The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) announced on Monday results of the written component of its Central Superior Services (CSS) Competitive Examination-2023, declaring 398 candidates as successful out of total 13,008 who appeared in the exam. The passing ratio stood at 3.06% this year. A total of 28,024 had applied for the exam, according to the result announced on the FPSC …

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to visit China this week, his office said Tuesday, his first trip to the allied country since before civil war broke out in Syria more than 12 years ago. “In response to an official invitation” from Chinese President Xi Jinping, Assad and his wife “will visit China starting Thursday”, the presidency said in a …

After Canada accused India of involvement in the killing of a separatist Sikh leader on its soil, former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Tuesday it was time for the international community to accept that India had become a “rogue Hindutva terrorist state”. The separatist leader, 45-year-old Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was shot dead outside a Sikh temple on June 18 …

Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday said there were “credible allegations” linking Indian government agents to the June murder in Canada of a Sikh separatist leader campaigning for the creation of an independent Sikh homeland called “Khalistan”. It wants an independent Sikh state carved out of India and dates back to …

It seems that Pakistan’s latest rendition of the story of Maula Jatt continues to make a name for Pakistani cinema as it readies to go head-to-head with worldwide competition at the Taurus World Stunt Awards, as per a press release. While acquiring the title of the highest-grossing Pakistani film was undoubtedly an impressive feat, the list grows with this nomination …

We’re here to say what everyone else has been thinking for way too long; the absolute absurdity that Five-Minute Crafts bring can sometimes just be, well, a little too absurd for our liking. Don’t get us wrong, everyone loves a good hack once in a while but sometimes the tips and tricks that grace our phone screens get out of …

There is a fear of petrol shortage across the country as the Oil Tankers Association has gone on a strike, stopping supply from the Islamabad Sihala depot until its demands are met. In a statement issued on Monday, the Oil Tankers Association said that the supply of petrol to Azad Jammu and Kashmir, airport, Hazara Division, Attock and Gilgit-Baltistan would …

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday announced that its country expelled an Indian diplomat over the killing of the Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly said that India’s spy agencyIndian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intelligence head stationed in Ottawa stationed in Ottawa named Pavan Kumar Rai. Rai is a 1997 batch Punjab cadre IPS officer, …

The National Selection Committee is expected to announce the squad for the upcoming World Cup 2023, scheduled to start on October 5 in India this week. Due to the injury suffered by the star pacer, Naseem Shah during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023, Pakistan will be forced to make a change to their squad. According to media reports, Hasan …

In a momentous recognition of her unwavering commitment to law enforcement and her tireless efforts to combat violence against women, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Sonia Shamroz Khan, currently serving as the District Police Officer of Battagram in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), was awarded the prestigious ‘Police Officer of the Year’ accolade by the International Association of Women Police. SSP …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) asked the federal government and immigration authorities on Monday about a rule that says married women need their husband’s name on their National ID cards to get passports. Khadija Shah, a lawyer, faced a problem when she tried to renew her passport at the LHC’s passport office. They turned her down because her ID card …

Asia Cup 2023 wasn’t just the exciting cricket matches that had people talking. It was the presence of Pakistan’s fast bowler, Naseem Shah, that caught the attention of a famous Indian actress. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Urvashi Rautela but another Indian actress who was charmed by Naseem Shah’s personality. Indian actress Isha Shah couldn’t help but express her admiration for Naseem Shah. …

Cricket legend Adam Gilchrist has weighed in on the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, and he’s got some interesting predictions. According to him, the teams to watch out for in the semifinals are India, Pakistan, Australia, and England. “I think India and Pakistan could feature in the semi-finals, Australia and England are another two teams,” Gilchrist told Press Trust of India …

Hours of heavy rain in Lahore and many cities of Punjab has led to many areas being submerged and rainwater accumulating across the provincial capital. Citizens have been facing difficulties commuting near Barkat Market, Gulberg, Kalma Chowk and their adjoining areas due to knee-deep water accumulated in these areas. Around 80 feeders of LESCO have tripped, hampering power supply to …

Pakistan has introduced a major facility in the visa process for foreign investors and business purposes. The federal government has approved an amendment to the visa policy for 103 countries. On the recommendation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a business visa for six months will be issued immediately. Pakistani missions abroad will be obligated to issue business visas for five …

In the run-up to the upcoming general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has released the latest statistics of registered voters. In the last five years, there has been an increase of 21,024,713 voters in the country. In 2018, the total number of registered voters in Pakistan was 105,955,409. In 2023, the number of voters has swelled to 126,980,272, …

UNITED NATIONS: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met here Monday with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, respectively, on the sidelines of the ongoing 78th session of the UN General Assembly. Han told Guterres that the world today is confronted with accelerated changes unseen in a century with various unstable and uncertain factors intertwined. …

BEIJING: Representatives from more than 110 countries have confirmed that they will attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Mao Ning made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked about the preparations faxcor the event. Mao said the event includes the opening ceremony, three high-level forums on …

BEIJING: On Monday, more than 600 delegates representing about 85 million people living with disabilities gathered in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, as China Disabled Persons’ Federation opened its eighth national congress. Among the Party and state leaders attending the event was President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and …

KUNMING: Captivated by the enchanting allure of Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, southwest China, it came as no surprise to Frenchman Jean-Charles Penot that the area’s tea plantations gained UNESCO World Heritage status. The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on Sunday at the extended …

URUMQI: For Wang Haiying, a 55-year-old farmer with over three decades of experience in goji berry cultivation, the post-harvest experience of the reddish-orange nutritious fruit has been increasingly reassuring in recent years. Wang hails from the goji berry cultivation hub of Jinghe County in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The harvested goji berries are usually processed into dried berries …

