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 …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that his country is focusing on enrolling 26 million out-of-school children to enhance literacy and empower future generations. “Education emergency has been declared across the country to handle the challenge of 26 million out-of-school children. We will make the country regain its lost space and develop it as one of the …

BELGRADE: China and Serbia have decided on Wednesday to build a community with a shared future, an upgrade of their relations from the comprehensive strategic partnership established eight years ago. The decision was declared by visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, during their meeting in the Serbian capital. Xi said the ironclad China-Serbia friendship has …

Celebrated actor Gohar Rasheed believes that falling in love with one’s best friend is the most beautiful feeling ever. In a new interview with a digital magazine, actor Gohar Rasheed spoke about his idea of love and shared that respect and friendship are more important in a relationship, rather than the typical romance portrayed in films. He said, “I’ll be very …

Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Bakhtiyor Saidov, arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. On his arrival, the Uzbek foreign minister was accorded a warm welcome. He was received by Director General (Central Asia & ECO) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aizaz Khan. Foreign Minister Saidov will meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the visit and hold in-depth …

Pakistan observed World Asthma Day on Tuesday, marking the occasion with several national events and activities aimed at increasing public awareness of the illness and its treatment. This year’s observance’s theme was “Asthma Education Empowers,” emphasizing the value of teaching asthmatic people how to properly manage their illness. Hospitals and health organizations around Pakistan held free screenings, lung function testing, …

Zak Crawley has carved a niche for himself in England’s Test team under the leadership of Ben Stokes and the guidance of head coach Brendon McCullum. With an impressive record of over 1,000 runs in 13 matches since the beginning of 2023, Crawley’s aggressive batting style has often set the tone for quick starts. Despite his stellar performance in Tests, …

Abu Bakar Mahmood powered Pakistan to a comfortable victory against Canada in the 30th edition of the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia on Wednesday. According to the details, Abu Bakar Mahmood scored two goals for Pakistan. Meanwhile, Rana Waheed Ashraf, Liaqat Arshad, and Ali Ghazanfar had scored a goal each. This was Pakistan’s third victory in the tournament. The Green …

A bomb explosion in Afghanistan’s volatile northeastern Badakhshan province Wednesday killed at least three Taliban security personnel and wounded six others. Multiple sources, including residents and area hospital officials, confirmed the casualties. They said that a “sticky improvised explosive device” apparently planted on a motorbike struck a Taliban military convoy in the provincial capital, Faizabad. The Taliban’s Interior Ministry spokesman …

In a move aimed at facilitating citizens and streamlining the process of obtaining driving licenses, Punjab has announced a significant amendment to its motor vehicle rules. Traffic Police Punjab, in collaboration with the provincial government, has revised its policy, allowing failed driving test candidates to retake their examination after a shortened waiting period of two weeks, as opposed to the …

Tensions escalated at the GPO Chowk outside the Lahore High Court on Wednesday as lawyers from the Lahore Bar Association (LBA) rallied against the proposed division of civil courts and terrorism cases against the lawyer fraternity, leading to a violent confrontation with law enforcement. The protest took a chaotic turn when participants attempted to enter the high court premises, prompting …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday expressed the firm commitment of the government to expedite the implementation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Project (CPEC) for further strengthening the bilateral relations between both the countries. The minister co-chaired a meeting with the Ambassador of China to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong. Secretary Planning, Awais Manzoor Sumra and …

BEIJING: China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, returned to Shanghai Jiangnan Shipyard at around 3 p.m. Wednesday after completing its maiden sea trials. During the eight-day sea trials, the Fujian tested its propulsion and electrical systems and other equipment, and achieved the expected results. In the next stage, the aircraft carrier will conduct follow-up tests according to established plans. An …

The visionary leadership of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has turned the Tashkent International Investment Forum into a big success story attracting more and more inflows of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the country boosting its industrial base, pace of modernization, green transformation, economic liberalization, international cooperation and last but not least human capital. The TIIF-2024 received 2,500 foreign guests from …

BELGRADE: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday to pay a state visit to Serbia. Serbian Air Force sent two fighter jets to escort Xi’s plane after it entered the country’s airspace. The Chinese president was warmly welcomed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his wife, Tamara Vucic, at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. Serbian children presented flowers to …

The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training has decided to establish sixteen state-of-the-art IT labs in educational institutions of Islamabad with the cooperation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). SIFC was formed to attract investments from friendly countries in identified sectors through an empowered organization that serves as a ‘single-window’ platform for facilitation, and to improve the ease of …

The crime branch has unearthed a crucial audio recording of the accused in the firing incident, outside Bollywood star Salman Khan’s Bandra house last month. As reported by Indian news agencies, the crime branch of Mumbai police, investigating the April 14 firing case outside Salman Khan’s residence in the Galaxy Apartments of Bandra, has got their hands on an audio …

