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The reported US seizure of a ship allegedly carrying Chinese-made dual-use components to Iran might signal Washington was “testing the waters” on reviving an old tactic to pressure Beijing’s ties with its adversaries, but such moves risked breaching international law, analysts said.An American special operations team boarded a ship from China bound for Iran in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka last month, The Wall Street Journal reported last Friday. Citing sources, it said the operation aimed to block Tehran’s import of components for its military build-up.Operatives from the US Indo-Pacific Command, both special and conventional forces, allowed the vessel…
BRUSSELS (AP) — Over the course of 2025, a new reality has sunk in for Europe. The United States, long its strongest ally, has chipped away at the European Union’s unity, economies, security and even its democracies, setting the backdrop for an EU summit this week at the end of an exceptionally trying year.After putting an indefinite freeze last week on Russian assets in Europe, EU leaders face a new test of strength at Thursday’s summit. Ukraine is in dire financial straits, and they have promised to meet Kyiv’s economic and military needs for the next two years, most probably…
ISLAMABAD: Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for Petroleum, held a meeting with Tariq Sulaiman Al-Roumi, Minister of Oil of the State of Kuwait, to discuss matters of mutual interest and strengthen bilateral cooperation in the petroleum sector. The meeting was attended by Sheikh Nawaf Al-Sabah, Chief Executive Officer of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), along with his senior management team. The Pakistani delegation included the Managing Director of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and the General Manager (Supplies) of Pakistan State Oil (PSO). Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik said the relationship between both countries is rooted in…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday lauded the economic team led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb following the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to cut the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points. In a statement, Sharif expressed confidence that the rate cut was a sign of positive momentum for the country’s economy. He framed the decision as part of broader efforts to stabilise the country’s economic outlook after months of volatility. “The government’s economic team, under the leadership of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, has worked relentlessly to steer the country towards stability, and this decision is a…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed export of Kinnow and potatoes to Common Wealth of Independent States (CIS) through Iran land route, after the government grants one-time exemption from Financial Instruments (FIs). According to the information shared with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, since December 5, 2025, exports of Kinnow and potatoes through land route began to SIC countries and 139 trucks of Kinnow and 32 trucks of potato have crossed Taftan till December 8, 2025 for onward journey. Replying to a letter of Commerce Ministry, SBP said on December 5, 2025 Commerce Ministry/ Federal Government may consider granting a…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has allowed export of Kinnow and potatoes to Common Wealth of Independent States (CIS) through Iran land route, after the government grants one-time exemption from Financial Instruments (FIs). According to the information shared with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, since December 5, 2025, exports of Kinnow and potatoes through land route began to SIC countries and 139 trucks of Kinnow and 32 trucks of potato have crossed Taftan till December 8, 2025 for onward journey. Replying to a letter of Commerce Ministry, SBP said on December 5, 2025 Commerce Ministry/ Federal Government may consider granting a…
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on Monday that Changan Automobile and BAIC were given the go-ahead to build electric vehicles (EVs) that would allow drivers to be hands off in some circumstances.But the cars, both pure EVs, could only navigate urban streets and highways in designated areas, the ministry said on its website.“The two companies have passed the tests for the two models and relevant safety reviews,” it said, adding that the ministry would collaborate with other authorities to monitor the vehicles while promoting the development of smart driving industries in China.The MIIT did not say…
Kim Jong-un has publicly mourned nine North Korean soldiers killed in Russia, in a rare display of grief analysts say belies a harder message of military solidarity with Moscow and rising expectations of compensation.North Korean state television broadcast scenes of Kim greeting wounded soldiers in wheelchairs and consoling relatives of the fallen during a welcome ceremony in Pyongyang on Friday.The event honoured engineering units that had recently returned from Russia’s western Kursk region, where they were deployed on mine-clearing missions. Kim Jong-un welcomes North Korean soldiers back from Ukraine warKim Jong-un welcomes North Korean soldiers back from Ukraine warState media…
Chinese fintech giant Ant Group has pressed ahead with its strategic move into the fast-growing healthcare sector with a major upgrade to its artificial intelligence health app AQ, positioning the platform to work like a fitness companion or a family doctor.The new features included integration of records from smart devices made by Apple, Huawei and Omron, among others, as well as the creation of health profiles for family members, the company announced on Monday. Ant is the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the Post.AQ also introduced tools such as health goal setting and smart reminders, enabling it…
Britain’s government on Monday summoned China’s ambassador to the UK to protest the conviction of British citizen Jimmy Lai Chee-ying on national security charges in Hong Kong, while US President Donald Trump said he urged leniency for Lai in a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.“I feel so badly. I spoke to President Xi about it, and I asked to consider his release,” Trump told reporters, without specifying exactly when he spoke with Xi. “He is an older man, and he is not well. So I did put that request out. We’ll see what happens.”London and Washington have watched the…