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☆ Factbox: Why were millions of Pakistanis without electricity?
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Sudarshan Varadhan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here's a look at what happened, and the immediate prospects for Pakistan's power grid. PAKISTAN'S POWER GRIDPakistan typically meets more than a third of its annual power demand using imported natural gas, prices for which shot up following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. FREQUENT POWER CUTSPakistan has been facing hours-long power cuts for months, with rural areas facing longer outages than cities. While the duration of power cuts has come down during the winters, many parts still face power cuts to save fuel costs. It is not immediately clear what the exact cause of Pakistan's grid breakdown was, but power grid frequency typically falls when supply falls short of demand.

☆ Pakistan to start importing Russian oil after March
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Asif Shahzad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Pakistan has been battling a balance of payment crisis with foreign exchange reserves falling to $4.6 billion, barely enough to cover three weeks of imports - mostly for oil. It said in October it was considering buying discounted Russian crude, citing neighbouring India which has been purchasing from Moscow. Pakistan officials and Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, who is in Islamabad for an annual inter-governmental commission on trade and economy, did not specify the size of the planned purchases. Pakistan junior oil minister Musadik Malik told local Geo News TV separately that Islamabad wanted to import 35% of its total crude oil requirement. Shulginov said Russian gas companies might not be in a position at present to extend any supplies to Pakistan.

☆ U.S., German defense ministers meet as differences emerge over tanks for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Germany will allow German-made tanks to be sent to Ukraine to help its defense against Russia if the United States agrees to send its own tanks, a German government source told Reuters. "The secretary (of defense) will be pressing the Germans on this," one senior U.S. defense official said. The United States has committed roughly $24 billion to help Ukraine to defend itself against Russian forces. Some Eastern European officials have publicly called on Germany to allow the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Some U.S. officials remain hopeful that they can convince Germany to allow the transfer of third party tanks to Ukraine.

☆ All eyes on Germany when defense leaders meet on arming Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ints KalninsWASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - When dozens of defense ministers meet at an airbase in Germany on Friday, all eyes will be set on what Berlin is - and is not - willing to provide Ukraine. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been set to meet German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht in Berlin before the Ramstein conference, but she resigned from her post on Monday. Instead, Germany's new Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will host Austin on Thursday. Some Eastern European officials have publicly called on Germany to allow the transfer of Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Well, they're not alone," British Defense minister Ben Wallace said on Monday.

☆ Chinese jet came within 10 feet of U.S. military aircraft -U.S. military
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The close encounter followed what the United States has called a recent trend of increasingly dangerous behavior by Chinese military aircraft. A U.S. military spokesperson said the Chinese jet came within 10 feet of the plane's wing, but 20 feet from its nose, which caused the U.S. aircraft to take evasive maneuvers. China claims vast swathes of the South China Sea that overlap with the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. In a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in November, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin raised the need to improve crisis communications, and also noted what he called dangerous behavior by Chinese military planes. Australia's defence department said in June that a Chinese fighter aircraft dangerously intercepted an Australian military surveillance plane in the South China Sea region in May.

☆ Ethiopian Airlines sees passenger rebound from COVID this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Airlines (ETHA.UL) expects its passenger business to recover to pre-pandemic levels in its financial year ending in June, its chief executive told Reuters. Africa's biggest carrier will ferry 12.7 million passengers during the year, Mesfin Tasew Bekele said in an interview, up from 8.6 million passengers in the previous financial year and 12.1 million before the pandemic struck. Any delays in re-opening of China could however curb the projections, Mesfin said, since it is a key market for both passengers and cargo. Ethiopian fared much better than other African carriers during the pandemic, thanks to its cargo business that was able to compensate for a steep drop in passenger traffic. "Unless we grow, we cannot be successful," Mesfin said, adding that a larger network will give the business economies of scale.

