BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien in Beijing on Wednesday. “You are an old, good friend of the Chinese people. The ten years you served as prime minister was the ‘golden decade’ of bilateral relations and you have continued to contribute to China-Canada friendship after leaving office,” Han said. It has been …

BEIJING: China’s vision to find solutions for cities’ sustainable development is sharable to the world, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of UN Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), told Xinhua in a recent interview. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities today. By 2050, this number is expected to rise to 70 percent, she said, adding that cities’ vital role …

BEIJING: The vast majority of foreign-funded companies operating in China are satisfied with the country’s favorable business environment, according to a recent survey. Conducted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) during the third quarter of the year, the survey shows that the business environment concerning tax payments, market access and disputes settlement in China is …

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has won the hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, following Australia’s withdrawal from the bidding process on Tuesday’s deadline day. After a successful 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Saudia Arabia will become the second Arab nation to host the prestigious football tournament. Saudi Arabia’s announcement to bid came just minutes after FIFA’s …

FRANKFURT: Olympic champion Ma Long beat longstanding rival Chuang Chih-Yuan from Chinese Taipei 3-1 on Tuesday at the 2023 WTT Champions Frankfurt in their 17th encounter. Two-time table tennis Olympic champion Ma had led the head-to-head record 14-2 against Chuang, and extended the overwhelming advantage on Tuesday’s match 11-4, 11-4, 8-11, 13-11 to reach the round of 16. Ma was …

PARIS: Chaozhou and Chongqing in China have been selected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). The two Chinese cities were chosen along with 53 others around the globe on World Cities Day to join the UCCN network, UNESCO said Tuesday in a press release. “New cities were acknowledged …

FUZHOU: More than 700 years ago, a vessel loaded with porcelains sank off the coast of east China’s Fujian Province while en route overseas. The underwater wreckage near the islet of Shengbeiyu in the city of Zhangzhou was recently unveiled in an archaeological salvage project, presenting to the world the historical prosperity of the Maritime Silk Road during that era. …

JERUSALEM/GAZA: Israel intensified its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, sending troops deep into the Palestinian territory and clashing with Hamas militants in fierce battles. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its soldiers had “fierce battles” with Hamas “deep in the Gaza Strip,” adding that Israeli troops attacked hundreds of military targets of Hamas, including anti-tank missile and …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s southwest Balochistan province has the potential to become a hub of domestic and international tourism after the inauguration of the New Gwadar International Airport, a donation by the Chinese government under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a Pakistani official said. “In recent years, Balochistan has experienced a notable surge in domestic tourism and with the …

Fly Jinnah, Pakistan’s low-cost carrier, celebrates its first anniversary, honoring a year of extraordinary service and remarkable accomplishments. Over the course of the past 12 months, Fly Jinnah has firmly established itself as a preferred airline for travelers, operating a network of domestic flights and connecting major cities across Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Quetta. Since its inaugural …

Muslim Americans and some Democratic Party activists say they will work to mobilize millions of Muslim voters to withhold donations and votes towards President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection unless he takes immediate steps to secure a Gaza ceasefire. The National Muslim Democratic Council, which includes Democratic Party leaders from hotly contested states likely to decide the election, such as Michigan, …

Police shot and critically wounded a hijab-wearing woman in a Paris metro station on Tuesday morning, local media said, after commuters reported her behaving in a threatening manner. “Out of fear for their own safety, police agents used their weapons,” a police spokesperson told Reuters. The spokesperson could not say what in the “fully-veiled” woman’s behaviour at the Bibliotheque Nationale …

ISLAMABAD: Responding to the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) concerns in connection with the level-playing field for all political parties, caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Tuesday clarified that equal opportunities would be provided to all political parties and every party had full right to participate in the elections. A day earlier, PPP senior leader Syed Khurshid …

A special court formed under the Official Secrets Act on Tuesday commenced the trial of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The duo was indicted in the cipher case on October 23 despite filing a petition under CrPC 265-D to stop the indictment after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) booked them for violating the secret …

Talented and versatile Pakistani actor Gohar Rasheed has addressed the rumours that he is getting married to his long-time friend Kubra Khan. Gohar Rasheed has left an indelible mark on both television and film. He first gained widespread recognition for his remarkable performance in the critically acclaimed film Seedlings. His acting prowess has graced popular dramas such as Digest Writer, Ishqiya, …

The Supreme Court has barred all accountability courts from pronouncing final verdicts in all cases. The apex court issued the directions that the final verdicts should not be pronounced on trials in any case till the next hearing. It also rejected lawyer Farooq H Naek’s request for suspending the order nullifying the NAB law amendments. After the detailed decision of …

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his support for Pakistan captain Babar Azam and criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for showing disrespect towards him. During his discussion on a local sports show, Vaughan shared his disappointment with the lack of respect given to him by the PCB. Vaughan said, “I am very disappointed by the lack of respect …

The United Kingdom (UK) has issued a new travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to the possibility of terrorist attacks. In a statement, the British government has advised its citizens to ‘maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places and at public events.’ Recently, the UK updated its travel advice to the Gulf country, …

In a must-win game at the 2023 World Cup in India, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi etched his name in ODI history by becoming the fastest fast bowler to reach 100 wickets. Afridi achieved this incredible milestone during the Pakistan must-win match against Bangladesh at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. With the crowd’s anticipation palpable and the match hanging …

