COLOMBO: The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved 150 million U.S. dollars in financing for Sri Lanka to improve the quality and utilization of its primary healthcare services, according to a statement on Monday. The World Bank said the project will help improve quality of care and increase the use of primary medical care institutions, which provide essential …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and deliver an important speech on June 28 in Beijing. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China will hold the conference and other commemorative events on Friday in Beijing, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua …

The Supreme Court has convened to hear a significant case pertaining to the allocation of reserved seats to the Sunni Ittehad Council, with a focus on constitutional interpretations, election commission decisions, and allegations involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, a 13-member larger bench is deliberating over constitutional provisions related to the proportional …

Responding to the criticism of opposition, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar on Sunday informed the National Assembly that the government would arrange an in-camera briefing in the parliament for the lawmakers on security issues, including Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. Speaking on the NA floor, Tarar while referring to the leadership of the Sunni Ittehad Council said: “Your Prime Minister …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday suspended the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to change the election tribunal. Chief Justice Aamer Farooq heard the case and issued a contempt of court notice to PML-N Member National Assembly (MNA) Anjum Aqeel Khan. During the hearing, the court asked the Additional Attorney General (AAG) how he would defend this ordinance. …

The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed a resolution condemning incidents related to blasphemy and seeking protection for all citizens. The resolution comes after a tourist in Swat was lynched over allegations of desecration of the Holy Quran. A violent mob had beaten the suspect of blasphemy, who was a local tourist, to death and later set his body as …

A swallowable robotic pill produced by a startup is entering clinical trials to advance the area of telemedicine. Endiatx created PillBot, a remote-controlled digestible mini-robotic camera gadget that can replace the need for invasive medical treatments. PillBot aims to be a virtual endoscope or a “moving eyeball in the stomach.” The pistachio-sized bot moves like a multicopter drone thanks to its …

Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has announced a series of pivotal decisions aimed at revitalizing the domestic cricket structure in the country. These measures are expected to strengthen the domestic cricket system, enhance coaching standards, promote talent development, and bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket levels. Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the need to strengthen …

Pakistan national cricket team captain, Babar Azam, has filed a defamation lawsuit against senior anchor Mubasher Luqman. Sources indicate that the star batsman took this legal step after consulting with his legal team, responding to what he claims are baseless allegations made by the anchor. The legal notice, sent by Babar Azam, demands compensation of Rs 1 billion from Luqman. …

China being a peaceful country with a rich civilization has once again preferred to domesticate arrogant separatists of Taiwan through precise legal measures which vividly reflect its centuries old traditions of humanity, conflict resolution, dialogue, diplomacy and development instead of using any coercive measures. Taiwan has once again become a flashpoint in the region and external forces of imperialism are …

Former Pakistani cricketer and coach Azhar Mahmood strongly condemned the false allegations being spread about his team following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the T20 World Cup. He announced his plans to take legal action against those responsible for disseminating misinformation, emphasizing that such behavior for personal gain is unacceptable and harmful. Earlier, the accusations that the families of players and …

Pakistan government on Saturday approved a reinvigorated and re-energized national counter-terrorism campaign through launching of Operation ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ with consensus of all stakeholders, symbolising the national resolve to eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country. The ‘Operation Azm-e-Istehkam’ was launched with the consensus of all stakeholders, including the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, during a meeting of the Central …

At least 42 people were killed in Israeli strikes on districts of Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian enclave on Saturday, the director of the Hamas-run government media office said. One Israeli strike on houses in Al-Shati, one of the Gaza Strip’s eight historic refugee camps, killed 24 people, Ismail Al-Thawabta told Reuters. Another 18 Palestinians were killed …

Globally, the risk of stroke among young and middle-aged people has significantly increased over the past ten years, according to a new American study. The main risk factors for stroke, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The study goes on to say that these …

In today’s digital age, our smartphones have become indispensable tools, but they are also vulnerable to overheating, especially during hot weather. Overheating not only affects device performance but also poses potential risks such as reduced battery life and even the risk of fire in extreme cases. Here’s how you can protect your smartphone and other gadgets from overheating: High temperatures …

A donkey cart race was organized in Karachi in which more than 40 donkey carts participated that took place from ICI Flyover to Karachi’s Commissioner House. Commissioner Karachi said that the first event of the sports festival has taken place. Karachi Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab while talking to the media said that the event was organized for the poor people …

Pakistan Threek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman met and discussed the political and law and order situation in the country. Both leaders expressed concern about the worsening peace and order, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), noting the rise in lawlessness. During their discussions, they agreed that a military operation was not the solution. Instead, …

Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab has issued an alert regarding the upcoming monsoon rains, predicting a significant increase of up to 35% this year. According to PDMA, the monsoon rains are expected to commence on July 1. In a letter addressed to the provincial administration, PDMA highlighted the expected rainfall patterns for July: First Week of July: 15 …

The wedding festivities of actress Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal have commenced, with a puja ceremony held at her residence. The event was attended by close family members and friends, including her father, veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha. Sonakshi stunned in a traditional blue attire, while her father complemented her look by wearing a shirt and trousers matching the dupatta. The …

The National Assembly on Sunday passed a resolution condemning the recent mob lynching incident in Swat, demanding immediate action against those involved. The resolution, which was presented by Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar, was approved by a majority vote. The resolution emphasised the need for both federal and provincial governments to ensure the protection of minorities. “Action must be taken …

