The package includes doubling of the oil financing facility, additional money either through deposits or Sukuks and rolling over of the existing $4.2 billion facilities.
"However, technical details are being worked out and will take a couple of weeks to get all documents ready and signed. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his official entourage have left Saudi Arabia but Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail is still staying there to finalise the modalities of the increased financial package.
Sharing the salient features of the financial package, the official said that Pakistan had proposed doubling of the oil facility from $1.2 billion to $2.4 billion and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia agreed to it. It was also agreed that the existing deposits of $3 billion would be rolled over for an extended period up to June 2023.
"Pakistan and KSA discussed an additional package of over $2 billion either through deposits or Sukuk and it is likely that even more money will be provided to Islamabad," said official sources, adding that the size of the total package would be determined when additional money was finalised.
Saudi Arabia had provided $3 billion deposits to the State Bank of Pakistan in December 2021 while the Saudi oil facility was operationalised from March 2022 whereby Pakistan was provided $100 million to procure oil. Saudi Arabia had provided a $7.5 billion package during the last tenure of the PMLN government (2013-18). Under the PTI-led regime, Saudi Arabia had provided a package of $4.2 billion, including $3 billion deposits and $1.2 billion oil facility for one year and linked it with the IMF programme.
Now Saudi Arabia has provided an enhanced financial package to Pakistan when its economy is in dire straits and the country is facing a balance of payment crisis. The country’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan depleted by $6 billion in the last six to seven weeks and nosedived to $10.5 billion at the moment. With the rising current account deficit at $13.2 billion in the first nine months and pressing external loan repayment requirements, Pakistan requires financial injections of $9 to $12 billion till June 2022 to avert further depletion of foreign currency reserves. Pakistan will have to repay external debt servicing of $3 billion in the last quarter (April-June) of the current fiscal year.
The revival of the IMF programme is considered as imperative because the gross external financing requirement is estimated to the tune of $35 billion during the next fiscal year 2022-23 and without the backing of the programme, the huge financing gap cannot be bridged. However, independent economists, like Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, suggest a ban on the import of luxury cars and other unessential items for saving dollars.
Later in a tweet, Miftah Ismail said, "Just said goodbye to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other colleagues at Jeddah Airport, who are on their way to Islamabad after a brief stopover in Abu Dhabi to meet Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Zayed. I remain in SA to meet Saudi officials and start technical-level talks."
Omar Sarafraz Cheema, in his letter to Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi, stated that the March 28 resignation letter of Usman Buzdar was not in accordance with the rules as it was addressed to the prime minister and not to the governor which was mandatory as per sub-section 8 of Article 130 of the Constitution.
“The resignation was not addressed to the governor which was unconstitutional and thus rejected,” Cheema stated.
A day earlier, Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the National Assembly Speaker to take oath from the newly elected Punjab Chief Minster Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday.
The LHC judge Justice Jawad Hassan pronounced the reserved verdict Hamza Shahbaz’s plea as he moved the court for the third time in this regard.
It merits mention that Hamza was elected as Punjab’s chief minister on April 16. However, he hasn’t sworn in yet as his oath-taking was deferred twice despite the LHC’s directives for not delaying the matter any further.
Not only did the powerful blast on Thursday evening heavily damage the structure, injuring at least 10 people, it killed a female journalist in her home as UN chief Antonio Guterres was visiting the Ukrainian capital.
Read more: Turkey, Saudi Arabia striving to increase all kinds of relations: Erdogan
"If this was indeed a high precision attack, that is pretty cynical. It s inhuman behaviour," 22-year-old Vovchynskyi said Friday after he and his girlfriend hauled out bags of belongings they had brought in some two weeks earlier.
As he spoke, heavy equipment was piling up rubble and crews were shovelling shattered glass and inspecting the building, which had nearly three storeys of its facade shorn off.
The powerful blast left mounds of shattered concrete and on Friday morning, rescuers said they had found a corpse, which was carried out in a black body bag on a stretcher and loaded into a green morgue van.
