BUDAPEST: Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto on Monday called for the international community to prevent the Gaza crisis from escalating into an interstate war during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz. “The Middle East fundamentally determines the global security situation, and if there is a conflict or a security crisis in the …

BEIJING: The G7 statement once again hyped up issues related to China, slandering the country with unfounded allegations that lack factual basis, legal grounds, and any sense of morality, which is a cliche filled with arrogance, prejudice and lies, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday. Lin made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to …

People offer prayers during Eid al-Adha in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on June 17, 2024. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua) People gather for an Eid al-Adha prayer in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 17, 2024. (Str/Xinhua) People offer prayers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha in Agartala, India, June 17, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

The recent surge in streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) in Japan is concerning, particularly given the context of the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. According to the Japan Times, as of June 2, 2023, there have been 977 reported cases of STSS, surpassing last year’s total of 941 cases. The National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan has been monitoring this …

The Pakistani cricket team’s poor performance in the current T20 World Cup 2024 has drawn harsh criticism from cricket enthusiasts and former players. Thus, Pakistan was knocked out of the competition before the Super 8 round. In a recent video, the former cricket player Ramiz Raja talked about Pakistan’s performance in the games the squad played. Ramiz said “For Pakistan, …

Pakistan has witnessed an alarming 119% increase in the emigration of highly skilled professionals during the year 2023, according to the latest Economic Survey 2023-24. The report underscores a profound exodus of talent, raising serious concerns about the nation’s ability to retain its intellectual capital amidst economic turbulence. The statistics paint a grim picture: a staggering 45,687 skilled individuals departed …

Around two million Muslims converged at Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah for the Eidul Azha prayers early Friday morning. The atmosphere at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah resonated with the resounding chants of Eid takbirat, glorifying Allah the Almighty. Pilgrims, including both locals and visitors from around the globe, gathered …

Renowned Pakistani actor Imran Abbas has issued a stern warning to his fans and followers amidst growing concerns over social media security. The actor, well-known for his roles in Pakistani films and television dramas, took to his official Instagram account to alert his audience about the increasing incidents of celebrity accounts being hacked. In a recent post, Imran Abbas posted …

Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) neutralised a key commander of the banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Tipu Gul group in Lakki Marwat operation. The operation, executed on a credible tip-off, targeted the notorious militant figure, Wali Allah alias Wali, near Tajuri Road close to Malang Adda. According to sources within the CTD, upon approaching the hideout, armed terrorists initiated heavy gunfire, prompting a …

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a telephonic conversation Sunday with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. The two dignitaries exchanged Eid greetings and expressed their best wishes for the people of both countries on this auspicious occasion. They also prayed for unity, peace and prosperity of the Muslim Ummah. During the …

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has declared that the registration of drone cameras is now mandatory as part of a comprehensive policy regulating drone usage across the country. The new regulations require all drone owners to register their devices with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) within the next four months. The CAA will issue remote pilot licenses to drone camera owners, …

In response to widespread public outcry and opposition from various sectors, the government of Pakistan is contemplating a partial rollback of its ambitious tax proposals, particularly concerning income tax hikes on salaried individuals. The move comes amidst escalating discontent over the proposed fiscal measures aimed at generating additional revenue amounting to Rs 1.5 trillion in the upcoming fiscal year. The …

ISLAMABAD: The first unit (Unit 4) of Pakistan Suki Kinari Hydropower Station, the largest hydropower power station invested and constructed by China Energy Construction Overseas Investment Co., Ltd, was successfully start-up and formally entering the wet testing phase on Sunday. According to the details, personnel from China Energy Construction Overseas Investment Co., Ltd, SK Hydro Co., Ltd, and participating construction …

BEIJING: The Beijing-Guangzhou High-speed Railway began full-line operations at a speed of 350 kph on Saturday, following an increase of the maximum permissible speed on its Wuhan-Guangzhou section, according to the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (China Railway). Totaling 2,298 km in length, the railway runs through six provincial-level regions — Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Guangdong — …

WELLINGTON: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China, with its vast market potential, is committed to unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up, and will continue to create a first-class business environment and support foreign enterprises in achieving better and greater development in China. Li made the remarks when visiting the headquarters of New Zealand’s dairy company Fonterra in Auckland with …

ISLAMABAD: Five people were killed and eight others injured in a road accident in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province on Saturday, police said. The accident occurred on Indus Highway in Dadu district of the province, where a speeding truck hit a rickshaw, resulting in the loss of five lives, including children, according to local police. The victims were pilgrims who were …

BEIJING: An article on high-quality development, by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Sunday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will appear in this year’s 12th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. The article …

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Shahid Afridi has expressed his views regarding the change in captaincy before the T20 World Cup, from Shaheen Afridi to Babar Azam by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Babar, who stepped down as the white-ball captain in November following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in India, was reinstated …

Pakistan has made history by becoming a permanent member of the Washington Accord for six years. The International Engineering Alliance (IEA) approved the extension of Pakistan’s membership during its two-day session in New Delhi. The IEA unanimously granted Pakistan this membership extension. However, the Pakistani delegation from the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) could not attend the IEA session in person, …

The meta-owned instant messeging app WhatsApp has rolled out two new feature including 32-person video call and chat transfer feature WhatsApp has announced significant upgrades to its video calling features, enabling users to watch videos together during calls and increasing the maximum number of participants to 32 across all devices. Additionally, a new speaker spotlight feature highlights the person speaking …

