KARACHI  – The International Monetary Fund has asked for more time for negotiations with Pakistan over a deal that would unlock $1.1 billion in much-needed funds for the country, Secretary of Finance Hamed Sheikh said Thursday.Cash-strapped Pakistan, pushed to the limit by last year’s devastating floods, had been host to the talks since late last week in a bid to access the funds, a tranche initially expected last December and part of the IMF’s $6.5 billion bailout aimed at warding off an economic meltdown.

The International Energy Agency says Asia will for the first time use half of the world’s electricity by 2025

CHILLAN, Chile  – Forest fires across south-central Chile that have left 24 people dead and swallowed up hundreds of houses spread into new areas on Wednesday after raging overnight, burning up the habitats of vulnerable woodland animals.

KAMPALA  – Uganda will not renew the mandate of the United Nations’ rights office in the East African country and will rely on domestic institutions to safeguard rights, the government said, after the body flagged torture and unlawful detention sites.

LONDON – Britain and Italy on Wednesday signed an export and investment partnership, Britain’s first with a European Union member since it left the bloc, aimed at boosting the countries’ bilateral trading relationship.

WASHINGTON – Two U.S. Agency for International Development teams will arrive Wednesday morning in Turkey and will head to the southeastern province of Adiyaman to focus on urban search and rescue following earthquakes that killed more than 6,300 people and left a trail of destruction in Turkey and neighboring Syria.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is urging the European Union to “reindustrialize” to end its dependence on energy, microchips and food from outside the bloc

Britcoin is moving closer to reality

NEW DELHI  – The United States will support India’s G20 presidency including on issues such as food and energy security, the U.S. embassy there said on Tuesday, as New Delhi seeks the backing of its partners ahead of key meetings starting this month.

BOGOTA – Colombia’s government on Monday presented a $247.1 billion four-year development plan to the country’s lawmakers, laying out details of its projected social and economic investments.