Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar kicked off a busy day of diplomacy Tuesday with a phone call to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, followed by a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, as discussions centered on escalating regional tensions.&nbsp;Dar first spoke with Abdelatty about the latest developments, with both emphasising dialogue and engagement for peace and stability and agreeing to remain in close contact. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2046501154121527747&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b909f9899687ff4a9f9bd982c027710a9f4a2b49&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Later in the day, the Chinese ambassador called on Dar, conveying Beijing&#39;s full support and appreciation for Pakistan&#39;s ongoing efforts to facilitate US-Iran engagement for broader regional calm.&nbsp;Dar reaffirmed the robust Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, underscoring strong bilateral ties and the need for continued high-level exchanges.&nbsp;These back-to-back engagements signal Pakistan&#39;s pivotal role in mediation amid Middle East uncertainties.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong calls on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on April 21, 2026. (Photo: X/ @ForeignOfficePk)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan engages with China, Egypt on regional stability amid US-Iran tensions

GENEVA: Around 7,900 people died or disappeared on migration routes in 2025, taking the total dead and missing since 2014 beyond 80,000, the United Nations&#39; migration agency said Tuesday. The UN&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/taliban-restrictions-cripple-humanitarian-aid-as-27-million-afghans-return-to-winter-crisis" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">International Organization for Migration</a> said people were being forced into dangerous, irregular journeys when safe pathways were out of reach, and urged countries to find the political will to save more lives on migration routes. &quot;The deaths or disappearance of nearly 7,900 people were documented on global migration routes worldwide in 2025,&quot; the IOM said. The IOM&#39;s Missing Migrants Project &quot;has documented more than 80,000 deaths and disappearances during migration since 2014,&quot; the agency said. &quot;While these figures represent only the lowest boundary of the true number of affected people, they nonetheless underscore the need for urgent action to end migrant deaths and address the complex needs of families left behind,&quot; said the IOM. The IOM said the 7,904 deaths and disappearances documented in 2025 &quot;mark a continuation and escalation of a global failure to end these preventable deaths&quot;. &quot;2025 was marked by an unprecedented level of aid cuts and restriction of information on dangerous irregular routes, rendering more and more missing migrants invisible,&quot; it said. Meanwhile, &quot;an even more hidden population&quot; of at least around 340,000 family members were estimated to be directly affected by the &quot;ongoing crisis of missing migrants&quot;. They are having to deal with the psychological, social, legal and economic impacts of having a relative whose disappearance remains unresolved, the agency said. The IOM said the May 2026 International Migration Review Forum was a chance to change the dynamics. &quot;Sustained political will is needed to save lives on migration routes worldwide and make visible the families most impacted by these preventable losses,&quot; the agency.

Migrants head to a beach to be smuggled to Britain through the English Channel, in Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, northern France on April, 13, 2026. (AFP)

Americas

Europe

Migration deaths and disappearances are continuing on global routes, with the UN migration agency warning that unsafe journeys are increasing as safe pathways remain limited and aid and information are being reduced.