The victim was Vera Gyrych, a journalist and producer at US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty who was killed in her home, prompting the broadcaster to express its anger over "the senseless nature" of her death.
"We have lost a dear colleague who will be remembered for her professionalism and dedication to our mission," its president Jamie Fly said in a statement.
Russia has faced harsh criticism for its explosive strikes that have struck civilian areas, but also over accusations its soldiers on the ground have killed or harmed civilians.
Moscow insists it is doing all it can to protect non-combatants.
According to an ECP notification, the election will be held on July 24 to fill the seats of chairman and vice-chairman of the union councils, union committees, and general members in each union council, union committee and ward in the municipal committees or town committees and district councils of Karachi and Hyderabad/Thatta divisions.
Read more: Pakistan to approach Saudi Arabia for action against Masjid-e-Nabawi slogan chanters
The ECP called upon the electors of respective local councils and wards of the said divisions to elect their representatives.
As per schedule, the public notices will be issued by the returning officers (ROs) on June 3 in their offices. The nomination papers will be submitted to the ROs concerned from June 8 to June 11.
The publication of the names of nominated candidates will be on June 13 while the scrutiny of nomination papers by the ROs will be during June 15-17.
Similarly, the date for filing of appeals against the decision of ROs will be June 18-22 while the last date for deciding of appeals by the appellate authority will be June 25.
The date for publication of the revised list of candidates will be June 27 while the last date for withdrawal and publication of the revised candidate list will be June 28.
The date for the allotment of symbols to contesting candidates will be June 29 while the date for the consolidation of results will be July 28.
In further guidelines to ensure the elections are held fairly and honestly and to ensure that corrupt practices are prevented, the ECP barred executive authorities from announcing development projects or using state resources to influence polls in favour of a candidate.
It warned that any government official who misused their position to influence the elections would be proceeded against under the law. The ECP also barred transfers and postings of government officers or granting them leaves in divisions for which the election schedule had been issued without the commission’s prior approval.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) matters related to Pakistan s commitment for comprehensive Polio eradication and COVID-19 were discussed in the telephonic conversation.
Read more: Pakistani pilgrims arrested for sloganeering at Masjid-i-Nabwi: Saudi embassy
Bill Gates conveyed appreciation for Pakistan Army for supporting national polio drive, ensuring proper reach and coverage, the ISPR said. COAS said it was a national cause and credit goes to all involved in the process.
Bill Gates also appreciated Pakistan’s success against COVID-19 despite resource constraints. COAS attributed the success to a true national response, executed through the mechanism of NCOC which allowed optimisation of resources.
The Army Chief appreciated untiring efforts of Bill Gates and his foundation towards the noble cause of Polio eradication at global level and assured him of continued support.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif who is on a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia called on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on late Friday night.
Read more: LHC directs NA speaker to administer oath to Punjab CM-elect Hamza Shahbaz
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif Finance Minister Muftah Ismail and Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb were also present in the meeting.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed on Friday Pakistani Prime Minister Sherif Shehbaz at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah.
Upon Pakistan PM arrival to the Palace, an official reception ceremony was held for him.
Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and Pakistan s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif reviewed during their meeting the brotherly and historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
During the meeting, they reviewed the fraternal and historical relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. They also discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation and promising opportunities as well as the ways of developing them in various fields.
The two sides also reviewed all regional and international issues and discussed a number of issues of common interest.
It is noteworthy that the Pakistani Prime Minister visit to Saudi Arabia is considered his maiden foreign trip after being sworn in as prime minister of Pakistan earlier this month.
According to details, PTI had filed the disqualification case against Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani and Member of Parliament Assembly (MPA) Ali Haider Gillani in which the ECP has rejected the PTI’s petitions.
Read more: Federal Shariat Court declares interest-based banking system against Sharia
The Chief Election Commissioner announced the verdict and stated that the facts about this case were not presented properly whereas there is no direct evidence against the PPP Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani.
Therefore Pakistan Peoples Party leader Yousuf Raza Gillani will remain Senator, the Election Commission declared.
