The Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) has challenged the acquittal of PTI founder and Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cipher case in the Supreme Court. An appeal was filed in the Supreme Court against the decision of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC had acquitted PTI founder and Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the cipher case. The Islamabad High Court has …

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in a weekly news briefing said there was no exchange of congratulatory letters between the leadership of Pakistan and India. The spokesperson said Pakistan did not want to comment on India’s internal affairs. The FO spokesperson refrained from responding to the ban on passports of asylum seekers abroad. “The issue of passports and immigration …

BEIJING: China’s top political advisor Wang Huning met with a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Nguyen Trong Nghia, member of the Political Bureau and secretariat of the CPV Central Committee, as well as head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education in Beijing on Thursday. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee …

COLOMBO: The “Palestine Aa Eku Dhivehin” telethon, organized by the Public Service Media (PSM) under Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s directives, has collected nearly 10 million Maldivian rufiyaa (about 650,000 U.S. dollars) in aid by the end of Wednesday, the PSM said on Thursday. The telethon ran for 15 hours, the PSM said, adding that they received 9,390,647 rufiyaa and 31,732 …

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum has been published. Xi delivered the speech, titled “Further Deepening Cooperation and Moving Forward to Step up the Building of a China-Arab Community with a Shared Future,” in Beijing on May 30. The booklet, published by the People’s Publishing …

Sarahouda Stiti, a 130-year-old woman from Algeria, received a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon her arrival at Jeddah International Airport in Saudi Arabia on June 10, 2024. Stiti, the oldest pilgrim from Algeria, was greeted with great respect at the airport. Recognized as the oldest Hajj pilgrim to visit the Kingdom this year, Stiti hails from Iraq but resides in …

The new income tax slabs for the salaried class under the federal budget 2024-25 revealed that a higher rate of income tax would now be applicable from July 1, 2024, where annual taxable income exceeds Rs. 600,000, high-level sources informed. In the new federal budget 2024-25, where taxable income is between Rs. 600,000 but does not exceed Rs. 1,200,000, the …

National cricket team fast bowler Haris Rauf recently opened up about the challenges of playing cricket in New York during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, his comeback from injury, and the importance of minimizing errors on the field. Pakistan secured their first win of the ICC T20 World Cup with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Canada in the 22nd …

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) has released a comprehensive report marking 100 days of the 16th National Assembly, shedding light on various aspects of the legislative body’s performance and participation rates. The National Assembly held a total of 23 sittings during this period, spanning 66.5 hours in total. However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s attendance at these meetings was …

A fire that broke out in a building housing workers in the city of Mangaf in southern Kuwait early on Wednesday has killed at least 41 people, the country’s deputy prime minister Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah said during a visit to the site. The deputy PM accused real estate owners of violations and greed, saying those factors contributed towards …

As the monsoon season approaches, experts predict higher-than-usual rainfall across the country, with significant risks of flooding from July to September. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued warnings and outlined precautionary measures to mitigate potential disasters. The monsoon rains are expected to exceed normal levels this year, raising concerns about widespread flooding. Rivers and canals are at high …

The federal government has set ambitious economic targets in the budget for the fiscal year 2024–25 amidst challenging global and domestic economic conditions. According to official documents, the budget aims for a GDP growth rate of 3.6% for the next fiscal year. To curb rising living costs, the inflation target has been set at 12%. The government is optimistic about …

Indian actress Sonakshi Sinha has addressed ongoing rumours regarding her potential wedding to beau Zaheer Iqbal, asserting that the decision of marriage is solely her prerogative. In a candid interview with iDiva, Sinha expressed her bemusement over the persistent curiosity surrounding her marital plans. “Firstly, it’s nobody’s business. Secondly, it is my choice, so I don’t know why people are …

BIRMINGHAM: The World Championship of Legends announces another formidable roster from the West Indies Lineup. Leading the charge of the upcoming edition of World Championship of Legends would be international legend Chris Gayle, reputable for his action showcase in T20 Cricket. Chris Gayle on the happy occasion of rejoining his West Indies family shares, “I look forward to rejoin my …

ISLAMABAD: Cash-strapped Pakistan witnessed the highest-ever single-year increase in tax exemptions or concessions, surging by 73.24 percent or Rs1.64 trillion in the outgoing fiscal year. The Pakistan Economic Survey 2023-24, released by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Tuesday, showed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) doled out a record Rs3.879tr in FY24 compared to Rs2.239tr in FY23. The cost …

In a major relief for the country’s ill economy, World Bank (WB) has approved Rs1 billion for Pakistan. According to details, the World Bank has approved $1 billion for the construction of Dasu Dam. This financing will support the expansion of hydropower electricity supply, improve access to socio-economic services for local communities, and build the Water and Power Development Authority’s (WAPDA) …

After much anticipation, the makers of the hit crime thriller series have finally dropped a clue about the release date of Season 3. On March 19, Amazon Prime Video shared an animated image featuring the show’s main characters on Instagram, hinting at the upcoming release date of “Mirzapur 3.” The poster includes popular actors Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyenndu, Kulbhushan …

The highly anticipated trailer for the sci-fi film ‘Kalki 2898 AD,’ starring Baahubali superstar Prabhas and Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone, has just been released, sparking excitement among fans worldwide. Set to hit theaters on June 27, this mega-budget movie is poised to be a cinematic milestone. According to Indian media, the film’s budget has soared to an unprecedented 600 crore …