7,900 people died, disappeared on migration routes in 2025: UN

KHAN YUNIS: As springtime temperatures rise in Gaza, a surge in rats, fleas and other pests has compounded the misery of hundreds of thousands of displaced people still living in tents after more than two years of war. With meager shelter and almost no sanitation, Palestinians told AFP the vermin are invading their makeshift homes, biting children and contaminating food, in what aid agencies warned was a growing public health threat. &quot;My children have been bitten. One of my sons was even bitten on the nose,&quot; said Muhammad al-Raqab, a displaced Palestinian man living in a tent near the southern city of Khan Yunis. &quot;I am unable to sleep through the night because I must constantly watch over the children,&quot; the 32-year-old construction worker, originally from Bani Shueila, told AFP. With shelters erected directly on soft sand by the Mediterranean Sea, rodents can easily burrow under tent walls and wreck havoc inside, where people have established makeshift pantries and kitchens. &quot;The rodents have eaten through my tent,&quot; Raqab said. Nearly all of Gaza&#39;s population was displaced by Israeli evacuation orders and airstrikes during the war on Gaza. According to the UN, 1.7 million of Gaza&#39;s 2.2 million inhabitants still live in displacement camps, unable to return home or to areas that remain under Israeli military control despite a ceasefire that began in October 2025. In these camps, &quot;living conditions are characterized by vermin and parasite infestations&quot;, the UN&#39;s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Action (OCHA) said after field visits in March. Hani al-Flait, head of pediatrics at Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, told AFP his team encounters skin infections such as scabies daily. &#39;Flooded with sewage&#39;&nbsp; &quot;The severity of these skin infections has been exacerbated by the fact that these children and their families are living in harsh conditions that lack basic public sanitation, as well as a complete absence of safe water,&quot; he told AFP. Sabreen Abu Taybeh, whose son has been suffering from a rash, blamed the conditions in the camp. &quot;We are living in tents and schools flooded with sewage,&quot; she told AFP, showing the rash covering her son&#39;s upper body. &quot;I have taken him to doctors and hospitals, but they are not helping with anything. As you see, the rash remains.&quot; &quot;The summer season has brought us rodents and fleas,&quot; Ghalia Abu Selmi told AFP after discovering mice had gnawed through clothes she had prepared for her daughter&#39;s upcoming wedding. &quot;Fleas have caused skin allergies not only for children but for adults as well,&quot; she said, sorting through garments riddled with holes inside the tent she now calls home in Khan Yunis. The 53-year-old said her family has been displaced 20 times since October 2023 and has yet to return to their home in the town of Abasan al-Kabira near the Israeli border. Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to control all access points into Gaza, with tight inspections and frequent rejections of aid deliveries, according to NGOs and the UN.&nbsp;This has caused shortages in everything from medicine and fuel, to clothing and food. Airstrikes and firefights between Israel&#39;s military and what it claims&nbsp;are Hamas fighters still occur near-daily. According to the territory&#39;s health ministry, at&nbsp;least 777 people have been killed by Israel&#39;s military since the start of the ceasefire.

Garbage litters the ground next to makeshift shelters housing displaced Palestinians in Gaza City on April 20, 2026. (AFP)

Middle East

Rats and fleas are spreading across Gaza’s displacement camps as temperatures are rising, with displaced families reporting bites and infections amid continuing aid shortages and sanitation breakdowns.

Rats, fleas plague Gaza's displaced as temperatures rise

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy has conducted a successful live weapon firing of the Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile, an indigenously developed anti-ship weapon system, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Tuesday. In an official statement, the military&rsquo;s media wing stated that the successful test was a &quot;demonstration of precision strike capability&quot; and &quot;operational readiness.&quot; According to the statement, the air-launched cruise missile executed its mission &ldquo;with exceptional precision,&rdquo; validating the navy&rsquo;s &ldquo;combat capability to detect,&nbsp;target and decisively neutralize enemy sea-based threats at extended ranges.&rdquo; The demonstration marks a pivotal elevation of national defense capability, further strengthening the Pakistan Armed Forces&rsquo; &ldquo;multi-dimensional coordinated strike posture&rdquo; and &ldquo;capabilities in the conventional domain.&rdquo; Pakistan Navy remained committed to safeguarding the nation&rsquo;s maritime interests and sovereign waters, as per the statement. Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others, congratulated the scientists and engineers on achieving the milestone.

Pakistan Navy conducted a successful live weapon firing of the Taimoor Air-Launched Cruise Missile, an indigenously developed anti-ship weapon system on April 21, 2026. (ISPR)

Security

Pakistan Navy conducts a successful live firing of the indigenous Taimoor air-launched cruise missile, demonstrating precision strike capability, operational readiness, and enhanced maritime defense reach.

