Japanese annual pay increases must exceed the 5.1% secured last year as real wages continue to fall The Bank of Japan (BOJ) raised its interest rate from 0.25% to 0.5% on Friday, the highest level since the 2008 global financial crisis. This move aims to keep inflation around its 2% target, driven by rising wages. This is the BOJ’s first rate hike since July 2024, following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which has made global policymakers cautious of potential higher tariffs. The BOJ also revised its inflation forecast, stating that wage increases will help maintain price stability. It…
Author: Web Desk
Consumers can now lodge complaints regarding illegal outlets The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC) have launched an innovative mobile application, ‘Rah Guzar,’ marking a significant step toward the digitalization of Pakistan’s oil supply chain. The launch ceremony took place at OGRA’s headquarters in Islamabad, chaired by OGRA Chairman Masroor Khan. Senior officials from the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division), FBR, Customs, Explosives Department, and representatives from OCAC were also in attendance. The ‘Rah Guzar’ app uses Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to help users identify legal petrol pumps…
Bangladesh could soon witness the launch of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite services, as Dubai-based telecommunications company Veon Ltd has confirmed that it is in talks to expand its partnership with the global satellite internet provider. Veon, which owns Banglalink, the country’s third-largest mobile operator, aims to bring satellite-powered connectivity to markets in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Veon’s CEO, Kaan Terzioglu, explained in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “It’s not only about the war situation. Terrestrial networks have their limits. During times of floods or energy deficiencies, which our markets are exposed to, we truly believe that…
The South African government recently unveiled plans to introduce policy directives that would allow equity equivalent programs to attract foreign investment into the country’s telecommunications sector. This shift in policy is expected to eliminate obstacles that had previously hindered SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service from launching in South Africa. For nearly four years, the South African telecommunications industry faced uncertainty after the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) published new local ownership regulations on March 31, 2021. These regulations, which replaced provisions in the Electronic Communications Act (ECA), mandated that telecommunications providers with a national footprint must be 30% black-owned,…
Samsung has introduced the new Galaxy S25, but is the upgrade truly worth it? The Galaxy S25 features several significant upgrades, but the similarities between the two devices may leave you wondering whether upgrading is necessary. Let’s compare the two models. Design and Display The Galaxy S25 retains the flat sides, rounded corners, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection from the Galaxy S24, but it has a slimmer and lighter build, measuring 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 mm and weighing just 162 grams, compared to the Galaxy S24’s 167 grams. Both phones feature a 6.2-inch LTPO OLED display with a…
Starlink has introduced interest-free instalment plans for its Mini Kit, significantly lowering the upfront cost and making satellite internet more accessible across Zimbabwe. The company announced two instalment options: a six-month plan at $25 per month and a nine-month plan at $16.67 per month. Both plans require an initial deposit of $50 and a $23 delivery fee, reducing the initial payment from $223 to $73. Starlink officials noted that the interest-free nature of these plans would likely make the nine-month option the most popular. Customers will also need to pay a minimum monthly subscription fee of $30 after receiving the…
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is currently facing issues, with thousands of users reporting difficulties in accessing its services. The popular AI chatbot is preventing users from initiating conversations or accessing their history. When the page is reloaded, it shows a ‘Bad Request’ error. While OpenAI has not officially acknowledged the outage, Downdetector shows a significant increase in outage reports. Users worldwide are experiencing timeouts, and ChatGPT, which had 300 million active global users in 2024, continues to be a significant player in the AI tools market. OpenAI recently updated its status to ‘identified’ in response to numerous reports of outages globally. Users…
The ICC has unveiled its Men’s ODI Team of the Year for 2024, spotlighting outstanding performances from emerging talents across multiple cricket-playing nations. This lineup features a remarkable blend of youth and skill, with players from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies making significant contributions in international one-day cricket. Leading the batting charge are Saim Ayub from Pakistan and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Afghanistan, both showcasing explosive performances despite limited international experience. Ayub, who debuted in November, scored 515 runs with three centuries, while Gurbaz continued to impress with game-changing innings across various series. Sri Lanka dominated the middle-order…
Pakistan red-ball vice-captain Saud Shakeel said that spin-friendly pitches like those in Multan should be prepared in domestic cricket to help players become familiar with such conditions. Addressing the press conference in Multan, Shakeel stated, “Scoring more runs in the first innings of the Test match provides a lot of relaxation for the rest of the match.” “We generally aim to score around 350 runs in an innings rather than going for 500-600 runs if the conditions don’t favor the batters,” he added. Shakeel emphasized, “I have always tried to perform for the team’s cause to steer them to victory.”…
Sports commentator Ali Younis stated that it would be a “shock” to see all-rounder Khushdil Shah in the Pakistan national cricket team for the Champions Trophy based on his few performances in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) or Champions Cup. Speaking on Samaa Digital’s program “Zor Ka Jor,” Younis, brother of former bowling legend Waqar Younis, said, “There are still speculations about Khushdil Shah’s return to the Pakistan national cricket team for the Champions Trophy. I hope he [Khushdil] will not play as an opener.” Younis further mentioned, “We might still see Khushdil batting at number six or number seven.…
