Reuters

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a rare earths and critical minerals agreement on Monday aimed at ensuring a steady supply of the materials. As they met at the White House for their first summit, Trump said the deal had been negotiated over four or five months. Albanese described it as an $8.5 billion pipeline &quot;that we have ready to go.&quot;&nbsp;The full terms of the agreement were not immediately available. The two leaders said part of the agreement had to do with processing of the minerals. Albanese said both countries will contribute $1 billion over the next six months for joint projects.&nbsp;The United States has been looking for access to rare earths and critical minerals around the world as China tightens control over global supply.&nbsp;China has the world&#39;s largest rare earths reserves, according to US Geological Survey data, but Australia also has significant reserves.&nbsp;The two leaders also planned to discuss the A$368 billion AUKUS agreement, reached in 2023 under then-President Joe Biden, in which Australia is to buy US nuclear-powered submarines in 2032 before building a new submarine class with Britain.&nbsp;Navy Secretary John Phelan told the meeting the United States and Australia were working very closely to improve the original AUKUS framework for all three parties &quot;and clarify some of the ambiguity that was in the prior agreement.&quot;&nbsp;&#39;COOPERATIVE, PROFESSIONAL, HOPEFULLY WARM&#39; RELATIONSHIP&nbsp;Ahead of Monday&#39;s meeting between the two leaders, Australian officials have emphasized Canberra is paying its way under AUKUS, contributing $2 billion this year to boost production rates at US submarine shipyards, and preparing to maintain US Virginia-class submarines at its Indian Ocean naval base from 2027.&nbsp;The delay of 10 months in an official meeting since Trump took office has caused some anxiety in Australia as the Pentagon urged Canberra to lift defense spending. The two leaders met briefly on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.&nbsp;Australia is willing to sell shares in its planned strategic reserve of critical minerals to allies including Britain, Reuters reported last month, as Western governments scramble to end their reliance on China for rare earths and minor metals.&nbsp;Top US officials last week condemned Beijing&#39;s expansion of rare earth export controls as a threat to global supply chains. China is the world&#39;s biggest producer of the materials that are vital materials for products ranging from electric vehicles to aircraft engines and military radars.&nbsp;Resource-rich Australia, wanting to extract and process rare earths, put preferential access to its strategic reserve on the table in US trade negotiations in April.

Americas

Europe

Trump and Australian PM Albanese signed a rare earth and critical minerals deal to secure supply, contributing $1 billion each, while discussing AUKUS submarine projects and strengthening US-Australia strategic ties.


Trump, Australia sign critical minerals agreement, discuss submarine deal

BEIJING: China&#39;s economic growth slowed to the weakest pace in a year in the third quarter, as a property crisis and trade tensions hurt demand, leaving policymakers with the daunting challenge of rebalancing GDP drivers towards greater consumption over time.&nbsp;Authorities have unveiled modest stimulus measures this year, supported by resilient exports and strong stock markets, but renewed US-China trade tensions pose risks. While there is room for additional support, analysts are divided over whether policymakers will act this year.&nbsp;Data on Monday showed gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.8% in July-September, slowing from 5.2% in the second quarter and in line with analysts&#39; expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 4.8%.&nbsp;China is aiming for full-year growth of around 5%.&nbsp;&quot;The market understanding was that China is going to miss the target, no matter what. Even with stimulus, it was going to be below 5%,&quot; said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group.&nbsp;&quot;But judging by the figure for the first three quarters, it&#39;s going to hit the target, suggesting China can withstand any pressure from the US, even with such levels of tariff threats and export restrictions. Beijing is sending the signal that it is capable of reaching its development goals and is strongly committed to its policies.&quot;&nbsp;Quarterly, GDP grew 1.1% in the third quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics data showed, compared with a forecast 0.8% increase and a revised 1.0% gain in the previous quarter.

Business

GDP grew 4.8% in July-September, slowing from 5.2% in the second quarter and in line with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a rise of 4.8%.

China's Q3 GDP growth slows to one-year low

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JERUSALEM: The Israeli military launched an attack on Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, dimming hopes that a week-old US-mediated ceasefire would lead to lasting peace in the enclave as Israel traded blame with Palestinian militant group Hamas.An Israeli military official said on Sunday that Hamas had carried out multiple attacks against Israeli forces inside Gaza, including a rocket-propelled grenade attack and a sniper attack against Israeli soldiers. &quot;Both of the incidents happened in an Israeli-controlled area...This is a bold violation of the ceasefire,&quot; the official said. Senior Hamas official Izzat Al Risheq said on Sunday that the Palestinian militant group remained committed to the ceasefire, which he accused Israel of repeatedly violating. Neither Al Risheq nor the Israeli military official made any mention of the reported Israeli strikes in Gaza. The government media office in Gaza said on Saturday that Israel had committed 47 violations after the ceasefire deal, leaving 38 dead and 143 wounded. The impact of the Israeli strikes on Sunday, the most serious test since an already fragile ceasefire took effect on October 11, was not immediately clear. Formidable obstacles to Trump&#39;s plan to end the war still remain. Key questions of Hamas disarming, the governance of Gaza, the make-up of an international &quot;stabilization force&quot;, and moves towards the creation of a Palestinian state have yet to be resolved. The US embassy in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza AFP reported on Sunday that&nbsp;Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza on Sunday, bringing the total number handed over to 150, the health ministry&nbsp;said.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Under a ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, Israel was to turn over the bodies of 15 Palestinians for every deceased Israeli returned.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Hamas returned the remains of two hostages late on Saturday -- Ronen Engel, an Israeli national, and Thai farmworker Sonthaya Oakkharasri.

