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ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia agreed Friday to extend the maturity of a $3 billion deposit held at Pakistan&#39;s central bank, delivering a fresh boost to Islamabad&#39;s foreign exchange reserves. According to a post on X (Twitter), the Ministry of Finance reported that the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan signed the extension agreement on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings in Washington. <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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" 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-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044950727072809149&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5340%2F&sessionId=24a6d90f2e85ae93786957329068a0fc0d5d343d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2044950727072809149"></iframe></div></div> Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Pakistan&#39;s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh witnessed the signing. SFD Chief Executive Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed on behalf of the Saudi fund. State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmad signed for the central bank. The ministry said the extension reflects the &quot;strong and longstanding economic partnership&quot; between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and will further support Pakistan&#39;s external sector stability. Friday&#39;s agreement comes amid a broader shift in the two countries&#39; financial relationship. In April 2024, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia agreed to expedite a $5 billion investment package representing a transition from loans to equity stakes in Pakistani projects, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In October 2024, the two sides signed 34 business agreements worth $2.8 billion across agriculture, energy, and information technology, as per AFP. Saudi-based ACWA Power has committed to renewable energy projects worth $2 billion in Pakistan, per the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry. On October 28, 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Economic Cooperation Framework to steer the relationship toward joint ventures in mining, information technology, and tourism. The two countries also signed a Mutual Defence Pact in September 2025. Saudi Arabia&#39;s financial support for Pakistan spans decades. Following Pakistan&#39;s 1998 nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia cushioned the impact of international sanctions through deferred oil payments, per Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI). After the 2005 earthquake in northern Pakistan, Saudi Arabia delivered an aid package of $573 million, and during the 2010 floods became Pakistan&#39;s largest international donor, pledging $105 million, according to FPCCI. Total trade between the two countries stands at $3.5 billion, with Pakistan&#39;s imports from Saudi Arabia at $3.2 billion against exports of just $316.3 million, according to FPCCI. Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan&#39;s largest source of remittances. Over 2.7 million Pakistani workers reside in the Kingdom, generating approximately $9 billion annually, roughly 25% of Pakistan&#39;s total global inflows.

Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb witnesses the signing of an agreement in Washington extending a $3 billion deposit between the Saudi Fund for Development and the State Bank of Pakistan on April 17, 2026. (Ministry of Finance/X)

Economy

Saudi Arabia extends maturity of $3 billion deposit at Pakistan’s central bank as officials sign agreement in Washington during World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit to bolster Pakistan's economy

ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with Pakistan&#39;s&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: -0.07px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held in Tehran on Thursday, Iranian President&nbsp;<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">Masoud&nbsp;Pezeshkian praised the commander&rsquo;s effective role as well as that of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the mediation process and facilitating the establishment of a ceasefire, and also appreciated the proper hosting of the Iranian delegation during the Islamabad negotiations with the US, according to Tasnim News Agency. The Iranian president, emphasizing the principled approach of Iran toward the Muslim world, stated that Iran considers all Islamic countries as its brothers, noting that this perspective is rooted in the tradition of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH).&nbsp; He added that Iran&rsquo;s recent actions targeting US military bases in the region were carried out within defensive necessities and in response to imposed conditions. Pezeshkian pointed out that the source of many wars and instabilities in the region stems from conspiracies by the Israeli regime aimed at creating divisions among Islamic countries, stressing that the Islamic Ummah must, through convergence and cooperation, prevent the Israeli regime from exploiting Islamic lands against Muslims themselves.&nbsp; He added that unity among Islamic countries would eliminate the possibility of the region being driven toward war by this regime. Referring to the aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran, the president questioned under what authorization and for what reason such actions&mdash;resulting in the martyrdom of Iran&rsquo;s Leader, the destruction of schools and hospitals, and the killing of innocent children and civilians&mdash;had been carried out. Pezeshkian stressed that since assuming office, all efforts had been focused on strengthening friendship and brotherhood domestically and regionally, but hostile and provocative actions by the US and the Israeli regime had been observed from the outset.&nbsp; He added that Iran has not sought instability in the region and is instead pursuing the expansion of brotherly relations with neighboring and regional countries. Special appreciation&nbsp;The president expressed special appreciation for Pakistan&rsquo;s role as an Islamic country in pursuing the cessation of the war, describing Islamabad&rsquo;s responsible and persistent efforts as a source of satisfaction and urging other Islamic countries to adopt a similar approach, noting that such unity would prevent enemies of the Islamic Ummah from advancing their objectives. He reaffirmed Iran&rsquo;s commitment to international legal frameworks, stating that the country seeks to secure the rights of its people within international law and that, following the end of the war, regional countries should enhance mutual cooperation to lay the groundwork for lasting peace and security. Pezeshkian also raised the question of why regional countries should not be able to independently ensure their own security, noting that just as Europe manages its security through mechanisms such as NATO, Islamic countries could similarly resolve their issues through collective cooperation based on shared religious and cultural ties. He added that war benefits none of the parties, stating that the United States would not emerge victorious from the conflict, while regional and global countries would bear serious losses, and that only the Israeli regime seeks to achieve its ambitions. The president also referred to the Iranian people&rsquo;s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests. Pezeshkian asked the Pakistani army chief to convey the warm greetings of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the prime minister and the noble people of Pakistan.