Pakistan Navy tests indigenous missile, signals enhanced maritime strike reach

LUANDA: Pope Leo XIV begins the final leg of his African tour on Tuesday with a visit to Equatorial Guinea, where his increasingly vocal defences of human rights will be closely watched in one of the most closed-off states on the continent. After three days in Angola, the US-born pontiff is due around noon (1100 GMT) in the Central African country, ruled since 1979 by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 83, the world&#39;s longest-serving head of state who is not a monarch. Leo follows in the footsteps of John Paul II, who 40 years ago became the first pope to visit Equatorial Guinea, an oil-rich country of two million people, 80% of whom are Catholic, a legacy of Spanish colonization. Throughout his African tour, the pope has criticized tyranny and exploitation while promoting peace and social, swapping his previously reserved style for a tougher tone. All eyes are whether that trend will continue in Equatorial Guinea, where he will be hosted by a government regularly accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses. Most of the country&#39;s opposition figures and independent media, hounded by the authorities, are in exile in Spain. The Equatorial Guinean authorities are regularly singled out by international NGOs for endemic corruption and repression of the opposition, marked by arbitrary detentions and curbs on public freedoms. &#39;Spiritual change&#39;&nbsp; In the former capital Malabo, located on the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea, giant portraits of the pope and welcome banners line the streets, alongside flags of the Vatican and Equatorial Guinea. A hymn composed in his honor will be sung by church choirs across the country throughout his visit. Malabo resident Juan Raul told AFP he sees the visit as an opportunity to bring the nation together.&nbsp;&quot;This will bring spiritual change and motivate many people to go to mass,&quot; he said. Leo will speak on Tuesday before the president, members of the government, the diplomatic corps and civil society, as well as representatives of the cultural sector. On Wednesday, he will travel to Obiang&#39;s Mongomo stronghold to hold a mass and greet students and teachers at a technology school named after Pope Francis. He will then continue to the economic capital Bata to pay tribute to the victims of a 2021 explosion that killed more than 108 people in a military camp and also visit inmates at Bata prison. On Thursday, the pontiff will hold a large mass at Malabo stadium before wrapping up his whirlwind 11-day 18,000-kilometre journey across Africa.

Pope Leo XIV (C) waves as he boards the plane to depart from the "4 de Fevereiro" Luanda International Airport in Luanda on the ninth day of an 11-day apostolic journey to Africa, on April 21, 2026. (AFP)

Africa

Human rights concerns and limited freedoms will frame Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Equatorial Guinea, where he is set to meet government officials, clergy, and citizens.

Pope visits Equatorial Guinea on last stop of Africa tour

LONDON: Britain&#39;s unemployment rate fell unexpectedly, official data showed Tuesday, ahead of a likely hit to the job market from the Middle East war&#39;s economic fall-out. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.9% in the three months to February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement. Economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged at a five-year high of 5.2%. The ONS attributed the fall largely to a rise in job inactivity, or people not looking for work. &quot;Alongside falling unemployment, the number of people not actively seeking work increased, with data suggesting fewer students seeking work alongside their studies,&quot; said Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics. &quot;Regular wage growth has slowed further with growth at its lowest rate in over five years,&quot; she added. Official data last week showed that Britain&#39;s economy grew much stronger than expected in February. However, the war in the Middle East, with its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has sent energy prices soaring, threatening to weigh on economic growth. &quot;The fall in the unemployment rate suggests that the labor market was starting to stabilize before the Iran war, but the more timely figures imply that won&rsquo;t last,&quot; said Ashley Webb, senior UK economist at Capital Economics. James Smith, developed markets economist at ING bank, said UK unemployment &quot;is likely to rise again as the energy crisis takes its toll on Britain&#39;s jobs market&quot;. British businesses also cautioned that the unemployment rate could rise back up again. &quot;With the cost of employment also high... our latest forecast expects unemployment to hit 5.5% this year,&quot; said Patrick Milnes, head of people and work at the British Chambers of Commerce. &quot;The slow-down in wage growth indicates businesses are taking their foot off the gas and the labor market will continue to loosen,&quot; he added.