File Photo - A still frame from video shows the moment before Nasser Hospital's eastern staircase was struck for a second time by Israeli military, killing several people, on August 25, 2025, in Khan Younis, in Gaza. (Alghad TV/Handout via Reuters)

Middle East

The Israeli military launched an attack on Gaza on Sunday, Israeli media reported, dimming hopes that a week-old US-mediated ceasefire would lead to lasting peace in the enclave as Israel traded blame with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Israeli air strikes hit south Gaza: witnesses, Israeli media

REUTERS: Nvidia unveiled on Friday the first US-made Blackwell wafer, produced at TSMC&#39;s semiconductor manufacturing facility in Phoenix, as demand for AI chips accelerates. Companies have been racing to meet the broader AI industry&#39;s voracious appetite for computing power as they develop AI technology that meets or exceeds human intelligence. The move &quot;bolsters the U.S. supply chain and onshores the AI technology stack that will turn data into intelligence and secure America&#39;s leadership for the AI era,&quot; Nvidia said in a blog post. It also aligns with President Donald Trump&#39;s efforts to strengthen U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership. TSMC&#39;s Arizona facility will produce advanced technologies, including two-, three-, and four-nanometer chips, as well as A16 chips, that are essential for applications like AI, telecommunications, and high-performance computing, Nvidia said. There has recently been a flurry of mega deals between AI firms and chipmakers such as Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom to build data center capacity. TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), the world&#39;s biggest producer of advanced chips, raised its full-year revenue forecast on Thursday on a bullish outlook for AI spending after posting a record profit that blew past market estimates.

An NVIDIA logo appears in this illustration taken August 25, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

Artificial Intelligence

The company unveiled on Friday the first US-made Blackwell wafer, produced at TSMC's semiconductor manufacturing facility in Phoenix, as demand for AI chips accelerates.

Nvidia unveils first Blackwell chip wafer made with TSMC in US

WASHINGTON: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday he expects to meet next week with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Malaysia to try to forestall an escalation of US tariffs on Chinese goods that President Donald Trump said was unsustainable.&nbsp;Bessent announced this during a White House cabinet meeting and later confirmed plans for a meeting after a call with He on Friday evening. Bessent said on X that the two officials &quot;engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We will meet in person next week to continue our discussions,&quot; Bessent wrote.<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=1979362198461006087&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=15568bb486c9b1c028da1e7de612ec7d28743b2f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>China state news agency Xinhua reported that He and Bessent had &quot;candid, in-depth, and constructive discussions on major issues in bilateral economic and trade relations&quot; in a video call and agreed to a new round of trade talks as soon as possible.&nbsp;The two officials previously met in four European cities over six months to hammer out a tariff truce that brought duties down from triple-digit levels for each country. That agreement expires on November 10.&nbsp;A meeting in Malaysia would shift the venue to a Southeast Asian exporter that trades heavily with both China and the US and whose goods are now subject to a 19% duty imposed by Trump. Malaysia also faces a threatened 100% US tariff on its semiconductors and derivative electronics devices under a national security trade review.&nbsp;Trump earlier on Friday blamed Beijing for the latest impasse, a dispute over China&#39;s sweeping new export restrictions on rare-earth minerals and magnets. He has threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese imports starting on November 1 unless Beijing scraps the restrictions.&nbsp;Asked whether such a high tariff was sustainable and what that might do to the US economy, Trump replied: &quot;It&#39;s not sustainable, but that&#39;s what the number is.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;They forced me to do that,&quot; he said in an interview with Fox Business Network that was broadcast on Friday.&nbsp;Trump also has threatened to impose new US export controls that would halt supplies of &quot;any and all critical software.&quot;&nbsp;The new trade actions were Trump&#39;s reaction to China dramatically expanding its export controls on rare-earth elements. China dominates the market for such elements, which are essential to tech manufacturing.&nbsp;Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday blasted the restrictions as a threat to global supply chains.&nbsp;Trump also confirmed he would meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in two weeks in South Korea and expressed admiration for the Chinese leader.&nbsp;&quot;I think we&#39;re going to be fine with China, but we have to have a fair deal. It&#39;s got to be fair,&quot; Trump said on FBN&#39;s &quot;Mornings with Maria,&quot; which was taped on Thursday.&nbsp;Later, as he was preparing to have lunch at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to discuss efforts to end its war with Russia, Trump said: &quot;China wants to talk, and we like talking to China.&quot;&nbsp;The softening in tone and affirmation of his intent to meet with Xi helped stem Wall Street&#39;s early losses on Friday. Major US stock indexes, which have been rattled over the last week by Trump&#39;s abrupt re-imposition of steep levies on Chinese imports and by credit worries among regional banks, were up in afternoon trading.&nbsp;WTO urges de-escalation of trade spatsThe head of the World Trade Organization urged the US and China to de-escalate trade tensions, warning that a decoupling by the world&#39;s two largest economies could reduce global economic output by 7% over the longer term.&nbsp;WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told Reuters in an interview the global trade body was extremely concerned about the latest spike in US-China trade tensions and had spoken with officials from both countries to encourage more dialogue.&nbsp;But tensions continued to run high, even as Trump and Xi prepared to meet.&nbsp;Bessent took aim at China&#39;s state-driven economic practices in a statement to the IMF&#39;s steering committee on Friday, urging the IMF and World Bank to take a tougher stance on China&#39;s external and internal imbalances and industrial policies that US officials say have helped China build up excess manufacturing capacity that is flooding the world with cheap goods.&nbsp;And China&#39;s Commerce Ministry on Friday accused the US of undermining the rules-based multilateral trading system since the Trump administration took office in 2025, vowing to intensify its use of dispute settlement actions at the WTO.&nbsp;It also urged the US to roll back measures that breach non-discrimination rules and align its industrial and security policies with WTO obligations.&nbsp;Bessent earlier in the week had accused one of He&#39;s top aides of being &quot;unhinged&quot; in recent interactions with US trade negotiators. China said on Friday that Bessent&#39;s remarks &quot;seriously distort the facts.&quot;

Bessent says on X that the two officials "engaged in frank and detailed discussions regarding trade between the United States and China."

