Google on Monday said that it has overcome a key challenge in quantum computing with a new generation of chip, solving a computing problem in five minutes that would take a classical computer more time than the history of the universe. Like other tech giants such as Microsoft and International Business Machines (IBM), Alphabet’s Google is chasing quantum computing because …

OpenAI said on Monday it has released its artificial intelligence model, which creates video from text, to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users, expanding its foray into multimodal AI technologies. The Microsoft-backed company, which kicked off a generative AI craze with the launch of its ChatGPT chatbot in November 2022, aims to target similar text-to-video tools from Meta and Alphabet’s Google, …

A constitutional bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday conducted a hearing on the implementation of the landmark Asghar Khan case decision. During the proceedings, Additional Attorney General informed the court that the FIA had closed its inquiry into the case, stating that no evidence of money distribution among politicians had been found. Responding to this, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi …

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end birthright citizenship, a move that would redefine U.S. immigration policy and alter the meaning of American citizenship. However, this controversial proposal is expected to face significant legal and constitutional challenges. Birthright citizenship, enshrined in the 14th Amendment, automatically grants U.S. citizenship to anyone born on American soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. …

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Acting U.S. Ambassador Natalie Baker to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, both sides agreed on U.S. assistance in modernizing Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to match the capabilities of the FBI. Minister Naqvi highlighted the long-standing and strong relationship between Pakistan and the U.S., …

The petition challenging the ban on the social media app X will be heard by Chief Justice Aamir Farooq in the Islamabad High Court on February 6, 2025. The petition, which was last heard on April 17, 2024, has faced several delays. Initially scheduled for hearings on May 2 and June 11, 2024, the case could not proceed on those …

The Supreme Court has formally admitted the petition filed by the PTI chairman seeking a judicial inquiry into the May 9 incidents for a full hearing. A constitutional bench of the apex court overturned the registrar’s office’s objections to the petition and directed the office to assign a case number and schedule the hearing. The PTI chairman was represented by …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached out to his Lebanese counterpart to seek assistance in evacuating Pakistani nationals stranded in Syria amid the ongoing crisis, according to an official statement. During a conversation with the Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that all Syrian airports were closed, hence Pakistanis in Syria could only be evacuated through Lebanon. “All airports …

NORTH WAZIRISTAN: At least 13 terrorists were reportedly killed and several others injured as militant hideouts near the Afghan border were targeted by security forces in the North Waziristan tribal district, in the early hours of Sunday morning. Although there was no official word from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), sources said 13 militants, including a key commander of the outla­wed …

ISLAMABAD: The Political Coordination Committee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the government committee are expected to meet today (Monday) to take up the issues related to both the parties. The PPP and the government formed the committees after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his disappointment and conveyed serious reservations to the PMLN for ignoring the PPP in consultations …

All individuals arrested for violating the presidential ordinance in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have been released unconditionally. Among the released were Sardar Liaqat Hayat Khan, leader of the Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party, and other activists. Their release was met with celebrations as Sardar Sagheer Khan Advocate, Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, and a large crowd of citizens …

Syria’s army command has notified officers that President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year authoritarian rule has ended, a Syrian officer who was informed of the move told Reuters, following a rapid rebel offensive that took the world by surprise. Syrian rebels said Damascus was “now free of Assad”. Earlier the leader who crushed all forms of dissent flew out of Damascus for …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with Federal Interior Minister and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to review progress on the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. During the meeting, the PCB chairman briefed the prime minister on developments regarding the tournament. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Naqvi’s principled stance on the Champions Trophy and expressed full confidence in his leadership. “Your …

Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday firmly denied speculations about his resignation, stating he remains committed to his judicial responsibilities and reform initiatives. Addressing reporters in Islamabad, the senior Supreme Court judge said, “These are all speculations. I will not run away and will continue to do the work I can to improve the system.” The apex court …

ISLAMABAD: The New Gwadar International Airport is set to commence operations by the end of December, Acting Director General of the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), Air Vice Marshal Zeeshan Saeed, said on Friday. During his visit to the airport, the officer was briefed about the airport’s cutting-edge features and the promising business and investment opportunities it is expected to generate …

BEIJING: China stands ready to work with all parties to build the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into a source of happiness that benefits the world and a dream maker that helps countries jointly realize modernization, a foreign ministry spokesperson said here Friday. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks in response to comments by Jeffrey Sachs, a U.S. economist, that …

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has commended Energy China’s unwavering commitment for successful implementation of Azad Pattan Hydro power project in Pakistan. Federal minister held a meeting with General Manager of Energy China International Group on Friday during which it was discussed that the group has delivered 21 Mega projects in Pakistan with a …

BEIJING: China and Nepal have signed a framework agreement to promote Belt and Road cooperation, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said Thursday. Liu Sushe, deputy head of the NDRC, and Amrit Bahadur Rai, acting foreign secretary of Nepal, signed on the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. According to this agreement, both countries will adhere to the …

BEIJING: China’s railway network achieved a record-breaking number of trips in the first 11 months of the year, backed by stable economic recovery and a revitalized tourism industry. According to the China State Railway Group Co., the railway sector handled over 4 billion passenger trips from January to November, the first time this threshold has been reached within a year. …

