BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday delivered a video speech to a reception in Beijing celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. The establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and France 60 years ago was a major event in the history of international relations. With extraordinary wisdom and courage, Chairman Mao …

LAHORE: The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lahore Zhao Shiren has said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is the glowing example and hallmark of deepening China-Pakistan friendship and partnership. He expressed these views while talking to journalists in Meet the Press Program of Lahore Press Club on Thursday. While addressing the media, Consul General Mr. …

Shaheen Afridi’s deadly spell of three wickets for 22 runs and breezy knocks from Wanindu Hasaranga and Azam Khan guided Desert Vipers to a six-wicket win over defending champions Gulf Giants in the seventh match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. The clash of the finalists of the first edition saw Afridi’s spell restrict …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Nauru’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea in Beijing on Thursday. Hailing the political decision made independently by the Nauru government to resume diplomatic relations with China, Han said history will prove that this is the right decision and once again shows that the one-China principle is deeply rooted in …

MELBOURNE: China’s top-ranked tennis player Zheng Qinwen will make her top-10 debut when the WTA rankings are updated next Monday. Zheng reached her maiden Grand Slam singles semifinal after fighting back to down unseeded Anna Kalinskaya of Russia 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday. The 21-year-old becomes the second player from the Chinese mainland to rank among the top 10, …

BEIJING: The population of giant pandas in the wild in China is currently around 1,900, rising from about 1,100 in the 1980s, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration said Thursday. This significant increase is largely due to China’s intensified protection efforts, said Zhang Yue, an official with the administration. The Giant Panda National Park was established in October 2021, covering …

PARIS: For Christine Cayol, a French writer dedicated to fostering China-France cultural exchanges for nearly two decades, her encounter with China and the Chinese culture was “predestined,” akin to Yuanfen. The romance started with a love story in 2002 when Cayol followed her fiance, who was sent to work in China. They then got married in China and lived in …

GENEVA: With a rich historical background, the traditional culture of Xizang has exhibited renewed vitality and garnered widespread attention and protection during China’s modernization process, an expert said here Wednesday. The China Society for Human Rights Studies on Wednesday held here a side-event on the theme of “Chinese-style Modernization and Human Rights” during the 45th session of the Working Group …

LOS ANGELES: Disneyland Resort kicked off this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations on Tuesday, with a variety of culinary delights, art shows and fun festivities. The annual celebrations at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, Southern California, have drawn visitors around the world in recent years. The 2024 Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 10. It is based on …

YAREN: The Belt and Road Initiative brings development opportunities to Pacific island nations, and Nauru looks forward to more practical cooperation with China after the two nations resume diplomatic relations, a Nauru official has said. Joanna Olsson, director of the Government Information Office of Nauru, recently told Xinhua that she is optimistic about future practical cooperation between the two nations, …

ZANZIBAR, Tanzania: Khalfan Juma, a young shop owner in the Kiembe Samaki area of the Zanzibar archipelago, said that the construction of a Chinese-built road has helped him support his entire family. Juma sells movie discs, drinks and local snacks at his around 5-square-meter shop. “My shop was alongside a muddy road that was always messy during the five-month-long rainy …

GENEVA: China has made significant strides in protecting human rights, representatives and experts said here at a UN event on Monday. The UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group conducted its fourth review of China’s human rights record on Tuesday. On the side event titled “Putting Development at the Center of the Agenda: Safeguarding Economic, Social and …

BEIJING: China and Uzbekistan upgraded their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era on Wednesday during talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in Beijing.

During the winter season, a number of ailments have a tendency to become more common as a result of lower humidity, colder temperatures and more time spent inside. The chance of getting sick can be considerably decreased by being aware of the frequent wintertime ailments and by adopting preventive actions. Common Cold: A viral infection that affects the upper respiratory …

A recent change in UK law has made British citizens living abroad eligible to vote in United Kingdom Parliament elections. “British citizens living abroad are now eligible to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they’ve been living outside the UK” said a news release issued here on Tuesday. The British High Commission Islamabad is actively …

The count of children in Pakistan who are not enrolled in school has surged to 25 million, revealed Caretaker Education Minister Madad Ali Sindhi. Showing concerns about the increasing number of out-of-school children in the country, Jam Madad Ali Sindhi urged the parents to enroll their children in schools. Stippened through Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) will be given to …

Following Pakistan’s assurance to impose new taxes, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday ‘decided’ to send its review mission to Pakistan after election 2024. According to sources, IMF will continue further talks on the Standby Arrangement (SBA) programme with the newly elected government of Pakistan after highly anticipated general elections. However, the “IMF has not confirmed the schedule for …

Pakistan has urged United Nations (UN) to admit Palestine as a full member to ensure the inevitability of the two-state solution. A senior Pakistani diplomat has called for “concrete steps” by the United Nations to stop the Israeli slaughter of the people in Gaza, as he underscored that a lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only come through a …

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Election Commissioner Shah Khawar has assumed the charge of his additional office of the acting chairman of the board. He was welcomed in the office by Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and directors of the board. The acting chairman will hold meetings with PCB officials on important matters. Khawar has been appointed to hold elections …

His father’s voice, the sounds of passing cars and scissors clipping his hair: An 11-year-old boy is hearing for the first time in his life after receiving a breakthrough gene therapy. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) which carried out the treatment — a first in the United States — said in a statement Tuesday the milestone represents hope for …

