Islamabad, Dec 5: A Chinese hacking campaign targeting U.S. telecommunications companies has compromised at least eight firms, affecting Americans’ texts and calls, according to Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser. The named victims include AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, with five other companies undisclosed. The campaign, known as “Salt Typhoon,” by Microsoft, has impacted dozens of countries and aims to identify potential espionage targets. U.S. officials warn that the hackers remain embedded in telecom systems, posing a persistent cybersecurity threat. China denies the allegations, calling the U.S.’s claims baseless. Cybersecurity experts view this as a continuation of China’s global telecom…
Author: Mawadat Fatima
Islamabad, Dec 5: Over 50 educational institutes took part in the second educational gala held in the port city. At the start of the gala, the civil administration and Pakistan Army conducted a captivating ceremony. People from all walks of life gathered which added an air of diversity. The gala continued for three days and the art corner – in which the children displayed their unique talents – grabbed the most attention. Also, awareness campaigns regarding climate change and the theme park of green Gwadar were equally popular as well as insightful. The Kitab Ghar Mela and the participation of…
Islamabad, Dec 5: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and SAFCO Venture Holdings Limited (SAFCO) have signed an $86.2 million financing package to establish a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) facility in Sheikhupura. This marks Asia and the Pacific’s first private sector-led SAF initiative. The project financing includes $41.2 million from ADB’s ordinary capital resources and $45 million in syndicated loans from partners, including the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund and ILX. Additionally, the International Finance Corporation is supporting with a parallel loan. The 200-kilotons-per-annum facility will use waste-based feedstock like used cooking oil. Shell Eastern Trading (Pte) Ltd has committed…
Islamabad, Dec 5: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made four changes to the playing XI for the third T20I against Zimbabwe, set to take place at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, tomorrow. The Men in Green, already leading the series 2-0, will test their bench strength by including Sahibzada Farhan, Qasim Akram, Mohammad Hasnain, and Arafat Minhas in place of Saim Ayub, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Abrar Ahmed, and Haris Rauf. Pakistan secured dominant wins in the series, taking the first match by 57 runs and the second by 10 wickets. Zimbabwe suffered their lowest T20I total of 57 in the…
Islamabad, Dec 5: Bitcoin (BTC) has made history by crossing the $100,000 mark for the first time early Thursday morning (PKT). BTC hit an unprecedented $103,679 before stabilizing at $103,000 by 9:15 AM. As of 9:20 AM, it was trading at $103,216, up 7.74%. This milestone represents a full diluted market cap of $2.17 trillion, with 19.79 million coins in circulation. BTC has seen an extraordinary rise since slipping below $16,000 in 2022, adding nearly $88,000 to its value. Starting 2024 at around $44,000, it has surged by 120%. The rally has been attributed to increased institutional interest and optimism…
Islamabad, Dec 5: After extensive negotiations in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s government and 17 Independent Power Producers (IPPs) from the 1994 and 2002 Power Policies have agreed on a hybrid ‘take and pay’ model. The government expects savings of Rs. 200-300 billion from the revised agreements, which now await Cabinet approval and subsequent tariff determinations by NEPRA. The new terms include rebased tariffs, capped insurance premiums, profit-sharing till FY’23, and a shift to local arbitration. Key players like Nishat Chunian Power Limited have formally endorsed the amendments, with the model becoming effective from November 1, 2024. This deal could reduce power tariffs…
Islamabad, Dec 4: “Homeopathy is a natural form of treatment that is rapidly gaining popularity and has a very positive impact on patients’ health due to its lack of side effects.” These thoughts were shared by Dr. David Reckeweg at the Golden Jubilee event of Dr. Reckeweg Germany and Dr. Salim Ahmed & Co. He further emphasized that Dr. Reckeweg Germany believes in making treatment effective and affordable. Dr. Najmus Saqib expressed his gratitude towards the German team for their unwavering support, stating, “This milestone reflects not only our shared past but also a commitment to continue innovating and expanding…
Islamabad, Dec 4: The Punjab government has initiated plans to extend the Green Line Metro Bus service from Lahore to Kasur to enhance public transportation for the region’s residents. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered a feasibility study to evaluate the practicality and cost-effectiveness of extending the metro bus track from Gajumata to Kasur City. The Punjab Transport Department is currently working on the study, which will assess the required funding and resources for the project. Provincial Transport Minister Bilal Akbar Khan highlighted that this expansion is part of a broader initiative to improve the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)…
Islamabad, Dec 4: Lahore has shown signs of improvement in air quality, with a reduction in smog levels, though other cities like Karachi and Peshawar continue to suffer from severe pollution. Lahore’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has decreased to 170, but specific areas, such as Pakistan Engineering Services Road and Syed Muratab Ali Road, recorded AQI levels of 179 and 181, respectively. In Karachi and Peshawar, AQI levels were even worse, at 192 and 189. Health experts have expressed concerns over the adverse effects of high AQI levels, which are linked to an increase in respiratory illnesses like coughs,…
Islamabad, Dec 4: All government and private schools and colleges will remain closed from December 22, 2024 (Sunday) to December 31, 2024 (Tuesday) in Sindh for winter vacations, on Wednesday. According to details, all government and private schools and colleges will reopen from January 1, 2025 (Wednesday). The 10-day winter vacations will be allowed according to decision of the steering committee of school education department of Sindh government. A notification about winter vacations in government and private schools and colleges in Sindh will be issued in next week.
