In an awe-inspiring display of space exploration, India’s prestigious space agency, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has achieved another remarkable feat. On Saturday, they celebrated the triumphant launch of a rocket, marking India’s debut foray into solar missions. This pioneering mission, christened Aditya-L1, derives its name from the Hindi word for the sun. radiation on these satellites, a concern …

Thousands of traders shut down their shops on Saturday, as they observed a strike against the soaring energy and petrol prices. There were widespread market closures on Saturday in Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar, where abandoned bazaars were posted with placards decrying “the unreasonable increase in electricity bills and taxes”. Everyone is participating because the situation has become unbearable now,” Township …

Social media sensation Mahek Bukhari and her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, have been sentenced to life behind bars for their involvement in a ruthless double murder case. The victims, Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, both just 21 years old, lost their lives in a horrific car crash during a high-speed chase in Leicestershire. The motive behind this tragic incident revolves around …

Sam Asghari has reportedly has had many confrontations with Britney Spears over her ‘constant hangouts’ with multiple men. Revelations about fights that occurred behind-the-scenes have been revealed by OK magazine. According to said source, “Sam really didn’t like her hanging out with other men.” This was especially true for the interactions Britney had wit her manager Cade Hudson. “Sam thought …

BEIJING: Renowned French pianist Philippe Entremont will perform a piano recital on Sept. 8 at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing. The performance will feature Mozart’s “Piano Sonata No. 11, K. 331,” Beethoven’s “Sonata Op. 31 No. 3,” Debussy’s “Pour le Piano” and Brahms’s “Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel.” Born in France in …

BEIJING: Non-cash payments handled by Chinese banks continued sound growth in the second quarter of 2023, data from the central bank showed. Non-cash payments via bank cards, electronic payment vehicles, commercial papers, credit transfers and other settlements hit 1308.83 trillion yuan (about 182.32 trillion U.S. dollars) during the period, up 12.28 percent year on year, according to a report from …

WINDHOEK: Elephant population remains stable in conservation areas in southern African countries, according to a research report. The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which includes Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, countries in southern Africa with borders along the Okavango and Zambezi River basins, has an estimated elephant population of almost 227,900, said the report released Thursday. Namibia …

LUSAKA: Japan’s dumping of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean should be condemned as it will have negative effects not only on sea life but on human beings, an environmental activist in Zambia has said. “The chemicals that Japan has discharged into the ocean are deadly to marine species, and eventually, this impact will move from marine species to mankind and …

UNITED NATIONS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to come to the United Nations headquarters in September, said Ferit Hoxha, Albania’s UN ambassador, whose country holds the Security Council presidency for the month. At a press briefing on Friday, Hoxha said he thinks Zelensky will attend in person a Security Council meeting on Ukraine scheduled on Sept. 20, during the …

SEOUL: Under the theme of “digital nature,” the captivating “Seoul Light 2023 Autumn” light show kicked off on Thursday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, capital of South Korea, and will run until Sept. 10. The mega-size picturesque media facade used LED technology and projectors, inviting countless spectators to enter into a magical world of lights, video and music. It …

BEIJING: China will strengthen innovation-driven development, President Xi Jinping said Saturday while addressing the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services via video. China will move faster to cultivate new growth drivers for the digitalization of services trade, roll out pilot reform on basic systems for data, and promote the development of …

BEIJING: The China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) will bring huge business opportunities to enterprises from home and abroad seeking to tap into the vast Chinese market with their products and services. With the theme “opening up leads development, cooperation delivers the future,” the fair opened in Beijing on Saturday. The event has attracted over 2,200 enterprises and …

BEIJING: Companies listed on China’s A-share market maintained steady growth in the first half (H1) of 2023, data from the China Association for Public Companies showed. The combined operating revenue of listed companies reached 35.39 trillion yuan (about 4.93 trillion U.S. dollars) during the period, climbing 1.61 percent year on year. Their net profits stood at 3.19 trillion yuan, down …

BEIJING: China will share the achievements of the Chinese modernization drive while making joint efforts with the rest of the world to get the global economy onto the track of sustained recovery, President Xi Jinping noted Saturday. He made the remarks while addressing the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services via …

During the second day of the ongoing BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa the policy makers remarkably achieved one of the biggest goals by inviting Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, Egypt, Argentina and Ethiopia in the group which will hopefully further enhance its strategic orientation, socio-economic potential, financial integration, human capital, industrial cooperation, climate change and geopolitical significance in the days …

CAIRO: China is leading a global trend in making trade in services green and smart, and holding the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is a key step in this direction, said an Egyptian expert. “CIFTIS attracts visitors from all over the world, gaining greater international interest, popularity and turnout year after year,” said Abdel-Sattar Eshrah, secretary-general of …

YINCHUAN, China: After receiving a pass from his brother, Yang Baiqiang swiftly dribbled forward and netted a stunning buzzer-beater, securing Ningxia’s victory in the “CunBA” semifinals of the northwestern region on Wednesday. This win ensures his team, comprised of amateur players from a small village in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a spot in the national village basketball finals …

BEIJING: China will open wider in such services areas as telecommunications, tourism, law and vocational examinations, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday. Xi announced a series of measures for expanding the opening up of services sector while addressing the Global Trade in Services Summit of the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) via video. To make its …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has encouraged workers from an assembly factory of aero engines to promote the ethos of model workers and high standards of craftsmanship, and contribute to the country’s realization of greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military …

Aspartame is one of the most common artificial sweeteners added to “diet” drinks. Besides aspartame, some other commonly used sweeteners found in diet drinks include sucralose, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium. These sweeteners provide the taste of sweetness without adding significant calories to the drink. Whether diet drinks are a healthier alternative depends on the perspective and individual circumstances. Diet drinks …

