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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, on Thursday discussed ongoing UN development system reforms and cooperation on Pakistan&rsquo;s sustainable development priorities during a meeting with&nbsp;United Nations Development Programme&nbsp;(UNDP) Resident Representative for Pakistan, Sam Rizk. In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN said the two sides exchanged views on priority issues related to UNDP&#39;s engagement in Pakistan. <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=2055101574100242836&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ff8b4648ceee6919d087406d038750c403ea2c13&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 696px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> During the courtesy call, discussions also focused on &quot;ongoing UN development system reforms, and avenues for continued cooperation in support of Pakistan&rsquo;s sustainable development priorities&quot;, the post said. Rizk was accompanied by Doina Munteanu, Advisor for Countries in Crisis and Complex Situations.

Foreign Affairs

In a post on X, the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN says the two sides have exchanged views on priority issues related to UNDP's engagement in Pakistan, focusing on 'ongoing UN development system reforms, and avenues for continued cooperation in support of Pakistan’s sustainable development priorities.'

Pakistan ambassador, UNDP representative discuss development priorities, UN reform agenda

LONDON: UK utility company British Gas will pay millions to settle an investigation into forced installation of prepaid electricity meters, the country&rsquo;s energy regulator Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) said Friday. The company has agreed to pay &pound;20 million into Ofgem&rsquo;s voluntary compensation fund and write off up to &pound;70 million in debt owed by vulnerable customers, including low-income households, disabled people, elderly people, and those in rural areas. Ofgem tightened rules on the controversial practice after reports in 2023 that British Gas contractors sent debt collectors to enter homes and forcibly install prepaid electricity meters. These meters require customers to pay for electricity in advance and can allow power disconnection when bills are not paid, raising concerns that vulnerable households were being targeted. &ldquo;British Gas fell short in its treatment of an unacceptable number of vulnerable customers who had a PPM installed without consent,&rdquo; Ofgem chief executive Tim Jarvis said in a statement. The regulator said British Gas has not carried out any forced meter installations since February 2023. &ldquo;What happened should never have happened, and I am sorry to the prepayment customers who were affected,&rdquo; said Chris O&rsquo;Shea, chief executive of Centrica, which owns British Gas.

UK utility company British Gas is required to pay millions after regulators found customers were forced onto prepaid electricity meters. (Image courtesy: British Gas)

Europe

UK government regulator says British Gas switched vulnerable customers, including low-income and elderly households, onto prepaid electricity meters without consent and sent debt collectors to recover 'unpaid' bills.

UK utility company British Gas to pay millions over forced meter scandal

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Climate Change, Dr Musadik Malik, held a meeting with Tajikistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Yusuf Sharifzoda in Islamabad to strengthen regional cooperation on climate and environmental challenges, the minister&rsquo;s office said in a post on X on Friday. The discussions focused on formalizing joint climate and conservation protocols between the two countries, which share significant ecological similarities. Both Pakistan and Tajikistan are home to around 13,000 glaciers each, making them among the most glacier-rich regions in the world. Officials noted that both countries have lost nearly 1,000 glaciers due to rising global temperatures, highlighting the urgency of coordinated climate action. Talks also explored the idea of a regional climate and trade corridor aimed at improving environmental cooperation while boosting sustainable economic links.<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; line-height: 2;"><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=2055180002506027367&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Another key area of discussion was cross-border wildlife conservation, particularly efforts to protect the endangered snow leopard, which inhabits mountainous regions across both countries. The two sides also emphasized the importance of coordinated water management strategies, given their shared reliance on glacier-fed water systems. The meeting reflects growing recognition of the need for regional diplomacy to address climate change and biodiversity loss. Dr Malik is set to further advance this agenda at the 4th High-Level Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe. The conference will be held from May 25 to 28 and is expected to bring together global leaders and policymakers to discuss sustainable water management and climate resilience.

Climate & Environment

Pakistan and Tajikistan discussed joint climate action, glacier loss, water management and wildlife conservation, with plans to advance regional cooperation at an upcoming global conference in Dushanbe.

Pakistan, Tajikistan discuss joint climate and water initiatives

ADDIS ABABA: A deadly outbreak of the Ebola virus has been confirmed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, African health authorities said Friday. Some 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported and &quot;four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases,&quot; the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) said in a statement on social media. &quot;Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province,&quot; the pan-African health agency said. &quot;Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and outbreak response efforts,&quot; it said. First identified in 1976 and thought to have crossed over from bats, Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure. The highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has killed some 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years. The deadliest Ebola outbreak in the DRC, between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people.

