Pakistani cinema heartthrob Fawad Khan has revealed that he is still in touch with Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and filmmaker Karan Johar. In an interview with an Indian media outlet, he opened up on keeping cordial relations with his Indian costars. Fawad Khan made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with “Khoobsurat” opposite actress Sonam Kapoor. His last Bollywood film was …

The e-procurement system under the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) is being implemented in 27 ministries and 280 public departments, Managing Director PPRA Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi said. In a press statement, the PPRA managing director said the e-procurement system was initiated to reduce the public expenditures through transparency. Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi said that after its implementation in 27 ministries and …

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government decided to launch a free meal program for students of primary schools. According to the details, the pilot project will initially be launched in Abbottabad and Swat which will be expanded to other divisional headquarters of the province. Approximately 70,000 kids will receive regular meals every day as part of the program. The scheme will cost approximately …

Apple’s shares rose 2.5% to a record high on Monday after Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the iPhone maker’s shares and designated the stock as a “top pick,” citing the company’s AI efforts as a boost to device sales. In what was seen as a move to catch up with Alphabet’s Google and Microsoft-backed OpenAI, the iPad maker …

Global rating agency Moody’s has released a comprehensive report on Pakistan’s economy, emphasizing the potential improvements in funding prospects with the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. According to Moody’s, the new IMF program will provide Pakistan with credible sources of financing, helping to secure funds from other bilateral countries and international financial institutions. However, the report also underscores several …

The Pakistani Foreign Office has issued a strong condemnation of the terrorist attack on Imambargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi al-Kabir, Muscat, Oman, which resulted in multiple casualties, including the deaths of four Pakistani nationals and injuries to many others. According to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Oman, Imran Ali, the attack occurred on Tuesday morning as worshippers gathered for religious …

Donald Trump made a triumphant entrance during the first night of the Republican National Convention on Monday, receiving a raucous ovation from the party faithful two days after a would-be assassin’s bullet grazed his right ear. Trump walked into the Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee with a thick bandage over the ear as the crowd chanted “Fight! Fight! Fight” and …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to send another of its delegations to Pakistan for review of the preparations for the forthcoming Champions Trophy slated to happen in the country next year in February. According to details, the event managers will be part of the event inspection team, which is likely to visit in September-October. Sources divulged the ICC …

Eight Pakistan Army personnel were martyred and 10 terrorists killed in a recent attack on the Bannu Cantonment. According to Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR), the armed forces’ media wing, the security forces foiled a terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment when 10 terrorists attempted to breach its defences on the morning of July 15. The terrorists rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into one …

The United States on Monday commented on Pakistan government’s recent decision to ban PTI, saying that any such moves against a political party was of “great concern” to it. In its latest attempt to suppress the PTI, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government on Monday announced that it has decided to ban the party and seek Article 6 proceedings …

The recent approval of so-called law by US president Joe Biden regarding Xizang have once again exposed the dual standards of American crumbled diplomatic norms towards international foreign relations and anti-China smear campaigning in the American administration circles. The signing of law by US president Biden comes at a time when American society is grappled by gun violence, political infightings, …

BEIJING: China has seen 211 million railway passenger trips since the start of the summer travel rush, between July 1 and 15, data from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed Tuesday. The figure marks an increase of 6.5 percent from the same period last year, the company said, adding that the average daily number of railway passenger trips …

BEIJING: China’s listed companies have forecast robust performance for the first half of 2024, further indicating a steady recovery in the wider economy. As of July 15, more than 1,500 public firms have disclosed their earnings forecasts for the January-June period. Among them, around 660 companies, accounting for over 40 percent of the total, anticipated profit growth, according to financial …

China, a nation that has always preferred peace, has once again adopted precise legal measures rather than violence to address arrogant separatists of Taiwan which illustrates its time honored traditions of humanity, conflict resolution, dialogue, diplomacy and development instead of using any intimidating measures. External forces of imperialism are once again poised in creating instability, enmity and conflict within Asia …

BEIJING: A readers’ seminar on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s books on governance was successfully held in late June at the national library in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, as the works have aroused enthusiastic response among local readers. “This work is of great significance for us to learn from China’s reform and opening-up experience and promote Tajikistan’s reform and development,” …

BEIJING: In the remote and rugged Yulong Naxi Autonomous County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, the deployment of ground base stations was once a difficult task. Local power grid staff often struggled with unstable signals, sluggish internet speeds and poor connectivity. But those issues are things of the past. Power inspectors can now easily transmit real-time videos, instructions and other data …

PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan: At least 17 persons have been confirmed dead and 34 others were injured as a passenger bus plunged into ravine in the north Afghanistan’s Baghlan province on Tuesday, provincial police spokesman Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Burhani said. The deadly traffic accident took place in Khinjan district Tuesday morning due to reckless driving, leaving 17 passengers dead including three children, …

BEIJING: China’s economy grew by 5 percent in the first half of this year, signaling a steady recovery despite challenges at home and abroad, and reaffirming its role as a vital engine for global economic growth. Bright spots are noticeable. The country reported a record high of H1 trade value in goods with a growth rate of 6.1 percent, and …

SHENZHEN: In an automotive factory, silver humanoid robots stride along assembly lines, conducting tasks once performed exclusively by humans — from car scanning to seatbelt inspection and affixing labels onto vehicles. This is not a scene from a sci-fi movie, but a collaboration between UBTECH, a Shenzhen-based robotics firm, and Chinese electric carmaker NIO, highlighting the rapid advancement in China’s …