Bessent, Chinese vice premier to meet to try to defuse US tariff hike

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CAIRO/JERUSALEM: The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding its reopening will depend on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages as the two sides continued to trade blame over ceasefire violations. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Netanyahu&#39;s statement came shortly after the Palestinian embassy in Egypt announced that the Rafah crossing, the main gateway for Gazans to leave and enter the enclave, would reopen on Monday for entry into Gaza. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Netanyahu&#39;s government and Hamas have been trading blame over violations of the US-mediated ceasefire for days. Late Saturday in Washington, the State Department said it had received &quot;credible reports indicating an imminent ceasefire violation by Hamas against the people of Gaza.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The State Department said the planned attack against Palestinian civilians would be a &quot;direct and grave violation of the ceasefire agreement.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&quot;Should Hamas proceed with this attack, measures will be taken to protect the people of Gaza and preserve the integrity of the ceasefire,&quot; the department said in a statement, without providing further details. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trump had said he would consider allowing Israeli forces to resume fighting in Gaza if Hamas fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal that he brokered. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The militant group has launched a security crackdown in urban areas vacated by Israeli forces, demonstrating its power through public executions and clashes with local armed clans. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dispute over aid, return of bodies&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hamas, in a statement late on Saturday, said Netanyahu&#39;s decision &quot;constitutes a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and a repudiation of the commitments he made to the mediators and guarantor parties.&quot; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It also said the continued closure of the Rafah crossing would prevent the entry of equipment needed to search for and locate more hostage bodies under the rubble, and would thus delay the recovery and handover of the remains. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Israel said it received two more bodies late on Saturday, meaning 12 out of 28 bodies have been handed over under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal agreed between Israel and Hamas last week. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The war has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with nearly all inhabitants driven from their homes, a global hunger monitor confirming famine and health authorities overwhelmed. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The dispute over the return of bodies, and shipments of life-saving humanitarian aid, underlines the fragility of the ceasefire and still has the potential to upset the deal along with other major issues that are included in U.S. President Donald Trump&#39;s 20-point plan to end the war. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of the deal, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages it had been holding for two years, in return for almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners jailed in Israel. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formidable obstacles to peace <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Israel says that Hamas has been too slow to hand over the bodies of deceased hostages it still holds. The militant group says that locating some of the bodies amid the vast destruction in Gaza will take time. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The deal requires Israel to return 360 bodies of Palestinian militants for the deceased Israeli hostages and so far it has handed over 15 bodies in return for each Israeli body it has received. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rafah has largely been shut since May 2024. The ceasefire deal also includes the ramping up of aid into the enclave, where hundreds of thousands of people were determined in August to be affected by famine, according to the IPC global hunger monitor. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After cutting off all supplies for 11 weeks in March, Israel increased aid into Gaza in July, scaling it up further since the ceasefire. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around 560 metric tons of food had entered Gaza per day on average since the US-brokered truce, but this was still well below the scale of need, according to the UN World Food Programme. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Formidable obstacles to Trump&#39;s plan to end the war still remain. Key questions of Hamas disarming and how Gaza will be governed, the make-up of an international &quot;stabilization force&quot; and moves towards the creation of a Palestinian state have yet to be resolved.

File Photo - Trucks carrying humanitarian aid enter the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, following an agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mohamed Arafat)

The Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt will remain closed until further notice, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding its reopening will depend on Hamas handing over the bodies of deceased hostages as the two sides continued to trade blame over ceasefire violations.

Israel says Rafah crossing will stay closed until further notice

The opening game of New Zealand&#39;s three-match Twenty20 series with England was abandoned due to heavy rain in Christchurch on Saturday, with the hosts denied the opportunity to chase down a modest total for victory.&nbsp;Play was called off following a long delay after England&#39;s innings, in which the tourists scored 153-6 in 20 overs on a difficult wicket, with Sam Curran (49 not out) finishing well after Jos Buttler (29) failed to build on a good start. The second match takes place at the same venue on Monday before the finale in Auckland on Thursday,&nbsp;as both teams step up their preparations for next year&#39;s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, likely to be held in February-March.&nbsp;New Zealand fast bowlers Matt Henry (1-26) and Jacob Duffy (1-45) made full use of early swing and bounce at Hagley Oval to restrict England to only 44-2 in the opening six powerplay overs before Harry Brook (20) looked to cut loose.&nbsp;Jimmy Neesham (1-20) conceded a couple of huge sixes to the England skipper in the eighth over but gained revenge by getting through his defense, and the tourists&#39; momentum ground to a halt again when Mitch Santner (1-20) removed Tom Banton for nine.&nbsp;The dangerous Buttler also fell to spin shortly afterwards, holing out in the deep while looking to attack Michael Bracewell (1-10),&nbsp;before rain halted play in the 17th over with England on 110-5 and seeking a late charge to boost their total.&nbsp;Kyle Jamieson (1-27) removed Jordan Cox for 16 after the break, but Curran persevered, benefiting from a dropped catch and surviving a loud appeal for lbw to take England to a respectable total with 19 runs in the final over.

