Honda Atlas Cars Limited (HCAR), a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd, has announced plans to launch a hybrid vehicle in Pakistan equipped with Honda Sensing, the company’s advanced driver-assistance system.
The development was shared by HCAR President and CEO Masaya Wakuda during the automaker’s annual general meeting (AGM).
Addressing shareholder concerns about the absence of hybrid options in Honda’s local lineup, Wakuda emphasized that the company has long been a global leader in hybrid technology, particularly in the United States, and is now preparing to bring that expertise to Pakistan.
“In addition to introducing Honda’s hybrid technology, the new model will feature Honda Sensing, offering drivers advanced safety and assistance functions,” Wakuda said.
The announcement comes as competition in Pakistan’s hybrid segment intensifies. Toyota Pakistan recently revealed its plan to invest $100 million in hybrid technology over the next few years, positioning itself as an early mover in the market.
During the AGM, shareholders also expressed concerns about the government’s decision to allow the import of second-hand cars up to five years old. HCAR’s chairman noted that while such imports are permitted under specific conditions, the policy could drive up prices of reconditioned cars while also contributing additional revenue to the government.
The company further confirmed that Pakistan’s current Automobile Policy will remain valid until June 2026, providing some regulatory clarity for the industry.
TOKYO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) — Tokyo stocks retreated from record highs on Tuesday after selling pressure emerged as investors grew cautious about overheating.
The benchmark Nikkei stock index, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average, went down 168.02 points, or 0.38 percent, to close at 43,546.29.
SoftBank Group, which announced an investment in U.S. chipmaker Intel, initially surged to fresh post-split record highs. However, the stock later reversed course, shaving about 135 points off the Nikkei that weighed heavily on the broader market.
Game-related shares, including Nintendo, which had recently hit record highs, also saw notable declines.
Optimism over a potential U.S. Federal Reserve rate cut in September and easing concerns about corporate earnings further supported the advance.
The broader Topix index fell 4.33 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 3,116.63.
On the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market, 1,055 gained, 511 declined, and 54 were unchanged. ■
Nvidia is developing a new AI chip for China based on its latest Blackwell architecture that will be more powerful than the H20 model it is currently allowed to sell there, two people briefed on the matter said.
U.S. President Donald Trump last week opened the door to the possibility of more advanced Nvidia chips being sold in China. But the sources noted U.S. regulatory approval is far from guaranteed amid deep-seated fears in Washington about giving China too much access to U.S. artificial intelligence technology.
The new chip, tentatively known as the B30A, will use a single-die design that is likely to deliver half the raw computing power of the more sophisticated dual-die configuration in Nvidia’s flagship B300 accelerator card, the sources said.
A single-die design is when all the main parts of an integrated circuit are made on one continuous piece of silicon rather than split across multiple dies.
The new chip would have high-bandwidth memory and Nvidia’s NVLink technology for fast data transmission between processors, features that are also in the H20 – a chip based on the company’s older Hopper architecture.
The chip’s specifications are not completely finalized but Nvidia hopes to deliver samples to Chinese clients for testing as early as next month, said the sources who were not authorized to speak to media and declined to be identified.
Nvidia said in a statement: “We evaluate a variety of products for our roadmap, so that we can be prepared to compete to the extent that governments allow.”
“Everything we offer is with the full approval of the applicable authorities and designed solely for beneficial commercial use,” it said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Flashpoint
The extent to which China, which generated 13% of Nvidia’s revenue in the past financial year, can have access to cutting-edge AI chips is one of the biggest flashpoints in U.S.-Sino trade tensions.
Nvidia only received permission in July to recommence sales of the H20. It was developed specifically for China after export restrictions were put in place in 2023, but the company was abruptly ordered to stop sales in April.
Trump said last week he might allow Nvidia to sell a scaled-down version of its next-generation chip in China after announcing an unprecedented deal that will see Nvidia and rival AMD give the U.S. government 15% of revenue from sales of some advanced chips in China.
A new Nvidia chip for China might have “30% to 50% off”, he suggested in an apparent reference to the chip’s computing power, adding that the H20 was “obsolete”.
U.S. legislators, both Democratic and Republican, have worried that access to even scaled-down versions of flagship AI chips will impede U.S. efforts to maintain its lead in artificial intelligence.
