Europe won’t receive Russian oil and gas, if Russia disconnected from SWIFT

Moscow: The European countries will not be able to receive gas, oil and metals from Russia in case Russia is disconnected from the SWIFT international payment system, Nikolay Zhuravlev, Vice Speaker of the Federation Council, said this week. The Federation Council is the upper house of the Russian parliament. Earlier, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson […]

Read More

Xi stresses full, strict Party governance, vows zero tolerance on corruption

China Economic Net Beijing: Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, this week stressed rigorous and unswerving efforts in further promoting full and strict Party governance. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, vowed to maintain a zero-tolerance stance on corruption while addressing the sixth […]

Read More

Women key players: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Newswire Rome: Senior Italian diplomat Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo said this week that women play a key role in development. “Absolutely correct. Women are indispensable to a healthy society and a thriving economy… #Afghanistan,” he tweeted, replying to a tweet of UN Secretary General António Guterres who said: “Across Afghanistan, women and girls are missing from […]

Read More

PM for improving PIA’s performance, providing best aviation services

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan this week directed the authorities concerned to improve the performance of the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The prime minister, chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to aviation, called for ensuring the provision of the best aviation services to the people. The prime minister also […]

Read More

Russia calls White House comments on talks ‘misguided’

Newswire Moscow: Russia this week lashed out at the White House comments that followed the bilateral security talks in Geneva. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova remarked: “Regarding the multiple misguided statements by the White House press secretary, it’s frankly regrettable that the US leadership is represented by people that are so clueless about the […]

Read More

Interior Ministry introduces mechanism to facilitate INGOs relief work in Afghanistan

Islamabad: The Ministry of Interior has introduced an elaborate mechanism to facilitate relief activities of international non-government organizations (INGOs) in Afghanistan. This was disclosed during the meeting of the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Coordination Cell (AICC) chaired by National Security Adviser Dr. Moeed Yusuf this week. The officials from the Ministry informed the meeting that the main […]

Read More

Pakistan welcomes Iranian offer to waive off tariff on agri-products

Islamabad: Minister for National Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam this week welcomed Iranian offer to waive off tariff on all agricultural exports to Iran and said that Pakistan has immense export potential in citrus fruits, rice, mangoes, onion, potatoes, fisheries and livestock. Speaking to Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan Syed Mohammad […]

Read More

Napoli really worth a visit: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Newswire Rome: Senior Italian diplomat Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo said this week that Napoli (Naples) is really worth a visit in Italy. “#Napoli is really worth a visit Italy,” he tweeted quoting a newswire story titled ‘Naples only Italy destination on CNN Travel wish list in 2022.’ Ambassador Pontecorvo said Napoli was a great destination for […]

Read More

China awards staff for meritorious contributions towards CPEC

Newswire Islamabad: The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan this week awarded the Pakistani staff for meritorious contributions towards the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistani Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Asad Umar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CPEC Affairs Khalid Mansoor, Director General of Department of International Affairs of NDRC of China Ying Xiong […]

Read More

Russia warns of high risk of military confrontation with NATO

Moscow: NATO’s “targeted provocations” near Russia’s borders are highly likely to escalate into an armed conflict, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said this week. NATO’s expansion eastward dates back to the time when Russia had good relations with the alliance, Fomin said at a briefing for foreign military attaches to Russia. “Recently, the alliance […]

Read More

Bilawal Bhutto to lead mass demonstrations against govt

Staff Writer Larkana: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while addressing the mass gathering at Garhi Khuda Baksh said that his party does not need any deal. He announced to lead huge demonstrations against government from January 5. On the occasion of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s 14th death anniversary, Chairman PPP addressed […]

Read More

Luca Maria Olivieri one in a generation archaeologist: Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo

Rome: Senior Italian diplomat Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo said this week that Professor Luca Maria Olivieri was one in a generation archaeologist. “Professor Luca Olivieri is a really one in a generation archaeologist. This finding confirms it. Outstanding,” he tweeted after the globally known archeologist discovered the most ancient Buddhist apsidal temple of Pakistan in Bazira […]

