Staff Reporter

LAHORE: Pakistan on Saturday rejected &ldquo;misleading and unfounded commentary&rdquo; surrounding financial deposits from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), asserting that the return of matured funds is a routine, agreed-upon financial transaction between the two countries. The clarification comes amid renewed attention to UAE deposits that have supported Pakistan&rsquo;s external financing position in recent years. The funds, placed with the State Bank of Pakistan since 2019, have been periodically rolled over and form part of broader arrangements with key partners to help maintain foreign exchange reserves as part of ongoing economic stabilization efforts. In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the deposits were placed &ldquo;under bilateral commercial agreements,&rdquo; reflecting the UAE&rsquo;s continued support for Pakistan&rsquo;s economic stability. &ldquo;Accordingly, pursuant to mutually agreed terms, the Government of Pakistan, through the SBP, is now returning the matured deposits to the UAE,&rdquo; the spokesperson said, adding, &ldquo;This is a routine financial transaction, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is erroneous and misleading.&rdquo; The remarks follow media reports speculating that Islamabad is set to return up to $3.5 billion to the UAE, raising concerns over potential pressure on foreign exchange reserves and the broader external financing outlook. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance also addressed the issue, stating that &ldquo;the Government of Pakistan is continuously monitoring and managing Pakistan&rsquo;s external flows in order to ensure stable foreign exchange reserves,&rdquo; while reaffirming its commitment to meeting all external obligations. The Foreign Office underscored that financial arrangements between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi should be viewed within the broader framework of longstanding bilateral cooperation, rather than through speculative interpretations. &ldquo;Pakistan and the UAE share a longstanding, fraternal partnership built on trust and strategic cooperation across trade, investment, defence, and people-to-people ties,&rdquo; the statement said. Reaffirming the strength of ties, the ministry highlighted the historic role of the UAE&rsquo;s founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, noting that the people of Pakistan &ldquo;warmly cherish&rdquo; his contributions in fostering close relations between the two nations. The Foreign Office further stressed that the relationship &ldquo;has stood the test of time&rdquo; and continues to deepen across multiple sectors. &ldquo;Pakistan remains fully committed to further strengthening this enduring relationship for a shared, prosperous future,&rdquo; the spokesperson added.

Economy

Islamabad says it is ‘now returning matured’ UAE deposits under agreed terms, calling the process routine, dismissing speculation as misleading, and reaffirming strong bilateral ties alongside continued commitment to external financial stability.

Pakistan rejects UAE deposit speculation, terms repayment routine transaction

KARACHI: Pakistan&rsquo;s Karachi Port experienced a surge in transhipment traffic this week as global shipping lines rerouted cargo away from the Gulf amid the escalating conflict linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran, pushing the port close to peak operational capacity.&nbsp;Port authorities said the facility reached about 80% capacity on Friday when two major transhipment vessels, M/V CGLA Ocean Breeze 1 and M/V GFS Jade, berthed simultaneously at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) terminals, marking the busiest point in a week-long increase in diverted cargo.&nbsp;The surge comes as rising security risks and sharply higher war-risk insurance premiums for ships entering the inner Gulf have forced several international shipping companies to divert thousands of containers to Karachi as a safer regional alternative.&nbsp;The regional disruption is unfolding against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict triggered by coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which has raised concerns about maritime security near key Gulf shipping lanes and energy routes.&nbsp;To maintain regional trade flows, KGTL this week launched a dedicated feeder service linking Karachi with major United Arab Emirates ports, including Fujairah and Khor Fakkan.&nbsp;The shuttle service allows large &ldquo;mother vessels&rdquo; to offload containers in Karachi&rsquo;s waters before smaller feeder ships transport the cargo onward to Gulf destinations.&nbsp;&ldquo;By linking Karachi directly with major UAE hubs, we are providing importers and exporters with reliable access to global shipping networks,&rdquo; said Khurram Aziz Khan, chief executive officer of KGTL, in a statement.&nbsp;Industry officials say the move has already attracted several regional shipping operators, including TS Line, Heung-A Shipping and Sinokor Merchant Marine, which are increasingly treating Karachi as a contingency hub for regional operations.&nbsp;However, the sudden influx of diverted cargo has placed pressure on port operations. Congestion data from Trans-Border Global Freight Systems shows vessel waiting times have risen to about 2.5 days as ships attempt to discharge containers at alternative destinations.&nbsp;To ease the strain, Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry earlier announced an emergency waiver of demurrage charges for auctionable containers, provided they are cleared within seven days.&nbsp;The minister described the measure as a &ldquo;proactive approach to resolving congestion,&rdquo; aimed at speeding up the clearance of stalled cargo and creating space for incoming transhipment shipments.&nbsp;Officials say the shift began earlier in the week with several high-capacity arrivals, including the vessels MV TS Tacoma, MV TS Sydney, and MV Photon, initially viewed as precautionary diversions but now seen as part of a broader operational shift.&nbsp;Karachi Port Trust Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Shahid Ahmed reassured international partners that the port remains capable of handling the increased activity.&nbsp;&ldquo;Karachi Port remains fully operational and committed to facilitating uninterrupted maritime trade,&rdquo; he said in a statement on X.

