Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for urgent high-stakes discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) on oil, Gaza, and Ukraine. The meeting, characterized by its urgency, underscores the critical nature of the issues at hand and the need for swift diplomatic resolution. As global attention focuses on Putin’s Saudi…
US Light Vehicle (LV) sales experienced an 8.5% year-on-year (YoY) growth in November, reaching 1.22 million units, preliminary estimates reveal. The YoY surge, attributed to weak sales a year prior, fell slightly below expectations, although the selling rate remained consistent with recent months. Despite the improvement in inventory, customers seem to require higher incentives, marking…
Moody’s, the ratings agency, downgraded China’s credit rating outlook from “stable” to “negative” on Tuesday, citing escalating debt in the world’s second-largest economy. Beijing expressed its disappointment with the decision. According to the U.S. agency’s note, the downgrade is a response to mounting indications that the government and broader public sector will extend financial support…
A parliamentary panel on Monday proposed a crucial amendment, advocating for an adjustment that would allow disabled individuals to import used cars featuring engine capacities up to 1500cc once every five years. This proposal has been forwarded to the Senate Finance Committee for comprehensive deliberation, particularly concerning the potential exemption of sales tax. Officials from…
(Reuters): Afghanistan’s Taliban administration has appointed a former spokesperson as ambassador to China, the foreign affairs ministry said on Friday, its first officially accredited envoy to any country since taking over in 2021. Former administration spokesman Bilal Karimi arrived in China late in November to take up the role, the Taliban-run foreign ministry said in…
(Reuters): Shares of crypto miners and Bitcoin tracking companies climbed in premarket trading on Friday as the world’s largest cryptocurrency extended a recent rally to touch a near 19-month high on improving risk appetite. Bitcoin, up 2% at $38,410, has been gaining since October on optimism that a potential approval of a spot exchange-traded fund is…
Chinese Network Targets Aviation, Navigation, and More Industries. It Challenging Starlink With Fewer Satellites and Wider Coverage China has launched its first high-orbit satellite Internet, propelling itself into the forefront of the “China Satellite” arena and heightening the competitive landscape of the ongoing “Space Race.” This significant achievement, as reported by the state news agency…
Chinese scientists have conducted a simulated war game that unveils a potential threat to advanced US stealth aircraft, particularly the B-21 Raider, posed by China’s hypersonic missiles. This research, led by Associate Professor Chen Jun from Northwestern Polytechnical University, reveals significant insights into the dynamics of modern warfare and the evolving capabilities of hypersonic technology….
The Pakistan government has ousted Syed Ali Raza from his position as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) due to his failure to secure security clearance from relevant law enforcement agencies. Raza, appointed by the Pakistan Democratic Movement government in April, led the PSEB, which focuses on fostering the…
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire has been extended for an additional two days, according to the Qatari government. This extension creates an opportunity for further negotiations, potentially involving the exchange of hostages held by militants for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majid Al Ansary confirmed the extension on the last day of the original…
The UAE-based conglomerate Nation Trust Holding (TNTH) has formalized an MoU with Kohinoor Spinning Mills Limited (KOSM) to establish a raw and value-added mineral venture in Pakistan with a planned investment of $8.2 million. KOSM will be a collaborative partner, managing its facilities in Chakwal and handling government approvals, the company’s filing to the Pakistan…
In the City of Boston, Massachusetts, the planned capital program funds have surged 15 percent, emphasizing key transformative projects such as the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Green New Deal, the revitalization of Roxbury’s transportation corridors, and the construction of the Josiah Quincy Upper School along with a dedicated center for youth and families. The City…
A recent laboratory study suggests that a compound in grape skins, quercetin, may be responsible for the notorious “red wine headache” experienced by some individuals. Quercetin, an antioxidant present in fruits and vegetables, including grape skins, inhibits the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) crucial for alcohol metabolism in the liver. In the lab, researchers found that…
Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD, a major player in the global electric vehicles (EVs) market, is currently engaged in discussions with Pakistani authorities regarding the potential of the country’s EV sector. With its operations in India and various right-hand-driven (RHD) markets, BYD is emerging as a formidable competitor to Tesla and is on track to surpass…
EC tightens Palestinian aid post-Hamas, freezes €39M. Controversy over anti-incitement measures and increased scrutiny. With a Gaza death toll of 0.5 percent of its population and almost every second house damaged noted by the United Nations, the European Commission cuts of aid to Palestine and urges increased documentation from its civil society groups receiving EU…
In a groundbreaking study, Japanese scientists have successfully grown mouse embryos aboard the International Space Station, showcasing potential breakthroughs in human reproduction in space. Utilizing a specialized device, astronauts thawed and cultivated the embryos over a four-day period, marking a significant advancement in extraterrestrial reproductive science. Operating within specific intervals, the astronauts meticulously monitored the…
The United States has granted a two-year extension to the exemption period for Pakistan’s fish imports, providing additional time for commercial fishing operations in Pakistan to align with U.S. standards. The US Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), a federal agency, granted this two-year extension to the Marine Mammal Protection Act…
They Stress the Crucial Link Between Governance and Economic Stability in Pakistan Special Investment Facilitation Council Lauded for Fostering Collaboration in Pakistan Gender Empowerment and Disaster Resilience Take Center Stage at the 26th Sustainable Development Conference Experts convened to underscore the pressing need for Pakistan’s economic reset, highlighting the crucial connection between enhanced governance and…
GSP+ elevates Pakistan’s exports to the EU, fostering growth and sustainability with zero-rated tariffs on two-thirds of products. The European Union (EU) urges Pakistan for practical implementation of 27 international conventions that are integral to the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme. The EU’s fourth report on the scheme underscores Pakistan’s legislative advancements. However,…
WhatsApp plans to introduce features like viewing status within conversations, currently testing an AI-powered chatbot for enhanced user experience. Meta, the corporate entity overseeing WhatsApp, declared in September its intent to seamlessly integrate the chatbot across its diverse platforms. Functioning on the Llama 2 broad language mode, the AI-powered chatbot facilitates fluid and lifelike conversations. Furthermore,…
In a significant development, Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) has inked pivotal license agreements with industry leaders Honeywell UOP and Axens for its ambitious Refinery Expansion and Upgrade Project (REUP). The project’s primary objective is to double PRL’s refining capacity from the current 50kbpd to 100kbpd while transitioning the existing hydro skimming configuration to a deep…
Amid Global Collaborations, both parties are expected to sign a “legal documentary agreement” to formalize the resolution Reuters Photos In the arena of Israel-Hamas negotiations and the unfolding dynamics of a hostage exchange, a cautiously optimistic tone emerges for the imminent finalization of a deal. Despite encountered challenges, an expectation lingers that the agreement will…
Tesla, X, formerly known as Twitter and SpaceX’s CEO Elon Musk attends the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Bletchley, Britain on November 1, 2023. — Reuters Elon Musk yielded to White House pressure and big Brands, announcing on Saturday via his social media platform X that users employing the anti-Semitic slogan “from the…
A new challenge is emerging in the Electric Vehicles (EV) industry. The impending shortage of key EV battery material casts a shadow on its growth and poses a potential disruption to the delicate balance of supply and demand. It also challenges the low-carbon transition, as cleaner energy relies on making lots of batteries. Addressing these…
Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) has signed and executed the upgrade agreement with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to upgrade its plants, the company reported on Thursday. Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL) has emphatically pledged its commitment to national progress by steadfastly adhering to the mandatory provisions outlined in the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy for…