The incidents of the PIA air hostess and cabin crew members slipping have been accelerated amid clouds of uncertainty prevailed on the national airline in the backdrop of the privatization process. Five crew members slipped in 2022 and seven in 2023 on overseas flights while most of PIA’s air hostesses have slipped in Canada. PIA spokesman admitted that no slipped …

Renowned actor-host Ahmed Ali Butt has come forward to support singer Umair Jaswal in the wake of the unexpected marriage announcement between Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik and actor Sana Javed. Taking to his Instagram story, Ahmed Ali Butt penned a heartfelt message in support of his friend Umair Jaswal, referring to him as a lion and a true gentleman with …

In a significant move to ensure a fair and secure electoral process, Sindh’s Caretaker Interior Minister Haris Nawaz declared on Wednesday ban on the display of weapons during elections. Addressing the media in Karachi, Nawaz highlighted the responsibility of the Election Commission to oversee the elections, asserting the government’s commitment to providing full support in maintaining law and order. During …

In preparation for the upcoming general elections, the provincial government of Punjab has allocated a massive Rs4.18 billion for security and logistical arrangements. This significant budget underscores the importance of ensuring a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process. Meanwhile, 222,747 personnel of the police, Rangers and Army will be deployed for security purposes. According to the documents of the finance …

BEIJING: China said on Wednesday that it is ready to work with Pakistan to upgrade the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. “China stands ready to work with Pakistan to deliver on the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, deepen …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Arif Alvi said that the adoption of modern agriculture technology is inevitable for his country to cope with the challenge of climate change. “By pushing farmers to adopt modern agriculture technology, Pakistan can also feed the world. In this regard, effective decision-making is needed as the country is blessed with abundant natural resources,” he said during a …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged efforts to curb the repeated occurrence of various kinds of safety accidents and to protect people’s lives and property and social stability. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the important instruction following a street shop fire in …

NANCHANG: The death toll from a building fire in the city of Xinyu in east China’s Jiangxi Province on Wednesday afternoon had risen to 39 as of 6:40 p.m., local authorities said. The fire broke out at approximately 3:24 p.m. on the first underground floor of a street shop on Tiangongnan Avenue in the Yushui District of Xinyu, said the …

KAMPALA: Leaders of developing countries gathered in the Ugandan capital of Kampala over the past week, reaching a consensus to promote South-South cooperation to enhance their capability of pursuing sustainable development, seek strength from unity and increase the role of the Global South in international affairs. High-level representatives of more than 100 countries and heads of United Nations agencies attended …

It seems that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Phase-II is getting momentum in the country spreading hopes of economic revival, stability and sustainability. CPEC Phase-II stands for massive industrialization, immense social development, building of special economic zones, agriculture cooperation and last but not least digitalization consolidating the spirits of modernization, openness, artificial intelligence and connectivity in the country gearing towards …

ANKARA: Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday approved a long-delayed bill on Sweden’s bid to become the 32nd member of NATO. The Turkish parliament voted on the bill after a debate in the Grand National Assembly. A total of 346 lawmakers participated in the voting, with 287 votes in favor, 55 against, and four abstentions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected …

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed Tuesday that a lasting end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only come through a two-state solution. “Last week’s clear and repeated rejection of the two-state solution at the highest levels of the Israeli government is unacceptable,” he told a high-level open debate of the Security Council on the Middle East, including the Palestinian …

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s inflation could rise to over 7 percent in January, the country’s central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe sai on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference on the first monetary policy review of 2024, he said the increase in the value added tax (VAT) and the increased price of vegetables due to supply-side issues are the main reasons for this …

PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Heavy fog shrouded Northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar on Tuesday as motorways temporarily closed in the area, affecting the daily life of local residents. Vehicles move on a road in heavy fog in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar on Jan. 23, 2024. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua) A man rides a motorbike on a road in heavy fog in northwest Pakistan’s Peshawar on …

BEIJING: China has registered a record-high soybean output of 20.84 million tonnes in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Tuesday. The country’s soybean planting area reached 157 million mu (about 10.47 million hectares) last year, while that of oilseed crops exceeded 200 million mu, said Deng Xiaogang, vice minister of agricultural and rural affairs, at …

BEIJING: China and Nauru signed a joint communique in Beijing Wednesday on the resumption of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held talks with Nauru’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea and signed the joint communique, effective as …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged for strengthening institutions to curb corruption and money laundering. The government has assured the IMF of ending political interference in the NAB and other anti-graft institutions. “A report will be published for improvement in the anti-corruption framework with the cabinet’s approval,” according to a document. The IMF has been assured that the anti-corruption …

Banks are seeking a fixed 16.6 percent yearly interest rate for postponing payments on their Rs. 281 billion loans to Pakistan International Airlines for five years. Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar has refused this demand and instead offered approximately 10 percent on the full loan amount based on the banks’ actual borrowing costs, reported Express Tribune. Due to this, banks …

Former English fast bowler Ian Pont, who currently runs a fast bowling academy in England, has shared that they use video clips of Pakistan’s emerging fast bowler Muhammad Zeeshan to motivate young talents at their academy. In a recent podcast on social media, Ian Pont mentioned that we use his video clips to demonstrate the correct way to bowl. We’ve …

Acclaimed singer Umair Jaiswal, who recently hit headlines after divorce from Sana Javed, has been posting reels on his official Instagram account. The singer posted two reels on his Instagram account in which he enjoyed the Snowfall song by Oneheart and Reidenshi and the ‘United in Grief’ song by Kendrick Lamar. It is pertinent to note that United In Grief …