Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday condemned the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the raising of the occupying power&#39;s flag within its courtyard by illegal Israeli settlers. The settlers on Tuesday stormed the compound of holy site in occupied East Jerusalem amid escalation across the West Bank. According to a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign office on X, the reprehensible acts constituted &ldquo;constitute a blatant violation of international law as well as of the sanctity and inviolability of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. &ldquo;Such provocative steps also risk further escalating tensions in the region,&rdquo; the statement added.&nbsp; The foreign office called for all possible measures to protect the holy sites under Israeli occupation and to end the impunity of illegal settlers operating under its patronage. The country reiterated that it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people, reaffirming its unwavering support for their &ldquo;right to worship,&rdquo; and the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office terms says reprehensible acts constituted “constitute a blatant violation of international law” as well as of the sanctity and inviolability of the Al-Aqsa Mosque; calls for all possible measures to protect the holy sites under Israeli occupation.

Pakistan condemns storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by illegal Israeli settlers

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said a year had passed since the Pahalgam false flag operation, but India had failed to present any credible evidence to support its allegations against Pakistan.&nbsp;In a special televised statement, he said the Pahalgam incident reflected a mindset of hollowness, illogical thinking, false pride, arrogance, and greed, adding that India had been unable to provide satisfactory answers to the serious questions raised about the incident.&nbsp;The minister said India had consistently portrayed its internal matters as external issues, while terming internationally recognised disputes as internal affairs.&nbsp;He said terrorism was India&rsquo;s internal issue, which it projected as an external problem, whereas the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was a recognised international issue that India labelled as a domestic matter.&nbsp;Tarar said India&rsquo;s deceptive approach had been fully exposed and the Pahalgam incident followed a familiar pattern of false flag operations historically associated with India.&nbsp;He said when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered an independent and impartial investigation into the Pahalgam incident, India avoided it out of fear and failed to provide any meaningful response.&nbsp;He added that Pakistan&rsquo;s intentions and commitment were clear, and India&rsquo;s refusal for an inquiry indicated that the incident was a staged operation.&nbsp;The minister pointed out that registration of an FIR within just 10 minutes of the incident suggested the document had already been prepared, which was highly unusual given the distance between the site and the police station.&nbsp;He said international media, Indian civil society, politicians and think tanks had also raised serious questions over the incident.&nbsp;Tarar said propaganda built around false flag operations and fabricated narratives was difficult to sustain globally, which was why India had failed to establish a convincing narrative on the issue.&nbsp;He said India neither presented credible evidence nor provided solid proof regarding the incident.&nbsp;Criticising Indian media, the minister said it had created a war-like atmosphere and spread baseless and fabricated news, adding that its true face had been exposed before the world.&nbsp;Highlighting human rights concerns, he said minorities in India were being deprived of their rights under the Hindutva ideology, while Muslims were subjected to violence.&nbsp;He said India used terrorism as a state policy and had been involved in such activities globally.&nbsp;Referring to evidence related to the killings of Sikh leaders in different countries, he said these incidents indicated the involvement of the Indian state.&nbsp;He added that India&rsquo;s policy of terrorism had also been exposed following the arrest of Kulbhushan Jadhav.&nbsp;The minister said there was no doubt about India&rsquo;s involvement in terrorist activities inside Pakistan, adding that groups like BLA and TTP were being used to destabilise the country.&nbsp;He said Islamabad possessed undeniable evidence of India&rsquo;s involvement in terrorism, which had been shared with the international community and global media from time to time.&nbsp;Tarar said there was concrete evidence of India&rsquo;s role in incidents such as the Jaffar Express train attack and the Khuzdar incident.&nbsp;He reiterated that Pakistan was effectively combating terrorism and remained fully committed to eliminating it.&nbsp;The minister said the entire nation was united in its resolve to eradicate terrorism and Pakistan would not compromise on its sovereignty, dignity and security.&nbsp;He warned that any misadventure by India would be met with an immediate, effective and decisive response.&nbsp;Tarar said Pakistan had achieved a decisive victory against India in &ldquo;Marka-e-Haq&rdquo; and had emerged as a symbol of peace on the world stage, while India faced increasing isolation.&nbsp;He said Pakistan continued to strive for peace due to the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, adding that the political and military leadership remained fully united for national defense.

