North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song arrived in China for a three-day visit, receiving rare praise from Beijing for the socialist neighbor's economic achievements, including significant progress in housing projects.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa highlighted his administration's crime-fighting strategies and economic improvements in his State of the Union speech. He cited extraditions, drug seizures, and reduced poverty rates as successes, though critics question the security progress.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned that the US-Iran conflict has caused the country's oil import bill to surge from $300 million to $800 million, reversing two years of economic progress. Despite the economic strain, Pakistan continues diplomatic mediation efforts, having hosted 21-hour US-Iran talks on April 11 and preparing for a second round. The country faces a deepening debt crisis with reserves of $16.4 billion and $3-3.5 billion in repayments due to UAE alone.
Pakistan's economic progress from the past two years has been severely impacted by the US-Iran war, with oil import costs surging from $300 million to $800 million, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said during a cabinet meeting. Islamabad continues efforts to mediate between the warring parties, having hosted 21-hour marathon US-Iran talks on April 11 and planning a second round of negotiations. The conflict began on February 28 when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US-Iran war has dealt a serious blow to Pakistan's economic progress made over the past two years, with oil import bills surging from $300 million to $800 million. He said Pakistan will continue efforts to help ease tensions between the warring sides and restore peace in West Asia. Sharif briefed the cabinet about marathon 21-hour US-Iran talks held in Islamabad on April 11, and said Pakistan is planning to host a second round of negotiations.