Major Pakistani port sees a surge in diverted cargo as Gulf tensions disrupt shipping routes, prompting the launch of a feeder service to UAE ports while authorities introduce emergency measures to ease congestion and sustain regional trade flows.

Karachi Port becomes transshipment hub as Gulf war disrupts shipping

LAHORE: Saudi Arabia has agreed to extend the maturity of its $3 billion deposit placed with the central bank for another year, offering critical support to Pakistan&rsquo;s fragile external account, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Thursday. In a statement, SBP said the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has rolled over the deposit initially due to mature on December 8 for a further 12 months. &ldquo;The extension of the term of the deposit is a continuation of the support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which will help strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves and contribute to the country&rsquo;s economic growth and development,&rdquo; the SBP noted. The $3 billion deposit was originally signed in 2021, and later rolled over in 2022, 2023, and 2024, making this the fourth extension.&nbsp; Last week, the SBP reported that its foreign exchange reserves increased slightly by $9 million, reaching $14.560 billion as of the week ending November 21. However, Pakistan&rsquo;s total liquid reserves fell to $19.605 billion, down from $19.738 billion, due to a decline in commercial banks&rsquo; foreign currency holdings, which dropped from $5.186 billion to $5.044 billion. Saudi Arabia has historically been one of Pakistan&rsquo;s most reliable partners, extending support in the form of oil on deferred payments, guarantees for international lenders including the International Monetary Fund, and recurring deposit rollovers to stabilize Pakistan&rsquo;s external sector. With over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates working in the Kingdom, Saudi Arabia remains Pakistan&rsquo;s largest source of remittances. Following a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the FII9 Conference in Riyadh, the two countries strengthened their strategic cooperation after signing a defense pact.&nbsp;

Foreign Affairs

State Bank says deposit’s term extension is a continuation of support provided by Saudi Arabia; will help strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, contribute to the country’s economic growth and development.

Saudi Arabia extends $3B deposit with Pakistan for another year

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday rejected Taliban accusations that its forces carried out overnight airstrikes inside Afghanistan&rsquo;s Khost province, after an explosion killed 10 civilians, including nine children.&nbsp;Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the raid &ldquo;martyred&rdquo; the victims and claimed the target was &ldquo;the house of a local civilian resident.&rdquo; He publicly blamed Pakistan for the attack in a statement posted on X. Islamabad flatly denied the allegation.&nbsp;Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, head of Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, during an interaction with senior journalists said, &ldquo;Pakistan has not attacked Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;He emphasized that &ldquo;whenever Pakistan conducts any operation, it announces it formally,&rdquo; underscoring that the country &ldquo;never attacks civilians.&rdquo;&nbsp;The latest charge has deepened tensions already heightened since two powerful explosions struck central Kabul on October 9. The Kabul incident triggered a week of cross-border hostilities that resulted in a 48-hour ceasefire brokered in Doha, with follow-up diplomacy in T&uuml;rkiye.&nbsp;Pakistani officials maintain the truce was contingent on a &ldquo;concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism&rdquo; to ensure Afghan territory is not used to stage attacks against its forces or civilians.&nbsp;Lt. Gen. Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan&rsquo;s conflict is with militant networks, not the Afghan population.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our policy is against terrorism, not against the Afghan people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our issue is with the Afghan interim government, not with Afghanistan&rsquo;s people.&rdquo;&nbsp;Security officials described the militants operating from Afghan soil as the Fitna al-Khawarij network, Islamabad&rsquo;s term for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), invoking the historic extremist sect synonymous with rebellion and violent upheaval.&nbsp;According to ISPR, since November 4, Pakistani forces have killed 206 militants in operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.&nbsp;Lt. Gen. Chaudhry noted that &ldquo;all suicide bombers are Afghan,&rdquo; warning that &ldquo;terrorists will be pursued until their last breath.&rdquo;&nbsp;He urged the Taliban regime to act decisively against cross-border militancy. &ldquo;The Afghan regime must take verifiable action against terrorist hideouts,&rdquo; he said, adding there would be no further talks &ldquo;until verifiable action is taken.&rdquo;&nbsp;Efforts to engage Kabul have repeatedly stalled.&nbsp;&ldquo;From 2021 to 2025 we repeatedly engaged the Afghan government, but no result came,&rdquo; Lt Gen Chaudhry said.&nbsp;Stressing Pakistan&rsquo;s posture as a responsible state actor, he added: &ldquo;We are a state, and we respond as a state. Blood and business cannot run together, it cannot happen that we face attacks and simultaneously maintain trade.&rdquo;

