Reducing the intake of sugar-sweetened soft drinks in an individual’s daily diet is a health goal that deserves attention. While the negative consequences of regularly consuming soft drinks are widely acknowledged, many teenagers and young adults continue to overconsume them daily. Soft drinks (often mistakenly called “soda”) are widely loved across globe—a fact that cannot be ignored. In 2021, the …

At least 20 people were killed when a PSA Airlines regional passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter on Wednesday night near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The passenger jet, which had departed from Wichita, Kansas, crashed into the Potomac River after the tragic collision, prompting an immediate and large-scale emergency response. The collision occurred around …

ISLAMABAD: (Internews): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has extended heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to Chinese President Xi Jinping, the people of China, and Chinese nationals residing in Pakistan on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. In a video message on Wednesday marking the Chinese New Year, the Prime Minister expressed his best …

ISLAMABAD: The New Gwadar International Airport in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province achieved a significant milestone as it received its first Airbus on Tuesday, the airport’s manager said. The special flight from the United Arab Emirates landed at the airport, marking the first-ever landing of an Airbus in Gwadar’s history, Khalid Kakar, the airport’s manager told Xinhua. The China-aided airport is …

Australian batter Steve Smith became the fourth Australian to amass 10,000 runs in Test cricket on Wednesday. According to details, Smith achieved the milestone during the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka, when the batting maestro flicked one to mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Moreover, Smith became the fifth fastest batter overall to join 10,000 club. …

The president has signed the controversial PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025 and the Digital Nation Bill 2025 into law. Both bills had previously been passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, paving the way for their enactment. The PECA Act Amendment Bill 2025, which amends the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), has been a subject of intense debate …

HARBIN: With just over a week to go until the opening of the 9th Asian Winter Games, the streets of Harbin are alive with both the festive spirit of the Spring Festival and growing excitement for the upcoming sporting event. At the Harbin Ice-Snow World, a theme park dedicated to the Asian Winter Games, visitors are treated with a spectacular …

Tears, long recognized as a natural response to emotions, play a far more critical role in physical and mental health than previously understood, according to ophthalmologists and biomedical researchers. Recent studies highlight their multifaceted functions, from safeguarding vision to regulating stress and enhancing immune defenses. Eye protection and immune defense Tears maintain ocular health by keeping eyes lubricated, preventing dryness, …

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Gandapur has been removed from his post, and replaced with Zulfiqar Hameed. According to two separate notifications issued by the federal government, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police chief has been changed. Akhtar Hayat has been directed to report to the Establishment Division, one said, while the other one notified the posting of …

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday continued hearing an intra-court appeal challenging the trial of civilians in military courts. The seven-member bench –  headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan – deliberated on the legality of such trials as the Ministry of Defense presented the military trial records to the constitutional bench. At the start of the hearing, Ministry of Defense …

KUWAIT CITY: As hundreds of millions across China gather with loved ones to celebrate the Chinese New Year, a team of Chinese construction workers in Kuwait’s expansive desert is pushing forward with an ambitious housing project, making the most of the country’s brief, cooler winter months to accelerate progress. The project, part of Kuwait’s South Sabah Al-Ahmad New City development, …

Bollywood star Khushi Kapoor has openly discussed her cosmetic procedures, revealing that she has had a nose job and lip fillers. In a recent interview with an Indian YouTuber, Khushi explained that she doesn’t consider these procedures to be a big deal and believes people should be honest about their enhancements. When asked about her openness regarding cosmetic procedures, such …

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Sheikh Waqas Akram stated on Tuesday that the government fears being exposed if an independent judicial commission is formed. Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, he criticised the delay in negotiations, calling it a “waste of time”. Akram maintained that the government avoided creating a judicial commission to address key issues. He noted that the …

The fourth round of negotiations between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains uncertain as the PTI has refused to participate, citing unmet demands and lack of progress on key issues. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq has called a meeting of the negotiating committees at Parliament House on January 28 (today). In preparation, Sadiq contacted PTI leaders Omer Ayub and …

Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr Musadik Malik held a press conference on Monday to address concerns about gas pricing and explain the government’s initiatives aimed at easing economic challenges. The minister revealed that discussions have been held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to introduce uniform gas rates for industries across the country. He highlighted disparities in gas pricing, stating, …

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024 after producing his best-ever annual haul in the red-ball format. Rising in both home and away conditions, Bumrah was the best bowler in the world in 2024, significantly helping to put India in contention for the ICC World Test Championship standings. After a protracted …

NEW YORK: Chinese startup DeepSeek has emerged as a formidable player in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, with its DeepSeek AI Assistant overtaking ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States, according to app research firm Sensor Tower. Released on January 10, the DeepSeek AI Assistant, powered by the company’s DeepSeek-V3 model, has …

The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China plans to reach substantial social improvements alongside economic growth during the upcoming milestone of the region’s 70th anniversary of foundation in 2025. Recent accomplishments by the region surpassed 2-trillion-yuan GDP during 2024 which translates to approximately 278 billion U.S. dollars. The upcoming years bring a target GDP growth rate of approximately 6 percent …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has strongly refuted claims made in a recent article published by The Guardian. Responding to media inquiry on Monday, the embassy spokesperson dismissed the article’s alleged quotation of a Chinese diplomat as “completely untrue” and lacking credibility. The statement criticized the article’s rhetoric and claimed the author failed to demonstrate a basic understanding …

BEIJING: China is inviting local and international journalists to cover the annual sessions of its national legislature and national political advisory body, both of which will be held in March, according to an official statement released Monday. News coverage of the two sessions can be carried out through various means, but mainly through on-site reporting, said the statement jointly issued …