Cricket

The second match takes place at the same venue on Monday before the finale in Auckland on Thursday, as both teams step up their preparations for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand v England T20 series opener abandoned due to rain

<p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 2; font-family: Knowledge; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; 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;" id="isPasted"><span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font: inherit;">ANTANANARIVO:<span style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-pan-x: ; --tw-pan-y: ; --tw-pinch-zoom: ; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-gradient-from-position: ; --tw-gradient-via-position: ; --tw-gradient-to-position: ; --tw-ordinal: ; --tw-slashed-zero: ; --tw-numeric-figure: ; --tw-numeric-spacing: ; --tw-numeric-fraction: ; --tw-ring-inset: ; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-blur: ; --tw-brightness: ; --tw-contrast: ; --tw-grayscale: ; --tw-hue-rotate: ; --tw-invert: ; --tw-saturate: ; --tw-sepia: ; --tw-drop-shadow: ; --tw-backdrop-blur: ; --tw-backdrop-brightness: ; --tw-backdrop-contrast: ; --tw-backdrop-grayscale: ; --tw-backdrop-hue-rotate: ; --tw-backdrop-invert: ; --tw-backdrop-opacity: ; --tw-backdrop-saturate: ; --tw-backdrop-sepia: ; --tw-contain-size: ; --tw-contain-layout: ; --tw-contain-paint: ; --tw-contain-style: ; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: inherit; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;Madagascar&#39;s coup leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as president on Friday to cheers, blaring trumpets and raised swords, days after taking control of the island nation in the wake of youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor.Ex-leader Andry Rajoelina, whom lawmakers impeached after he fled abroad at the weekend, has condemned the takeover and refused to step down while in exile, despite widespread defections in the security forces and the High Constitutional Court ratifying the army takeover within hours of it happening. The African Union and the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have condemned the coup, which came after weeks of &quot;Gen Z&quot; protests initially triggered by severe, chronic power and water shortages. <span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:#000000;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">Military-led committee to rule for up to two years&quot;I will fully, completely, and justly fulfil the high responsibilities of my position as President of the Republic of Madagascar,&quot; Randrianirina said in a ceremony at the High Constitutional Court, a colonial-era red-brick building of French windows, segmental arches and stone balustrades. &quot;I swear that I will exercise the power entrusted to me and dedicate all my strength to defending and strengthening national unity and human rights,&quot; he added, before military officers raised swords and trumpets blared to mark the handover. While many of the youths cheered the demise of Rajoelina&#39;s administration, which came to office in a 2009 coup, some are already expressing misgivings about the swiftness with which the army stepped in to fill the power vacuum. Randrianirina had said earlier that the military had taken power and dissolved all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly. He also said that a committee led by the military would rule for up to two years alongside a transitional government before organising new elections. Elite Army UnitRandrianirina was a commander in the elite CAPSAT army unit that played a role in the 2009 coup that brought Rajoelina to power but broke ranks with him last week, urging soldiers not to fire on protesters. Madagascar&#39;s population of about 30 million people has an average age of less than 20 years. Three-quarters of the people live in poverty, and the average income is barely $600 a month while prices of basic goods such as the staple rice have spiralled. Between its independence in 1960 and 2020, GDP per capita plunged 45%, according to the World Bank, one of the few countries to have become worse off over that period.

Madagascar's new military ruler, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, reacts as he takes a seat after being sworn in as president on Friday, taking over from Andry Rajoelina following a coup that ousted him, at the constitutional court in Antananarivo, Madagasc

Africa

Madagascar's coup leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina was sworn in as president on Friday to cheers, blaring trumpets and raised swords, days after taking control of the island nation in the wake of youth-led protests that forced out his predecessor.

Madagascar coup leader Randrianirina sworn in as president

Euro zone government bond yields fell to multi-month lows on Friday as US-China trade tensions and signs of credit stress in the US banking system weighed on risk sentiment, driving investors into safe-haven assets. China on Thursday accused the US of stoking panic over its rare earth controls and rejected a White House call to roll back the curbs. US bank stocks, including Zions Bancorporation, Jefferies and Western Alliance, fell sharply on Thursday as investors grew uneasy about risk in the sector, which has been shaken by exposure to two auto bankruptcies. Germany&rsquo;s 10-year Bund yields, the euro zone&rsquo;s benchmark, were down 4 basis points to 2.53%, after hitting 2.524%, their lowest since June 25. &ldquo;Risk sentiment remains fragile, with US regional banks leading the move lower,&rdquo; said Mohit Kumar, an economist at Jefferies. &ldquo;Investors are long in risk assets, and there are enough reasons to be concerned short term &mdash; valuations, AI bubble, politics. This makes investors sensitive to any negative headlines,&rdquo; he added. Money markets raised bets on European Central Bank rate cuts. They priced in about an 80% chance of a 25-basis-point cut by July EURESTECBM7X8=ICAP, up from around 65% the day before. The key rate is seen at 1.78% in December 2026 EURESTECBM10X11=ICAP from the current 2%. Germany&rsquo;s two-year yields DE2YT=RR, more sensitive to ECB rate expectations, dropped 5 bps to 1.87%, after hitting 1.869%, their lowest since July 24. The yield gap between safe-haven Bunds and 10-year French government bonds DE10FR10=RR &mdash; a market gauge of the risk premium investors demand to hold French debt &mdash; widened 4 bps to 78.50. It hit 87.96 bps earlier this month, the highest since Jan. 13, on concerns about the French fiscal outlook, but fell below 75 bps after French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in parliament on Thursday.