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf expressed optimism about Pakistan doing well in the ongoing Asia Cup and upcoming World Cup. Expressing his thoughts in line with picking up wickets, Rauf said: “Being a pacer, I have many goals to serve my country with great verve. My focus remains not only on taking wickets but to perform in the right situation …

Noted singer Zara Noor Abbas is known for cherishing every moment of life and enjoys a massive fan following. As the diva is an avid social media user, she frequently shares her different adventures in life by dropping photos and various posts Zara posted a set of the uber-cool snaps on her Instagram account. She is seen putting on a purplish …

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday hearing a plea challenging the amendments remarked that the National Accountablity Beauru (NAB) law was misused against business figures. A three-member bench headed by CJP Bandial comprising Justice Ejazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Supremo Imran Khan’s petition challenging the NAB amendments during Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) …

The Punjab Emergency Services Department (ESD) has reported just under 1,100 road traffic collisions in the last 24 hours. According to the report, five people died and 1,130 were injured in 1,097 road accidents across all 37 districts of Punjab. Of these, 595 people sustained critical injuries and were put in urgent care at various hospitals across Punjab. The remaining …

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has sought the records of around 20 officers who are reportedly involved in corruption. The officers are currently working for the Capital Development Authority (CDA). According to an FIA report, around 20 CDA officers were found involved in corruption, money laundering, and record tampering. FIA has sought the financial details of the suspects. The investigation …

Renowned wicket-keeper batter, Mohammad Rizwan, has withdrawn from the much-awaited Big Bash League (BBL) just days before the draft on Sunday According to media reports, Mohammad Rizwan was set to be one of the platinum picks in the draft, which is scheduled to take place on September 3 in Australia. However, his commitments with the national team during the first …

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Friday took serious notice of the recent hike in electricity prices. Chairman Committee Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad said that this is a national crisis and many cases of suicide linked to the price hike have been reported in the country. The committee submitted a proposal to withdraw all taxes on electricity bills, …

In a bid to bolster research and development in virology and vaccine technology, ten fellowships have been bestowed upon scholars hailing from eight member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The ceremony, held at the Ministry of Health in Jakarta, Indonesia, marked a significant milestone in advancing scientific collaboration among OIC nations. These prestigious fellowships were awarded as …

Taking aspirin every day could lower the type 2 diabetes risk among people over 65, a study suggests. It found a 15% reduction in the condition and a slower rate of increase in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels – the preferred method for diagnosing diabetes. The results came after a 100mg daily dose was given to more than 8,000 people, …

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, said it will collect biometric data from its users in an update to its privacy policy. “Based on your consent, we may collect and use your biometric information for safety, security and identification purposes,” the company said. X did not specify what biometric information would be collected but the term typically …

About 61% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, an issue that impacts both low-wage and high-income families alike, according to new research from LendingClub. Low-wage earners are most likely to live paycheck to paycheck, with almost 8 in 10 consumers earning less than $50,000 a year unable to cover their future bills until their next paycheck arrives. Yet even …

The Pakistan Business Council (PBC), one of the country’s largest corporate advocacy platforms, warned that the ongoing rapid decline of rupee against the US dollar is “a perfect storm” for Pakistan. Taking to social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, it said that the exchange rate decline is attributable to a combination of factors. This includes “premature relaxation of …

Feeling the pinch of aggravating economic conditions, Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) and parts-maker Agriauto Industries Limited separately announced plant shutdowns on Friday. In its notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), PSMC said: “Due to shortage of inventory level, the management of the company has decided to shut-down its motorcycle plant from September 01, 2023 to September 12, 2023.” …

NEW DELHI/SYDNEY: Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Retail Ventures is in advanced talks with global investors to raise around $2.5 billion by the end of September, ahead of a potential stock market listing, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Three sources said the target fund raise of $2.5 billion is part of a combined $3.5 billion target the firm …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday dispelled rumours about holding an emergency meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), saying that such reports were “completely baseless”. “The reports making rounds in media about holding of an emergency meeting of the MPC of SBP are completely baseless,” the central bank said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The …

Pakistan’s headline inflation clocked in at 27.4% on a year-on-year basis in August, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Friday, marginally lower than the reading in July when it stood at 28.3%. On a month-on-month basis, it was up 1.7%. This takes 2MFY24’s average inflation to 27.85%, higher than 2MFY23’s average of 26.10%. The Consumer Price Index-based reading …

PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi was re-arrested by the Islamabad police on Friday, hours after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered his release. According to the capital police, the former Punjab chief minister was taken into custody on orders of the district magistrate under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO). “He is being shifted to jail,” it …

As Pakistan and India get ready to face each other tomorrow (Saturday) in their first encounter of the ongoing Asia Cup, cricket icon Virat Kohli already seems to be preparing his team for an intense clash as he is clearly not underestimating the Green Shirts. In a clip shared by India’s Star Sports channel of Kohli’s interview, titled ‘Prime Time …

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday announced that it has decided to shorten the timeframe of the delimitation of constituencies and will complete the process by November 30. Though it would still be a violation of the Constitution, which requires the conduct of polls within 90 days after the dissolution of assemblies, the ECP decision allays fears that …

Diplomatic missions in Islamabad were urged on Friday to “brief and encourage their countries” to profit from Pakistan’s rich resources in a bid to attract foreign investment to the country, the Foreign Office (FO) said. The development comes days after caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar directed the authorities concerned to accelerate the realisation of identified Special Investment Facilitation Council …