Mayor Karachi inaugurates Nestlé Pakistan & PQA Clean and Safe Drinking Water Facility
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab inaugurated Nestlé Pakistan’s first clean and safe drinking water facility in Karachi. The facility aims to serve more than 10,000 people every day in the district of Bin Qasim Town.
During the inauguration, Jason Avanceña, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Pakistan said, “We are committed to Creating Shared Value throughout our value chain for communities and the inauguration of this ninth clean safe drinking water facility is a testament to our commitment to making a positive impact for families, communities and the planet, in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Nestlé Pakistan has already developed and is currently managing nine clean and safe drinking water facilities around its manufacturing sites in Sheikhupura, Kabirwala, Khanewal, Islamabad, and Karachi. With the inauguration of this facility in Karachi in collaboration with Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and Port Qasim Authority, approximately 90,000 people will have access to clean and safe drinking water daily.
Punjab Investment Conference Ends on a Positive Note
The Punjab Investment Conference was held in Shanghai on December 12, 2024. Significant milestones were achieved at the conference to propel Punjab towards greater economic prosperity. Gobi Partners, a leading venture capital firm, hosted this landmark event. The conference showcased Punjab’s commitment to fostering innovation, sustainable development, and global collaboration.
Gobi Partners and The Bank of Punjab signed an agreement to foster a vibrant ecosystem for startups and SMEs. The MoU establishes a strategic collaboration to support startups and SMEs through debt financing, equity investments, tailored financial solutions, and mentorship programs. This collaboration underscores the shared vision of empowering emerging businesses and driving sustainable development in the region.
The conference further facilitated discussions to foster sustainable, long-term partnerships between Chinese enterprises and the Punjab government. Key collaborations formalized during the event included MOUs signing with the Chinese Solar N Plus and Tianjin Capital Environmental Protection Group (TJCEP).
PSL draft to take place in Gwadar
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to take the Pakistan Super League (PSL)’s draft to Balochistan for the first time in the league’s history.
The draft will take place in Gwadar, the port city of Pakistan’s biggest province, on January 11, 2025. This decision is part of PCB’s plan to expand the league beyond four major cities, inspire the local community, and encourage the younger generation of this region to adopt cricket as a professional sport.
US says Pakistan developing missiles that eventually could hit US
IA senior White House official said nuclear-armed Pakistan is developing long-range ballistic missile capabilities that eventually could allow it to strike targets outside of South Asia, including in the United States.
In his stunning revelation about the onetime close U.S. partner, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Islamabad’s conduct raised “real questions” about the aims of its ballistic missile program.
“Candidly, it’s hard for us to see Pakistan’s actions as anything other than an emerging threat to the United States,” Finer told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace audience.
“Pakistan has developed increasingly sophisticated missile technology, from long-range ballistic missile systems to equipment that would enable the testing of significantly larger rocket motors,” he said.
If those trends continue, Finer said, “Pakistan will have the capability to strike targets well beyond South Asia, including in the United States.”
His speech came a day after Washington announced a new round of sanctions related to Pakistan’s ballistic missile development program, including on the state-run defense agency that oversees the program.
Saudi Arabia has extracted lithium from oilfield runoffs
Saudi Arabia has successfully extracted lithium from brine samples from Aramco’s oilfields and plans to launch a commercial pilot program for direct extraction soon, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, the Saudi Vice Minister of Mining Affairs said.
Lithium Infinity, also known as Lihytech, a start-up launched out of King Abdullah University for Science and Technology, will lead the extraction project with cooperation from Saudi mining company Ma’aden and Aramco, Khalid Al-Mudaifer told Reuters.
Lithium is a key component in the batteries of electric cars, laptops, and smartphones. The vice minister said that while the cost of extracting lithium from the brine runoffs from oil fields remained higher than the traditional method of extraction from salt flats, he expected that if lithium prices grew, the project would soon be commercially viable.
Pakistan Scripts Record Win Against South Africa
South Africa was blanked for the first time in a bilateral ODI series at home after losing by 36 runs to Pakistan in a rain-affected game at the Wanderers.