Futures-options traders work on the floor at the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., October 2, 2025. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Banking

Euro zone government bond yields fell to multi-month lows on Friday as US-China trade tensions and signs of credit stress in the US banking system weighed on risk sentiment, driving investors into safe-haven assets.

Euro zone bond yields hit multi-month lows amid US, China trade tensions

PARIS/UNITED NATIONS: France and Britain, in coordination with the United States, are working to finalise a UN Security Council resolution in the coming days that would lay the foundation for a future international force in Gaza, France said on Thursday. With a shaky US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holding, planning has begun for an international force to stabilize security in the Palestinian enclave, two senior US advisers said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Paris, French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said such a force needed a UN mandate to provide a strong foundation in international law and ease the process of getting potential contributions from countries. &quot;France is working closely with its partners on the establishment of such an international mission, which must be formalised through the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution,&quot; he said. &quot;Discussions, notably with the Americans and British, are ongoing to propose this resolution in the coming days.&quot; US President Donald Trump&#39;s administration is speaking with many countries interested in contributing to the force, a White House official said on Thursday. &quot;We are also in conversations about a potential UN Security Council resolution to support this effort,&quot; the White House official said. STABILISATION FORCE &#39;WILL TAKE SOME TIME&#39;, SAYS BRITAIN Paris hosted talks with other European and Arab powers on October 10 to flesh out ideas for Gaza&#39;s post-war transition, including how an international force could take shape. Diplomats said the stabilisation force would not be a formal United Nations peacekeeping force paid for by the world body. Instead, a Security Council resolution could mirror action taken by the 15-member body to back the deployment of an international force to combat armed gangs in Haiti. That resolution spells out and authorizes the mission and states contributing to the force to &quot;take all necessary measures&quot; &ndash; code for the use of force &ndash; to carry out the mandate. &quot;The stabilisation force will take some time,&quot; British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament on Tuesday. &quot;The terms of reference are still being drawn up. There is a United Nations Security Council resolution on the establishment of the force, or I hope there will be, but the wider terms of reference are not yet agreed.&quot; INDONESIA PREVIOUSLY OFFERED 20,000 TROOPS Among the countries the US is speaking to about contributing to the force are Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Qatar, and Azerbaijan, the advisers said on condition of anonymity. There are also currently up to two dozen US troops in the region to help set up the operation, serving in a &quot;coordination, oversight&quot; role, they said. Italy has publicly said it was willing to take part. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto told the United Nations General Assembly on September 23 that if there was a UN resolution, Indonesia was prepared to deploy 20,000 or more troops in Gaza to help secure peace. The 193-member UN General Assembly last month overwhelmingly voted to endorse a declaration that aimed to advance a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians, which supports the deployment of a temporary international stabilization mission mandated by the UN Security Council.

 Palestinians walk past the rubble of destroyed buildings, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, October 16, 2025.

United Kingdom

France and Britain, in coordination with the United States, are working to finalise a UN Security Council resolution in the coming days that would lay the foundation for a future international force in Gaza, France said on Thursday.

France and Britain refine plans at UN for Gaza force resolution

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Jeddah on Wednesday for an official visit to Saudi Arabia, kicking off a significant four-day official tour spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye from April 15 to 18, according to an official statement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 688px; 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=2044273504418447435&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8826cd1edd93237dc0a2dec520b30130f6da51cf&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, the statement said, without sharing further details. The announcement comes shortly after Finance Minister Aurangzeb said that Saudi Arabia has committed an additional $3 billion in deposits to Pakistan, with disbursement expected within a week, providing timely support for the country&rsquo;s external financing needs.&nbsp;Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-finance-minister-outlines-macroeconomic-outlook-reform-progress-at-uspakistan-business-council-luncheon" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026</a>, the finance minister said the Kingdom has also agreed to extend its existing $5 billion deposit for a longer period, moving away from the earlier annual rollover arrangement. During his visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the prime minister is expected to hold high-level meetings with the leadership of both countries to discuss bilateral cooperation as well as regional peace and security. In T&uuml;rkiye, the prime minister will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, where he will join a leaders&rsquo; panel to present Pakistan&rsquo;s perspective on key global issues. On the sidelines of the forum, Sharif is also expected to meet Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and other world leaders.Pakistan&rsquo;s participation in the forum reflects its commitment to constructive diplomacy, multilateral cooperation and engagement on global challenges. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi, along with other senior officials.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Muhammad bin Salman on March 12, 2026, in Jeddah.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will depart for Jeddah on Wednesday for an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan's PM to begin three-nation visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkiye

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Tuesday that the country&#39;s leadership is not giving up on efforts to help the US and Iran negotiate.&nbsp; &quot;We would very much like to see if we can continue to pursue the dialogue,&quot; he said during an interview with the Associated Press on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. &quot;We&#39;ll keep at it, and our leadership is at it.&quot; Aurangzeb said&nbsp;the&nbsp;talks marked the first direct discussion between the two nations in nearly 50 years. The finance minister said he also met this week with US officials, including Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to discuss trade and finance concerns. He plans to meet Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday. In a phone call with The New York Post, President Trump said Tuesday a second round of talks with Iran &quot;could be happening over the next two days,&quot; indicating that the venue could be Islamabad.

Muhammad Aurangzeb - (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Pakistan's Finance Minister says Pakistan will continue to push US-Iran dialogue as talks resume, and Donald Trump signals a possible second round soon.

