international security incidents. The Foreign Office has repeatedly called for restraint, responsible reporting, and reliance on verified facts, warning that premature allegations undermine credibility and threaten regional stability. The Pakistan Australian Cultural Association Inc (PACA) also issued a statement expressing shock and grief over the attack, condemning the &ldquo;atrocious and inhumane act of violence and terror&rdquo; at Bondi Beach. PACA extended condolences to the victims and their families, expressed solidarity with Australia&rsquo;s Jewish community, and praised the swift response of emergency services and community members. The association urged all communities to stand together, reject violence, and reaffirm a commitment to peace, compassion, and resilience, offering professional support to those traumatized by the tragedy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Australia. &ldquo;My deepest condolences to the victims of the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,&rdquo; he said in a post on X. He also conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s sympathy to the families of the victims and reaffirmed the country&rsquo;s commitment to opposing terrorism globally.

Foreign Affairs

Following deadly attack in Sydney, Pakistani-Australian Naveed Akram says he is falsely linked to the shooter online, condemns misinformation, and urges the public to stop spreading it

Bondi shooting sparks false blame campaign against Pakistan

DAMASCUS: Syria&#39;s interior ministry said Sunday that the gunman who killed three Americans in the central Palmyra region the previous day was a member of the security forces who was set to be fired for extremism.&nbsp;Two US troops and a civilian interpreter were killed in what the Syrian government described as a &quot;terrorist attack&quot; on Saturday, while Washington said it had been carried out by an militant who was subsequently killed.&nbsp;The Syrian authorities &quot;had decided to fire&quot; the perpetrator from the security forces before the attack and had planned to do so on Sunday, interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba told state television.&nbsp;A Syrian security official told AFP on Sunday that &quot;11 members of the general security forces were arrested and brought in for questioning after the attack&quot;.&nbsp;The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunman had belonged to the security forces &quot;for more than 10 months and was posted to several cities before being transferred to Palmyra&quot;.&nbsp;Palmyra, home to UNESCO-listed ancient ruins, was controlled by IS at the height of its territorial expansion in Syria.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump vowed &quot;very serious retaliation&quot; following Saturday&#39;s attack.&nbsp;A Syrian defense ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity that prior to the attack, US forces had &quot;arrived by land from the direction of the Al-Tanf military base&quot; in southeastern Syria.&nbsp;&quot;The joint Syrian-American delegation first toured the city of Palmyra, then proceeded to the T-4 airbase before returning to a base in Palmyra,&quot; the source added.&nbsp;A Syrian military official who requested anonymity said on Saturday that the shots were fired &quot;during a meeting between Syrian and American officers&quot; at a Syrian base in Palmyra.&nbsp;However, a Pentagon official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that the attack &quot;took place in an area where the Syrian president does not have control&quot;.&nbsp;In response to the attack, authorities launched an operation against IS group cells across Homs province, where Palmyra is located, Syrian state television said on Sunday.&nbsp;US Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack on Sunday said the attack only &quot;reinforces&quot; the US strategy to &quot;enable capable Syrian partners, with limited US operational support, to hunt down ISIS networks, deny them safe haven, and prevent their resurgence&quot;.&nbsp;Syria&#39;s interior ministry meanwhile said in a statement that &quot;the continuation of terrorist attacks reflects the importance of Syria&#39;s choice to engage internationally and play an active role in combating terrorism&quot;.

Asia

Syria said a security officer killed two US troops and an interpreter in Palmyra. The attacker was killed, arrests followed, and joint operations intensified against IS cells nationwide afterward.

