China Accelerates Race for Five-Minute EV Charging Technology

Electric-Vehicles

China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are rapidly advancing ultra-fast charging technologies capable of delivering hundreds of miles of driving range in just minutes, positioning the country at the forefront of global EV innovation. One of the biggest consumer concerns around EV adoption has been long charging times compared to conventional petrol or diesel refueling. To address this, automakers have heavily invested in next-generation charging solutions over the past decade, with “ultra-fast charging” now emerging as a promising breakthrough. The race intensified in 2022 when XPeng introduced its S4 ultra-fast…

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Pakistan Set to Secure $380 Million World Bank Loan to Revamp Power Sector

World-Bank

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to receive a loan of Rs10.7 billion (approximately $380 million) from the World Bank to support critical reforms and infrastructure upgrades in its power sector. The funding will contribute to a major energy project aimed at improving electricity supply, reducing system losses, and modernising the country’s transmission and distribution network. The total project cost is estimated at around $700 million, with additional financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Islamic Development Bank. A key component of the initiative includes the installation of advanced battery…

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Saudi Arabia Ramps Up East-West Pipeline to 7 Million BPD Amid Hormuz Disruptions

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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has reportedly increased oil flows through its East-West pipeline to full capacity of 7 million barrels per day (bpd), effectively bypassing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to a Bloomberg News report. The pipeline, which transports crude from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to the Red Sea, is playing a critical role in maintaining exports as tensions escalate in the Gulf region. Crude shipments from Yanbu have surged to around 5 million bpd, with an additional 700,000 to 900,000 bpd of refined oil products also being…

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Pakistan Offers to Host Iran–US Talks as Global Support Builds: Ishaq Dar

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed readiness to host direct negotiations between Iran and the United States to help de-escalate the ongoing Middle East conflict, with both sides reportedly showing confidence in Islamabad’s role as a neutral facilitator. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would be “honoured” to host meaningful talks aimed at achieving a comprehensive and lasting peace settlement in the region. The announcement came after the second consultative quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad, attended by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt. Participants unanimously supported…

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Fuel Subsidy Plan May Push Price Differential Claims to Rs100bn, Warn Experts

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KARACHI: Proposed fuel rationing and subsidy measures could significantly intensify Pakistan’s inflationary and macroeconomic challenges, with Price Differential Claims (PDC) projected to surge to Rs100 billion within weeks, according to a report by PRIME Institute. The government is reportedly considering a targeted fuel subsidy framework that would allocate limited quotas to low-income users, including motorcycle and rickshaw owners, while maintaining higher prices for other consumers. While the move aims to curb consumption and manage supply constraints amid the Middle East crisis, experts warn it may create serious economic distortions. The…

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