Pakistan is on the brink of a worsening water crisis as the country’s usable water reserves continue to plummet at an alarming rate, according to the latest data released by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). As of today, the nation’s usable water reserves stand at 3.856 million acre-feet, reflecting a significant decrease of 188,000 acre-feet compared to the …

Federal government will release the Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2024-25 on June 9. According to official sources, while several economic targets were missed, the overall performance shows ‘moderate improvement’ compared to the previous year. The targeted GDP growth of 3.6% could not be achieved, with actual growth recorded at 2.7%. However, inflation remained significantly below expectations, recorded at …

High levels of bacteria have led to the suspension of daily water shows and the closure of a shallow play pool at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, organisers announced on Thursday. The decision was made after the complaints from visitors about swarms of tiny flying insects across the expansive waterfront site, where Expo 2025 will run until mid-October. Since …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that dialogue and cooperation are the only correct choice for China and the United States. In the phone talks initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, Xi said that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations requires the two sides to take the helm and set the right course, adding …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded on Wednesday United States President Donald Trump’s efforts in promoting peace and praised his role in facilitating a ceasefire, saying the latter has proven to be a proponent of peace and economic cooperation. Speaking at an event held at the US Embassy in Islamabad to mark the 249th Independence Day of the United States, the …

Pakistan has been appointed as the co-chair of the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Counter-Terrorism Committee for the year 2025, with Algeria serving as Chair. According to details surfaced on Wednesday, in addition, Pakistan will also chair the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on the Taliban, which oversees the implementation of measures such as asset freezes, travel bans and arms embargoes …

BEIJING: China welcomes the recent upgrade of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan from the level of chargé d’affaires to ambassadorial, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a related question, adding that China stands ready to continue playing a constructive role in promoting the …

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved a series of technical supplementary grants for various ministries and divisions. However, the summary related to the Mashke, Thalian, and Tarujba white oil pipelines, submitted by the Petroleum Division, has been postponed for further deliberation. According to an official statement released after the …

A leaked medical report has reignited controversy surrounding Algerian Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif, alleging that the athlete is biologically male—a claim that has drawn global attention and stirred debate over gender eligibility in women’s sports. Khelif, who clinched gold in the women’s boxing category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has faced scrutiny before. However, a document reportedly originating from …

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck the southwestern region of Turkiye early Tuesday morning, injuring at least seven people and triggering panic in several cities, according to Turkish and foreign media reports. The tremor was recorded at a depth of 75.1 kilometres, with the epicentre located in southwestern Turkey, the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) reported. The quake was …

A total of 216 prisoners escaped from Karachi’s District Jail Malir — commonly known as “Bacha Jail” — in a dramatic incident on Monday night. According to police and jail officials, the escape occurred amid chaos reportedly triggered by a series of tremors in the city. The prisoners, many of whom were already outside their barracks, took advantage of the …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the immediate removal of all hurdles in the way of Diamer-Bhasha Dam and ordered that the project be completed on a priority basis, terming it essential for the country’s economic self-reliance. Chairing a high-level meeting on the Diamer-Bhasha Dam and other national water resources, the premier said that Pakistan’s path to economic stability …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the record-breaking performance of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), terming it a promising start to the new fiscal year and a reflection of growing confidence in the government’s economic policies. The PSX made history on the first trading day of the 2025–26 fiscal year, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index surging by …

Celebrations marking Paris Saint-Germain’s (PSG) first-ever UEFA Champions League victory turned unruly in the French capital on Saturday night, leading to the arrest of nearly 300 individuals, police officials said. Tens of thousands of jubilant fans took to the streets following PSG’s resounding 5–0 victory over Inter Milan in Munich. The win, described by French leaders as “historic”, marked the …

President Asif Ali Zardari hosted a dinner in honour of the national cricket teams of Pakistan and Bangladesh, following their recent cricket series. The event, organized by Federal Minister Mohsin Naqvi, brought together players and officials from both teams in a spirit of sportsmanship and regional friendship. President Zardari warmly greeted the players and team officials, acknowledging the Pakistani team’s …

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed and over 175 wounded in an Israeli attack on civilians gathered at a US-backed aid distribution site in Rafah, according to reports from Al Jazeera Arabic and the Red Cross Hospital in Gaza. The incident occurred near a humanitarian relief point operated by the US-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Witnesses say people had gathered …

HONG KONG: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday that China is willing to work with Pakistan and like-minded countries to enhance the unique advantages of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed). When meeting with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who attended here the signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of …

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) clarified that it has never declared virtual assets (VAs), including cryptocurrencies as illegal. In a press release issued by the central bank, the SBP stated that the advisory directed banks, microfinance institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), electronic money institutions (EMIs), and other financial service providers to refrain from dealing in VAs purely as a …

Algeria’s Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has been asked to undergo a mandatory genetic sex screening if she is to continue competing in international boxing events, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The organisation, which has been provisionally recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to oversee the sport at the next Olympics, introduced a new policy on Friday requiring …

An Australian fitness enthusiast, Olivia Vinson, 34, has smashed the Guinness World Record for the most pull-ups completed in 24 hours by a female, nearly doubling the previous record. Vinson completed an astounding 7,079 pull-ups in a continuous 24-hour effort, surpassing the earlier record of 4,081 set by Polish athlete Paula Gorlo in 2021. Speaking to Guinness World Records, Vinson …

