Pakistan

Pakistan's economy is under dual pressure from IMF fiscal demands and regional energy disruptions. The IMF has called for replacing excise tax cuts with targeted measures for vulnerable households, while oil and LNG tankers from Hormuz are reaching Pakistan and China, and talks with Iran seek more Qatari LNG via the strait.

• 9IMF warns 'much worse outcome' for global economy amid Iran conflict - news.cgtn.com
• 6Britain is closer to an IMF bailout than at any point in 50 years
• 5++ Replace excise tax cuts with targeted measures for vulnerable households says IMF ++
• 5Oil and LNG tankers leave Hormuz for Pakistan and China
• 5IMF Warns AI-Powered Cyberattacks Threaten Global Financial Stability

Pakistan has become a central diplomatic channel in US-Iran peace talks, with Army Chief Asim Munir visiting Tehran and Iran sending a revised proposal via Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif simultaneously secured praise from US War Secretary Hegseth and from China's Xi Jinping for 'unbreakable' ties during a Beijing visit.

• 16Pakistan army chief visits Iran amid US peace talks progress
• 16US Iran War News Live Updates: Asim Munir travels to Tehran for meetings with senior Iranian officials, says report
• 13Iran sends revised proposal to US via Pakistan amid Imran Khan cypher leak
• 13Pakistan rejects report on Iranian military aircraft in country as ‘misleading’
• 9Pakistani ambassador: Pakistan ready to ride China's tech wave

Domestic security is under severe strain from a train explosion in southwest Pakistan killing at least 24 and a car bomb killing 12 police officers. Regionally, Pakistan sent 8,000 troops and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions, while the US closed its Peshawar consulate citing safety concerns.

• 40Train explosion in southwest Pakistan kills at least 24
• 22Car bomb kills 12 Pakistani police officers
• 15Pakistan sends 8,000 troops and fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions
• 11US transfers Iranian ship crew to Pakistan in confidence-building move
• 8Nine killed in blast in northwest Pakistan market, police say

Karachi's chronic water shortage has entered its second month, with dry taps during Eid, compounded by a deadly heatwave that killed eight. Urbanization is described as 'haphazard' by researchers, and a truck carrying Afghan refugees overturned, killing 22.

• 4Breathe Pakistan: Researcher warns largest cities of Pakistan facing ‘haphazard’ urbanisation
• 3Journey home ends in tragedy: Truck carrying Afghan refugees from Pakistan overturns, killing 22
• 3'Amount is an insult': Pakistan hockey players hit out at PHF over PKR 1000 daily allowance
• 2Breathe Pakistan: Business leaders, experts stress need to tackle climate change's impact on agri-economy
• 2Eight found dead in Karachi due to intense heat