Saim Ayub starred with bat and ball by scoring a second hundred in the series and with figures of 1 for 34. Debutant wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem took 4 for 52 again to ask questions about South Africa’s ability against spin.
The loss means South Africa has won only one out of three ODI series this year, after also losing to Afghanistan in Sharjah, and two out of six ODI series under white-ball coach Rob Walter, who took over in February 2023.
On the other hand, Pakistan completed a fifth successive bilateral series win after beating New Zealand, Afghanistan, Australia, and Zimbabwe.
Dhaka wants to ‘move on from 1971’
During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the D-8 summit of developing nations in Cairo, the interim leader of Bangladesh expressed the desire to resolve outstanding grievances from Dhaka’s 1971 separation from Islamabad.
The two countries were once one nation but split following a bloody civil war, which saw the territory previously referred to as ‘East Pakistan’ seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
“The issues have kept coming again and again. Let’s settle those issues for us to move forward,” the AFP news agency quoted Dr Muhammad Yunus as telling PM Shehbaz.
In the years since the split, Dhaka’s leaders — especially the recently ousted regime of Sheikh Hasina — stayed firmly in the Indian camp, preferring to maintain close ties with New Delhi and keeping Islamabad at arm’s length.
However, ever since a popular uprising toppled Hasina’s government in August, ties between the two capitals have thawed, with trade and bilateral relations seeing a marked improvement.
A statement from the PM Office said that in this spirit, PM Shehbaz, during a meeting with Dr Yunus, highlighted the historical, religious, and cultural linkages between the two countries and expressed Pakistan’s keen desire to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of trade, people-to-people contacts, and cultural exchanges.
‘Exhausted’ Syria not a threat to the world: Jolani
The de facto leader of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has urged the international community to lift sanctions on the war-torn country, stressing that Syria “is no longer a threat to its neighbours or the West”.
“Now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted because they were targeted at the old regime. The victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way,” he told Jeremy Bowen, the international editor of BBC News, in an interview in Damascus.
After attracting little notice for years, Sharaa — previously known by his nom de guerre of Abu Mohammed al-Jolani — spearheaded a stunning lightning offensive that led to the fall over the weekend of the regime of Bashar al-Assad of Syria after over 13 years of brutal civil war.
Sharaa, 42, is the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group once linked to Al Qaeda that has controlled most of Idlib Province in northwestern Syria for years during a long stalemate in the conflict.
Extremely rare baby mammoth found in Siberia
Russian scientists showed off the remarkably well preserved remains of a baby mammoth found in the permafrost-covered region of Yakutia.
The 50,000-year-old female mammoth has been nicknamed “Yana” after the river in whose basin it was discovered this summer. Experts say “Yana” is the best preserved mammoth carcass in the world and is one of only seven whole remains ever found.
Putin ready to meet Trump ‘anytime’ to talk Ukraine deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready for talks “anytime” with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has touted his ability to strike a Ukraine peace deal within hours of coming to office.
Trump, who will return to the White House in January, has stoked fears in Kyiv that he could force Ukraine to accept peace on terms favourable to Moscow.
Holding his annual end-of-year press conference, the Kremlin leader said his troops held the upper hand across the battlefield but admitted he does not know when Russia will take back the western Kursk region where Ukrainian troops launched an incursion.
Putin went on to say that the recent fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a “defeat” for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country.
KAP Launched to Revolutionize Education Through AI
Khan Academy, a non-profit organization providing free education, has recently launched Khan Academy Pakistan (KAP). The initiative promises to deliver high-quality, accessible, and personalized education by leveraging cutting-edge AI technology.
The launch event in Karachi brought together educators, policymakers, and corporate leaders to witness the unveiling of Khan Academy’s AI-powered learning tool, Khanmigo. This tool offers personalized learning experiences for students and robust support for teachers, aiming to bridge the gaps in literacy, numeracy, and access to quality education across the nation.
For the initial pilot programme, Khan Academy Pakistan will initially focus on supporting Teachers by utilizing Khanmigo as a teaching assistant. KAP has partnered with the following public education institutions: AKHUWAT, CARE Foundation, TCF, Foundation Public School, Education Trust Nasra School, Aga Khan University—Institute of Education Development, CFC, and Durbeen.
