BEIJING: China has made sustained efforts to combat desertification over the years, putting the brakes on desert expansion and contributing to global ecological conservation. During the 2012-2022 period, China’s accumulative afforestation area reached 960 million mu (64 million hectares), while 165 million mu of grassland was improved, and more than 12 million mu of wetlands were added or restored, official …

WASHINGTON: Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said here Wednesday that China is a source of rare stability and much-needed certainty in this chaotic world, and Beijing is always open to dialogue with Washington. Xie made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at an event hosted by the U.S.-China Business Council to welcome him as China’s new …

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said there were vast opportunities for cooperation between Pakistan and the Middle Eastern countries in diverse areas. Addressing a conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said Pakistan could modernise its agriculture sector by attracting a sizeable investment from Middle Eastern countries. He said “we have to create a Green Revolution …

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to allocate Rs160.8 billion for the National Highways Authority (NHA) under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2023-24. Official documents revealed that Rs106.27 billion has been proposed for 66 ongoing projects, Rs10 billion for three VGF for BOT schemes and Rs44.5 billion for 44 new projects for 2023-24. The total proposed allocations included Rs147.7 …

Meta Platforms on Thursday introduced WhatsApp Channels, a feature that the social media giant said would help make the app a “private broadcast messaging product.” Users in Colombia and Singapore will be the first to receive access to Channels. Over the coming months, Meta will expand the availability of the tool for users in more countries, it said. The company …

Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Syed Amin Ul Haque, and a delegation from Huawei Pakistan, led by CEO Ethan Sun, held discussions on various important topics, including emerging technologies, the digital future of Pakistan, and the improvement of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the country. In addition to the minister and the Huawei delegation, the meeting …

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) has approved a 282 million dollar grant for Tuberculosis and Malaria control program in Pakistan. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the grant was approved for Pakistan after approval from the technical review committee of the Global Fund. On the occasion, Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel appreciated the teamwork …

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi has accused the ruling PPP of forcing its political allies out of the city’s mayorship election scheduled for June 15, 2023, vowing to outplay the rival party with a surprise. “The JI will foil the PPP’s conspiracy to keep its allies out of polls for the city mayor,” JI Karachi Chief, Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman told …

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced $16.4 million in additional development and humanitarian assistance to Sindh’s flood affectees. As per a statement released on Tuesday by USAID, the US federal government agency responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, said the funding “will reach over 20 million flood-affected individuals to assist in their recovery, risk …

ROSES, Spain: Spain’s elBulli, repeatedly voted the world’s best restaurant before it closed over a decade ago, is set to reopen as a museum dedicated to the culinary revolution it sparked. Nestled in an isolated cove on Spain’s northeastern tip, the museum is dubbed ‘elBulli1846’ – a reference to the 1,846 dishes ground-breaking chef Ferran Adria says were developed at …

Battling one of its worst economic crises in history, Pakistani authorities are set to present the federal budget for fiscal year 2023-24 on Friday. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar will be seen juggling between keeping the International Monetary Fund (IMF) onboard for a teetering bailout programme Pakistan so desperately needs, and pacifying the public that is dealing with the repercussions of …

QUETTA: Balochistan’s planning minister has lost his job while the chief secretary was expected to suffer the same fate as a consequence of attending the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday. The council, chaired by the prime minister, includes the federal finance minister and chief ministers of all four provinces. However, this year, Balochistan CM Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo …

The United States has called on Pakistan to grant consular access to Khadija Shah, a prominent fashion designer and granddaughter of former army chief Asif Nawaz Janjua who was detained after the violence on May 9 in the aftermath of Imran Khan’s arrest. Khadija, who has Pakistani as well as American citizenships, was arrested on May 23 in a case …

RAWALPINDI: An eight-member security team from Saudi Arabia’s General Aviation Civil Aviation (GACA) has arrived in Pakistan for a three-week visit. The objective of the visit is to evaluate the security measures taken for direct flights from Pakistani airports to Saudi Arabia. A spokesman for the CAA said that the high level Saudi delegation visited the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority …

PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, on Wednesday responded to a notice issued to her by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Al-Qadir Trust case and said that she did not have information about the settlement between the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and property tycoon Malik Riaz. The accountability watchdog had directed Bushra Bibi and the PTI …

KARACHI: There is no authentic data available on the massive quantity of solid waste including plastic trash generated in Karachi daily; owing to which it is very difficult to devise an effective plan to deal with this hazardous issue of the city. This was stated by the speakers including environmentalists who spoke at a seminar on plastic pollution organized by …

LAHORE: In a joint operation, Lahore Police and the Punjab Safe Cities Authority have successfully apprehended an individual involved in illegal arms Carriers. According to details, through live monitoring and vigilant checking of the safe city cameras and social media monitoring a suspicious armed person was captured. Upon identification by the Safe Cities surveillance, the police arrested Abdullah, who was …

LAHORE: In an operation against encroachment of parking spaces, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) removed impediments from Doctors Hospital to Khoker Chowk at Johar Town on Tuesday. As per the details shared by the LDA, more than 35 shop sheds, boards and outside floors were demolished and more than 20 properties were sealed. During the operation, sheds, boards and other …

A major obstacle to Pakistan football team’s participation in this month’s South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup was cleared on Wednesday when the All India Football Federation (AIFF) received clearance from the Indian government to host the Pakistan football team. Reliable sources in both Indian and Pakistan football have confirmed to this correspondent that the Indian Ministers of Sports, Interior …

Actress Sonly Segal On Wednesday, businessman Ashesh L tied the knot with Sajnani. The actress managed to keep the news of her marriage a secret. A while back, Sonali, who is known for Payar Ka Panchanama, took to social media and shared her first picture with Ashesh after her marriage. The pictures look straight out of a fairy tale. The …

When asked which was his favorite steed, Jimmy said: “If I say it out loud, it won’t win again!” Betting superstition suggests that sharing which horse you have placed your bet on will reduce your chances of winning. Jockeys on horseback dash from the start of the race in the Singapore Airlines International Cup at the Singapore Turf Club on …

“It’s supposed to be a happy day when our kids walk across the stage and get their diplomas,” he said, explaining how Tuesday’s graduates “were photographed walking out the door on the arms of their families and friends.” And then this tragedy happened. “ Kamras was disgusted by the violence. “I’m tired of seeing people get shot, our kids get …

A sun-kissed but breezy Parisian afternoon Novak Djokovic Broke one of Rafael Nadal French Open A record for reaching the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. A straight-sets 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas on Sunday ensured Djokovic reached the last eight at the French Open for a record 17th time over 16-seeded absentee Rafael Nadal. The win moved …

Even small ones, your long-term health and longevity can suffer,” highlights Monique. Things to keep in mind while taking supplements The right supplements can help fill nutritional gaps. But before running out to buy a bunch of supplements, there are a few things to consider: We are genetically adapted to obtain nutrients from food. There is a difference between the …

LAHORE: Punjab Anti-Corruption registered a case against Farhat Shahzadi alias Farah Gogi and former chief minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar and former first lady Bushra Bibi’s son Ibrahim Maneka in the alleged transfer posting case. A few names from bureaucracy including Tahir Khurshid aka TK (former chief secretary of Punjab), Ahmed Aziz Tarar (DMG officer), Saleha Saeed (former deputy commissioner …

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) granted bail application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Ali Muhammad arrested, who was detained under 3-MPO, against Rs0.1 million surety bonds. During the hearing, Peshawar High Court (PHC) judge Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that those who had not hold a press conference were arrested, while on the other hand, those who hold a press conference …

