Latest news with #SouthAsia
ABC News
25 minutes ago
- General
- ABC News
If You're Listening: Why Pakistan fights India
India and Pakistan have agreed to a temporary ceasefire but tensions are still high. This is the second episode in a series where we look at both sides – why they want to fight, and what they have to lose.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Attock Cement Pakistan Is Said to Draw Cherat, Bestway Interest
Pharaon Investment Group Ltd.'s potential sale of Attock Cement Pakistan Ltd. is attracting initial interest from rivals including Cherat Cement Co. and Bestway Group, people with knowledge of the matter said. Cherat and Bestway are among suitors considering bids for the business, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Kot Addu Power Co. has also been evaluating Attock and may explore a joint offer with a local building materials producer like Fauji Cement, the people said.
Arab News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Minister says Pakistan State Oil to expand into renewable energy
KARACHI: Pakistan State Oil (PSO), the country's largest fuel supplier, is preparing to diversify its operations into renewable energy and emerging sectors of the energy market, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said during a high-level visit to the company's Karachi headquarters on Thursday. The move signals a strategic shift in Pakistan's state-owned energy sector as it seeks to modernize infrastructure, reduce emissions and align with global trends toward sustainability. Malik's visit, part of a broader government outreach to key industry stakeholders, comes amid the government's continuing efforts to reform Pakistan's fossil fuel-reliant energy mix and enhance long-term resilience. 'The government is fully committed to steering Pakistan's energy sector toward greater resilience, sustainability and innovation,' Malik said during meetings with PSO leadership and board members. 'Enhancing fuel quality, reducing emissions and advancing the transition to clean energy are central to this vision.' During the visit, PSO's top management briefed the minister on the company's performance, supply chain stability and automation initiatives. Officials also outlined plans to modernize PSO's infrastructure and develop forward-looking strategies to enter the renewable energy space, though no specific projects were announced. Malik praised PSO's role in maintaining reliable fuel supplies nationwide and pledged the government's full support in helping the company address operational challenges. He emphasized that policy alignment and cross-sector coordination would be key to creating a more efficient and consumer-focused energy ecosystem. The minister also met with representatives of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC) and the Petroleum Dealers Association, where discussions focused on regulatory bottlenecks, profit margins and broader sectoral reforms. He assured participants that their concerns would be addressed through structured engagement. 'In the best interest of the country, all stakeholders must collaborate with a shared commitment to progress,' Malik said. 'Together, we can build a modern energy sector that meets the evolving needs of our nation.' Pakistan has faced recurring energy crises in recent years, with high fuel import bills, inconsistent power supplies and delayed infrastructure upgrades straining the economy. While some private and semi-public entities have begun pivoting to renewables, PSO's potential entry into the sector is expected to mark one of the first serious moves by a major state player.
Times of Oman
8 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Cessation of hostilities decided through contact between India and Pakistan DGMOs, issue of trade, tariff not discussed with US: MEA
New Delhi: The cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan took place on May 10 following contacts between the two DGMOs and while there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving situation since Operation Sindoor was launched, the issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions, the government said on Thursday. Responding to queries at the weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India's position on the stoppage of military action has been well-articulated. "Our position on this particular issue that you mentioned has been well articulated. I would refer you to our position that was made clear on May 13. From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on 7th May till the understanding on cessation of firing and military action on May 10, there were conversations between Indian and US leaders on the evolving military situation," Jaiswal said. "The issue of trade or tariff did not come up in any of those discussions. External Affairs Minister has also made clear that the cessation of firing was decided upon through direct contacts between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan," he added. Asked about US Commerce Secretary submitting a statement in a US court which claimed that the US mediated in the conflict between India and Pakistan and that trade was used as leverage, Jaiswal said he has stated his position. "When I state my position, I do it as spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India, with the flags on both sides. That has an implication, means a lot," he said. India launched Operation Sindoor and carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to Pahalgam terror attack. India repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. The two countries agreed to stop military action after Pakistan DGMO contacted his Indian counterpart. Answering a query about the visit of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to the US, Jaiswal said he met Under Secretary Jeffrey Kessler to advance India-US cooperation on critical and emerging technologies. "He led our delegation, comprising Deputy NSA for the Inter-Agency discussions on the India-US Compact for the 21st century. This meeting happened in the White House and focused on implementing trust initiatives which is about critical and emerging technology partnerships. They also discussed cooperation in area of defence and energy domains as well as strengthening the QUAD, IMEC, I2U2 initiatives," the spokesperson said. "Foreign Secretary also had a meeting with the Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and they discussed all aspects of India-US relationship, In particular they agreed that tech, trade and talent will shape the India-US partnership in the 21st century and they both reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthening the India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership. All issues of mutual interest were discussed between India and the United States," he added. (ANI)
SBS Australia
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Zaeden and the New Sound of Indian Pop
All eyes are on India right now. Music, fashion, food — this is the most exciting phase I've seen in ten years of making music. Zaeden on India's creative rise SBS Spice is your go-to for South Asian Australian culture, exploring what makes us tick—or ick. Catch us on your favourite podcast platforms: Spotify , Apple Podcasts , YouTube and the SBS Audio app. Or tap the audio player to listen to the full episode. Looking for more music conversations? Explore these SBS Spice episodes: SAHXL: The Hip-Hop and R&B Prince of Western Sydney SBS Audio 21/05/2025 18:31 Prateek Kuhad: In-between the lines and rhymes SBS Audio 09/09/2024 23:45 PANIA on R&B, Expectations and Refusing the Script SBS Audio 22/05/2025 09:27 New episodes drop every week. Follow SBS Spice on Instagram @SBSSpice and never miss an update.