Medical workers lead a young girl with suspected Ebola into the unconfirmed Ebola patients ward run by The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) on August 12, 2018 in Beni, northeastern DRC.

Africa

African health authorities confirmed a deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with 246 suspected cases and 65 reported deaths so far.

Deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo: health agency

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s national medical entrance examination system has come under renewed scrutiny after the 2026 exam was cancelled over a major paper leak scandal that triggered arrests, protests and political accusations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian media reported on Thursday.&nbsp; The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is India&rsquo;s largest medical entrance examination and is taken by millions of students seeking admission to medical colleges. The exam leak has been linked to several deaths by suicide across the country, sparking enmasse protests, according to local media reports. The controversy erupted after investigators uncovered evidence that parts of the examination paper had allegedly been leaked before the May 3 test.<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; line-height: 2;"><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=2054503708528914729&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 785px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The CBI has arrested at least five people in connection with the case and is investigating what officials described as a wider conspiracy involving multiple states.&nbsp; Reports said &ldquo;guess papers&rdquo; circulating before the exam allegedly matched large portions of the actual question paper. Following mounting outrage, the NTA cancelled the examination and announced a re-test scheduled for June 21.&nbsp; The scandal has triggered fierce political reactions, especially in Rajasthan, where opposition leaders accused the BJP government of delaying action despite early indications of a leak. Allegations against BJP According to The Wire and The Indian Express, Congress leaders alleged that individuals linked to the BJP&rsquo;s youth wing were connected to the racket.&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; line-height: 2;"><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=2054600775964533236&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=45e0dc866212ecc67dc924808ba0686663c25a73&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Leader of Opposition of Rajasthan, Tika Ram Jully, questioned why authorities allegedly waited several days before registering a formal police complaint. Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also accused the BJP government of attempting to suppress the issue while students&rsquo; futures were put at risk.&nbsp; The BJP has denied the allegations and accused the opposition of politicizing the scandal.&nbsp; The issue has also reignited criticism of the National Testing Agency, which has faced repeated controversies over examination management and allegations of irregularities in recent years.&nbsp; Student groups and opposition parties have demanded structural reforms, greater transparency and accountability in the conduct of national examinations.&nbsp; The controversy has sparked protests in several cities, with many students expressing frustration over uncertainty surrounding one of India&rsquo;s most competitive examinations.

India

India’s NEET-UG 2026 cancellation over an alleged paper leak has triggered arrests, protests and political accusations, with opposition parties demanding accountability and reforms in the national exam system.

BJP under fire after Indian medical exam paper leak

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday said Pakistan-US relations strengthened during the tenure of President Donald Trump. According to a statement from Pakistan&#39;s Interior Ministry on social media platform X, the remarks were made during a meeting between Mohsin Naqvi and US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur in Islamabad. US Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Natalie Baker, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, and senior officials also attended the meeting. The Interior Ministry said discussions focused on Pakistan-US bilateral relations and the latest situation in the Middle East.<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" 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=2055159850523324894&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=4925f88f0d01108cb10407a3f776750d4b118061&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Both sides also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in security, counter-terrorism, and anti-narcotics efforts. &ldquo;Pakistan-US relations are based on mutual trust and bilateral cooperation,&rdquo; Naqvi said during the meeting. The minister added that foolproof security arrangements have been ensured for American companies working on the Reko Diq project. According to the ministry, Naqvi also expressed Pakistan&rsquo;s desire to see direct flights between Pakistan and the United States resumed soon. &ldquo;We are hopeful for a lasting and peaceful resolution of the Middle East conflict,&rdquo; he added.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan-US relations strengthened during Donald Trump’s tenure, as officials discussed security cooperation, counter-terrorism and regional developments during a meeting in Islamabad.

