ISLAMABAD: As the sleek silhouette of the JF-17 Thunder jet fighter streaked through the sky, its powerful engines roared in harmony with the beating hearts of hundreds of spectators gathering to witness the grandeur of the parade ceremony, held to commemorate the 84th Pakistan Day here on Saturday. Amidst the backdrop of fluttering flags and patriotic fervor, the jet’s aerobatic …

MOSCOW: The fire at a concert hall in Moscow’s suburbs has been largely extinguished, with some areas still smoldering, Governor of Moscow Oblast Andrey Vorobyev said on Saturday. Firefighters continue to douse the structure of the Crocus City Hall, where the roof over the auditorium has collapsed. Rescue teams managed to enter the auditorium, which was the fire’s epicenter and …

BEIJING: The Philippines should immediately stop its infringement and provocation, and refrain from undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Saturday. The spokesperson made the remarks in response to the Philippines’ resupply to Ren’ai Jiao of China’s Nansha Qundao. According to the spokesperson, in disregard of China’s strong opposition, the Philippines …

One may reckon that it takes a bad pilot to repeat the same mistake in flying combat merely two years apart. However, unlike spotting a bad pilot which requires more than a layman’s understanding of the Air Force, spotting a bad hero is a much easier task. In Fighter’s case, Hrithik Roshan happens to be both. The patriot’s cinema has …

The government unveiled the compulsory tax registration scheme for retailers and wholesalers doing business in six cities of Pakistan on Friday. This move also marks the first test case of the ruling party’s political will to expand the narrow tax base. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued the statutory regulatory order to implement the new scheme from April 1, …

Pakistan has formally launched its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for a two year term from 2025 to 2026 with the promise of contributing meaningfully to the council’s mandate for international peace and security. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN Ambassador Munir Akram formally announced Pakistan’s candidacy at a well-attended reception at the UN …

Earth Hour Day embodies global solidarity against climate change, urging environmental action, policy reforms, and sustainable habits. It serves as a beacon of unity for conservation, fostering enduring solutions and positive ecological impacts through collective endeavors. As the world rallies for environmental preservation, Earth Hour Day emerges as a pivotal event, cultivating awareness and mobilizing action against climate change. Set …

Renowned diplomat and former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shahryar M. Khan, has passed away at the age of 89 in Lahore. His family has confirmed his demise, marking the end of a remarkable journey that saw him play pivotal roles in both cricket and diplomacy. Born on March 29, 1934, in Lucknow, India, Shahryar Khan received his …

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan award on Saudi Arabian Minister for Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, during a special investiture ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers, the military’s top brass and members of the diplomatic corps. The award was conferred on Prince Khalid …

An American hunter has made headlines after successfully hunting the highest-rated Markhor in the Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan. The hunt, which took place in the Doyan Community Controlled Hunting Area, was sanctioned to Brian Douglas Williams through a hunting permit obtained at a staggering cost of $181,000. The horn size of the trophy is said to be 40 inches. This …

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have expressed their well wishes for Catherine, Princess of Wales, following her announcement of a cancer diagnosis. The estranged royal couple, who are currently residing in California, issued a statement extending their hopes for “health and healing” to Kate and her family during this challenging time. “We wish …

The Pakistan Day Military parade, a hallmark event in the nation’s calendar, was held at Parade Avenue in Islamabad, showcasing the exemplary professionalism and military prowess of the three wings of the armed forces. The grand event commenced with a solemn rendition of the national anthem, setting the stage for a display of unity and strength. President Asif Ali Zardari, …

BEIJING: A delegation of high school students from the U.S. state of Washington is visiting China from March 17 to 27, as part of a program dedicated to promoting youth communication and exchanges between the two countries. The delegation includes students and staff members from the state’s Lincoln High School and Steilacoom High School. All 24 students in the delegation …