On the other hand, ECP has ordered to conduct action against MPA Ali Haider Gillani and PTI Member of National Assembly (MNA) Faheem Khan on the grounds of corrupt practices.
Whereas the Election Commission has also ordered to register a case against Ali Haider Gillani on the grounds corrupt practices.
The price of 10 gram 24 karat gold and 22 karat gold also witnessed no change in prices and was sold at Rs 113,169 and Rs 103, 738 respectively, All Sindh Sarafa Jewellers.
The price of per tola and ten gram silver remained unchanged at Rs 1510 andRs 1294.58 respectively.
The price of gold in international market decreased by $7 and was traded at $1,888 compared to its sale at $1895.
At least three people were wounded in the strikes in the western part of the city, which were the first in the capital in nearly two weeks, and came after Guterres toured Bucha and other suburbs where Moscow is alleged to have committed war crimes.
Read more: Russia steps up assault on east Ukraine, Putin threatens countries that intervene
Ukrainian prosecutors said they were investigating 10 Russian soldiers for suspected atrocities in Bucha, where dozens of bodies in civilian clothes were found after Moscow s retreat, and had identified more than 8,000 alleged war crimes cases.
Those cases involve "killing civilians, bombing of civilian infrastructure, torture" and "sexual crimes" reported during Russia s occupation of various parts of Ukraine, prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova told a German TV channel.
In Washington, Biden urged US lawmakers to approve his huge aid package, as well as proposed new laws to allow using luxury assets stripped from Russian oligarchs to compensate Ukraine for damage inflicted since Moscow invaded on February 24.
"The cost of this fight is not cheap. But caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen," Biden said.
During the talks, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan and Kuwait are enjoying fraternal relations and Islamabad is committed to further strengthening bilateral relations with Kuwait.
Read more: Iran FM felicitates Bilawal
He was talking to his Kuwaiti Counterpart Dr Sheikh Ahmed Nasir Al-Muhammad Al-Sabah on telephone on Thursday.
He said a large number of Pakistanis are residing in Kuwait for employment and are playing a vital role in the development of both the countries. They also discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister congratulated Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on assuming the office of Foreign Minister.
He also recalled their meeting in 2016 during his visit to Pakistan and the discussions held on a number of shared interests including girls education, health, economic and trade relations.
The British Prime Minister looked forward to continue working together including in addressing global challenges.
He conveyed best wishes to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan, and hoped to meet the Prime Minister in person soon.
The night is considered to be equal to praying for 1000 months. This is one of the holiest and most blessed nights, which is likely to occur on one of the odd nights in the last 10 days of Ramazan and most likely to be the 27th of the holy month.
Read more: PM Shehbaz Sharif touches down in Saudi Arabia on three-day visit
The night has special significance for the Muslims as angels come down on the earth as per order of Allah Almighty and stay there till dawn of the day. Muslims traditionally observe the occasion through nightlong special prayers, Quran Khwani, religious discussions at mosques and in their houses on this holy night.
The faithful offered prayers at their homes to seek Allah’s Forgiveness throughout the night till Sehri. People distributed sweats among the neighbours and poor.
The faithful arranged Milad, Zikr, Quran Khwani and religious discussions in mosques and their houses in line with the traditional practices.
Devotees offered night long prayers and recited holy Quran in mosques and homes across Pakistan. The believers sought forgiveness of Allah and His mercy and offered collective prayers to seek Allah’s Forgiveness throughout the night till ‘Sehri’.
The religious scholars also threw light on importance of the night and highlighted the teachings of Islam and life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) so that the followers could lead their lives according to Holy Quran and Sunnah.
The blaze spread and engulfed the entire factory very quickly. Fire brigade vehicles and rescue teams reached the spot after being informed and brought the fire under control after a hectic effort.
Read more: Oil factory catches fire in Multan
The rescue sources said that no one died or wounded in the blaze. However, valuables worth millions of rupees were reduced to ashes by the fire. Sources further said that the cause of fire is still not known.