Interior minister says Pakistan-US relations strengthened under Trump administration 

BEIJING: President Donald Trump said he had made &quot;fantastic trade deals&quot; with China&#39;s Xi Jinping, as the pair met on Friday at final talks of a superpower summit that according to the US leader has also reaped a Chinese offer to help open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had arrived in Beijing seeking to seal deals in sectors including agriculture, aviation and artificial intelligence, as well as to contain differences between the two sides in a number of tense geostrategic areas -- not least the Middle East war. Trump&#39;s overtures to Xi, whom he described as a &quot;great leader&quot; and &quot;friend&quot;, have so far been met with more muted tones by the Chinese leader. But the US leader said &quot;a lot of good&quot; has come out of the visit. &quot;We&#39;ve made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,&quot; he said after a walk with Xi among the rosebushes in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, a central leadership compound next to Beijing&#39;s Forbidden City. &quot;We&#39;ve settled a lot of different problems that other people wouldn&#39;t have been able to solve,&quot; he added, without providing details. Xi said it was a &quot;milestone visit&quot;, and that the two sides had to date established &quot;a new bilateral relationship, which is a relationship of constructive strategic stability&quot;. He promised to send Trump seeds for the White House Rose Garden. &#39;Help on Hormuz&#39;&nbsp;In an interview with Fox News after the first day of the summit wrapped, Trump said Xi had agreed to several US wish list points. On the topic of the war in Iran, the US president said Xi had effectively assured his counterpart that China was not preparing to militarily aid Tehran, which has essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz. &quot;He said he&#39;s not going to give military equipment... he said that strongly,&quot; Trump told Fox. &quot;He&#39;d like to see the Hormuz Strait open, and said &#39;if I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help,&#39;&quot; Trump added. Asked whether the two leaders had discussed Iran, the Chinese foreign ministry on Friday released a statement calling for &quot;a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire&quot;. &quot;Shipping lanes should be reopened as soon as possible in response to the calls of the international community,&quot; it added. Boeing, oil, soybeans&nbsp;Trump did not spell out on Friday the trade agreements that he said had been sealed with China. However, in the Fox interview, Trump said one big business deal struck involved Xi agreeing to purchase &quot;200 big&quot; Boeing jets. Shares of the US aviation giant fell after Trump&#39;s comments, in a sign the market had expected a more robust purchase from China. The US president also said Beijing had also voiced interest in buying US oil and soybeans. And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that Trump and Xi were talking about setting up &quot;guardrails&quot; for the use of artificial intelligence. Bessent said the world&#39;s &quot;two AI superpowers are going to start talking&quot;, though US export controls on the advanced technology to China remain a sore point in relations.

China

'We've made some fantastic trade deals, great for both countries,' he said after a walk with Xi among the rosebushes in the gardens of Zhongnanhai, a central leadership compound next to Beijing's Forbidden City.

Trump says made 'fantastic trade deals' with Xi

ISLAMABAD: Chinese industrial e-commerce giant IBI Beijing United Technology&#39;s President&nbsp;Qian Xiaojun&nbsp;said that establishing Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises. In a meeting with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, Xiaojun said that the Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would help connect&nbsp;the small and medium-sized enterprises in Pakistan with the Chinese market.<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=2055176373405450512&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2f7d50b64432d66d7196b2a1892872b2a552a726&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 721px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2055176373405450512"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan launched the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad on May 14. This is an integrated platform under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) focused on trade facilitation, supply chain digitization, and SME empowerment. A statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office said that an 11-member delegation, led by Xiaojun called on the prime minister at the Prime Minister&rsquo;s House in Islamabad. PM Sharif welcomed the high-level Chinese business delegation and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening economic and digital cooperation with China. The PM said Pakistan and China enjoy historic ties and remain all-weather strategic cooperative partners. He praised the remarkable development achieved by China under the leadership of Xi Jinping and said he was looking forward to his upcoming visit to China later this month. Prime Minister Sharif appreciated IBI Group&rsquo;s decision to establish its Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in the country and expressed satisfaction over growing business-to-business cooperation between Pakistan and China. He said it was encouraging that the company intends to promote cooperation in the digital economy, investment facilitation, and industrial collaboration. Expressing confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s economy, Xiaojun said IBI aims to help build the digital backbone for Pakistan&rsquo;s economic transformation. He said the establishment of the Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan would serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises by connecting them with the Chinese market. The delegation&rsquo;s visit follows the Pakistan-China business-to-business investment conference held in Beijing in September 2025 during Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s visit to China. Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, SAPM Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials also attended the meeting.