Security

Pakistan’s military media wing spokesperson denies Taliban claims of overnight Khost strikes, saying Pakistan conducts no such attacks and insists Kabul to take action against militants.

Pakistan denies overnight strikes amid rising Kabul tensions

LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched a new digital investment platform, InvestPak, enabling individuals and corporations to invest in government securities entirely online.&nbsp;The initiative forms part of the central bank&rsquo;s broader strategy to modernize Pakistan&rsquo;s financial infrastructure and accelerate the shift toward a cashless economy.&nbsp;According to the SBP, InvestPak digitizes the entire investment process for customers holding rupee accounts with banks, primary dealers (PDs), and microfinance banks (MFBs). Through the web portal, users can open Investor Portfolio of Securities (IPS) accounts, submit bids in primary auctions, and trade government securities in the secondary market without visiting a branch.&nbsp;&ldquo;All banks are mandated to facilitate customer registration on the portal,&rdquo; the SBP said in a circular. &ldquo;Microfinance banks are encouraged to extend the same facility to their clients. All financial institutions must ensure efficient onboarding and a seamless user experience.&rdquo;&nbsp;The system allows users to link and operate multiple rupee and IPS accounts across different financial institutions via a single login, with registration requests required to be processed within two working days.&nbsp;As of June 30, 2025, total investment in government securities stood at Rs46.566 trillion, with scheduled banks holding Rs38.7 trillion (83%) and corporates Rs7.856 trillion (17%). The SBP expects that opening access to individual investors through InvestPak will broaden participation, deepen the domestic debt market, and diversify the investor base.&nbsp;The launch comes as the central bank advances a comprehensive digitalization roadmap. In September, the National Assembly&rsquo;s finance committee was informed that all federal and provincial government payments are to be fully digitized by June 2026, including transactions of state-owned enterprises.&nbsp;SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad told the committee that the central bank is taking &ldquo;comprehensive steps to promote a secure, inclusive, and technology-driven payments ecosystem,&rdquo; noting that 88% of retail transactions in Pakistan are now digital&mdash;a major shift reflecting the rapid uptake of electronic payments.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s digital financial infrastructure currently supports 226 million bank accounts and 46 million Raast IDs. To strengthen consumer protection, the SBP has introduced a bank liability framework and a mandatory two-hour cooling-off period for digital transfers to mitigate fraud.&nbsp;The digital banking landscape is also expanding. Mashreq Bank recently became the first international bank to launch full digital operations in Pakistan, rolling out nationwide services in 12 months&mdash;significantly faster than the global average of five years. Five additional digital banks have received in-principle approval to operate.&nbsp;To promote innovation, the SBP has also backed new digital payment solutions. Governor Ahmad recently inaugurated the JazzCash Experience Lounge, featuring facial and palm biometrics, wearables, and QR-based payment technologies.&nbsp;The SBP said InvestPak represents a major step in expanding public access to investment opportunities in Pakistan&rsquo;s financial markets, calling it part of a long-term transition to &ldquo;a more transparent, inclusive, and digitally driven economy.&rdquo;

The State Bank of Pakistan launched InvestPak, a digital platform enabling individuals and corporates to invest in government securities online, aiming to modernize financial infrastructure, promote inclusion, and advance Pakistan’s cashless economy