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a forecast for heavy rains in various parts of Pakistan throughout July, warning of potential flooding due to heavy downpours, glacier melt, and urban drainage overflow. According to NDMA officials, the local administration has been directed to take necessary precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the anticipated weather conditions. The NDMA’s …

BEIJING: Chinese authorities on Friday issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists for conducting or inciting secession, allowing death penalty and a trial in absentia in relevant cases. The guidelines, jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice, will take …

BEIJING: Chinese authorities on Friday issued a set of guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists for conducting or inciting secession, allowing a trial in absentia in relevant cases. The guidelines, jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the ministries of public security, state security, and justice, will take effect upon release. …

BEIJING: With a set of judicial guidelines targetting diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists, China on Friday revealed a new weapon, precise and legal, to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The guidelines on imposing criminal punishments on diehard “Taiwan independence” separatists for conducting or inciting secession were jointly issued by the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the …

GUANGZHOU: Torrential rains have killed five people in Jiaoling County in south China’s Guangdong Province, local authorities said on Thursday. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, five people have been found dead and two others missing in Jiaoling due to the rains. A total of 64,947 people in the county have been affected, causing the direct economic losses of about 3.65 …

SEOUL: The top leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Russia on Wednesday signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership following their summit in Pyongyang, state media reported Thursday. The treaty was the culmination of the state visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which also featured a bilateral summit meeting and private talks between him and Kim …

RAMALLAH: A Palestinian teenager was killed on Thursday by the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Qalqilya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The ministry said 15-year-old Naeem Abdullah Naeem Samha died after being hit by live bullets fired by the Israeli army. Local Palestinian sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the city, leading to confrontations with young …

In a bid to uphold community standards and comply with local regulations, TikTok has actively collaborated with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) over the past six months, as highlighted in its latest transparency report. During the period from July to December 2023, TikTok received 303 requests from the Pakistani government, leading to the removal of 93.5% of reported content. This …

ChatGPT maker OpenAI’s co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever said on Wednesday that he was starting a new artificial intelligence company. The company is focused on creating a safe AI environment at a time when some of the biggest tech companies are looking to dominate the generative AI boom. The company is called Safe Superintelligence and is described on …

Renowned singer Malkoo has taken legal action to have his name removed from the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). A petition, filed in the Lahore High Court, seeks to address what Malkoo claims to be an unjust inclusion in the list. The petition was submitted through Advocate Azhar Siddique, naming the federal government and other relevant parties. According to the …

French journalist Sébastien Farcis, who has been working in India as a South Asia correspondent for the past 13 years, alleged that he was forced to return to France after his journalist permit was denied renewal. He called it an “incomprehensible censorship”. Sébastien Farcis has been working for Radio France Internationale, Radio France, Libration and the Swiss and Belgian public …

Balochistan’s 4,500 coal mines have become valleys of death due to lack of safety measures as in the last 10 years, around 9,00 colliers have lost their lives in various mine-collapse-related accidents. More than 44,000 workers work in more than 45000 coal mines in Balochistan amid a lack of modern safety equipment in many coal mines. Thousands of lives are …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has assured to extend maximum resources for capacity building of National Disaster Management Authority both in terms of human resource development and provision of necessary equipment. He made the remarks during a visit to Emergencies Operation System of NDMA in Islamabad today. Describing the Emergencies Operation System of NDMA as a world class facility and a …

In a meeting chaired by Senator Salim Mandviwala, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance expressed strong opposition to the proposed tax on hybrid and electric vehicles included in the new budget. During the session, the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) stated that the 25% tax exemption for expensive vehicles over Rs15 million had been abolished. He clarified …

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa questioned during the hearing on the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) appeal against the formation of election tribunals: How can a presidential ordinance be introduced in the presence of law of parliament? The election tribunals ordinance falls under the category of interference in elections. The Supreme Court later rejected the request of the …

BEIJING: China is willing to work with countries along the routes of the China-Europe Railway Express to speed up the high-quality development of the China-Europe freight train services, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday. Lin made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on the record high monthly transport volume of the China-Europe freight …

KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Wednesday that China is ready to work hand in hand with Malaysia to make the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) a path to prosperity and happiness that truly delivers for the people. He made the remarks when attending the groundbreaking ceremony for ECRL Gombak Integrated Terminal Station with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. …

YAN’AN, Shaanxi: Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the armed forces’ political loyalty as a crucial meeting on the political work in the military was held in Yan’an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), demanded efforts to ensure …

Who knows how uncomfortable it feels after overindulging in your favourite food and then regretting immediately after? Who knows how uncomfortable it feels after overindulging in your favourite food and then regretting immediately after? Well, it has to be all of us. It is definitely pleasurable to enjoy your favourite foods, but the after-effects of overeating can be terrible. Whatever …

At least 577 Hajj pilgrims have, so far, lost their lives while performing Hajj rituals in Makkah, as soaring temperatures baked Saudi Arabia due to extremely hot weather conditions, AFP reported. Reports from the hospital morgue in Makkah’s Al Muaisem neighbourhood stated that around 550 pilgrims perished during this year’s Hajj as a result of intense heat. However, the total …