A violent storm struck a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily early Monday, leading to the vessel’s sinking and leaving one person dead and six missing, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. The British-flagged “Bayesian,” a 56-meter sailboat, was anchored near Porticello when it was hit by severe weather, according to the Italian coast guard. The yacht, carrying 22 people, rapidly disappeared beneath the waves shortly before dawn. Fifteen individuals, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares and a one-year-old girl, managed to escape before the yacht sank. The identities of the deceased and missing have not yet been disclosed, but…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
As 2024 unfolds, big tech companies face mounting challenges in the European Union, with the bloc intensifying its enforcement of new regulations. Since August 2023, the EU has implemented some of the strictest tech regulations globally, and there are no signs of this momentum slowing down. In August, the EU achieved a significant victory by compelling TikTok to permanently eliminate an “addictive” feature from its European app—a milestone under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which began affecting platforms a year ago. This followed a series of regulatory actions in the summer, targeting tech giants Apple, Meta, and Microsoft, with more…
CASTELO BRANCO (Portugal): Wout van Aert secured a thrilling victory in the third stage of the Vuelta a España on Monday, outpacing Kaden Groves in a dramatic bunch sprint finish. The Belgian rider completed the 191.2-kilometre stage from Lousa to Castelo Branco in Portugal, finishing ahead of Australian Groves and Spaniard Jon Aberasturi. Van Aert, who retained the red jersey as the general classification leader, clocked in at four hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds. This victory marks his 10th Grand Tour stage win and his first since February, having previously finished third and second on the opening two days…
RAWALPINDI: All-rounder Aamer Jamal has been omitted from Pakistan’s playing XI for the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh, set to begin on Wednesday. Additionally, Aamer has been dropped from the Pakistan squad altogether. Aamer, who made an impressive debut series against Australia in December-January, will not feature in the first game as he recovers from a back injury sustained while playing county cricket this year. He is currently advised to focus on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Aamer’s absence sees pacer Mohammad Ali take his place.…
LAHORE: Pakistan’s U-18 volleyball team has achieved a historic milestone by securing a spot in the World Championship for the first time. This accomplishment follows their impressive performance in the Asian Volleyball Championship, where they earned a bronze medal and overcame strong opponents such as India, South Korea, and Japan. Coach Saeed Ahmad is optimistic about the team’s potential to win a medal at the World Championship but stresses the importance of government support. “Technically and skill-wise, our boys are outstanding and exhibit excellent team chemistry,” Ahmad told Dawn during a prize distribution ceremony organized by the Pakistan Volleyball Federation…
KARACHI: On Monday, K-Electric secured the lowest tariff bid for its 150-megawatt renewable energy project in Balochistan, set to commence in Q4 FY25. K-Electric will submit the bid evaluation report to the National Electricity Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) before announcing the successful bidder. The 640-megawatt initiative marks the initial phase of K-Electric’s long-term plan to integrate 1,300 megawatts of sustainable energy into its generation portfolio. This initiative includes three phases: the first tranche involves 150 megawatts in Balochistan, followed by 270 megawatts in Sindh, and a 220-megawatt site-neutral project, which will be the company’s inaugural hybrid solar and wind project.
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functional Committee on Devolution met on Monday and unanimously agreed to recommend the abolition of the Ministries of Industries and Production and Energy (Petroleum Division), proposing that their responsibilities be transferred to the provinces. Chaired by Senator Zarqa Suharwardy, the committee indicated that further recommendations on the distribution of these responsibilities to provinces or the Council of Common Interests would follow. During the meeting, which reviewed the performance of the Ministry of Industries and Production over the last two financial years, it was noted that the ministry had effectively become a provincial issue. However, the additional secretary…
ISLAMABAD: While taxpayers face escalating tax rates, it has been revealed that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have received significant tax breaks amounting to Rs1.217 trillion from the mid-1990s through the 2023-24 fiscal year, according to official sources. These tax exemptions for IPPs surpass the anticipated capacity payments, which are projected to reach Rs2.091 trillion in the current fiscal year. The IPPs, which are linked to 40 influential families with connections to power corridors, benefit from corporate tax exemptions on profits from power plants established after July 1, 1988. Since then, successive governments, both democratic and autocratic, have introduced approximately five…
KARACHI: Online businesses and freelancers are expressing mounting concerns over persistent internet disruptions, warning of substantial economic losses if the issues are not addressed promptly. On Monday, the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and the Pakistan Freelancers Association (Pafla) called on the government to engage with the industry and resolve the ongoing problems with slow internet speeds. These comments followed a statement from Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, who denied allegations of government-imposed internet throttling, claiming that the issue was temporary and had been resolved. Ali Ihsan, Senior Vice Chairman of P@SHA, criticized the government for excluding his association…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Monday that the completion of the Information Technology Park in Islamabad will be a pivotal step towards achieving Pakistan’s $25 billion IT export target. During a meeting to assess the progress of ongoing IT projects and digitization efforts, the prime minister expressed approval of the IT Park’s development. He directed officials to consult with Korean experts to expedite the project, which has seen its completion deadline revised from June 2025 to February 2025. The Capital Development Authority is actively overseeing the project’s progress. The meeting was attended by several key officials, including Ministers…
