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Gold prices in Pakistan Today – February 23, 2026 | The Express Tribune

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Gold prices in Pakistan Today – February 23, 2026 | The Express Tribune


Gold and silver prices continued their upward trajectory in both international and local markets.

In the international bullion market, the price of gold per ounce rose by $30 to reach $5,138.

Spot gold was up 0.6 per cent at $5,136.22 per ounce by 0729 GMT after hitting its highest level since January 30 earlier in the session. US gold futures for April delivery gained 1.5 per cent to $5,157.50.

Read: Gold, silver prices surge again as local rates hit new highs

In the domestic market, the price of gold per tola increased by Rs3,000 to Rs534,562.

Similarly, the price of 10 grams of gold climbed by Rs2,572 to Rs460,015.

Spot silver rose 1.2 per cent to $85.57 per ounce, marking a more than two-week high.

Meanwhile, the price of silver per tola increased by Rs146 to Rs9,094, while the rate for 10 grams of silver rose by Rs125 to Rs7,796.



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Zoopla buys online business newhomesforsale.co.uk

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Zoopla buys online business newhomesforsale.co.uk



Property portal Zoopla has bought newhomesforsale.co.uk as it continues to expand further into the new build market.

Zoopla said the deal – for an undisclosed amount – will see it buy 100% of the new homes property site, which has over 200 developer customers, supports 2,500 active property developments and connects over one million buyers with properties each year.

It comes amid a concerted push by Zoopla to grow its new build offering, having recently announced tie-ups with housebuilding giants Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes.

As part of the efforts to further tap into this market, Zoopla has improved the visibility of new homes on its website and the consumer search experience, promoted the benefits of new builds and added features such as search by developer and affordability tools.

It has also rolled out the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to help lower the cost of attracting buyers, identify “higher-intent” customers earlier and make reservation pipelines more efficient for home builders.

Together, these product innovations have helped drive a 53% increase in the number of new home leads for builders year-on-year, according to Zoopla.

Paul Whitehead, chief executive of Zoopla, said the newhomesforsale.co.uk (NHFS) deal was “a natural next step in our strategy”.

He said: “Our recent partnerships with Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon demonstrate the progress we have made and the value we deliver.

“The addition of newhomesforsale.co.uk will strengthen our offer and deepen our relationships with home builders across the UK.”

After the deal, Stratford-upon-Avon-based NHFS will continue as a standalone brand and website, with its existing leadership team, led by founder and managing director Vernon Pethard.

All 10 staff – including Mr Pethard – are transferring to Zoopla following the deal.

Mark Hincks, director of newhomesforsale.co.uk, said: “Our focus has always been to connect developers with high-intent buyers and deliver a clear return on marketing investment.

“Joining Zoopla unlocks audience data, insights and innovation that will allow us to deliver even more value for our customers.”

Mr Pethard founded NHFS in 1998, initially offering a range of new homes newspapers, which later shifted online via the website in 2009.



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Cruise companies cancel Puerto Vallarta stops after violence in Mexico

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Cruise companies cancel Puerto Vallarta stops after violence in Mexico


A satellite image shows cars on fire along a coastal road in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026, following the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” in a military operation.

Vantor | Via Reuters

American travel companies are scrambling to reroute cruise ships and take care of tourists to Mexico after violence and chaos erupted in several coastal regions in the country following the killing of a cartel leader.

The U.S. State Department broadened its warning to travelers to shelter in place across multiple regions of Mexico, including the popular tourist hot spots of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Tijuana and Puerto Vallarta.

Violence erupted after the Mexican army killed Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes. Known as “El Mencho,” he led one of fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it, The Associated Press reported.

As roads were blockaded with burning vehicles, airlines canceled flights and cruise lines rerouted ships to avoid ports with potential problems.

Carnival Corp. said Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam were bypassing their planned stops in Puerto Vallarta on Monday. Norwegian Cruise Line said its ship the Norwegian Bliss has canceled its plans to call on Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.

MSC Cruises USA said sailings to Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, are currently operating as planned, but that shore excursions may be adjusted or canceled.

Though Royal Caribbean said it doesn’t have ships currently in the affected areas, CNBC has learned some of its excursions in Ensenada, Mexico, were affected.

Airbnb told CNBC it had activated its “major disruptive events policy” in Jalisco state and other affected regions. That policy overrides the host’s individual cancellation policy, allowing travelers and hosts to cancel reservations without consequences.

“We are monitoring this situation carefully and are focused on supporting guests and hosts in impacted areas,” an Airbnb spokesperson said.

In a note to investors, Truist travel and leisure analyst Patrick Scholes wrote that Hyatt has the most exposure of the international brands, with 8.5% of its room total coming from Mexico. Marriott has the second-highest exposure, with 3.3% of its overall rooms coming from Mexico.

Typical travel insurance policies often carry exclusions for terrorism, political violence or civil unrest.

Squaremouth, an online marketplace for travel insurance, warned would-be travelers that “the violence in Mexico is now a foreseeable event, or what the insurance industry calls a known event. So tourists can’t buy coverage now in order to cancel their trip.”

However, a Squaremouth spokesperson told CNBC, “If you are heading to Mexico soon, especially during spring break, buying CFAR [cancel for any reason] or IFAR [interruption for any reason] as add-ons is a smart decision given the uncertainty.”



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Airlines halt Puerto Vallarta flights after violence following Mexican cartel leader’s killing

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Airlines halt Puerto Vallarta flights after violence following Mexican cartel leader’s killing


Smoke billows from burning vehicles amid a wave of violence, with torched vehicles and gunmen blocking highways in more than half a dozen states, following a military operation in which a government source said Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera, known as “El Mencho,” was killed, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, February 22, 2026, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video.

Stringer | Reuters

U.S. and Canadian airlines halted flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara in Mexico after violence broke out in the country in the wake of the Mexican army’s killing of a cartel leader.

The U.S. State Department on Sunday told U.S. citizens to shelter in place, citing “ongoing security operations and related road blockages and criminal activity.”

Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and others canceled flights to Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and to Guadalajara, which is also in the Jalisco state. Airlines waived change fees for affected travelers.

Flights to other major airports in the country, like Mexico City and Cancun, weren’t impacted by the unrest.

Stranded passengers line up at Guadalajara Airport in Tlajomulco, Jalisco, Mexico, on February 23, 2026, to claim compensation for flights that were canceled or postponed the previous day.

Ulises Ruiz | Afp | Getty Images

Several Mexican states also canceled school on Monday after the country’s army killed Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes. Known as “El Mencho,” he led one of fastest-growing criminal networks in Mexico, notorious for trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the United States and staging brazen attacks against government officials who challenged it, The Associated Press reported.

He was killed during a shoot-out in his home state of Jalisco, AP said.

Airlines routinely suspend service due to unrest and infrastructure problems to avoid having passengers, crews and aircraft stranded.

Read more CNBC airline news



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