‘Choose France’ initiative boosts education partnership

French envoy highlights increasing academic cooperation and student exchanges Islamamabad:French Ambassador to Pakistan, Nicolas Galey, stated on Friday that the partnership between Pakistan and France in higher education is gaining momentum, marked by increasing academic cooperation and student exchanges. This relationship, strengthened by the “Choose France” initiative, is paving the way for further collaboration between […]

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Whole world risks losing from US-China rivalry

Gideon Rachman London: American and Chinese foreign policy sometimes feel like mirror images. The Americans are obsessed by containing Chinese power. The Chinese are obsessed by containing American power. But the mirroring stops when it comes to how these policies are executed. Washington and Beijing bring different strengths to their battle for power and influence. […]

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Pakistan signs agreement with Denmark to restructure maritime sector

Celina Ali Islamabad: Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh signed an agreement with Denmark’s Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Minister Morten Bodskov this week which would allow the South Asian country to restructure its maritime sector and provide technical trainings to its ports. With access to the Arabian Sea, Pakistan’s sea ports in the […]

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Zardari urges int’l community’s role to stop Israeli adventurism, restore peace

Liaquat Ali Islamabad President Asif Ali Zardari this week expressed deep concerns over the growing Israeli adventurism in the region and called for the international community’s role to take swift action to restore peace and prevent conflict from spilling over. The president, in his remarks at the All Parties Conference, convened by the government to […]

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Denmark embassy, AKF sign agreement to mitigate climate risks in Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), Pakistan and the Embassy of Denmark in Islamabad this week signed an agreement to improve coastal communities’ resilience to climate change and mitigate climate risks in Pakistan, says a press release. The project ‘Sindh Coastal Resilience Integrated Programme (SCRIP)’ focusses on tackling climate vulnerability in coastal districts […]

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Constitutional court come what may: Bilawal Bhutto

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week categorically said that the formation of the constitutional court is compulsory and his party will ensure its formation come what may. Addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association on Tuesday, the PPP chief said that 19th constitutional amendment was introduced under duress […]

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France appoints first AI minister amid political unrest as it aims to become global AI leader

Pascale Davies Paris: France has named its first-ever artificial intelligence (AI) minister amid a political shake-up and as the country manoeuvres itself to become a global leader in the technology. Clara Chappaz, the CEO of the government’s start-up body La French Tech, will take up the role of Secretary of State for AI and Digitalisation. […]

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EU, China hold ‘constructive’ talks on EV tariffs

Newswire Brussels: The EU’s trade chief, Valdis Dombrovskis, said Thursday he had held “constructive” talks with China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, as Beijing seeks a deal with Brussels to avoid steep tariffs on imported electric vehicles. The meeting was held as divisions grow in Europe over the proposed tariffs, after Spain urged the EU last […]

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Italy: Meloni vows to revise ‘disastrous’ EU Green Deal

Alessia Peretti Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to push for the review of the European Green Deal, criticising its “ideological approach” and warning that it risks leading to deindustrialisation. Meloni criticised European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s flagship project at the Confindustria conference. “Shall we say that it’s not the smartest […]

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France and Italy order upgraded SAMP/T air-defense systems

Rudy Ruitenberg and Tom Kington Paris and Rome: France and Italy ordered the next generation of the SAMP/T air-defense system as they seek better protection against threats including hypersonic missiles, with French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu touting the “fully European” nature of the system. Lecornu announced an order for eight SAMP/T NG systems, with […]

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China urges fair treatment for EVs in Europe

Zhong Nan Beijing: China this week expressed its disappointment with the European Commission’s recent decisions regarding the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles, stressing it will take all necessary measures to defend the interests of its businesses. On September 12, a spokesperson for the European Commission stated that the price commitment solutions submitted by […]

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Bilawal Bhutto advocates end to political rivalry cycle

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week urged the political leadership of the country to end “the cycle of political rallies against one another” and stressed the need to shift focus towards serving the public and protecting their rights. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Bilawal said […]

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Denmark’s FLSmidth keen to invest in mining sector