Read More

PR electricity valuing Rs 2 billion being stolen annually: Minister

Islamabad: Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati this week informed the Senate Standing Committee on Railways that the electricity worth of Rs2 billion was being stolen annually of Pakistan Railways. The committee met here under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Qasim which was attended by Deputy Chairman Senate, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Dost Muhammad […]

Read More

Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train inaugurated

Islamabad: Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati said this week that Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train would prove to be a game changer in the region and would boost trade among the three countries. While inaugurating the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train along with Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and […]

Read More

Xi, Putin join hands to for global justice

Newswire Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a video meeting this week, as they praised “model” China-Russia relations and pledged to cooperate more on safeguarding the two countries’ core interests and upholding international fairness and justice. The two leaders also agreed to have an in-person meeting in February in Beijing. […]

Read More

National policy: Pakistan to award 100 licenses to grow Hemp

Islamabad: The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology this week drafted the National Hemp Policy and sent it to the federal cabinet for approval. Under the policy the federal government would award licenses to 100 companies to grow Hemp so that the country could join the billion-rupee international Hemp market, Federal Science and Technology Minister […]

Read More

Bilawal Bhutto invites foreign investors to invest in Pakistan

Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari thias week foreign investors to Pakistan, urging them to explore the public-private partnership opportunities in Pakistan. Speaking at the Sindh Investment Conference held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bilawal said that the provincial government is trying to promote local production in Pakistan. “There is immense […]

Read More

Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo appreciates Pakistan’s first plastic road

Newswire Rome: Senior Italian diplomat Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo this week appreciated Pakistan’s first plastic road. “What an excellent environment – friendly idea. I hope there will be a number of imitations,” he tweeted. In Islamabad, one kilometer stretch of Ataturk Avenue in Islamabad has been re-carpeted with tons of plastic bottles. A multinational soft drink […]

Read More

ADB approves $200 million loan to develop irrigation system in Punjab

Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) this week approved a $200 million loan for the development of an irrigation system in Punjab province that would help increase agricultural productivity and enhance food security. The project loan, which is denominated in Japanese yen, will finance the construction of the second branch or Choubara system of the […]

Read More

Diplomatic success as Australia returns smuggled Bronze Age stone

HIGH COMMISSIONER ZAHID HAFEEZ CHAUDHRI RECEIVES ANICONIC STONE Newswire Canberra: In a diplomatic achievement for Pakistan, the government of Australia this week returned an aniconic stone weight id 3rd millennium BCE, having originated in Balochistan. The stone weight was handed over to Pakistan’s High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri at a ceremony was attended by senior […]

Read More

PM confident of 1pc increase in economic growth by fiscal year’s end

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan this week said Pakistan’s macroeconomic indicators were stable and expressed confidence that by the end of the fiscal year, the economy would grow at a higher rate compared with previous year. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the Macro Economic Advisory Group. Imran Khan said the increase […]

Read More

‘31 years of you and me’ – Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo celebrates wedding anniversary with Lidia Pontecorvo

Newsiwre Rome: Senior Italian diplomat Ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo this week celebrated his 31st wedding anniversary with Lidia Pontecorvo. “31 years of you and me. Still counting my blessings every day. Happy Anniversary to us,” he tweeted. The senior diplomat, who was until recently NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative, shared a picture of him and his wife. […]

Read More

Beijing, Moscow to boost partnership

Newswire Beijing: China and Russia pledged this week to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation to jointly uphold energy security as part of efforts to promote their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era. President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin made the pledge in congratulatory messages delivered to the third China-Russia Energy Business […]

Read More

People will hold Imran Khan accountable: Bilawal Bhutto

Peshawar: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said this week that the people will hold Prime Minister Imran Khan accountable. Addressing the PPP’s 54th foundation day event, Bilawal Bhutto said this “complete failure of a government” is ruling the country and “toying with Pakistan’s future and its people”. “After three years, every Pakistani […]

Read More

ECP urged to consider low voter turnout in youth

Islamabad: Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) this week urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to consider low voter turnout in youth observed during the general elections held since 1988. Citing estimated data on youth voter turnout collected by Gallup Pakistan over the past eight General Elections since 1988, PILDAT said that […]

Read More