BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari’s ongoing official visit to China has been long-expected by the Chinese people, and this visit bears great significance. This was stated by Prof. Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based in Beijing. During the first leg of his visit, President Zardari attended …

BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday reaffirmed that Pakistan and China would continue to expand collaboration in defence production and aviation, further deepening their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership. He said the J-10 and JF-17 had greatly strengthened Pakistan Air Force, a fact clearly demonstrated during May 2025’s Ma‘raka-e-Haq and Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. On the 128th day since the ceasefire …

BEIJING, (Internews): President Asif Ali Zardari Sunday travelled from Chengdu to Mianyang by a high-speed train, covering the journey in around half an hour. During the journey the president was briefed on the train’s operations, service, safety systems and environmental advantages, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release. The president was accompanied by Pakistan’s Ambassador to China Khalil …

MADRID: The Chinese and U.S. delegations convened here on Sunday for talks on economic and trade issues. In the coming days, the two sides will discuss issues such as the U.S. unilateral tariff measures, the abuse of export controls and TikTok, a spokesperson with China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Friday. The Chinese delegation is headed by Chinese Vice Premier …

Pakistan’s battle against polio has suffered a major setback after international donors slashed funding by up to 20 percent, forcing health authorities to revise their eradication strategy and set a 12-month deadline to wipe out the crippling disease. The cut comes as the United States reduces contributions to global health organisations, affecting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in Geneva, …

Pakistan is sitting on an estimated 1,234 million barrels of oil reserves and the government says accelerated exploration could significantly boost domestic production and cut reliance on expensive imports. Minister of State for Petroleum Ali Pervez Malik revealed that with $25–30 billion investment over the next decade, up to 10 percent of the reserves could be tapped, potentially saving billions …

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has released its latest damage assessment report, revealing the scale of destruction caused by ongoing floods across the province. According to PDMA, over 4,700 villages (mauzas) have been affected due to flooding in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers. The Chenab River remains the worst hit, with 2,475 villages inundated, followed by 1,458 …

Southern Punjab continues to face a devastating flood situation as hundreds of villages in Shujaabad, Rahim Yar Khan, Ahmadpur Sharqia, Rajanpur, and Vehari remain submerged, displacing tens of thousands of residents and destroying vast stretches of farmland. According to the Federal Flood Commission, the Chenab River at Panjnad Headworks is experiencing a “very high flood level,” with forecasts warning that …

Pakistan’s first Trade Dispute Resolution Commission (TDRC) has officially begun operations, marking a landmark development in the country’s trade governance framework. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan inaugurated the Commission, describing it as a “transformational step” that will provide businesses with a neutral, transparent, and efficient mechanism for resolving trade disputes. This is the first time since the passage …

Saudi Arabia and Turkiye have strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which claimed the lives of several Pakistani soldiers. Both nations extended condolences to the families of the martyrs and expressed unwavering support for Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. Saudi Arabia’s condemnation In a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, Riyadh expressed deep regret over …

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has informed the government of Pakistan about its position regarding electricity bill relief for flood victims and a proposed aid package for farmers. According to Finance Ministry sources, the IMF mission will carefully review budget expenditures and emergency measures before approving the next tranche of funding. Relief for flood victims and farmers Pakistan has sought …

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani announced on Saturday that around 4.1 million girls in Sindh will be given the cervical cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine) as part of a nationwide campaign starting September 15 and continuing until September 27. Speaking as the chief guest at an Advocacy Seminar on HPV Vaccination organized by the District Health Office South, …

RAWALPINDI: The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has confirmed that from 10–13 September, thirty-five Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy group Fitna al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. According to ISPR, on reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence based operation was conducted by the Security Forces in Bajaur District. During the conduct of operation, own troops …

ISLAMABA: The future of Pakistan’s matches in the first-ever Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup has become uncertain due to ongoing political turmoil in Nepal. Pakistan was scheduled to play its fixtures in Kathmandu from November 11 to 25. However, the deteriorating situation in the host country has put those games at risk. Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman of the Pakistan Blind …

LAHORE: Despite being the host of the Asia Cup, top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were noticeably absent during India’s high-profile match against Pakistan, sparking talk of a quiet boycott. According to Indian media, the absence of senior BCCI members is linked to the boycott campaign surrounding the Pakistan fixture. Most officials have chosen …

ISLAMAABAD: Tokyo has come alive with the opening of the World Athletics Championships, where Canada and Spain secured the first gold medals of the event. Canada’s Evan Dunfee clinched the top spot in the men’s 35 km race walk, while Spain’s María Pérez dominated the women’s 35 km race walk to claim gold. All eyes in Pakistan are now on …

LAHORE: Bollywood actress Disha Patani and her family narrowly escaped a shocking gun attack outside their home in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. According to media reports, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Friday when two unidentified men on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire at Patani’s residence. Thankfully, the actress and her family were unharmed. Soon after the attack, notorious gangsters …

ISLAMABAD: The high-profile kidnapping and threats case involving TikTok star and social media influencer Samia Hijab has come to an unexpected end. Samia and her former fiancé, Hassan Zahid, have reached an unconditional reconciliation, forgiving each other “for the sake of Allah.” According to sources, Samia has withdrawn all allegations against Hassan, while he admitted his mistakes, apologized, and assured …

KARACHI: Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband, businessman Raj Kundra, has rejected allegations of a massive $72 million (₹6.04 billion) fraud case filed against him. Speaking to the media in New Delhi during the promotion of his Punjabi film Mehr, Kundra firmly denied any wrongdoing. “We have not done anything wrong. That’s why we stayed silent until now. We know we …

