MANILA: The National Library of the Philippines on Thursday inaugurated the Chinese Bookshelf, an addition of Chinese books to the facility’s already diverse collection, to promote cultural understanding between the two countries. The new collection, including books on Chinese politics, science fiction, and language studies, among others, is a testament to the enduring cultural ties and friendship between the Philippines …

BEIJING: An article on developing China into a leading country in education by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will be published on Saturday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 18th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema, in Beijing on Friday. The two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Zambia relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Xi said that the traditional friendship forged by the two countries’ older generations of leaders has stood the test of the changing international landscape, and …

SOFIA: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been significantly contributing to the improvement of economic ties between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC), scholars and government officials said at a two-day international conference that concluded here on Thursday. Focusing on cooperation between Europe and China within the BRI framework, the conference was hosted by Bulgaria, itself …

The United States has urged Pakistan to hold “timely, free and fair” elections in line with the country’s laws. Spokesperson of the US State Department Matthew Miller said this while responding to a question regarding President Dr Arif Alvi proposing November 6 as the polls date. ’’We urge Pakistan to hold a free and fair free and fair and timely elections, …

The PPP on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to disgruntled party leader and lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for “working against the party policy”. The letter was signed by PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari. “You, being a member of the central executive committee, are defending/pleading/representing a head …

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has stated that it has “temporarily” grounded some of its planes, assuring that they would be back in the air once payments were made. Earlier this week, it had emerged that PIA had resorted to grounding several aircraft as it struggled to secure funds to maintain its operations for the next few months. The Ministry of …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to maintain the status quo and keep the key policy rate unchanged at 22 per cent to keep the aggregate demand in check, according to a press release issued on Thursday. The announcement came after a meeting of the bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). “This decision takes into account the latest inflation outturn …

Caretaker Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Baqar on Thursday ordered authorities to suspend internet services in katcha (riverine) areas of the province as part of law enforcement agencies intensify operations against bandits holding people hostage in such areas. The directives from the provincial chief executive came a day after Sindh’s caretaker Minister for Law and Human Rights, Muhammed Umar Soomro, …

A special court in Islamabad rejected on Thursday the post-arrest bail pleas of ousted premier Imran Khan and former federal minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The court constituted under the Official Secrets Act had earlier reserved its decision on this matter while granting pre-arrest bail to former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) general-secretary Asad Umar. During the hearing, Imran’s counsel maintained that no …

A special court in Islamabad accepted on Thursday the pre-arrest bail plea of former federal minister Asad Umar in the cypher case. Federal Investigation Agency’s lawyer advocate Shah Khawar informed the court that no evidence has been found against Umar yet and he has not been named in the FIR either. The lawyer added that in case evidence is found …

Bollywood is all set to witness some exciting on-screen reunions with beloved pairs making a comeback. Here are some anticipated reunions Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon: This iconic 1990s Jodi, known for their sizzling chemistry in films like “Mohra” and “Barood,” will reunite in “Welcome 3.” Fans have been eagerly waiting for their comeback. Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif: Salman …

In a major setback for the Pakistan cricket team, fast bowler Naseem Shah has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. The excitement surrounding the Asia Cup reached a fever pitch as the crucial Superfour stage match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka approached. However, a somber atmosphere loomed over the Pakistani camp as they received devastating …

Contact lenses have come a long way since their inception, evolving from rudimentary prototypes to advanced medical devices and fashion These tiny, curved pieces of plastic have revolutionized the way people with vision problems correct their eyesight. In this article, we’ll explore the fascinating journey of contact lenses, from their humble beginnings to the high-tech innovations of the present day. …

The Punjab government has rolled out a significant initiative aimed at providing accessible and affordable transportation for students, disabled individuals, and senior citizens in Lahore. Under this new initiative, these groups will be able to travel on the Orange Line and Metro system for free, albeit for a limited three-month period. The announcement comes as a welcome relief to many …

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah on Thursday sustained injuries in a blast that took place in Mastung, Balochistan. According to initial reports, the blast took place near a vehicle which injured Hamdullah and several others. Police rushed to the site of the incident and cordoned off the area. Mustang Deputy Commissioner Abdul Razzaq Sasoli said several people were …

When the military was called on to help defend Pakistan’s ailing currency, licensed foreign exchange traders cheered while their black market rivals in the bazaars of Peshawar, Karachi and other cities shuttered their shops before they got taken away. The campaign against the informal market has worked. Tens of millions of dollars have poured back into Pakistan’s interbank and openmarkets, …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday he is ready to work with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to promote better integration and mutual improvement of the modernization process in China and Singapore. The remarks were made in his congratulatory message to Tharman Shanmugaratnam on his assuming office as president of Singapore. Noting that China and Singapore are each other’s …

BEIJING: The number of passenger trips via China’s urban rail transit networks soared 38.4 percent year on year in August, official data showed. A total of 2.71 billion passenger trips were handled by China’s urban rail transit networks in 54 cities last month, up 1.7 percent over the previous month, according to the Ministry of Transport. The ministry said the …

SHANGHAI: China on Thursday announced the winners of two 10-million-yuan (1.4 million U.S. dollars) science prizes, aiming to boost basic research globally. Five scientists have been honored with two individual World Laureates Association Prize (WLA Prize) awards: the WLA Prize in Computer Science or Mathematics, and the WLA Prize in Life Science or Medicine. Each of the two awards has …