As pressure mounts for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the city of Rafah finds itself caught in a precarious balance, with conflicting signals from both sides leaving its residents in confusion and fear. On Monday, Hamas announced its acceptance of a ceasefire-for-hostage deal, sparking initial celebrations among the population of over 1 million Palestinians seeking refuge …

Another letter has emerged from the Islamabad High Court, calling attention towards a growing trend of malicious campaigns against the judiciary. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani has also written a letter to the IHC chief justice, urging him to initiate contempt of court proceedings against those involved in the alleged smear campaign. This development follows a similar letter sent by Justice …

Punjab and Sindh governments had opposed Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar-led caretaker administration’s 2023 decision to import wheat via the private sector, as revealed by Samaa TV’s detailed report. According to details, in the second meeting of the National Food Security and Research Department on December 29, 2023, chaired by the Minister of National Food Security and Research, it was …

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb underscored on Tuesday the growing confidence of investors in Pakistan’s economic trajectory, attributing it to the nation’s steady march towards stability. In a press conference held today in Islamabad, Minister Aurangzeb, flanked by Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, highlighted the successful visit of a Saudi delegation, which he …

The Center for South Asia & International Studies, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, Lahore, The School of Communication Studies and University of the Punjab have launched an essay competition on the theme of the 73rd anniversary of Pak-China diplomatic relations. Chinese Consul General Lahore Mr. Zhao Shiren said that the Chinese Consulate General would coordinate for …

PARIS: As the world goes through transformation and turbulence not seen in a century, China and France should uphold independence and jointly prevent a “new Cold War” or bloc confrontation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday. Xi made the remarks during talks with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at Elysee Palace. The Chinese president expressed his delight in making …

PARIS: Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined China’s principled position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Ukraine crisis when he jointly met the press with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron here on Monday. The prolonged tragedy of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a test for human conscience, and the international community must act, Xi said. China calls on all parties to work …

Supreme Court (SC) on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Peshawar High Court’ (PHC) verdict on Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) reserved seats. The three-member bench headed by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah suspended the verdict pertaining to the allocation of reserved seats to other political parties. Justice Mansoor Ali …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the ‘Player of the Month’ nominations for April. Pakistan’s fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been nominated for Player of the Month. Namibia’s Jared Erasmus and UAE’s Mohammed Wasim were also among the nominees. The players were nominated based on their performance in the month of April. It should be noted that in the T20 …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday decided to appoint Sheikh Waqas Akram as chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC). According to sources, the PTI’s political committee has approved Sheikh Waqas Akram’s name for the position. After Sher Afzal Marwat, PTI founder Imran Khan suggested the names of Hammad Raza and Sheikh Waqas Akram for the chairmanship of PAC, sources added. He …

The national cricket team captain, Babar Azam, has said that their full focus is on the upcoming World Cup, and they will give a 100% performance at the mega event. Addressing a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Babar Azam spoke about the preparations for the tour of Ireland, England and the T20 World Cup. He said that they …

According to international media, the country’s Ministry of Interior said that the number of people who died in the floods in Kenya has reached 228. Earlier there were 179 deaths. Flooding also affected the Masai Mara Safari Park in western Kenya, where groups of tourists in hotels were swept away by the overflowing Telek River. A landslide close to Mai …

The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a weather advisory warning of potential rainfall in Lahore and across the country later this month, coupled with an anticipated increase in the intensity of heat, prompting concerns about a possible heat wave in southern regions. According to a spokesperson for the PDMA, there is a chance of light rain in various …

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission is set to visit Pakistan this month to discuss policies and reforms. According to details, the IMF mission will visit Pakistan this month in connection with a new loan program. Policies and reforms will be discussed, while the federal budget for the new financial year will also be discussed. The visit coincides with the financial …

Strict measures are being taken against drug traffickers across Pakistan in order to eradicate the plague of addiction, as directed by the country’s military leadership and administration. According to the statement, from April 21 to 28, in various operations, the relevant agencies seized 1025779 kg of drugs from across the country and arrested 1318 drug dealers. During this period, 73 …

NEW YORK: The recent raid on pro-Palestinian encampments on U.S. college campuses and arrests of over 2,400 students by police have drawn sharp criticism from various sides in the United States. “We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the heavy-handed, militaristic response to student activism that we are seeing across the country,” said a recent statement by the American Association …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday launched a tree plantation campaign in various districts in efforts to increase the forest area and counter pollution in the South Asian country. The drive known as Plant for Pakistan is aimed at restoring the land allocated for planting forests in the country, promoting plantation, mitigating the effects of climate change and safeguarding biodiversity, according to …

PARIS: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Sunday for a state visit to France, with the two sides poised to bolster bilateral ties and reiterate their commitment to fortifying their partnership amid shifting global landscapes. The discussions and agreements during Xi’s third state visit to France, following visits in 2014 and 2019, are expected to encompass a broad spectrum of …

PARIS: Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Sunday that he hopes China and France will light up their way forward with the torch of history, open a brighter future of China-France relations and make new contributions to world peace, stability and development. Xi made the remarks in a written speech upon his arrival here for a state visit to …