☆ Russia is expanding its nuclear arsenal, U.S. defense secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Idrees Ali | Thomson Reuters | National Security Correspondent Focusing On The Pentagon In Washington D.C. Reports On U.S. Military Activity | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb., Dec 9 (Reuters) - Russia is expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin, faced with setbacks in Ukraine, has repeatedly suggested he could use nuclear weapons. Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, with close to 6,000 warheads, according to experts. Together, Russia and the United States together hold around 90% of the world's nuclear warheads - enough to destroy the planet many times over. "Russia is also modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal," Austin said at a ceremony for the incoming commander of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees the United States nuclear arsenal. The United States has warned Russia over the consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.

☆ England set Pakistan 343 to win Rawalpindi test
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Hritika Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/10] Cricket - First Test - England v Pakistan - Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan - December 4, 2022 Pakistan's players wait for the third umpire's decision for England's Zak Crawley's dismissal REUTERS/Tanveer ShahzadRAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec 4 (Reuters) - England declared their second innings on 264-7 to set Pakistan a victory target of 343 in the first test in Rawalpindi on Sunday. Harry Brook (87), Joe Root (73) and Zak Crawley (50) scored half-centuries for England who amassed 657 in their first innings. Naseem Shah, Mohammad Ali and Zahir Mahmood claimed two wickets apiece for Pakistan who conceded a 78-run lead to England. England, on their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005, will also play matches in Multan and Karachi. Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ World Cup delirium ignites alleys of Pakistan's 'mini Brazil'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Thousands turned out in "Mini Brazil" last Monday when Brazil played Switzerland, sporting the classic yellow and green colours of their favourite team as they gathered in front of large television screens to the sound of raucous music. "Very powerful matches and the Brazil match," said Ashiq Hussain, one of the young players from the academy, adding that he found the matches inspiring. "I went for my job wearing the Brazil shirt, and now at night, I am still wearing the shirt during the match," said another fan, Mohammad Yasin. Brazil's success in that match will draw out thousands more in "Mini Brazil" on Friday, when the team face off against Cameroon. If they draw or win, Brazil will top their Group G.If they lose and Switzerland win against Serbia, the goal difference will decide the top spot.

One month since Arshad Sharif was killed, Kenyan and Pakistani authorities have not concluded their reports nor have there been any arrests in the case. “I have no faith in the Pakistani government,” his mother, Riffat Ara Alvi told CNN in a video interview. But I request all the international journalistic organizations and United Nations to investigate this killing,” his widow, Javeria Siddique told CNN. Arshad Sharif Sharif was a critic of the Pakistani military and an ally of former prime minister Imran Khan. Sharif and Khurram Ahmed left Ammodump around 8:30 p.m. local time, a detective involved in the case told CNN.

☆ Global Poor Lose Services as Developing Countries Face Higher Debt Payments
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Gabriele Steinhauser | Alexander Saeedy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pakistani cities like Karachi suffered rolling power outages this summer after the government cut energy imports to preserve dollars for debt payments. Pakistan turns the power off for up to six hours a day across the country. Ghana’s government has frozen payments to contractors, stalling road construction and prompting schools to warn they may have to stop serving student lunches. El Salvador is limiting hospital services and programs for the elderly. Across much of the developing world, cash-strapped governments are having to cut spending and freeze investments so they can pay creditors, as the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hikes drive up borrowing costs.

☆ Explainer: Why Pakistan's army chief matters far beyond its borders
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Even when a civilian government holds power, Pakistan's generals retain a dominant influence over security matters and foreign affairs. He later headed Pakistan's two most influential intelligence agencies - Military Intelligence (MI) in 2017 and then the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in 2018. WHY IT MATTERS GLOBALLYPakistan's army chief will play a key role in managing risks of conflict with nuclear-armed rival India on its eastern border, while dealing with potential instability and friction with Afghanistan on its western frontier. The incoming army chief could potentially play a key role in lowering the political temperature as Pakistan attempts to survive an economic crisis and recover from historic floods. He even summoned Pakistan's top industrialists to a meeting at army headquarters to encourage them to pay more tax.