But Nvidia and others argue that it is important to retain Chinese interest in its chips — which work with Nvidia’s software tools — so that developers do not completely switch over to offerings from rivals like Huawei.
Huawei has made great strides in chip development, with its latest models said to be on par with Nvidia in some aspects like computing power, though analysts say it lags in key areas such as software ecosystem support and memory bandwidth capabilities.
Complicating Nvidia’s efforts to retain market share in China, Chinese state media have also in recent weeks alleged that the U.S firm’s chips could pose security risks, and authorities have cautioned Chinese tech firms about purchasing the H20. Nvidia says its chips carry no backdoor risks.
Nvidia is also preparing to start delivering a separate new China-specific chip based on its Blackwell architecture and designed primarily for AI inference tasks, according to two other people familiar with those plans.
Reuters reported in May that this chip, currently dubbed the RTX6000D, will sell for less than the H20, reflecting weaker specifications and simpler manufacturing requirements.
The chip is designed to fall under thresholds set by the U.S. government. It uses conventional GDDR memory and features memory bandwidth of 1,398 gigabytes per second, just below the 1.4 terabyte threshold established by restrictions introduced in April that led to the initial H20 ban.
Nvidia is set to deliver small batches of RTX6000D to Chinese clients in September, said one of the people.
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): Palm oil prices are expected to hold above RM4,300 ringgit per metric tonne (US$1,018) in the near term on a supply slowdown and a cut in soybean availability amid demand for biodiesel, the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) said on Tuesday.
Crude palm oil prices were at RM4,607 per metric tonne on Tuesday, as of 0600 GMT.
MPOC said the price’s sustainability at its estimated level will depend on palm oil’s competitiveness against soybean oil in the export market. Palm oil tracks the price movements of rival edible oils as it competes for a share of the global vegetable oils market.
The US Department of Agriculture projects that more than half of the country’s soybean production will be used domestically for biodiesel in 2026, MPOC said.
“US soybean oil exports are forecast to drop from 1.15 million tonnes in 2025 to just 310,000 tonnes in 2026.”
Brazil’s soybean oil exports may also struggle to expand as it raised its biodiesel blend to 15% from 14%.
“As a result, the global market will increasingly rely on Argentine supplies to cover the shortfall. This tightening in export availability is likely to support vegetable oil prices,” it said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s plans to raise its biodiesel mandate to 50% in 2026, if implemented, will further tighten palm oil supplies as its requirement will jump to 16 million tonnes from 13 million tonnes in 2025, it added.
MPOC doesn’t expect a major build-up in September and October palm oil stocks, adding that any downturn in production in Peninsular Malaysia is expected to cap national production growth for the rest of the year.
Demand from India is expected to remain firm as importers stock up ahead of the Diwali festival, while demand from Africa is also projected to remain steady.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced major changes to its Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations (CTDISR), introducing a revised framework known as CTDISR-2025.
The updated regulations, highlighted in PTA’s Annual Cyber Security Report 2024-25, mark a significant shift in the country’s telecom cybersecurity regime. First introduced in 2020, CTDISR had set the baseline for security controls across telecom licensees. The 2025 revision reflects the rapid evolution of digital threats and technological advancements over the last five years.
According to the report, nearly all existing controls under CTDISR-2020 were reviewed, refined, or consolidated to eliminate redundancies and ensure clarity. The revision aims to improve operational applicability and enable consistent implementation across the telecom sector. PTA notes that the updated framework moves away from reactive practices towards proactive, risk-based cybersecurity governance, addressing gaps identified during regulatory audits, consultations, and feedback from industry stakeholders.
A key highlight of CTDISR-2025 is the introduction of new sections that expand the scope of telecom cybersecurity compliance. These include Asset Management, Risk Management, Data Privacy, Cloud Security, Insider Threat Detection, Business Continuity Planning, HR Controls, and defined Roles and Responsibilities for Information Security personnel. Strengthened access control requirements, such as role-based access mechanisms and mandatory multi-factor authentication, have also been made part of the new provisions.
The framework further mandates integration with the National Telecom Security Operations Center (nTSOC) to ensure real-time threat intelligence sharing and coordinated national-level incident response. By formally incorporating HR policies, business continuity mechanisms, and insider threat detection into the regulations, PTA seeks to enhance operational resilience and reduce risks associated with internal vulnerabilities, third-party vendors, and cloud misconfigurations.