Foreign Affairs

Refers to the Iranian people’s distrust toward the US due to repeated violations of commitments, attacks during negotiations, and the assassination of officials, stressing that despite such conditions, Iran has proceeded based on brotherly relations with friendly countries, including Pakistan, while firmly pursuing its national interests.

Iranian president praises Pakistan's PM and CDF's 'effective role' in mediation process 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan called for the immediate restoration of civilian passage through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that continued military escalation will drive economic hardship far beyond the Middle East, Pakistan&#39;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said Thursday. The ambassador delivered the statement at a UN General Assembly Veto Debate on the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is adversely impacting countries around the world, including Pakistan,&quot; he said. The ambassador warned that consequences for the regional and global economy were &quot;evidently harsh.&quot; <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: 651px; 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=2044843624941470180&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F5340%2F&sessionId=24a6d90f2e85ae93786957329068a0fc0d5d343d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div> Asim Iftikhar stated that the disruption extended beyond energy flows to fertilizers and other essential commodities. These directly affected food security, the cost of living, and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations. The ambassador stated that &ldquo;the IMF has warned of serious risks and raised alarms about rising public debt&rdquo; as governments respond to the energy crisis. He also cited that the New York Times carried the warning on its front page the same day. A separate headline in the same publication reported the stock market reaching a new peak, reflecting expectations that peace was near. Asim Iftilhar stated that Pakistan hosted talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, &ldquo;the product of direct engagement with the parties involved&rdquo; and outreach aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire. The ambassador said Pakistan has maintained sustained interaction at the leadership level with both Washington and Tehran, as well as with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, T&uuml;rkiye, China, and other regional partners. &ldquo;Islamabad has sought to facilitate the exchange of messages and help create conditions conducive to meaningful negotiations,&rdquo; he stated. The ambassador said Pakistan supports the &ldquo;sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, and security of all countries&rdquo; in the region. He mentioned that Islamabad stands in &quot;complete solidarity&quot; with GCC states during the crisis. Asim Iftikhar called for the security of ships and crew members and the swift, safe passage of civilian vessels through the Strait. He stated &nbsp;that any arrangement related to Hormuz must account for the legitimate interests of GCC countries in accordance with international law. &quot;If the military escalation and disruptions persist, the suffering will prolong and extend far beyond the region,&quot; Ahmad said. &quot;Return to peace, on the other hand, will benefit all.&quot;

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations Asim Iftikhar Ahmad speaks during a UN General Assembly debate on the Strait of Hormuz, on April 16, 2026. (Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN/X)

Warning prolonged disruption threatens global economy, food security and vulnerable populations, Pakistan calls for ceasefire and safe civilian passage through the Strait of Hormuz at UN.

Pakistan urges Hormuz strait reopening, cites widespread economic fallout at UNGA

