BEIJING: 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 August 21 to 24, at the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the announcement Friday. While in South Africa, President Xi Jinping …

President Arif Alvi on Thursday administered oath to members of newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s cabinet. The oath-taking ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran at the President House in Islamabad, which was attended by Kakar, Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and others. According to a list of cabinet members issued by the Presidency, …

Baluchistan Wheels Limited (BWHL), a manufacturer of steel wheels for automobiles, has said it will shut production activities till August 31 due to a drop in sales. The company, engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of automotive wheel rims for trucks, buses, tractors, cars and mini commercial vehicles, shared the development in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) …

Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Moshin Naqvi on Thursday said that “both main accused” in yesterday’s Jaranwala rampage when a mob torched several churches, ransacked Christian homes and vandalised a graveyard were now in the custody of the Counter Terrorism Department. On Wednesday, a violent mob of hundreds had ransacked and torched several churches while also attacking the residences of members …

Health issues in this modern and fast-paced life are a common sight; thanks to the sedentary lifestyle, stress and anxiety that surrounds us. One of the most common conditions that humans tend to suffer from is deficiency of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that is present in the red blood cells, and is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the …

Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi assumed responsibilities as the country’s 32nd foreign secretary on Thursday, replacing Asad Majeed Khan who retired from government service upon attaining superannuation, Radio Pakistan reported. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Foreign Office (FO) stated, “Ambassador Syrus Qazi has assumed responsibilities as the 32nd foreign secretary of Pakistan.” The FO further said, “Ambassador Qazi …

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian arrived on Thursday in Riyadh, his first official Saudi trip since a landmark rapprochement in March, state media reported. A Chinese-brokered deal saw the long-time rivals agreeing to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies Iran and Saudi Arabia had severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in the Islamic republic were attacked …

The Punjab Information and Culture Department (PICD) Thursday decided to ban all commercial theatres and related activities that have been taking place for the last many years on the premises of Lahore Arts Council (LAC) at the Alhamra Art Centre. Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Amir Mir, in this regard, has issued a comprehensive prohibition on all commercial theater …

WhatsApp has an official app for Wear OS 3, allowing users to stay connected on their smartwatches. Whether you’re out for a run or find it inconvenient to take out your phone, your Wear OS smartwatch can now help you manage your messages. Here’s a guide to using WhatsApp on your smartwatch. Wear OS 3 users received access to the …

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will not charge tax on agricultural property excluding farmhouses under section 7E of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001. Through circular number 3 of 2023, the FBR has explained the applicability of section 7E on farmhouses. Excluding the farmhouses and the land annexed thereto constructed on agricultural land, self-owned agriculture property where agriculture activities are …

ZHENGZHOU: Over the summer break, a wave of fashionably dressed young people flocked to Kaifeng in central China’s Henan Province to explore the city that was the ancient capital of eight dynasties through a trendy “Citywalk” They eagerly shared fresh perspectives and travel encounters on various social media platforms, adding new layers of appreciation to the city’s rich tapestry. “Citywalk,” …

BUDAPEST: China’s Olympic champion Gong Lijiao says she is going all out for her third women’s shot put world title in the 2023 World Athletics Championships, which opens on August 19. The 34-year-old failed to defend her title last year in Oregon as Chase Ealey threw 20.49 meters to secure gold for the United States, leaving Gong to settle for …

BEIJING: The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Thursday to study and arrange work on flood prevention and relief as well as post-disaster restoration and reconstruction. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech. The meeting noted …

BRUGELETTE, Belgium: The Chinese Embassy in Belgium and the Belgian Pairi Daiza Zoo jointly organized a ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate the 4th birthday of the Belgium-born giant panda twins Bao Di and Bao Mei. As part of the ceremony, Bao Di and Bao Mei moved into their new enclosure. Cao Zhongming, Chinese ambassador to Belgium, Eric Domb, founder and …

BEIJING: The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country’s economic planner, Wednesday publicized policies and measures to promote Hongqiao international opening-up hub to a higher level. The core functions of the Hongqiao International Central Business District (CBD) will be strengthened, according to a circular released by the NDRC. The district will vigorously develop a high-level headquarters economy, a high-traffic …

SHENZHEN: Few individuals have shown greater enthusiasm for the culinary arts than Tian Zeyu, a chef hailing from southwest China’s Guizhou Province. This culinary master has been celebrated for his inventive take on modern regional cuisine. One of the most sought-after dishes at his restaurant in downtown Shenzhen incorporates Bolognese pasta and aromatic Guizhou cured sausage, with a touch of …

HAIKOU: Following China’s Village Basketball Competition and Village Super League, “CunVA,” or village volleyball, has become the latest sports fever arising from China’s vast countryside. Concluding Sunday night in Wenchang in the island province of Hainan, the one-and-half-month volleyball league has taken the city — a rising tourist boomtown famous for its space launch center — by storm. The event …

BEIJING: The People’s Bank of China, the central bank, announced Wednesday that it decided to provide 35 billion yuan (4.86 billion U.S. dollars) in new loans to commercial banks to support small and micro-sized enterprises and agriculture and rural areas affected by disasters. In a statement, the central bank said that the new loans would cover six regions, including the …

KUNMING: The seventh China-South Asia Expo kicked off Wednesday in Kunming, capital city of southwest China’s Yunnan Province. More than 30,000 exhibitors, representatives and guests from 85 countries and regions, and international organizations, are expected to attend both online and offline activities during the five-day expo. The expo, themed “Solidarity and Coordination for Common Development,” has set up 15 exhibition …