Security

Pakistan’s Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar says a year had passed since the Pahalgam false flag operation, but India had failed to present any credible evidence to support its allegations against Pakistan.

India failed to substantiate Pahalgam allegations after one year: Pakistan minister

ISLAMABAD: NASA announced on Tuesday that its Curiosity Rover has discovered the most diverse set of organic molecules ever identified on Mars. The discovery included seven carbon-containing molecules never seen there before.&nbsp; The announcement came in a release from NASA&rsquo;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, based on a paper published the same day in Nature Communications. In simple terms, organic molecules are chemical compounds built around carbon. They matter because they are part of the chemistry linked to life, though their presence does not, by itself, prove that life existed.&nbsp; NASA stressed that scientists still do not know whether these molecules were formed by living things long ago or by non-living geological processes. The molecules were found in a rock sample drilled by Curiosity in 2020. The sample came from a spot nicknamed Mary Anning 3 on Mount Sharp. NASA said this area was once covered by lakes and streams billions of years ago. Over time, the region became rich in clay minerals. That is important because clay can preserve ancient chemicals for very long periods. This is why the finding matters so much. Even after billions of years of radiation and harsh Martian conditions, these compounds survived in the rock.&nbsp; NASA said the result adds to evidence that ancient Mars had the right chemistry to potentially support life. One of the most significant discoveries was a nitrogen heterocycle, a ring-shaped molecule containing nitrogen.&nbsp; NASA said this kind of structure is considered a chemical precursor to more complex compounds connected to RNA and DNA, which carry genetic information in life on Earth. Another important molecule found was benzothiophene. NASA said it contains carbon and sulfur.&nbsp; The agency added that it has also been seen in meteorites and is useful for studying the kinds of chemistry that may have helped set the stage for life in the early solar system. The testing was done using Curiosity&rsquo;s onboard mini-laboratory, Sample Analysis at Mars, or SAM. NASA said the Mary Anning 3 sample was the first Martian sample treated with a powerful chemical solution called TMAH, which helps break larger compounds into smaller pieces that are easier to detect. NASA said the work could also help future space missions. Parts of SAM are already being adapted for the European Space Agency&rsquo;s Rosalind Franklin rover and for NASA&rsquo;s Dragonfly mission to Saturn&rsquo;s moon Titan.

Gadgets

The space agency says the result adds to evidence that ancient Mars had the right chemistry to potentially support life.

NASA Rover detects rare organic molecules on Mars

TEHRAN: Iran&#39;s agriculture minister said that a US naval blockade has had little effect on the country&#39;s ability to supply basic goods and food, attributing this to strong domestic production and alternative import routes. &quot;Despite the US naval blockade, we have no problem in supplying basic goods and food because, due to the size of the country, it is possible to import from different borders,&quot; Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri said on Tuesday. &quot;About 85 percent of agricultural products and basic goods are produced domestically, so the country&#39;s food security is established,&quot; he added, according to the official IRNA news agency. The United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran&#39;s ports and coasts on April 13, days after a ceasefire was announced that paused its war with Iran. Iran has strongly criticized the blockade, describing it as a violation of the ceasefire.

Bazar e Bozorg, Esfahan, Iran (File Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Business

Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri says that despite the US naval blockade, Iran has no problem sourcing basic goods and food because, given the country's size, it can import from multiple borders.