Reacting to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice-president Maryam Nawaz s public meeting on Twitter, Fawad Chaudhry said that only three to five thousand people were present in the PML-N rally while Maryam Nawaz was pretending that if she was addressing a public meeting at the Minar-e-Pakistan.
Read more: Sheikh Rashid warns 'chaotic' May could result in resignations
Fawad Chaudhry questioned that for how long the imported and illegal government would last?
Targeting the PMN-L supremo Nawaz Sharif, the PTI leader said that an absconder from the court and a person who fled the country will only be called a fugitive.
The telephonic interaction came after Pakistan recently reported a polio case in a child in North Waziristan, after a hiatus of 15 months.
Read more: Four, including three Chinese nationals, killed in Karachi University blast
While noting that only one case of polio was recorded in 2022, the prime minister stressed that his government remained committed to eradicating all forms of polio from the country.
He expressed grave concern on the first case of poliovirus in 2022, after 15 months, which was recently confirmed in a child in North Waziristan.
He noted that a special emergency response plan for South Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province was already under implementation to scale up and improve the quality of the polio eradication programme and increase security of frontline health workers.
During the telephonic conversation, the ongoing public health and social sector programmes supported by BMGF in Pakistan were discussed, including polio eradication and the Foundation’s support towards improving immunisation, nutrition and financial inclusion services in Pakistan.
The prime minister underscored that Pakistan deeply valued its cooperation with BMGF. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further solidifying its fruitful partnership with the Foundation in all the ongoing areas of work.
Pakistan has maintained progress towards polio eradication and appreciated the invaluable assistance provided by BMGF in that regard, he added.
Bill Gates acknowledged the positive progress and reiterated the Foundation’s continued support to Pakistan for ensuring that no child was at risk of paralysis due to poliovirus.
Addressing an Iftar Dinner organized in honour of the Muslim countries ambassadors in Islamabad on Monday night, he emphasised on resolving all issues with unity.
Read more: Names of PM Shehbaz, Nawaz removed from no-fly list: sources
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said Muslim countries are enriched with natural resources and they should help one another.
Talking about the Palestinian issue, the Prime Minister said that Israel is targeting the innocent people in Palestine, which needs ample response from Muslim Ummah.
Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said India has been committing massive human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He said that Kashmir issue should be resolved in lines with the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions.
Expressing Pakistan s concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister urged the Muslim leaders to help people of Afghanistan in this critical juncture.
IG Islamabad met the officials of the Election Commission at the Central Secretariat of the Election Commission in which they discussed the security arrangements.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif gets passport, free to travel
The ECP directed IG Islamabad to make foolproof security arrangements in view of the protest. IG Islamabad said that PTI rallies would not be allowed in the red zone. According to police sources, the entrance to the red zone will be through Margalla Road because of PTI s protest.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on April 24 (Sunday) gave a call to its workers to stage a protest outside Election Commission offices across the country on April 26 (Tuesday) against biased attitude of the chief election commissioner (CEC).
PTI leader and former information minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that PTI political committee held a meeting on April 24, in which the matters related to Election Commission were reviewed.
The PTI leader brutally criticized the Chief Election Commissioner expressing that he has reached the extreme in terms of bias and dishonesty.
He said that under the plan, the declaration to end the membership of PTI dissident members was also not issued yet. Therefore, PTI will protest in front of Election Commission offices across the country on Tuesday, April 26 against the behavior of the Election Commissioner.
Everything was done and dusted and Hamza was expected to be sworn in as Punjab CM with Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani administering the oath to him in a ceremony at Governor House, Lahore on Saturday night. However, the ceremony had to be deferred once again as the Senate chairman couldn't reach Lahore.
Emergency measures had been taken for the ceremony as per the orders of Lahore High Court. Sources within the Governor House said that all the preparations for the oath-taking had been made after receiving verbal instructions from the President' Office but no written order had been received.
After the cancellation of the ceremony, the PML-N has decided to approach the court again.
