Scientists have discovered a colossal object approximately 435 miles (700 kilometres) wide in the frigid outer reaches of our solar system, which may qualify as a dwarf planet. Named 2017 OF201, this distant celestial body travels on a highly elongated orbital path around the sun, making it one of the most remote visible objects in our solar system. Researchers suggest that its existence challenges previous assumptions about the emptiness of space beyond Neptune and the Kuiper Belt, which is known to host numerous icy bodies. The newly identified trans-Neptunian object…
Read MoreDay: May 31, 2025
Scientists discover new possible planet at solar system’s edge
WASHINGTON: A group of scientists has found a strange new object about 435 miles (700 km) wide at the far edge of the solar system. It’s icy, very far from the sun, and might be big enough to count as a dwarf planet. Called 2017 OF201, this object travels in a huge, stretched-out path and takes 25,000 years to orbit the sun once. Experts believe it could help us learn more about the mysterious space beyond Neptune — a place once thought to be nearly empty The researchers called it…
Read MoreStrange star activity in Milky Way galaxy puzzles astronomers
Astronomers have discovered a peculiar star, exhibiting a unique combination of radio waves and X-rays, unlike anything previously observed. This celestial object, located within the Milky Way galaxy approximately 15,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scutum, flashes every 44 minutes in both radio waves and X-ray emissions. This newly identified star has been classified as an exotic member of “long-period radio transients,” a class of celestial objects first identified just three years ago. These transients are characterised by bright bursts of radio waves that occur every few minutes to…
Read MoreIndia sees ₹360bn bank frauds in FY25
Banking frauds in India nearly tripled in FY2024–25, reaching a massive ₹360.14 billion, according to the Reserve Bank of India’s new report. The RBI’s annual report revealed a staggering 194% rise in the total value of reported bank frauds compared to the previous financial year, indicating a sharp deterioration in financial security protocols across sectors. The number of reported fraud cases during the year stood at 23,953. Private banks were responsible for the majority of these, registering 14,233 cases — representing 59.42% of all incidents. However, public sector banks bore…
Read MorePakistan to send delegation to US for tariff talks, says Trump
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said that representatives from Pakistan are coming to the United States next week as the South Asian country seeks to make a deal on tariffs. Pakistan faces a potential 29% tariff on exports to the United States due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy, under tariffs announced by Washington last month on countries around the world. Tariffs were subsequently suspended for 90 days so negotiations could take place. Pakistan last month decided to dispatch a high-level delegation to the US…
Read MoreSBP clarifies stance on virtual assets, denies declaring them illegal
ISLAMABAD: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has clarified that it never declared virtual assets (VAs) illegal, saying that its 2018 advisory merely advised regulated entities to refrain from dealing in them due to the absence of a clear legal and regulatory framework. In its press release, the central bank said its advisory asked banks, development finance institutions (DFIs), microfinance institutions, electronic money institutions (EMIs), and other financial service providers to safeguard consumers and the financial system from potential risks associated with unregulated digital assets. “The advisory was issued solely…
Read MoreFinMin Aurangzeb, Trump’s trade envoy kick-start tariffs negotiations
Pakistan’s formal negotiations on US reciprocal tariffs kick-started between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Ambassador Jamieson Greer, US Trade Representative, through a conference call on Friday, a finance minister spokesperson said. Pakistan faces a potential 29% tariff on exports to the United States due to a $3 billion trade surplus with the world’s biggest economy, under tariffs announced by Washington last month on countries around the world. Tariffs were subsequently suspended for 90 days so negotiations could take place. Earlier this month, Pakistan had offered a zero-tariff bilateral trade agreement…
Read MoreCrypto Council to convene June 2 to chalk out digital currency policy
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) will hold a high-level meeting on June 2 to deliberate on the future regulatory and legal framework for digital currencies and the broader crypto landscape in the country. The meeting would be chaired by Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to press release issued by finance ministry. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Blockchain and Crypto, Bilal Bin Saqib would participate in his capacity as the PCC’s Chief Executive Officer. The press release also said, “Key items on the agenda…
Read MorePakistan will crush all threats to anti-terror drive, says Field Marshal Munir
Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, said on Friday that the country won’t give in to pressure and will firmly defeat all hostile attempts to derail its fight against terrorism. The army chief made the remarks while addressing student officers and faculty of the Command and Staff College Quetta, read a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Addressing the event, the field marshal reiterated the resolve to defeat any aggression and the ability to deal with threats across the entire conflict spectrum. Commenting on the global and…
Read MoreRelief granted to PTI in July 12 verdict exceeds SC’s constitutional authority: ECP
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has stated that the Supreme Court overstepped its constitutional authority granted under Article 187(1) of the Constitution in its July 12, 2024, verdict that declared PTI eligible for reserved seats. In its written response submitted in the SC against its July 12 verdict, the election body said: “The relief granted in the majority judgement to PTI is beyond the scope of power under Article 187(1) of the Constitution.” Last year, the top court ruled that the former ruling party was eligible for the allocation…
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