Faraz Saeed

LAHORE: Pakistan has ended an eight-year ban that kept cryptocurrency firms out of the banking system, allowing lenders to work with the sector under a tightly controlled framework. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a circular dated April 14 that banks can open accounts for virtual asset companies licensed by the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a body set up under the Virtual Assets Act passed in March.&nbsp; The move marks the country&rsquo;s first formal step toward bringing crypto activity into the regulated financial system since restrictions imposed in 2018. Access is limited to firms approved by the regulator. Companies holding only a no-objection certificate can open restricted accounts, while full transaction services are allowed only after a license is granted.&nbsp; Banks must verify each firm&rsquo;s regulatory status before onboarding.The central bank kept strict limits on lenders&rsquo; role.&nbsp;Banks are not allowed to trade, invest in, or hold cryptocurrencies, either for themselves or on behalf of customers.&nbsp; Their function is limited to providing accounts and payment services.&nbsp;The rules also require crypto firms to keep customer funds separate from their own.&nbsp; Due diligenceThese balances must be held in non-interest accounts in Pakistani rupees and can only be used to settle approved transactions.&nbsp;Cash deposits and withdrawals are not permitted, and the funds cannot be used as collateral. Banks must carry out full due diligence on each client and monitor transactions on an ongoing basis.&nbsp;Suspicious activity must be reported under existing anti-money laundering laws, extending current financial controls to the crypto sector. The policy shift follows rapid growth in crypto use despite the earlier ban. Pakistan ranked among the top countries in Chainalysis&rsquo; 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, reflecting demand for remittances, access to dollar-linked assets and wider use of mobile financial services.&nbsp; Industry estimates cited by officials put the number of users at more than 40 million, with annual trading volumes approaching $300 billion, much of it outside formal oversight&nbsp;Landmark momentSpeaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the PVARA chairman said &ldquo;This is a landmark moment. For eight years, a blanket prohibition cut Pakistan off from a financial innovation that the rest of the world was building infrastructure around. What SBP has done today is not just lift a ban. It is a formal acknowledgment that virtual assets are a legitimate part of Pakistan&#39;s financial system. That acknowledgment carries institutional weight.&rdquo;&nbsp;The timing matters too, he noted adding that &ldquo;The Virtual Assets Act 2026 created the legal foundation; PVARA is the regulatory authority; and now the SBP has opened the banking system to PVARA licensed operators. These three pieces together mean Pakistan has moved from prohibition to a complete, functioning framework in a single legislative cycle. That is not a small thing.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The most immediate impact is legitimacy. Exchanges operating in Pakistan have functioned in a grey zone, compliant with nothing because there was nothing to comply with. That changes now. A licensed VASP with a bank account is a regulated entity, subject to AML checks, transaction monitoring, and SBP oversight. That protects consumers and brings activity into the formal economy,&rdquo; he said, while highlighting the positive impact of the move.&nbsp;The second impact is remittances, Bilal added, noting that &ldquo;Pakistan receives over $38 billion annually from its diaspora. A meaningful share moves through informal channels because the formal ones are slow and expensive. Licensed exchanges with banking access can now offer a legal, fast, low-cost alternative. That is real money entering the documented economy.&rdquo;&nbsp;The third he mentioned is the investor confidence.&nbsp;&ldquo;Any serious crypto business evaluating Pakistan will look at banking access as a baseline requirement. We now meet that bar,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Authorities have moved in stages toward regulation.&nbsp;The government launched PVARA as an interim body in July 2025 before giving it statutory status through legislation this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;Use of digital assetsThe regulator has already issued no-objection certificates to some exchanges as part of a phased licensing process.&nbsp;The banking decision comes alongside broader plans to expand the use of digital assets.&nbsp; The government has already moved to bring in global crypto players, signing a memorandum of understanding with Binance in December to ⁠explore tokenising up to $2 billion in assets and granting initial clearances to Binance and HTX to begin licensing. Pilot programs using dollar-backed stablecoins for remittances are under way, and work on a central bank digital currency is in progress.&nbsp; Officials have also outlined plans to direct surplus electricity to bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence data centers. Crypto businesses in PakistanCrypto businesses in Pakistan too see this as a lifeline.&nbsp;Access to banking means they can operate more like normal companies.&nbsp; They can pay rent, hire staff with direct deposit, accept payments from customers without complicated workarounds.&nbsp;Investment could pick up.&nbsp; International crypto firms that avoided Pakistan because of the banking ban might reconsider. Local startups that struggled to raise money might find it easier to attract capital now that they can manage funds through legitimate bank accounts. But the impact won&rsquo;t be instant. Banks need time to build out their processes. VASPs need time to get their licenses in order.&nbsp; The whole ecosystem has to shake off years of operating in the shadows. Consumer trust is another factor. Pakistanis who wanted to buy crypto but felt nervous about unregulated exchanges might feel safer now.&nbsp; Banking integration adds a layer of legitimacy that was missing before. That could bring new users into the market. Infrastructure development will probably accelerate. With banking access, crypto companies can invest in better platforms, customer service, security systems.&nbsp; The ban forced them to run lean and scrappy. Now they can build something more robust. The latest move signals a shift from restriction to oversight, as authorities seek to bring a large, informal crypto market into the formal financial system without exposing banks directly to digital asset risks.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a circular dated April 14 that banks can open accounts for virtual asset companies licensed by the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), a body set up under the Virtual Assets Act passed in March. 