Celina Ali Islamabad: A Danish multinational firm, FLSmidth, this week expressed its interest in investing in Pakistan’s mining industry. FLSmidth, which provides the global mining and cement industries with equipment and services, expressed interest during a meeting of a Danish business group, led by Denmark’s Ambassador Jakob Linulf, with Pakistani ministers for finance, commerce, petroleum, […]

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Aseefa Bhutto pledges leading role in fight against TB

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, First Lady of Pakistan, this week reaffirmed her commitment to combating Tuberculosis (TB) in Pakistan and on the global stage. In a high-level meeting with the leadership of Dopasi Foundation and a delegation of esteemed parliamentarians, led by Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, the discussion centred on addressing Pakistan’s […]

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New French PM has Europe’s interests ‘at heart’: EU chief

Brussels: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week welcomed the nomination of the European Union’s former Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as France’s prime minister. “Congratulations,” said von der Leyen, the head of the EU’s executive arm. “I know that Michel Barnier has the interests of Europe and France at heart, as his long […]

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Pakistan, China to start work on five new economic corridors

Celina Ali Islamabad: Islamabad and Beijing will start work on five new economic corridors with the support of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a civil-military hybrid body set up by Pakistan last year to attract foreign investment. Pakistan says it has completed more than 50 projects worth $25 billion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor […]

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Southern European tourists flock to Denmark to escape the heat

Newswire Copenhagen: While the south swelters, Denmark’s mild temperatures and extended daylight hours are providing the perfect summer escape for many. With rising temperatures in southern Europe, more and more tourists are flocking to cooler destinations in the north. Denmark, in particular, has become an increasingly popular choice for those looking to escape the scorching […]

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President Zardari announces national awards for 104 Pakistanis, foreigners on Independence Day

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari this week announced the conferment of national awards for 104 Pakistanis and foreigners in recognition of their services, excellence, and sacrifices in their respective fields. The awards were announced on Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day and will be presented to the awardees at an investiture ceremony on Pakistan Day, […]

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Italy’s Meloni: Economic and social rebirth is an essential investment

Newswire Rome: “Eight years ago the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Central Italy. The terrible shock at 3,36am, fixed in the minds of each of us by the stopped clock of the Civic Tower of Amatrice, triggered a seismic sequence which spread its destructive effects for several months to follow and involved a very vast territory […]

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France: New record for longest period under caretaker govt

Pierre Breteau Paris: August 24 marked 39 days since French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Gabriel Attal’s government. Since then, the caretaker prime minister and his team have been managing “day-to-day affairs,” while waiting for a government to emerge from the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7. Since the advent of […]

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EU tariffs on Chinese EVs may lead to loss of Chinese investment

Newswire Beijing: The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products this week said that by imposing anti-subsidy duties on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the European Union (EU) could lose Chinese investment in Europe. Chinese enterprises expressed grave concerns over reports that the EU’s identification of Chinese EVs as “subsidized” […]

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Denmark is surging tourism sector with visa free travel to 190 countries

Copenhagen: As of August 2024, Denmark, nestled on the Jutland Peninsula and surrounded by an archipelago of over 400 islands, remains a country of diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The peninsula, Jutland, constitutes more than two-thirds of the country’s total land area. At its northern tip lies the island of Vendsyssel-Thy, separated from the […]

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Aseefa Bhutto honored with soft diplomacy award at UAE consulate ceremony for her humanitarian efforts in polio eradication

Celina Ali Islamabad: First Lady of Pakistan, Aseefa Bhutto was honored with the Soft Diplomacy Award at a ceremony hosted by the UAE Consulate in Karachi this week in commemoration of Pakistan’s Independence Day. The Humanitarian Award was presented in recognition of her tireless efforts in eradicating polio and her successful lobbying of the UAE […]

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US government clears sale of additional MQ-9 Reapers to Italy

Celina Ali Islamabad: The US government has cleared the potential sale of six General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper unmanned air vehicles to Italy. The possible package is valued a $738 million, says the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). Included in the package are three ground control stations, sensors, communications equipment, […]

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France commemorates 80-year anniversary of Allied landings in Provence

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: France this week commemorated the 1944 Allied landings in Provence, an event overshadowed by the Normandy landings two months earlier, but still key to the World War II endgame in Europe. Six African leaders joined official events as President Emmanuel Macron singled out the contribution of soldiers recruited — often forcibly — […]

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