Raising ‘concerns’ on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan for transparency in the projects on Monday, quoting well-placed sources. The IMF has raised concerns on the report shared by Pakistan regarding PSDP projects by saying the complete details of investment are missing. The international lender has urged Pakistan to make the budget …

The petitioner in the case submitted in the Supreme Court for declaring the February 8 general elections null and void has requested to withdraw the petition. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, started hearing the petition on Monday morning. Other members of the bench included Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday announced alliance with the Sunni Ittehad Council and Majlis-e-Wahdatul Muslimeen (MWM). The announcement was made by Barrister Gohar flanked by MWM chief Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Sunni Ittehad Council’s head Sahibzada Hamid Raza and Omar Ayub Khan. Barrister Gohar said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed independent candidates, who are in centre, Punjab and KP will join the Sunni …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended the notification of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Tariq Fazal Chaudhry from NA-47. The Election Commission of Pakistan declared Tariq Fazal Chaudhry as the winner with 102,502 votes, while PTI-backed candidate Shoaib Shaheen got 86,396 votes. Shaheen challenged his defeat in the IHC. Shaheen, in his respective petition, argued that according to Forms 45 …

A report by Islamabad-based think tank Tabadlab has stated that Pakistan’s debt profile is “alarming” while the country’s borrowing and spending habits were “unsustainable”. The 68-page report, titled ‘A raging fire: Pakistan’s debt crisis’, was released on Sunday. It said that the country’s total debt and liabilities including domestic and external debt to be at Rs77.66 trillion, or $271.2 billion. …

Services of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, remained disrupted for the third consecutive day in Pakistan on Monday. According to Down detector, the outage was reported a little after 10:30am and persisted till noon. Services were restored around 12:24pm but were again disrupted after 1pm. Down detector, which tracks outages by collating status reports from several sources …

Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez has shed light on a crucial conversation he had with star cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan during the T20I series against New Zealand. Speaking exclusively to a local sports channel, Hafeez disclosed that he encouraged Babar and Rizwan to recognise their roles within the broader context of the team’s success, reminding them that …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed on Monday that the guarantee ability of land element should be enhanced to ensure the high-quality development of regions which enjoy competitive strengths, and that the grassroots emergency management capacity should be further improved. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, …

BEIJING: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon offers the world a window on China’s economic vibrancy, during which China sees its inbound and outbound travels soar, with more Chinese tourists going abroad and more foreign travelers visiting China. According to media reports, the recent Spring Festival of the Year …

MUNICH, Germany: It is hoped that Canada could establish a correct understanding of China, take a long-term view of bilateral relations and provide a positive perspective for their practical cooperation, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday. China-Canada relations have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with Western countries, and the current difficult situation is not …

BEIJING: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson congratulated Pakistan for holding general elections of the national and provincial assemblies in a steady and smooth manner and hoped that the political parties in Pakistan could work together to form a new government after the polls. “We noted that general elections in Pakistan were held in a generally steady and smooth manner, and …

VIENNA: Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday agreed to implement the important consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting between the two heads of state. During their meeting in Vienna on Sunday, the two officials had candid, in-depth and constructive communication on implementing the consensus reached at …

NAIROBI: Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the 37th African Union (AU) summit on Saturday, calling for drawing up a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and promoting the joint building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future. People from all walks of life in various African countries said they appreciate Xi’s message, believing it reflects …

BEIJING: China’s homegrown AG600M aircraft, a firefighting model belonging to the AG600 large amphibious aircraft family, has completed its cold-weather flight tests, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Two AG600M large amphibious airplanes completed the cold-weather flight test mission at an airport in Hailar District of Hulunbuir in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, said AVIC, the …

COLOMBO: Fifty cruise ships will be calling at Sri Lankan ports from February to April, state media reported on Sunday quoting B.H.R. Sariffo Deen, director general of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. Sariffo Deen said most of the cruise ships will call at Colombo harbor, and some will also anchor in Hambantota and Trincomalee harbors as well. He said that …

GAZA: The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 28,985, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday. In a press statement sent to Xinhua, the ministry said that 68,883 Palestinians have been wounded in the coastal enclave since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. The Israeli army killed 127 Palestinians and wounded 205 …

WASHINGTON: Although China’s economy is facing difficulties, treating it as un-investable would be the wrong call, said John Bilton, head of global multi-asset strategy at JPMorgan Asset Management. “I don’t think you can treat the world’s second-largest economy as either an alternative investment or un-investable; that would be wide of the mark,” Bilton told CNBC in a recent interview. China’s …

MUNICH, Germany: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday that China will be a force for stability in enhancing global governance. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a keynote speech during the “China in the World” session at the ongoing Munich Security Conference. Wang …

MUNICH, Germany: China has stayed committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue and will not give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when answering questions following …

BEIJING: China’s current account surplus amounted to 264.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, the country’s foreign exchange regulator said on Sunday. The current account surplus to gross domestic product ratio was 1.5 percent last year, which is within a reasonable and balanced range, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The surplus under trade in goods came in at …

In an exciting revelation for fans, singer Asim Azhar and renowned actor Sajal Aly may just have hinted at an upcoming collaboration, leaving enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the release. Asim took to his Instagram to share a captivating image of the duo, standing back-to-back and exuding an air of mystery. The shared image features Asim and Sajal dressed in varying shades …