Pakistan’s central bank launches InvestPak to expand digital access to government securities

KARACHI: Pakistan&rsquo;s economic future is increasingly linked to the sea, with sustainable &ldquo;blue growth&rdquo; positioned to drive the country toward a $100 billion maritime economy, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday.&nbsp;He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Pakistan International Maritime Expo &amp; Conference (PIMEC) 2025 at the Expo Center Karachi.&nbsp;&ldquo;The sea is becoming the axis of Pakistan&rsquo;s trade and climate resilience,&rdquo; Chaudhry said, announcing that two new ships have joined the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) fleet, with three more expected soon.&nbsp;He also confirmed that Pakistan has issued a license for its first private ferry service, describing it as &ldquo;an important step toward sustainable maritime travel and regional connectivity.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chaudhry outlined plans for Pakistan&rsquo;s first green ship repair and recycling yard at Port Qasim, part of what he called a &ldquo;Sea-to-Steel Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that the government has allocated Rs12 billion [$42 million] to modernize the shipbreaking facilities at Gaddani to ensure compliance with international environmental standards.&nbsp;The four-day PIMEC exhibition, organized jointly by the Pakistan Navy and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, featured more than 150 domestic and 28 foreign exhibitors from 20 countries.<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: 624px; 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=1986427644007813372&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b5526c5a7b4db488710934b272c751ac1545dd96&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1986427644007813372"></iframe></div></div>Displays ranged from marine biotechnology and aquaculture to ocean renewable energy systems, digital navigation, autonomous marine vessels, and maritime defense technologies.&nbsp;Speaking at the opening session, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal described Pakistan as a &ldquo;natural maritime bridge between the East and West.&rdquo;&nbsp;However, he noted that the maritime sector currently contributes less than one percent to Pakistan&rsquo;s GDP, well below the four to seven percent share seen in comparable maritime economies.&nbsp;&ldquo;We must unlock the economic potential of our seas,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;This year&rsquo;s expo saw a notable rise in homegrown innovation. The National Electronics Complex of Pakistan (NECOP) showcased the SAFRAH Drone-Jamming Gun, which exhibitors said can neutralize drones within a 1.5 kilometer radius. Stingray Technologies displayed unmanned surface vessels for reconnaissance and logistics.&nbsp;Students from Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology introduced marine safety IoT devices, while Zarwah Enterprises highlighted bio-secure aquaculture systems for coastal livelihoods.&nbsp;The Gwadar Development Authority presented its Smart Port City Master Plan 2050, signaling long-term coastal urban development, while the Sindh People&rsquo;s Housing for Flood Affectees pavilion demonstrated climate-resilient housing models with strong women-led participation in post-flood reconstruction.&nbsp;Panelists at the parallel International Maritime Conference stressed that turning maritime innovation into large-scale economic gains will require coordinated policy, long-term financing, and stronger public-private collaboration.&nbsp;Chaudhry said Pakistan&rsquo;s shift toward a sustainable blue economy is not only an economic strategy but a climate resilience imperative.&nbsp;&ldquo;If nurtured strategically, Pakistan&rsquo;s blue economy can evolve into a $100 billion sector by 2047,&rdquo; he said, adding that building a &ldquo;green, secure, and competitive maritime sector&rdquo; is now a national priority.

Pakistan highlights sustainable “blue growth” to drive a $100bn maritime economy, as Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announces new shipping expansion, green shipyard development, and stricter environmental standards at PIMEC 2025 in Karachi.

Sustainable ‘blue growth’ key to Pakistan’s $100 billion maritime future, says minister