PTA’s report emphasizes that CTDISR-2025 aligns with international cybersecurity standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST CSF, while also complementing Pakistan’s National Cybersecurity Policy 2021.
By adopting global best practices and addressing emerging risks like ransomware, AI-driven attacks, and supply-chain compromises, the revised framework positions Pakistan’s telecom sector for stronger resilience. The regulator expects that the implementation of CTDISR-2025 will not only secure critical telecom infrastructure but also improve the country’s standing in the Global Cyber Security Index.
Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, one of the three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, has announced that it successfully supported 308 high-potential digital startups to establish and grow their businesses in the emirate during H1 2025, achieving year-over-year (YoY) growth of 39% compared to the 221 companies supported during the same period last year.
His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications and Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy commented: “We are committed to developing an integrated digital business environment that provides the foundations for success for talents and digital companies, and supports their expansion from Dubai to global markets. We continue our efforts to enhance Dubai’s attractiveness as a global hub for digital companies, entrepreneurs, and technology investors by strengthening the digital infrastructure, enhancing the legislative and regulatory environment, and creating an ecosystem that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.”
“By strategically fostering a world-class ecosystem, we are not just attracting but actively empowering the next generation of tech leaders. We are dedicated to building impactful pathways for these companies to thrive, innovate, and expand from Dubai to the world, further cementing the city’s role as a key player in the future of the global economy. These results from the first half of the year demonstrate the significant momentum we are building as we continue to accelerate Dubai’s digital transformation journey.”
Saeed Al Gergawi, Vice President of Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said:
“In line with our commitment to supporting the growth of tech companies in Dubai, 10 events were organised during the first half of this year to enhance partnerships and support the digital economy sectors. We also organized 15 international roadshows to showcase Dubai’s advanced digital business ecosystem and promote the upcoming edition of Expand North Star, the world’s largest event for startups and investors.”
Organised in October 2025 by Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star brings together the world’s leading startups, innovators, investors, entrepreneurs, and digital leaders to explore the unique growth opportunities offered by Dubai and contribute to shaping the future of the digital economy.
The roadshows featured presentations on Dubai’s competitive advantages and the comprehensive support offered by the chamber to digital startups seeking to expand into the emirate. It also included pitch competitions showcasing innovative ideas, with the winner in each city receiving a fully sponsored opportunity to participate in Expand North Star 2025. Additional competitions were held for a chance to qualify for the final stage of the Supernova Challenge, the region’s largest startup pitch competition, which will be held as part of the exhibition.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) remained unstoppable on Tuesday as the KSE-100 index crossed 149,000 points in intra-day trading, setting a new milestone in its record-breaking rally.
KSE-100 index rising 1,006.96 points to reach the current index of 149,203.38 during intra-day trading as compared to the previous close of 148,196.42.
During today’s session, the index has hit a high of 149,367.31 points and a low of 148,293.94 points so far.
Trading volume stood at 105.68 million shares, while the value of transactions reached Rs10.77 billion.
The market registered a 0.68% increase, reflecting continued investor confidence.
Earlier on Monday, the KSE-100 index recorded an increase of 1,704.79 points, or 1.16%, and settled at 148,196.42.
According to Topline Securities, bulls staged a strong comeback in Monday’s trading session, with the KSE-100 index surging 1,904 points intra-day before closing at an all-time high of 148,196, up 1,705 points.
Market sentiment brightened on reports of the government’s circular debt reform drive, which entails reducing liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes, revising RLNG pricing and mobilising funds from savings through LNG diversion, state-owned enterprises’ dividends and power sector receivables, it said.
Fitch expects lower interest rates, better credit growth and reduced reliance on public-sector lending to benefit banks
JS Global analyst Muhammad Hasan Ather said that the KSE-100 index surged 1.2% to close at a record high, driven by strong corporate earnings, improved macroeconomic indicators and expectations of favourable inflation data.
WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 40.7 million shares, falling Rs0.01 to close at Rs1.40. It was followed by Pervez Ahmed Consultancy with 29.8 million shares, gaining Rs0.18 to close at Rs2.82 and Al-Shaheer Corporation with 26.4 million shares, gaining Rs0.52 to close at Rs12.24.
Foreign investors sold shares worth Rs625 million, the National Clearing Company reported.