UNITED NATIONS: A Chinese envoy said Friday that by setting preconditions for a ceasefire in Gaza, a U.S. draft resolution essentially green-lights continued killing, which is “unacceptable.” During his explanatory statement following the Security Council’s vote on the Palestine-Israel issue draft resolution, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, said that “an immediate ceasefire is the basic premise” …

BRUSSELS: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday held a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing wherein the latter underlined that China would assist Pakistan in stabilizing its financial situation. In the meeting held on the sidelines of the First Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels, both sides agreed on the importance of the longstanding cooperation between Pakistan and China in …

BEIJING: China will implement new measures to combat illegal fishing activities in 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday. These efforts include strengthening the protection of baby eels, a precious and economically important species, ministry official Liu Xinzhong said at a press conference. Regulators will tighten law enforcement to ensure the regulated fishing of baby eels, …

AMRITSAR, BHOPAL, India: One of the most joyful and colorful festivals Holi has finally come in India, with colored powder smeared on people to celebrate the arrival of spring and embrace a new beginning of life. Holi festival, also known as the festival of love, uses the vibrancy of colors to bring in positivity, providing an excellent chance for people …

Islamabad: Pakistan and China on Friday intensified efforts to establish a Working Group on five new Economic Corridors under phase 2 of the CPEC, aligning with the 5Es framework already prepared by the Planning Ministry. This was discussed during a meeting between the Federal Minister of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, and the Chinese envoy, Jiang Zaidong, …

Veteran actor of Pakistani dramas, Shehnaz Sheikh revealed how much she was paid for her blockbuster serials ‘Ankahi’ and ‘Tanhaiyaan’. In a new interview with a digital media station, TV veteran Shehnaz Sheikh disclosed her salaries for her hit dramas, as she spoke about the increased competition among fellow actors in recent times, unlike in the 80s. “I belong to …

The newborn baby brother of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala and his father Balkaur Singh were recently featured on the Times Square in New York. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu aka Sidhu Moose Wala’s father Balkaur Singh welcomed a baby boy with his wife Charan Kaur, via IVF on Sunday, almost two years after the killing of their elder and only …

The superintendent of Adiala Jail issued an unconditional apology to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday for denying access to incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan. The court was hearing contempt of court petitions regarding the superintendent’s failure to facilitate the meetings of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supremo despite court directives. The superintendent submitted a written response to the …

Former West Indian cricketer Ian Bishop extended his “best wishes” for newly-appointed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the renowned commentator said: “All the best to Ruturaj Gaikwad in taking over the leadership of Chennai Super Kings.” Bishop acknowledged the brilliance of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain for the Kings. “Following the brilliant …

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal and Grecia Munoz returned from their honeymoon in February, sources said. People familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times that Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has tied the knot with model Grecia Munoz. Goyal is one of the richest people in India after the blockbuster listing of Zomato some three years ago. Then, he was estimated to …

The federal government is considering a proposal to impose a General Sales Tax (GST) on petroleum or increase the current rate of levy further to meet IMF demand to restore 18% GST on petrol, sources familiar with the situation claimed. It is proposed to increase the levy on petroleum from Rs60 to Rs100 per liter in the budget of the …

Twenty-three Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush in western Niger during an offensive near the border with Burkina Faso, the defence ministry said. The soldiers were engaged in cleaning up operations near Burkina Faso’s Mai region on Tuesday and Wednesday and were killed during a “complex ambush”, it said, adding that “about 30 terrorists had been neutralised”. Niger – …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur addressed the media outside the judicial complex in Islamabad, expressing his concerns and grievances regarding various issues. During his interaction with reporters, Chief Minister Gandapur condemned what he perceived as interventions or conspiracies against Pakistan, emphasizing that such actions were unacceptable to patriotic Pakistanis. “The arrival of the cipher was confirmed by …