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has ordered the Civil Hospital administration to begin treatment of transgender patients today. The court was hearing a case related to the alleged refusal of the Civil Hospital to treat transgender persons suffering from HIV-AIDS. The court ruled that there should be no discrimination against the transgender persons. Transgender activists and the additional superintendent of …

LAHORE: A case has been registered against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Shaheed Jameel Kakar Police Station, in Quetta over murder of drive-by shooting of Abdul Razzaq Shar. Police included clauses of the murder including the provisions of act of murder and terrorism. The FIR was lodged on the application of the son of the slain advocate of …

Undoubtedly, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has the potential to open up new development pathways through infrastructure development, stimulating investment and job creation and promoting economic transformation in Ethiopia. Under BRI China is cooperating with Ethiopia in infrastructure, green economy, agriculture and industrial park construction. All these mega projects are producing remarkable results, helping Ethiopia to rank among the …

Fast bowler Wahab Riaz expressed his desire to be included in the PCB fast bowlers camp, as he still hopes to represent Pakistan. He said that he was not invited because he does not play red ball cricket. He said that he did not want to face criticism and people would have said that he misused the power of Sports …

Apple has introduced watchOS 10, the latest operating system for Apple Watch, at the WWDC conference. The update brings a host of exciting features and enhancements to enhance the user experience. Notable additions include redesigned apps, new watch faces, and a Smart Stack for widgets. Users can now enjoy improved fitness tracking, mental health features, and enhanced Maps capabilities. Additionally, …

After much anticipation, Apple has finally unveiled the long-awaited 15-inch version of the MacBook Air. The latest addition to the MacBook Air lineup boasts a stunning 15.3-inch Retina display, featuring a brightness level of 500 nits and an impressive color range of 1 billion colors, as confirmed by Apple. The new MacBook Air showcases slim 5mm bezels that surround the …

With just a few days left for the current central contract to expire, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to finalize new contracts for the players after consulting captain Babar Azam and other senior cricketers. It should be noted that the current central contract will expire on June 30, which is why the PCB has started working on new …

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Tuesday asked if the government had utilised its resources to trace those behind recording and leaking audios of conversations. He passed these remarks as a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court (SC) resumed hearing pleas challenging the formation of a judicial commission led by Justice Qazi Faez Isa to probe …

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday alleged before the Lahore High Court (LHC) that a son and two daughters-in-law of former chief minister Parvez Elahi committed money laundering through a low cadre employee of the Punjab Assembly. A report submitted by the FIA revealed that Rasikh Elahi, the son of the former chief minister, his wife Zara Elahi …

BALASORE: Indian authorities made fervent appeals to families on Tuesday to help identify over 100 unclaimed bodies kept in hospitals and mortuaries after 275 people were killed in the country’s deadliest rail crash in over two decades. The disaster struck on Friday, when a passenger train hit a stationary freight train, jumped the tracks and hit another passenger train passing …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Monday, questioned the authority of the electoral body to initiate contempt proceedings against party Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan, party leader Asad Umar and former party leader Fawad Chaudhry—as the poll body reserved its verdict in the case—to be announced on this month’s 20th. In the hearing of the case, defence lawyer and former …

Ahead of Eidul Azha, there is growing apprehension regarding the possible outbreak of the Congo and Lumpy Skin virus in cattle. The Livestock and Dairy Development Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sent a letter to all districts, cautioning them about the looming threat of these viral diseases among cattle. The movement of livestock during this festive season raises the risk …

A treatment that involves genetically modifying the body’s own immune cells has been found to cut the risk of disease progression by 74 percent in people with a rare type of blood cancer, results showed Monday. Ciltacabtagene autoleucel – also known by its trade name Carvykti – was tested in a clinical trial involving 419 patients with multiple myeloma, whose …

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can set up a blockbuster French Open semi-final Tuesday as Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina tackles Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a politically-charged tussle where the only guarantee will be the absence of a handshake at the match’s conclusion. Djokovic is in familiar territory after making the last eight in Paris for a record 17th time – …