Newer world order in Trump era — and Pakistan

After President Donald Trump’s second coming to the Oval Office, the US ways, means and ends of foreign policy are witnessing a transformation. The evolving ‘Newer World Order’, though dynamic and transitory, needs to be understood. Deciphering President Trump’s speeches, announcements, presidential orders, tweets and utterances of last five months, it can be concluded that […]

An untenable budget

The federal government has laid out an ambitious budget of Rs17.573 trillion for FY26 while pinning its hopes on an exalted growth rate of 4.2%. This euphoric document has come a day after the Economic Survey posted a dismal picture of the economy — all targets were missed for the third consecutive year amid a growth […]

Excess power capacity

Pakistan’s power sector is mired in a tragic paradox, with citizens enduring relentless load-shedding and unaffordable bills. The nation pays Rs2.5 to Rs2.8 trillion annually to power plants that don’t generate a single unit of electricity. This astronomical sum — equivalent to roughly 3% of GDP — epitomises a system where financial engineering trumps public interest, burdening […]

UK to sanction far-right Israeli ministers for stoking violence in Palestine

The United Kingdom, alongside four key allies, has imposed sanctions on two senior Israeli ministers, citing their “repeated incitement of violence against Palestinian communities” amid escalating conflict in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The sanctions, which include asset freezes and travel bans, target Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. […]

Rs722.48b set aside for BISP, Rs10.23b for Poverty Alleviation Division

The government on Tuesday unveiled the budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, outlining allocations for social protection and governance institutions. According to official budget documents, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is set to receive Rs722.48 billion, reflecting the government’s continued emphasis on poverty alleviation.  An additional Rs10.23 billion is proposed for the Poverty Alleviation […]

Non-filers to be barred from purchasing vehicles, immovable property

In the Federal Budget 2025–26, unveiled on Tuesday, the government has proposed a series of stringent financial restrictions and increased tax rates targeting non-filers as part of efforts to broaden the tax base and enhance the documentation of the economy. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who presented the budget in the National Assembly, announced a proposal […]

Disney completes $9 billion Hulu buyout

Disney has completed its long-awaited deal with Comcast to acquire NBCUniversal’s one-third stake in Hulu for $9 billion, paying considerably less than Comcast initially sought. The deal, which took over two years to finalize, ends a lengthy dispute between the two companies, culminating in an additional $438.7 million payment by Disney after a contractual appraisal […]

India pushes back ‘foreigners’ into Bangladesh, sparking human rights concerns

India has started to push people it considers illegal immigrants into neighbouring Bangladesh, but human rights activists say authorities are arbitrarily throwing people out of the country. Since May, the northeastern Indian state of Assam has “pushed back” 303 people into Bangladesh out of 30,000 declared as foreigners by various tribunals over the years, a […]