ISLAMABAD: The District and Sessions Court of Islamabad has fixed September 20 as the date to formally indict Umar Hayat, the prime suspect in the murder case of TikToker Sana Yusuf. The hearing was conducted by Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Afzal Majoka, who handed over copies of the case challan to the accused. The police later took back …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has approved the Foreigner (Long Term Residency) Order, 2025, a major step under the country’s investment visa policy aimed at attracting global investors and skilled professionals. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Long-Term Residency Policy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held a telephone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. During the call, both leaders strongly condemned Israel’s unprovoked and illegal strikes on Doha and expressed solidarity with the victims of the attacks. The two foreign ministers also discussed …

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) is continuing its emergency relief efforts in flood-hit areas of Punjab, reaching thousands of displaced families with food, hygiene kits, and medical care. According to TİKA, relief operations are ongoing in the districts of Kasur, Jhang, Bahawalnagar, and Muzaffargarh, where hot meals and Family Hygiene Kits are being distributed to families affected …

LASBELA: In a landmark development for the education sector of Balochistan, Lasbela has become the first district in the province to reactivate all of its previously closed government schools. According to officials, a total of 72 non-functional schools have been reopened, ensuring that no government school in the district remains closed. The initiative, led by MPA Zarain Khan Magsi with …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has released its latest report on electricity restoration efforts in flood-affected regions across Pakistan, showing significant progress in reconnecting millions of consumers to the national grid. According to the report, a total of 51 grid stations and 542 feeders were impacted nationwide. So far, 307 feeders have been fully restored and 227 partially …

Twelve soldiers embraced martyrdom while 35 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed during two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Saturday. According to ISPR, the operations were conducted between September 10 and 13 based on intelligence reports. In the first operation in Bajaur, security forces launched an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on confirmed reports of terrorist presence. …

The federal government has decided to shift the headquarters of the Federal Constabulary (FC) from Peshawar to Islamabad in a major administrative reshuffle aimed at improving operational efficiency. According to a press release from the Interior Ministry, the decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at CDA Headquarters. The meeting was attended by …

Petroleum prices in Pakistan are expected to increase from September 16, as the oil industry has proposed a temporary hike for 15 days. The proposed adjustments cover petrol, high-speed diesel, kerosene, and light diesel. According to industry sources, the following price adjustments have been suggested: Petrol: Increase by Rs 1.54 per liter High-Speed Diesel (HSD): Increase by Rs 4.79 per …

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake, which hit around 111 km east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 39 km, has been identified as the strongest aftershock yet of the devastating 8.8-magnitude earthquake that shook the region on July 29. No tsunami warning …

US President Donald Trump held dinner with the Qatari prime minister in New York on Friday, days after US ally Israel attacked Hamas leaders in Doha. Israel attempted to kill the political leaders of Hamas with an attack in Qatar on Tuesday, a strike that risked derailing US-backed efforts to broker a truce in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-old …

Actor Fawad Khan and Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor’s much-awaited film Aabeer Gulaal has been released worldwide on September 12, except in India. The movie, earlier spelled Abir Gulaal, marks Fawad Khan’s return to Indian cinema after nearly eight years. Now, reports suggest that the film is finally set for release in India on September 26. Film’s India release still unconfirmed According to a …

An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster, but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year. Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in …

Punjab’s devastating super flood has engulfed 28 districts, affecting over 4.5 million people and submerging thousands of villages, according to PDMA DG Irfan Ali Kathia. Speaking at a press conference in Bahawalpur on Saturday morning, Kathia said this was the largest rescue operation in the province’s history. Punjab flood: Millions displaced, hundreds of villages submerged Kathia confirmed that 4,744 villages …

In a landmark development for the education sector of Balochistan, Lasbela has become the first district in the province to reactivate all of its previously closed government schools. According to officials, a total of 72 non-functional schools have been reopened, ensuring that no government school in the district remains closed. The initiative, led by MPA Zarain Khan Magsi with the …

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday (Sep 11) condemned strikes on Qatar earlier this week and called for de-escalation, without naming Israel, which carried out the attack. The Security Council “underscored the importance of de-escalation and expressed their solidarity with Qatar”, said the statement, which required the agreement of all 15 council members, including Israel’s ally the United States. …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Finance to initiate talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a possible complete waiver or some relief of electricity bills for one month in areas hit hard by recent floods. Relief for flood victims across cities, villages Official sources confirmed that the proposed relief will not be limited to rural …

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed strong solidarity with the people of South Punjab, who are among the hardest hit by the devastating floods. In a statement issued from the Presidency, the President conveyed his deep sympathy to families displaced from their homes and those whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the calamity. He assured that the government will …

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) has issued its latest report on electricity restoration in flood-hit regions, confirming that power supply has been restored for 1.45 million out of 1.75 million affected consumers across the country. According to the report on Friday, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) areas including Toba Tek Singh, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Sargodha, Mianwali and Dera …

ISLAMABAD: Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ has announced it will refuse to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel is allowed to compete. The decision comes in protest of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and echoes broader concern among European broadcasters. According to foreign media, RTÉ described participating alongside Israel under the current conflict as “unconscionable,” citing the …

KARACHI: Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has secured significant relief from a New Delhi court in her ongoing legal battle against the unauthorized use of her voice and images through artificial intelligence (AI) technology for explicit content. According to media reports, Aishwarya’s legal team had filed a petition earlier this month seeking to stop multiple AI platforms from producing or …