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Pakistan&rsquo;s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have issued a high weather alert for November 4 and 5, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall in multiple districts already recovering from devastating floods earlier this year.&nbsp;The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the incoming weather system poses a &ldquo;significant risk,&rdquo; particularly in mountainous areas weakened by the August 2025 cloudburst disaster that claimed nearly 400 lives across the province.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is not a routine weather advisory,&rdquo; the PDMA said in its alert. &ldquo;Given recent damage to terrain and infrastructure, even moderate rainfall may trigger landslides and disrupt mobility and essential services.&rdquo;&nbsp;The weather system is expected to affect nearly the entire province.&nbsp;Rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall are forecast in northern districts, including Upper and Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, and Mohmand.&nbsp;Rain and thunderstorms are also likely in central and southern areas, including Peshawar, Kohat, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, North and South Waziristan, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan.&nbsp;Saeda Saleh, a meteorologist with the Pakistan Meteorological Department, said the system is being driven by &ldquo;western winds,&rdquo; adding that authorities have urged the public to remain alert.&nbsp;&ldquo;People should stay cautious, especially in areas where the land is still unstable,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Officials fear that already weakened slopes in flood-affected districts could give way. The Met Office has explicitly warned of possible landslides in Abbottabad, Battagram, Dir, Chitral, Kohistan, Kurram, Shangla, and Swat, many of the same regions that were heavily impacted in August.&nbsp;In response, PDMA has directed all district administrations to activate emergency protocols, including &ldquo;cleaning of drainage systems to prevent urban flooding&rdquo; and ensuring &ldquo;full readiness of emergency response teams&rdquo; for rapid deployment. Authorities have also been instructed to issue timely alerts to residents and travelers, particularly in high-risk valleys.&nbsp;Residents have been strongly advised to avoid non-essential travel during the weather spell. Farmers and livestock owners, who suffered severe losses in the August floods, have been urged to move animals and stored crops to safer areas as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;PDMA said it will continue to monitor developments and provide further updates as the system approaches.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan’s disaster authority issued a high alert for November 4–5 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, warning of heavy rain, thunderstorms, and snowfall that could trigger landslides in flood-weakened mountain districts and disrupt essential services.

Landslides weather warning alert issued for Pakistan's north-west

BEIJING: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China this week, Beijing said on Monday, as the two sides hope to boost cooperation. &quot;Russia&#39;s foreign minister Lavrov will pay an official visit to China from April 14 to 15,&quot; foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference. Lavrov will hold talks with China&#39;s top diplomat Wang Yi in which the two will &quot;exchange views and coordinate positions on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of common concern&quot;, Guo said. The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that the pair would discuss the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Beijing and Moscow are close economic and political partners, and the relationship has deepened further since Russia&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wang held a call with Lavrov on April 5, when the pair agreed Beijing and Moscow would work together to deescalate tensions in the Middle East.

China

Asia

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit China on April 14-15 for talks with Wang Yi on bilateral ties, Ukraine and the Middle East, as Beijing and Moscow seek closer coordination.

Russian FM to visit China April 14-15: Beijing

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: A Hindutva gathering in Kodagu district of Indian State of Karnataka &nbsp;was flagged by rights watch Clarion India on Sunday. The event triggered outrage after videos circulated online showed speakers urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses, in the latest incident to spotlight concerns over rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in India.&nbsp; The gathering, held in Napoklu on April 1 under the banner of &quot;Hindu Raksha Samiti&quot;, was described by organizers as an &ldquo;awareness drive&rdquo;.&nbsp; However the &quot;No Muslims allowed&quot; banner at the entrance and hate speeches calling on attendees to avoid trade with Muslims and other non-Hindus, drew sharp criticism.&nbsp; According to Clarion India, speakers at the event invoked terms such as &ldquo;love jihad,&rdquo; &ldquo;land jihad&rdquo; and &ldquo;economic jihad,&rdquo; and those present were asked to take a pledge not to engage in commercial dealings with Muslims.<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=2042886052050821226&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=df1af13ac48c3eb4ff9e018d480fbebacb50aae5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 743px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2042886052050821226"></iframe></div></div>Community members said such calls could damage livelihoods in an area where many families depend on small businesses and daily trade.&nbsp; One organizer, Kukkera Ajith, was quoted as saying the meeting was intended to raise awareness after a recent local attack on a Hindu man.&nbsp;The controversy comes against a wider backdrop of growing concern over Islamophobia in India.&nbsp; Hate speech in IndiaIn January, international media reported that anti-minority hate speech in India rose by 13% in 2025, citing data from India Hate Lab, a project of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH).&nbsp; The report documented 1,318 incidents, up from 1,165 in 2024, with 1,289 of those speeches targeting Muslims either explicitly or alongside Christians.&nbsp; The majority of incidents occurred in states ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies.&nbsp; CSOH&rsquo;s 2025 report said hate speech in India continued to rely heavily on Hindu nationalist tropes portraying Muslims as outsiders and as an existential threat, often through conspiracy narratives built around various forms of &ldquo;jihad.&rdquo;&nbsp; Researchers also identified a sharp surge in such speeches during moments of political and communal tension.&nbsp; As of now, no public statement from the Kodagu district administration or police has come forward in connection with the Napoklu speeches.&nbsp; The episode has renewed demands from local residents and activists for legal action, with critics warning that calls for a Muslim boycott risk deepening communal divisions in a state long seen as socially diverse and commercially interdependent.&nbsp;

India

A Karnataka gathering urging Hindus to boycott Muslim businesses has sparked outrage in India, with critics warning it reflects deepening Islamophobia and a wider rise in anti-Muslim hate speech.