BEIJING: China’s economy continues to recover with rebound generally on a sound track, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday, noting that China remains an important engine for world economic growth. Wang made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a few Western politicians and media’s worries on China’s economic slowdown, which they claimed may pose …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday made further arrangements for work to be undertaken for the rest of the year to achieve the annual work goals and concretely promote high-quality development. Presiding over the second plenary meeting of the State Council, the cabinet, Li said that the government will fully implement the policy decisions and arrangements of the Communist …

STOCKHOLM: The projects proposed by China under its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have brought tangible benefits to the countries and peoples of Europe and helped debunk the so-called “decoupling and de-risking” fallacies, a Swedish expert told Xinhua in a recent interview. From the Port of Piraeus in Greece to the Bar-Boljare highway in Montenegro, from the Peljesac Bridge in …

The United States has said that it looks forward to working with the new caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar as Pakistan prepares to hold elections. During a press briefing, United States Department spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked about Washington’s perspective on the new prime minister of Pakistan and the caretaker government’s responsibility to hold elections in the next 90 days. …

At least two terrorists were killed in an intelligence-based operation by security forces in Razmak area of North Waziristan district, Radio Pakistan reported. The report quoted a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) that said the killed terrorists were actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as extortion and target killing of innocent citizens. “Weapons and …

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, the much-revered qawwal, passed away on August 16, 1997 due to cardiac arrest. However, he leaves behind a legacy of greatness, and continues to be remembered for his mesmerising voice. Born October 13, 1948 in Faisalabad, Pakistan, Nusrat Fateh Ali’s family had been qawwals those well-versed in the devotional poetry of Sufism for six centuries. …

NEW DELHI: India approved plans on Wednesday to deploy 10,000 electric buses in 169 cities, along with charging and associated infrastructure facilities, at an estimated cost of nearly 580 billion rupees ($7 billion) for a decade. The federal government will fund 200 billion rupees ($2.4 billion) of the cost of the scheme, based on a public-private partnership model, but it …

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met with Saudi ambassador H.E. Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmad Al-Malkiy on Wednesday and assured him that the recently-established Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) would continue working as before and lay the foundation for accelerated foreign investment, especially from Saudi Arabia. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier mentioned potential areas of collaboration in this …

The Islamabad High Court will take up an appeal filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan currently incarcerated in Attock Jail against his conviction and sentence in the Toshakhana case on August 22 next week. A division bench, comprising IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, will take up the hearing. On August 5, a trial court in …

Pakistani actress and model Minsa Malik filed an FIR against renowned actress Alizeh Shah, as she was found “high” on the sets of a drama serial. In an exclusive statement provided to media, Minsa Malik revealed that the incident occurred during the filming of an upcoming drama serial The situation unfolded while the camera was recording, with Minsa actively participating …

In a bittersweet moment for cricket enthusiasts across Pakistan as left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz on Wednesday announced his retirement from international cricket. Wahab extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board, his family, teammates, and the ever-loyal fans who stood by him through thick and thin. He affirmed his commitment to continue showcasing his skills in league cricket, …

Is the biological age of your heart higher than your chronological age? In that case, you could be more prone to cardiovascular diseases and would have to do an immediate course correction to reverse it. And all you need to map your heart is a simple electrocardiogram (ECG), where 12 leads can record its electrical activity and relative health. So …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) allowed on Wednesday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar to go home, suspending the MPO orders issued against both PTI leaders. IHC Justice Babar Sattar took up their pleas today and ordered their release. However, the court has barred them from going outside the capital’s limits, while also asking them to refrain …

Legendary pacer, Wasim Akram, criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for omitting Imran Khan in a celebratory video on the 77th Independence Day. Days after the release of the video, highlighting the achievement of the team, Akram expressed that the PCB should apologize to Imran Khan for the omission in the video. “I was shocked when I watched PCB’s brief …

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to launch Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Sources said that PTA has decided to launch DIRBS in GB and AJK from 1st September 2023 and arrangements in this regard have been completed. PTA officials stated that the aim of launching this system in AJK …

Names of 10 people have been cleared for their inclusion as ministers in the caretaker cabinet of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it has been learnt. The cabinet members are expected to take oath this week, sources said, as efforts for the formation of the caretaker cabinet for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accelerate. The 10 names cleared for inclusion in the new caretaker cabinet include …

A constitutional plea has been formally submitted to the Lahore High Court, advocating for the prohibition of the renowned social media platform, TikTok. The petitioner contends that the incessant dissemination of indecent material on the platform is detrimentally impacting the younger generation. The plea, initiated by an individual named Rana Usman Anwar, was brought forth under the guidance of Advocate …

India has released 141,000 cusecs of water from the Pong Dam. As per the PDMA, a medium- to high-level flood is expected at Ganda Singh in Sutlej River in the next 24 hours. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, India released 141,000 cusecs of water from the Pong Dam built on the Beas River. Moreover, the spokesman said 83,703 …

The consultations for the formation of a new caretaker federal cabinet have completed, according to sources. Reportedly, the caretaker prime minister has decided to include neutral and professional people in the new cabinet The caretaker federal cabinet is expected to be short. The names of six bureaucrats and technocrats are under consideration for their inclusion in the cabinet. Sources said …

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Monday registered 18 more deaths from dengue, the second highest in a 24-hour count since January, taking the toll from the disease this year to 416, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported. The total number of dengue fever cases has reached 87,891 since January in the South Asian country. Amid the rising dengue cases, hospitals …

BEIJING: Bart Vlaar, a Dutch mathematician, eagerly anticipates the arrival of his family in September. They will live with him in a modern sci-tech park, which was built on a former cement plant on the outskirts of Beijing. Vlaar and his colleagues in the Yanqi Lake Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications moved into the park in May. They …