BEIJING: The total length of China’s operating high-speed rail tracks reached 45,000 km by the end of 2023, data from the national railway operator showed Tuesday. The operating mileage of China’s railway network amounted to 159,000 km, according to a work conference of the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. In 2023, the fixed-asset investment in the country’s railway sector …

BEIJING: Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said on Tuesday that China, the world’s top trader in terms of goods, is making steady progress toward its goal of becoming a trader of quality. Wang, when delivering a special report on the nation’s foreign trade development at an economic climate seminar held in Beijing, said that China’s foreign trade had withstood downward …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday presented China’s diplomatic work for 2024, saying that China will always be confident and self-reliant, and fulfill its duties as a responsible major country. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing a symposium on the international situation and …

In the second meeting of the Trilateral Defence Collaboration held on Tuesday at the GHQ, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye discussed potential collaboration in defence equipment technologies including research and development. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the three sides reaffirmed the salience of “combining the intellectual, technical, financial as well as human resources of …

Peanuts stand out for their delightful flavour and versatile applications, making them a popular choice worldwide. Whether enjoyed as snacks or transformed into peanut butter, millions of people prefer peanuts for their delicious taste and adaptability. During the winter season, individuals actively seek the numerous benefits associated with peanuts. They are linked to heart health, mental well-being, and the prevention …

Former Indian cricketer and current Haryana Deputy Superintendent of Police, Joginder Sharma, has been implicated in a case related to the suicide of a Hisar resident. Known for bowling the crucial last over in the inaugural ICC T20 final in South Africa in 2007, Joginder Sharma later joined the Haryana Police as DSP. The FIR registered by Haryana Police includes …

The third edition of Future Fest will take place on January 26-28 at Expo Center, Lahore. As Pakistan’s largest tech event, Future Fest will host 100,000+ attendees, 300 speakers, and international guests, bridging the global perspective to the top 50 industries of Pakistan during this crucial economic period. Future Fest is supported by the world’s leading companies, including Hashoo Group, …

Film star Fawad Khan recently opened up about navigating the Indian film industry’s “politics” and his preference for a low-key approach in a conversation with his friend and actor Ahmad Ali Butt. Fawad debuted in Bollywood in 2014 with the film ‘Khoobsurat’, but later fell victim to an Indo-Pak artist ban. Before his big crossover, he was already one of …

The Punjab government on Tuesday decided to cancel the artificial rainfall programme due to the absence of the required clouds. Sources divulged that two aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were presently stationed at Lahore Airport, awaiting approval from the meteorological department to proceed with the artificial rainfall operation. It had been disclosed that the Meteorological Department has not …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) declared the Newlands pitch, where India secured victory against South Africa in less than two days last week, “unsatisfactory” on Tuesday. India triumphed by seven wickets in Cape Town last Thursday, levelling the two-match series in a contest that lasted a mere 107 overs, marking it as the shortest Test match to yield a result. …

Negotiations are underway between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) regarding the allocation of seats in NA-242. Sources divulged on Tuesday that for the provincial seats in NA-242, the MQM-P is anticipated to nominate its candidate, whereas the PML-N is showing a preference for presenting its own candidate. Ongoing discussions are in progress between MQM and …

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has been arrested in the case of May 9 attack on the General Headquarters (GHQ) of the Pakistan Army also. Imran Khan is incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on judicial remand in two references of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), while his release orders in the cipher case were …

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday appointed Gabriel Attal as prime minister following the resignation of former head of government Elisabeth Borne, announced the presidential palace, the Elysee. In a short press release, the Elysee noted that the President of the Republic appointed Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister, and tasked him with forming a government. From 2020 to 2022, …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) on the morning of January 8. He emphasized that after ten years of unremitting anti-graft efforts in the …

URUMQI: Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region received more than 265.44 million tourist visits from home and abroad in 2023, a year-on-year increase of more than 117 percent, hitting a record high. Its revenue from tourism soared nearly 227 percent year on year to more than 296.7 billion yuan (41.78 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the regional culture …

MOSCOW: Russia will maintain the combat readiness of its strategic nuclear forces at the highest level, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday. “One of the key (priorities for the Russian armed forces) is to maintain the combat readiness of the nuclear triad at the highest level, which in turn ensures global strategic balance,” Shoigu said during a conference call …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday presented China’s diplomatic work for 2024, saying that China will always be confident and self-reliant, and fulfill its duties as a responsible major country. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when addressing a symposium on the international situation and …

BEIJING: Beijing authorities on Monday issued a trial guideline for the protection and utilization of over 1,000 historical building in the capital city. From 2019 to 2021, Beijing released a list of a total of 1,056 historical buildings in three batches. These buildings, which span some 700 years, spread across 11 districts within the city. With diverse functions and architectural …

XICHANG: China sent a new astronomical satellite into space on Tuesday to observe mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the flickering of fireworks, with the aim of unveiling the violent and little-known aspects of the cosmos. The satellite, named Einstein Probe (EP), uses a new X-ray detection technology inspired by the lobster eye. It was launched at 3:03 …

GUIYANG: Yao Zuhui, a 47-year-old villager from Jiu’an Township, vividly recalls her mother’s advice over two decades ago that marrying to one outside her hometown would bring the benefit of being able to keep her shoes clean as there would be no more coal ashes. Located in Guiyang, the capital city of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Jiu’an was home to …

