Pakistan is set to begin local production of insulin in collaboration with Russia, a move that officials say will transform the country’s pharmaceutical sector and reduce its reliance on costly imports. Insulin Project to Mark a ‘New Era’ Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance, Haroon Akhtar, chaired a meeting of the Drug Regulatory Authority (DRAP) on Thursday where the project was discussed in detail. He hailed the initiative with Russia as the “foundation of a new era,” emphasizing that investment and technology transfer will be at the core of the joint venture. “This project will not only improve…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves saw a modest increase of $47 million this week, pushing the total to $19.61 billion, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). State Bank Reserves Surpass $14.27 Billion The central bank confirmed that its foreign currency holdings increased by $18 million in one week, bringing the SBP’s total reserves to $14.27 billion. Officials stated that this rise reflects steady inflows and a slight improvement in the country’s external position. Commercial Banks Add $29 Million Reserves held by commercial banks also experienced an uptick, climbing by $29 million to reach $5.34 billion. This…
The Trump administration on Friday ended the U.S. duty-free import of packages valued at less than $800, a policy known as the “de minimis” exemption. This change, which previously fueled a surge in shipments from global sellers to U.S. consumers, will likely lead to higher prices for buyers. On July 30, President Donald Trump announced the repeal of this duty-free treatment for parcels from all countries, effective a month later. These new tariffs will make shipments from overseas retailers more expensive unless the sellers choose to absorb the costs. This decision expands on a move made in May to impose…
The cautious optimism that Manchester United carried into the new season has evaporated even before the end of August, once again putting manager Ruben Amorim under an intense spotlight. With just one point from their opening two Premier League games, the Portuguese coach has now accumulated only 28 points from 29 top-flight matches since taking over from Erik ten Hag. An unfortunate 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal followed by a 1-1 draw at Fulham would not ordinarily have plunged United back into the crisis mode they ended the last miserable campaign in. However, on a stormy Wednesday night next to…
Afghanistan and Pakistan will face each other today in the opening match of the UAE T20I Tri-Series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The night encounter is set to begin at 8:00 PM local time. Both teams will be looking to start their campaign with a strong performance in what is expected to be a competitive contest. The tri-nation series, hosted by the United Arab Emirates, serves as an important buildup for both sides ahead of upcoming ICC events. Pakistan enters the match with mixed recent form, while Afghanistan has shown consistency with three wins in their last five outings. The…
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, has condemned Israel’s continued military operations in the West Bank and Gaza, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He made these comments during a press conference in Rome on Thursday, held as part of his official visit to Italy. Echoing recent statements from Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, Prince Faisal said: “We agree with Italy on the importance of quickly stopping the war in Gaza.” He further emphasized that “the two-state solution is the only path to peace in the region,” and highlighted the need to establish a political process in…
Canada and India announced the appointment of new high commissioners to each other’s countries on Thursday. This move is the latest sign of improving relations that were strained by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation that India was involved in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil. India’s previous high commissioner departed Canada in October. At the time, Ottawa stated he was one of six diplomats expelled for their alleged connection to the murder of separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, while India claimed it had withdrawn the envoy. On the same day, India ordered the expulsion of six…
Indonesian students have announced they will protest at Jakarta’s police headquarters on Friday, following the death of a motorcycle rider who was hit by a police vehicle during violent clashes a day earlier. The incident occurred after a demonstration outside the parliament. Muzammil Ihsan, head of Indonesia’s largest student union, informed Reuters that students plan to protest police violence on Friday afternoon and expects other student groups to join. On Thursday, demonstrators had gathered to protest a range of issues, including lawmakers’ salaries, education funding, and the government’s school meals program. As the protest continued into the night, local media…
A Polish Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed during a rehearsal for an airshow in Radom, central Poland, on Thursday, killing the pilot. “A Polish Army pilot died in the crash of an F-16 aircraft—an officer who always served his country with dedication and great courage. I pay tribute to his memory,” Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote on X (formerly Twitter) after arriving at the crash site. The General Command of the Armed Forces confirmed the aircraft was from the 31st Tactical Air Base near Poznan and that no bystanders were injured in the accident. “Rescue operations were immediately initiated…
A special prosecution team announced on Friday that Kim Keon Hee, the wife of South Korea’s ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been indicted on charges of bribery and other offenses. This indictment comes as part of a wider investigation into the country’s martial law crisis and a number of scandals involving the once-powerful couple. Both Yoon and Kim have been arrested and are currently in jail. Yoon is already on trial for charges that include insurrection following his removal from office in April, which was prompted by a failed attempt to impose martial law in December. The couple…