Nasal congestion, also known as a stuffy nose or blocked nose, is a common condition characterised by the inflammation and swelling of the nasal passages. It can be caused by various factors such as viral infections can cause nasal congestion as the body’s immune response leads to inflammation of the nasal passages. Allergic reactions to substances like pollen, dust mites, …

An elite Kenyan police unit went on trial Tuesday on charges of wrongful death in the killing of an outspoken Pakistani journalist in Nairobi a year ago. The case was jointly filed by the journalist’s widow and two Kenyan journalists’ unions. Arshad Sharif was killed Oct. 23, 2022, when the car he was in with another Pakistani man sped up …

More than 10,000 Afghans living in Pakistan rushed to the borders on Tuesday, just hours before a deadline for 1.7 million people to leave Pakistan voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. The Pakistan government has said it would begin arresting undocumented Afghans and taking them to new holding centers from Wednesday, from where they will be processed and forcibly returned …

BEIJING: The central financial work conference was held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday, at which Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered an important speech. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, analyzed the situations facing high-quality development of the financial sector and arranged relevant work for the current …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation has been published. Xi delivered the speech, titled “Building an Open, Inclusive and Interconnected World For Common Development,” in Beijing on Oct. 18. The booklet, published by the People’s Publishing House, is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country.

BEIJING: The first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange will take place in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality from Nov. 6 to 7, the State Council Information Office said Monday at a press conference. The conference will focus on inter-governmental cooperation in science and technology, people-to-people exchanges in science and technology, industrial innovation and development, paradigm change in …

BEIJING: An article on audit work by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Wednesday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 21st issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee. The …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Monday afternoon held a talk with the new leadership of the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) and delivered an important speech. Xi stressed the need for all the people to unite and work hard together in the …

SDEROT: Israeli troops continued ground operations in the Gaza Strip on Monday. The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 8,382, according to the official Palestinian news agency of WAFA, while more than 1,400 people in Israel lost their lives, the vast majority in the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, which triggered the …

BEIJING: The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, convened its fourth standing committee meeting on Tuesday, with a focus on strengthening environment protection and promoting the building of a Beautiful China. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) …

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday issued an executive order aimed at establishing safety and security standards for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and addressing the risks of the new technology. “The Executive Order establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation …

JIUQUAN: The Shenzhou-16 crew consisting of three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth safely on Tuesday, after completing a five-month space station mission. Shenzhou-16’s return capsule, carrying astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 8:11 a.m. (Beijing Time), and the crew had all left the …

PARIS: Lionel Messi won his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or here on Monday, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmati claimed the women’s award. The Argentine soccer great won the award for his exceptional performance at the Qatar World Cup last year when he led Argentina to the trophy with seven goals and was named the best player of the tournament. Messi has won …

GUIYANG: Over the past week, Ou Yantong was busy with entertaining tourists who came to watch the finals of the Village Basketball Competition of China (CunBA) held from October 25 to 28 in Taipan Village, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Ou, who lives in Taijiang County that the village belongs to, used to open a …

HARARE: More than 15 Zimbabwean companies will participate in the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, with trade development and promotion body ZimTrade hoping to see enhanced trade between the two countries. ZimTrade will lead stakeholders to the event with the aim of identifying and generating trade opportunities for Zimbabwean …

SANTIAGO: The Chile-China relationship is based on trust, transparency and complementarity, said Chilean Agriculture Minister Esteban Valenzuela after returning from a China trip led by President Gabriel Boric. “It was an extraordinary balance. The level of affection, brotherhood and concrete, pragmatic results between Chile and China are remarkable,” Valenzuela said. The minister visited Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing, and signed …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) to immediately de-seal Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed’s Lal Haveli residence in Rawalpindi. The Rawalpindi bench of Lahore High Court (LHC), chaired by Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf, heard the former interior minister’s appeal, urging the court to issue an order for de-sealing Lal Haveli’s …

Former Pakistan cricket team captain Waqar Younis has condemned the airing of Babar Azam’s private messages on national television. In a message on his social media platform, Younis expressed his disappointment at the act, saying, “This is a very regrettable move. What are you trying to achieve, and are you happy with what you’ve done?” Waqar Younis further stated that Babar …

The 23rd Dragons of Asia and the first Dragons of Pakistan have wrapped up, and this year’s winners have been announced. The 2023 Dragons of Asia attracted the largest number of entries, buoyed greatly by participation by the Pakistani marketing industry, at the successful inaugural Dragons of Pakistan. 15 Category Dragons of Pakistan have been awarded, with Gold Dragon Winners …

Examining legislation by keeping interests of the legislators in mind is an insult to parliament and democracy. Judiciary can review legislation when it conflicts with fundamental rights. This has been written by the Supreme Court’s Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in his 27-page dissenting note against the court’s majority verdict in the NAB amendments case. On September 15, the Supreme Court …

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will feature the top seven teams after the group stage of the current ICC World Cup 2023, with Pakistan as the host nation. An ICC spokesperson confirmed to popular cricket website, ESPNcricinfo that the qualification scenario for the 2025 Champions Trophy was approved by the ICC. The top seven sides at the end of the …