Pakistan has strongly condemned the rising incidents of Islamophobia in India, urging New Delhi to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and rights of its Muslim citizens. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Foreign Office expressed deep concern over what it termed as the “state-sponsored targeting” of Muslims in India, citing increased incidents of hate speech, discrimination, and …

US President Donald Trump confirmed that a high-level delegation from Pakistan is scheduled to arrive in the United States next week for critical trade negotiations. The talks come as Islamabad seeks to resolve a tariff dispute with Washington, which has placed Pakistan at risk of facing up to 29% tariffs on its exports. Pakistan’s trade surplus of $3 billion with …

BEIJING: Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to release the regulations on awarding military scientific research. The new document, which will take effect on July 1, aims to implement the strategy of strengthening the armed forces through science and technology and regulate the process of awarding military scientific research. The regulations establish a structured …

HONG KONG: The International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) serves as an important public good in the field of the rule of law for better global governance, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivered a speech at the signing ceremony of the …

BEIJING: Beijing Daxing International Airport had handled a cumulative import and export value of 102 billion yuan (about 14.19 billion U.S. dollars) as of April this year since its opening in 2019, according to the Beijing Customs on Wednesday. Data shows that the airport has seen solid growth in import and export values in recent years, with annual figures surpassing …

BOGOTA: Colombia’s formal accession to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marks a historic step for the country, a Colombian scholar has said. Colombia’s BRI entry could be transformative for Colombia, unlocking a broad range of development opportunities in areas such as infrastructure, research and technology, and strengthening its role as a key regional actor, said Lina Luna, a sinologist …

XIAMEN: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Kiribati’s President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau on Wednesday in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic …

BEIJING: With four new satellites launched this month to expand the Tianqi constellation, China is accelerating a presence in low-Earth orbit to support its surging demand for smart device connectivity. Following SpaceX’s lead, an increasing number of Chinese aerospace firms have begun constructing Starlink-style satellite networks over the past years. Some of these commercial space firms are specifically targeting the …

A joint operation by police and law enforcement agencies in the Rawalakot area resulted in the killing of four terrorists, while two police officials lost their lives and 8 others sustained injuries during the encounter. According to SSP Poonch Riaz Mughal, the operation was launched after receiving credible intelligence about the presence of the terrorists in the forested region of …

The United States has conveyed a strong message to India, urging it to refrain from any form of aggression and to uphold regional peace and stability, amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad. The statement came following a meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri and US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington. According to US …

On the occasion of Youm-e-Takbeer, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the nation’s historic achievement of becoming a nuclear power in 1998, emphasizing the day as a symbol of national unity and unwavering commitment to Pakistan’s freedom and sovereignty. In his message, the premier recalled the bold decision by then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who, despite facing economic sanctions, international …

SpaceX’s ninth test flight of its towering Starship rocket ended in failure on Wednesday, after the vehicle lost control and disintegrated roughly 30 minutes into its uncrewed mission, US-based media outlets reported. The rocket, developed by billionaire Elon Musk’s commercial space venture SpaceX, was launched from the company’s test facility in Boca Chica, Texas. According to a report by Reuters, …

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday rejected key legislative proposals, including a ban on underage marriage and the mandatory thalassaemia test before marriage, declaring them contrary to Islamic principles. A statement issued after a meeting chaired by CII Chairman Raghib Hussain Naeemi stated that the ‘Prohibition of Underage Marriage Bill’, introduced by PPP MNA Sharmila Faruqui, was deemed …

BEIJING (Internews Pakistan) : Pakistan’s embassy deputy head of mission in Beijing Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary has emphasised the transformative role of mining cooperation under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during his keynote address at the 4th Asia Mining Innovation and Development Summit in Beijing. Chaudhary underscored Pakistan’s vast mineral wealth, including 186 billion tons of coal reserves, over 5 million …

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan was reportedly subjected to harassment by unruly attendees during a promotional event for her upcoming film Love Guru at the Indo-Pak Supermarket in Ilford, London. The event, held to promote the film alongside co-star Humayun Saeed, witnessed chaotic scenes as a large crowd gathered, overwhelming the security arrangements and leading to multiple incidents of inappropriate behavior towards the …

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that Malta will formally recognise the State of Palestine next month, citing mounting humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Speaking at a political event, the premier addressed both domestic and international issues, with particular emphasis on the worsening situation in the besieged Palestinian enclave. According to Malta Today, Abela said the recognition would take place following …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended heartfelt congratulations to Lahore Qalandars on clinching their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title. In a statement issued from Istanbul, the premier also praised the Quetta Gladiators for their spirited display in the high-stakes final, acknowledging the competitive spirit shown by all teams in the tournament. The Qalandars secured a six-wicket victory over …

In one of the largest global data breaches in recent history, sensitive information, including passwords, of over 180 million users from major companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple have been compromised. The alarming incident has prompted Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (N-CERT) to issue an urgent advisory to all users and institutions across the country. According to the …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and injuries resulting from the devastating storm that struck Punjab Province. In an official statement released on Sunday, the embassy said, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and injuries caused by the devastating storm in Punjab Province. Our heartfelt …

The 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Countries is poised to open a new chapter in media collaboration among SCO member states, said Sohail Khan, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, on May 22, 2025, one day before the forum’s official opening in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. “It can bring a lot of …