DOHA: The AFC announced on Thursday that Chinese match officials Ma Ning, Zhou Fei, Zhang Cheng and Fu Ming would officiate the Asian Cup final at Lusail stadium, marking the first time a Chinese referee team will officiate at the tournament final. Ma will be the referee of the final between Qatar and Jordan, while Zhou and Zhang will serve …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Thursday at a reception in Beijing. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the gathering at the Great Hall of …

ISLAMABAD: Polling for Pakistan’s general elections started across the country on Thursday morning, said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Spokesperson of the ECP Syed Nadeem Haider told Xinhua that polling had started at 8:00 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) without a delay, adding that the voting process would continue uninterrupted till 5:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT). People were …

HATAY, Türkiye: “I saw other buildings collapsing, row after row, and then it was ours,” 37-year-old Filiz Turhan recalled that early morning in tears. One year ago, Turhan and her family of four managed to get out into the open from their apartment building when a massive earthquake struck southern Türkiye. It was at 4:17 a.m. local time (0117 GMT) …

LAHORE, Pakistan: Okasha, a 24-year-old electrical engineer, feels delighted to drive the Orange Line Metro Train (OLMT) built in Pakistan’s eastern Lahore city under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework. “It’s a wonderful experience, I am so proud that I am serving the nation by working as a driver in Pakistan’s first-ever mass rapid urban transit train service. I consider …

UNITED NATIONS: Globally, peace remains the absent element amid escalating conflicts, widening divides, and intensifying polarization, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday. Addressing the UN General Assembly with a list of priority areas for action, the UN chief underscored that the UN was founded on the pursuit of peace. “Peace is our raison d’etre. Yet, as I scan the landscape …

At least 26 people were killed while over 30 suffered injuries after back-to-back blasts hit Balochistan’s Pishin and Qila Saifullah on Wednesday, officials said. The incidents came a day before general elections are scheduled to be held in the country. Pakistan has recently witnessed an uptick in terrorism, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, raising security concerns. The first blast …

Anti-Pakistan Bollywood movie ‘Fighter’, starring Bollywood A-listers Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan, has landed in fresh trouble. As per the reports from Indian media outlets, the maiden collaboration of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, ‘Fighter’ has been mired with yet another controversy as the title was served with legal notice by IAF officer, Wing Commander Saumya Deep Das, over a …

Pakistan is all set to have general elections on February 8, under strict security measures. During the electoral process, there are several forms used to file the results of a constituency. Here we will try to explore the importance of the several forms that play a vital role in the election process. Form 45: It is commonly referred to as …

Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in the Los Ríos region. Minister of Interior Carolina Tohá confirmed the grim news on Tuesday, revealing that Piñera was among four individuals aboard the helicopter when it crashed, resulting in his untimely demise. While three others survived the crash and were reported to be in stable …

Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has reiterated the commitment to fostering an inclusive democratic process amidst concerns raised by the United Nations regarding pre-election violence. FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch assured that Pakistan has finalized security arrangements by its electoral laws. The reassurance comes in response to the United Nations’ expression of apprehension regarding the escalation of violence leading up to …

In a bitter power struggle between the Directorate of Municipal Governance (DMG) and law enforcement officers, the efficacy of the anti-corruption establishment has been severely compromised, leaving provincial institutions vulnerable to malpractice and graft. The longstanding rivalry between these influential factions within the civil service has rendered the anti-corruption department inactive, failing in its mandate to hold provincial institutions accountable. …

In the wake of police duties during tomorrow’s general elections, reports have emerged that the prisoners detained in jails will not be produced in court. According to reports, sessions courts, anti-terrorism courts, and other courtrooms across the country are wearing a deserted look due to the non-production of detained accused. Jail authorities reportedly informed the Admin Judge of the sessions …

Up-grade vision and possible inclusion of third party in the CPEC Phase-II has become a “new normal” because of the rapidly changing socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic scenarios in the region and beyond. Additionally, formation of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and desire to greater economic integration with UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and many other countries, the policy makers have …

BRUSSELS: The European Commission announced on Tuesday its target of slashing net greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union (EU) by 90 percent by the year 2040, as compared to 1990 levels. A legislative proposal will be made by the next Commission, after the EU elections in June, according to a press release by the Commission. The target aligns with …

CHICAGO: A 12-member jury on Tuesday found the mother of the shooter at a high school 45 miles north of Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. This marks the first time in the United States that a parent has been held criminally responsible for children’s actions, local media reported Tuesday. Ethan Crumbley, …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready for the general elections on Feb. 8, with polling stations set up and security personnel arranged across the country. During the elections, about 127 million voters will cast their votes for national and provincial assembly candidates competing in 859 constituencies across the country, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan. Security personnel are seen outside the …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory letter on the completion of the building of the Qinling Station and its operation in Antarctica. Qinling Station, the country’s fifth research station in Antarctica, started operation on Wednesday. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended …

CHANGCHUN: China’s leading automaker FAW Group Co., Ltd. reported surging vehicle sales in January, getting the company off to a good start for 2024. FAW Group’s auto sales exceeded 296,800 units last month, up 54.2 percent year on year, according to the carmaker. Of its total sales, FAW Group car brand Hongqi contributed 40,300 units alone, a year-on-year increase of …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday extended festive greetings to people from non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), personages without party affiliation, and other members of the united front ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year. Xi, also Chinese president …

BEIJING: The Tarim Oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China’s leading oil and gas producer, has successfully connected a 600,000-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) power generation project to the grid in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Science and Technology Daily on Tuesday. The total installed photovoltaic capacity of the Tarim Oilfield has leapt to 1.3 million kilowatts. The …