Meanwhile, PML-N Deputy General Secretary Ataullah Tarar said that Punjab Governor Omar Sarfraz Cheema would be remembered in history as a violator of the Constitution.
"It has been decided to file a contempt of court petition against him," he added.
The statement came during a press conference flanked by Owais Leghari, Malik Ahmed Khan, Rana Mashood Ahmed, Khalil Tahir Sindhu and Khawaja Imran Nazir at the party's central secretariat.
Tarar said that the largest province in terms of the population had been without a chief minister and cabinet since April 1, 2022.
"If the Constitution is violated, a civilised citizen has no choice but to go to court," he said, adding the LHC in its judgment had ordered that the oath-taking could not be delayed.
"Omar Sarfraz Cheema has disrespected the post of governor. He has been admitted to the hospital. The order of the LHC had been received by the President of Pakistan at 6pm on Friday but despite the passage of the whole day, the President continued to consider it,” he maintained.
Owais Leghari said that the president was bound by the advice of the prime minister.
“Now President Alvi has written a letter to the Prime Minister's Office asking what we should do in the light of the decision of the LHC.”
He said that everything was stopped for the sake of one person.
The price of per tola and ten gram silver remained constant at Rs1520 and Rs1303.15 respectively.
Read more: Rupee continues slide, reaches Rs187 against dollar in interbank
The price of gold in international market decreased by $9 and was traded at US$1945 against its sale at US$1954, the association reported.
Ukraine s government, emboldened by an influx of Western weaponry, said its beleaguered forces were still holding out inside a sprawling steelworks in the razed port city of Mariupol.
Read more: Russia claims Mariupol 'liberated,' US rushes new aid for Ukraine
The Kremlin has claimed the "liberation" of Mariupol, which is pivotal to its war plans nearly two months after President Vladimir Putin ordered the shock invasion of Russia s Western-leaning neighbour.
"Since the start of the second phase of the special operation... one of the tasks of the Russian army is to establish full control over the Donbas and southern Ukraine," Major General Rustam Minnekaev said.
"This will provide a land corridor to Crimea," he added, referring to the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Minnekaev s comments were the clearest articulation yet of Russia s goals in the invasion s "second phase", which was forced on the Kremlin after Ukraine s Western-backed resistance around the capital Kyiv.
"This only confirms what I have already said multiple times: Russia s invasion of Ukraine was intended only as a beginning," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his regular evening address.
"We will defend ourselves as long as possible... but all the nations who, like us, believe in the victory of life over death must fight with us."
Pakistan s new finance minister on Friday agreed with IMF recommendations to reduce fuel subsidies, pledging to pursue structural reforms to boost a crisis-wracked economy.
Read more: Elections will be held after govt completes its tenure: Marriyum Aurangzeb
The International Monetary Fund in 2019 approved a $6 billion loan over three years for Pakistan but disbursement has been slowed down by concerns on the pace of reforms.
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, who took office this month after a previous government lost a no-confidence vote, said he had "good discussions" with the IMF on a visit during the Washington-based lender s annual spring meetings.
"They ve talked about removing the subsidy on fuel. I agree with them," Ismail, himself a former International Monetary Fund economist, said at the Atlantic Council.
"We can t afford to do the subsidies that we re doing. So we re going to have to curtail this," he said.
He said that former prime minister Imran Khan set a "trap" for his successors through heavy subsidies on fuel.
Ismail, however, said that some targeted subsidies should remain for Pakistan s poorest amid sky-high global prices.
Pakistan s new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to jumpstart a moribund economy, certain to be a major issue in elections due by late next year.
Pakistan has repeatedly sought international support and suffers from a chronically weak tax base.
Ismail said that Pakistan, the world s fifth most populous nation, needed to move to a new economic model by removing obstacles and promoting exports to the world.
Responding to queries about the current political situation in the Pakistan, the State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Jalina Porter said that we have continued to say all along that there is absolutely no truth to those rumors that US was involved in any conspiracy for regime change in Pakistan.
