The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday declared petitions against caretaker ministers and advisers as maintainable. The ECP had reserved verdict on petitions against federal ministers and advisers over their political associations. The election commission has issued notices to Federal Minister for Privatization Fawad Hassan Fawad, Adviser Ahad Cheema and Principal Secretary to the PM Tauqeer Shah. The ECP …

The Supreme Court (SC) Monday ordered the Registrar’s Office to provide information about court employees within seven days. A three-member bench of SC headed by CJP Justice Qazi Faez Isa announced the reserved verdict after approving the appeal of the court employee, seeking information on SC employees under the Right to Information Act. The verdict stated that those seeking details …

October 16, 2023, marks the 72nd death anniversary of Pakistan’s first Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan Shaheed.  He was assassinated in a shocking incident during a public meeting in Rawalpindi on the same day in 1951. Despite the passage of more than seven decades, the mystery surrounding this tragic event, considered one of the worst in the nation’s history, remains unsolved. …

Every year on October 16, the world unites in the fight against ‘global hunger’ and ‘malnutrition’ to mark World Food Day. The day not only raises awareness about the global food crisis but also serves as a call to action to ensure food security and equitable access to nourishing food for all. This year, the theme of the day is …

Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris is looking to grow his business in Pakistan and eyes investment in Barrick Gold Corp.’s $7 billion Reko Diq copper-gold project, reported Bloomberg. “I have an advantage over other investors. I’m familiar with the country, and I have friends here. We want to be on the Pakistani side because I have been here for 25 years,” …

In a blow to the excitement of cricket fans and their respective teams, the 2023 ODI World Cup has seen two key players sidelined due to unfortunate injuries. Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka has been ruled out of the ODI World Cup 2023 due to a thigh injury while scans have confirmed Kiwi captain, Kane Williamson’s finger fracture. During New Zealand’s …

VIENNA: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as “a massive project” with “immense potential,” can help accelerate efforts to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ghada Waly, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Waly is going to attend the third Belt and Road Forum …

More than one million people have fled their homes in Gaza in scenes of chaos and despair as Israel bombarded the Hamas-ruled territory and continued massing troops Monday in preparation for a full-blown ground invasion. Israel declared war on the Hamas group a day after waves of its fighters broke through the heavily fortified border on October 7, shooting, stabbing …

Cricket and flag football were among five sports added to the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games on Monday after being approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it looks to tap into new global audiences. Lacrosse, squash and baseball-softball were also approved at an IOC meeting in Mumbai, having been proposed by 2028 organisers. Under IOC rules, …

BEIJING: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar arrived in Beijing on Monday to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

BEIJING: In the collection of gifts that Chinese President Xi Jinping has received from foreign friends over the years, a commemorative plaque made of steel witnessed the firm commitment of China to an iron-clad friend. The rounded plaque, inscribed with the silhouette of a steel mill and depicting the outlines of the blast furnaces, exhaust chimneys, and workshops, was tailor-made …

BEIJING: When Pablo Cordova was trapped beneath debris in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Ecuador, he did not expect that a phone call and some assistance from the other side of the globe would save his life. Cordova was a member of staff at a hotel in Portoviejo, in Ecuador’s coastal province of Manabi, one of the areas hit hardest …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on Monday. The meeting took place ahead of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in Beijing. Wang said this year, …

BEIJING: Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, on Monday arrived in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

ASMARA: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major global initiative that is “responsive to the times,” a senior Eritrean government official has said. “When it comes to the arrangements (BRI), you can envisage various projects and programs that are responsive to the times,” Eritrean Minister of Information Yemane Gebremeskel told Xinhua in a recent interview. With the …

BEIJING: Senior sports official Song Kai was elected president of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) at its 12th membership conference here on Monday. The 58-year-old Song, head of the Administration of Sport in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, has been working as vice head of the preparatory group for the CFA election since June. “We will try our best to build …

TOKYO: The support rate for the Japanese cabinet dropped to 32.3 percent, the lowest since its launch, a survey by national news agency Kyodo showed Sunday. The latest opinion poll has shown that the approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet plunged from 39.8 in the previous poll conducted in September, a record low since Kishida took office …

SHENZHEN: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang has stressed the significance of thoroughly implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and strengthening efforts in core technology breakthroughs in key fields. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Shenzhen of south China’s Guangdong …

BEIJING: Chinese-brand passenger car sales surged 21.2 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2023 to nearly 9.9 million units, industry data showed. The market share of such vehicles hit 54.6 percent in this period, 6.5 percentage points higher than the same period of 2022, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In September alone, about …

BEIJING: China’s courier sector saw expansion in September, according to a monthly industry index. The State Post Bureau said the monthly express delivery development index came in at 406.1 in September, up 15 percent year on year. The sub-index for service quality grew 19.9 percent from a year earlier, the sub-index for development scale picked up 12.7 percent year on …

BEIJING: Authorized by Yang Liwei, China’s first astronaut to enter space, the Beijing Science and Technology Press (BSTP) published the picture book “First Man” on Sunday, marking the 20th anniversary of the country’s first manned space travel. The book relives the whole process of Yang’s historic flight in October 2003, including the liftoff, in-orbit flight and return to Earth of …

