HONG KONG: The United States and China resumed semi-official nuclear arms talks in March for the first time in five years, with Beijing’s representatives telling US counterparts that they would not resort to atomic threats over Taiwan, according to two American delegates who attended. The Chinese representatives offered reassurances after their US interlocutors raised concerns that China might use, or threaten to use, nuclear weapons if it faced defeat in a conflict over Taiwan. “They told the US side that they were absolutely convinced that they are able to prevail in a conventional fight over Taiwan without using nuclear weapons,”…
Author: Hasnain Abid Khanzada
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday signed an agreement worth $250 million policy-based loan. Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs Dr Kazim Niaz and Country Director ADB Yong Ye signed the loan program. Kazim Niaz thanked the ADB for its continued support to Pakistan’s critical development needs and rehabilitation efforts in post-flood context. According to the ADB official ‘X’ handle, the agreement aimed at assisting Pakistan drive sustainable investment in infrastructure and services through Public Private Partnership (PPP). ADB Country Director for Pakistan Yong Ye and Secretary EAD Dr Kazim Niaz signed the agreement. “ADB Country Director…
Extreme heat has companies in the United States changing the way they work. One frequent response: work less. Here is how heat affects several large industries and what they do about it: * Construction: Work slows at construction projects. What usually takes two days can take three or four as builders take breaks, estimates Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. RileyWealth. Changes could include shifting the workday earlier. Slowing projects could also hit the companies that sell supplies, but the impact to the likes of Home Depot and Lowe’sis likely limited because builders buy in advance and the projects…
ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday appreciated Pakistan’s tough economic decisions in budget 2024-25 citing sources. According to sources, Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made significant progress in their virtual negotiations. Sources revealed that the IMF expressed satisfaction over the tough economic decisions taken in the budget, acknowledging the positive role of political parties in the budget. Sources further added that the limitation of tax exemptions to improve the economy was also appreciated by the monetary fund. The IMF delegation is expected to arrive in Pakistan for the new loan program in the last week…
KARACHI: The Sindh Excise Department will hold a ‘historic auction’ of premium number plates for vehicles to generate revenue from the choice number fee mechanism. According to details, the Excise Department will hold a ‘historic auction’ of premium number plates on June 29 at a local hotel in Karachi. Interested participants can register now for the event. The auction will feature premium number plates in the Platinum, Gold, and Silver categories. Representatives from car manufacturing companies have also been invited to the event, according to provincial minister Sharjeel Memon. Premium number plates have unique features, such as personalised property that…
Citing its detrimental economic impact on the media industry, the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS) and Pakistan Broadcasters on SaturdayAssociation (PBA) appealed to the government to retract the proposed amendment in the Finance Bill 2024-25 that restricts the deduction of sales promotion and advertising expenses. In separate letters addressed to the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, both organisations emphasised that members of PBA and APNS were already grappling with severe hardships due to the contraction of the documented economy, lack of innovation, and overall sluggish economic growth. They highlighted that as per the amendment in the…
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on a 118-run opening stand, leading Afghanistan to a remarkable 21-run victory over Australia in St Vincent on Saturday, keeping their semi-final hopes alive in the T20 World Cup. A win for Australia would have sent the 2021 champions and India into the last four, but even a second hat-trick in as many matches from Pat Cummins was not enough to keep their unbeaten record at the tournament intact. Half centuries from Gurbaz and Zadran helped the Afghans, who registered their first-ever victory over the Kangaroos, rack up 148-6 in their 20 overs before…
BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS: Shai Hope struck a magnificent 82 from 39 balls as West Indies crushed the USA on Friday, winning their T20 World Cup Super Eights encounter by nine wickets and with 9.1 overs to spare. The Caribbean side bowled out the USA for 128 in the clash of the tournament co-hosts and then rattled off the target in 10.5 overs with Hope smashing eight sixes. Andreas Gous was the top scorer for USA with 29 runs off 16 balls, while Nitish Kumar scored 20 off 19 balls. Andre Russell and Roston Chase starred with the ball for West Indies…
India defeated Bangladesh by 50 runs in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda. The Men in Blue are undefeated in this competition with five wins and are close to confirming their semi-final spot. Bangladesh had a slow start to the chase as Indian bowlers kept their dominance over them. Litton Das (13) was the first man to depart in the fifth over by Hardik Pandya. Meanwhile, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto looked compact but he didn’t get enough support from the other end. Spinner…
HOUSTON: Usman Khan Shinwari, a Test fast bowler, has suggested giving senior players including skipper Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi some rest after Pakistan’s disappointing performance in T20 World Cup 2024. The senior players continuously playing without taking rest had affected their performance and the new talent was not getting chance due to this, he believed. Shinwari marvelled that the seniors did not sit on bench even in the matches against lower ranked teams like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Ireland while talking to Geo News. He said such attitude of seniors had restricted the Pakistan cricket to 15 players. “[Because…