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma ‘leaving India’?
Virat Kohli, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, is reportedly preparing to relocate to London with his wife, Indian film actress Anushka Sharma, and their children, Vamika and Akaay.
Media reports suggest the family plans to make the UK their base, with Kohli potentially settling there permanently post-retirement.
Rajkumar Sharma, Kohli’s childhood coach, confirmed the news in an interview with Dainik Jagran, saying, “Yes, Virat plans to move to London with his children and wife, Anushka Sharma. He is going to be leaving India and shifting very soon. However, right now, Kohli is spending most of his time with his family apart from cricket.”
The Kohli family owns property in London and has spent considerable time there. Their son Akaay was born in the city earlier this year, on February 15. While Virat remains deeply involved in cricket, he has been balancing his time between India and the UK.
World Bank approves $800 million loan for Amaravati Development Programme
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved the $800 million Amaravati Integrated Urban Development Program for building Andhra Pradesh’s greenfield capital city, Amaravati, the international development said.
The Bretton Woods institution’s Board of Executive Directors met in Washington, USA on Thursday and approved the loan.
According to the World Bank, the loan has a final maturity period of 29 years, including a grace period of six years. The government has decided to avail of the financing in Japanese Yen.
Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Bank’s Country Director for India, said the multilateral institution will use global expertise to support the design of city institutions and infrastructure that can create economic opportunities for residents, including women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
Pakistan to host West Indies for two Tests
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed details of the West Indies men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan for the two ICC World Test Championship matches. The West Indies cricket team will arrive in Islamabad on January 6. After playing a three-day match against Pakistan Shaheens from Jan 10-12 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, they will take on Pakistan in back-to-back Tests in Multan, according to a PCB statement.
“The first Test will be played from Jan 17-21, while the second Test will be held from Jan 25-29,” the statement said. The matches will count towards the World Test Championship, though both teams are out of contention to reach the final. This will be the West Indies’ first Test tour of Pakistan in 19 years when they played three Tests in November 2006, while their last Test away Test series against Pakistan was in the UAE in October 2016. However, the West Indies have thrice toured Pakistan since April 2018; once for the ODI series (June 2022) and twice for the T20I series (April 2018 and December 2021).
Why Aamir Khan quit films and quietly came back
Indian film superstar Aamir Khan recently revealed the surprising reason behind his decision to quit acting. In an interview with BBC News, Khan shared that he decided to quit before the release of Laal Singh Chaddha.
Known for his massive fan following and frequent public attention, what is less known is that Khan quietly stepped back from films during the COVID-19 pandemic to spend more time with his family.
Khan said, “I told my family I’m done with acting and films. I didn’t want to produce, direct, or act. I just wanted to be with the family.”
A decision of this magnitude from such a prominent star might have been expected to send shockwaves through India, a country with a deep love for cinema. However, Khan explained that his choice largely went unnoticed at the time because the pandemic had caused a slowdown in film productions. “No one knew about it,” he said.
Thankfully for his fans, Khan didn’t stay away for long. He is now back in the spotlight promoting Laapataa Ladies, a film he produced and India’s official entry for the Oscars in the Best International Feature Film category.
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The Way Forward
Mayor Karachi inaugurates Nestlé Pakistan & PQA Clean and Safe Drinking Water Facility
Punjab Investment Conference Ends on a Positive Note
PSL draft to take place in Gwadar
US says Pakistan developing missiles that eventually could hit US
Saudi Arabia has extracted lithium from oilfield runoffs
Pakistan Scripts Record Win Against South Africa
Dhaka wants to ‘move on from 1971’
‘Exhausted’ Syria not a threat to the world: Jolani
Extremely rare baby mammoth found in Siberia
Putin ready to meet Trump ‘anytime’ to talk Ukraine deal
KAP Launched to Revolutionize Education Through AI
Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma ‘leaving India’?
World Bank approves $800 million loan for Amaravati Development Programme
Pakistan to host West Indies for two Tests
Why Aamir Khan quit films and quietly came back
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