WORLD
Pakistan currency, stock markets take a hit as budget fails to restore investors' confidence
The local currency surpassed the critical threshold of 204 against the US dollar in the interbank market during intra-day trade, while the benchmark KSE-100 index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) plunged by nearly 800 points, Geo News reported. The expert said that the federal budget for the next fiscal year was being seen as a "major milestone" for the revival of the stalled $6 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Geo News reported.
World Bank keeps Malaysia's economic growth forecast at 5.5%
The growth is mainly driven by a robust rebound in consumption demand, Xinhua news agency quoted the World Bank as saying in a report. According to the global lender, Malaysia's private consumption growth is forecast to reach 8.5 per cent this year, its fastest pace since 2008. The World Bank also projected Malaysia's economy to grow at 4.5 per cent in 2023 and 4.4 per cent in 2024.
Russia accused of war crimes in Kharkiv
The rights group made the remark in a report titled, 'Anyone Can Die At Any Time', published on Monday, the Guardian reported. "The repeated bombardments of residential neighbourhoods in Kharkiv are indiscriminate attacks which killed and injured hundreds of civilians, and as such constitute war crimes," the report said.
Cash starved Pakistan spends big on military despite financial meltdown
What is worrying is that the country's allocation for Higher Education Commission is a mere Rs 65 billion for 2022-23. Not just that. It has reduced the allocation for the federal and provincial Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) at Rs 727 billion-- down 19.2 per cent from last year's budgeted amount of Rs 900 billion.
Russia may lose over 40,000 troops by June end: Zelensky
"It seems that they will throw poorly trained conscripts into the battle, as well as those who had been recruited via covert mobilisation efforts. Russian generals consider their people simply as cannon fodder, which they need to ensure they outnumber us in military personnel, in military equipment.
McDonald's successor reopens in Russia after US giant withdrawal
Oleg Paroev, General Director of the company, on Sunday announced the new brand meaning "Delicious -- and that's it," during a ceremony at the restaurant in downtown Moscow's Pushkinskaya Square, the first McDonald's restaurant in the Soviet Union that opened in 1990. Another 50 outlets will be reopened on Monday, and nearly 200 outlets are expected to reopen by the end of June.
Russia urges US to explain military biological activities
On Sunday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the United States must fulfill its obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), which is essential for international security. Zakharova added that Russia plans to hold consultations with other BTWC members on measures to increase control over the activities carried out by the United States in bio-labs in the post-Soviet space, Xinhua news agency reported.
Palestinian PM urges forming international front to end Israeli occupation, protect two-state solution
Ishtaye on Sunday made the remarks during a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah with Maya Tissafi, Assistant State Secretary of the Swiss Foreign Ministry and head of the Middle East and North Africa Department, according to a statement from Ishtaye's office. "Forming an international front to exert pressure on the Israeli occupation is very important," said the Palestinian Prime Minister, who urged Switzerland to recognise the state of Palestine.
Fear for democracy in Pakistan as ISI gets power over civil service appointments
The move has placed the verification and screening of government officials in charge of postings, appointments and promotions in ISI hands, leading to concerns of a shrunken civilian space. Pakistan's powerful military, which ruled the country directly for three decades, and its premier intelligence agency have a long history of meddling in politics and controlling politicians.
Any attempts to sideline Russia in int'l politics doomed to fail: Spy chief
"Russia is a traditional guarantor of international peace and security. No peace, neither global nor regional, can be solid, stable, or lasting without Russia," RT quoted the spy chief as saying on Saturday. The attempts of the "liberal totalitarian regimes" in the West to sanction and cancel Russia only demonstrate their obsession with being the centre of the world and making other nations bend to their will, Naryshkin added.
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