Syrian who killed Americans was part of security forces

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s security forces killed 13 militants in two intelligence-based operations in the country&rsquo;s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province this week, the military said on Sunday.&nbsp;In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military&rsquo;s media wing, said an operation was conducted in Mohmand district after reports of militant presence.&nbsp;&ldquo;During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khwarij location and, as a result of an intense fire exchange, seven khwarij were effectively neutralized,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Islamabad uses the term &ldquo;khwarij&rdquo; to refer to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), drawing on a historical reference to an extremist sect in early Islamic history that rejected state authority.&nbsp;In a separate operation in Bannu district, security forces killed six more militants. &ldquo;In another intelligence-based operation conducted in Bannu District, six more khwarij were effectively neutralized by security forces,&rdquo; the ISPR said.&nbsp;The military added that follow-up clearance efforts were underway.&nbsp;&ldquo;Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other khwarij found in the area,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;Militant violence has risen sharply in KP since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, with armed groups targeting security convoys, checkpoints, and government officials through attacks, kidnappings, and targeted killings.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly stated that militant groups, including Fitna Al Khwarij, are operating from sanctuaries across the Afghan border and have been receiving foreign sponsorship to carry out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.&nbsp;Islamabad has consistently conveyed these concerns to the Afghan interim authorities, urging them to take decisive action. Despite Pakistan&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic engagement and restraint, repeated cross-border incidents have led to heightened tensions between the two countries.&nbsp;The ISPR said the latest operations were part of Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing counterterrorism campaign under the &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam&rdquo; initiative. The campaign was approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan and is aimed at eliminating what the military describes as &ldquo;foreign-sponsored and supported militancy&rdquo; from the country.

Security

The military’s media wing says security forces kill 13 militants in intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as part of Azm-e-Istehkam counterterrorism campaign.

Pakistan security forces kill 13 militants in northwest intelligence operations

BRUSSELS: World leaders express their horror and revulsion at Sunday&#39;s mass shooting in which 11 people were killed at Sydney&#39;s iconic Bondi Beach.&nbsp;Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the &quot;shocking and distressing&quot; attack, which Australian police are calling a &quot;terrorist&quot; incident, was &quot;beyond comprehension&quot; as assailants fired on a gathering celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.&nbsp;Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned what he called a &quot;very cruel attack on Jews&quot; by &quot;vile terrorists&quot;.&nbsp;King Charles III, head of the 56 countries of the 56-nation Commonwealth, of which Australia is a member, said he was &quot;appalled&quot; by &quot;most dreadful antisemitic terrorist attack on Jewish people&quot;.&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also on X, said: &quot;Antisemitism has no place in this world.&nbsp;&quot;Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.&quot;&nbsp;EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was &quot;shocked&quot; at what she condemned as an &quot;appalling act of violence&quot;.&nbsp;She added in a post to X: &quot;Europe stands with Australia and Jewish communities everywhere. We are united against violence, antisemitism and hatred.&quot;&nbsp;British Prime Minister Keir Starmer lamented what he described as the &quot;deeply distressing news from Australia.&nbsp;&quot;The United Kingdom sends our thoughts and condolences to everyone affected by the appalling attack in Bondi beach,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Israel&#39;s arch-enemy Iran joined the condemnations. Posting on X, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said: &quot;We condemn the violent attack in Sydney, Australia. Terror and killing of human beings, wherever committed, is rejected and condemned.&quot;&nbsp;Entirely foreseeableFrench President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack and vowed that France would &quot;fight relentlessly against antisemitic hatred.&quot;&nbsp;Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on X she felt &quot;profound grief regarding the dramatic news arriving from Sydney.&nbsp;&quot;By once again firmly condemning all forms of violence and anti-semitism, Italy expresses its own condolences for the victims,&quot; she added.&nbsp;German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, also in a post to X, said: &quot;I am deeply shocked by the terrorist attack in Sydney &ndash;- an act of hatred directed against all Jews worldwide on the first day of Hanukkah.&nbsp;&quot;My thoughts are with the families of those murdered, the injured and the Jewish community,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X that his country &quot;stands in solidarity with Australia in the face of the brutal terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, which targeted the Jewish community.&nbsp;&quot;Terror and hatred must never prevail &mdash; they must be defeated everywhere and every time,&quot; he said.&nbsp;A major Australian Muslim organisation also condemned the &quot;horrific&quot; shooting.&nbsp;&quot;Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those who witnessed or were affected by this deeply traumatic attack,&quot; the Australian National Imams Council said, urging all Australians to stand together in unity, compassion, and solidarity.&nbsp;The head of Australia&#39;s Jewish Association meanwhile said the shooting was a &quot;tragedy but entirely foreseeable.&nbsp;&quot;The Albanese government was warned so many times but failed to take adequate actions to protect the Jewish community,&quot; Robert Gregory told AFP.&nbsp;

World leaders condemned the Bondi Beach shooting, killing 11 during Hanukkah. Australia, Israel, UK, US, EU, and others expressed horror, denouncing antisemitism, terrorism, and violence, while Australian Muslim and Jewish groups mourned and called for solidarity.