Economy

IBI Beijing United Technology's President Qian Xiaojun tells Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that Digital Economy Headquarters Pakistan will serve as a command center for digital transformation and provide significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Chinese e-commerce giant says IBI Pakistan to provide opportunities to SMEs

NEW DELHI: Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani has agreed to pay a multi-million-dollar settlement in a US civil court case linked to corruption without admitting guilt, his company said Friday. The November 2024 indictment in New York accused the industrialist and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading international investors as part of a vast bribery scheme. Adani was accused of having participated in an estimated $250 million scheme to bribe Indian officials for lucrative solar energy supply contracts. Adani, along with his nephew Sagar Adani, agreed to the &quot;payment of a civil penalty&quot; totaling $18 million, while noting that it came &quot;without admitting or denying the allegations made in the civil complaint&quot;, a letter from Adani Green Energy to the Mumbai stock exchange read. The Adani letter, which noted that the final judgement of the US court is still awaited, stressed that the &quot;company is not a party to this proceeding, and no charges have been brought against it&quot;. The New York Times said the move to abandon the charges, brought under US President Joe Biden&#39;s administration, came after Adani hired a new legal team led by Robert Giuffra, one of President Donald Trump&#39;s personal lawyers. With a business empire spanning coal, airports, cement, and media, the chairman of Adani Group has been rocked in recent years by corporate fraud allegations and a stock crash. Adani, a close ally of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was born in Ahmedabad in Gujarat state to a middle-class family but dropped out of school at 16. He moved to India&#39;s financial capital, Mumbai, to find work in the city&#39;s lucrative gem trade.

FILE: Indian billionaire and Chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani, attends the 51st Gem and Jewellery Awards in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, on November 30, 2024. (Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto) (Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Indian billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani has agreed to pay a multi-million-dollar settlement in a US civil court case linked to corruption without admitting guilt, his company said Friday.

Indian magnate Adani agrees multi-million dollar penalty in US court case

NEW DELHI:&nbsp;India&#39;s state-run oil companies raised petrol and diesel prices by more than 3% on Friday as disruption to energy supplies due to the Iran war mounts pressure on the economy, AFP reported.&nbsp; The increase marks the first hike in automobile fuel prices in India since the start of US-Israel war on Iran in February. India, the world&#39;s third-largest oil buyer, normally sources about half of its crude through the vital waterway. In Delhi, petrol prices rose to 97.77 rupees ($1.02) per liter from 94.77 rupees, while diesel climbed to 90.67 rupees from 87.67, according to data from the Indian Oil Corporation. Rates vary across the country depending on local taxes. Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Indian National Congress (INC) posted on X on Friday that the people of the country must understand that, alongside the current international fuel crisis, the major reason for the economic crisis in India is the leadership crisis in the Modi government, the lack of visionary thinking, and incompetence that is overflowing to the brim. &#39;Modi-Govt-Made crisis&#39; &quot;This crisis is a Modi-Govt-Made crisis. The common people of the country are paying the price for it from their own pockets on petrol, diesel, and LPG,&quot; he further said.<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=2055154388818346299&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f9063bdf792bf1cb150a9b746b12014f1b142a17&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2055154388818346299"></iframe></div></div>Oil companies say they have been incurring losses due to higher global crude oil prices. The government had earlier raised prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a primary cooking fuel for millions of households. &quot;When diesel prices rise, it creates a cascading effect of inflation across the entire country. From industries to household budgets and farmers&mdash;everyone is badly affected,&quot; the INC president said. Further, Mallikarjun said in his post, &#39;When the West Asia War began, the country was told that &ldquo;sab changa si&rdquo; and the Congress party&#39;s questions were dismissed. No concrete steps were taken; instead, due to American &ldquo;Permission&rdquo; and &ldquo;Allow,&rdquo; our Sovereignty was put up as collateral&#39;.&quot;&nbsp; He said, &quot;Now, as the crisis is escalating, Modi ji has started rattling the toy of Work From Home and fuel conservation.&quot; Delhi&#39;s chief minister on Thursday said government offices will have two work-from-home days a week for those able to and urged residents to cut back on private vehicle use. India has ramped up imports of Russian crude to plug gaps in supplies from the Middle East, ship‑tracking and import data show, following a temporary US waiver on sanctions. But with the waiver set to end on Saturday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar criticized &quot;unilateral coercive measures&quot;, without naming any country.

Petrol Station in India - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

India raised petrol and diesel prices by over 3% for the first time since the Iran war began, as disrupted oil supplies and sanctions pressure fuel costs and strain the economy.

Pakistan ambassador, UNDP representative discuss development priorities, UN reform agenda

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