Pakistan’s Foreign Office has raised serious concerns over the prolonged detention and alleged mistreatment of Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik. The Foreign Office has labeled Malik’s imprisonment as “unfair” and a “denial of fair trial,” sparking international attention to the human rights situation in the region. Yasin Malik, a prominent figure in Kashmiri politics, has been held in custody under what …

The Punjab government has decided not to purchase wheat next year, citing a significant surplus in its wheat stockpile. According to official sources within the Punjab government, the decision comes as the government currently possesses a substantial stock of wheat that can meet the province’s requirements for up to one year. Sources reveal that the Punjab government currently holds a …

Renowned English cricketer James Anderson has announced his retirement from international cricket following England’s first Test match against West Indies at Lord’s, commencing on July 10. The veteran fast bowler confirmed his decision through a heartfelt post on Instagram, expressing gratitude for his illustrious 20-year career representing his nation. In a announcement on his Instagram account, the 41-year-old veteran expressed …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has demanded Pakistan further increase gas prices on a half-yearly basis starting in June. According to documents obtained, the government has assured the IMF of timely increases in electricity and gas tariffs as part of its agreement with the international financial institution. A comprehensive plan for full cost recovery from consumers has been drafted to …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expressed condolences over losses caused by flash floods in Afghanistan, according to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The government and the people of Pakistan express their heartfelt condolences on the tragic loss of life and widespread damage to property caused by heavy rains and flash floods in several provinces of Afghanistan,” the ministry said in a statement …

KABUL: At least 160 people have been killed and 117 others injured as rainstorms and flash floods hit major parts of the provinces of Baghlan, Takhar, Badakhshan and Ghor of war-ravaged Afghanistan, local officials said on Saturday. “Recent flash floods hit most parts of the province including Gozargah-e-Noor, Jelgah, Nahrin, Dushi, Baghlan-e-Markazi, Dahna-e-Ghori, Tala-o-Barfak, and Barka districts, as well as …

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to continuously break new ground in ideological and political education at schools in the new era. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the development of ideological-political courses for schools. Xi said that …

DUBAI: Star Sports, a leading sports broadcaster, is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Asian Legends League as the Official Broadcast Partner for the next three seasons, spanning from 2024 to 2026. The Asian Legends League, a platform for former retired cricket legends from Asian countries, is set to showcase the talents of iconic players in an exhilarating league …

Young people learn drum playing at a night school in Zhangdian District of Zibo City, east China’s Shandong Province, May 10, 2024. In recent days, three night schools have been opened for youth in Zhangdian District of Zibo City, aiming to offer space for young people to learn skills and relax themselves. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Young people learn drum playing at …

BEIJING: The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, addressed a seminar themed “Decade of CPEC and BRI and Beyond” organized by the Belt and Road Center of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech. Many academics and scholars associated with renowned think tanks and Chinese universities, and representatives of …

BEIJING: China strongly opposes the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision to add 37 Chinese entities to the export control “entity list,” a spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. The spokesperson added that China has taken note of the latest action by the United States, which was based on so-called military and Russian involvement excuses. Over a long period …

BUDAPEST: China and Hungary on Thursday elevated ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, marking the most recent stride in China’s effort to deepen cooperation with Central and Eastern European (CEE) nations. The decision was announced during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Hungary, the final stop of his three-nation swing across Europe. It also …

The technical experts’ team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has landed in Pakistan for talks on a fresh loan programme and budget preparations. As per details, a few members of the IMF’s mission have reached Islamabad to assist finane ministry in finalising the FY2024-25 budget. The team will stay in Pakistan for more than 10 days, while other members …

New Zealand batter Colin Munro bid adieu to the international cricket following his omission from the Black Caps’ T20 World Cup roster. Despite the 37-year-old lefty’s last international appearance dating back to a T20I clash against India in 2020, Munro nursed hopes of staging a comeback, fueled by his stellar performances in franchise T20 cricket, including the Pakistan Super League …

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu downplayed US President Joe Biden’s threat to withhold weapons from Israel should it attack the southern Gaza city on Thursday, while Palestinian residents reported that Israeli forces had bombarded areas of Rafah. Late on Thursday, a senior Israeli official declared that Israel would carry out its operation in Rafah and other areas of the Gaza …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced its intention to pursue legal action against the non-blocking of SIMs belonging to over 500,000 tax non-filers. Concerned about the disruption caused by the failure to enforce SIM closure, the FBR is exploring alternative measures to address the issue, including the proposal of imposing a 2.5% additional withholding tax on mobile phone …

The federal government has announced a significant increase in driving license fees through a recent notification, affecting both motorcycle and vehicle owners across the country. The latest notification outlines a substantial rise in driving license fees, impacting individuals seeking licenses for motorcycles as well as small and large vehicles. The license fee for these categories has been increased by 25%. …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday hailed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for reviving the country’s economy. Expressing his thoughts in a statement, the premier said: “The investment takes place in the country where there is the minimum obstacle to business. There is a need to propose such an idea that would help the investors.” “The Board of Investment …

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has made a significant decision regarding the treatment of lawmakers and politicians in its ongoing investigations against them. In a bid to ensure fairness and transparency, NAB has announced that lawmakers would not be arrested solely based on complaints and allegations, even during the inquiry stage. Sources within NAB revealed that the decision was made …

Punjab Assembly speaker has suspended additional reserved seats for women and minorities in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The Speaker declared the point of order of the opposition member Rana Aftab on certain reserved seats. Speaker Punjab Assembly read out the decision of the Supreme Court in the assembly session. The speaker ordered the implementation of the order of …