BEIJING: A selected compilation of Xi Jinping’s discourses on human rights are now available in Arabic, Portuguese, German, Swahili, Urdu and Vietnamese. Compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the book uses nine themes to systematically record the remarks of Xi on respecting and protecting human rights. The foreign language …

DHAKA: Bangladesh reported 3,084 new dengue cases and 17 new deaths on Monday, taking the tally to 170,768 and the death toll to over 800 so far this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health said. According to DGHS data, 46,960 dengue cases were recorded so far in September, after 71,976 in August and …

HARBIN: The name-list of military doctors from Unit 731, a Japanese germ-warfare army during World War II, went on public display for the first time in Harbin, the capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, on Monday. The historical material was discovered by Japanese scholar Seiya Matsuno, a specially-appointed professor at Heilongjiang International University, in July at the National Archives of …

HANGZHOU: Despite formidable competition from Japan, Bahrain, and India, China remains poised to top the medal table in athletics at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Since 1986, China has consistently led the medal tally in track and field at every Asian Games. Five years ago in Jakarta, China tied with Bahrain, each securing 12 gold medals. India trailed with seven, followed …

SHANGHAI: Shanghai’s imports and exports reached 2.79 trillion yuan (about 389 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 3.6 percent year on year, according to local customs. Over the period, Shanghai’s exports rose 4.9 percent year on year to 1.14 trillion yuan, while its imports increased by 2.8 percent to 1.65 trillion yuan, data from …

BEIJING: The Hangzhou Asian Games will be the focus for Zheng Qinwen over the next three weeks. The 20-year-old participated in the torch relay as the second torchbearer on Tuesday and is set to compete starting Sunday at her first Asian Games. “I choose to play because I can compete for my country,” the rising star of China’s tennis told …

DOHA: The “Hello, Beijing” Photography Exhibition opened on Monday here in the Qatari capital Doha, showcasing historical and cultural emblems of the Chinese capital, and how the megacity succeeds in becoming a world-renowned tourist destination. Themed “Capital, Ancient Charm, New Look, Humanity, and Ecology,” the exhibition features 79 photography works that highlight the natural beauty, historical charm, and cultural significance …

UNITED NATIONS: A two-day SDG Summit opened on Monday at the UN headquarters in New York to galvanize global action on sustainable development. The summit provides world leaders, who are gathering annually in New York for the UN General Assembly high-level week, with an opportunity to take stock of the progress or lack thereof, halfway into the implementation of the …

BEIJING: China Disabled Persons’ Federation opened its eighth national congress in Beijing on Monday. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the event with other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, and Cai Qi. Ding Xuexiang delivered a speech …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) adjourned the hearing on Monday in a case challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act 2023 until October 3. The court directed the parties’ lawyers to submit their written arguments by September 25. The Chief Justice made a point in today’s proceedings that the Practice and Procedure Act 2023, which was passed by …

Remember how cool it was when Apple brought FaceTime? Well, Meta, the folks behind Facebook, is bringing something just as awesome to WhatsApp. Imagine this: You can turn into an animated character during video calls. Meta’s made it happen. Your avatar will mimic your expressions, it’s like you’re right there. Here’s the kicker: Your privacy’s safe. WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption stays intact, even …

Former Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq Monday came to the defense of current captain Babar Azam amidst growing criticism of the national team’s performance in the Asia Cup. Misbah-ul-Haq, who also serves as the PCB Technical Committee Chairman, spoke candidly to the media, addressing concerns about Pakistan’s recent struggles on the cricket field. In a press conference held earlier today, Misbah …

Weight loss is possible with lifestyle changes. However, if you are lazy or don’t have enough time on your hands, it can be difficult to lose weight. By making small, gradual changes to your daily routine, you can achieve long-term success. It’s important to focus on consistency and finding ways to make healthy choices without feeling overwhelmed. Keep reading as …

The Oil Tankers Association stopped the supply of petrol in Rawalpindi spreading fears of petrol shortage in Azad Kashmir, airports, Hazara Division, Attock, and Gilgit-Baltistan. According to the Oil Tankers Association, the supply of petroleum products has also been stopped in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The association has demanded a 65% share of transport on the ‘White Oil Pipeline’ in fares …

On September 18, 2023, Shabana Azmi, the legendary actress known for her outstanding contributions to Indian cinema, celebrates her 73rd birthday. Over the years, Shabana Azmi has left an indelible mark on the film industry with her remarkable performances. On this special occasion, let’s revisit four of her must-watch films for which she received prestigious Filmfare Awards. Swami (1977): Shabana …

Pakistan Railways has announced an increase of 5 percent in the fares for all mail/express, intercity, saloons, and parcel trains. The increase comes after the government announced a substantial increase in the price of petroleum products. According to a notification issued by the Pakistan Railways, the increase in fare will not apply to short lead passenger trains, shuttle trains, and …

In a distressing development, Kirthar National Park in Sindh has witnessed the tragic demise of at least 35 wild goats due to the highly contagious animal disease known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR). Deputy Conservator Hyderabad, Wajid Shaikh, confirmed the heartbreaking loss of 35 Ibex to this relentless disease. To unravel the cause of this alarming outbreak, samples from …

People love having roasted peanuts ducking in their blankets during chilly winters but this year, that delight might come with a higher cost as one of the least-known cash crops got hit with a hike in the cost of production and a climate cycle not favoring the production zones. Peanuts, also known as groundnut, is a cash crop and while …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed its delimitation committee to complete work by September 26, it was learnt on Tuesday. This will enable the election watchdog publish preliminary delimitations on September 27, according to a spokesperson of the ECP. According to details, the commission reviewed the pace of work of the delimitation committees and expressed its satisfaction in …