Iran says US naval blockade has little impact on food supply

ISLAMABAD: A fresh confrontation has erupted between the Indian Congress and the BJP after Congress MP K.C. Venugopal filed a privilege notice against Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his April 18 televised address to the nation, according to The Times of India&#39;s Tuesday report. The notice was submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on April 21. The row stems from Modi&rsquo;s speech a day after the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha.&nbsp; The bill had been proposed by the government as a step toward implementing reserved seats for women.&nbsp; According to The Indian Express, Venugopal accused the Prime Minister of making &ldquo;direct reflections&rdquo; on the voting pattern of Opposition MPs and attributing motives to them. He argued that such remarks amounted to a &ldquo;serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House&rdquo;.&nbsp; Venugopal also said Modi&rsquo;s use of a national address to criticize the Opposition was unprecedented and unethical, describing it as a &ldquo;blatant abuse of power.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2046585126533161190&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ad5423ad7fe8df2f635750d320f9d812f0b6d588&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1302px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The notice argued that no person, including the Prime Minister, should comment on the conduct or voting behavior of MPs in a way that questions their motives.&nbsp; Venugopal said such imputations undermine the dignity and authority of Parliament and interfere with the free and independent discharge of parliamentary duties. The Congress also argued that the Opposition&rsquo;s stand was not against women&rsquo;s reservation itself.&nbsp; As reported by The Tribune, Venugopal pointed out that the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, providing for women&rsquo;s reserved seats in the Lok Sabha, had already been passed unanimously. He said objections to the new bill were rooted in concerns over its additional provisions, including those tied to delimitation. Congress member of the Upper House, Jairam Ramesh, publicly backed the move, saying a Prime Minister&rsquo;s address to the nation should be reserved for moments of national unity and confidence-building.&nbsp; But Modi&rsquo;s speech, he argued, turned instead into a partisan attack marked by repeated criticism of the Congress, according to The Times of India. Venugopal has urged the Speaker to treat the matter urgently, refer it to the Committee of Privileges and initiate proceedings against the prime minister. The notice has added a new layer of political tension to the fallout from the bill&rsquo;s defeat in the Lok Sabha.

India

Congress accuses the PM of abusing power by attacking opposition parliamentarians in a televised address after the women’s quota bill failed.

Indian opposition moves privilege motion against Modi

Faraz Saeed

Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have prompted Pakistan to increase domestic oil production. OGDCL has crossed 40,000 barrels per day for the first time in six years, with Kohat&#39;s Baragzai well reaching record levels. Pakistan now produces over 90,000 barrels per day but consumes around 440,000 barrels per day. The country still depends largely on imports, using the recent rise in domestic production as a strategic cushion rather than a complete solution.

 OGDCL has crossed 40,000 barrels per day for the first time in six years, with Kohat's Baragzai well reaching record levels. 

Viral

OGDCL has crossed 40,000 barrels per day for the first time in six years, with Kohat's Baragzai well reaching record levels.

