On Monday, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant initiative to integrate cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) tools into its operations, partnering with some of the biggest names in the AI sector: Google, OpenAI, and Elon Musk’s xAI. Each of these companies has secured contracts potentially valued at up to $200 million, aiming to assist the Pentagon in addressing evolving national security challenges through advanced AI systems. The department’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office stated that these contracts will enable the DoD to develop agentic AI workflows and apply them to critical national security challenges. Doug Matty, Chief…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
A fascinating new study suggests that our Milky Way galaxy might be accompanied by as many as 100 additional galaxies, which have remained undetected until now due to their extremely low luminosity. These potential galactic companions have been termed “orphan” galaxies. This groundbreaking finding comes from cosmologists at Durham University in England. They employed a sophisticated methodology that integrates the world’s most advanced supercomputer simulations with intricate mathematical modeling, as reported by ABC News. The revelations were shared at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Durham on Friday. The simulations provided compelling indications of numerous unseen satellite galaxies…
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the U.S. state of Alaska on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor occurred at approximately 12:37 PM local time (2037 GMT), with its epicenter located about 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of the island town of Sand Point, according to the USGS. The earthquake had a relatively shallow depth of 20.1 kilometers. Following the quake, authorities issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. “A tsunami has been confirmed and some impacts are expected,” stated the National Tsunami Warning Center…
The U.S. Senate, in a vote early Thursday, approved President Donald Trump’s plan to implement billions of dollars in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting funding. This decision marks another victory for the Republican president as he continues to assert control over Congress with minimal opposition. The Senate’s vote of 51 to 48 in favor of Trump’s request will reduce spending by $9 billion, funds that had already been approved by Congress. The majority of these cuts target programs designed to assist foreign countries grappling with disease, war, and natural disasters. Additionally, the plan entirely eliminates the $1.1 billion…
A cockpit recording from the Air India flight that tragically crashed last month indicates the captain deliberately cut the flow of fuel to the aircraft’s engines, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The newspaper cited individuals familiar with early assessments by U.S. officials, who are examining evidence from the ongoing investigation into the June 12 crash in Ahmedabad, India, which claimed 260 lives. According to the report, the first officer, who was piloting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, questioned the more experienced captain about why he moved the fuel switches to the “cutoff” position mere seconds after liftoff…
A devastating fire at a hypermarket in Al-Kut, eastern Iraq, has claimed the lives of at least 61 people, with 11 others reported missing, according to the city’s health authorities and two police sources who spoke to Reuters on Thursday. Videos circulating on social media showed a five-story building in Al-Kut engulfed in flames overnight as firefighters struggled to contain the inferno. “We have compiled a list of 59 victims whose identities have been confirmed, but one body was so badly burned that it has been extremely difficult to identify,” a city health official informed Reuters. Ali al-Mayahi, another city…
The British government announced on Thursday its intention to grant 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in all UK elections, signaling a significant transformation of the country’s democratic framework. The proposed changes, which require parliamentary approval, aim to align voting rights across the UK with those in Scotland and Wales, where younger voters are already eligible to participate in devolved elections. “We are taking action to break down barriers to participation that will ensure more people have the opportunity to engage in UK democracy,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in an official announcement. According to a parliamentary report,…
On Wednesday, Israel conducted powerful airstrikes in Damascus, destroying a portion of the defense ministry and striking near the presidential palace. These attacks came as Israel vowed to eliminate government forces assaulting Druze in southern Syria and demanded their withdrawal. These actions represent a significant escalation by Israel against the administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, occurring despite his improving relations with the United States and his administration’s developing security contacts with Israel. Describing Syria’s new leadership as thinly veiled extremists, Israel has declared it will prevent their forces from entering southern Syria and pledged to safeguard the region’s Druze…
A catastrophic fire at a hypermarket in Al-Kut, southern Iraq, has resulted in the deaths of at least 69 individuals, with 11 others reported missing, city health authorities and two police sources informed Reuters on Thursday. Reuters footage from the aftermath of the overnight inferno depicted the charred facade of the “Corniche Hypermarket” building, where rescue teams and security forces were still present. Videos verified by Reuters showed firefighters dousing the blazing structure overnight and people descending from the roof with assistance from rescue personnel. “We still have more bodies that have not been recovered, remaining under fire debris,” stated…
The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a 15% increase in pensions provided by the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), effective from January 1, 2025. This decision, based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, will be funded from the institution’s own resources. During a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the premier directed the formation of a cabinet committee to introduce institutional reforms within EOBI. This committee will also deliberate on proposals to extend old-age benefits to the informal labor sector, including domestic workers, agricultural laborers, and other marginalized employment categories…
