‘Two sessions’ will pave way for China in an increasingly uncertain world

Xinhua Beijing: China enters its most important political week with the beginning of its “two sessions,” the assembly of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). This year’s gathering will be particularly important given the crisis in Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and the increased economic pressure from the […]

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Asif Ali Zardari returns as President for an unprecedented second time

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Asif Ali Zardari this week took oath as Pakistan’s 14th President, after the veteran politician staged a remarkable comeback when he was overwhelmingly elected as the only civilian president of the coup-prone country for a second time. Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa administered the oath to the 68-year-old Mr Zardari […]

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Italy’s centre-right wants Meloni in EPP

Rome: Italian centre-right party Forza Italia wants right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party to join the European People’s Party (EPP) to strengthen Italy’s influence in the European Parliament, MEP Salvatore De Meo told Euractiv. Italy has been governed by a right-wing coalition composed of Matteo Salvini’s far-right Lega (ID), Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing Fratelli d’Italia (ECR), […]

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France prepares for space wars in ‘AsterX’ European exercise

Newswire Paris: In silent orbit around Earth, a potentially hostile satellite approaches an allied communication node, intentions unknown. French Space Command has determined the move is deliberate, and intelligence shows the enemy spacecraft is equipped with a robotic arm that would allow it to de-orbit the friendly asset. The French-led blue team moves a “patroller” […]

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Portuguese writer’s presence celebrated in Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) this week hosted a literary session with internationally acclaimed Portuguese novelist, playwright and poet José Luís Peixoto and discussed scope of cooperation between the writers and poets as well as literary organizations of the two countries. The session was attended by writers and poets from twin […]

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PPP to fix Balochistan issues: Bilawal Bhutto

Liaquat Ali Quetta: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week said the issues and challenges facing Balochistan would be resolved through reconciliation and consultation with other political parties and leaders as one person or a single party alone could not tackle them. “The guiding principle for my party’s government in Balochistan is […]

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France wants “truth and justice” after Palestinians shot in Gaza

Newswire Paris: The killing of over 100 Palestinians in Gaza who were requesting humanitarian relief angered French President Emmanuel Macron, who expressed his outrage this week. He also demanded “truth and justice” over the involvement of Israeli forces in the tragedy. More than 100 Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers on Thursday while they […]

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‘World is watching’ Canada’s military spending: US envoy

Newswire Ottawa: The US ambassador to Canada says the world is closely watching Canada’s defence spending commitments, as the NATO alliance scrambles to shore up Ukraine’s supply of military goods. In an interview that aired Sunday on Rosemary Barton Live, David Cohen praised Canada’s “very significant” military contributions on a variety of fronts, including purchases […]

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PTI never tried to block Shehbaz Sharif: Bilawal Bhutto

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto this week said that Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) never tried to block Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) nominee Shehbaz Sharif’s path to premiership as the “Imran Khan-led party refuses to talk with other political parties”. Addressing a press conference, the former foreign minister said that Shehbaz Sharif, […]

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Roman funerary altar found partially buried in Torre river

Rome: Archaeologists have recovered a Roman funerary altar which was found partially buried in the Torree river in the municipality of San Vito al Torre, Italy. The discovery was made by Ervino Silvestri after he noticed a block of partially exposed limestone and contacted the local authorities. Archaeologists from the ABAP FVG Superintendency conducted a […]

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Bilawal Bhutto says Zardari PPP’s candidate for President

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said this week that his father Asif Ali Zardari would be the party’s candidate for the presidential election. The comments come a day after talks between PPP and PML-N to devise a power-sharing formula in the upcoming coalition government remained inconclusive, though both sides […]

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Europe has ambition to be the first climate-neutral continent: Ambassador Dr Riina Kionka

Celina Ali Islamabad: Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan Dr Riina Kionka said this week that Europe has the ambition to be the first climate-neutral continent. She was addressing a large gathering at the Jinnah Convention Center here on to participate in “EuroVillage,” organized by the European Union and its Member States. This year’s […]

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Canada’s rural communities will continue long decline unless something’s done, says researcher

Ottawa: A researcher at Western University says rural communities in Canada will continue their long population decline unless governments intervene with policy changes to address new immigrants’ preference to settle in major urban centres rather than small towns, villages and hamlets. The story of rural Canada over the last 55 years has been one of […]

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Bilawal Bhutto: Pakistan’s rising political force advocating democracy

