Author: HeraldStar

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee will convene in Beijing from October 20 to 23. The meeting will chart the direction for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a crucial policy blueprint that will guide the country’s economic and social development over the next half decade. As the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) nears completion, the upcoming plenum is set to review its achievements and lay the groundwork for a new era of “high-quality development” anchored in innovation, market vitality, and openness to the world. The session, chaired by…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD China’s Ministry of Transport has announced the imposition of special port dues on U.S.-owned and U.S.-linked vessels, a move widely seen as a measured and legally grounded response to new American trade restrictions. The decision, approved by the State Council, will take effect from October 14, 2025, marking a new chapter in the ongoing maritime and trade tensions between the two major economies. The announcement came days after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) declared the activation of Section 301 measures against China’s maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. These U.S. measures, set…

Caracas, October 10, 2025 — Mr. Qaiser Nawab, Chairman of the Belt and Road Initiative for Sustainable Development (BRISD), along with his delegation, actively participated in the World Congress in Defense of Mother Earth, held in Caracas, Venezuela, from October 8–10, 2025. The global congress, organized under the auspices of the Government of Venezuela and the UNESCO Decade of Science for Sustainable Development, gathered world leaders, social movements, scientists, youth, and policymakers to discuss urgent climate challenges and the future of sustainable living. During the opening session, President Nicolás Maduro highlighted the global climate emergency and called for concrete, collective…

By Qaiser Nawab Donald Trump’s demand that the European Union impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on Chinese and Indian goods has stirred unease in Brussels. Though framed as an attempt to pressure Russia, many in Europe view the move as a test of loyalty that carries little benefit for the continent itself. The sense is growing that Washington’s approach to alliances has become increasingly transactional, asking much while offering little reassurance in return. European diplomats suggest that Trump’s tariff ultimatum may be less about China than about Europe itself. By proposing extreme measures that Brussels can scarcely accept,…

LONDON, UK – [October 08, 2025] – The University of London is pleased to announce that Mr. Qaiser Nawab, a prominent international Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Mediation Trainer, and a current Law candidate at the University, has been selected as a Student Voice Champion for the 2025-26 academic year. Mr. Nawab also serves as the Partner and Head of Training, Development and Innovation at Pactalexis. This prestigious role, offered by the University’s Surveys and Student Voice Team, recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional potential to represent and advocate for the global student body. Mr. Nawab was chosen from a competitive…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD Just after midnight in Beijing, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that secured TikTok’s immediate future in the United States. The announcement ended months of speculation about whether the app—used by over 170 million Americans—would be banned outright. Instead, a compromise was reached: TikTok would continue to operate under a new structure designed to address Washington’s data security concerns. The deal, valued at $14 billion for its security arm alone, is being described as a landmark in how governments handle foreign digital platforms. Yet beneath the headlines lies a deeper story—of global power…

By Qaiser Nawab, Chairman BRISD Global finance is entering a new era. The long-standing dominance of the US dollar is showing signs of strain as political conflicts and financial sanctions push countries to seek alternatives. The world needs a multi-polar international monetary system to strengthen resilience and safeguard stability. In other words, no single currency should unilaterally dominate. Recent evidence suggests this vision is taking shape: investors hit by volatile US trade policies are being prompted to seek alternatives to dollar-based investments. For instance, six major banks – including Standard Bank and First Abu Dhabi Bank – recently agreed to…

By Qaiser Nawab The protests in France—burning barricades, resignations, disorder—are more than political noise. They are another signal that an order long thought durable is creaking. But France is not alone. Across Asia, from Kathmandu to Dhaka, discontent is boiling. The theme is strikingly similar: people are stepping into the streets, demanding not just reform but legitimacy, transparency, and dignity. On the surface, these eruptions look organic; viewed closely, they also bear the fingerprints of a more complicated political theatre — the making of a modern “colour revolution.” In France, the political centre has become a revolving door. Prime ministers…

By Sania Afzal Goldman Sachs’ September list of top stock picks looks less like a vote of confidence in American dynamism than as insurance against its fragility. As part of its routine monthly adjustment, the bank added McDonald’s, Walmart, and Valero Energy to its “most favored” list, alongside Cadence Design Systems. With two defensive consumer names alongside an energy major, does it suggest investors are quietly preparing for a weaker economy? Looking at the surface, America still projects strength. GDP growth in the second quarter clocked in at an annualized 3.3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA),…

How a Giant Stumbles, and the World Recalculates By Sania Afzal “Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something,” Donald Trump once quipped, dismissing worries about the collateral damage of his tariffs. Eight months into his second presidency, America is gulping down the medicine in heavy doses: sweeping tariffs, tax cuts, an avalanche of reforms, and more than 200 executive orders—already surpassing his tally from his entire first term. For a brief spell, the treatment seemed to work. After contracting by 0.5% in the first quarter of 2025, GDP grew by a buoyant 3.3% in the second. Yet behind…