A view of a signboard of 'job center plus' in London, UK. (AFP)

UK unemployment falls to 4.9% in February, below expectations, but officials and economists warn Middle East conflict and rising energy costs may soon reverse labour market stability and push joblessness higher.

UK unemployment unexpectedly fell ahead of Mideast war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has re-entered international capital markets for the first time in four years, completing a privately placed Eurobond transaction that drew strong investor interest and was subsequently upsized, according to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. In a post on X (Twitter), the Finance Ministry reported that the minister shared those details during a meeting with the Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, who called on Aurangzeb at the Finance Division in Islamabad. Aurangzeb described the Eurobond transaction as a reflection of improving economic fundamentals and a signal of Pakistan&#39;s broader reintegration into global financial markets. The minister stated the government is pursuing a diversified capital markets strategy, including future international issuances and innovative financing instruments designed to strengthen external buffers and ensure sustainable financing. During the meeting, the EU ambassador invited Aurangzeb to the High-Level EU&ndash;Pakistan Business Forum, scheduled for April 28, 2026, in Islamabad. The minister accepted, and is expected to deliver the keynote address at the opening plenary session. The session&#39;s theme is &quot;Pakistan Rising: Incentives, Reforms, and the Next Investment Frontier.&quot; Aurangzeb praised the European Union&#39;s role in convening international and domestic business representatives, describing such forums as a platform to present Pakistan&#39;s improving business climate and investment potential, and to foster business-to-business engagement. The minister also addressed broader economic priorities, including maintaining macroeconomic stability, strengthening foreign exchange reserves, and advancing structural reforms for sustainable and inclusive growth. He acknowledged the continued support of bilateral partners in reinforcing Pakistan&#39;s economic resilience. On trade, Aurangzeb expressed hope for continued progress under the GSP+ framework, calling it a central pillar of Pakistan&ndash;European Union economic relations. The meeting concluded with both sides committing to further strengthen Pakistan&ndash;EU economic ties and expand trade, investment, and business collaboration.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb (right) meets Raimundas Karoblis, ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan, during a meeting at the Finance Division on April 21, 2026. (Ministry of Finance/X)

Economy

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb meets with the EU ambassador ahead of a high-level business forum as Islamabad courts fresh international investment.

Pakistan returns to global bond markets, eyes deeper EU investment ties

<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reiterated its readiness to work with all partners to advance reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), calling for a more democratic, representative and accountable body, Radio Pakistan reported on Tuesday.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">According to the report, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said Islamabad firmly believes in the principle of sovereign equality and considers it central to the debate on Security Council reform.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">He said Pakistan stands ready to engage with all partners to help build consensus on a reformed Council that reflects the interests and aspirations of the wider UN membership, rather than a narrow concentration of power.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">The ambassador stressed the need for the council to become more democratic and representative to strengthen its legitimacy and effectiveness.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">Pakistan has long argued that reform of the 15-member Security Council should not entrench inequality by expanding permanent seats, and instead should focus on broader representation, transparency and accountability.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">Recent reporting has also highlighted Islamabad&rsquo;s opposition to adding new permanent members, describing such proposals as inconsistent with the principle of sovereign equality among states.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">The latest remarks come as debate over UN reform continues to gather pace amid criticism that the Security Council has struggled to respond effectively to major international crises.&nbsp; <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; float: none; display: inline !important;">Pakistan has repeatedly said that any reform process must be member-driven and aimed at making the Council more responsive to the broader international community.&nbsp;

Pakistan reiterates its support for UN Security Council reform, urging a more democratic, representative and accountable body, while stressing sovereign equality and broader membership interests in the ongoing reform process.