Anti-Muslim boycott call at Karnataka event stirs outrage in India

SYDNEY: A woman will command Australia&#39;s army for the first time since its founding 125 years ago, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Monday as he unveiled the &quot;deeply historic&quot; appointment. Lieutenant general Susan Coyle was named Australia&#39;s Chief of Army following a three-decade career during which she has served in the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East. &quot;Her achievement means that she will be the first woman to command a service in Australian history,&quot; Marles told reporters. &quot;And it is a deeply historic moment. As Susan said to me, you cannot be what you cannot see.&quot; Australia&#39;s army is in the throes of a major transformation, equipping itself with long-range firepower, drones and other modern combat tools. Coyle stressed her experience in areas such as cyber-warfare. &quot;This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for the responsibilities of command and the trust placed in me,&quot; she said.

This handout photo from the Australian Defence Force taken on July 4, 2024, shows Lieutenant general Susan Coyle reacting as she attends an official event in Canberra. Coyle will command Australia's army for the first time since its founding 125 years ago

Australasia

Lieutenant general Susan Coyle was named Australia's Chief of Army following a three-decade career during which she has served in the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Australia names Susan Coyle first woman to lead army 

HONG KONG: Oil prices surged and stocks sank Monday after US-Iran peace talks fell apart and Donald Trump announced a blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, adding to fears of energy supplies from the Middle East. Negotiations in Islamabad at the weekend fell apart with the US delegation led by Vice President JD Vance blaming Iran&#39;s refusal to give up its nuclear program and Tehran hitting out at &quot;maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. The news dealt a blow to hopes for an end to the six-week conflict, which has sent crude prices soaring, pushing inflation up and sending shivers through the global economy. Oil prices which tumbled last week after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire jumped around eight percent Monday, with both contracts topping $100 a barrel. Equities fell across Asia, with Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul off at least one percent, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta were also down. In a lengthy social media post, US President Donald Trump said his goal was to clear the strait of mines and reopen it to all shipping. But he said that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the waterway through which a fifth of global oil and gas usually passes. &quot;Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,&quot; Trump wrote on Truth Social. &quot;Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!&quot; He said the blockade would only apply to vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports. The US military said Sunday it will blockade all Iranian Gulf ports on Monday at 1400 GMT, effectively seizing control of maritime traffic. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards said its security forces had full control over the strait and warned enemies would be trapped in a &quot;deadly vortex&quot; in case of any &quot;wrong move&quot;. Iran&#39;s navy chief Shahram Irani called Trump&#39;s threat &quot;ridiculous and funny&quot;, according to state TV. After the talks the highest-level meeting between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic revolution Vance said Washington had made Tehran its &quot;final and best offer,&quot; adding: &quot;We&#39;ll see if the Iranians accept it.&quot; Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the rivals had been &quot;inches away&quot; from a deal, writing on X that &quot;Iran engaged with US in good faith to end war&quot;. But he added &quot;we encountered maximalism, shifting goalposts, and blockade&quot;. Nicole Grajewski, an assistant professor at the Center for International Research at Sciences Po in Paris, warned that a US blockade was &quot;not a minor coercive signal&quot; but would rather be considered an effective resumption of the war. Fawad Razaqzada, a market analyst at <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//Forex.com" id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">Forex.com</a> said: &quot;The fundamental issue remains trust or rather, the lack of it between two long-standing adversaries who still appear some distance from common ground.&quot; Investors are also keeping an eye on attempts to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he was pushing to ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces. &quot;We will continue to work to stop this war, to ensure the Israeli withdrawal from all our lands, the return of all the prisoners, to rebuild our destroyed villages and towns, and the safe return of the displaced,&quot; Salam said. The prospect of the Middle East crisis continuing for the foreseeable future ramped up inflation fears and weighed on gold amid expectations interest rates would be kept elevated. Data Friday highlighted the impact of the conflict on prices, with the US consumer price index spiking at 3.3% in March, its highest since May last year. Key figures at around 0230 GMT West Texas Intermediate: UP 8.0% at $104.33 a barrel Brent North Sea Crude: UP 6.9% at $101.73 a barrel Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 1.0% at 56,357.40 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 1.0% at 25,627.75 Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1% at 3,981.08 Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1686 from $1.1728 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3401 from $1.3463 Dollar/yen: UP at 159.67 yen from 159.19 yen Euro/pound: UP at 87.20 pence from 87.11 pence

