Beijing, China China has officially launched a new visa programme to aggressively court foreign talent in the fields of science and technology, an effort that underscores its strategic push to position itself as a world leader in these sectors ahead of the United States. The Chinese measure, first announced in August, stands in stark contrast to recent US policy shifts. Across the Atlantic, the Trump administration rattled the American tech industry last month by suddenly introducing new and substantially expensive changes to its skilled worker visas. The new Chinese ‘K visa’ significantly simplifies the immigration process for eligible applicants, according…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
The subsurface ocean hidden beneath the icy shell of Saturn’s moon Enceladus harbours complex organic molecules, a new study reveals, offering compelling further evidence that the small world possesses all the right ingredients to host extraterrestrial life. Just 500 kilometres (310 miles) wide and invisible to the naked eye, the white, scar-covered Enceladus is one of hundreds of moons orbiting the sixth planet from the Sun. For a long time, scientists believed it was simply too far from the Sun—and therefore too cold—to be habitable. However, the Cassini space probe’s multiple flybys during its 2004–2017 mission to Saturn and its…
The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, expressed strong displeasure over the detection of two more poliovirus cases this month and announced strict disciplinary action against negligent officials, along with an aggressive new eradication campaign for the final quarter of 2025. English Summary The Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, took immediate disciplinary action following the detection of two more poliovirus cases, bringing the total number of cases in Sindh to nine for the year (three in Badin, two in Thatta, and one each in Hyderabad, Larkana, Kambar, and Umerkot). Disciplinary Actions: Suspended the District Health Officers (DHOs) of…
Islamabad, Pakistan: The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) has officially released its final report on Pakistan’s 2024 general elections, detailing what it called “conditions which appeared to limit fundamental political rights and impacted one party’s ability to fairly contest the election.” The report, long subject to controversy over its delay, also criticized the cellular service shutdown on election night, which it said “reduced the transparency of the process and impacted the efficiency of receiving results.” In a “Letter of Transmittal” included in the report, COG Chairperson Dr. Goodluck Jonathan highlighted the central issues facing the elections: the denial of the ‘bat’…
Quetta, Pakistan: At least ten alleged terrorists were killed in a major exchange of fire with Counter-terrorism Department (CTD) personnel in Quetta’s Aghbarg area on Wednesday, signaling a significant counter-insurgency operation in Pakistan’s volatile southwestern province of Balochistan. A CTD spokesperson confirmed in a statement that the operation was launched following a reliable tip-off from intelligence agencies. “Upon reaching the area, they were attacked by the terrorists but promptly retaliated,” the spokesperson said. The ensuing gun battle resulted in the deaths of the ten individuals. The CTD reported recovering heavy ammunition and weapons from the bodies of the deceased. According…
Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has successfully repaid a $500 million Eurobond on schedule, a move the government is highlighting as concrete evidence of improving fiscal discipline, strengthening foreign reserves, and a more resilient economic outlook following years of crisis. The bond, originally issued in 2015 with a 10-year tenor to raise funds from global investors, matured on September 30 this year. Khurram Schehzad, Adviser to the Finance Minister, announced the repayment on the X platform, stating: “Timely debt servicing remains business as usual, reflecting the country’s commitment to financial discipline.” He characterized the development as encouraging, noting that it coincides with…
Abbottabad, Pakistan: A devastating incident of gun violence has rocked the Havelian area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Abbottabad district, where a man allegedly shot dead four members of his immediate family on Wednesday, according to local police. The victims include the suspect’s brother, his sister-in-law, and their two young daughters. The alleged mass shooting took place in the Bandi Attai area. Abbottabad Police Spokesperson Azam Mir Afzal confirmed the incident, stating that a police team was immediately dispatched to the site. “The suspect allegedly killed his brother along with his family members, but the motive behind the murders could not be…
Islamabad, Pakistan: The Islamabad District and Sessions Court on Wednesday recalled the non-bailable arrest warrants issued against prominent human rights defenders and lawyers Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, after the couple appeared in court. The warrants were issued the previous day due to their failure to appear in a high-profile case involving controversial tweets. The hearing, presided over by Judge Mohammad Afzal Majoka, was held under tight security, with police deployed outside the courtroom. The arrest warrants were recalled following the couple’s physical presence, despite their junior counsel having informed the court yesterday that they had…
Lahore, Pakistan: The results of the 2025 Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) First Annual Examination, released by the Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISEs), highlight a distinct shift in Pakistan’s educational landscape, marked by the academic ascendancy of female students and the overwhelming success of private institutions. This year, female candidates once again outperformed their male peers across all academic streams, continuing a consistent pattern observed in recent years. This trend reaffirms the resilience and sustained academic strength of young women throughout the country. The Private Sector’s Command The breakdown of top academic achievements reveals a commanding…
Karachi, Pakistan: The port city of Karachi was jolted by a low-intensity earthquake on Wednesday morning, the latest in a series of tremors that have underscored the seismic vulnerability of the densely populated metropolitan area. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed the earthquake was recorded at 3.2 magnitude at 9:34 am local time. The epicenter was located just seven kilometers northwest of the Malir district, with a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The tremor follows a notable sequence of low-intensity quakes recorded in the city throughout June—with magnitudes ranging from 1.5 to 3.8—mostly concentrated around the Malir area. This persistent…