Pakistan calls for sovereign equality in UNSC reform

HONG KONG: Oil prices fell on Tuesday while stocks rose on lingering hopes for a deal to end the US-Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as Tehran said it had not decided whether to attend peace talks. With the end of a two-week ceasefire approaching, the White House said Vice President JD Vance was ready to return to Pakistan for fresh negotiations to end a conflict that has sent crude soaring and revived inflation fears. However, the Islamic republic&#39;s position remained uncertain as it accused Washington of violating their fragile truce through its blockade of the country&#39;s ports and seizure of a ship. Crude plunged on Friday after Tehran said it would allow ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, which had been effectively closed since the war began on February 28. But the commodity rebounded on Monday as Iran closed the waterway again, citing the blockade and seizure. Donald Trump has similarly accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire by harassing vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the transit passage for about one-fifth of global oil. The US president said the blockade would not be lifted until an agreement had been reached. &quot;THE BLOCKADE, which we will not take off until there is a &#39;DEAL,&#39; is absolutely destroying Iran,&quot; Trump said on social media. &quot;They are losing $500 Million Dollars a day, an unsustainable number, even in the short run.&quot; He told PBS News that Iran was &quot;supposed to be there&quot; at the talks in Pakistan. &quot;We agreed to be there,&quot; he said, warning that if the ceasefire expired &quot;then lots of bombs start going off&quot;. He separately told Bloomberg News it was &quot;highly unlikely&quot; he would extend the truce. Based on its start time, the truce theoretically expires overnight on Tuesday, Iran time, although in his comments to Bloomberg Trump said the end was Wednesday evening Washington time. The Middle Eastern country&#39;s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said &quot;Trump wants to turn this negotiating table into a surrender table or justify renewed hostilities, as he sees fit&quot;. &quot;We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the last two weeks we have been preparing to show new cards on the battlefield,&quot; he wrote on X. Still, investors remained largely upbeat that the two sides will eventually come to a deal that will reopen the strategic strait. US benchmark crude West Texas Intermediate and Brent both fell more than one percent Tuesday. - Seoul record - Seoul led equity market gains thanks to a resumption of the tech rally that had pushed the Kospi to multiple records before the war, climbing 2.7 percent to hit a fresh record high. Tokyo and Taipei were also well up, with Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Wellington, Mumbai and Bangkok also advancing. London and Frankfurt rose while Paris was flat. That came even after a down day on Wall Street, where the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite retreated from Friday&#39;s record closes. Asia had opened &quot;with a gentle lean into risk as signs Iran may join talks with the US offer a pathway, however narrow, toward easing tensions ahead of the ceasefire deadline&quot;, wrote SPI Asset Management&#39;s Stephen Innes. &quot;Trump&#39;s remark that a ceasefire extension is &#39;highly unlikely&#39; if no deal is reached has effectively put a clock on the market. &quot;However, traders recognise the playbook. Hard deadlines and firm rhetoric often soften as negotiations evolve, but the presence of a timeline still sharpens positioning and raises the stakes around each headline.&quot; And Michael Brown at Pepperstone said it was &quot;now in the interests of both sides -- the US as public support for the war dwindles, and Iran given the primary objective simply of &#39;survival&#39; -- to bring the conflict to an end&quot;. &quot;Viewed through that lens, all the punchy rhetoric and headline noise that we continue to hear is largely geared towards obtaining negotiating leverage, as opposed to re-escalating the conflict,&quot; he added. In company news, Japanese arms firms enjoyed healthy buying after Tokyo said on Tuesday it would ease decades-old export rules, paving the way for the sale of lethal weapons overseas. The policy shift, which ends Tokyo&#39;s self-imposed restraint on the sale of lethal arms, comes as it seeks to enter the international arms market, hoping to bolster national defence as well as boost economic growth. Fujitsu climbed 2.4 percent, NEC added 3.7 percent and Mitsubishi Electric was up 0.9 percent, while Mitsubishi Heavy gained 0.4 percent. - Key figures around 0810 GMT - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.8 percent at $88.01 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.1 percent at $94.40 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.9 percent at 59,349.17 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.5 percent at 26,487.48 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 4,085.08 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 10,624.90 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1773 from $1.1786 on Monday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3520 from $1.3535 Dollar/yen: UP at 158.94 yen from 158.88 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.09 pence from 87.07 pence New York - Dow Jones: FLAT at 49,442.56 (close)