A stockbroker walks past share prices on a digital board during a trading session at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) in Karachi

Business

Oil prices jumped and global markets fell after Donald Trump announced a Strait of Hormuz blockade following the collapse of US–Iran talks.

Oil surges, stocks fall as Trump says to blockade Strait of Hormuz

Romesa Umar

Pakistani defender Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; 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: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;" id="isPasted">On the sidelines of the FIFA event in Abidjan, she opened up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan&#39;s colors.&nbsp; <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; 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: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;">&quot;Keep putting Pakistan on the map and making a big name for itself&quot; is the mission she has set for herself.&nbsp;

Shorts

Pakistani Kayla Siddiqui is chasing her professional dream while proudly representing her roots on the international stage; the defender opens up about her journey from growing up inspired by Sydney Leroux to now wearing Pakistan's colors. 





'I have it rooted in my name': Pakistani defender on identity and representing her nation at FIFA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Sunday underscored that the two critical long-term challenges facing Pakistan were population growth and climate change.&nbsp; The finance minister departed for the United States to participate in the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026, scheduled to be held in Washington, DC from April 13 to 18, 2026, where he is set to meet senior International Monetary Fund (IMF) leadership and discuss the country&rsquo;s macroeconomic outlook, reform progress, and future cooperation on his Washington trip.&nbsp; While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, the finance minister emphasized that sustained economic progress would not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, and highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation. According to a statement issued on the Ministry of Finance&rsquo;s X account, the finance minister acknowledged that further work was required in areas such as regulatory reform and ease of doing business, noting that these remain key priorities for improving the investment climate. The minister reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to structural reforms, including taxation, which has shown progress but remained below desired levels. He highlighted the ongoing transformation efforts within the Federal Board of Revenue, further emphasizing the need to move away from a model of perpetual subsidies for industry, advocating instead for competitiveness and export-led growth.&nbsp; The minister also highlighted the trade liberalization measures, including tariff rationalization, aimed at encouraging efficiency and integration into global markets. According to the finance minister, Pakistan&rsquo;s solar generation had reached approximately 8,000 megawatts. He underscored the government&rsquo;s ambition to significantly increase the share of renewables in the energy mix over the coming decade. The session was moderated by former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Reza Baqir, and included&nbsp;panelists such as Princeton University&#39;s Professor Atif Mian and Nobel Laureate and Massachusetts Institute of Technology&#39;s Professor Daron Acemoglu.&nbsp; &nbsp;

While participating in a high-level panel discussion at Harvard University, finance minister emphasizes sustained economic progress will not be possible without addressing rapid population growth, while also highlighting Pakistan’s increasing vulnerability to climate-related shocks and the need for greater focus on resilience and adaptation.

At Harvard, Pakistan's finance chief highlights population, climate as key future challenges