Pakistan is set to allocate a historic development budget of Rs3,792 billion in the upcoming financial year. This substantial investment marks a significant increase compared to previous years. In the new financial year, the federal and provincial governments will spend on development schemes together, while the highest expenditure will come from Sindh. According to the budget document for the new …

Starting Saturday, June 15, Saudi Arabia will begin enforcing a ban on working under direct sunlight for all private sector establishments from 12pm to 3pm. The implementation of the ban will be executed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in collaboration with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health. This decision aims to guarantee the safety …

Pakistan’s hopes of progressing to the Super Eight stage in the ICC T20 cricket World Cup 2024 have suffered a significant blow following their second consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of arch-rivals India. With the defeat, Pakistan’s chances of advancing in the tournament have dwindled, leaving the team reliant on a series of favourable outcomes from other matches. …

In preparation for Eid-ul-Azha, the Punjab Home Department has established a control room to ensure law and order and the implementation of government directives across the province. This control room will operate 24 hours a day, compiling reports from all districts to maintain an effective oversight during the Eid holidays. Under the leadership of senior officers, the control room will …

Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan wants good relations with all of its neighbors and set conditions for normalization of ties between Pakistan and India. Minister of Information and Broadcasting gave an important statement on Pakistan-India relations. “We want good relations with neighbors and economic recovery of Pakistan. Economic development is not possible without peace with all neighbors, …

The Supreme Court has ordered the closure of all restaurants operating within Islamabad’s Margalla National Park, including the popular Monal restaurant. This decisive order emerged from a case concerning the legality of these establishments within the park. In its ruling, the Supreme Court stressed that all restaurants in the national park must be removed within three months. The court underscored …

At least 11 terrorists were gunned down by the security forces during an intelligence based operation (IBO) in Lakki Marwat district, the militry’s media wing said on Tuesday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement said that an operation was launched on Tuesday in response to the recent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that claimed the lives of seven …

Another petition challenging the recently enacted defamation law in Punjab has been filed in the Lahore High Court. The petition was jointly submitted by the Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ). The petition names the Punjab government, represented by the chief secretary and other officials, as respondents. The petitioners …

ISLAMABAD: Six people were killed after a gas tanker collided with a car in Pakistan’s east Punjab province on Monday, the motorway police said. The accident happened near Chakwal district where both vehicles fell into the ravine after the collision, the police said in a statement. Fire erupted in the tanker and was timely doused. Police said that the accident …

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Li Qiang will pay official visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia from June 13 to 20, foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Tuesday. Li’s tour is at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. During his visit to Australia, …

ISLAMABAD: After not being able to leave on time due to flight issues, the Pakistan national football team has departed for Tajikistan via an air force flight to play their final round two away fixture of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers today, Tuesday, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said. The team’s earlier scheduled flight for Tajikistan was halted “due …

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday attended the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that over the past year, BRICS cooperation has been remarkable, rapid and strong. Following BRICS’ expansion, a new era for …

BEIJING: China saw 110 million domestic tourist trips made during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday, up 6.3 percent from the same period last year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said Monday. Domestic tourists spent 40.35 billion yuan (about 5.57 billion U.S. dollars) during the holiday from Saturday to Monday, up 8.1 percent year on year, according to the …

BEIRUT: Hezbollah announced on Monday that it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said in a statement that its fighters ambushed a Hermes 900 drone armed with missiles and targeted it with air defense weapons before the drone carried out its attack. A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that a surface-to-air missile launched from southern Lebanon struck …

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here Monday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on bilateral ties and BRICS cooperation. Noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to China was a great success, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said both sides should fully implement the …

BEIJING: A compilation of excerpts from discourses on China’s national energy security by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has been published by the Central Party Literature Press. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has accelerated the establishment of a new …

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa recently addressed a climate change conference hosted by the Supreme Court. During his speech, he urged the adoption of eco-friendly practices and healthier lifestyles to combat climate change. CJP Isa suggested that judges should consider walking or using bicycles instead of cars. He stated that Justice Mansoor Ali Shah talked about hybrid …

A National Assembly official has been terminated from his job, while another suspended, and 17 employees were demoted over irregularities, reported on Monday. Sources said that the step has been taken over irregularities in recruitment and promotions in the lower house of the parliament. Sources said that special secretary Chaudhry Mubarak has been terminated from his service. The Speaker has …

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has hinted at a ‘major surgery’ in the team after a poor performance against India in the T20 World Cup 2024 on Sunday. Addressing a press conference in New York, after the Green Shirts’ defeat, Mohsin Naqvi said the defeat against India was disappointing in every way. “It seemed that a minor surgery …

Indian actress Sonakshi Sinha is set to marry her boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on June 23, according to India Today. The couple, who first met at a party hosted by Salman Khan, have kept their relationship relatively private but have been spotted together in various social media posts. The wedding will be held at Bastian, a popular venue in Mumbai, India. Guests …

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended his congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election and swearing-in ceremony. Sharif conveyed his message of felicitation to Modi through his social media account on X, marking a diplomatic gesture between the two neighboring countries. Narendra Modi was sworn in as the prime minister of India for the third consecutive term …

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) directed the federal to pay three million rupees in compensation to the father of the missing person named Haroon Muhammad ahead of the next hearing. IHC Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb heard the petition related to the recovery of Haroon Muhammad, missing since July 2009. The court ordered that the federal government should pay Rs3 …