Newly elected members of the 16th National Assembly (NA) were sworn in on Thursday in a session marred by sloganeering. Outgoing NA Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to the MNAs-elect. The session was originally scheduled to begin at 10am but was delayed by more than an hour. According to a spokesperson for the NA, 302 members were sworn …

Getting adequate and good sleep is vital for a healthy brain and overall body functioning. Also it necessary for the development of young and adult age. Recent research indicates a link between poor sleep and muscle dysmorphia, a fast-growing problem among the young people. This specific research study was published in the journal, Sleep Health, with more than 900 youths …

Following a couple of weeks of speculation, Bollywood star couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have confirmed they are expecting their first child. The couple took to their respective Instagram accounts to share a graphic that mentioned that the baby was set to arrive in September 2024. The post, shared by both Deepika and Ranveer, featured images of a baby’s …

Pakistan needs a clear strategy for employing tobacco taxation as a tool to protect public health and boost revenue and absence of a clear strategy resulted in a loss of Rs 567 billion in the past seven years. Indus Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has exposed the staggering loss to national exchequer in a policy paper titled Rethinking Tobacco Taxation in Pakistan: …

Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) candidate Babar Saleem Swati has been elected as KP Assembly speaker with securing 89 votes out of total 106 votes while his opponent candidate got 17 votes.  Babar Saleem Swati sworn in as speaker of the KP assembly. The Sunni Ittehad Council members congratulated the newly elected speaker of the provincail assembly. Suriya bibi was elected …

It has been continuous raining since night in Qila Abdullah. The rivers are flooding. In the course of eight hours, Kalat and the surrounding area received eighteen millimeters of rain. Water flooded the low-lying regions Mashkil, near Chagai in the Pakistan-Iran border region. Even on the second day, there was no way to free the stuck cars. A letter regarding …

The Ministry of Finance has released its monthly Economic Update Outlook Report, outlining key priorities and challenges for the nation’s financial future. One of the central pillars of the report is the caretaker government’s proactive stance in formulating a comprehensive roadmap for the incoming administration. With the country poised for elections, this roadmap aims to guide the newly elected government …

Why did soccer become the world’s favourite sport? Everybody knows that this sport has a large number of followers all over the world, and in fact, it is one of the oldest sports in existence, and everywhere you go, you can find groups enthusiastically kicking a ball around with two goalposts on either end of their makeshift field! Learning more …

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has declared that his party will not participate in the election process for the National Assembly speaker, deputy speaker and the prime minister. Speaking to the media after the Lower House’s session to administer oath to newly elected members, the Maulana categorically stated that the JUI-F would not participate in this parliament and …

BEIJING: China intensified its crackdown on tax-related offenses to mitigate tax revenue losses in 2023, according to government agencies. Last year, relevant authorities examined a total of 174,000 businesses suspected of tax fraud, said a recent statement made by eight departments, including the State Taxation Administration and the Ministry of Public Security. In particular, approximately 16.6 billion yuan (about 2.3 …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday met with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce delegation led by the chamber’s President and CEO Suzanne Clark at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the United States, Li said that the past 45 years …

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping has called on officials at all levels to foster a Marxist style of learning to integrate theory with practice, thereby contributing to advancing Chinese modernization with solid actions. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in the preface he wrote to …

WASHINGTON: U.S. congressional leaders have come to an agreement to prevent a partial government shutdown slated for midnight on Friday, lawmakers said Wednesday. The Democratic and Republican parties have agreed to finance certain government sectors and have decided to prolong the existing deadlines of early March until March 8 and March 22, buying Congress more time to craft annual spending …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. Noting that China and Sierra Leone enjoy a time-honored friendship, Xi said the two sides have supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, carried out …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s experts expect the port city of Gwadar being developed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to become an energy hub with a technology-based development vision and a community-centric social development approach. In a recent policy dialogue on Gwadar organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an Islamabad-based think-tank, the experts emphasized the need to further focus on …

ISLAMABAD: The China-built Suki Kinari Hydropower station in northwest Pakistan started impoundment on Wednesday. The successful start will lay a solid foundation for the project’s operation on schedule under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Located in the Mansehra district of the South Asian country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the 884-megawatt hydropower project was invested and constructed by the Overseas Investment Company …

The Centre for Development and Stability (CDS) has been launched here in Islamabad, aiming to provide a platform for youth-led research and dialogue on pressing national issues across Pakistan. The team of the Centre for Development and Stability aimed to work diligently with a motu of “empowering innovation for sustainable growth and stability.” Speaking on the occasion, Director General of …

What causes upset stomach (indigestion)? Upset stomach (also called indigestion or dyspepsia) is a term used for pain and discomfort in the stomach. What causes an upset stomach? A number of factors can play a role including eating greasy or spicy foods, eating too much or too quickly, consuming too much alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, or carbonated beverages, anxiety, smoking, and …

Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Amir expressed his admiration for Babar Azam’s shot development against Islamabad United in Lahore. Babar played a remarkable innings of 111 runs off just 63 deliveries, characterized by aggressive stroke play, as he smashed 14 boundaries and two sixes, maintaining a striking rate of 176.19. Speaking to media in Karachi, Amir denied any personal animosity towards …

South Korea’s birth rate fell to a record low last year, the government said on Wednesday, despite having poured billions of dollars into efforts to encourage women to have more children and maintain population stability. The country has one of the world’s longest life expectancies and lowest birth rates, a combination that presents a looming demographic challenge. Neighbouring Japan is …

