Author: admin

Apple is preparing to expand its manufacturing operations in Vietnam as part of a push into the smart home market and an ongoing effort to lessen its dependence on China.The company is developing a range of new home devices for next year, including indoor security cameras and a display designed to control appliances and serve as a house command hub. A more advanced tabletop robot – capable of using motors and sensors to move – is slated to follow in 2027.All three products are on track to be built in Vietnam, a major change in how Apple approaches a new…

Walmart is teaming up with OpenAI to enable shoppers to browse and buy its products on ChatGPT, the retailer’s latest push to incorporate artificial intelligence.Users will be able to shop Walmart’s assortment directly on ChatGPT by clicking a “buy” button, Daniel Danker, Walmart’s executive vice-president of AI, product and design, said in an interview. The catalogue includes apparel, entertainment, packaged food and other products from Walmart and its Sam’s Club chain.“We view this as an opportunity to deliver convenience in a way that meets customers where they are,” said Danker, who joined the company this year from Instacart to accelerate…

As Japan grapples with an uncertain leadership transition, a rash of domestic scandals risks further contributing to its political circus.In recent months, a female mayor has been accused of repeatedly taking a male subordinate to a nearby “love hotel”, another dissolved a city council after it was discovered that she had falsified her academic records, and a male mayor from Okinawa is accused of sexually harassing female staff.Elsewhere, a female mayor stepped down after being accused of having relationships with two men, a 62-year-old mayor was arrested for punching a woman working in a bar, and another arranged for a…

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — When Russian drones smashed into the Shostka train station in northeastern Ukraine earlier this month, they killed a 71-year-old man, injured at least eight people and left train cars buckled by fire and riddled with shrapnel holes.It was one of the latest examples of what Ukrainian officials say has been a surge since mid-summer in attacks on railways, a critical artery for commercial and military logistics. They are part of Russia’s broader targeting of infrastructure that now is being carried out with greater precision thanks to advances in long-range drone technology that include onboard video feed.In…

Beijing has called for de-escalation following the deadliest border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan since 2021, saying it is “deeply concerned” about the hostilities.Analysts suggested the conflict remained manageable but warned that flaring tensions could jeopardise regional stability.“China sincerely hopes that both countries will prioritise the bigger picture, exercise calm and restraint, and resolve their concerns through dialogue and consultation to avoid further conflict,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday.He added that China was ready to “continue playing a constructive role” in improving bilateral ties and called on both sides to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects…

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Muhammad Ali Malkani has announced the establishment of a Registration Authority that will issue licenses to investors in all areas of the poultry sector, allowing them to invest across Sindh. He further proposed that the authority should be able to issue licenses to investors within one month. He said that the Sindh government plans to promote the poultry sector through legislation to make the province self-sufficient in poultry production. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Public Health Saleem Baloch, Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Kazim Hussain Jatoi, DG…

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb has welcomed successful negotiations with the US Administration leading to a tariff deal. He expressed these sentiments during a meeting Robert Kaproth, Assistant US Treasury Secretary for International Finance and Counselor Jonathan Greenstein here in Washington DC, where he has arrived to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB). During the meeting, the Finance Minister highlighted strong economic fundamentals of the country underpinned by the IMF programme. He briefed the Treasury officials about the legislation to regulate virtual assets in Pakistan. He…

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has introduced a fully digital platform, “National Subsistence Farmers Support Initiative” (NSFSI) to facilitate subsistence farmers to obtain collateral-free financing from banks and MFBs. In a major step to boost rural livelihoods, in August, the federal government launched a Risk Coverage Scheme for Small Farmers, a landmark initiative aimed at expanding bank financing to small, marginalized, and previously unserved farmers. The move aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision to modernize and strengthen the country’s agriculture sector, ensuring financial inclusion and protection for those at the heart of Pakistan’s food economy. The scheme has…

HOUSTON: Oil prices fell on Tuesday, settling 1.5 percent lower as the International Energy Agency warned of a huge supply glut in 2026, and as trade tensions persisted between the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies. Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.5 percent, to settle at USD62.39 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 1.3 pc, or 79 cents, at USD58.70. Both contracts were at a five-month low. In the previous session, Brent settled 0.9 percent higher, and US WTI closed up 1 percent. The world oil market faces an even bigger surplus next…

LONDON: The world oil market faces an even bigger surplus next year of as much as 4 million barrels per day as OPEC+ producers and rivals lift output and demand remains sluggish, the International Energy Agency predicted on Tuesday. The latest outlook from the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, expands its prediction of a 2026 surplus from about 3.3 million bpd last month. A surplus of 4 million bpd would be equal to almost 4% of world demand, and is much larger than other analysts’ predictions. OPEC+ is adding more crude to the market after the Organization of the Petroleum…