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High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri invites attention towards climate issue

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri invited attention towards the climate issue. “Glacial melting poses a grave environmental threat. Pakistan is particularly concerned, as it holds more glacial ice than any country outside the polar regions,” the envoy posted on X. More than three-quarters of the world’s glaciers are set to vanish […]

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Pakistan urges UNSC to act, not to remain bystander, as Israel kills and starves Palestinians

Celina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan this week urged the United Nations General Assembly not to remain a bystander while Palestinians were being slaughtered, maimed and starved. “The cries from Gaza cannot continue to be met with silence– the world cannot afford another day of inaction,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, […]

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Kazakhstan eager to improve academic ties with Pakistan

Lahore: The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Mr Yerzhan Kistafin, visited the University of Health Sciences (UHS) here this week, accompanied by Dr Anar Turmukhambetova, Board Chairman and Rector of Astana Medical University, along with embassy officials Daniyar Altayev and Rana Irfan Haider. During the visit, the Kazakh delegation met with UHS Vice Chancellor Prof […]

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Pakistan invites Japan to join mineral sector drive through joint ventures, value addition

Abdullah Jan Islamabad: Pakistan this week invited Japan to invest in its minerals sector through joint ventures focused on exploration, processing and value addition, with commerce minister, Jam Kamal, holding high-level meetings in Tokyo this week, the government said in a statement. The outreach is part of Pakistan’s broader push to attract foreign investment and […]

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Umar Rehman Malik lauds President Asif Ali Zardari for signing law to stop child marriages

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Umar Rehman Malik this week lauded President Asif Ali Zardari for signing the bill into law to stop child marriages. “Historic Step Towards Protecting Our Children. President Asif Ali Zardari has officially signed the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, into law,” he said in […]

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In the computer age, China gives the world another option

Ding Gang Those born in the 1950s are the first ferrymen of the computer civilization. We’ve witnessed the digital revolution unfold, upgrading our skills and capabilities alongside each new version of Windows. Through this journey, we’ve developed a profound understanding of what an “operating system” truly means to modern life. Without Windows, countless software applications […]

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Expanding visa-free ‘circle of friends’ shows China’s focus on openness, cooperation

Global Times China’s visa-free “circle of friends” has once again expanded. Effective June 1, China began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. Beginning June 9, the policy will also apply to Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. These initiatives vividly reflect China’s diplomatic […]

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National Day: Italy can play role of ‘peace builder’ in ‘volatile’ global, regional scenario: Atta Tarar

Celina Ali Islamabad: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar this week said Pakistan look to Italy as an important country which could play the role of peace builder in the volatile regional and global scenario. Addressing the celebration ceremony of Italy’s National Day, he said Pakistan and Italy share a rich history of […]

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France to ban smoking on beaches, parks and bus stops from July 1

Newswire Paris: France will ban smoking in all outdoor places that can be accessed by children, including beaches, parks and bus stops, the health and family minister announced this week. Famed as a country where smokers linger over cigarettes on cafe terraces or strolling down cobblestone streets, France has increasingly tightened restrictions on tobacco use […]

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Xi says China ready to work with Germany to open new chapter in all-round strategic partnership

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: Chinese President Xi Jinping said this week that China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in their all-round strategic partnership, to steer China-EU relations toward new progress and to make new contributions to the stable growth of the world economy. Speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over […]

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Bilawal Bhutto condemns politicisation of water through violation of IWT

Liaquat Ali ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari this week condemned the politicisation of water through violations of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it a form of “hybrid warfare.” He warned that if such actions continue, future generations would face conflicts over water resources. Bilawal criticised India’s assertion of a “new […]

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China’s tax cuts boost high-tech, manufacturing growth in 2024

China Economic Net Beijing: China’s main policies supporting sci-tech innovation and the development of the manufacturing industry saw tax cuts, fee reductions and tax refunds totalling 2.63 trillion yuan (about 366.75 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, official data showed on Wednesday. These policies accelerated the cultivation of new quality productive forces and promoted the high-quality […]

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Henan’s e-commerce transaction volume hits 324.16 billion yuan in Q1

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: Henan’s e-commerce sector remained stable in the first quarter of 2025, with total goods and services transactions reaching 324.16 billion yuan, according to data released by Henan Provincial Bureau of Statistics on May 14. Service-related and consumer-facing transactions continued to grow at a relatively fast pace. In the first quarter, service transactions […]