BEIJING: China’s top legislator Zhao Leji on Thursday met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros in Beijing. Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China-Venezuela relations have withstood the test of the evolving international landscape and remained rock-solid. Noting that President Xi Jinping and President Maduro on Wednesday announced the elevation of the China-Venezuela relationship …

CAIRO: For athletes from turbulent west Asian countries, the upcoming Asian Games is not only a competition to display individual athletic prowess, but also an opportunity to bring honor to countries scarred by war and conflict. Abdullah al-Arqan, a Palestinian beach volleyball player who lives in the Gaza Strip, has grown up amid countless military tensions between armed Palestinian factions …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping has demanded efforts to build the general offices of Communist Party of China (CPC) committees and governments into model organs that can be trusted by the Party and meet the expectations of the people. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a …

URUMQI: Dressed in the attire of a professional rider, Bayirtay stands on the expansive grasslands of Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and watches his horse make gradual progress every day, with a smile gracing his sun-kissed face. The horse is undergoing preparation for a competition at a performance testing and training center spanning 10 …

HAVANA: China has demonstrated continued support to the Group of 77 (G77), a Cuban expert said here in Havana. “China has maintained a systematic and consistent policy supporting the multilateral bloc,” Eduardo Regalado, a senior researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba, said in a recent interview with Xinhua. Regalado said that China has provided Global South countries …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang has called on China and Venezuela to strengthen political mutual trust and expand practical cooperation to constantly push for new progress in bilateral ties. Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the plenary session and closing ceremony …

HANOI: A fire at a mini apartment block has killed 56 and injured 37 as of Wednesday evening in Vietnam’s capital Hanoi. Of the 56 fatalities, 39 have been identified, Vietnam News Agency reported. A 44-year-old local man, the owner of the nine-story apartment block in Thanh Xuan district, has been prosecuted and detained for having violated regulations on fire …

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple on Wednesday disputed the findings of France’s regulator claiming iPhone 12 emits electromagnetic radiation above standard for exposure. The discontinued smartphone, which was first released in 2020, has a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) that is above the European Union standard of 4 watts per kilogram, according to France’s National Frequency Agency (ANFR). Corrective updates to iPhone 12 …

UNITED NATIONS: It is in the interest of everybody to have a global compromise, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday. Guterres made the remarks at a press conference held ahead of the high-level week of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. Beginning on Sept. 18, world leaders and delegates will gather at the United Nations headquarters in …

BEIJING: New flexible employment has seen strong expansion in China in recent years amid the development of the digital and platform economy, according to a report. The number of employees in new flexible employment accounted for 19.1 percent of all employees in the first quarter of 2023, up from 13.8 percent in the same period of 2020, said the report …

ASTANA: “I thought the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was strategic for Kazakhstan and for the region when I heard about it in 2013,” said Loretta O’Donnell, vice provost for academic affairs at Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan. “That was very exciting. It just reminded me of the power of Central Asia in a narrative about growth,” said O’Donnell in a …

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2023 Beijing Culture Forum that opened on the same day in Beijing. In his letter, Xi highlighted the enduring fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation, which has always embraced openness and inclusiveness, noting that the Chinese civilization has always valued mutual understanding and respect among different civilizations. …

BEIJING: President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with the delegation of Russia’s Valdai Discussion Club on Wednesday in Beijing. Hailing the remarkable influence of the Valdai Discussion Club, Fu said the cooperation between the Valdai Discussion Club and Xinhua enjoys broad prospect. Fu said the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping 10 …

President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja and proposed that elections be held by November 6. The letter comes against the backdrop of reports that the president would unilaterally announce a date for the elections. But contrary to the said reports, the missive is a mere suggestion, rather than a …

When I met Ustad Noor Bakhsh with his bandmate Doshambay and manager Daniyal Ahmed in Berlin this June, the three were in deep thought admiring a sculpture on the ground. This was a day before kicking off Ustad’s European tour in Prague. In true European fashion, we sat at a table in Berlin outside a cafe to talk about their …

The Lahore High Court (LHC) adjourned proceedings for a week in the petition demanding the recovery of missing anchorperson Imran Riaz after the Punjab police chief assured the court that the investigation was “going in the right direction”. Imran Riaz a YouTuber and television anchor was arrested two days after violent protests broke out across the country following PTI Chairman …

Samreen Amir has been appointed as the first woman additional station house officer (SHO) in merged districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to Kurram District Police Officer (DPO) Mohammad Imran, who said this was also the first instance of a Christian woman’s posting as the SHO in the province. Amir, 35, took charge of the women police reporting centre in the …

A Lahore anti-terrorism court (ATC) began the process of proclamation on Wednesday against several PTI leaders who could not be arrested in two cases pertaining to the May 9 episode as they had “concealed themselves”. The leaders facing proceedings in the said cases include some mainstream politicians, namely Farrukh Habib, Azam Swati, Hammad Azhar and Murad Saeed. They have been …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday virtually attended and made a keynote video speech at the Belt and Road Summit held in China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the central Chinese government supports Hong Kong in …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro Moros in Beijing on Wednesday. Maduro is paying a state visit to China from Sept. 8 to 14 at the invitation of Xi. Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcoming ceremony for his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro Moros at the square outside the east entrance of the …