While announcing restoration of health insurance scheme for journalists, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Friday that the Pakistan government was taking all possible steps for welfare of the media community. Addressing a ceremony regarding launch of the health insurance scheme for the journalists, the minister said the government had been playing its due role for …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed an 18 percent General Sales Tax (GST) on packaged food items, including formula milk. The decision was announced during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla. Chairman FBR, Amjad Zubair, told the committee that the GST will apply to all packaged items, including departmental stores …

Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, delivered the Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimra on Saturday, urging Ummah to forge unity and cohesion among their ranks. Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from around the world converged at Maidan-e-Arafat on Saturday to perform the Rukn-e-Azam of Hajj “Waqoof-e-Arafat” which marks climax of the Hajj. Worshippers from …

The World Bank has approved $150 million in funding to improve education facilities in Pakistan’s Punjab province. This initiative aims to benefit five million children who are currently out of school. A spokesperson for the World Bank highlighted that the funds will specifically target the seven million children in Punjab who lack access to education. By enhancing educational infrastructure and …

Pakistan’s National Logistics Cell (NLC) has achieved a new milestone. This government agency, known for its transport and logistics services, has effectively expanded its trade reach to another key Central Asian country. This week, NLC successfully delivered its first truckload of 6 tonnes of cherries from Dara Khunjarab to China. Following this, a second consignment is set to depart from …

In an incident at district court Attock, two prominent lawyers, Malik Israr Ahmed and Zulfiqar Marza, lost their lives due to gunfire by a police officer. Malik Israr Ahmed, a seasoned advocate of the High Court and former President of the Punjab Bar Council, was targeted inside the courthouse premises. The incident unfolded when the police officer allegedly opened fire, …

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance has approved a proposal to prohibit non-filers from traveling abroad. The meeting, chaired by Senator Salim Mandviwala, resulted in an important decision impacting individuals who fail to file their tax returns. According to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), actions against non-filers will be enforced under the Income Tax General Order. Exemptions …

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised Energy China as a globally renowned multinational corporation and a crucial partner for Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s sustainable development. According to a statement released by Energy China on Saturday, it was stated that Song Hailiang, Chairman of Energy China (CEEC), met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to …

People gather at a livestock market ahead of Eid al-Adha in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar on June 14, 2024. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) People gather at a livestock market ahead of Eid al-Adha in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar on June 14, 2024. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) Palestinian livestock breeders work in a farm ahead of Eid al-Adha in the southern Gaza Strip …

ISLAMABAD: The Women in Nuclear Pakistan Chapter (WiN-Pakistan), in collaboration with the Pakistan Nuclear Society (PNS) and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, organized a one-day seminar titled “Knowledge Sharing with Women in Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security.” The seminar, aimed at fostering information exchange and promoting awareness of nuclear safety and security, saw the participation of around a hundred female …

SANAA: As the Muslim world prepares for the joyous celebrations of Eid al-Adha, a somber mood hangs over Yemen’s capital. The country, ravaged by nearly a decade of civil war, now faces a new challenge: a crippled economy further strained by the escalating crisis in the Red Sea. In Sanaa’s Old City, the famed Al-Melh market used to be known …

NEW DELHI: Four forest officials were killed and four others suffered burns while extinguishing a fire at a wildlife sanctuary in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials said Friday. The fire broke out at Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary under the Civil Soyam forest division in Almora district, about 370 km east of Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand. According to …

Pakistan has been eliminated from the T20 World Cup 2024 after inclement weather in Lauderhill meant points were split between Ireland and the USA. USA have qualified for the Super Eight alongside India from Group A, also sealing their berth in the 2026 T20 World Cup. For Pakistan, though, a torrid tournament culminated in a hasty exit under gloomy skies …

Former Pakistan cricketer Azhar Ali has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate the final three Group A matches scheduled to be held in Florida due to severe weather and flood warnings in the state. As the teams prepare to compete for a spot in the Super 8s, Ali has raised concerns about the viability of hosting the …

Additional session judge Afzal Majoka has adjourned the hearing of appeals filed by Bushra Bibi, founder of PTI, against their sentence in the ‘Iddat Nikkah’ case. Bushra Bibi’s legal team, including Khalid Yusuf Chaudhry and Usman Riaz Gul, appeared in court. PTI lawyers submitted the written order of the Islamabad High Court on Thursday. Usman Riaz Gul urged the court to …

WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will simplify the process of transferring chat history when switching to a new phone. This development comes as a relief for users who often find the data transfer process cumbersome and worry about losing their chat history. Switching to a new phone typically brings excitement, but this excitement can quickly turn …

Crowds of robed worshippers will circle the Kaaba, the black cubic structure at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, with many expressing sadness eight months into the Israel-Hamas war. “Our brothers are dying, and we can see it with our own eyes,” a tearful 75-year-old Zahra Benizahra from Morocco told AFP. Belinda Elham of Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, said …

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif conducted a four-hour-long inquiry at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital following the tragic deaths of 11 children and ordered the suspension and arrest of the Principal, Medical Superintendent (MS), Additional Medical Superintendent (AMS), and Admin Officer of the hospital. CM Maryam Nawaz personally reviewed all inquiry reports and CCTV footage related to the incident. Punjab CM …

Global rating agency Moody’s Friday said that Pakistan’s weak debt affordability drives high debt sustainability risks as the government spends more than half its revenue on interest payments. Moody’s commenting on newly finance bill for the fiscal year 2024-2025 said: “The budget estimated debt servicing payments to have increased by about 18pc for fiscal 2025 compared with a year ago. …

Lahore High Court Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Khan encouraged the judiciary to uphold justice fearlessly to reinforce public trust in the judiciary’s impartiality and commitment to the rule of law by fighting the establishment and vowed establishment interference in the judiciary to be ended soon. The LHC CJ in his address emphasized the imminent end to establishment interference in …