Pakistan sets highest single-well oil production record in its history

ISLAMABAD: An Afghan national is currently on trial in a US federal court for allegedly playing a role in the deadly bombing at Kabul airport in 2021, which occurred during the final days of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, according to Ariana News. Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as &ldquo;Jafar,&rdquo; is charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS-K, the Afghan affiliate of the Islamic State group, resulting in death. He has pleaded not guilty.&nbsp; The attack took place on August 26, 2021, at Kabul International Airport, where thousands of Afghans had gathered in hopes of evacuation as the Taliban, referred to by authorities as the Islamic Emirate, returned to power. The bombing killed more than 180 people, including 13 US service members.&nbsp; A jury was selected earlier this week, with opening statements and testimony now underway. If convicted, Sharifullah could face life imprisonment. Prosecutors allege that Sharifullah assisted in preparing for the bombing at Abbey Gate, the airport&rsquo;s main entry point during the evacuation. According to court filings, he told FBI investigators that he scouted a route for the attacker, checked for security presence, and reported back to other ISIS-K members that the path was clear. The suicide bombing was carried out by Abdul Rahman al-Logari, who detonated an explosive device at approximately 5:36 p.m., causing mass casualties among civilians and military personnel. Authorities say Sharifullah had been released from prison roughly two weeks before the attack and was subsequently recruited by ISIS-K. Prosecutors claim he was given a motorcycle and a mobile phone to assist in the operation. Assistant US Attorney John Gibbs told jurors that Sharifullah made multiple statements to investigators during FBI interviews conducted in Pakistan, during transit to the United States, and after his arrival. &ldquo;You will hear his words, and you will see a great deal of evidence of his guilt,&rdquo; Gibbs said. Defense attorney Geremy Kamens pushed back strongly, arguing that prosecutors had charged the wrong individual and that any statements made by Sharifullah were obtained under duress. &ldquo;This man, Mohammad Sharifullah, had nothing to do with it,&rdquo; Kamens told the court, framing the case as one of mistaken identity. Expert witness Bruce Hoffman testified about ISIS operations and described the chaotic conditions at the airport ahead of the attack as &ldquo;complete pandemonium.&rdquo; During cross-examination, the defense also sought to highlight the role of the Taliban in controlling Kabul at the time, suggesting their influence on the security situation leading up to the bombing. In April 2023, Taliban authorities claimed they had killed an ISIS-K figure they described as the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate attack. Officials from Joe Biden&#39;s administration said the operation was carried out without US involvement.

Kabul Airport - (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Afghanistan

The man is accused of helping ISIS-K carry out the deadly bombing, a charge he denies.

Afghan goes on trial in US for 2021 Kabul airport bombing

Asfandyar Yahya

In the heart of Lahore, a 2,000-square-foot space is parking 30 cars at once, stacked up to 65 feet in the air using a rotary elevator system. The system comes in two models, one for sedans holding 18 cars and one for SUVs holding 14, and is assembled locally from imported parts.&nbsp;

Lahore's rotary parking system stacks 30 cars in the space of six

In the heart of the city, a 2,000-square-foot space is parking 30 cars at once, stacked up to 65 feet in the air using a rotary elevator system. 

ISLAMABAD: A female journalist in India&#39;s Kerala state has alleged that she faced online abuse and threats after questioning a BJP candidate about a cash-for-votes controversy. The incident marks the latest escalation in a row that has already triggered an official inquiry and raised concerns over the safety of journalists covering the case. Maktoob Media reported that journalist Shamna K, a Muslim, who works with Malayalam news channel Big TV, received abusive messages and misogynistic remarks across social media after pressing Sobha Surendran at a press conference. According to Maktoob, the exchange took place after Shamna asked Surendran whether the woman seen in a video allegedly distributing cash to voters was linked to the BJP candidate. The report said Surendran did not give a clear answer and ended the press conference soon afterward. The controversy comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations that cash was distributed to influence voters in Palakkad ahead of the Kerala Assembly election. The Times of India reported that the district inquiry has concluded and that a final report is expected next week, although it is still pending the statement of an elderly woman allegedly seen receiving the money. The inquiry has included statements from Surendran, rival candidates and other witnesses connected to the case. The issue has also raised wider concern about the treatment of journalists reporting on the episode. Earlier this month, police protection was provided to MediaOne Palakkad reporter Sajid Ajmal after intelligence reportedly flagged threats linked to BJP-RSS circles over his reporting on the same alleged cash-for-votes incident. That development was reported by both Maktoob and Madhyamam, the new outlets. Taken together, the latest developments suggest that journalists pursuing sensitive questions in the Palakkad controversy are facing an increasingly hostile environment. Threats, political pressure and allegations of intimidation are now becoming a parallel story to the cash-for-votes probe itself.

The incident marks the latest escalation in a row that has triggered an official inquiry and raises concerns over the safety of journalists covering the case.