BEIJING: China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday that the country’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports, taking the number of ports covered by the policy to 37. The three new ports include Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in central China’s Henan Province, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, and the …

URUMQI: About eight meters underneath a bustling street in Kuqa in northwestern China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a complex of tombs has lain dormant for more than 1,700 years. Today, however, the tombs, which date back to the ancient Silk Road, have been brought back to life thanks to a unique museum. The underground museum of the Wei and Jin …

Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) is reportedly divided over the federal government’s decision to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to an inside story of the party’s meeting revealed by sources, the PML-N leadership has differing opinions on the matter, with some leaders expressing reservations over the government’s political strategy. The party’s meeting, which was scheduled to discuss the ban on PTI, …

Security forces have foiled a ‘terrorist attack’ on Bannu Cantt (Cantonment) on early Monday morning. According to sources, the terrorists attempted to enter the Cantt by detonating an explosive-laden vehicle on the road between the outer wall of Bannu Cantt and the supply depot at 4:40 am. Security forces responded promptly, confining the terrorists to a corner and thwarting their plans. …

An Indian citizen residing in the United States, Bhoshan Athale, has been charged with hate speech against Sikhs. The charges stem from a complaint filed in September 2022, alleging that Athale made threatening phone calls to a Sikh NGO. According to the complaint, Athale left seven voice messages threatening to harm and kill Sikh employees with a razor. In March, …

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, chaired a crucial three-hour meeting on Monday to address the performance and discipline of the Pakistan cricket team. The meeting resulted in several key decisions aimed at enhancing the team’s performance and unity. Naqvi emphasized the importance of team cohesion and discipline, stating unequivocally that there will be no tolerance …

The supply of cement across Pakistan has been halted indefinitely, as All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers and All Pakistan Cement Distributors have united in a nationwide strike. This strike follows similar strikes by petroleum dealers and flour mills, adding to the growing unrest in the country’s commercial sectors. The decision to cease cement distribution stems from grievances related to the implementation …

Amidst the splendour of Paris and the passion surrounding K-pop sensation BTS, Jin, the eldest member of the group, emerged as a central figure during the Paris Summer Olympics torch relay. On Sunday evening, Jin undertook the prestigious role of torch-bearer near the esteemed Louvre Museum, marking a poignant occasion following his recent completion of mandatory military service in South …

Pakistan white-ball coach Gary Kirsten has returned South Africa following his seven-day stay in Lahore. According to details, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi had summoned Kirsten for discussions and submission of the reports following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the recently held T20 World Cup 2024 held in the Caribbean and United States. Sources divulged that the meeting …

In its latest attempt to suppress the PTI, the federal government on Monday announced that it has decided to ban the party and seek Article 6 proceedings against its founder Imran Khan, ex-president Dr Arif Alvi, and former NA deputy speaker, Qasim Suri. The move appears to be an attempt to prevent incarcerated former prime minister Khan’s PTI from becoming …

BEIJING: An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on maintaining self-confidence and self-reliance will be published on Tuesday. The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s 14th issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central …

BEIJING: China’s industrial production growth remained stable in June, as industrial upgrading and new quality productive forces continued to advance. The country’s value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, expanded 5.3 percent year on year in June, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday. On a monthly basis, the industrial output edged up 0.42 percent in June …

BEIJING: China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 5 percent year on year in the first half of 2024, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday. China’s GDP reached around 61.68 trillion yuan (about 8.65 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half, NBS data showed. In the second quarter, the country’s GDP expanded 4.7 percent year on year, …

BEIJING: The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) started its third plenary session in Beijing on Monday morning. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and expounded on a draft decision of the CPC Central Committee on further comprehensively …

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to expose elements spreading uncertainty and instability in the country. He made these remarks during a meeting with Parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) in Senate and Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Irfan Siddiqui. PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed the government as well as PML-N to pay attention to …

In a move to manage workload of national cricket team players, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly denied the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to fast bowler Naseem Shah to play The Hundred cricket league, on Saturday, citing sources. The PCB decision to deny the NOC will deprive the fast bowler of around Rs 45 million as he was signed by …

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the attack on former US President Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania. President Asif Ali Zardari in his message, expressed deep shock over the attack, saying that such violence has no place in politics. The president expressed his best wishes for the speedy recovery of Donald Trump and also …

After the Supreme Court’s verdict over reserved seats, the MNAs have started submitting their statements on oath about affiliation with the PTI, on Sunday. The MNAs submitting their statements to the PTI secretariat. The party’s main leaders Omar Ayub, Shaharyar Afridi, Ali Muhammad Khan and others have submitted their statements on oath with Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar Ali. PTI’s Punjab …

Social media celebrity Kim Kardashian shared a selfie with Indian beauty queen Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s Shubh Ashirwad ceremony. Celebrities from all over the world gathered in Mumbai to attend the wedding of the son of Asia’s richest person. On July 14, the reality television star took to her Instagram Stories to post the picture, …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in talks for the central contracts of national cricketers. Meetings with the international department and selectors are underway in Lahore to discuss changes in the financial model and compensation structure. Currently, Category A players get around Rs 6.1 million per month. The proposed changes suggest reducing this to Rs 4.5. Adjustments in monthly allowance …

Iraqi Ambassador Hamid Abbas Lafta met with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Overseas Pakistanis Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain Sunday. During the meeting, Ambassador Lafta presented a list of travel agents who have been charging excessive fees to visitors. Minister Naqvi assured that action would be taken against these agents within a week. The meeting focused on providing maximum facilities …