WORLD

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday assured the nation that his government will hand over the reins of the government to an interim setup in August to steer it through the general elections.

In a televised address to the nation, Sharif also said his government has cleared the "landmines" spread in the way of Pakistan's interests by former prime minister Imran Khan.

This comes a day after Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, said at a ceremony in Islamabad that Parliament would complete its term on August 14 to pave the way for interim government and elections.

Not long after the NATO summit in Lithuania wrapped up, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed its dismay at it, stating that the Western alliance was reverting to "Cold War schemes."

The ministry also said that Kremlin was prepared to counter any threats using "all means," reported Reuters on Wednesday. This comes as the summit, held in Lithuania, concluded with the United States and its allies providing Ukraine with increased security assurances against Moscow's aggression.

In a statement issued late on Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that it would carefully analyse the outcomes of the Vilnius Summit. 

Finance Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar on Monday said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has received a deposit of $2 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“This inflow has increased the forex reserves held by SBP and will accordingly be reflected in the forex reserves for the week ending 14 July 2023,” the Finance Minister tweeted.Finance Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar on Monday said that the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has received a deposit of $2 billion from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Chinese stock market is bracing for a potential shockwave as approximately $28 billion of locked-up funds are set to be released, Bloomberg reported. These funds, which have been held in mutual funds for the past three years, will allow frustrated investors to explore alternative investment options outside the realm of equities. However, this development introduces a new dynamic to the market, amplifying the uncertainties and pressures already affecting investor sentiment.

The impending wave of redemption arrives at a time when China's economy is underperforming following the lifting of strict COVID-19 lockdown measures last year. This underperformance has weakened market sentiment within the country, exacerbating concerns for investors.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited the king Saturday to hand in the resignation of his four-party coalition, setting the deeply divided Netherlands on track for a general election later this year.

King Willem-Alexander flew back from a family vacation in Greece to meet with Rutte, who drove to the palace in his Saab station wagon for the meeting to explain the political crisis that toppled his administration.