Business

Oil prices fell and stocks rose on hopes the US-Iran war could end and the Strait of Hormuz reopen, despite uncertainty over talks, ceasefire expiry and continued tensions over blockades, shipping and threats of renewed fighting

Oil prices dip, stocks rise on lingering Iran peace hopes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday paid rich tribute to Poet of the East and national philosopher Allama Muhammad Iqbal on his 88th death anniversary, saying his vision of selfhood, justice and national awakening continues to guide Pakistan toward progress and stability.&nbsp;In his message, President Zardari said Allama Iqbal&rsquo;s vision of &ldquo;Khudi&rdquo; (selfhood) and social justice remains a guiding force for building a modern, self-reliant and strong Pakistan. He said Iqbal&rsquo;s thought serves as a beacon for a just, humane and stable social order.&nbsp;Quoting Iqbal&rsquo;s message that &ldquo;a new world comes into being through new ways of thinking,&rdquo; the president said his philosophy remains relevant for every segment of society.&nbsp;He noted that for youth, Iqbal called for ambition and disciplined effort; for women, he emphasized a dignified and active role in society; for students, he linked knowledge with character and purpose; and for ordinary citizens, he stressed honesty and self-reliance.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his message on the occasion, said the entire nation pays heartfelt tribute to Allama Iqbal, describing him as a great intellectual leader and benefactor of the Muslims of the subcontinent.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2046404748837105909&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b909f9899687ff4a9f9bd982c027710a9f4a2b49&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>He said Allama Iqbal gave the message of selfhood, action, faith and intellectual freedom, which awakened a subjugated nation and inspired confidence, awareness and continuous struggle.&nbsp;The prime minister said Iqbal&rsquo;s message carries extraordinary importance in today&rsquo;s national and global circumstances, particularly amid intellectual confusion, extremism and growing social intolerance. He said there is a need to shape both individual and collective lives in light of Iqbal&rsquo;s teachings of love, brotherhood and awakening of the Muslim community.&nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif said a peaceful Pakistan built on unity, knowledge, character, and justice in line with Iqbal&rsquo;s philosophy is the country&rsquo;s future. He reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to eliminating terrorism, extremism and sectarianism and building a moderate and harmonious society.&nbsp;Highlighting Iqbal&rsquo;s special focus on youth, the prime minister said the philosopher considered young people the nation&rsquo;s real asset and architects of the future. He stressed the need to equip the younger generation with education, skills, character, dignity and patriotism to ensure national development.&nbsp;He said empowering youth, aligning them with modern skills and strengthening their role in national progress remain key priorities of the government, adding that Pakistan&rsquo;s young people can lead the country toward stability, development and dignity by drawing guidance from Iqbal&rsquo;s thought.&nbsp;Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also paid tribute to Allama Iqbal, saying the philosopher gave the Muslim Ummah the message of selfhood, awakening and action, which remains equally relevant today. He said Iqbal&rsquo;s central idea was the unity of the Muslim Ummah beyond race, language and ethnicity, adding that his poetry was not merely words but a revolutionary message that awakened Muslims and inspired collective purpose.&nbsp;Naqvi said in today&rsquo;s era of division and unrest, Iqbal&rsquo;s message of unity and selfhood holds exceptional significance, urging the nation to make Iqbal&rsquo;s ideas part of national policy, priorities and collective thinking.

Culture

Leadership calls for unity, self-reliance and youth empowerment; say Iqbal’s thought serves as a beacon for a just, humane and stable social order.

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