India: Muslim journalist faces abuse after questioning BJP candidate

HANOVER: A blue-eyed humanoid robot carefully opens a box and places a tool inside as a crowd of visitors watch the demonstration of &quot;physical AI&quot; skills at a major industrial trade fair in Germany. Made by German startup Agile Robots, it was among a host of robots showing off their moves at the event, underlining hopes of a coming AI-powered boost for Germany&#39;s long-struggling factories. Embedding the technology into industrial processes, where Europe already has deep expertise, is seen as a key route for the continent to catch up in the artificial intelligence race against the United States and China. Such AI-boosted robots make it possible to &quot;actually solve industrial problems&quot;, Rory Sexton, chief executive of Agile Robots, told AFP in an interview. From next year, he added, the company plans to begin fitting out German factories, particularly those in the automotive industry, a crucial sector for Europe&#39;s biggest economy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041953590877810784&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=a39aa8ddb55a2e0d344043106d62509b254c011d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2041953590877810784"></iframe></div></div>Artificial intelligence used for real-world, hands-on tasks -- so-called physical AI -- was in focus this year in Hanover at the world&#39;s biggest industrial technology fair, which brings together more than 3,000 exhibitors. Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the Agile Robots stand, where he talked to Zhaopeng Chen, the Chinese founder of the Munich-based startup. In a speech at the fair, Merz threw his support behind the drive to encourage German manufacturers, many of whom still rely on traditional techniques, to step up their use of AI. AI should be &quot;embedded in the key sectors of our industry and especially&quot; in small- and medium-sized firms, the backbone of the German economy, to create &quot;industrial added value and high-quality jobs&quot;, he said. - &#39;Dark side&#39; of AI - But, like in many other industries, German manufacturers are playing catch-up against China when it comes to making humanoid robots. Merz witnessed China&#39;s progress in the field first-hand during a visit to the country in February, when he saw displays of Chinese-made robots performing kung fu and boxing. The maker of those robots, Unitree, and other Chinese manufacturers were also out in force at the Hanover fair, as they have been in previous years. Still, Sexton of Agile Robots insisted that &quot;we&#39;ll soon be able to do what (Unitree) are doing&quot;, and shrugged off such impressive public displays.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2042912788717408509&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=a39aa8ddb55a2e0d344043106d62509b254c011d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2042912788717408509"></iframe></div></div>Rather than dancing or martial arts, Agile Robots is focused on &quot;value-added tasks for industry&quot;, such as electronic wiring in cars or phone assembly, he said. He emphasised that Germany offers an &quot;ecosystem of suppliers&quot; and &quot;very strong expertise in mechanical engineering and automation&quot;, both crucial in the race for AI. Companies are also hopeful about the technological developments -- 58 percent of industrial firms surveyed by German digital business association Bitkom believe humanoid robots could help plug skilled labour shortages. The country also has deep pools of industrial data to draw on from its factories, according to Antonio Krueger, head of the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). &quot;This is something we have at a level of quality far superior to the United States or China,&quot; he told AFP. But, critics say, the use of this data is still often too piecemeal and isolated, with no overarching strategy to bring it together cohesively. Not everyone in Hanover was convinced that AI was the solution to the woes of Germany manufacturers, who have long been struggling with issues from high energy costs to weak demand. Jochen Heinz, an executive from German factory machinery maker SW Machines, cautioned that AI can sometimes make mistakes by, for instance, giving misleading instructions for repairs or incorrectly claiming to have detected problems.

Artificial Intelligence

Robots powered by physical AI drew attention at Germany’s Hanover fair, where firms promoted them as a way to modernise factories, ease labour shortages and help Europe compete with the US and China.