GENEVA: “On major issues related to the future of mankind, China’s participation is indispensable,” said Chen Liming, chair of Greater China of World Economic Forum (WEF). As the world’s second-largest economy, China plays a crucial role in many fields such as global politics, economy, and technological innovation, Chen told Xinhua in a recent interview. The global governance system is undergoing …

BERLIN: German football legend Franz Beckenbauer has died at 78, according to German Football Association (DFB) on Monday. The German national team’s honorary captain died on Sunday, as his family announced on Monday. DFB issued a statement mourning his death. Beckenbauer left an indelible mark on German football. He achieved the rare feat of winning the World Cup both as …

CHANGSHA: The Hunan Museum made the digital database on the world-famous Mawangdui Tombs available to colleges and companies on Monday, becoming the latest Chinese museum aiming to turn archaeological finds into popular cultural brands. The museum in central China’s Hunan Province will allow two colleges and 12 companies, including a popular tea drink brand and online video platform Mango TV, …

Fasting refers to the practice of abstaining from consuming food or drink for a certain period of time. Fasting can take various forms, such as intermittent fasting (alternating periods of fasting and eating) or extended fasting (abstaining from food for multiple days). Gut health refers to the state of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which includes the stomach, intestines, and other …

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted mainly cold and cloudy weather in most of the upper and western parts of the country. The northern regions, in particular, are expected to experience very cold temperatures. Furthermore, as per the PMD’s forecast, northern Balochistan and western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to receive rain, with the possibility of snow over mountains. Additionally, …

The caretaker government is borrowing money like crazy and creating massive debt without taking care of the existing debt burden on the country. Quoting the latest government borrowing data from the State Bank of Pakistan, CEO of Alpha Beta Core Securities, Khurram Schehzad said that the state borrowing from local banks in the last six months reached a new high. …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) while pronouncing a reserved verdict in the case pertaining to the on the interpretation of Article 62-1F has abolished the lifetime disqualification. The ruling was made by a distinguished 7-member bench of the apex court, featuring Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Mandukhel, …

In the realm of Telugu cinema, the off-screen camaraderie between Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna has sparked endless speculations about their relationship status. Fans and netizens are often intrigued by the glimpses of their friendship shared on social media, leading to rumors that go beyond the silver screen. Recent media reports have added fuel to the speculations, suggesting a significant …

Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that due to the ongoing winter wave, schools will resume on 10th Jan 2024. He said from 10th January to 22nd Jan, schools will start at 9:30 am. The caretaker CM said that It is highly advisable to wear jackets and warm clothes. Earlier, amidst intensifying winter conditions, the Education Department of Khyber …

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed Muhammad Rizwan as vice-captain of Pakistan’s T20I team for the New Zealand cricket series. The first T20I match is scheduled to be played in Auckland on January 12, and the final match is scheduled for January 21. Pakistan T20I Squad: Shaheen Afridi (c), Aamir Jamal, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Babar Azam, …

The Supreme Court (SC) postponed the hearing on the presidential reference against the late former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death sentence until after the general elections in the third week of February. The date for the next hearing will be announced later. A nine-member larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez …

BEIJING: China’s civil aviation sector is expecting to handle 80 million passenger trips during the upcoming Spring Festival travel rush, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Monday. The figure represents a 44.9 percent increase compared to that registered in the same period of last year and amounts to 9.8 percent growth compared to the level recorded during the …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for advancing the Party’s self-reform and winning the tough and protracted battle against corruption. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection …

SHANGHAI: The balance of loans in Shanghai, including all currencies, rose 6.1 percent year on year to 11.07 trillion yuan (about 1.56 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of November, official data showed. Of the total, the balance of loans in Chinese yuan went up 7.9 percent year on year to 10.48 trillion yuan, according to the People’s Bank of …

TOKYO: The death toll has jumped to 161 in the central Japanese prefecture of Ishikawa as of 9:00 a.m. local time on Monday, one week after a series of earthquakes of up to 7.6 magnitude struck the prefecture and its vicinity, local media reported. A total of 103 residents are currently unaccounted for and at least 565 people suffered injuries, …

MALE: “Doctor, I can see your name tag now. Thank you,” Ahmed Kalo said right after Chinese doctors at the China-Maldives Ophthalmology Center removed the bandages covering his eyes. The 69-year-old has been blind for many years due to a stroke. Kalo’s son, Shafraz Ahmed, said his father was dealing with hypertension, diabetes and heart disease but had not received …

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League (AL) party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has gained more than 70 percent of parliamentary seats in the country’s general elections, with the results of around 290 seats initially declared by Election Commission (EC) officials Sunday night. Bangladesh held general elections on Sunday to elect 299 members of parliament. Voting at a constituency has been …

Pakistan’s enduring relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 1958 has woven a tapestry of financial challenges, strategic manoeuvres, and global assistance, shaping the nation’s economic trajectory over the decades. Recent data reveals a nuanced picture of Pakistan’s ongoing IMF engagement, holding substantial implications for economic stability. Ranking fifth in outstanding debt with the IMF, standing at $7.4 billion, …

The Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench reserved on Sunday its decision on the disqualification appeal by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz presided over the election tribunal and Barrister Ali Zafar represented the PTI chief. Imran’s counsel prayed to the tribunal to annul the decision made by the returning officer on Imran’s nomination papers. Zafar argued …

Mario Zagallo, the inaugural individual to achieve victory in the FIFA World Cup as both a player and a coach, played a pivotal role in propelling Brazil to its status as a dominant force in global football. Zagallo, who passed away at the age of 92 on Friday, stood as the sole surviving member of the 1958 Brazil team that …