Superintendent Jail Muhammad Wasim said confirmation of HIV in 16 prisoners of Central Jail in Peshawar. It was confirmed during the blood screening of prisoners. As per data, a blood screening of 549 prisoners was conducted. The superintendent-affected prisoners are drug addicts. Superintendent jail said after verification, they are kept separately from other prisoners and infected prisoners being treated. Muhammad …

BEIJING: China delivered the data provided by a cube satellite, which was onboard the Chang’e-6 spacecraft, to Pakistan on Friday, deepening lunar exploration cooperation between the two countries. Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, handed the data carrier over to Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi at a handover ceremony held in Beijing. The cube satellite, known …

BUDAPEST: China and Hungary decided Thursday to elevate bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era. The decision was announced during the talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, ushering in a new and …

BEIJING: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will pay an official visit to China and hold the fifth round of the Foreign Minister-Level China-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue from May 13 to 16, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Friday. Dar was invited by Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of …

BEIJING: Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives; Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador of Pakistan to China Khalil Hashmi met three top Chinese companies specializing in power transmission and distribution:  Power China, TBEA Co. Ltd., and Electric Power Planning & Engineering Institute (EPPEI), a subsidiary of …

Google has announced its commitment to supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Pakistan by providing 45,000 scholarships for Google Career Certificates in 2024. Additionally, Google has introduced two new programs to empower freelancers and women in the country. Pakistan is home to the third-largest freelancing economy in the world and it is critical to ensure that the country’s freelance talent remains …

Pakistan called upon the Afghan authorities to take meaningful and effective against the terrorist groups including the TTP. At her weekly news briefing in Islamabad today, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan is concerned about the terror threat it faces from individuals and entities in Afghanistan. She said we have also found evidence that the attack on Chinese …

The federal cabinet on Thursday approved the deployment of Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Azad Kashmir for security of Chinese nationals. According to sources, the federal cabinet has approved the deployment of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) in Azad Kashmir to ensure the security of Chinese citizens and power houses. The FC will be deployed for an initial period of three months …

The United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees said Thursday that about 80,000 people had fled Rafah in the three days since Israel intensified military operations in the south Gaza city. “Since Israeli forces military operation intensified on 6 May, around 80,000 people have fled Rafah, seeking refuge elsewhere,” UNRWA said on X, formerly Twitter, warning that “the toll on these …

The Supreme Court has once again imposed a ban on putting up plaques of politicians on development projects. The Supreme Court directed the federal and provincial governments to implement its 2021 decision, and once again banned politicians from placing their plaques on development projects. The court has sought implementation reports from the federal and provincial governments in two weeks. A report …

Lawyers’ organizations across Pakistan are observing a nationwide strike in protest against Wednesday’s incidents of alleged violence against lawyers in Lahore. Meanwhile, a first information report (FIR) on the issue of a clash between police and lawyers at Lahore’s GPO Chowk. The call for action by the Pakistan Bar Council comes amid the fraternity’s protests against the issue of division …

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa expressed his dismay over the ongoing lawyers’ strike, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted court proceedings. A three-member bench of the Supreme Court was hearing a case related to the vote recount in NA-154 Lodhran. During the hearing, CJP Isa rejected a request for postponement of the case without hearing, stating that such …

Regarding campaign funding, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparred on Wednesday, with each accusing the other of receiving funds from wealthy billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, according to Reuters. The business giants have not responded to requests for comment from their companies, and neither has publicly stated who, if anyone, they would support in …

Actor Dino Morea has recently addressed the long-standing perception of rivalry between himself and fellow actor John Abraham, particularly concerning their relationships with Bipasha Basu in the early 2000s. Speaking on Siddharth Kanan’s podcast, Morea clarified that the narrative suggesting John stole Bipasha from him is false. According to Morea, the supposed rivalry stemmed from misconceptions rather than reality. He …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz, Qatar’s minister of state for foreign affairs, and his delegation at Prime Minister House on Thursday, and emphasized the importance Pakistan attached to its historical, friendly, and fraternal relations with Qatar. In the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif expressed his commitment to transforming this relationship into a robust economic partnership. “Joint …

Italian tennis star Camila Giorgi, known for her fierce presence on the court, has officially hung up her racquet at the age of 32, as announced by Italy’s tennis federation (FITP). Giorgi, a four-time champion on the WTA circuit, bid farewell to the sport without a personal declaration, leaving her fans surprised. Her recent appearance at the Miami Open ended …

BEIJING: China’s total goods imports and exports expanded 5.7 percent year on year in yuan terms in the first four months of this year, official data showed Thursday. The country’s exports rose 4.9 percent year on year in the January-April period, while imports climbed 6.8 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). From January to April, the country’s …

HEFEI: Chinese electric carmaker NIO saw its 500,000th vehicle roll off the production line in Hefei, capital of east China’s Anhui Province, on Thursday. “From the delivery of our first electric car in 2018 to the 500,000th one now, it attests to our breakthrough in the high-end market amidst China’s transition toward electrification of the automobile industry,” said Li Bin, …

ISLAMABAD: Unknown armed assailants launched an assault on a house in the Gwadar district of Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province early Thursday morning, resulting in the killing of seven laborers, said police. Local police said that some unknown gunmen stormed the house and opened fire at workers sleeping in the rooms, leaving seven of them dead and another injured in the …

BEIJING: The Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal arrived in Beijing on Wednesday as part of the high-level interactions between China and Pakistan. The Federal Minister was accompanied by Ambassador Syed Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Foreign Affairs. After his arrival, the Federal Minister held several key meetings, including at …