The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an arrangement under its Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) worth around $1.4 billion, supporting Pakistan's efforts to build economic resilience to climate vulnerabilities and natural disasters. The approval comes after the IMF completed its first review of Pakistan's economic reform program supported by the Extended Fund Facility (EFF Arrangement), allowing for an immediate disbursement of approximately $1 billion. This brings total disbursements under the arrangement to around $2.1 billion.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40362677/pakistan-receives-second-tranche-of-102bn-from-imf-confirms-sbpIsrael's foreign ministry spokesperson, Oren Marmorstein, has stated that a temporary ceasefire is possible but Israel will not compromise on its goals. The country has been blocking all humanitarian aid to Gaza since March 2, including food, water, fuel, and medicine, which the UN describes as "deliberate and unashamedly" inhumane. This blockade has led to a significant drop in meal distributions from the World Food Programme (WFP), from one million to just 250,000 per day, leaving warehouses empty. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that rising malnutrition rates in Gaza may have lasting effects on children, with 11% suffering from acute malnutrition in some areas.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/israeli-officials-admit-gaza-could-face-starvation-in-weeks-8410947Israel's aid blockade on Gaza has led to severe shortages of beds, medicine, and surgical treatment, resulting in many injured patients dying due to lack of care. Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a ceasefire, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the humanitarian situation as "ever more dramatic and unjustifiable". The US-led initiative for aid distribution under Israeli military security has been criticized for sidelining the UN and existing aid organizations, with Medecins Sans Frontieres warning that it would make aid conditional on forced displacement. Israel resumed major operations across Gaza, with Netanyahu threatening to enter the territory "with full force" in the coming days, amid a conflict that has killed at least 52,928 people, mostly civilians.
https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/nation/gaza-rescuers-say-80-killed-in-israeli-strikes-amid-hostage-release-talks/article_28dfbd32-7010-514e-9363-8db7a4bf193f.htmlSenator Sherry Rehman hailed Pakistan's decisive victory in Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, saying it rejected India's attempt to establish a "norm of equating an un-investigated act of terror with an act of war." She praised President Asif Ali Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and PM Shehbaz Sharif for their coordinated leadership. Rehman condemned India's preemptive strikes and aggression, calling them "war crimes" that violate international humanitarian law standards. She also criticized the Indian media for devolving into propaganda machines, while Pakistan's media practiced restraint and ethics. The PPP leader emphasized that resolving Kashmir remains crucial to regional stability and that Pakistan stood firm against war mongering as foreign policy.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40362568/iwt-kashmir-pakistan-will-not-allow-india-to-violate-red-lines-at-any-cost-pppThe US and China have reached a major de-escalation in trade tensions, with the US lowering tariffs on Chinese imports and suspending certain non-tariff countermeasures against US entities. The reductions came into effect after midnight Washington time, marking a significant decrease from previous rates of up to 245%. China has also suspended measures that added 28 US entities to an "export control list" and paused measures that added six others to an "unreliable entity list". Chinese President Xi Jinping called for cooperation, stating there are no winners in tariff wars. Analysts warn that the temporary de-escalation may not be sustainable, with some predicting a risk of renewed escalation after 90 days.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40362745/china-us-slash-sweeping-tariffs-in-trade-war-climbdownFrance strongly condemns Israel's blockade of Gaza, calling it "a disgrace" that has caused a major humanitarian crisis. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to block aid, warning that nearly half a million Palestinians are facing possible starvation and one million others struggle to access food. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification predicts that Gaza will likely fall into famine if the blockade is not lifted and the military campaign is stopped.
https://stltoday.com/news/nation-world/article_561eb886-459d-4d6a-ac57-3070bcd12a35.htmlThe recent 90-day tariff truce between the US and China is seen as a relief, but underlying tensions remain. The UK's balancing act to rebuild relationships with the US, China, and EU after Brexit continues. Chancellor Rachel Reeves' visit to Beijing aimed to restart economic discussions, which had stalled for years. However, the new British Labour government faces challenges in implementing a consistent policy agenda with China due to the US trade deal. China may respond by imposing import rules on certain British companies, similar to restrictions already in place on some US businesses. The UK's significant stake in the pharmaceutical market in the US and its car industry's reliance on components from China make it vulnerable to future trade deals with America.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-15/china-criticises-us-uk-trade-deal/105293968The UN's humanitarian affairs chief, Tom Fletcher, has accused Israel of imposing inhumane conditions on civilians and called for the lifting of its 10-week blockade on Gaza. The Israeli envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, denied the allegations as "baseless and outrageous". In response to the rocket attacks by a Palestinian armed group, residents of Jabalia were warned to evacuate, with 70 people killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza, including Hadi Moqbel's family members who were among the victims.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-05-14-israeli-strikes-in-northern-gaza-kill-at-least-50