JOHANNESBURG: The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) expects that the upcoming BRICS summit can boost tourism revenue of the country. TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa told Xinhua in an interview that they are looking to the summit to bring in more tourists. “It’s a major event. We’re expecting it to boost our tourism. The booking of conference space, restaurants, …

BEIJING: At the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa and pay a state visit to South Africa from Aug. 21 to 24. While in South Africa, President Xi will co-chair with President Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue. DISCUSSING …

BEIJING: Lai Ching-te’s recent “stopover” trips through the United States ended up receiving a lukewarm response. Despite the stunts he pulled and the demagoguery he preached, it has never been more clear that Lai works indeed, as he claimed, for “Taiwan independence” and is a true troublemaker. Since entering the political arena in the 1990s, Lai has been crafting an …

BEIJING: China’s orbiting Tiangong space station, which functions as a national space laboratory, has been put into operation, pushing forward space applications and achieving fruitful results, according to the China Manned Space Agency. A total of 110 in-orbit science research and application projects have been implemented, involving space life science and human body research, microgravity physics, and new space technologies, …

BANGKOK: Thailand is stepping up construction of the China-Thailand railway in an effort to further develop domestic infrastructure, improve competitiveness, and enhance regional connectivity, according to deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul on Thursday. Traisuree in a statement quoted Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying during his inspection of the China-Thailand railway construction project that the collaboration between the two …

NANJING: The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Saturday launched joint air and sea patrols and military exercises of the navy and air force around the island of Taiwan. The patrols and exercises are meant to train the coordination of military vessels and airplanes and their ability to seize control of air and sea spaces, said …

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Friday commemorated the 20th anniversary of the suicide bombing of its headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 UN personnel. At a brief ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, Atul Khare, the UN undersecretary-general for the Department of Operational Support, laid a wreath in front of a plaque for the 2003 bombing. …

Three brothers died and their four siblings were hospitalised on Friday after consuming poisonous mushrooms in the Alpuri tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district, according to officials and relatives. Dr Sajjad Khan, the deputy medical superintendent of Alpuri’s district headquarters hospital confirmed the cause of death of the two brothers to Dawn.com. Their father, Bakhshi Rehman, also confirmed the same …

The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on Friday “strongly condemned” the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to conduct fresh delimitation and “delay elections” beyond the constitutional limit of 90 days. On Thursday, the electoral watchdog released the schedule of delimitation for provincial and national constituencies. According to it, the ECP expects to complete the delimitation exercise by December 14. The …

Newly appointed caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said on Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan was “solely” responsible for holding elections, not the interim government. “Elections are the responsibility of the ECP. Whether they choose to conduct them in 90 days or in February, we will not prolong our stay even by a single minute,” he said during a …

At least 86 Christian homes and 19 churches in Pakistan were vandalised when a Muslim mob rampaged through the streets over alleged blasphemy this week, the head of Punjab provincial police, Usman Anwar, said Friday. “The events that unfolded were tragic. Violence like this can never be justified,” he said, adding that he will travel to the city of Jaranwala …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said on Friday that the interim set-up will try to ensure financial discipline. Addressing the maiden meeting of the newly-inducted 24-member interim cabinet, Kakar said he was “proud” to have “one of the best teams”. “I am hopeful that Almighty Allah will enable us to lead and steer this nation in this interim period,” he …

Pak Suzuki Motor Company (PSMC) announced another shutdown of its motorcycle plant from August 18 to August 31. In a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday, it said: “Due to shortage of inventory level, the management of the company has decided to shut-down motorcycle plant from August 18, 2023 to August 31, 2023.” Meanwhile, the automobile plant …

BEIJING/JOHANNESBURG: In March 2013, as part of his maiden foreign tour as China’s head of state, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Africa and attended the 5th BRICS Summit held in South Africa, where he put forward the guiding principles of China’s Africa policy, and expounded on his visions for enhancing the BRICS mechanism. Ten years later, the BRICS Summit will …

BEIJING: Hao Changyou, a rice farmer in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, felt immense gratitude toward the agricultural experts who came to his aid, rescuing his rice plants after recent floods devastated his paddy fields. “The professional guidance and assistance filled me with confidence in saving my crops,” Hao said. Since the beginning of August, the country’s top grain production province …

Bollywood couple Hrithik Roshan and Saba Azad, who often turn heads with their public appearances together, were recently spotted at the Mumbai airport as they returned from a vacation. Hrithik and Saba have been dating for some time now, and they often express their love for each other on social media. In a video shared by a paparazzo on Instagram, …

What we eat directly influences our health and even our weight. Eating nutritious foods can ensure your stay fit. However on the other hand, certain foods can lead you to gain weight. You might be consuming these foods without realising how bad they are for your health. Read on as we discuss foods that are causing you to gain weight. …

Well-known Pakistani actress Alizeh Shah has addressed the accusations brought forth by fellow actress Minsa Malik. The controversy arose when Minsa Malik filed a police complaint against Alizeh Shah, alleging instances of torture and threats during their work together. Ms Malik claimed that Alizeh Shah subjected her to physical torture, throwing a burning cigarette and hitting her with shoes during a …

Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar raised concerns on Friday over potential foreign involvement in the recent tragic incident in Jaranwala, where a violent mob wreaked havoc by torching five churches. In an exclusive interview, IGP Anwar indicated that the timing and calculated actions of the main suspects in the incident have raised suspicions of a well-coordinated …

Ali Mardan Domki has been selected as Balochistan’s caretaker chief minister by a parliamentary panel on Friday. According to reports, the parliamentary committee of Balochistan appointed the caretaker chief minister to oversee the transition period after days of deliberation and intense negotiations between the ruling party and the opposition. A summary, in this regard, has also been approved by Governor Balochistan …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Friday fixed the plea for hearing seeking to issue classified part volume 10 of the report compiled by a six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court (SC) to investigate into the Sharif family’s offshore assets as revealed by Panama Papers. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial …

In a major setback to the government’s plans to appoint trade officers in foreign countries, more than 60 percent of candidates have failed the written tests for the 40 available positions, according to recent reports. Reports revealed that out of a total of 262 candidates who took the written test for the trade officer posts, only 101 managed to pass. …

In a decision aimed at safeguarding human health and the environment, the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government has officially prohibited the use, sale, manufacture, and transportation of plastic bottles within the region. This landmark move comes after a high-level meeting on Thursday presided over by the  GB Chief Secretary and attended by prominent officials including the Inspector General and Home Secretary. The …

In a significant development that will have far-reaching implications for Pakistan’s political landscape, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the postponement of the upcoming elections. The commission said that holding elections within the constitutional timeframe of 90 days is not feasible. One of the primary reasons behind this decision is the implementation of a new delimitation process following …

Road accidents are becoming perilously common across Punjab. According to a recent report, a total of 1,107 accidents occurred across all 37 districts of Punjab in the last 24 hours, injuring 1,143 and killing 10 people. Out of all injury reports, 565 victims were reported to be seriously injured while 578 were reported to have sustained minor injuries that were …

Khyber Medical University (KMU) in Peshawar has taken stringent action against harassment and corruption within its ranks. A Grade 18 lecturer at KMU has been compelled to resign following allegations and subsequent findings of harassment. This incident follows the recent dismissal of a Grade 21 professor on charges of plagiarism, reinforcing the university’s commitment to academic integrity. The university’s Anti-Harassment Committee …

Pakistan Army Rescues Foreign Climbers Who Were Trapped for Days. The Pakistan Army conducted a successful rescue operation that saved the lives of six foreign climbers trapped for days on the unforgiving peak of Concordia. The rescue mission was initiated in response to a call from the stranded mountaineers, which included four British nationals, one Polish climber, and their local …

In his first cabinet meeting, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar expressed on Friday his resolute commitment to steering Pakistan towards a path of progress and development during his tenure. Addressing the first meeting of the newly elected cabinet, Mr Kakar highlighted the nation’s rich agricultural and natural resources, underscoring his determination to honor both domestic and international commitments. “Pakistan …

ACCRA: The defense chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Thursday gathered in Ghana’s capital of Accra to discuss plans for the deployment of a standby force to Niger. A two-day extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff opened here from Thursday to Friday following the directives by the leadership of ECOWAS …

BEIJING: China has agreed to resume beef imports from South Africa, recognizing some regions in South Africa as Foot-and-Mouth-Disease (FMD)-free zones and allowing these regions to export beef products to China, the General Administration of Customs announced Friday. According to the announcement, the resumption was revealed by the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs …

BEIJING: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with the visiting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Beijing on Friday. Han hailed the time-honored cooperation between China and Denmark that bears fruitful outcomes. He said that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership, and the two countries’ governments will …

NAIROBI: Rigathi Gachagua, deputy president of Kenya, met with Fu Hua, president of Xinhua News Agency, here on Thursday, with both sides pledging to strengthen media cooperation. Gachagua said this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and China, and that the two countries have steadily advanced practical cooperation and enjoyed increasingly close people-to-people …

BEIJING: China has marked a new milestone in the history of its summer box office, with staggering earnings of 17.8 billion yuan (about 2.47 billion U.S. dollars) in the 2023 summer movie season as of Friday morning. Figures from the China Film Administration revealed that box office revenue for this year’s summer moviegoing period, which runs from the beginning of …

OTTAWA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau convened an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the wildfire crisis in the Northwest Territories, local media reported. Mass evacuation of areas in the territory is ongoing, including the capital city of Yellowknife, the territory’s largest community with a population of more than 20,000. Residents were ordered to leave by noon Friday. The territory …

NEW YORK: U.S. gas prices surged to an average of 3.87 U.S. dollars a gallon nationally on Thursday, the highest level in 10 months, data showed. That’s 31 cents higher than a month ago, but still below the record high of 5.02 dollars in June 2022, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA). California has been on the top of …

GUIYANG: Nine people were killed and two others injured after a fire broke out early Friday at an inn in Liping County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, said the local emergency management authority. The incident occurred at an inn with a brick-and-concrete structure at around 1:02 a.m. Friday in Zhaoxing Township. The fire was extinguished at around 1:35 a.m. An investigation …

SHANGHAI: U.S. fast-food chain Popeyes will open 10 stores in the Chinese market this year and add no fewer than 1,700 branches in the next 10 years, said Lu Yongchen, CEO of Tim Hortons China, which in March acquired the exclusive rights to develop and sub-franchise the fried chicken brand on the Chinese mainland and in Macao. Tim Hortons, a …

BUDAPEST: Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) vice director Wang Nan was elected as a World Athletics Council member for the second term at the 54th World Athletics Congress in Budapest on Thursday. Nearly 500 delegates from 195 member associations took part in the Congress and voted for a new council. Wang became the first Asian woman to be elected council member …

GUIYANG: Over an impressive span of 25 years, Xiao Zhijin, 61, has cultivated a deep bond with the Francois’ leaf monkeys inhabiting the Mayanghe National Nature Reserve, nestled in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. Also known as Francois’ langurs, the species is one of China’s most endangered wild animals and also features in the International Union for Conservation of Nature red …

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations on Thursday warned that 2023 is set to become another year of high death tolls and injuries for aid workers due to conflict and insecurity in countries such as South Sudan. So far this year, 62 aid workers have been killed in crises around the world, 84 have been wounded and 34 kidnapped, the UN …