Pakistan won't quit US-Iran mediation, says finance minister

BEIJING: Russia&#39;s foreign minister said that his country could make up for China&#39;s energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Russian state media reported Wednesday. &quot;Russia can, without a doubt, compensate for the shortfall in resources that has arisen&quot; for China and &quot;other countries that are interested in working with us&quot; Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference in Beijing, in response to a question about the Hormuz blockage. He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit China in the first half of the year, Moscow&#39;s TASS state news agency reported. Russia and China&#39;s close economic and political partnership has deepened since Moscow&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov, who began a two-day visit to Beijing on Tuesday and met President Xi Jinping on Wednesday, characterised the bilateral relationship as &quot;unshakable in the face of any storms&quot;, Russia&#39;s TASS and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. Ties between the countries &quot;play a stabilising role in world affairs&quot; and are &quot;becoming increasingly important... for the global majority that does not want problems or turbulence&quot;, he said. Lavrov&#39;s visit comes during the same week as a string of foreign leaders meet with Xi in the Chinese capital, including To Lam of Vietnam and Pedro Sanchez of Spain.

China

Asia

Sergei Lavrov says Russia can offset China’s energy shortfall amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, as Moscow and Beijing deepen strategic ties.

Russia can 'compensate' for China's resource gap from Iran war

Web Desk/AFP

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;Israel and Lebanon released a joint statement saying that they held &ldquo;productive discussions&rdquo; and agreed to launch direct negotiations as the two sides met in Washington, the United States said on Tuesday. &quot;The participants held productive discussions on steps toward launching direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon,&quot; State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. &quot;All sides agreed to launch direct negotiations at a mutually agreed time and venue,&quot; he said. The announcement came after Israeli and Lebanese envoys held more than two hours of talks mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. &quot;The United States congratulated the two countries on this historic milestone and expressed its support for further talks, and for the government of Lebanon&#39;s plans to restore the monopoly of force and to end Iran&#39;s overbearing influence,&quot; Pigott said. And it &quot;affirmed that any agreement to cease hostilities must be reached between the two governments, brokered by the United States, and not through any separate track,&quot; he added. Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on March 2 after pro-Tehran Hezbollah attacked Israel. Since then, Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million, despite international calls for a ceasefire, and Israeli ground forces have invaded southern Lebanon.

Israel and Lebanon agree to launch direct negotiations after “productive” talks in Washington mediated by Marco Rubio, marking a potential step toward de-escalation.

Israel, Lebanon agree to direct negotiations after 'productive' talks: US

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb said that Saudi Arabia has committed an additional $3 billion in deposits to Pakistan, with disbursement expected within a week, providing timely support for the country&rsquo;s external financing needs. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-finance-minister-outlines-macroeconomic-outlook-reform-progress-at-uspakistan-business-council-luncheon" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026</a>, the finance minister said the Kingdom has also agreed to extend its existing $5 billion deposit for a longer period, moving away from the earlier annual rollover arrangement. <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" 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=2044247340308148616&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=6cce7b9fd498f49855a1f8e1b89c9a140954b443&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Aurangzeb said the fresh inflows would help strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign exchange reserves and support its external account, as the government aims to build reserves to around $18 billion, equivalent to about 3.3 months of import cover, by the end of the current fiscal year. He said Pakistan remains committed to meeting all external obligations on time, noting that the recent repayment of a $1.4 billion Eurobond was completed smoothly. The minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s external financing plan is well-defined and being implemented in a disciplined manner under the IMF-supported program. He added that during his visit, he held detailed talks with Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan and senior Pakistani officials to finalize the support package. Aurangzeb expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for continued financial backing and close cooperation. He said Pakistan is receiving strong recognition from international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as global investors, for its economic reforms and diplomatic engagement. The minister added that Pakistan is advancing efforts to diversify funding sources through initiatives such as the Global Medium-Term Note program and a planned Panda Bond issuance. Aurangzeb reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s commitment to macroeconomic stability, continuity of reforms, and sustained engagement with bilateral and multilateral partners.

Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, alongside State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad, met Saudi Finance Minister H.E. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan in Washington on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026.

Economy

The finance minister said the Kingdom has also agreed to extend its existing $5 billion deposit for a longer period, moving away from the earlier annual rollover arrangement.

Saudi Arabia commits $3B in additional deposits for Pakistan: FM Aurangzeb

GAZA CITY: Gaza&#39;s civil defense agency said on Tuesday that a toddler was among 10 people killed in separate Israeli strikes in the northern part of the Palestinian territory. Violence continues despite a ceasefire in the Gaza war that came into effect on October 10, with both Israel and Hamas regularly accusing each other of violations. Mahmoud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency, said &quot;four people were killed, including a child and several others were injured... in a strike targeting a police vehicle&quot; in Gaza City. He identified the child as three-year-old Yahya al-Mallahi. Gaza City&#39;s Al-Shifa hospital confirmed receiving the bodies of the dead. Contacted by AFP, the Israeli army said it was looking into the details. In a statement, Gaza&#39;s interior ministry said Israeli warplanes had &quot;targeted a police vehicle&quot; in the city centre, &quot;causing several deaths and injuries.&quot; Bassal also said another person had been killed by Israeli fire in the northern Beit Lahia area earlier on Tuesday. The military said in a statement that its troops had identified an &quot;armed terrorist&quot; in the area of the so-called Yellow Line &mdash; behind which its forces have withdrawn &mdash; who approached their position. The army said he was killed in a strike, but it was unclear whether it referred to the same incident in Beit Lahia. AFP footage showed Palestinians gathering around the body of a man who was then placed on a stretcher and carried away to be buried through streets lined with rubble. Later on Tuesday evening, the civil defense agency reported that multiple people were killed in another strike near an intersection in the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City. The Al-Shifa hospital confirmed receiving five bodies from &quot;an Israeli drone bombing with two missiles a group of citizens in front of warehouses for electricity generators&quot; in Al-Shati. The military did not offer an immediate response regarding the latest strike. The October ceasefire followed more than two years of war on Gaza. At least 757 have been killed in Gaza since the truce came into effect, according to the territory&#39;s health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations. The Israeli army says five of its soldiers have been killed in Gaza over the same period. Media restrictions and limited access in Gaza have prevented AFP from independently verifying casualty figures or freely covering the fighting.