Pakistan ends crypto banking ban, opens door to regulated digital asset market

ANTALYA: Turkey hosts a high-stakes forum Friday bringing together the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, as Islamabad pushes diplomatic efforts to end the Middle East war. Pakistan&#39;s powerful army chief met senior negotiators in Tehran on Thursday as Washington and Iran considered a fresh round of talks to end the six-week war. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will address the three-day Antalya Diplomacy Forum when it opens on Friday in the Mediterranean holiday resort of Antalya. The foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are to meet on the sidelines of the forum, with the war and the blockade of the crucial Strait of Hormuz expected to dominate. The timing of the meeting has not yet been announced. Pakistan has positioned itself as a key mediator in regional diplomacy having hosted rare talks between Iran and the United States last weekend, which ended inconclusively. &quot;We are making the necessary efforts to reduce tensions, extend the ceasefire, and continue the negotiations,&quot; Erdogan said in an address to his ruling AKP party in parliament this week. &quot;Negotiations cannot take place with clenched fists. Weapons must not be allowed to speak again instead of words. The window of opportunity opened by the ceasefire must be fully utilised.&quot; The White House has said further talks with Iran would &quot;very likely&quot; be in Islamabad, where Vice President JD Vance led the US delegation in the last round of negotiations. - Push for peace -Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who met Qatar&#39;s ruler in Doha on Thursday as part of a regional tour, will also join the forum and meet Erdogan on its margins, as Islamabad pushes for a US-Iran second round. &quot;We will continue to provide all the support we can to ensure that the ongoing temporary ceasefire turns into a permanent one,&quot; a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. &quot;We hope that this war -- whose effects are being felt increasingly not only regionally but also globally -- will come to an end as soon as possible, and that the parties will act constructively in the ongoing negotiation process,&quot; the source said. Turkey, while a vocal critic of Israel, has joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to help reach a ceasefire in the conflict. Ankara has said the Middle East ceasefire should include Lebanon which is facing Israeli attacks. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Monday also the strategic Strait of Hormuz should be reopened &quot;as soon as possible&quot; while warning that its status would remain a key point of contention. He described the waterway as an &quot;international free passage zone&quot;, adding that any disruption to freedom of navigation is not something parties want to see.&quot; More than 150 countries are expected to take part in the Antalya gathering, including more than 20 heads of state and government. Among the participants are Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Middle East

Turkey’s Antalya forum brings together key regional powers as Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt intensify diplomacy to secure a lasting ceasefire, reopen Hormuz, and advance renewed US-Iran talks.

Turkey hosts latest diplomatic push on Middle East war

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had a meeting with T&uuml;rkiye&#39;s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan ahead of Antalya Diplomacy Forum.&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, stated this in a post on X on Friday.<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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044982302770385219&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=36346b60701e05996574a6870e0976de02efb7e3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 699px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2044982302770385219"></iframe></div></div>He said, &quot;My brother, T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last night upon our arrival at Antalya.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;We had good conversations ahead of a busy day today at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum,&quot; Dar added. Meeting with Korean minister&nbsp;Meanwhile, Dar also met&nbsp;&quot;last evening with H.E. Jeong Yeondoo, Vice Minister for Strategy and Intelligence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.&quot;<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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" 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=2044995937240838517&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=36346b60701e05996574a6870e0976de02efb7e3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2044995937240838517"></iframe></div></div>&quot;They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and recent regional developments.&quot; &quot;Vice Minister Yeondoo appreciated Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the sustained diplomatic efforts in pursuit of peace and stability in the region and beyond,&quot; said a post on X by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Dar also met Jeong Yeondoo, Vice Minister for Strategy and Intelligence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Pakistan PM Sharif meets Turkish FM, Korean minister in Antalya 