AI-powered robots offer new hope to German factories

SHANGHAI: Young Chinese, many who fear age discrimination in their workplace after turning 35, are increasingly starting &quot;one-person companies&quot; that have artificial intelligence do most of the work. Smaller startups are already in vogue in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, with rapidly advancing AI tools seen as a welcome teammate even as they threaten layoffs at existing firms. More young people in China are subscribing to the model, as cities pledge millions of dollars in funding and rent subsidies for such ventures, in alignment with Beijing&#39;s political goal of &quot;technological self-reliance&quot;. &quot;The one-person company is a product of the AI era,&quot; said Karen Dai, founder of Shanghai-based SoloNest, which hosts weekend events for solo entrepreneurs. In the past, it was very difficult to run a business on your own, she said, but the range of tasks that AI can help with has &quot;lowered the entry barrier&quot;. On a Sunday in Shanghai, around 20 people in their 20s and 30s packed into a conference room for Dai&#39;s 134th iteration of a three-hour ideas swap on going it alone. One attendee, Wang Tianyi, now earns up to 40,000 yuan ($5,800) per month making AI-generated commercials for businesses. The 26-year-old, who quit his product manager job at an internet company last year, predicts that people flying solo will become a &quot;major trend&quot;. &quot;Because of the technological empowerment brought on by AI, (one-person companies) have an efficiency advantage,&quot; he told AFP. &#39;Invisible line&#39; On Chinese social media, people have lamented for years the so-called &quot;curse of 35&quot; -- widespread age discrimination in tech, government and other competitive sectors. &quot;At 35 years old, there&#39;s like this invisible line,&quot; said Dai, who is 38. &quot;People might face some challenges in the workplace. The company might re-evaluate who is more fit to stay.&quot; But young people, who witnessed a decade of rapid economic expansion in China, have a hunger to grow, said Dai, also author of the book &quot;One Person Company&quot;. &quot;When you&#39;re 30 or even younger, you&#39;ll ask yourself: when I reach that invisible line of 35, what preparations should I make?&quot; she said. Shanghai resident Wei Xin, 34, knew her job as a document reviewer at a foreign consulting firm would be replaced by AI before it actually happened. So she signed up for a course on Google&#39;s Gemini and dabbled in creating an AI-generated digital version of herself, before turning to social media content creation. &quot;There&#39;s a bit of AI anxiety,&quot; said Wei, who returned to China last year after completing a degree in the United States. &quot;If I don&#39;t use it, don&#39;t approach it, I might soon be eliminated.&quot; Government &#39;carrots&#39;&nbsp; Chinese municipalities are rolling out policies to support AI-powered one-person companies, using the initials &quot;OPC&quot; a rare use of English in official policy. In November, the eastern city of Suzhou vowed to cultivate &quot;more than 10,000 OPC talents&quot; by 2028 and funnel around 700 million yuan ($100 million) towards sectors including AI robotics, healthcare and smart transportation. Southwestern Chengdu also last month promised subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan for graduates to establish AI-driven one-person firms. These measures are &quot;carrots to help these startups get off the ground and be successful&quot;, said Brookings fellow Kyle Chan, an expert on China&#39;s technology development. Sponsoring OPCs is a new, cheap way to tackle high youth unemployment in China where one in six people between the ages of 16 and 24 are jobless. &quot;The cost of doing this, from the local governments, for an OPC, is very low,&quot; Chan said. Wang, the former product manager, said many of his friends were opting to work on independent projects instead of vying for corporate jobs. But &quot;the important thing in the future will be how to sell it&quot;, he said, with new companies often struggling to turn a profit. Young Chinese are investing in back-up plans while &quot;asking themselves, &#39;can I, with my own two hands, helped by the convenience of AI, explore the things I say I want to do?&#39;&quot; Dai said. &quot;There is a sense of control, of creativity.&quot;

The photo taken on April 12, 2026 shows founder of one-person company SoloNest Karen Dai (C) sharing her experience with participants during a coffee chat at a conference room in Shanghai.

China

Young Chinese professionals, facing age discrimination and job uncertainty, are increasingly launching AI-powered one-person businesses as a flexible and self-reliant career path.