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Bangladesh Continues Talks with IMF on Key Reforms Tied to Loan

Bangladesh said it will continue negotiating with the International Monetary Fund on key reforms the IMF has set as conditions for the balance of a $5.5 billion loan, with Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury holding meetings in Washington with the global lender’s officials.

Huge queues snaking around Vinnies Wedding Expo a sign of the times for Aussies on a budget

READ MORE: A growing number of Aussie couples can't afford a big weddingBy CAITLIN POWELL - NEWS REPORTER and CINDY TRAN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR- LIFESTYLE & SHOPPING, AUSTRALIA Published: 06:45, 18 April 2026 | Updated: 06:45, 18 April 2026 e-mail View comments

Turkey says Iran gas pipeline contract nearing expiry, no talks yet on extension

Turkey's long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are underway yet, Turkey's energy minister said on Saturday. The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for the delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short. Turkey imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regu...

Iran war causing staycation spike - holiday firms

Iran war causing staycation spike - holiday firmsJust nowShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAlex Dunlop,in LowestoftandAlice Cunningham,SuffolkShaun Whitmore/BBCUncertainty about the war in the Middle East has led to more people considering UK stays, Suffolk holiday companies have told the BBCHoliday companies in Suffolk said they had seen a rise in people paying for breaks at home, rather than abroad, in light of the war in the Middle East.The war between the US, Israel and Iran broke out in Fe...

This is the only way to buy the Royal Enfield Classic 500 today and it costs Rs 88,000

This is the only way to buy the Royal Enfield Classic today and it costs Rs

Flight operations resume at Pune airport after IAF aircraft ‘incident’

The runway at the Pune airport was declared operational at 8 am. Multiple flights across airlines had been cancelled on Friday, leaving passengers stranded.

رییس انجمن دفاتر مسافرتی: پول سفرهای لغوشده نزد ایرلاین‌ها مانده و امکان بازپرداخت نداریم

حرمت‌الله رفیعی، رییس انجمن صنفی دفاتر خدمات مسافرتی اعلام کرد که بخش عمده وجوه سفرهای لغوشده در ایام جنگ، نزد شرکت‌های هواپیمایی باقی‌مانده و دفاتر به‌دلیل دریافت‌نکردن این مبالغ، امکان بازپرداخت هزینه‌ها به مسافران را ندارند.

Once close enough for an acquisition, Stripe and Airwallex are now going after each other

Jack Zhang was 34 years old, three and a half years into running a startup, and sitting across from one of the most powerful investors in Silicon Valley. Michael Moritz of Sequoia had invited him to his home — a place with, Zhang recalls, a couple of floors and a view straight to the Golden Gate Bridge — to make the case for selling. Stripe wanted to buy Airwallex for $1.2 billion. At the time, the Melbourne company had around $2 million in annualized revenue. The math was almost pretty irresist...

SHANTI Act push: Atomic Energy Commission clears FDI policy, sends it for inter-ministerial consultation

As India has mastered Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) technology and achieved criticality in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) technology, Jain said the next challenge is the indigenisation of Light Water Reactor (LWR) technology, which dominates the global nuclear fleet.

Meta targets May 20 for first wave of layoffs; additional cuts later in 2026

Must ReadScience & TechnologyMeta targets May 20 for first wave of layoffs; additional cuts later in 2026By Reuters -Apr 18, 2026NEW YORK: Meta intends ​to conduct a first wave of sweeping layoffs planned for this year on May 20, with more ‌coming later, three sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. The Facebook and Instagram owner will lay off about 10% of its global workforce, or close to 8,000 employees, in that initial round, one of the sources said. The company is planning further...

Struggling Spirit Airlines 'pleads for help from Trump' as financial collapse looms

Struggling Spirit Airlines 'pleads for help from Trump' as financial collapse loomsBy LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 06:06, 18 April 2026 | Updated: 06:08, 18 April 2026 e-mail View comments

US extends sanctions waiver on purchases of Russian oil

InternationalUS extends sanctions waiver on purchases of Russian oilBy AFP -Apr 18, 2026WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday issued a month-long sanctions waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil and petroleum products that are at sea, extending an earlier move to soften surging energy prices. The license, issued by the Treasury Department, comes two days after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington would not renew the waiver. The latest move allows for...

Gold, silver prices rise again in local and international markets

Gold and silver prices recorded another increase on Saturday in both international and local markets after declining on Friday, following a three-day upward trend in global and domestic markets. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), in the international bullion market, the price of gold rose by $45 per ounce to reach $4,837. In the local market, the price of gold per tola increased by Rs4,500 to Rs506,062, while the rate for 10 grams rose by Rs3,858...

‘Take a long-term view’: Hong Kong minister says Middle East investment unaffected

Hong Kong’s investments in the Middle East will not be derailed by ongoing conflicts, the commerce minister has said, expressing confidence in the region’s economic prospects and urging businesses to take a long-term view. “The geopolitical situation has a temporary impact, but in the long term, we remain hopeful about development in the Middle East,” Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told a radio programme on Saturday. “We have many strengths in areas such as...

US Authorizes Sale of Russian Oil Loaded on Vessels as of April 17

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license for the delivery and sale of Russian oil, extending the easing of US sanctions to crude loaded onto ships as of April 17.

New Jersey announces $150 transit tickets to reach the World Cup

Transit fares from New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup matches will rise to $150.

होर्मुज खुला... 11% गिरे तेल के दाम, गैस भी सस्‍ता, लेकिन फिर आई ये खबर!

The burden of taxes

THE unwarranted and illegal war imposed on Iran represents an extraordinary exogenous shock for developing countries. Pakistan is particularly vulnerable on this front. It has an outsized import dependency on a wide range of products, from energy to food, and from industrial raw materials to finished goods. Remittances from non-resident Pakistanis keep not just the external account afloat, but also provide a vital lifeline to 30 to 40 million family members at home. Amplifying Pakistan’s exposur...

Meta’s biggest layoffs start May 20 with 8,000 job cuts: Who’s most at risk?

Meta is cutting close to 8,000 employees on May 20 in the first wave of what could be its biggest round of layoffs ever—surpassing even the 2022–23 "year of efficiency." A second wave is planned for later in 2026, with details still being finalised. The cuts are tied to Zuckerberg's massive AI spending push, with roles in sales, recruiting, middle management, and non-AI-adjacent functions considered most at risk.

UAE: MoFA cuts service delivery time by 90% with six-minute transactions

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), announced yesterday a major success in fundamentally reengineering its processes, resulting in a reduction of service delivery time by up to 90%. Some transactions can now be completed in as little as six minutes. The Ministry stated that this achievement in accelerating transaction processing and streamlining official procedures is reflected in performance indicators that demonstrate a high level of operational excellence. Get updated fast...