BEIJING: China’s industrial application of biological breeding has been advancing steadily, the country’s agricultural authorities have said. Major progress has been achieved in gene mining, genetic transformation, variety breeding, as well as safety evaluation and management, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a Q&A on Thursday. A number of genetically modified varieties, based on a full evaluation …

KIGALI: The Chinese government has this year provided 80 scholarships to Rwandan students to pursue their tertiary education in China, the highest number in recent years, an embassy official announced Wednesday. Among them, 75 students are to pursue master’s degrees, two doctorates and three bachelor’s degrees in science, technology and economics among other disciplines. Speaking at a farewell ceremony in …

CHONGQING: Two leading cultural heritage institutions in China and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting cooperation on cultural protection, with a particular focus on ancient cave temples. The Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing Friendly Relation and Cooperation was inked this week by China’s Academy of Dazu Rock Carvings and Pakistan’s Directorate of Archaeology and Museums of …

JOHANNESBURG: Chinese President Xi Jinping met here on Wednesday with Senegalese President Macky Sall on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit. Noting that Senegal is an important partner of China in Africa, Xi said that with joint efforts in recent years, the two countries have enjoyed ever-deepening political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields. Xi said that …

JOHANNESBURG: Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Wednesday that China will continue to firmly support Cuba in defending national sovereignty and opposing external interference and blockade. China will also try its best to provide support for Cuba’s economic and social development, said Xi in a meeting with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit. …

JOHANNESBURG: China is advancing Chinese modernization with its high-quality development, which will bring new opportunities to cooperation between China and Ethiopia, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday. China is a reliable friend and a true partner of Ethiopia, Xi said in a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit. He …

JOHANNESBURG: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called on China and Bangladesh to push for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and give full play to their economic complementarity. Xi, in his meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, also urged the two sides to step up cooperation in infrastructure, information technology, new energy …

Inflows through Roshan Digital Account (RDA) have reached nearly $6.5-billion by July-end, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said on Wednesday. The central bank shared that total number of RDA accounts opened has reached 596,268 from 585,885 a month ago in June-end. As per latest data available on SBP’s website, the cumulative RDA inflow clocked in at $6.49 billion by …

President Dr Arif Alvi has sought a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja today [Wednesday] or tomorrow “to fix an appropriate date” for the general elections. The president assented to a premature dissolution of the National Assembly on August 9, shortly after former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded the summary. After that, general elections in the country …

BERLIN: The German cabinet on Wednesday approved plans to shorten the path to citizenship for immigrants and allow more people to have dual nationality. Under the proposed new rules, which must still be approved by parliament, naturalisation in Germany would be possible after five years instead of eight as now. Those who are particularly well-integrated and have very good German …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday expressed China’s willingness to deepen solidarity and cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries to push for a more just and equitable world order. As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China breathes the same breath as other developing countries and pursues a shared future with them, and …

LANZHOU: A conference on the evolution of Silk Road civilization, climate change and environmental change was held on Wednesday in Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China’s Gansu Province, attracting over 200 experts from across the world. Scholars from countries such as China, Germany, Russia, Iran, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain and Mongolia gathered at the ANSO (Alliance of …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Wednesday asserted that under no circumstances would the country consider surrendering to terrorists as he renewed Pakistan’s resolve to continue its fight against extremism. The interim premier’s remarks come in the context of a skirmish with terrorists in the Asman Manza area of South Waziristan district where the military’s media wing had confirmed …

At least 17 workers died and more than 40 were trapped after a railway bridge under construction collapsed in India’s north-eastern state of Mizoram on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Sairang, 15km north of the state capital Aizawl, at about 11am, the government said. Police said the bridge was part of an Indian Railways project to connect all state capitals …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan moved the apex court against the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday, levelling serious allegations of “deep and settled bias” on the high court’s chief justice. The former prime minister in the petition alleged that he is being held in Attock jail after being “convicted on a cooked up and fabricated charge after a …

Pakistan Blind Cricket Team earned another big win at World Blind Games in Birmingham, United Kingdom, as they defeated Bangladesh by three wickets in their second match. Pakistan had defeated the arch-rivals India in the first match, and bowled out Bangladesh for 137 runs in the second match. Badar Munir and Matiullah took two wickets each for Pakistan. In the …

The US dollar maintained its historic high rate in the Pakistani currency market. Wednesday’s trading session opened with a further rise in the mighty currency. The dollar gained a further 50 paisas in the interbank market, as per currency dealers. They added that the greenback was being traded for Rs299.50 in the Interbank market. In the open market, the US …

The Supreme Court, while hearing the appeals of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in the Toshakhana case, has declared that the trial court’s decision in the case was incorrect in retrospect. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel heard the case. The CJP remarked …

People with high cholesterol levels usually avoid consumption of oil and ghee. But nutritionist Lovneet Batra challenges this idea in her latest Instagram post. She writes, “Contrary to popular belief, ghee, when consumed in moderation, can be a part of a healthy diet without adversely affecting cholesterol levels.” According to Batra, medicated ghee in higher amounts reduces cholesterol, triglycerides, and …

The Inland Revenue Department of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has launched a crackdown against the mispricing of cigarettes and impounded 650 cartons of cigarettes from a leading multinational cigarette manufacturing company. The FBR’s Inland Revenue has taken the lead against the cigarette manufacturers involved in less payment of the federal excise duty (FED) through the phenomenon of mispricing …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has advised all commercial and microfinance banks to start the facility for customers to pay their duties and levy for registration and unblocking of mobile phones at their branches located within the territorial jurisdiction of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit- Baltistan. The banking regulator issued these directives in a view to ensure that …

