Demonstrations Cause Traffic Chaos in Islamabad

Reuters
China foreign ministry welcomes Blinken's visit to China as tensions simmer
China's foreign ministry on Thursday welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China as tensions rise between the two countries over global trade, regional conflicts and the Russia-Ukraine war. Blinken will depart on April 23 for a four-day trip to China, where he will meet with senior Chinese officials amid heightening tensions, including over China's alignment with Russia and aggressive moves against the Philippines in the South China Sea, Politico reported.
30m ago
Associated Press
Stock market today: Asian shares gain despite Wall Street's tech-led retreat
Asian shares advanced on Thursday even after sinking technology stocks sent Wall Street lower in the S&P 500's worse losing streak since the start of the year. U.S. futures were lower, while oil prices gained.
32m ago
AFP
Markets rise as traders consider US rate outlook
Stock markets in Asia and Europe rose Thursday with traders mulling the outlook for US interest rates as Federal Reserve officials questioned the need for a cut anytime soon.Comments from Fed officials reinforced the view that sticky inflation and a resilient US economy will keep the bank from easing monetary policy anytime soon.
32m ago
AFP
X working with Pakistan govt to 'understand concerns' over ban
Social media platform X said Thursday it would work with Pakistan's government "to understand its concerns" after authorities insisted an ongoing two-month ban was based on security grounds."We continue to work with the Pakistani Government to understand their concerns," X's Global Government Affairs team posted, in their first comments since the site was disrupted.
40m ago
Yahoo Finance
High rates haven't always been a problem for stocks
Research from BMO Capital Markets shows stocks have actually performed better under higher interest rate regimes over the past three decades.
50m ago
AFP
Solomons' PM contender vows to abolish China security pact
A leading contender to become the Solomon Islands' next prime minister has vowed to rip up a security pact with China, as the Pacific nation began counting votes Thursday in a pivotal general election."We might not know what is going to happen until a good two or three weeks after the election," Pacific watcher Graeme Smith from Australian National University told AFP in the lead-up to voting day.
52m ago
CNN
The world’s best airports for 2024, according to Skytrax
Qatar’s Doha Hamad International (DOH) took top honors this year.
55m ago
Associated Press
Europe wants 2 things from China. It may not get far on either of them.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz became the latest European leader to leave China with promises to talk but little more. The Chinese statements on his meetings in Beijing this week didn't appear to give ground on the issues that divide the EU and China. There is some reason for hope in Europe.
57m ago
AFP
Indonesia evacuating thousands after volcano erupts, causes tsunami threat
Indonesian rescuers raced to evacuate thousands of people Thursday after a volcano erupted five times, forcing authorities to close a nearby airport and issue a warning about falling debris that could cause a tsunami.- Tsunami warning - Authorities also warned of a possible tsunami as a result of the eruptions.
1h ago
Associated Press
Indonesians leave homes near erupting volcano and airport closes due to ash danger
Indonesian authorities closed an airport and residents left homes near an erupting volcano Thursday due to the dangers of spreading ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami. Mount Ruang on the northern side of Sulawesi Island had at least five large eruptions Wednesday, causing the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation to issue its highest level alert, indicating an active eruption. An international airport in Manado city was temporarily closed Thursday as volcanic ash was spewed into the air.
1h ago
Associated Press
Hard right makes hay with European farmers' anger ahead of June elections
Little, says Ubels, could be more under threat. As Europe seeks to address the threat of climate change, it's imposing more rules on farmers like Ubels. Mainstream political parties failed to act on farmers’ complaints for decades, Ubels says.
2h ago
Reuters
LGBT Ghanaians await court ruling on restrictive new law
Members of Ghana's LGBT community and activists are waiting to see whether the West African country's president will sign into law a bill that would further restrict their rights and likely worsen the persecution many face. Kwame, a gay man who spoke to Reuters on the condition his real name was not used, already bears the scars of Ghana's widespread intolerance of homosexuality. "Imagine if the bill becomes law," he said, fearing the crackdown would embolden those who feel they can target LGBT people with impunity, "empowering ... people to be murderous."
2h ago
Reuters
Counting underway in Solomon Islands national election watched by US, China
Counting was underway on Thursday in the Solomon Islands after a national election a day earlier, although electoral officials said they were searching for a larger venue in the Pacific Island capital Honiara to count votes. The parliamentary election is the first since Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare struck a security pact with China in 2022 and drew the Pacific Islands nation closer to Beijing. The election outcome will be closely watched by the United States, China and Australia for its potential impact on regional security.
2h ago
CNN
911 outages reported in parts of 4 states, including in Las Vegas, officials say
Law enforcement agencies in at least four states have reported 911 service interruptions Wednesday evening, and service was later restored in some areas.
2h ago
NBC News
Biden mischaracterizes his uncle's disappearance during World War II
President Joe Biden on Wednesday mischaracterized the circumstances of his uncle's death during World War II as he lambasted former President Donald Trump's comments about the military.
3h ago
Associated Press
United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nation
The United Arab Emirates struggled Thursday to recover from the heaviest recorded rainfall ever to hit the desert nation, as its main airport worked to restore normal operations even as floodwater still covered portions of major highways and roads. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, allowed global carriers on Thursday morning to again fly into Terminal 1 at the airfield. “Flights continue to be delayed and disrupted, so we urge you to only come to Terminal 1 if you have a confirmed booking,” the airport said on the social platform X.
3h ago
CNN
LAPD officer will not face criminal charges in killing of 14-year-old girl at store during police confrontation with suspect
A Los Angeles Police Department officer will not face criminal charges in the 2021 fatal shooting of a 14-year-old girl killed inside a department store when police fired at a man suspected of attacking a woman, California prosecutors said Wednesday.
3h ago
Reuters
Apple plans to invest more than $250 million to expand Singapore campus
Apple Inc plans to invest more than $250 million to expand its regional campus or operations in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore, according to a company statement dated April 17. Two buildings acquired in 2022, located across from Apple's existing offices, will undergo a major upgrade, the U.S. technology giant said. "Singapore is truly a one-of-a-kind place, and we are proud of the connection we've built with this dynamic community of creators, learners, and dreamers," Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, said in a statement.
3h ago
AFP
UN says solutions exist to rapidly ease debt burden of poor nations
The heavy debt weighing on developing countries can be alleviated through readily available measures, the UN's trade and development chief said, pleading for bold international action.There have been numerous efforts over the decades to resolve debt problems weighing on poor countries, but Grynspan said they have been so slow and complicated that they often act as a "deterrent".
3h ago
AFP
Russian missile barrage on Ukraine city kills 18
Rescuers were removing mountains of rubble on Thursday from the site of a lethal Russian missile strike on Ukraine's historic city of Chernigiv, where at least 18 people were killed in an attack that has prompted fresh pleas for allies to boost Kyiv's overstretched air defence systems.The official death toll rose to 18 as of Thursday morning, with 77 people -- including four children -- injured, according to Ukraine's emergency services department.
3h ago

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