Omkar Khandeker

NPR's Amkar Kandahar has more.

Gasoline prices in Pakistan have nearly doubled in the last two months after the government withdrew subsidies, saying that they couldn't afford them anymore.

In the east, Bangladesh has cut office hours from 9 to 4 p.m.

instead of 9 to 5 p.m.

and ordered shops, markets and shopping malls to close by 6 p.m.

to save energy.

And in India, a cooking gas supply crisis has shut many restaurants and factories.

Local media reports it has prompted several migrant workers to return to their villages.

Authorities have now eased restrictions on the use of polluting fuels like kerosene for cooking and ramped up the use of coal for power generation.

Omkar Khandeker, NPR News, Mumbai.

Pakistan said the deal with World Liberty affiliate company SC Financial Technologies will help them use their USD1 stablecoin for digital payments and cross-border remittances.

Reuters reports, the deal makes Pakistan the first sovereign state to publicly announce a deal with World Liberty, which was co-founded by Trump and his sons.

The announcement came during the deal signing in Pakistan by the firm's co-founder-in-chief, Zach Witkoff.

who is the son of US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

Pakistan and Trump have forged closer ties in recent months.

Pakistan's government recommended Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last year and allowed US companies to mine critical minerals in Pakistan.

Omkar Khandeker, NPR News, Pune.