The Indonesian Embassy in Islamabad hosted an event to celebrate Pakistani students who have won scholarships to study in Indonesia. The scholarships, which are part of the Dharmasiswa cultural exchange program, cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. In his speech at the event, Indonesian Ambassador, Adam Tugio, congratulated the students and said that Pakistan has the most students receiving these …

An audacious group of Afghan criminals brazenly kidnapped a businessman, his elderly mother, and accompanying individuals during broad daylight in F-10 Markaz, Islamabad. The incident took place at approximately 12:15 pm, leaving witnesses and locals stunned by the audacity of the criminals. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Nasir Akbar said that the motive behind the abduction might be rooted in …

ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Reaza Amiri Moghaddam said that Pakistan and Iran’s bilateral relations have a resounding future and they have a great potential to achieve high goals in era of geo-economics. Speaking at Islamabad Policy Research Institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series, titled ‘Diplomatic Reflections’ under the theme of Iran-Pakistan Relations, Reaza Amiri urged upon to tap all the …

BEIJING: “The hope and foundation of the China-U.S. relationship lie in the people, and its future lies in the youths,” Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his reply to a letter from the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association and friendly personages from all walks of life in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington. Xi’s heartfelt reply has deeply resonated …

SACRAMENTO, the United States: Two physics professors at Stanford University have called on the U.S. government to renew an agreement with China on scientific and technology cooperation. “The United States should renew the Protocol … because it is in the best interests of the United States,” said Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson in an open letter to U.S. President Joe …

JOHANNESBURG: The BRICS mechanism inspires more countries to come together and work towards a more just and inclusive world order, said Kenneth Creamer, a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. Since its inception, the BRICS countries have been committed to improving trade and cooperation, and have successfully achieved this goal, Creamer told Xinhua in a recent interview. In …

XINING: The management bureau of Sanjiangyuan National Park in northwest China’s Qinghai Province released a master plan on Wednesday, with an aim to ensure further protection of the park. With 2021 as the base year, the plan covers the period from 2023 to 2030. According to the plan, by 2030, the grassland vegetation coverage of the park will increase to …

HANGZHOU: With just 30 days left before the 19th Asian Games open in Hangzhou, China, nations and regions across Asia eagerly anticipate the upcoming sports event. Yasuhiro Inomata, deputy secretary-general of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee, expressed high hopes for the Hangzhou Asian Games, believing they will undoubtedly be a success. “Every venue is fantastic, and the staff as …

XI’AN: For farmer Song Naihong, July and August are usually a slack period after the summer harvest. However, she rarely has time to relax. Wearing a vest-style uniform with a badge bearing her English name “Emily,” she skillfully operates the bean grinder and coffee machine at the Two Tree Coffee in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, and completes the latte art …

URUMQI: Loaded with goods such as walnuts and steel pipes, five vehicles bearing TIR signs departed from northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for Pakistan on Tuesday. Their departure marks the first TIR transport operation between China and Pakistan since they established diplomatic relations in 1951. The move enriches Xinjiang’s cross-border transportation and opens up a new international logistics route …

Most recently, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has completed its first ten years. It was introduced by the Chinese president Xi Jinping back in 2013. It is now “responsible” for a new era of transit routes, trade, and growth for economies in Asia, Central Asia, ASEAN, Africa, EU and around the world. The CPEC flagship project of the BRI has …

COPENHAGEN: Tokyo Olympic champion Chen Yufei began her fifth World Championships with a strong start as the third seed overcame Pai Yu Po of Chinese Taipei in straight games on Tuesday, setting her sights on her maiden world title. Last year in Tokyo, the 25-year-old reached the world championships final but was defeated by Japanese standout Akane Yamaguchi. In her …

CHONGQING: Over 100 cultural heritage conservation experts and scholars from home and abroad recently gathered in southwest China’s Chongqing for a forum which focused on cave temple conservation. The first International Forum on Cave Temple Conservation was held from Aug. 19 to 21 in Chongqing’s Dazu District, home to the renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site Dazu Rock Carvings. The Dazu …

TIANJIN: Deals for 19 projects involving a total investment of 4.9 billion yuan (about 673 million U.S. dollars) were signed Tuesday at a cross-Strait trade fair in north China’s port city of Tianjin. The four-day Tianjin-Taiwan trade fair attracted about 300 people from Taiwan, including officials and entrepreneurs, with an aim to build an investment platform for Taiwan enterprises and …

BEIJING: China’s trade with Africa reported steady growth in the first seven months of the year, official data showed Wednesday. Trade between China and Africa rose 7.4 percent year on year to 1.14 trillion yuan (about 158.36 billion U.S. dollars) during the January-July period, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner over …

BEIJING: China’s output of early rice rose 0.8 percent year on year to reach 28.34 million tonnes in 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics said Wednesday. The sown area of early rice dropped 0.5 percent from a year earlier to 4.73 million hectares, but the yield per hectare increased 1.2 percent to 5,987 kg per hectare, the bureau said. “The …

CAIRO: China is witnessing rapid urbanization and integrated development in all fields, making the country a unique development model worldwide, said Egyptian expert Abu Bakr al-Deeb in a recent interview with Xinhua. Al-Deeb, an advisor to the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research and Studies, has recently returned from what he described as “a very fruitful visit” to China, during which …

BEIJING: China’s top securities regulator has specified an array of initiatives aimed at invigorating the capital market and boosting investor confidence to stabilize market expectations. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said Friday it would accelerate reform at the investment end, make listed companies more attractive for investment, and optimize and improve trading mechanisms. This will be done by implementing 25 …

PRETORIA: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, agreed on Tuesday to push for greater development of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era. During their talks, Xi called on both sides to be strategic partners of high-level mutual trust, adding that “camaraderie and brotherhood” are the true quality of bilateral ties. China …