The Caretaker Federal Government of Pakistan has decided to ban the import of wheat. According to sources, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) took the decision to ban the state-level import of wheat as the flour prices in Pakistan are stable and the country has enough reserves. Sources within the government revealed that Pakistan has ample amount of wheat to meet …

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Friday praised Fakhar Zaman, saying the latter mounts pressure on the opponents on his day. During a live session on Twitter Space, Azam said, “The innings against Australia are memorable.” Speaking about his role model, he said, “My father is a role model for me. I am more close to my father, but I …

Small dogs with long noses, such as whippets and miniature dachshunds, live for years longer than large flat-faced breeds such as English bulldogs, new research said on Thursday. The study, which is based on data from more than half a million dogs across the UK, aims to help people planning to get a dog ensure they choose a breed that …

Popular Indian model, actress and reality TV star Poonam Pandey has allegedly passed away. The news was first posted on her official Instagram handle. The social media post said that Poonam has died on Friday morning due to cervical cancer at the age of 32. The statement read: “This morning is a tough one for us. Deeply saddened to inform …

In a harrowing incident on January 29, 2024, terrorists launched a brutal attack on the Mach region of Balochistan, initially targeting security forces and later taking civilians and hotel staff hostage. The shocking assault left local residents injured and scarred, with heart-wrenching revelations emerging from the victims. The terrorists, numbering ten, attempted to strike security forces before seizing control of …

A somber cloud hangs over the upcoming elections as news emerges that 88 candidates vying for National and provincial assembly seats have passed away before the polls. This includes nine National Assembly candidates and 79 provincial assembly hopefuls. The tragedy has forced the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone elections in three crucial constituencies: NA-8 Bajaur, PK-22, and PK-91 …

Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Jameel Khan has tendered on Friday his resignation to President Dr Arif Alvi.  Justice Shahid Jameel Khan, who was slated to retire in 2029, submitted his resignation to the President citing personal reasons for his abrupt departure. In a formal statement, Justice Shahid Jameel Khan expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to postpone its much-anticipated intra-party elections scheduled for February 5. Citing the overwhelming busyness of party workers engaged in the ongoing general elections and following the advice of key party leaders, PTI officials confirmed the postponement. A proposal to conduct intra-party elections immediately after the conclusion of the general elections is reportedly under consideration. The …

The caretaker government is making binding plans for the new set-up to sell loss-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), according to the privatisation minister and other officials. In the past, elected governments have shied away from undertaking unpopular reforms, including the sale of the flag carrier. But Pakistan, in deep economic crisis, agreed in June to overhaul loss-making state-owned enterprises under …

BEIJING: China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), the national legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s national political advisory body, are inviting local and international journalists to cover their annual sessions to be held in March, according to an official statement released Friday. The second session of the 14th NPC is scheduled to …

BEIJING: Tao Zhiting, 33, who is wheeling an elderly person and shouldering luggage, is not just another traveler amid the Spring Festival travel rush at Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station — she is a heartwarming and skilled rail ambassador. With the Chinese Lunar New Year approaching, the flow of passengers is soaring. Tao, who works tirelessly to escort over 20 travelers …

KAMPONG THOM, Cambodia: Cambodia has broken ground for the construction of the Dang Kambet reservoir here in the country’s central part, with the concessional financing from the Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank). Cambodian Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha said the Dang Kambet Reservoir Development Project would significantly improve the well-being and livelihoods of local people. “This …

TIANJIN: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited people in the northern city of Tianjin ahead of the Spring Festival. Xi also made an inspection of the city. On Thursday morning, he first visited a village in Xiqing District to learn about the recovery of farming activities after last year’s floods. He also visited …

BEIJING: Since the introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in October 2023, “culture” has become a buzzword throughout China. Ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the country has been busy organizing various cultural events to embrace this new trend. In the eastern province of Zhejiang, a museum has been captivating tourists with AR technology, reviving scenes of daily …

BRUSSELS: All 27 European Union (EU) countries have agreed to extend 50 billion euros (54 billion U.S. dollars) in aid to Ukraine at a special summit in Brussels on Thursday, European Council President Charles Michel said on social media. Michel said that the additional 50-billion-euro support package for Ukraine was from within the EU budget. “This locks in steadfast, long-term, …

The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating metabolism by producing thyroid hormones, primarily thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). When the thyroid is underactive, as in hypothyroidism, it can lead to a series of metabolic disruptions that influence body weight. However, it is important to understand that once it is treated and the hormone level stays in the normal …

Bulldozers have knocked down a centuries-old mosque in India’s capital, a member of the mosque’s managing committee said on Thursday during a demolition drive to remove “illegal” structures from a forest reserve. The demolition comes at a sensitive time in India with nationalist activists emboldened in their long campaign for the replacement of several prominent mosques with Hindu temples. The …

In a bizarre incident, a man sent a legal notice to a shopkeeper after he missed his relative’s wedding, allegedly due to a torn pair of shoes, he bought from his shop. The incident occurred in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where Gyanendra Bhan Tripathi, a resident of Fatehpur and a lawyer by profession, sent a notice to Salman …

A special court on Thursday released a detailed verdict against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in cipher case. Both PTI founder and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were awarded 10 years in jail in cipher case on Tuesday. The detailed verdict said the counsel of the former prime minister and ex-FM were ‘non-serious’ during cipher case hearing. The convicts continued …

Caretaker Interior Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz says the government is committed to ensuring that the elections are held freely, fairly, and peacefully. He was chairing a review meeting in Quetta today to assess the overall security situation ahead of the upcoming elections. During the meeting, the administration provided a detailed briefing on the security situation. Speaking on the occasion, the …