☆ A jet built by China and Pakistan may soon be the most widely operated combat aircraft in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

China and Pakistan jointly developed the JF-17 combat jet, which first entered service in 2007. At the same time, China was showcasing the JF-17 at the annual China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zuhai, China. The events were the latest attempts by China and Pakistan to market their jointly developed fourth-generation fighter jet to international customers. JF-17 ThunderA Pakistan Air Force JF-17 takes off at a base in northern Pakistan in June 2013. The single-seat, single-engine jet is known in Pakistan as the JF-17 Thunder and as the FC-1 Xiaolong in China.

☆ China Is Investing Billions in Pakistan. Its Workers There Are Under Attack.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Saeed Shah | Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

KARACHI, Pakistan—In April, a Pakistani mother of two blew herself up outside the gate of Karachi University’s Chinese language and culture institute, incinerating a minibus and killing three Chinese teachers and a Pakistani driver. The attack—one of a growing number targeting Chinese nationals working abroad in Asia and Africa—was a sign of China’s deepening challenges as it pours money into the developing world with the aim of extending its influence.

☆ Explainer: Who Pakistan picks as army chief matters far beyond its borders
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Even when a civilian government holds power, Pakistan's generals retain a dominant influence over security matters and foreign affairs. BAJWA'S LEGACYAppointed chief in 2016, Bajwa sought to balance ties with China and the United States. He even summoned Pakistan's top industrialists to a meeting at army headquarters to encourage them to pay more tax. WHY IT MATTERS GLOBALLYPakistan's army chief will play a key role in managing risks of conflict with nuclear-armed rival India on its eastern border, while dealing with potential instability and friction with Afghanistan on its western frontier. The incoming army chief could potentially play a key role in lowering the political temperature as Pakistan attempts to survive an economic crisis and recover from historic floods.

☆ Factbox: Pakistan's history of coups and assassinations
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pakistan has a history of political coups and unrest. 2007 - Two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack after holding an election rally in Rawalpindi. He puts Bhutto under house arrest, imposes martial law, suspends the constitution and bans political parties1973 - Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto elected as prime minister, taking over from General Yahya Khan. 1958 - In Pakistan's first military coup, Governor-General Iskander Mirza enforces martial law with General Ayub Khan as chief martial law administrator. 1951 - Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, after the 1947 partition of India, is shot dead at a political rally in Rawalpindi.

☆ China will support Pakistan in stabilising its financial situation - Xi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - China will continue to support Pakistan as it tries to stabilise its financial situation, state media quoted President Xi Jinping as saying on Wednesday, during a visit by Pakistan's prime minister to Beijing. Pakistan was expected to seek debt relief from China, particularly the rolling over of bilateral debt of around $23 billion. China has been involved in major mining and infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including the deep-water Gwadar port, all part of the $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). China will also export technology for a 160 km/h high-speed railway train to Pakistan, state broadcaster CCTV said on Wednesday. China welcomes Pakistan to expand high-quality agricultural exports to the country, and is willing to deepen cooperation in areas including the digital economy, e-commerce, photovoltaic and other new energy sources, Xi said.

[1/5] A police officer stands guard near a passenger van, cordoned after a blast at the entrance of the Confucius Institute University of Karachi, Pakistan, April 26, 2022. Even though months have passed since the attack, Pakistani authorities remain deeply worried. Shortly afterwards, schoolteacher Shari Hayat Baloch, 30, is filmed walking in a park with her young son and daughter and later addressing the camera in combat fatigues. The Chinese officials supported Pakistan's counter-terrorism forces in areas such as CCTV footage enhancement and data retrieval from cell phones, the ministry said. On the day of the Karachi attack, Habitan, a dentist, tweeted that he was "beaming with pride" at what his wife had done.

