Pakistan's prime minister thanked Switzerland for its support and constructive engagement after signing a historic Islamabad MoU, saying both sides agreed that successful implementation would aid regional peace and stability and bolster global economic prosperity.

CITIC Securities research says demand for high‑end zirconia in China should rise as solid‑state battery supply chains accelerate, SOFCs expand rapidly, electronic‑grade bioceramics grow and nuclear power enters a recovery cycle. Yttria (yttrium oxide), the key stabilizer for zirconia, faces constrained rare‑earth supply after output from Japanese suppliers including Tosoh and First Rare Element Chemical fell sharply, supporting expectations that Chinese producers will gain significant share of the global high‑end zirconia market. Zirconium oxychloride feedstock prices are up about 30% since the start of the year and downstream zirconia prices have risen roughly 30% YTD. Electronic‑grade high‑purity nano‑zirconia is quoted at $50–65.7/kg and yttria‑stabilized zirconia (YSZ) high‑end powders at $50–150/kg. Domestic high‑end zirconia market is seeing simultaneous volume and price increases.

QatarEnergy confirmed an operational incident during start-up at Ras Laffan Industrial City that caused an explosion and fire at Barzan gas-supply facilities.