The first global resolution on artificial intelligence was overwhelmingly approved by the UN General Assembly on Thursday. It calls on nations to protect personal data, uphold human rights, and keep an eye out for any potential threats associated with AI, according to Reuters. The non-binding resolution, which is co-sponsored by China and more than 120 other countries and was proposed …

Mongolia is freezing through its harshest winter in 50 years with extreme conditions killing over 4.7 million animals. The International Federation of the Red Cross the situation has posed serious threats to the livelihoods and food supply of thousands of families. Dzud conditions Dzud is known for severe conditions predominantly plunged temperatures and deep snow and ice that blanket grazing …

The Supreme Court has set aside the dismissal of Islamabad High Court’s Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui and acknowledged that the judge was not given a chance to defend his allegations. Declaring the dismissal null and void, the court ruled that Justice Shaukat Siddiqui will be considered a retired judge now. The Supreme Court also annulled the recommendation of the Supreme …

BEIJING: Since the 1970s, six of Ammar Muhammad’s family members have studied at the Beijing Institute of Technology of China. Nowadays, the 37-year-old Pakistani remains engaged in the education sector, particularly in promoting bilateral exchanges. “Our family gatherings resemble alumni reunions of Beijing Institute of Technology,” he said. Ammar Muhammad’s family connection with China began with a magazine. Decades ago, …

SYDNEY: Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday that China-Australia relations have its foundation among people of the two countries, always enjoying broad public support. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Premier of the Australian state of New South Wales Chris Minns …

CHANGCHUN: China’s first independently developed hydrogen-powered urban train completed a test at a speed of 160 kph on Thursday, marking a breakthrough in the application of hydrogen energy in rail transit. The train, developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, was tested on a test track belonging to the enterprise, achieving a full-system, …

GENEVA: China’s permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland has stressed the need to promote and protect human rights through constructive dialogue and cooperation. During the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Chen Xu denounced the politicization and instrumentalization of human rights issues in a joint statement delivered Wednesday …

BEIJING: In response to the recent U.S. moves on the chip sector, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said the United States has overstretched the concept of national security, abused export controls and disrupted the global semiconductor industry chains. The United States has been providing huge subsidies and tax incentives to its domestic chip sector, and some measures have been forcing …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated Prabowo Subianto on his election as Indonesian president. Noting that China and Indonesia are traditional friendly neighbors, Xi said that with the joint efforts of the two sides, the development of bilateral relations has embarked on the fast track, with increasingly consolidated political mutual trust, deepening synergy of development strategies and fruitful …

Nottinghamshire have left-arm seamers – Ben Lister of New Zealand and Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan – for the T20 Blast group stages this season, hoping they can emulate the success Pakistan T20 captain Shaheen Shah Afridi brought to the team last summer. Lister, who has earned 13 limited-overs caps for his country, is not expected to be part of their …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked friendly countries that Pakistan needs the injection of critical investment in different projects, instead of loans that add to its debt burden, to rejuvenate the faltering economy. Addressing members of the cabinet at a meeting last week, the premier appreciated the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), observing that the forum was playing an effective …

Iran and Tajikistan voiced alarm over the surge in drug trafficking coming from Afghanistan. Both nations highlighted the lack of a cohesive system within Afghanistan, attributing it to the rampant drug trade. Despite the Taliban’s assertions of enforcing Sharia law and curbing drug activities, the reality on the ground contradicts these claims. In a recent meeting convened by the United …

The United Nations General Assembly is set to deliberate on artificial intelligence (AI) on Thursday, contemplating a resolution that outlines the potential benefits and drawbacks of the transformative technology while advocating for the establishment of international standards. Co-sponsored by numerous countries, the resolution underscores the importance of guidelines aimed at promoting the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI systems, while …

The first virtual reality classes in Pakistan have begun at the Information Technology University of Lahore. Being the first university in Pakistan to provide classes in the metaverse, Information Technology University will now provide students taking online courses with the same sense of participation as they would in a conventional educational environment. Students and teachers could be in any city, …