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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China files WTO suit against EU over tariffs on Chinese EVs

Liu Yang and Chi Jingyi Beining: China this week initiated dispute settlement proceedings against the EU’s provisional anti-subsidy measures against Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) at the WTO to safeguard the interests of its EV industry’s development and global green transition cooperation, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said. Experts said that the move suggests that China […]

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Denmark’s Maersk to invest $2bn in Pakistan’s ports over 2 years

Celina Ali Islamabad: In a major upcoming economic development for Pakistan, Denmark’s Maersk Shipping Line will invest $2 billion over the next two years in the infrastructure of ports, terminals, dredging, transshipment, and road construction. This announcement was made this week by the Federal Minister for Naval Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh while briefing journalists in […]

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Bilawal Bhutto committed to safeguarding rights of minorities

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and fostering the development and empowerment of minorities in Pakistan. He emphasized that the PPP will never compromise on these core principles. The PPP Chairman on the occasion of National Minorities Day, underscored his […]

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Shehbaz Sharif vows to follow China model for economic success

Celina Ali ISLAMABAD, August 2: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week pledged to revamp Pakistan’s economy by emulating China’s model. The PM stressed that the objective would be to achieve similar economic success on a smaller scale. Speaking to a 12-member Chinese delegation led by Wang Fukang, the prime minister said that during his […]

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A greener getaway? Danish capital tests climate reward scheme for tourists

Copenhagen: Tourists visiting Copenhagen this summer are encouraged to participate in unusual kinds of vacation fun, including plucking floating trash from the Danish capital’s waterways, cycling to museums instead of going by car, or volunteering at an urban garden. All these activities are part of a new, four-week pilot project called CopenPay that rewards tourists […]

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Rubina Khalid emphasizes zero tolerance against misbehavior with women beneficiaries

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid during her visit to the Peshawar Tehsil Office this week emphasized that there will be zero tolerance against any misbehavior with the women beneficiaries. The purpose of the visit was to monitor the arrangements at the office and review the facilities provided for […]

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Italy-funded asylum centres in Albania to be fully operational by September

Rome: Italy’s controversial plan to open migrant processing centres in Albania has been delayed. Officials cite construction issues at the Gjadër site primarily due to the region’s hot weather. Initially set to open this week, the centres are expected to be operational in several weeks, according to Italian Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano. The agreement signed […]

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Pakistan, France vow to deepen economic relations

Celina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan and France this week affirmed their commitment to deepen economic relations, exploring investment opportunities, and expanding bilateral trade. This commitment was expressed during a meeting between Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik and French Ambassador Nicolas Galey in Islamabad. Ali Pervaiz Malik provided an overview of Pakistan’s economic progress, […]

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China opening up to bring new opportunities for China-EU cooperation: Wang Yi

Beijing: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in Vientiane, Laos this week. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee […]

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President Zardari calls for expanding outreach of BISP, number of beneficiaries

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari this week underscored the need for enhancing the outreach of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) as well as the number of beneficiaries for the uplift of underprivileged sections of society. President Zardari was talking to Chairperson BISP Rubina Khalid during a briefing on the program. President Asif […]

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China urges US to stop deceiving the world with lies

Global Times Beijing: The US should immediately correct its wrongdoings, stop deceiving the world with lies, cease slandering and smearing other countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said this week commenting on the report of US Marine Corps’ release of official doctrine on how it employs deception. The US should provide an explanation to […]

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Interfaith harmony crucial for peace: Governor Faisal Kundi

Liaquat Ali Peshawar: Khyber Pakhtunkhaw Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi this week emphasized the urgent need for interfaith harmony, calling it pivotal for fostering peace. He said this during his visit to Gurdwara Bhai Joga Singh, Jogian Shah. He was accompanied by provincial president Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, former minority […]

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France recalls contaminated Olympic water bottles

Parsi: French authorities have recalled Olympics-branded water bottles for children containing excessive levels of endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A. The reusable bottles made by the Vilac company have “levels of Bisphenol A not in line with regulations” on products designed for contact with foods, government website Rappel Conso (Consumer Recall) said. The white-coloured flasks with beige, […]

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China warns Japan not to act as NATO ‘vanguard’

Liu Caiyu Beijing: China this week urged Japan to play a constructive role in maintaining and promoting peace, stability, development, and not act as a “vanguard” of NATO’s Asia-Pacific expansion, following Japan’s new defense white paper, which delivers its strongest words yet on Taiwan island. Observers said that such narratives smearing China expose Japan’s real […]

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Bilawal Bhutto urges focus on population control for sustainable development

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week called upon the government and society to address the issue of rapid population growth for sustainable development and a prosperous future for all. He emphasised that reducing Pakistan’s population growth rate could significantly improve the quality of life for its citizens. In […]

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Pakistanis invited to invest in Indonesia

Liaquat Ali Peshawar: Indonesian diplomats this week invited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen to make investments in their country and offered multiple facilities along with a five-year tax holiday. Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, chargé d’affaires, and Axelsyah R Miraza, economic attaché and M Syofiyan Sur of the embassy of Republic of Indonesia made the offer during a visit […]

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China urges US to stop smearing China, contribute to cyberspace security

Beijing: China urges the United States to stop its smears and vilification against China, act responsibly and contribute to the peace and security of the cyberspace, a foreign ministry spokesperson said this week. Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a newly-released report by China’s National […]

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Bhutto’s execution benefited Zia, violated justice: SC

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a detailed opinion on the presidential reference regarding the execution of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, acknowledging that an innocent person was hanged without a transparent trial. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa penned the 48-page opinion, with additional notes provided by Justice Sardar Tariq […]

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Italy: PM Meloni insists French election result not defeat for far right

Rome: Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, this week said that no party in France emerged victorious in the just-concluded legislative elections, in which the far-right National Rally (RN) was beaten into third by a leftist coalition and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc. The Italian leader’s comments were part of reactions pouring from across Europe over […]

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China’s EV architect says investing in Europe a way forward

Hefei: The man who spearheaded China’s electric car strategy said Wednesday that Chinese investment in the European electric vehicles industry could be a way forward for both sides amid trade tensions. “I believe the governments [of China and the European Union] are now considering how, through negotiations, they can combine investment together with commodity trade,” […]

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MoU signed to promote ‘Made in Pakistan Products’ in France

Celina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan’s Ambassador to France Asim Iftikhar Ahmad this week attended a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Business Forum and International Business & Professional Corporation aimed at boosting commerce and trade activities and promoting ‘Made in Pakistan’ Products in France. Participants appreciated the working of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which […]

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