Wednesday Briefing: An Uncertain Path to Peace in Ukraine
Also, Paris adapts for extreme heat.
Month: August 2025
SBP upgrades PRISM system
[ KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has formally launched its upgraded Pakistan Real-Time Interbank Settlement Mechanism Plus (PRISM+) after the original system processed transactions worth over Rs1,043 trillion in FY24, equal to ten times the size of Pakistan’s GDP. SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad said the massive transaction volumes highlighted the strategic importance of … Read more
One of anime’s most enduringly haunting sagas
Nearly two decades after its debut, Fullmetal Alchemist continues to resonate with fans worldwide, widely regarded as one of the most emotionally intense and unforgettable anime series ever created. The story, adapted from Hiromu Arakawa’s manga, follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who embark on a perilous quest to restore their bodies after a failed … Read more
Forces regain extended detention powers with Senate nod
ISLAMABAD: Following its passage in the National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday approved the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2025, restoring powers that allow law enforcement agencies and the armed forces to detain suspects for up to three months, a move that sparked uproar from the opposition benches. Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Muhammad … Read more
Trump rules out US troops for Ukraine
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Tuesday ruled out sending US troops to back up any Ukraine peace deal but suggested air support instead, as European nations began hashing out security guarantees ahead of a potential Russia summit. In a flurry of diplomacy aimed at ending the war, Trump brought Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European … Read more
Rs40b fine on mills termed ‘wrong’
[ ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan on Tuesday said that a fine of Rs40 billion on sugar mills imposed by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) was “politically motivated” and was totally wrong. He ruled out that sugar millers were involved in recent prices hike; rather … Read more
Hong Kong Government Fixates on ‘Soft Resistance’
With pro-democracy movements long squashed, the government is targeting any hint of subtler expressions of discontent. Even establishment figures say it may be too much.
Why Does Xi Keep Purging Loyalists? Look to Stalin and Mao for the Answer.
[China’s “bedside eavesdroppers,” the online posse parsing rumors for power shifts, have a lot to work with as Xi Jinping pushes aside his own political appointees.
Frozen in Flashbulbs
Every 19th August, World Photography Day is observed across the globe — a celebration of the art, science, and history of the photograph that honours all aspects of the medium. Nowhere is the power of photography more vividly felt than in the world of show business. From Hollywood glamour to Lollywood vibrancy, from red carpets to … Read more
India, China agree to resume direct flights
NEW DELHI: India and China agreed on Tuesday to resume direct flights and step up trade and investment flows as the neighbours rebuild ties damaged by a 2020 border clash. The Asian giants are cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy, staging a series of high-level bilateral visits. … Read more
