ADDIS ABABA: Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Wednesday called for a political solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The chairperson of the pan-African bloc made the remarks while addressing the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU, which began Wednesday at the headquarters of the AU in the Ethiopian capital of Addis …

He was all praise for his captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is also the skipper of Pakistan’s T20 team. “Shaheen is a very cool player and captain and he always backs his players.” The players of the domestic circuit also had the chance to get a place in the national T20 team by performing well in the PSL, Haris added. “Therefore, …

The Foreign Office (FO) said on Thursday that the electoral process in Pakistan was an internal sovereign affair and the nation was committed to upholding its constitutional obligations. The remarks were passed by FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in response to media queries regarding the global response to the February 8 election, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. Nearly 60.6 million Pakistanis …

An Anti-Terrorism Court of Lahore has declared 11 accused including Mian Aslam Iqbal, Murad Saeed, and Azam Swati as Proclaimed Offenders (POs) on Thursday. Eleven accused including Mian Aslam Iqbal, and Murad Saeed, were declared as POs as ATC judge Muhammad Naveed Iqbal accepted the plea of the Police Other accused including Hamid Raza, Azam Khan Swati, Hafiz Farhat, Imtiaz …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated former minister Omar Ayub as its candidate for the prime minister’s slot. This was announced by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where he held a meeting with PTI Founder Imran Khan. Asad Qaiser also hoped that the prime minister will be from the …

Indian film actor Arjun Kapoor is confirmed to join the star-studded cast of Rohit Shetty’s much-anticipated venture, ‘Singham Again’. The actor is poised to take on the role of the antagonist, marking a significant addition to the franchise. Unveiling his first look from the film, Kapoor exudes an aura of malevolence, his facade smeared in blood, reminiscent of Suriya’s iconic …

Lahore Police and law enforcement security personnel made fool-proof security arrangements for PSL season 9 while overseas players started reaching the city of Flowers—Lahore. Over 16,000 police personnel will perform security duties during PSL as a security plan has been prepared for matches in Rawalpindi and Multan. Islamabad United’s Colin Munro and Tymal Mills arrived in Lahore while Islamabad United …

The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has issued an arrest warrant for Ali Amin Gandapur, the PTI’s nominee for the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing contempt of court in an ongoing case. The warrant has been issued in a case of contempt of the election commission. Gandapur, who is a former PTI federal minister, has reportedly failed …

BEIJING: An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on upholding and improving the system of people’s congresses and ensuring the people run the country will be published on Friday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s fourth issue …

CHICAGO: At least one person was killed and 22 were injured as gunfire erupted during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City, U.S. state of Missouri, Stacey Graves, chief of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. The Chinese Consulate General in Chicago contacted the Kansas City Police Department, …

CHONGQING: While Chinese people enjoy the pleasure of harvesting rice, an annoying problem often gets in their way — the rice straws. In 2022 alone, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, for instance, produced 10 million tonnes of straws, which is nearly on a par with the output of grains. There are essentially two methods for disposing of the rice straws: burning …

JAKARTA: Former general and three-time presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto declared victory in Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday, calling it a victory for all Indonesians. “This is a victory for all Indonesian people. But I want to say that although we win, we should not be arrogant, we must stay humble. And I will embrace all parties,” said Subianto at the …

ISLAMABAD: On Valentine’s Day, bustling streets of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad came alive with stores decorated in romantic colors, attracting passers-by with Valentine’s Day-themed merchandise. A vendor sells roses at a flower market on Valentine’s Day in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on Feb. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal) People buy flowers at a flower market on Valentine’s Day in Islamabad, capital of …

BEIJING: China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will attend the 60th Munich Security Conference where he will deliver a speech at the event on China and elaborate on China’s position on major international issues in light of the conference’s theme, visit Spain and France, and hold the China-France Strategic Dialogue in France from Feb. 16 to 21. Wang, a member of …

BEIJING: China’s homegrown AC313A large civil helicopter has completed its first round of cold-weather flight tests, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The AC313A recently conducted and completed its first cold-weather flight test mission at an airport in Mohe, China’s northernmost city, said AVIC, the country’s leading aircraft maker. During this round of flight tests, this large …

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa directed the police on Wednesday to ensure that “religion is not used for personal purposes” and emphasised handling blasphemy cases “with diligence”. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Isa, and comprising Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar heard the case. The bench granted bail to blasphemy accused Zubair Sabri …

Peshawar Zalmi Director Mohammad Akram said on Wednesday that his team wanted to see Babar Azam play as an opener in the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Speaking to media, Akram said: “Babar Azam is the captain of the team. It is up to Babar to play in whatever batting position he wants to play.” He pointed …

Liaquat Baloch, the central vice-president of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), while talking to the media person, said that after the general, the leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) contacted JI and PTI Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on a common strategy in the new situation. Baloch said that Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir consulted with the central leadership and established a committee under his leadership consisting of Prof …

Concerns over the need for further care are raised by dementia, an illness that mainly affects people over 65 years of age. It affects memory, language and cognitive ability. Although age, genetics and medical history impact the risk of dementia, lifestyle also has a big impact on it, as per a report. Blair Steel, a psychiatrist at Carrana Treatment Wellness …

The first session of the newly elected National Assembly will be held in the last week of February, quoting sources. Sources said that the issuance of notifications of newly elected NA members will be completed by February 20. Allocation of reserved seats will be decided, within three days after issuance of notifications, sources said. The NA session will be convened within 21 …

PML Zia chief Ijaz-ul-Haq talking to media persons on Wednesday after meeting with Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain said that Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, who was his colleague in difficult times, had invited him to stay in a group but he had decided to answer in consultation with his party. Zia ul Haq said that the country is facing difficult times so it …