Israeli forces were on Sunday readying for a looming ground invasion of Gaza, where the United Nations estimated that one million Palestinians have been displaced in the war’s first week. In the eight days since Hamas fighters killed more than 1,300 Israelis in their surprise onslaught, Israel has responded with a devastating bombing campaign that has claimed over 2,300 lives …

Former Pakistan captain, Misbah ul Haq, has expressed his opinion on a possible change team management can make for the upcoming clash against India in the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023. The performance of Pakistan’s spin bowlers has been under close scrutiny, particularly due to their inability to make an impact against India, resulting in a wicketless display. Misbah specifically …

The security forces claim to have gunned down an important commander of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), along with one of his associates. The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation against the BLA in Turbat district of Balochistan and claim to have killed Saddam Hussain Muslim, a commander of the Abdul Majeed Brigade of the group. Saddam was also …

A high-level meeting was held between caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar and the International Monitory Fund (IMF) in Morocco. Both discussed global economic affairs and financial stability. Shamshad Akhter expressed Pakistan’s determination to implement the promises (with the IMF) for the economic prosperity of Pakistan. The parties also discussed financial cooperation at the global level. The Governor of the State …

Fenugreek is a plant that is commonly used as a culinary spice and herbal medicine. Its seeds have a slightly bitter taste and are often used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean cuisines. Fenugreek water, made by soaking fenugreek seeds in water, is believed to have several health benefits. Fenugreek is known to be rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals, …

Most recently, the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the 21st meeting of the Secretariat of Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana on Oct. 11 which has once again “showcased” the true essence of its “Religious Diplomacy” and “Soft Image Projection”. Since centuries, Kazakhstan has been the “Land of Spirituality” and “Supreme Human Traits”. It has also been …

NANCHANG: During the ongoing Italian Serie A football match, it is expected to see the fans cheering with torch-like fireworks in hand. Still, few know that the sticks are mainly from the mountainous county of Shangli, east China’s Jiangxi Province. Hometown to Li Tian, inventor of Chinese firecrackers, Shangli’s history of making fireworks spans over 1,000 years. In 2008, the …

BEIJING: The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held from Oct. 17 to 18 in Beijing. This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows a floral decoration for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) near China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) This photo taken on Oct. …

GUANGZHOU: The 134th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, opened on Sunday in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. The event, which will run until Nov. 4, has attracted exhibitors and buyers from arcoss the globe. Over 100,000 buyers from more than 200 countries and regions have registered for the event, …

MUMBAI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed his country’s interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics. “India is very excited to organize an Olympics,” Modi said during his address at the opening of the 141st International Olympic Committee (IOC) session in Mumbai on Saturday night. “India will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to organize the 2036 Olympics.” …

PHNOM PENH: Contestants were busy taking part in a buffalo race in Kandal province, Cambodia, with their beloved buffaloes beautifully adorned with glittering headgear. The event is held to mark the end of the Pchum Ben festival, or the Ancestors’ Day, focusing more on having fun instead of winning or losing. People take part in a buffalo race in Kandal …

BEIJING: Kenyan President William Ruto on Sunday arrived in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

BEIJING: During a recent inspection trip to east China’s Jiangxi Province, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Yangtze River National Cultural Park, a historical and cultural block, and an ancient village. The three places all bear notable hallmarks of Chinese culture. The visit came after Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was formally put forward at a recent national meeting on …

JIUQUAN: China on Sunday launched a Long March-2D rocket placing a new Earth-observing satellite into space. Coded Yunhai-1 04, the satellite was lifted at 8: 54 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China and soon entered the preset orbit. It will provide services for the detection of the atmospheric, marine and space environments, disaster prevention …

BEIJING: An article on opening up a new frontier in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Monday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this …

Last year, Saudi Arabia experienced a significant increase in the number of twin births, with a total of 16,160 sets of twins born in 2022, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The report provides insights into birth statistics from various regions of Saudi Arabia, revealing a total of 417,155 births during the year. The capital …

Pakistan’s cricket sensation and national team captain, Babar Azam, is celebrating his 29th birthday today as he leads his team in the intense moment of the ICC World Cup 2023 in India. Born on October 15, 1994, Babar Azam has been an exceptional talent in the world of cricket. On his special day, he received warm wishes and congratulations from …

Google is introducing a feature similar to Bing’s DALL-E 3 AI image generation. Users can now generate images from text prompts directly within Google Search. Strict content filters are in place to prevent misuse. Google Imagen powers this tool, previously accessible to a limited audience. Initially, it’s opt-in and available in English in the US. Users can specify the type …

MetaMask, the widely-used Ethereum-native wallet, has made a speedy comeback to the Apple App Store after being pulled off. The brief hiccup saw MetaMask temporarily unavailable for Apple users, but this issue was promptly addressed by the MetaMask team, resolving the situation in less than an hour after their initial tweet. On October 14, a number of concerned users noticed …