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A session of PTI-nominated independents, elected as members of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has been summoned in Peshawar today at the Speaker’s House, citing sources on Sunday. Ali Amin Gandapur will chair the session, who has been nominated as the next chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The session will consult over the issues related to formation of government in the province, …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Sunday issued a detailed written order of summons order for the caretaker prime minister and several key ministers to appear before the court over missing Baloch students case to be heard on February 19th. IHC Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued the written summons order, demanding the presence of the PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakkar, along with the …

Indian farmers march continued on the fifth day as thousands of farmers, led by 250 farmer unions, are gathered and protesting for guaranteed minimum prices, debt relief, crops and policy reforms, in the outskirts of New Delhi. As per Indian media reports, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ograhan) also announced to protest outside the residences of three senior BJP leaders …

In Kashmir, Dr. Farooq Ashai, was martyred exactly 31 years ago. On February 18, 1993, Dr. Farooq Ashai fell victim to the bullets fired by Indian forces, marking a tragic end to his valiant life. His martyrdom day was commemorated with solemnity, attended by his wife, Dr. Fareeda, and their daughter, alongside countless admirers. Dr. Ashai was targeted just 100 …

The Pakistan Army has established Mobile Education and Information Schools in North Waziristan to cultivate a passion for learning in remote rural areas. Under the vision of “Education for All,” these schools aim to ignite enthusiasm for education in far-flung communities. During this initiative, the Pakistan Army showed educational animated films and cartoons to all children, which they greatly enjoyed. …

The Central Working Committee of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society strongly condemned the inappropriate and unfounded allegations leveled against the military leadership. Lieutenant General (Retired) Abdul Qayyum Hilal Imtiaz Military presided over the meeting of the Central Working Committee. Vice Admiral Abdul Aleem, Commodore Arshad, Brigadier Zakir, Brigadier Tariq, Brigadier Zulfiqar Shahin, Mr. Habib ur Rehman (former ISI), Major Khizar, Commander …

You Tube former CEO Susan Wojcicki’s son, Marco Troper, who was just 19 years old, was found dead at a UC Berkeley dormitory on February 18, 2024. The cause of his death is still unknown, but according to his grandmother, Esther Wojcicki doubts that it might have been due to a drug overdose. “It’s unclear what type of medicine he …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has notified the successful candidates for 36 seats of the National Assembly from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among those declared victorious are from NA-4 Upper Dir Sibghatullah, Gohar Ali Khan from NA-10 Buner, and Umar Ayub from NA-18 Haripur. The notification confirmed the success of the Asad Qaiser for NA-19 Swabi and Shandana Gulzar for NA-30 …

By Akbar Novruz On February 7th, the presidential elections were held on the entirety of the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan for the first time in the young Republic’s history, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s annals. On the day of the election, the mass flow of voters trickling into the polling stations along with the high level of activity …

The policy makers of China have been striving hard to maintain regional peace, stability and harmony through dialogue, diplomacy and development. Terrorism, fanaticism and radicalization are the three core security concerns of China. Right from the beginning, China has been supporting joint efforts and mechanism combating spirits of terrorism in the region. It seems that China does not want terrorism …

MUNICH, Germany: China is willing to deepen mutual trust and cooperation with Argentina, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Saturday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while meeting with Argentina’s Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference. Although being …

NANNING: As one of China’s world-famous tourist cities, Guilin in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has witnessed a steady growth in tourism cooperation and cultural exchanges between China and France over the years. Along the Lijiang River, one finds West Street in Yangshuo County, Guilin. The street has a history of more than 1,400 years. In 1991, Frenchman Christophe …

BEIJING: China’s box office revenue during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday through Saturday exceeded 8 billion yuan (about 1.13 billion U.S. dollars), with domestic comedy movies accounting for over 97 percent of the total earnings. According to data from box office trackers Maoyan and Beacon, “YOLO,” directed by comedian Jia Ling, renowned for her debut film “Hi, Mom,” led the …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a congratulatory message to the 37th African Union (AU) summit. Xi pointed out that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the Global South represented by China and Africa is booming, which has a profound impact on the course of world history. The AU brings African countries …

BEIJING: China will see some 2.311 billion passenger trips during this year’s Spring Festival travel rush, transport authorities estimated on Saturday. About 2.184 billion trips, or 94.5 percent of the total, would be made on highways during the eight-day holiday ending Saturday, while the railway system would handle about 99.59 million trips. Waterway and civil aviation trips would stand at …

SINGAPORE: Chinese passenger jet C919 made a trial flight Sunday in Singapore to prepare for the upcoming airshow. Five aircraft developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd., including C919, will meet the public at the airshow, said China Eastern Airlines Singapore Branch. C919 will perform flight demonstrations at the Singapore Airshow 2024, which will last from Feb. 20 …

MUNICH, Germany: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called for a sound, steady and sustainable development of China-U.S. ties. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting here with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the ongoing Munich Security Conference. During …

BEIJING: A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Saturday urged Taiwan authorities to release the mainland fishermen who were forcibly detained after a fatal expulsion of a mainland fishing boat. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks concerning the incident that took place on Wednesday afternoon, in which the fishing boat from the southeastern …