News Off The World

  کیا چینی قرض ہی پاکستان کے معاشی بحران کی اصل وجہ ہے؟    News Created By News Off The World وفاقی وزیر خزانہ نے چین کی جانب سے 70 کروڑ ڈالر قرض وصول ہونے کا اعلان کیا تو غالبا ان کی خوشی کی وجہ پاکستان کے کم ہوتے زرمبادلہ ذخائر میں اضافہ تھا لیکن چین اور چینی بینکوں سے حاصل کیے گئے قرضے اب پاکستان کے ذمے واجب الادا مجموعہ قرض کا ایک تہائی ہو چکے ہیں۔ پاکستان کے ذمے واجب الادہ قرضوں میں گزشتہ سات سے آٹھ برسوں میں چین اور چینی کمرشل بینکوں سے حاصل کیے گئے قرضوں میں نمایاں اضافہ دیکھا گیا۔ ایسے میں پاکستان کے موجودہ معاشی بحران کی ایک بڑی وجہ غیر ملکی قرضوں کی واپسی کو قرار دیا جا رہا ہے جس کی وجہ سے ملکی زرمبادلہ ذخائر میں کمی واقع ہو رہی ہے۔ واضح رہے کہ پاکستان کو موجودہ مالی سال اور اگلے دو مالی برسوں میں بیرونی قرضوں کی مد میں بڑی ادائیگیاں کرنی ہیں۔  موجودہ مالی سال کے باقی مہینوں میں پاکستان کو آٹھ ارب ڈالر کے بیرونی قرضوں کی ادائیگی کرنی ہے تو اس سے زیادہ بڑا مسئلہ اگلے دو مالی سالوں میں پاکستان کے ذمے واجب الادہ 50 ارب ڈالر کا بیرونی قرضہ ہے جو ...

  Winds lash Madagascar's coast as Cyclone Freddy makes landfall   At least four people have died after a tropical cyclone battered Madagascar's east coast, with heavy rain and powerful winds tearing roofs off houses and triggering a storm surge. Cyclone Freddy made landfall on Tuesday, weeks after another tropical storm killed 33 and left thousands without shelter. Schools have been shut and traffic has been suspended. Earlier, Freddy caused some damage in Mauritius, flooding beachside hotels. The Indian Ocean island nation is particularly vulnerable to cyclones. It is hit by an average of 1.5 cyclones every year, the highest rate in Africa, according to the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The cyclone slightly weakened once it made landfall on Madagascar, situated off the south-east coast of Africa, with wind gusts exceeding 130km/h (81mph). The country's meteorological service warned that torrential rains would continue alon...

  Visit is a victory for Ukrainians - foreign minister   News Created By News Off The World Some more reaction to bring you now, this time from Ukraine's foreign minister who believes Joe Biden's visit gives a clear signal to Russia. Dmytro Kuleba praised the visit as the "victory for the Ukrainian people" and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Writing on Facebook, Kuleba says the visit was "historic", adding both Biden and Zelensky were pleased with their talks today. "It [the visit] has been conducted in spite of everything for the sake of Ukraine's victory and all the free world," he says. Kuleba adds "it is a clear signal to the swamp - no one is afraid of you!" - presumably a reference to Russia.   In pictures: Biden's landmark visit to Kyiv President Biden has now departed Kyiv after making an unannounced visit to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The US leader reaffirmed his country's support fo...

  Baftas 2023 highlights: From the Batmobile to a drunken Pinocchio News Created By News Off The World   German language war film All Quiet on the Western Front was the big winner at the Baftas on Sunday night, picking up seven awards and breaking the record for the most wins for a film not in the English language in the process. The Banshees of Inisherin and Elvis also enjoyed success with four wins apiece at the event, which was held at London's Royal Festival Hall for the first time. But while you may be up to date with who won what, here are eight of the snippets you might have missed from both the ceremony and backstage.   News Created By News Off The World  Richard E Grant is the next Batman Well, not exactly. But he did arrive at the venue on the river Thames in the Batmobile, on the advice of Hollywood star Steve Martin no less. However, Grant chose to ignore one other piece of advice from the veteran star - don't wear white. In fact, Grant wore w...