Author: Abdulrehman

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has firmly dismissed claims suggesting it will withdraw from the upcoming Asia Cup and other Asian Cricket Council (ACC) events. These reports surfaced after recent India-Pakistan tensions, with an Indian Express article alleging that the BCCI had decided to skip all ACC tournaments. The report claimed the BCCI had communicated its decision to the ACC, stating it would not participate in the men’s Asia Cup scheduled for September or the women’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup to be hosted by Sri Lanka in June. The ACC, following Jay Shah’s resignation, is currently…

LAHORE: Although the new cotton ginning season began unusually early in the second week of May—marking a first in the country’s history—serious concerns are emerging about a potential economic crisis in the cotton sector. These concerns are largely driven by the tax-free import of raw cotton and yarn, which threatens the sustainability of the local industry. Industry experts warn that during the 2025-26 crop year, the cotton ginning and textile sectors might be forced to run at below 50% of their production capacity. Such a sharp decline could lead Pakistan to resume importing billions of dollars’ worth of cotton, in…

As part of a sweeping economic transformation plan, Saudi Arabia is venturing into the world of civil nuclear energy. The move is designed to reshape the kingdom’s energy landscape, cut emissions, and maximize its valuable oil exports. Ongoing talks with the U.S. are at the heart of this push, though geopolitical tension and security concerns are adding layers of complexity. At the core of Saudi Arabia’s motivation is a desire to diversify its power sources and support critical infrastructure like desalination. But behind the scenes, there’s also a growing urgency tied to regional rivalries—particularly if nearby nations escalate their nuclear…

Microsoft Doubles Down on AI: $64B Spent & a New Strategy Emerges! Microsoft kicked off its annual developer conference on Monday with a sharp focus on transforming its massive AI investments into powerful tools for consumers and businesses alike. Based in Redmond, Washington, the tech giant has already poured $64 billion this year—mostly into data centers—to fuel AI-powered tools like Copilot in Microsoft 365. Meanwhile, Microsoft is tweaking its partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Though still a major backer, Microsoft is now letting OpenAI collaborate with Oracle on the massive “Stargate” AI data center in Texas. This signals…

At least 15 consignments of Indian mangoes have been rejected by U.S. authorities at major entry points due to documentation errors, resulting in an estimated $500,000 loss for exporters during the peak export season. The mango shipments had landed at airports in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta earlier this month but were denied clearance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after issues were flagged with the PPQ203 form, a mandatory phytosanitary certificate. Exporters were faced with two choices: destroy the mangoes or bear the cost of returning them to India. Due to the perishable nature of the fruit…

RIYADH: A Saudi airline has restarted flights for Iranian Hajj pilgrims to the kingdom for the first time in nearly ten years, marking another step forward in improving ties between the two nations. A Saudi civil aviation authority official, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed that Flynas resumed flights for Iranian pilgrims from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday. The official also stated that additional flights would be scheduled from Mashhad, enabling over 35,000 Iranian pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia via the airline. Flynas, a low-cost carrier based in Saudi Arabia, operates both domestic and international routes. The official…

The long-awaited Etihad Rail passenger service is gearing up for its debut next year – and excitement is building fast. Designed to connect all seven emirates, this high-speed train will make traveling between cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah incredibly convenient. Although the full freight network is already in operation, we’re still counting down the months until passengers can hop aboard. But the future is rolling in fast — literally. Recently, one lucky rider got a sneak peek onboard, giving us our first real taste of what this futuristic rail experience will be like — and it’s more than…

vivo proudly announces the launch of the vivo Y29 (256GB) variant in Pakistan, strengthening its well-loved Y series. This latest smartphone offers an impressive mix of flagship-level battery life, smooth performance, robust build, and elegant design. Available in two refined colors—Noble Brown and Elegant White—the Y29 continues vivo’s legacy of sleek designs, featuring a slim body with a Metallic High-Gloss Frame. The distinctive rear camera setup comes with Dynamic Light that reacts to music and notifications, creating a lively, interactive user experience. Additionally, the integrated Infrared Remote Control allows users to operate TVs, air conditioners, and various home appliances from…

Loralai Olives has made history by becoming the first Pakistani olive oil brand to win a Silver Award at the prestigious NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for its Arbequina monovarietal. The award-winning brand manages a 40-hectare olive farm in Loralai, Balochistan, where it grows Arbequina and Coratina varieties—chosen for their compatibility with the region’s dry climate, high altitude, and temperate conditions. The recognized olive oil was crafted under stringent quality protocols. The olives are hand-harvested at peak ripeness, swiftly transferred to a cold-extraction mill supported by the government, stored in climate-controlled stainless steel tanks, and packaged in dark glass and…

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s elite mountaineer Sirbaz Khan has etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Pakistani to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-metre peaks without using supplemental oxygen. Hailing from Hunza Valley, Sirbaz completed his record-setting mission on Sunday after successfully climbing Kangchenjunga (8,586m) — the world’s third-highest mountain. This final climb marked the completion of his oxygen-free ascents, cementing his place among the world’s most elite high-altitude climbers. Although Sirbaz had climbed all 14 eight-thousanders by 2024, two of those ascents involved bottled oxygen. To achieve the pure alpine style record, he re-climbed Annapurna…