Violence continues despite a ceasefire in the Gaza war that came into effect on October 10, with both sides accusing each other of violations; at least 757 have been killed in Gaza since the truce came into effect.

Gaza civil defense says toddler among 10 killed in Israeli strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday briefed participants at a luncheon of the US-Pakistan Business Council on the country&#39;s macroeconomic outlook and reform progress. The finance minister departed for the United States to participate in the World Bank Group&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026, to be held in Washington, from April 13 to 18, 2026. The minister met the United States Trade Representative on the sidelines of the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2026 to discuss trade and investment cooperation. In a post on the Finance Ministry&rsquo;s X account, Finance Minister Aurangzeb interacted with representatives of US companies operating in Pakistan on the sidelines of the World Bank&ndash;IMF Spring Meetings 2026. Highlighting the approval of a staff-level agreement on the third review under Pakistan&rsquo;s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), the finance minister outlined the economic impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly in terms of energy procurement, pricing, and logistics. According to the statement, the finance minister elaborated on the &ldquo;government&rsquo;s policy response, including measures focused on supply chain stabilization, demand management, and the provision of fiscally-neutral targeted subsidies.&rdquo; He also highlighted emerging positive developments, including a &ldquo;significant surge in transshipment volumes through Karachi Port and record inflows under the Roshan Digital Account initiative.&rdquo; Underscoring the ongoing efforts to broaden the tax base, the finance minister talked about the &ldquo;particular focus&rdquo; the government has &ldquo;on bringing segments of the informal professional economy into the tax net through targeted Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) audits and sector-specific engagement.&rdquo; An interactive question-and-answer segment was held at the end of the discussion, reflecting strong interest from participants in Pakistan&rsquo;s economic trajectory and reform agenda.

Finance minister interacts with representatives of US companies operating in Pakistan on the sidelines of the World Bank–IMF Spring Meetings 2026.



Pakistan's finance chief outlines macroeconomic outlook, reform progress at US-Pakistan Business Council 

This live blog follows updates for Day 47 of the US-Israeli war on Iran. For a recap of Day 46, go <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-46" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">here</a>.<hr style="line-height: 2;"><ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">US-Israel Iran war continues amid ceasefire, ongoing diplomatic efforts</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">Trump says the second round of peace talks in Pakistan could happen&nbsp;</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">Israel, &nbsp;Lebanon move toward direct talks seeking ceasefire, stability</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">Strait of Hormuz tensions disrupt oil flow despite partial crossings and talks</li><li id="isPasted" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2;">Global markets rise cautiously on hopes of conflict de-escalation and agreement</li></ul><hr style="line-height: 2;"> Pakistan won&#39;t quit US-Iran mediation, says finance minister Published: April 15, 2026 | 04:46 GMT | By Web Desk Pakistan&#39;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said Tuesday that the country&#39;s leadership is not giving up on efforts to help the US and Iran negotiate.&nbsp;&quot;We would very much like to see if we can continue to pursue the dialogue,&quot; he said during an interview with the Associated Press on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. &quot;We&#39;ll keep at it, and our leadership is at it.&rdquo;&nbsp;Aurangzeb said the talks marked the first direct discussion between the two nations in nearly 50 years. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; 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;"> Russia can &#39;compensate&#39; for China&#39;s resource gap from Iran warPublished: April 15, 2026 | 03:56 GMT | By AFP Russia&#39;s foreign minister said that his country could make up for China&#39;s energy shortages as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is choked by the US-Israeli war with Iran, Russian state media reported Wednesday.&nbsp;&quot;Russia can, without a doubt, compensate for the shortfall in resources that has arisen&quot; for China and &quot;other countries that are interested in working with us&quot; Sergei Lavrov said at a news conference in Beijing, in response to a question about the Hormuz blockage. <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; 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;"> Iran must commit to &#39;no nuclear weapon&#39;Published: April 15, 2026 | 02:43 GMT | By Web Desk US Vice President JD Vance said Trump told Iran that the United States would &quot;make Iran thrive&quot; if it committed to &quot;not having a nuclear weapon&quot;. At the heart of any renewed US-Iran diplomacy is the dispute over Tehran&#39;s nuclear programme, with Trump launching the war under the pretext that the Islamic Republic was developing an atomic bomb &mdash; which it denies. &quot;That&#39;s the kind of Trumpian grand bargain that the president has put on the table. Man, we&#39;re going to keep on negotiating and try to make it happen,&quot; Vance told an event in the US state of Georgia hosted by the conservative group Turning Point USA. <hr> Vance says talks made a &lsquo;ton of progress&rsquo; in Pakistan&nbsp;Published: April 15, 2026 | 01:46 GMT | By Web Desk US Vice President JD Vance has said that the negotiations in Pakistan made a &quot;ton of progress,&quot; adding that President Donald Trump did not want a small deal; he was looking for a &ldquo;grand bargain.&rdquo; &ldquo;He [Trump] said that if you&#39;re [Iran] willing to act like a normal country, we are willing to treat you economically like a normal country,&rdquo; Vance said. <hr> Canada, Australia, UK and others call for &lsquo;urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon&rsquo;Published: April 15, 2026 | 01:25 GMT | By Web Desk Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Sierra Leone, and Switzerland have issued a joint statement, expressing deep concern about &ldquo;the worsening humanitarian situation and displacement crisis in Lebanon,&rdquo; Al Jazeera reported. The countries welcoming the ceasefire between the US, Israel, and Iran, and countries called for &ldquo;an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon,&rdquo; too. &ldquo;Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected from the effects of hostilities. Humanitarian personnel, who dedicate themselves to protecting and assisting the most vulnerable, must be respected and protected,&rdquo; the statement said &ldquo;Attacks that threaten the safety and security of humanitarian personnel must stop. International humanitarian law must be upheld by all parties to the conflict in all circumstances,&rdquo; it added. The countries also condemned &ldquo;in the strongest terms actions that have killed UN peacekeepers and significantly increased the risks faced by humanitarian personnel in southern Lebanon.&rdquo; <hr style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 0px; overflow: visible; clear: both; user-select: none; break-after: page; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; 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;"> Trump says war on Iran &#39;very close to over&#39; &nbsp;Published: April 15, 2026 | 0:44 GMT | By Web Desk US President Donald Trump has said that in his view, the US-Israel war on Iran was &ldquo;very close to over.&rdquo;&nbsp; In response to a question as to why he was referring to the war on Iran in the past tense, the US president said: &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s close to over.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;I mean, I view it as very close to over,&rdquo; Trump said.&nbsp; While speaking to Fox News, the US president said that if he were to raise the &ldquo;stakes&rdquo; in the war, it would take Iran 20 years to rebuild their country.&nbsp; &ldquo;I think they want to make a deal very badly,&rdquo; he said. <hr style="line-height: 2;"> Rubio meets Egyptian foreign minister, discusses Iran ceasefirePublished: April 15, 2026 | 00:58GMT | By Web Desk US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Al Jazeera reported. A spokesperson for Rubio said the leaders &ldquo;discussed the ceasefire with Iran and the importance of securing long-term peace in the Middle East.&rdquo; The statement further noted that Rubio &ldquo;also discussed joint efforts to disarm Hamas, in line with the President&rsquo;s 20-Point Plan for Gaza, and explored ways to bolster the US-Egypt economic and commercial relationship.&quot; Rubio also &ldquo;stressed the importance of ongoing US and Egyptian efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce in Sudan,&rdquo; the statement read. <hr> Guterres expresses enormous admiration for PakistanPublished: April 14, 2026 | 22:49GMT | By AFP UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed enormous admiration for Pakistan for the peace talks held in Islamabad last week.&nbsp; The UN official said that it was a very important initiative that Pakistan has assumed in order to bring peace to the Middle East.