Pakistan has shared an electricity tariff plan for the export sector with the International Monetary Fund. As per details, the Pakistan government has proposed lowering the power tariff to 9 cents from 14 cents to the export sector. Sources familiar with the development said the plan will be enforced after approval of the international lender. It is to be noted …

History is being made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Assembly Constituency PK-69 Khyber I, as Shakira Shinwari becomes the first woman candidate to contest the general elections. Running on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI) ticket, Shinwari faces not only the usual campaign challenges but also unique hurdles as a woman from a tribal area. Priorities and Obstacles: Shinwari prioritizes addressing the constituency’s …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has established a gender desk in the Sindh ECP office in Karachi for general elections. The ECP spokesperson said that the desk will be active from Feb 1 to Feb 10 while it will be operational for 24 hours from Feb 6 to Feb 10. The desk has been set up for the immediate …

The government is determined to reduce the electricity tariff for the export sector, despite facing objections from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Sources within the Ministry of Energy have confirmed that a detailed plan has been submitted to the IMF outlining the proposed reduction from 14 cents per unit to nine cents for the industrial sector. Previous attempts to reduce …

Four separate blasts occurred in Balochistan’s provincial capital Quetta, Turbat, and Dera Allah Yar city of Jaffarabad district, injuring four people who have been shifted to hospitals for medical treatment. One person was killed while four people sustained injuries in the wake of the blasts. The deceased was identified as 79-year-old Abdul Khaliq. The security situation continues to pose a …

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Jiang Zaidong called on Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force in his office on Wednesday. During the meeting matters about the evolving geo-strategic environment and regional developments were discussed. The dignitaries underscored the necessity of revitalizing the framework for operational training across all …

HAIKOU: South China’s Hainan Province recorded 326.8 billion yuan (about 46 billion U.S. dollars) of renminbi (RMB) cross-border settlement in 2023, representing a massive 122.9 percent year on year increase, said local authorities on Wednesday. It marked the first time the province had seen its cross-border RMB use account for over a half of its total cross-border settlement in both …

BEIJING: A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry on Thursday said that China urges the United States to stop its worldwide cyber espionage and cyberattacks, and stop smearing other countries under the excuse of cybersecurity. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a related query. Wang noted that China firmly opposes all forms of …

ATHENS: Chinese vehicle manufacturer Seres Group officially launched its electric premium sport SUV, the SERES 5, in Athens on Wednesday, marking the entry of the first Chinese electric SUV into the Greek market. The launch also marks the start of cooperation between Seres and Spanos Group, one of the largest importers and dealers of vehicles in Greece, according to Seres …

KUALA LUMPUR: Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar was sworn in as Malaysia’s 17th king in a ceremony at the national palace in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday. In a televised ceremony Ibrahim took his oath and signed the instruments of office with the country’s other hereditary rulers witnessing the event. Sultan Nazrin Shah, ruler of Perak state, will serve as the deputy …

SANAA: Geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea have boiled for nearly three months, driven by Houthi attacks on commercial ships and U.S. airstrikes on Houthi targets, disrupting shipping, forcing major container companies to change routes, raising costs and stressing European and African supply chains. Analysts have also warned that the current course could make the Red Sea a “battlefield for …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has urged efforts to accelerate the development of new productive forces and firmly promote high-quality development. Xi made the remarks on Wednesday while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He stressed that high-quality development is an unyielding …

YAREN: Nauru held a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the 56th anniversary of independence. “Fifty-six years ago, our forefathers embarked on a journey of sovereignty, asserting our right to self-determination and independence,” Nauruan President David Adeang said at the ceremony outside the government office building. “Today, we honor the legacy by not only reflecting on our past but also looking …

GAZA: Lack of treatment in the Gaza Strip forces Abu Mustafa Salem, a 49-year-old Palestinian man, to deal with his injury by himself as the hospital is so far away from his tent. The wounded man was the only survivor of his family in an Israeli attack that targeted his house in the Sheikh Redwan neighborhood in Gaza City two …

BEIJING: China stands ready to work with all parties to hold a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference as early as possible, formulate a concrete timetable and roadmap for the implementation of the two-state solution and support Palestine and Israel in resuming peace talks soon, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the …

BEIJING: An article on forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Thursday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s third issue of the Qiushi Journal, a …

In yet another blow to Imran Khan and his party, the former premier and his wife Bushra Bibi on Wednesday were sentenced to 14 years in jail in the Toshakhana reference. Last month, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a fresh reference against the two in an accountability court for retaining a jewellery set received from Saudi crown prince …

Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has launched “the Punjab arms license management system. As per details, the agreement on issuance of online arms licenses took place between the Interior Ministry of Punjab and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). The new portal will enable the issuance and renewal of arms licenses online and the online portal also includes …

Rehan Zeb Khan, a PTI-backed independent candidate, was gunned down in the Siddiqabad area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bajaur district ahead of general elections 2024. According to details, the PTI-backed candidate was contesting elections from NA-8 and PK-22 seats. The police, in a statement, said Rehan Zeb Khan was canvassing in the area when unidentified assailants opened fire on his …

The former prime minister and PTI fonder Imran Khan who has now been sentenced to 14 years in cipher and 10 years in the Toshakhana reference case entered the political arena after winning the 1992 cricket World Cup to bring tabdeeli (change) in the political landscape by launching his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 1996. The political journey of the ex-premier …