Brace yourselves, Pakistan, as gas prices are poised to increase for both protected and non-protected consumers, effective February 1. This move is expected to put an additional burden of Rs204 billion on all consumers. Protected customers, previously shielded from significant price hikes, will see their gas bills jump by Rs100 per MMBTU. Meanwhile, non-protected consumers face a steeper increase of …

Famous Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi registered his marriage after 25 years. According to sources, the couple registered their marriage in court on January 23 before their Valentine Day’s silver jubilee celebrations. Maria Goretti and Arshad tied the knot on February 14, 1999. Following a customary nikah, they also participated in a church ceremony where they walked down the aisle. The actor …

JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman has said his party would play its parliamentary role but would become a part of the assemblies with reservations. At a press conference, he said the JUI-F wanted an assembly that was truly represented by the people, “without the intervention from the establishment”. “Defeating the JUI-F through poll rigging was a conspiracy of anti-Islamic elements. Our …

BARCELONA, Spain: The Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dragon began not only with festive celebrations across Europe, but also with closer air links to China — a sign of economic recovery. Air China has announced that it will launch daily flights between Barcelona and Beijing starting from March 31. The company returned to the Spanish city with three weekly …

CAIRO: The developing states of the Global South aspire for a multipolar world order free from U.S. hegemony and just global economic governance under which they can achieve sustainable development via fair, win-win partnerships, said an economic expert in a recent interview with Xinhua. “In a just global economic system, all parties would prioritize common interests, peaceful settlement of conflicts …

New York Superstar Strikers proudly announce the signing of cricket legend Yuvraj Singh as the captain and icon player for the upcoming Legends Cricket Trophy Season 2, marking a significant milestone in the team’s journey towards sporting excellence. Yuvraj’s addition enriches the squad with a depth of expertise, skill, and leadership, fortifying New York Superstar Strikers’ readiness to lead in …

SACRAMENTO, the United States: Environmental groups and oil companies filed two separate legal challenges at almost the same time to a U.S. appeals court against the Joe Biden administration over a controversial plan to offer drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico. On behalf of eight Gulf-based environmental organizations, Earthjustice, a California-headquartered environmental law organization, filed a petition on Monday …

BEIJING: China’s shipbuilding businesses posted significant increases in combined profits and revenue last year with improving global competitiveness. The major shipbuilders profits surged 131.7 percent year on year to 25.9 billion yuan (3.64 billion U.S. dollars) and their main business revenue stood at 623.7 billion yuan, up 20 percent, data from the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry showed. …

BANGKOK: Red lanterns are hung high over Yaowarat Road, where Chinatown in the Thai capital of Bangkok is located, and shops are well prepared, as it is a golden opportunity to cater to Chinese tourists coming here to spend their Lunar New Year holidays. “Bangkok’s Chinatown hosts a variety of activities for the Chinese New Year, and we can feel …

LOS ANGELES: About one in nine adults in the United States who have ever had COVID-19 continue to experience Long COVID with a wide range of symptoms, according to new data of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To bolster Long COVID research efforts, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced on Tuesday it is investing …

JUBA: Violent clashes that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have forced 542,000 individuals into South Sudan since mid-April 2023, the UN humanitarian agency said on Monday. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said 80 percent of the returnees are South Sudanese and 19 percent …

BEIJING: China’s automobile manufacturing industry registered robust growth in 2023, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed. Last year, the sector’s industrial added value soared 13 percent year on year, 8 percentage points higher than that for China’s overall manufacturing industry, according to the association. The combined operating revenue of this sector came in at 10.1 trillion yuan …

BEIJING: The balance of China’s green loans in local and foreign currencies stood at 30.08 trillion yuan (about 4.23 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2023, up 36.5 percent year on year, the country’s central bank said. The growth rate was 26.4 percentage points higher than that for all other forms of loans at the end of last year, …

BEIJING: More than 273.75 million passenger trips were handled by China’s transport sector on Sunday, the second day of the Chinese New Year holiday, up 22.6 percent from the corresponding day last year, official statistics show. Of the total, highway traffic accounted for 261.64 million passenger trips, up 21 percent year on year, according to a special work team established …

LOS ANGELES: Scientists have identified an area within the brain’s frontal cortex that may coordinate an animal’s response to potentially traumatic situations, according to a new study led by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Understanding where and how neural circuits involving the frontal cortex regulate such functions, and how such circuits could malfunction, may provide insight about their …

BEIJING: China called on Israel to stop military operations as soon as possible and prevent a more devastating humanitarian disaster in Gaza’s Rafah, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. The spokesperson made the remarks when asked to comment on Israeli large-scale airstrikes in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which caused heavy casualties, and the Israeli military’s plan …

In the aftermath of the recent revelation about his ex-wife, Sana Javed, tying the knot with cricketer Shoaib Malik, singer Umair Jaswal has taken to Instagram to share a series of posts. While these updates may carry cryptic undertones, they primarily convey messages of hope and resilience. The musician’s social media activity has stirred curiosity and speculation about his perspective …

Pakistan Cricket Board has unveiled the trophy for the new season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Lahore. The unveiling ceremony was held at the Polo Ground in Lahore in a unique style. National and international horse-riding teams arrived at the venue carrying flags. The trophy is “The Orion Trophy” and will be a source of motivation for all the …

The Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf (PTI) will challenge the results of the February 8 elections in the Supreme Court, said party founder Imran Khan during an informal talk with the media in Adiala jail. A day earlier, the party demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing him of dereliction of his constitutional and legal duties and …