US president says if he were to raise the stakes in the war, it would take Iran 20 years to rebuild, adds Iran wants to make a deal "very badly"; UN secretary-general expresses enormous admiration for Pakistan for Islamabad talks, terms it a "very important initiative"; VP Vance says negotiations in Pakistan made "ton of progress."



Trump says war on Iran 'very close to over'  

ISLAMABAD: The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, T&uuml;rkiye, and Egypt will meet in Ankara on Friday, a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday.&nbsp; The foreign ministers of the four nations met last month in Islamabad for consultations aimed at de-escalating the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the US. The meetings highlighted Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding diplomatic outreach as regional powers intensified coordination to contain the conflict affecting security, humanitarian conditions, and global economic stability. In a press release issued today, the foreign office said that in a follow-up consultative meeting, senior officials of the respective foreign ministries met today in Islamabad. The Pakistan delegation to the meeting was led by the Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi, and the delegations of T&uuml;rkiye, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia were headed respectively by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Musa Kulaklikaya; Assistant Foreign Minister Ambassador Nazih El Naggari; and MFA Director General Prince Dr Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud Al-Kabeer AlSaud. The deliberations of the meeting held in Islamabad will be submitted for consideration at the forthcoming meeting of the four foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF). The senior officials also made a joint call to the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.

The foreign ministers will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum; foreign office says officials of the respective foreign ministries met today in Islamabad.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Egypt to meet in Ankara on Friday

DHAKA: About 250 people, including children, were feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsized in the Andaman Sea, the United Nations said on Tuesday.&nbsp;&quot;The trawler, which departed from Teknaf in southern Bangladesh and was on its way to Malaysia, reportedly sank due to heavy winds, rough seas, and overcrowding,&quot; the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a statement.&nbsp;Thousands of Rohingya, Myanmar&#39;s persecuted Muslim minority, risk their lives every year fleeing repression and civil war in their country by sea, often aboard makeshift boats.&nbsp;The Rohingya on board the boat were likely leaving huge camps in Bangladesh&#39;s Cox&#39;s Bazar, where more than a million refugees forced to flee Myanmar&#39;s western state of Rakhine live in squalid conditions.&nbsp;Rakhine state has been the scene of fierce fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, an ethnic minority rebel group, over control of the territory.&nbsp;The exact circumstances surrounding the latest incident were unclear, but preliminary information indicated that the vessel was carrying 280 people and left Bangladesh on April 4.&nbsp;&quot;This tragic incident reflects the dire consequences of protracted displacement and the absence of durable solutions for the Rohingya,&quot; the UNHCR statement said.&nbsp;It was also &quot;a reminder of the efforts urgently needed to address the root causes of displacement in Myanmar and create conditions that would allow Rohingya refugees to return home voluntarily, safely and with dignity,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The Andaman Sea stretches along the western shores of Myanmar, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula.&nbsp;Last year, the UNHCR said that 427 Rohingya were feared dead at sea in two shipwrecks off the Myanmar coast in May.

The United Nations says about 250 people, including children, are feared missing after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals capsizes in the Andaman Sea.

Articles by Reuters