HONG KONG: A special report on The New York Times recently stated that China may be jockeying to gain more influence in Antarctica, a continent that remains unclaimed, and also happens to boast of 200 billion barrels of oil in reserve.
The first Chinese research base on Antarctica went up in 1985, but it’s only three decades later that the country is trying to gain more influence in the continent, with a fourth research station opened last year. China also picked a site for a fifth research station, and also has investments in new ice-ready planes and helicopters and a second icebreaker. That alone tells us that China is indeed intensifying its operations in Antarctica, a possible power play to get it ready for the expiry of the Antarctic Treaty.
Pakistan to get $3b loan from Islamic Trade Financing Corporation
ISLAMABAD: Islamic Trade Financing Corporation (ITFC) to provide Pakistan with a $3 billion loan, according to an official statement released...
