GUANGZHOU: As one of the major global innovation hubs, Asia’s status in the world’s scientific and technological innovation landscape has been further consolidated, according to a report released Wednesday by the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA). With a wealth of intellectual resources and well-established innovation traditions, Asia has long been a powerhouse for global innovation and development, said Li Baodong, …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib jointly inaugurated the new Belgian embassy in Beijing on Thursday. The ceremony was also attended by visiting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended his congratulations on behalf of the …

BEIJING: China calls on relevant parties to exercise calm and restraint to avoid further escalation of tensions in the Red Sea region, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Friday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing replying to a query about an attack upon Yemen’s Houthis by the United States, which was launched as a response to …

GABORONE: Lucara Diamond, a diamond exploration and mining firm, announced on Wednesday the discovery of a 166-carat Type IIa gem from Botswana’s Karowe Mine. According to the Canadian-headquartered company, it is its first large discovery in 2024. The diamond is the 328th stone over 100 carats since the company started mining in 2012. William Lamb, Lucara chief executive officer, said …

ZHENGZHOU: Li Jiahui, hailing from a family with three generations of medical practitioners, manages a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) center in Zhengzhou in central China’s Henan Province. Over the past year, her business has witnessed a remarkable surge, particularly in the realm of food therapy. “I initially started this kitchen in the TCM center to offer customers convenient and healthy …

Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid 5-3 after extra-time in a pulsating battle in Saudi Arabia to reach the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday. Mario Hermoso and Antonio Rudiger exchanged early headed goals before Ferland Mendy sent Madrid ahead at the Al-Awwal Park stadium in Riyadh. Antoine Griezmann levelled with a milestone goal for Atletico to become their all-time leading …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board is likely to approve the first review of Pakistan’s $ 3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA) today (Thursday). The current IMF program of $3 billion is scheduled to end in the second week of April 2024, with around $1.8 billion remaining un-disbursed. The Fund released $1.2 billion first tranche in July. With the approval …

Pakistan has begun preparations for the budget 2024-2. As per details, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce has sought proposals from the government and private sectors for the budget 2024-25. Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Industries and Production, National Tariff Commission, DRAP, Engineering Development Board, FPCCI, Pakistan Business Council, Pakistan Stock Exchange, and various chambers of commerce have …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the Peshawar High Court’s decision allowing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to retain its electoral symbol. The ECP, in a plea, has pleaded with the apex court to overturn the PHC verdict which is against the ‘constitution’. The moves comes after a consultative meeting was held on Thursday …

Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? Sipping hot coffee on a winter morning can give you a quick boost of energy. However, not many know that one simple ingredient can make your usual cup of coffee more nutritious. And that is ghee! The golden liquid or ghee is loaded with healthy fats that can elevate the …

UK-based citizenship and residence advisory firm, Henley and Partners, has once again ranked the Pakistani passport among the worst in the world in its latest rankings. The country hasn’t shown any improvement in its ranking during the last five years. The most recent Henley Passport Index positions the Pakistani passport as the fourth worst globally. According to the firm’s Global …

In response to growing apprehensions surrounding the security of messaging platforms, WhatsApp has introduced a groundbreaking feature aimed at instilling confidence among its users. The tech giant’s latest update includes a visual confirmation label, signaling the implementation of “end-to-end encryption” in ongoing conversations. The innovative security enhancement, currently available to select beta testers through the WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.1.10.73 …

With the consistently dipping mercury levels, the cases of pneumonia have taken on the form of an outbreak of sorts among minors, as Lahore registered over 100 suspected cases in the last 24 hours and additional vacations were announced for nursery and prep classes across the province. On the other hand, Punjab reported the deaths of 35 children from pneumonia …

The Islamabad High Court has accepted an appeal of former prime minister Imran Khan against the in-camera trial of the cipher case against him, and annulled the proceedings of the case from December 14 onwards. The Islamabad High Court has also suspended the stay order in the cipher case in a verdict issued by Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb. The Islamabad …

Pakistani director Parmesh Adiwal, previously known for his remarkable contributions to Pakistani entertainment, has embraced Islam, marking a significant personal journey. His spiritual transition was revealed through an Instagram video where he was seen performing Umrah, seeking blessings in the Islamic faith. While it’s unclear if Parmesh Adiwal has adopted a new name post-conversion, several media outlets have suggested that …

Fans are raving about Sofia Vergara’s latest Instagram post, captivated by the Colombian actress’s timeless beauty. The 51-year-old celebrity, widely recognised and admired, continues to engage her 32.4 million followers with diverse content on social media. In her recent post, Sofia strikes a pose, adorned with a glamorous smile and makeup, accompanied by the caption “Glam squad.” Fans flooded the …

Afghanistan’s star spinner, Rashid Khan, will be absent from the upcoming three-match Twenty20 series against India due to injury. Despite Rashid’s absence, team captain Ibrahim Zadran assured that the squad possesses ample experience to compensate for the loss. Rashid, who underwent lower-back surgery in November, is still part of the travelling team, and Zadran expressed hope for his swift recovery. …

BEIJING: China will accelerate the promotion of the use of national general sign language and braille across special education schools, the China Disabled Persons’ Federation said on Thursday. According to a circular jointly issued by the federation and the Ministry of Education, by 2025, general sign language and braille will be widely used in schools accommodating students with hearing and …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a state visit to China, in Beijing on Thursday. Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and the Maldives have always respected and treated each other as equals, and firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core …

BEIJING: Tap water coverage in China’s rural areas had reached 90 percent in 2023, up 3 percentage points from the end of 2022, Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said on Thursday. This means China has realized its tap water coverage goal in rural areas two years earlier than planned. The country had aimed to secure access to tap water …