BEIJING: China will introduce a raft of measures, such as stimulating purchases of vehicles and household appliances, to boost consumption this year, a commerce ministry official said Tuesday. “Automobiles, household appliances and home furnishing are the focus of traditional consumption and are closely related to people’s lives,” Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping told a press conference. China will work …

BEIJING: China’s securities regulator has called for listed companies to proactively improve investor returns and maintain market stability. At a recent symposium, the China Securities Regulatory Commission recommended that listed companies analyze the reasons behind the abnormal fluctuations in market value movements and implement effective and timely measures to boost the investment value. The meeting urged efforts to establish a …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Tuesday met with Swiss Federal Councillor and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Beijing, calling for enhanced bilateral relations. Han said that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China and Switzerland have established an innovative strategic partnership, which has set a fine example of friendly cooperation between countries of …

BEIJING: China has adopted an ethical guideline for brain-computer interface research, the first guideline of its kind in the country, which stipulates that this frontier tech should be principally used for remedial purposes. The guideline, published recently by the national science and technology ethics committee, specifies that research on brain-computer interface should cause no damage, and its fundamental purpose should …

BEIJING: Despite the pessimism among some Western economists regarding the Chinese economy, entrepreneurs like Jon Moeller, CEO of consumer products company P&G, are optimistic about future business opportunities in China. The reason for this disparity is straightforward: While many Western economists rely on Excel spreadsheets and rigid models for their flawed projections, entrepreneurs with firsthand experience in the Chinese market …

The caretaker government of Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has made a record borrowing of almost Rs4 trillion from banks so far. The economy, already crushed under a huge debt burden, may witness an unprecedented increase in borrowings at the end of 2023-24 on June 30 as the amount has already surpassed the total borrowed in the entire FY23. The …

Two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, the military’s media affairs wing said on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), security forces conducted an IBO last night on the reported presence of terrorists. “During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own …

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan shared the first full picture with his wife Safa Baig, to wish her on their 8th wedding anniversary. Taking to his official account on the micro-blogging X, previously termed Twitter, on Saturday, Irfan Pathan revealed the face of his wife, Safa Baig for the very first time, as he wished her on 8 years of …

Bollywood A-lister Kangana Ranaut dismissed South Indian filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s interest in working with her after his latest remark. Taking to her official handle on the micro-blogging site X, Kangana Ranaut addressed filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga, of the Box Office juggernaut ‘Animal’, and told him to never offer her a film role, after he recently expressed interest in working …

Pakistan’s cricket team’s captain Shaheen Shah Afridi penned a warm love note for his wife Ansha Shahid on their first nikah anniversary. Taking to his social media handles on Saturday, February 3, first-choice pacer of the national side, Shaheen Shah Afridi dedicated a warm note to his soulmate and lifeline, Ansha Shahid, as the two marked a year of being …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ‘approved’ a debt rescheduling plan for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) privatization, said sources. According to the details, the negotiations between the officials of the Ministry of Privatization, the Ministry of Finance and the IMF were successful. Officials stated that the final approval for PIA’s debt rescheduling plan will be taken from the caretaker federal …

The Punjab government’s decision to allocate residential plots to journalists under the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has been challenged in the Lahore High Court. A petition has been filed and action has been taken in response to a petition filed by Information Department employees who claim they were excluded from the allotment process. The court has implemented the advertisement …

Caretaker Information and Broadcasting Minister Murtaza Solangi reassured on Tuesday the masses that there will be no suspension of mobile or internet services on polling day, urging citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote wisely. In a statement issued today, Solangi underscored the importance of voting as a reflection of patriotism and commitment to the democratic process in the …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has challenged the Supreme Court’s decision to withdraw their “bat” symbol in a review petition filed on Tuesday. The party seeks a reversal of the ruling and restoration of the Peshawar High Court’s verdict that allowed them to keep the symbol for intra-party elections. The party cites irregularities in the legal proceedings and unfair treatment by …

Recent study reveals that men can reduce their chances of developing prostate cancer by incorporating more cycling, jogging, and swimming into their routines. Men who boosted their fitness by 3% in a year were discovered to be 35% less likely to develop prostate cancer than those whose fitness declined. Researchers urged men to enhance their cardiorespiratory fitness, emphasising the crucial …

Former President Donald Trump, who has refused to debate any of his rivals for the Republican nomination, on Monday said he wanted to debate U.S. President Joe Biden immediately. “I’d like to debate him now because we should debate. We should debate for the good of the country,” Trump said on a radio show hosted by conservative commentator Dan Bongino. …

DOHA: Following their impressive performance that helped China clinch the team acrobatic gold, twin sisters Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi secured a back-to-back victory in the duet technical event at the World Aquatics Championships here on Monday. Accompanied by traditional Chinese music, the twins showcased a performance themed “Lotus,” blending softness with strength to earn a remarkable score of 266.0484. …

BEIJING: In the remote heart of the rugged Dabie Mountains in central China, is a monitoring station along the Hefei-Wuhan Railway where the temperature in the area plummeted below freezing point at around 1 a.m. Equipped with a gas-powered blowtorch, Liu Hongpu, a worker from China Railway Wuhan Bureau Group Co., Ltd., directed flames at the rails, with the ice …

BEIJING: The United States and Britain Saturday night launched joint airstrikes on Houthi militia targets in Yemen, the third time in two weeks. Just the day before, the U.S. military also carried out airstrikes on over 85 targets in Iraq and Syria related to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militia groups in retaliation for a drone strike …