China, Australia pledge to boost exchanges, agree on importance of ties JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged here on Thursday to boost bilateral exchanges. They also agreed on the importance of relations between the two countries. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Jakarta, …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong will lead a party and government delegation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to attend the commemorative events for its 75th founding anniversary and visit the country, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Thursday. Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will …

CAIRO: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Monday failed to yield a breakthrough in the revival of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, according to experts. Following the meeting, Erdogan expressed optimism about the initiative, but concrete evidence of a breakthrough remains elusive. Meanwhile, Putin reiterated accusations against the West for failing to meet …

LANZHOU: At least seven people were missing and three others injured as heavy rains triggered mountain torrents and landslides in northwest China’s Gansu Province, authorities said Thursday. Two townships in Xiahe County of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture were hit by the landslides at around 3 a.m. Thursday and the accumulated precipitations reached 50.2 mm and 31.8 mm, respectively. Among …

RIYADH: The Bank of China (BOC) opened its branch in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Tuesday to expand its financial service network in the Arab country. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Liu Jin, president of the BOC, said the establishment of the branch, serving as a conduit for trade and investment between China and Saudi Arabia, reflects a tangible commitment to …

BEIJING: A cooperation mechanism on foreign law ascertainment of the Belt and Road arbitration institutions was initiated on Wednesday at a forum held in Beijing. It aims at providing convenience for participating institutions to ascertain the laws of each other’s countries or regions in international commercial cases, said Wang Chengjie, vice chairman and secretary general of China International Economic and …

JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday that the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) countries, and indeed all countries in Asia, share so many things in common. They share a common home, common interests and common opportunities, Li said at the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit. Over the past 20 years, the APT mechanism has stood the test of numerous …

SHANGHAI: The 10th Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ministers of Justice opened Tuesday in Shanghai. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and read President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter …

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Iran arrived Tuesday in the Islamic Republic, and his counterpart landed in Riyadh, cementing a restoration of ties between the nations after a seven-year rupture in ties. Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies following a China-brokered deal announced in March. Riyadh and Tehran severed ties in 2016 after …

Flaxseeds have been all the rage these past few years. Known for alleviating digestion and constipation issues, flaxseeds are packed with other nutrients as well. Dr Ushakiran Sisodia, Registered Dietician and Clinical Nutritionist, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mumbai, said flaxseeds can be consumed during the monsoon. “It is recommended to drink warm water with lime added to it while …

The main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan, Torkham border crossing, was closed on Wednesday as security forces from both countries exchanged fire, security sources said. Local residents reported the sound of gunfire by the Torkham crossing and said people around the busy border area near the Khyber Pass had fled once the firing …

The Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC) has announced its members responsible for selecting Pakistan’s entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2024 Oscars. The committee, led by Chairman Mo Naqvi, features accomplished individuals from Pakistan’s film and entertainment industry. The committee members include renowned actors Fawad Khan and Ahmed Ali Akbar, celebrated writer and Bailey’s prize nominee …

A new study has found that Malta has the highest levels of body confidence in the world, while the UK has the lowest. The study, conducted by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University, surveyed over 56,000 people from 65 countries. Participants were asked to rate how much they agreed with statements such as “I respect my body” and “I appreciate the …

Upon receiving the call, police immediately arrived at the location, taking the wounded guards to a nearby hospital for medical attention. According to reports, a third person was also rescued from the site, but his identity and involvement in the incident remain unclear at this time. Increasing Number of Crimes in Islamabad A shocking 1,151 cases of theft were reported …

Messaging features already exist within TikTok, although it is not typically perceived as a messaging app. However, it appears that the company is determined to alter this perception. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is actively recruiting for various positions within a team called “TikTok Social,” indicating a concerted effort to enhance TikTok’s messaging capabilities significantly. While these job listings maintain a …

The interim government Wednesday unveiled new measures to curb power theft to help lower the power sector’s spiraling circular debt. Caretaker Energy Minister Mohammad Ali alongside interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said in a media briefing today that authorities are launching a crackdown on electricity theft. In this reference, he said work has started on the Electricity Theft Act through …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Wednesday directed to present a comprehensive strategy to boost the country’s IT exports. Chairing a meeting on information technology and telecom sectors in Islamabad, he said every facility will be provided for the promotion of the IT sector and all targets for the promotion of investment in the IT sector will be achieved from the …

The person believed to be responsible for an attempted assassination of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Japan earlier this year was indicted on attempted murder Wednesday, according to a report. Prosecutors indicted Ryuji Kimura, 24, on attempted murder and other charges after he allegedly threw a pipe bomb at the country’s leader in April, as he was campaigning in the …

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad on Wednesday approved a two-day physical remand of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi in a case pertaining to an attack on Judicial Complex Islamabad. He was taken into custody by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) police after the ATC announced the reserved verdict. A day earlier, the former Punjab chief minister was taken …

The Pakistan Embassy in Washington on Wednesday responded to “rumours” of visa refusals to US citizens of Pakistani origin because of their links to the PTI, terming the claims “misinformation and disinformation”. The issue was raised after recent media reports claimed the Pakistan Embassy had denied visas to American citizens of Pakistani origin on the basis of their association with …

2023 is likely to be the hottest year in human history, and global temperatures during the Northern Hemisphere summer were the warmest on record, the EU climate monitor said on Wednesday. Heatwaves, droughts and wildfires struck Asia, Africa, Europe and North America over the last three months, with dramatic impact on economies, ecosystems and human health. The average global temperature …