BEIJING: China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) ownership has continued to climb, with NEVs in use rising to 20.41 million at the end of 2023, according to the Ministry of Public Security. The figure accounted for 6.07 percent of the country’s total vehicle ownership, the ministry said. The number of newly registered NEVs in use in 2023 was 7.43 million, marking …

GENEVA: The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has confirmed that each team to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will be allowed to include one non-competing (AP) athlete to replace an athlete for medical reasons. For the first time in the history of the Olympic volleyball competition, team rosters will increase from 12 to 13 athletes. The decision came following …

DAR ES SALAAM: The government of Tanzania on Tuesday thanked the Chinese government for dispatching medical teams to help improve healthcare for people in the East African country. Over the last six decades, more than 1,500 members of the Chinese medical team have been dispatched to Tanzania, said Paschal Ruggajo, director of curative services in the Ministry of Health, stressing …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her reelection as Bangladeshi prime minister. In his congratulatory message, Xi noted that China and Bangladesh are neighbors with traditional friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 49 years ago, Xi said, the two countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and shared mutual benefits. Xi …

HARBIN: As the night unfolded amidst the radiant moonlight, visitors flocked to Harbin Ice-Snow World, a captivating dreamscape illuminated by dazzling lights and adorned with majestic ice sculptures, transforming the “ice city” into a vibrant tourism hotspot amid China’s winter travel spree. The capital of China’s northernmost province of Heilongjiang, Harbin is renowned as the “crown jewel of ice and …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the Republic of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu in Beijing on Wednesday. The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi said that the people of the two countries established friendly ties through the ancient Maritime Silk Road, undertook productive cooperation in the …

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Qatar Emiri Air Force joint aerial Exercise Zilzal-II has kicked off in Qatar. The exercise will mimic a near-realistic aerial warfare scenario coupled with real-time opportunity for the participating Air Forces to test their operational readiness. Exercise Zilzal-II, aimed at improving joint planning mechanism, is considered a historical benchmark to further solidify the existing defence …

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence of later former president Pervez Musharraf’s awarded to him by a special court in 2019 in a “high treason case”. A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Aminuddin Khan and Justice Athar Minallah conducted the hearing. The former …

In a groundbreaking move, Elon Musk’s social media giant, X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced its plan to introduce peer-to-peer payments within the year. The announcement, made on the platform, revealed that the move is part of X’s grand vision to usher in a “2024 revolution” by enhancing user utility and opening up new opportunities for commerce. While the …

The bodies of 11 people were recovered from a house in Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat. The bodies included women and children. Police reached the spot in the remote Tap Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat where someone reportedly broke into a house and killed 11 people, and escaped after locking the house from the outside. According to the police, the …

The Rawalpindi police have taken an important initiative by starting regular school classes for the city’s transgender population. The special classes are being conducted at the Islamia Higher Secondary School in Liaquat Bagh. A spokesman for the Rawalpindi police said that such an initiative for the education of transgenders had been taken for the first time in Pakistan. The district …

Senior judge of the Supreme Court Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi has resigned from office.  The judge has sent his resignation to the president of Pakistan. A complaint against Justice Naqvi on charges of corruption and incomplete asset details was being heard in the Supreme Judicial Council. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court had on Tuesday rejected an appeal for …

The Peshawar High Court has allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to contest the upcoming elections in February on its bat symbol. The court had earlier reserved its decision on the PTI’s appeal against the election commission’s decision to withdraw the symbol from the party and nullify its intra-party elections. The PHC accepted the PTI’s appeal and declared the election commission’s …

China’s Maritime Silk Road (MSR) is an integral part of Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Suez Canal, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden are essential to the success of the MSR and, consequently, to the BRI. The disruption in Red Sea has once again highlighted the strategic importance of the Chinese BRI which is indeed a mega project …

MALE: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has said he intends to promote economic, trade, tourism, investment and cultural cooperation with China during his state visit to the country starting on Monday. “China is and will continue to be a key partner in the social and economic development of the Maldives,” the Maldivian president told Xinhua in a written interview before leaving …

BEIJING: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Tuesday said that the mutual visits of table tennis teams of young players added a new chapter to the stories of China-U.S. friendship and new impetus to people-to-people exchanges. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing in response to a query on the visit of the Peking University table …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulations Wednesday with his Tunisian counterpart, Kais Saied, on the 60th anniversary of China-Tunisia diplomatic relations. In a message, Xi said China and Tunisia, with a profound traditional friendship, have witnessed sound and steady growth of bilateral ties since they established diplomatic ties 60 years ago, no matter how the international landscape evolves. Xi …

BEIJING: China is on track for a bumper travel season, with travel authorities and tourism industry players expecting record-breaking journey numbers during the upcoming Spring Festival, adding new steam to the country’s economic recovery. The Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 10 this year, is China’s biggest festival and a day for family reunions. It will serve as an important …

GUIYANG: In front of the village gate, Gun Shuixin and more than 10 other men stood on both sides of the road, holding up muskets and pulling the triggers aiming toward the sky. With the crisp gunshot, plumes of white smoke emitted from the muzzle. Curious tourists standing nearby pulled out cell phones and cameras to capture the memorable moment. …

KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese shuttlers got off to a strong start at the Malaysia Open as they advanced in five categories here on Tuesday. In the men’s singles first round, seventh-seeded Shi Yuqi overcame Rasmus Gemke of Denmark 20-22, 21-12, 21-10, while Lu Guangzu outmatched Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia 16-21, 21-19, 21-15 in one hour and 17 minutes at the Axiata …