☆ Pakistani returns home after 18 years of U.S. detention in Guantanamo prison camp
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct 29 (Reuters) - A Pakistani national held by the United States for 18 years in the Guantanamo Bay prison camp without trial on suspicion of links to al Qaeda returned home to Pakistan on Saturday, Pakistan and the United States said. "We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family," the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement. At 75, he was the oldest inmate at the camp, according to Reprieve, a London-based human rights group that worked on his case. It said in a statement that Paracha's continued detention was no longer necessary to protect against a "significant threat" to the security of the United States. The Defense Department said 35 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay, of whom 20 are eligible for transfer and three for a Periodic Review Board.

☆ Pakistan's powerful spy agency comes out of the shadows to deny role in the killing of a high-profile journalist in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was shot dead in Kenya in what police said was a case of "mistaken identity." In an unprecedented move, Pakistan's spy agency held its first-ever press conference to deny the claims. The chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, spoke to the media on Thursday alongside a military spokesperson to address Sharif's killing. Arshad Sharif, an investigative journalist known for being critical of Pakistan's powerful military, was shot dead by Kenyan police on Sunday night. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded an inquiry into Sharif's death.

A senior police officer told The Star newspaper that the shooting was being treated as a case of mistaken identity. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Twitter that he had spoken by phone to Kenyan President William Ruto about the incident. Former prime minister Imran Khan condemned the death and said Sharif had been murdered for his journalistic work. “We're deeply saddened by the death of Arshad Sharif. We encourage a full investigation by the government of Kenya into his death," U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters.

☆ Pakistan election commission bars former PM Khan from holding public office
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks at an event of Karachi Bar Association in Karachi on October 14, 2022. Pakistan's Election Commission disqualified former prime minister Imran Khan on Friday from holding public office after its tribunal found him guilty of unlawfully selling state gifts given by foreign dignitaries and heads of state, a lawyer for Khan said. Faisal Chaudhry, a lawyer in Khan's team, said the Election Commission tribunal had no jurisdiction in the matter, and said a challenge would be lodged in the high court. "The election commission doesn't have a legal authority to give a ruling in such cases," he told Reuters. After the tribunal's ruling, Khan's party spokesman Fawad Chaudhry called for supporters to come out on the streets to "topple this parliament".

☆ Pakistan summons U.S. ambassador over Biden's nuclear remarks
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KARACHI, Pakistan Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pakistan's foreign minister said on Saturday he had summoned the U.S. ambassador after President Joe Biden questioned the safety of Pakistan's nuclear programme. In a speech on Thursday, Biden said Pakistan is "maybe one of the most dangerous nations in the world" as it has "nuclear weapons without any cohesion". "As far as the question of the safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear assets are concerned, we meet all – each and every – international standard in accordance with the IAEA," he said at a press conference on Saturday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA transcript of Biden's speech was published by the White House on its website. The foreign minister said worries about Pakistan's nuclear programme were not raised on his recent trip to Washington, where he held extensive meetings, including at the State Department.

☆ Uber exits five Pakistani cities, to continue services via unit Careem
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An Uber office is shown in Redondo Beach, California, U.S., March 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mike BlakeOct 11 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) will discontinue its ride-hailing services app in five cities in Pakistan including Karachi and Islamabad, the company said on Tuesday, in a move that will reduce market overlap between the U.S. firm and its Middle East unit Careem. The change, effective immediately, also covers the cities of Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar, but the Uber app will continue operations in Lahore, where the company plans to launch new products. read moreUber said in a statement it would prioritize minimizing the impact to its employees, drivers, riders, and partners who use the Uber app during this change in those cities. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Pakistan keeps policy rate at 15%, projects high inflation, weak growth
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Syed Raza Hassan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

GDP growth could fall to around 2% in the 2023 financial year compared to previous forecast of 3%-4% before the floods, the central bank statement said. However, the central bank later said the economy faces significant imbalances including a large current account deficit and persistently high inflation. INFLATION VS POLICY RATEThe central bank projected inflation after the floods to be on higher side compared to the last estimate of between 18%-20% in FY2022-23. Higher food prices could raise average headline inflation, the bank said, adding that the impact on the current account deficit was likely to be muted. It said it will leave the current account deficit in the vicinity of the previously forecast 3% of GDP.

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