Leaders from the world’s top economies arrive in India on Friday for a two-day G20 summit overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, worries over the global economy and climate change. Host India has coined the optimistic slogan “One Earth, One Family, One Future”, but the leaders of the Group of 20 nations are riven by differences and strategic fault lines. …

The government announced plans on Wednesday to launch a crackdown on electricity theft, which federal ministers said lead to combined losses of hundreds of billions of rupees and higher bills for the common citizen. Power Minister Muhammad Ali and Information Minister Murtaza Solangi made the announcement and outlined the measures they would be taking during a press conference in Islamabad. …

In a bid to strengthen controls amid the massive fall in rupee’s value in the open market, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday decided to introduce structural reforms in the Exchange Companies’ (ECs) sector. “As part of these reforms, leading banks actively engaged in foreign exchange business will establish wholly-owned Exchange Companies (EC) to cater to the legitimate …

Pakistan came in third place on a ranking of companies that joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce during the first half of 2023, with 3,395 new entities registered. This was an increase of 59% compared to the same period last year, and brings total number of Pakistani companies in the chamber to 40,315, according to a statement released by the …

HANGZHOU: The torch relay for the Hangzhou Asian Games is set to commence on Sept. 8 near the iconic West Lake, organizers announced during a press conference on Wednesday at the Asian Games Main Media Center. The torch will journey through 11 cities in Zhejiang province, including Huzhou, Jiaxing, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Taizhou, Wenzhou, Lishui, Jinhua, and Quzhou, before returning …

JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday that it is essential to oppose a new Cold War and make sure disputes are properly handled among countries. “While we remain steadfast in seeking common ground based on the commonalities, we shall have nothing to fear about the differences, and we will be able to find the right way to resolve …

BEIJING: Chinese scientists have found a new plant species of Oreocharis in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, according to the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The findings, made by researchers from the CIB and Guangxi Institute of Botany of the CAS, have been published recently in the journal Ecology and Evolution. During a field …

URUMQI: At a bazaar in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwest China, customers were queuing up two hours before lunchtime to have a taste of Grandpa Abu’s legendary jar meat. Standing in front of rows of burning hot jars, Ablimit Yusup, affectionately known as Grandpa Abu, was busy stirring his delicious meaty soup and placing portions of lamb into the …

BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Grenada’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Joseph Andall on Wednesday in Beijing. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Grenada is an important country in the Caribbean and a friendly partner of China, and both sides have always respected each other and …

BEIJING: A national rice science and technology innovation platform has been officially inaugurated in Baoqing County, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, according to the China Science Daily on Wednesday. The platform operates under the China National Rice Research Institute and is engaged in the core technology development of China’s rice industry. The institute has cooperated with local research institutes and colleges …

BEIJING: A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday that China does not accept Japan’s protest as Japan demands the retraction of a Chinese government map that shows the Diaoyu Islands belong to China. “Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands have all along been China’s territory. It is only natural that they are marked as Chinese territory on a map,” …

JINAN: Baotu Spring, a famous tourist attraction in Jinan, capital of east China’s Shandong Province, has been gushing ceaselessly for 20 years as of this Wednesday, the longest duration since the 1970s. Its underground water level stood at 29.34 meters on Wednesday, according to the urban and rural water affairs bureau of Jinan. Dubbed “the city of a thousand springs,” …

SHANGHAI: The 2 millionth vehicle produced by Tesla Gigafactory Shanghai rolled off the assembly line on Wednesday, reaching a new milestone, the company said. In January 2019, Tesla’s Shanghai plant, the carmaker’s first gigafactory outside the United States, began construction, and turned out the first vehicle in December of that year. The Shanghai factory produced its first 1 million cars …

JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang clarified here on Wednesday China’s position on the issue of the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant, and called on Japan to handle the matter responsibly. Addressing the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, Li said the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water concerns the global marine ecological environment and people’s health. He called on …

JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Wednesday that China and ASEAN countries have properly handled disagreements by seeking common ground while shelving differences through dialogue and consultation. In his opening remarks addressing the 26th China-ASEAN Summit, Li said that the two sides have been deepening practical cooperation in the traditional and non-traditional security fields, and have upheld the five …

BEIJING: A new research report Xinhua News Agency’s think tank released on Tuesday uncovers the damage and threats of U.S. military hegemony. In the report titled Origins, Facts and Perils of U.S. Military Hegemony, Xinhua Institute outlines the formation of the U.S. military hegemony, summarizes the means Washington adopted to maintain it, and delves into its perils by presenting facts …

SHANGHAI: The 2023 Shanghai Writing Program, which commenced on Monday, has offered international writers a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant city of Shanghai for two months. Writers from seven countries, including Egypt, Germany, Argentina and Cyprus, are participating in this year’s program to gather material for their future literary works during this period. Hosted by the Shanghai …

JAKARTA: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Tuesday that China and Indonesia share similar visions, as well as extensive consensus and common interests at regional and global levels. In his address at a welcoming reception hosted by the China-Indonesia business community, Li said for a long time, the China-Indonesia cooperation has gone beyond bilateral scope, adding that both are emerging …

The Supreme Court (SC) disposed of on Tuesday a petition filed six years ago to place now deceased military dictator Pervez Musharraf on the Exit Control List (ECL). A three-member bench headed by Justice Mazahar Akbar Naqvi heard the plea. “Isn’t this plea redundant now,” inquired Justice Naqvi. “If it had been fixed for hearing six years ago, it would …