BEIJING: The electric vehicle (EV) charging volume on China’s highways is set to hit a record high during the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, according to data from the State Grid Corporation of China. Daily highway charging volumes are expected to average over 7.5 million kilowatt-hours during the eight-day holiday which starts on Jan. 28, marking a 52-percent year-on-year increase, the …

Lahore district administration seemed to be helpless in controlling the encroachment mafia, as illegal structures and stalls continue to occupy major roads despite ongoing operations. Punjab chief minister had directed the district administration to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against encroachments, yet key areas such as Yateem Khana, Bhati Chowk, Shah Alam Market, and Haji Camp remain cluttered with illegal encroachments. Even after …

A proposal recommending that the salaries and benefits of lawmakers be aligned with those of a federal secretary has been submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the National Assembly’s finance committee approved the proposal after which, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq forwarded the recommendations to the prime minister. The proposa; suggests fixing the monthly salary and allowances of MNAs and …

DAVOS, Switzerland: The recent rapid development of China’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry, particularly in large-scale language model technology, has significantly thwarted the U.S. suppression policy, industry observers have said. On the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2025 Annual Meeting, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek released its latest open-source model DeepSeek-R1, which has achieved an important technological breakthrough — …

BEIJING: China is gearing up for its annual Spring Festival travel rush, the world’s largest human migration, with authorities implementing measures to enhance services. The 40-day travel period, which began on Jan. 14, is expected to witness a record 9 billion passenger trips across the country as passenger needs evolve. MORE TRIPS This year’s Spring Festival travel rush is marked …

BEIJING: Chunyun, the world’s largest annual human migration, officially kicked off on Jan. 14 in China ahead of the Spring Festival. Authorities predict travel volumes will hit new highs during the 40-day travel rush. The latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, spotlighted key trends shaping this year’s travel season, including …

BEIJING: This year’s Spring Festival travel rush is poised to set new records for travel numbers, marked by several notable changes, according to China’s transport authorities. The world’s busiest travel season, driven by the Chinese ritual of family reunions, kicked off on Jan. 14 this year. China is anticipating a record-breaking 9 billion inter-regional trips during this year’s Spring Festival …

BEIJING: China is gearing up for its annual Spring Festival travel rush, the world’s largest human migration, with authorities implementing measures to enhance services. The 40-day travel period, which began on Jan. 14, is expected to witness a record 9 billion passenger trips across the country as passenger needs evolve. MORE TRIPS This year’s Spring Festival travel rush is marked …

BEIJING: China’s transport sector has enhanced services to ensure satisfying travel experiences for passengers and address the challenges posed by the large-scale movement of people, said the country’s transport authorities. Students and migrant workers are key groups during the Spring Festival travel rush, which kicked off on Jan. 14. This year, for the first time, certain ticket purchasing requirements for …

SHENYANG: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said on Wednesday that the people can always count on the Party and the government in their most difficult times. Xi made the remarks when braving the cold to visit the people affected by the summer floods of 2024 in the village of Zhujiagou, under the administration …

The government negotiation committee spokesperson, Senator Irfan Siddiqui had asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to review its decision of ending the fourth round of the negotiations. Speaking to media outside the parliament house , Siddiqui said: “The seven-day deadline will be ended on January 28. Our committee has been formed and the work is being underway. It took six weeks …

The total number of registered voters in Pakistan has surpassed 132.6 million, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The official figure now stands at 132,668,515 voters, with a notable gender distribution. https://www.samaa.tv/images/whatsapp-image-2025-01-23-at-10-30-18-am-1.jpeg Out of the total, the number of male voters is 71,275,222, while female voters account for 61,393,293. The province-wise breakdown of registered voters is as follows: …

PTI leader and lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat was denied entry into Adiala Jail on Thursday to meet party Founder Imran Khan. The jail administration informed Marwat that Khan no longer recognised him as his legal representative. According to jail officials, the PTI founder issued clear instructions prohibiting Marwat’s entry into the jail and had also provided a written statement to …

The national selection committee has finalized Pakistan’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The squad will also represent Pakistan in the upcoming Tri-Nation Series. Pakistan will play their first match of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand on February 19 in Karachi. The squad list has been sent to PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, for approval, and the final announcement is …

India is prepared to take back its citizens residing illegally in the United States, foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has said after meeting the top diplomat of President Donald Trump’s new administration. Jaishankar’s remarks came after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday a day after Trump’s inauguration. Trump issued a raft of executive orders …

The Gaddafi Stadium has been prepared for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, in a never-seen before style. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi took a keen interest in the project, which resulted in the completion of construction and decoration in a record time of five months. PCB said in a statement that the chairman has been personally overseeing …

Supreme Court puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah questioned the judicial assistant, asking whether a bench could be formed by the executive rather than the judiciary, suggesting that the judicial order had been overlooked by the Judges’ Committee. Senior most judge of the apex court made these remarks in contempt of court case in the jurisdiction of regular benches that …

Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan rejected allegations that Pakistan was providing shelter to ISIS during a weekly news briefing. He emphasized that Pakistan’s stance on its “One China” policy remains clear and unchanged, adding that the country is eager to join the BRICS group. Khan also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting peace in Syria, stating that Pakistan’s position on …

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the end of its negotiations with the government, citing a lack of cooperation and failure to announce a judicial commission as key reasons. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail, disclosed that PTI Founder Imran Khan made the decision to end the negotiations after the government refused to …

ISLAMABAD (Internews): Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, delivered a speech emphasizing the strong bilateral ties between the two countries and the resilience shown in the face of global challenges. His remarks highlighted not only the festive spirit but also the economic and diplomatic milestones that have been achieved over the past year. While addressing the Chinese new year spring …