Saudi Arabia is finalising the extension of the kingdom's $3 billion deposit to Pakistan, Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed al-Jadaan told Reuters.

"We are currently finalising extending the $3 billion deposit to Pakistan," he said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Tuesday the first case of monkeypox detected in the country, state news agency WAM reported, citing the health ministry.

The virus was detected in a 29-year-old woman visiting the Gulf country from West Africa.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit eight Pacific Island countries from May 26 to June 4 including the Solomon Islands, a ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

The other seven countries are Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing.

The EU's proposed new sanctions against Russia, including an oil embargo, should not be discussed at next week's summit of the bloc's leaders, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a letter to the President of the European Council

The head of Moldova's pro-Russian opposition party, former President Igor Dodon, has been detained by Moldovan authorities on corruption charges, state television reported, a move likely to anger the Kremlin.

Russia's parliament on Tuesday passed a bill giving prosecutors powers to shut foreign media bureaus in Moscow if a Western country has been "unfriendly" to Russian media, following the closure of some Russian state news outlets in the West.

The bill, passed in the first reading by the lower house of parliament, or Duma, also prohibits the distribution of articles or other materials from media that have been closed by the prosecutor's office. It needs to undergo two more readings, be reviewed by the upper house of parliament, and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law.

African countries raised an objection on Tuesday to a U.S.-led proposal to reform the International Health Regulations (IHR), a move delegates say might prevent passage at the World Health Organization's annual assembly.

If Africa continues to withhold support, it could block one of the only concrete reforms expected from the meeting, fraying hopes that members will unite on reforms to strengthen the U.N. health agency's rules as it seeks a central role for itself in global health policy

Centre allows duty-free import of 20 Lakh MT crude soyabean, sunflower oil.

Coal India to open big, new mine this year to fight power crisis

'One China policy' remains unchanged, emphasises Pentagon after Biden's vow to defend Taiwan militarily in case of Chinese threat

Farewell ceremony for assassinated Iranian Revolutionary Guard colonel takes place in Tehran

The farewell ceremony of Sayyad Khodaei, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps colonel and defender of the holy shrine, was held in Tehran on Monday.

According to official reports, Khodaei was shot dead by two motorcyclists outside his home in Tehran on Sunday.

The IRGC decried Khodaei’s murder as a “terrorist act”. No one claimed responsibility for the attack yet, and the cause is still unknown.

Iranian President Raisi gave a speech in Tehran on Monday condemning the assassination of Colonel Khodaei.

"I consider it necessary to congratulate and condole the martyrdom of our dear Colonel Mr Sayad Khodaei to his family and to the dears in IRGC, and to ask God Almighty to exalt him," said Raisi, who blamed the Sunday killing on 'global arrogance’, a term widely used in Iran to refer the US and in particular Israel.

Israel has not made any comment on the incident.

Stollenberg 😂😂

Russian and Chinese Air Force hold joint patrols in Asia Pacific region

Russian Air and Space Forces and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force held joint air patrols over the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.
Russian strategic missile carriers Tu-95ms flew for around 13 hours, along with Chinese strategic bombers Hong-6k.
The aircraft were escorted by the Russian Su-30cm, South Korean F-2 and Japanese F-15 planes.

Russian Ministry of Defence stressed that both Russian and Chinese aircraft "acted strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law", with "no violations of foreign airspace".

The joint exercise was conducted under provisions of the 2022 Military Cooperation Plan, the official statement said.

BREAKING: Hungarian PM imposes new state of emergency over Ukraine war

Drone captures aftermath of heavy battles in Azovstal plant in Mariupol after it came under Russian control

State of emergency declared in New York City over nationwide shortage of baby formula 😘😂😂

14 children and 1 teacher dead in Texas elementary school shooting

Yeh log phir se shuru ho gye
Violence = America 😂

Russia slows down offensive in Ukraine 'deliberately to avoid civilian casualties'- Def Min Shoigu

Russian Defence Ministry

Jiska dar tha wohi hua

The German Security Council has been blocking the delivery of 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine for more than a month, — Bild cited an internal document of the German Defense Ministry.

It follows that the FRG could bring some of these combat vehicles into combat condition within six week