World leader’s express horror, revulsion at Bondi beach shooting

PORT SUDAN: A drone strike Sunday on an army hospital in the besieged southern Sudan city of Dilling left &quot;seven civilians dead and 12 injured&quot;, a health worker at the facility told AFP.&nbsp;The victims included patients and their companions, the medic said on condition of anonymity, explaining that the army hospital &quot;serves the residents of the city and its surroundings, in addition to military personnel&quot;.&nbsp;Dilling, in the flashpoint state of South Kordofan, is controlled by the Sudanese army but has been under siege by rival paramilitary forces.&nbsp;Since April 2023, the army has been at war with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who control swathes of the greater Kordofan region along with their allies, the Sudan People&#39;s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu.&nbsp;Sunday&#39;s strike comes a day after a drone strike on a United Nations peacekeeping base killed six Bangladeshi troops in the similarly besieged South Kordofan state capital of Kadugli, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) south of Dilling.&nbsp;According to the UN, civilians in Dilling are suffering famine conditions, but a lack of access to data has prevented an official declaration.&nbsp;Across the country, the war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12 million and created the world&#39;s largest hunger and displacement crises.

Africa

A drone strike hit an army hospital in Dilling, South Kordofan, killing seven civilians and injuring 12. The city faces famine, ongoing conflict between Sudanese army and RSF, and widespread displacement.

Seven killed in drone strike on Sudan hospital: medical source

LONDON: Virgil van Dijk wants Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool despite the Egyptian star&#39;s &nbsp;incendiary rant about the club, but the Reds captain admits he does not know what will happen over the next few weeks.&nbsp;Salah came off the bench against Brighton on Saturday for his first appearance since claiming he had been &quot;thrown under the bus&quot; by the club following last weekend&#39;s 3-3 draw with Leeds.&nbsp;The forward also said in the same interview at Elland Road that he had no relationship with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who had named him as a substitute for three straight games.&nbsp;Salah was then omitted from the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan, a 1-0 win for Liverpool, but he was back in action as a first-half substitute against Brighton.&nbsp;The 33-year-old provided an assist for Hugo Ekitike&#39;s second goal in a much-needed 2-0 win, but will now jet to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and could be absent for five weeks.&nbsp;After the match, Slot said there was &quot;no issue to resolve&quot; with his star forward, but speculation continues to rumble over the player&#39;s future.&nbsp;Van Dijk is adamant that he wants Salah to stay and said he had told him so.&nbsp;&quot;I would love to have him around because he is one of the leaders, but the fact is he is going to AFCON. We will be in contact over the next days and weeks like we always are and let&#39;s see,&quot; the Dutch defender said.&nbsp;&quot;I wish him absolutely all the best -- and (to) come back, hopefully. I have no control over that.&nbsp;&quot;We hope he will be absolutely successful there and we all hope he will be coming back to be important for the rest of the season.&nbsp;&quot;But, on the other side of it, we all know football and have no idea what is going to happen.&quot;&nbsp;Premier League champions Liverpool ended a tumultuous week by extending their unbeaten run to five matches in all competitions.&nbsp;Van Dijk said it proved the dressing room had not been distracted by the Salah situation.&nbsp;&quot;As a captain I have to deal with how the boys react to it and they reacted perfectly fine. Mo, in the end, reacted perfectly fine as well,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Van Dijk also praised Slot for dealing with a tumultuous period at Liverpool, whose Premier League title defence has collapsed in recent weeks.&nbsp;&quot;There is a lot of noise, pressure from the outside world and rightly so as we&#39;ve not been close to the standard we were showing last season,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;But personally looking at it, and from the conversations we have on a daily basis, I think he has handled it very well.&nbsp;&quot;This moment of time is a very good moment to see how everyone responds. I think the manager has done perfectly.&quot;

Football

Virgil van Dijk wants Mohamed Salah to stay at Liverpool despite recent tensions, praising him as a leader. Salah assisted against Brighton before AFCON, while Van Dijk backed Arne Slot’s handling of the situation well.