LAS VEGAS: Disney showcased the first theatrical trailer of the new Marvel franchise film &quot;Avengers: Doomsday&quot; on Thursday during the closing day of CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The clip -- played twice for the enthusiastic audience at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace -- offered the first look at Robert Downey Jr. as the villainous Doctor Doom. It marks the actor&#39;s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the death of Iron Man in 2019&#39;s &quot;Avengers: Endgame.&quot; The footage also teased several dramatic moments from the movie, including a fight between Gambit and Shang-Chi -- played by Channing Tatum and Simu Liu, respectively -- and Patrick Stewart reprising his role as X-Men&#39;s Professor Xavier, warning: &quot;Something&#39;s coming, something we may not be able to deter.&quot; At the very end of the trailer, Chris Evans returns as his character Steve Rogers, otherwise known as Captain America, appearing before a surprised-looking Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as the Norse god&#39;s Mjolnir hammer flies into Rogers&#39; hands. Both Evans and Downey Jr. were on the stage at CinemaCon to present the trailer alongside the film&#39;s directors, brothers Joe and Anthony Russo. &quot;I said I would only come back if there was a real reason,&quot; Evans told the crowd. &quot;And in Doomsday, there is a very real reason that these heroes need Steve Rogers.&quot; &quot;Avengers: Doomsday&quot; follows the events of &quot;Avengers: Endgame,&quot; bringing together a host of Marvel characters new and old, including the X-Men, previously excluded from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie will have its US premiere on December 18, the same day as Denis Villeneuve&#39;s &quot;Dune: Part Three.&quot; Theater owners hope the double-whammy will be a box office bonanza, ending the year on a high note amid declining revenues. Sequels on the way&nbsp;Marvel&#39;s presentation was the grande finale of Disney&#39;s CinemaCon showcase. The annual convention allows movie studios to preview their upcoming slates to theater owners and the press. Tom Hanks, Dwayne &quot;The Rock&quot; Johnson and Queen Latifah were among the superstars to showcase footage from their upcoming Disney films. Director Jon Favreau introduced the opening scene of his new movie, the latest Star Wars flick &quot;The Mandalorian and Grogu,&quot; out next month. Disney also played clips from the upcoming sequel films &quot;The Devil Wears Prada 2&quot; with Meryl Streep reprising her role as icy fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, and &quot;Toy Story 5,&quot; the latest Pixar animated film with lifelike toys Woody and Buzz Lightyear coming together more than 30 years since the original released.

Film & TV

Disney closed CinemaCon with the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer, revealing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers return, and previews of major upcoming sequels and franchise films.

Marvel premieres first 'Avengers: Doomsday' trailer at CinemaCon

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a series of high-level meetings in Washington to project Pakistan&rsquo;s reform progress, strengthen ties with lenders and ratings agencies.&nbsp;Across engagements with the IMF, China&rsquo;s central bank, Moody&rsquo;s, JP Morgan, the OPEC Fund and IFAD, the emphasis remained on programme continuity, financial cooperation, development financing and investor confidence.&nbsp;&nbsp;IMF: Programme progress in focus &nbsp;Aurangzeb had a meeting with IMF Deputy Managing Director Nigel Clarke. According to the official post, the minister briefed Clarke on Pakistan&rsquo;s external financing position, implementation of the IMF-supported programme and the broader external outlook, signalling Islamabad&rsquo;s effort to keep reform momentum aligned with macroeconomic stability.&nbsp;<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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2044814357717250097&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=459175f3376a05d42cd3b385e09d99028e102825&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp; People&rsquo;s Bank of China: Financial cooperation and market access &nbsp;In his meeting with the Governor of the People&rsquo;s Bank of China, Aurangzeb discussed financial cooperation and market access, according to the Finance Ministry post. The engagement underlined the importance Pakistan attaches to China not only as a strategic partner, but also as a potentially important channel for deeper financial linkages and access to regional capital markets.<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" 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=2044954399597088886&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=459175f3376a05d42cd3b385e09d99028e102825&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp; Moody&rsquo;s: Economic outlook and market re-entry &nbsp;Aurangzeb also met Moody&rsquo;s to discuss Pakistan&rsquo;s economic outlook and market re-entry strategy. A mirrored post snippet said the minister stressed improved economic fundamentals, and progress under the IMF programme, arguing that these factors had strengthened investor confidence as Pakistan eyes a return to external markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;J.P. Morgan: Pitch to global investors &nbsp;At a J.P. Morgan seminar, the finance minister engaged institutional investors on Pakistan&rsquo;s economic outlook. The official post said he highlighted positive economic momentum driven by sound macroeconomic management and improved fiscal and external-sector stability, before taking questions from investors.&nbsp;<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" 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=2044951347452334436&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=459175f3376a05d42cd3b385e09d99028e102825&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&nbsp;OPEC Fund: Development financing expansion &nbsp;Aurangzeb&rsquo;s meeting with OPEC Fund CEO Abdulhamid Alkhalifa focused on expanded development financing cooperation. Public snippets indicate the discussion explored priority sectors and a stronger pipeline of projects, reflecting Pakistan&rsquo;s search for broader multilateral-backed development funding.&nbsp;&nbsp;IFAD: Agriculture and partnership &nbsp;The minister&rsquo;s meeting with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) President Alvaro Lario centred on agricultural transformation and future partnership. According to the official post, both sides agreed on the need for a more structured and scaled-up partnership, including the possible involvement of additional multilateral partners.&nbsp;