BUDAPEST: Viktor Orban, who has ruled Hungary for 16 years as a self-described &quot;thorn&quot; in the EU&#39;s side and a defender of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; on Sunday conceded defeat to conservative Peter Magyar, who won a thumping majority in parliamentary elections. Orban&#39;s defeat, in a vote that saw a record turnout, dealt a heavy blow to nationalists. It also deprives Russian President Vladimir Putin of his most sympathetic ear inside the European Union. Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar&#39;s Tisza party cheered the results outside the party&#39;s election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital. &quot;I feel fantastic!&quot; Zoltan Sziromi, a 20-year-old student, celebrating in the crowd, told AFP. &quot;We&#39;ve finally got rid of that system, and it was about time.&quot; Magyar, who arrived waving the Hungarian flag, told the cheering crowd that voters had &quot;liberated Hungary,&quot; calling his party&#39;s win a &quot;miracle&quot; in the central European country of 9.5 million people. &quot;Today, the Hungarian people have said &#39;yes&#39; to Europe,&quot; the 45-year-old former government insider and political newcomer told supporters. He promised to &quot;restore the system of checks and balances..., guarantee the democratic functioning of our country&quot; and put Hungary &quot;back on track.&quot; Acknowledging it was an &quot;enormous&quot; task, he called for unity, saying the victory belonging to &quot;all Hungarians.&quot; &#39;Unambiguous&#39;&nbsp;With 98.15% of precincts counted, Tisza secured a two-thirds majority with 138 seats in the 199-seat parliament on 53.6% of the vote, according to official election results. Orban&#39;s Fidesz took 55 seats on 37.9% of the vote. Earlier Sunday, Orban, 62, conceded defeat. &quot;The election results, though not yet final, are clear and understandable; for us, they are painful but unambiguous,&quot; Orban, 62, told reporters. &quot;We have not been entrusted with the responsibility and opportunity to govern. I congratulated the winning party,&quot; he said. Turnout in the election reached a record 79.50%, according to the near-complete vote count. Orban, who was seeking a fifth straight term, has transformed his country into a model of &quot;illiberal democracy,&quot; clashing with Brussels over rule-of-law issues, as well as over support for war-torn Ukraine. Magyar burst onto the scene just two years ago, promising to fight corruption and offering better public services. He drew support against a backdrop of economic stagnation, and despite an electoral system skewed in favor of Orban&#39;s Fidesz party. Congratulations for Magyar poured in from around Europe, with France and Germany urging him to work together for a &quot;strong Europe.&quot; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to work with Magyar &quot;for the benefit of both nations, as well as peace, security, and stability in Europe.&quot; &quot;Hungary has chosen Europe,&quot; head of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, posted on X. Ahead of the vote, both Orban&#39;s and Magyar&#39;s camps had alleged foreign interference during the campaign. &#39;Defeat for authoritarianism&#39;&nbsp;Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said Oran&#39;s defeat was a major blow to those who have looked to Viktor Orban&#39;s corrupt model as a blueprint. &quot;This is a resounding defeat for authoritarianism that echoes far beyond Hungary&#39;s borders,&quot; Tanden added. Orban had focused on making Ukraine the central topic of his campaign, portraying the neighboring country, which is fighting off a Russian invasion, as &quot;hostile&quot; to Hungary. He had also vowed to continue his crackdown against &quot;fake civil society organizations, bought journalists, judges (and) politicians.&quot; Fidesz supporters gathered for the results-watching event in Budapest were stunned. &quot;I am a Fidesz supporter with all my heart,&quot; Juliana Varga Szabo, a 58-year-old teacher, told AFP, tears in her eyes, saying that perhaps she had been living in a &quot;bubble.&quot; &quot;Now that bubble is burst. I won&#39;t change my values. We&#39;ll just have to see what the future brings,&quot; she added.

Europe

Tens of thousands of jubilant supporters of Magyar's Tisza party cheer results outside the party's election headquarters on the banks of the Danube in Budapest, waving Hungarian flags and dancing, as car horns sounded in the capital.



Orban loses Hungary vote to pro-Europe newcomer after 16 years in power

Web Desk/AFP

Americas

Middle East

'The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy, and maintaining its security, stability, and unimpeded flow is in the common interest of the international community,' says foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.

China calls for 'unimpeded' navigation in Strait of Hormuz

&nbsp;Romesa Umar from Pakistan TV Digital sits down with Pakistani footballer Nadia Khan behind the scenes of Pakistan&#39;s historic women&#39;s FIFA debut in the Ivory Coast. Nadia talks about her love for the game, the footballers who inspire her, what sets her apart on the pitch, and what she is working toward in the year ahead.

Nadia talks about her love for the game, the footballers who inspire her, what sets her apart on the pitch, and what she is working toward in the year ahead.

Neymar and a dream: Meet Pakistan’s Nadia Khan post-historic FIFA debut

Faraz Saeed

The Islamabad Talks were a breakthrough, but diplomacy takes time. US and Iran delegations were brought to the table, the ceasefire holds, and the process of building a durable peace through dialogue continues. Here is where the process stands and what comes next.

Articles by Staff Reporter