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the rising political figure in Pakistan, advocates for democratic governance, economic stability, and electoral reforms. He addresses critical issues such as missing persons, respectful engagement, and the privatization of state-owned enterprises. With an ambitious manifesto focusing on sectors like agriculture and energy, Bilawal’s commitment to a democratic, inclusive, and […]

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France plans to revoke birthplace citizenship in Mayotte

Newswire Paris: French authorities this week announced a controversial plan to amend the Constitution to revoke birthplace citizenship on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, which has been struggling with social unrest and a crippling migration crisis. France currently grants citizenship through both bloodline and birthplace, and this proposal risks further ramping up tensions […]

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French FM rejects ‘forced displacement’ of Gazans to Egypt

Newswire Cairo: France’s top diplomat Stephane Sejourne said this week that he rejects the “forced displacement” of Palestinians into Egypt from the Gaza Strip, where Israeli bombardment has pushed hundreds of thousands against the border. At the start of his first Middle East tour as foreign minister, Sejourne addressed his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in […]

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Pakistan must invest in climate resilience to survive: Bilawal Bhutto

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan must invest in climate resilience for its survival, prime ministerial hopeful Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a wide-ranging interview. He said he had been ready to quit the government while he was foreign minister because there were no new climate-resilience projects in the federal budget following devastating floods that killed more […]

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Italy’s Meloni urges swift trial for Italian activist held in Hungary

Newswire Brussels: The Italian anti-fascist activist held in Hungary for assaulting far-right militants should be granted a quick trial, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said this week, wading into a controversy that is souring relations between Rome and Budapest. Images of Ilaria Salis, 39, being led into court on Monday with her feet and hands […]

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Greece, UAE sign memorandum for data center investments in Greece

Athens: Greece and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a memorandum of collaboration in Abu Dhabi this week for the promotion of investments in digital infrastructure in Greece. Signing the memorandum were Greek Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou and UAE Investments Minister and CEO of ADQ, Mohamed Hassan Alsuwaidi. The memorandum specifically foresees the construction […]

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Xi urges China, France to jointly open up path of peace, progress for human development

Beijing: As today’s world is once again at a critical crossroads, China and France should jointly open up a path of peace, security, prosperity and progress for human development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here this week. Xi made the remarks as he exchanged congratulations with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, on the 60th anniversary […]

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Greece’s emergency response migrant program receives award

Newswire Athens: Greece’s National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM) program, established two years ago in collaboration with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), has received an award of ‘best practice’ for its contribution to rescuing young migrants from organized crime. Greece has earned recognition for its National Emergency Response Mechanism (NERM) program, a collaborative effort with […]

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Bilawal Bhutto urges people to thwart PML-N ‘conspiracy’

Liaquat Ali Rawalpindi: Taking a jibe at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week urged the masses to thwart “conspiracy” of those aiming to become prime minister for the fourth time by voting for his party. Addressing a rally at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh, Bilawal accused Pakistan Muslim […]

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Italy’s Meloni targets energy, migration with Africa plan

Newswire Rome: Italy’s hard-right Giorgia Meloni reveals her long-trailed development plan for Africa this weekend, a “non-predatory” approach which critics warn favours European priorities and pockets. Prime Minister Meloni, who came to power in 2022 on an anti-migrant ticket, hopes to posit Italy as a key bridge between Africa and Europe, funnelling energy north while […]

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Aseefa Bhutto vows to carry forward mother’s vision

Laiquat Ali Islamabad Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of the late Benazir Bhutto, delivered a poignant speech during her visit to Maripur, echoing the legacy of her mother and the Bhutto family. Embracing her lineage, she reminded the crowd of her connection to Benazir Bhutto, emphasizing her commitment to continue her mother’s mission. “Benazir Bhutto was […]

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Indonesia supports Palestine’s full UN membership in the NAM Summit

Newswire Jakarta: Indonesia expressed support for the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations during the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, this week. Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Nugraha Mansury voiced Indonesia’s support for Palestine’s full UN membership at the NAM Summit by underlining the importance of […]

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Bilawal Bhutto asks PTI supporters to vote for PPP

Liaquat Ali Lahore: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters to rally behind his party in the upcoming general elections, pledging to put an end to the politics of revenge and division. “I’ve experienced the oppression of PML-N myself, and I wouldn’t want any political party worker […]

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