The Judicial Commission meeting, chaired by Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, has begun to discuss the appointment of nine additional judges for the Peshawar High Court. The names under consideration for the positions include three District and Session Judges—Kalim Arshad, Farah Jamshaid, and Inamullah Khan—and six lawyers, including Junaid Anwar, Mudassar Amir, and Aurangzeb. Additionally, the names of lawyers Jawad Ihsanullah, …

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir presided over the 84th Formation Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ). The two-day event brought together corps commanders, principal staff officers, and formation commanders of the Pakistan Army to discuss operational readiness and evolving security challenges, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The conference began with a fateha and …

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has greatly contributed to transforming infrastructure, as well as the economic and trade landscapes in Cambodia over the last decade. Before the initiation of the BRI in 2013, Cambodia faced significant challenges as one of the poorest countries in the region, with underdeveloped infrastructure hindering its economic progress. For instance, National Road No. …

ASUNCION: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Wednesday inscribed Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional new year, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision was made during the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking …

NAIROBI: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has driven infrastructure development and economic growth in Kenya, facilitated economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between regions, and brought unprecedented opportunities for the country’s development, said a Kenyan expert. Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Center at Kenya’s Africa Policy Institute, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the BRI …

The fate of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy –  scheduled to be held in Pakistan – hangs in the balance as the International Cricket Council (ICC) convenes for a crucial board meeting today. The decision, anticipated to bring clarity to the event’s future, will be attended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi who has left for Dubai this …

ISLAMABAD: The Chinese embassy in Pakistan has announced that only land port between China and Pakistan, the Khunjerab Pass has begun operating year-round from December 1st, 2024. The statement released by the embassy on Wednesday, stated that this development marks a significant milestone in enhancing trade connectivity and fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and Pakistan. According to the details, the …

A dramatic incident unfolded this morning at the Golden Temple when a man attempted to shoot Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal as he was offering seva. The former Punjab deputy chief minister narrowly escaped unharmed thanks to the quick reflexes of alert security personnel, who managed to spot the shooter and prevent a tragedy. As captured in multiple videos shared …

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for the upcoming South Africa tour on Wednesday, but the omission of opener Fakhar Zaman from both the white-ball and red-ball squads has raised questions. National team head coach Aqib Javed addressed the exclusion, explaining that Fakhar’s lack of form and match fitness led to his omission. While Fakhar’s absence has been …

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb addressed the PMRC conference Wednesday, shedding light on Pakistan’s significant economic achievements over the past 12 to 14 months. He highlighted that the country had successfully moved away from a dual deficit and has been reporting budget surpluses for several consecutive months. Minister Aurangzeb further pointed out that foreign exchange reserves, which had previously fallen …

South Africa has announced its squad for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan, with Heinrich Klaasen set to lead the team. Notably, key players Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs have been excluded from the squad. The T20 matches between Pakistan and South Africa will be played on December 10, 13, and 14. The series is expected …

GUANGZHOU: The 2024 Understanding China conference, focusing on Chinese modernization and new opportunities for the world, opened on Tuesday in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province. This year’s conference, themed “Carry through the Reform to the End — Chinese Modernization and New Opportunities for World Development,” has brought together over 600 participants including politicians, officials, scholars, foreign envoys and …

BEIJING: It was a landmark moment for Peru’s mega port of Chancay when a drawbridge unloaded a container from the COSCO “Peru” ship and loaded another onto the “New Shanghai” cargo vessel under the glow of brightly lit terminals on a mid-November night. Minutes earlier, Chinese President Xi Jinping, on a state visit to the South American country, attended the …

The Finance Ministry has initiated groundwork to secure the next $1.1 billion tranche of the $7 billion bailout program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Pakistan is aiming to meet the strict conditions of the Fund for the first economic review, with an IMF mission scheduled to visit the country in early 2025, sources revealed. According to official documents, the …

CAIRO: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) plays a significant role in driving economic development across participating countries, an Egyptian economic expert has said. Waleed Gaballah, a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, said the initiative is a groundbreaking model for fostering global growth, highlighting its transformative impact on infrastructure, trade and technology. “Launched …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed comprehensively advancing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when addressing the fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction work. It is imperative to strengthen strategic confidence, …

MOSCOW: The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as a unique example of equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, Vitaly Mankevich, president of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RAUIE), told Xinhua in a recent interview. Amid the rising problem of global trade barriers and protectionism, “the BRI emerges as a unique project that promotes globalization and equal, mutually …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a congratulatory letter to the 2024 Understanding China Conference (Guangzhou) held in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. Xi said in the letter that to understand China, one needs to understand China’s efforts to further deepen reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. China is building a high-standard socialist market economy at a faster …

Bowel cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the world and its incidence has increased rapidly worldwide. But it is in your own hands to prevent it, you just have to take care of your diet. This was revealed in two new medical research reports. Two research reports from Flanders University in Australia showed that people’s dietary …

Internet speed has started improving in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, however, slow internet continues to disrupt daily life and work in several other cities, including Lahore. Students, freelancers, and businesses remain severely affected by the ongoing internet slowdown, with many facing difficulties accessing social media and online platforms. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has yet to identify …

Ac onstitutional bench of the Supreme Court hearing the petition challenging the appointment of Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court Justice Alia Neelum has been dissolved. Justices Aminuddin Khan and Jamal Mandokhel recused themselves from the case, citing their roles as members of the Judicial Commission, which was involved in her appointment. Justice Aminuddin Khan stated that, as a …