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a series of high-level meetings in Washington to project Pakistan’s reform progress, strengthen ties with lenders and ratings agencies.

Pakistan's finance minister steps up economic diplomacy with IMF, China and investors

WASHINGTON: The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Todd Lyons, will leave his post at the agency charged with enforcing US President Donald Trump&#39;s anti-immigrant crackdown in May, the Homeland Security Secretary announced Thursday. Todd Lyons &quot;has been a great leader of ICE,&quot; said Markwayne Mullin in a statement, adding that his last day would be May 31 and wishing him luck in his &quot;next opportunity in the private sector.&quot; Lyons was appointed acting director of ICE by Trump in March 2025. He was a &quot;key player&quot; in the US president&#39;s anti-immigration drive, Mullin said. Mullin, who was appointed just a few weeks ago following the dismissal of his predecessor, Kristi Noem, did not give a reason for Lyon&#39;s departure or announce a replacement. Anti-immigrant raids The federal police has come under fire for carrying out anti-immigrant raids, with two US citizen protesters shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this year. Lyons&#39;s departure comes a month after Gregory Bovino, the face of Trump&#39;s immigration raids, resigned from the US Border Patrol after outcry over violent raids in Minneapolis. At a Department of Homeland Security oversight hearing in February, Lyons defended the law enforcement agency&#39;s work. &quot;The president tasked us with mass deportation, and we are fulfilling that mandate,&quot; he told Congress.

Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, testifies in the Rayburn House Office Building on April 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. 

Americas

Todd Lyons, acting head of ICE, will step down on May 31 to move to the private sector amid controversy over aggressive immigration enforcement under Donald Trump.


US immigration agency interim head Todd Lyons to step down

LONDON: A top UK foreign ministry official will step down, local media reported late on Thursday, as the government faces fresh pressure over its past appointment of an associate of Jeffrey Epstein as US ambassador. The UK Foreign Office&#39;s Permanent Under-Secretary Olly Robbins will leave his role after losing the confidence of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, media including the Press Association (PA) news agency and BBC reported. Calls by opposition politicians for the prime minister himself to resign also intensified on Thursday as the government confirmed that its former Washington envoy Peter Mandelson had been appointed to his role after failing a background security check. Starmer has faced repeated questions about his judgment in selecting Mandelson, who was sacked last year only months into the post over his ties to the late convicted US sex offender Epstein. Opposition right-wing Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch wrote on X that &quot;Starmer has betrayed our national security. He should go&quot;. The prime minister has accused Mandelson of lying about the extent of his ties to Epstein during the vetting process for his Washington posting. Against recommendation Following an investigation published by The Guardian newspaper, a government spokesperson confirmed that foreign ministry officials made the decision to allow Mandelson&#39;s appointment to proceed &quot;against the recommendation of UK Security Vetting&quot;. But the spokesperson said neither Starmer nor the foreign minister &quot;was aware&quot; of this &quot;until earlier this week&quot;. Starmer sacked Mandelson as ambassador after documents released by a US Congressional committee revealed new details about the depth of his ties to Epstein. Police have opened an investigation into allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson, who was arrested and bailed in February. He has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. The force is investigating Mandelson over allegations he leaked sensitive documents to Epstein when he was a government minister, including during the 2008 financial crash.

Peter Mandelson - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

United Kingdom

UK PM Keir Starmer faces mounting political pressure as a senior official will resign and scrutiny deepens over the controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit to bolster Pakistan's economy

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