Van Dijk wants 'leader' Salah to stay at Liverpool

ISLAMABAD: A packed international calendar in the coming week will see voters decide Chile&rsquo;s future, central banks signal the path of interest rates, courts deliver verdicts in high-profile cases, and world leaders gather for talks amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.&nbsp; Politics and diplomacyVoters in Chile head to the polls on Sunday for the second round of the presidential election, a vote expected to shape the country&rsquo;s political direction amid economic uncertainty and social debate. In Europe, attention turns to Berlin on Monday, where Ukraine&rsquo;s President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to appear, underscoring Germany&rsquo;s continued diplomatic and economic engagement with Kyiv. European leaders will later gather in Brussels for a two-day EU summit, alongside meetings of energy and foreign ministers focused on security, climate, and trade.&nbsp; At the United Nations, the Security Council will hold a series of meetings throughout the week on flashpoints, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Yemen, Syria, Libya, and West Africa, and will also vote on the renewal of several peacekeeping missions. In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin is due to hold his annual press conference on Friday, followed over the weekend by an informal summit of Commonwealth of Independent States leaders in Saint Petersburg. EconomyChina releases key figures on retail sales, industrial output, and unemployment on Monday, offering insight into the health of the world&rsquo;s second-largest economy.&nbsp; The European Commission will review its proposal to end sales of new petrol cars by 2035, while the Bank of England and the European Central Bank announce monetary policy decisions on Thursday. Japan announces foreign trade figures for November on Wednesday, and the Bank of Japan&#39;s monetary policy decision on Friday. In the United States, upcoming data releases on inflation, jobs, retail sales, and consumer confidence, along with Nike&rsquo;s quarterly results, are expected to offer fresh insight into consumer demand heading into the new year. Legal and JusticeSeveral closely watched legal cases are scheduled. Hong Kong&#39;s court issues a verdict for media mogul Jimmy Lai early Monday morning in a press freedom case.&nbsp; Paris courts are handling multiple high-profile cases, including proceedings against former Lafarge executives accused of financing terrorism in Syria, as well as decisions on requests to suspend platforms such as Shein and Kick. In the United States, Ryan Routh faces sentencing on Thursday for the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in September 2024.&nbsp;A doctor received sentencing on Tuesday in Los Angeles over supplying narcotics connected to actor Matthew Perry&#39;s death.&nbsp;Florida executes a man on Thursday who confessed to five 1980s murders.&nbsp;The Justice Department must release documents in the Epstein case by Friday. SportsFootball dominates the week, with the 33rd SEA Games continuing in Bangkok through December 20, while attention turns to Doha for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup final before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco over the weekend. Cricket fans will follow major fixtures in Australia and India, with T20 matches on Wednesday and Friday in Lucknow and Ahmedabad, and Australia hosting England for the third Test in Adelaide starting Wednesday. Alpine skiing takes center stage across multiple European venues with Women&#39;s World Cup events in St. Moritz on Sunday and Val-d&#39;Isere over the weekend.&nbsp; CulturePope Leo is due to lead a special Jubilee Mass for prisoners at St Peter&rsquo;s Basilica in Vatican City on Sunday. Lagos hosts its Street Art Festival 2025 through Monday.&nbsp; One of the first Hermes bags given to Jane Birkin goes up for sale on Monday in Paris. The UK marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen&#39;s birth on Tuesday. Boston sees protests against the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday. New Delhi holds the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit from Wednesday to Friday, while Tokyo hosts SEMICON JAPAN, a semiconductor expo, also from Wednesday to Friday. Thursday marks International Migrants Day worldwide.&nbsp;Pensioners protest in Athens on Tuesday morning, while a union-led demonstration against European agricultural policy and the EU-Mercosur trade agreement takes place in Brussels on Thursday.&nbsp; In the entertainment world, Disney is set to release the latest Avatar film in Los Angeles on Friday.

United Kingdom

Central Asia

Europe

Elections, court rulings,  and central bank decisions dominate the week ahead, as governments release key economic data, the UN debates global conflicts, and major cultural and sporting events unfold across multiple regions.

ADB approves $540M Pakistan SOE reforms, Sindh coastal resilience projects

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