Read more: Govt decides to remove thousands of names from ECL: Rana Sanaullah
She underscore that the United States values its longstanding cooperation with Pakistan and has always viewed a strong, prosperous, and democratic Pakistan as critical to US interests.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif would lay the foundation stone of Khuzdar-Kuchlak Road. Federal Minister for Communications Maulana Asad Mahmood will give a briefing to the Prime Minister.
Read more: In NSC meeting, security agencies reiterate 'no foreign conspiracy' against PTI govt
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo will brief the Prime Minister on various issues of Balochistan.
According to details, the Secretary of Punjab Assembly Muhammad Khan Bhatti, on the orders of the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly wrote a letter in this regard to the Chief Secretary and Inspector General (IG) of the police.
Moreover, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi got upset from the Chief Secretary and IG Punjab on implementing the courts order.
As per sources, the letter came forth on the media in which it was stated that on April 16, strict action will be taken against the police officials who entered the Assembly.
Whereas on the before mentioned date, Secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti was suspended according to the Deputy Speaker and inquiry is underway against him.
According to GizmoChina, details about the front-facing camera of the Apple iPhone 14 series models have leaked online as analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed what improvements will be made to the front camera of the devices.
Read more: Twitter adopts ‘poison pill’ to fight takeover by Musk
As per the new report, all four models—iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max will have an upgraded front-facing camera sensor with f/1.9 aperture and support for autofocus.
In comparison, all the models in the current-generation Apple iPhone 13 series come with a front-facing camera sensor having an f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus.
With a wider aperture, the smartphones will be able to capture more light. It is also said that the camera upgrades will result in an improved depth-of-field effect for the Portrait Mode photos and videos.
On the other hand, the autofocus support for the front camera will enhance the focus during FaceTime calls or video calls using third-party apps.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max are also expected to come with an upgraded rear camera configuration and possibly feature a 48MP wide lens as the primary sensor with support for 8K video recording.
A total of 186,431,158 shares were traded during the day compared to the trade of 234,997,430 shares the previous day whereas the price of shares stood at Rs 5.621 billion against Rs8.011 billion on last trading day.
Read more: Rupee continues slide, reaches Rs187 against dollar in interbank
As many as 311 companies transacted shares in the stock market, 92 of them recorded gain and 198 sustained losses, whereas the share price of 21 companies remained unchanged.
The three top trading companies were Lotte Chemical with a volume of 19,980,500 and price per share of Rs 19.78, Cnergyico Pk with a volume of 19,858,684 and price per share of Rs6.50 and Pak Refinery with volume of 12,900,500 and price per share of Rs 16.03.
Premium Tex witnessed a maximum increase of Rs35 per share, closing at Rs 2,335 whereas the runner up was Indus Motor Co, the share prices of which climbed up by Rs 8.21 to Rs 1,348.96.
Nestle Pakistan witnessed maximum decrease of Rs 99, closing at Rs5,501 followed by Mari Petroleum, the share price of which declined by Rs29.47 to close at Rs1,701.36.
The fate of the besieged port has become totemic as Russia battles to complete a land bridge covering territories already under its control, including Crimea -- which would deprive Ukraine of its industrial heartland and most of its coastline.
Read more: Ukraine calls for talks in teetering Mariupol as Moscow holds ICBM test
President Joe Biden, however, said Putin was doomed to failure, announcing $800 million (740 million euros) in extra US military aid including howitzers and tactical drones.
"Our unity at home with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people, is sending an unmistakable message to Putin -- he will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine," he said.
Ukraine appealed for an immediate humanitarian corridor to allow civilians and wounded fighters to be evacuated from Mariupol s sprawling Azovstal steel plant.
"They have almost no food, water, essential medicine," Ukraine s foreign ministry said.
Three school buses filled with Mariupol evacuees including women and children arrived in the city of Zaporizhzhia after crossing through territory held by Russian forces.
Exhausted evacuee Valentina, 73, told AFP she urgently needed medication for her back as she struggled to remain standing.
"My apartment has been destroyed just like the house of my son," she said, still wearing her slippers along with a torn black coat.