Algeria has finally opened the third-biggest mosque in the world and the largest in Africa, ahead of the holy month of Ramazan, according to Al Jazeera. Due to political unrest in the country, the inauguration of the mosque took several days. The Grand Mosque of Algiers was formally opened on Monday by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. Djamaa El-Djazair is how …

In a recent interview with Neha Dhupia on her show No Filter Neha, Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor made candid remarks about the prevalent camp culture and nepotism in the entertainment industry. Known for his versatile roles in Bollywood, Shahid Kapoor expressed his discontent with the camp structure, emphasizing the challenges faced by outsiders like himself in the industry. He recounted …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced the reserved decision and rejected the application of Nawaz Sharif’s application challenging the verdict of NA-15. “The petitioner may approach the Election Tribunal,” the verdict said. The ECP ordered the Returning Officer RO to complete the results in three days. Election Commission of Pakistan member Sindh Nisar Durrani wrote the decision. Nawaz Sharif’s …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar has appeared before the Islamabad High Court in a case related to the non-recovery of Baloch students. The hearing of the case related to the non-recovery of Baloch students has started in the Islamabad High Court, with Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani conducting the hearing. The caretaker premier has appeared before the court today after …

Quetta Presiding Officer (PO) Zumark Achakzai administered the oath from the Fifty-six newly elected lawmakers of the Balochistan Assembly on Wednesday. Speaker Zumark Achakzai welcomed the new members and said he hoped that the new assembly will work together for the development of the province. “Together we have to take the province forward.” Assembly staff ensured preparation for reception of …

Gwadar city has been submerged following heavy rainfall spell resulting inundating the streets, market, camouflages and downpour wreaked havoc on the city’s infrastructure, chocking the already strained sewerage system. The heavy spell of rain left its inhabitants to leave their homes from multiple areas of the city.  Land connectivity of Gwadar Coastal highway is cut off from other areas. Due …

Wednesday marks a significant moment in the political landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as 116 newly elected members of the provincial assembly have taken oath. Preparations had been finalized to welcome the incoming representatives of the 14th assembly. Speaker Mushtaq Ghani presided over the oath-taking ceremony, administering the oath to the members. He also announced that the election for the speaker …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Wednesday met with Kirsten Schuijt, director general of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) International, calling for closer cooperation to tackle global challenges in ecological conservation. Han said the Chinese government has firmly established and practiced the concept of green development and has made remarkable achievements in building a beautiful China. WWF International …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Wednesday. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, China and Sierra Leone have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests, carried out …

CAIRO: China has succeeded in achieving “comprehensive development” and fruitful Belt and Road cooperation with many partner countries despite Western smear campaigns, an Egyptian expert on Chinese affairs has said. “Economic and social development in China picked up since the country began implementing its reform and opening-up policy more than 40 years ago, and China has ever since achieved high …

NANJING: The water quality of Taihu Lake, China’s third-largest freshwater lake, improved last year and reached its best level since 2007, the local authority said Tuesday. In 2023, the lake’s phosphorus level stood at 0.052 mg/L and nitrogen was 1.09 mg/L, down by 17.5 percent and 9.9 percent respectively compared with the year before, said the government of Jiangsu Province …

GUANGZHOU: The majority of 183 companies studied are optimistic about the growth of the Chinese market, according to a report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) on Tuesday. Of these companies, 76 percent plan to reinvest in China in 2024. For those who have plans for reinvestment in China in 2024, 45 percent …

SHANGHAI: C919 and ARJ21 jetliners produced by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) on Tuesday kicked off demonstration flights in Southeast Asia. The two jetliners have a tight schedule in the next two weeks in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia. COMAC said on Tuesday the demonstration flights can further verify the adaptability of China-made commercial aircraft to …

UNITED NATIONS: The permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, on Tuesday told the Security Council that Gaza is currently experiencing a famine, which worsens daily due to the ongoing “criminal aggression” by Israel. “We must stop for a moment and consider what this truly means,” Mansour addressed the Security Council meeting on the …

NEW YORK: In a move to streamline operations and focus on its core business, U.S. department store chain Macy’s on Tuesday announced a strategic plan dubbed “A Bold New Chapter.” The plan, while outlining broader initiatives, notably includes the closure of approximately 150 underperforming stores by 2026. This significant decision aims to allocate resources more effectively, allowing the company to …

WASHINGTON: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he is “very optimistic” that Congress will avoid a government shutdown by the Friday deadline, after meeting with President Joe Biden and top congressional leaders at the White House. “We believe that we can get to agreement on these issues and prevent a government shutdown, and that’s our first responsibility,” said Johnson, …

WASHINGTON: Voters went to the polls across Michigan, a battleground state, on Tuesday for the 2024 U.S. presidential primary. In the Republican race, former U.S. President Donald Trump, who remains undefeated so far this year, continues to be challenged by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Tuesday’s GOP primary will determine only …

WASHINGTON: A U.S. Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy here “in an apparent protest” against the Israeli raids on Gaza died in a hospital late Sunday. The airman was identified by police as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell from San Antonio, Texas, and confirmed on active duty by an Air Force spokesperson Monday. People gathered Monday …

BEIJING: “Small yard and high fence” will not stop China’s innovation-driven development, nor will it do any good to U.S. companies or the entire semiconductor industry, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks when asked to comment on a related query at a daily press briefing. It is reported that chipmaker Nvidia has …

levels. A mouthwash with 0.25% lemongrass oil can reduce plaque more effectively than chlorhexidine gluconate, which is a proven anti-bacterial rinse used to treat gum inflammation. A lemongrass oil rinse is easy and quick to make, but it can be potent. To create one, simply add two to three drops of lemongrass oil to a cup of water. Swish for …