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High Commissioner Jane Marriott discusses UK-Pakistan ties with Punjab CM

Newswire Lahore: British High Commissioner Jane Marriott called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz here and discussed a wide range of issues, including matters of mutual interest, bilateral cooperation, education, investment, environmental protection, and governance reform. A luncheon was also hosted in the honour of outgoing Political Advisor to British High Commission Zoe Ware on […]

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Rule of law in Italy under EU scrutiny

Newswire Rome: A closed-door hearing at the European Parliament could have been an opportunity for the Italian government to engage seriously on European Union concerns over the rule of law in Italy and make clear commitments to uphold core EU values. Instead, the government sent lower-level officials to attend, and a leading MEP of Prime […]

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High Commissioner Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri highlights rural culture of Pakistan

Canberra: Pakistani High Commissioner to Australia Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri this week highlighted the rural culture of Pakistan. “Bull racing – Raw energy of rural life in Pakistan,” he posted on X along with a beautiful picture to support his statement. A traditional sport deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of rural Punjab, Bill racing continues […]

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Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad backs UN chief’s plan for world body’s restructuring to enhance its effectiveness

Celina Ali Islamabad: Pakistan this week threw its weight behind UN Secretary-General’s UN80 initiative aimed at enhancing the word body’s effectiveness, emphasizing that it core mandate of maintaining world peace & security must remain paramount. “We welcome the UN80 Initiative as a timely and important step towards making the UN leaner, more efficient and fit […]

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Kazakhstan envoy explores cooperation avenues during his IHCBA visit

Celina Ali Islamabad: The Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Yerzhan Kistafin, paid an official visit to the Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA), marking a key step towards building stronger legal and professional ties between Kazakhstan and Pakistan. The Ambassador was warmly welcomed by President Mr. Wajid Gillani, Mr. Chaudhary Manzoor Ahmad […]

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Success of Pakistani professionals is key pillar of bilateral ties: Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi

Celina Ali Islamabad: Japan seeks high-quality human resources and by engaging with Japan, young Pakistani talents will contribute significantly to strengthening the Japan-Pakistan relations. This reassuring statement was made by Ambassador of Japan Akamatsu Shuichi while addressing the “Pakistan-Japan Human Resources Stakeholders Meeting” he hosted at his residence. The high-level gathering brought together approximately 70 […]

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US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker calls on Bilawal Bhutto, ties discussed

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari met with US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, Ms. Natalie Baker, at Zardari House in Islamabad this week. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between Pakistan and the United States. During the discussion, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari appreciated former US President […]

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Austria orders 12 Leonardo M-346 Block 20 light combat aircraft from Italy

Rome: The Italian Ministry of Defence announced this week the signing of an intergovernmental agreement for the supply of 12 Leonardo M-346 FA (Block 20) light combat aircraft to Austria. The contract also includes a full mission simulator, IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile integration, Link 16 data link, Nexter 20mm gun pods, LAU-32 rocket launchers, and […]

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France ‘determined’ to recognise Palestinian state

Newswire Paris: France is “determined” to recognise a Palestinian state, its foreign minister said this week, condemning Israel for the “indefensible” situation in Gaza created by its military campaign and humanitarian blockade. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also reaffirmed that Paris backed a Netherlands-led initiative for a review of the cooperation agreement between the European Union […]

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Denmark launches world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol plant

Denmark inaugurated the world’s first commercial-scale e-methanol facility this week, marking a major step in the decarbonization of the shipping industry. Located in Kasso, southern Denmark, the €150 million ($167 million) plant is jointly owned by Denmark’s European Energy and Japan’s Mitsui, and will produce 42,000 metric tons, or 53 million litres, of e-methanol annually. […]

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Aseefa Bhutto distributes home ownership certificates to flood-affected women

Liaquat Ali Islamabad: First Lady and Member of the National Assembly Aseefa Bhutto Zardari visited Mirza Farrukh Beg village in Taluka Daur, Shaheed Benazirabad district this week, where she handed over home ownership certificates to women beneficiaries of the Sindh People’s Housing Project—hailed as the world’s largest free housing initiative. Accompanied by Sindh Health Minister […]

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20 IUB students win prestigious CPEC split-degree scholarships to study in China

Gwadar Pro Bahawalpur: In a major academic milestone, 20 students from the first-ever cohort (2024–2028) of the Bachelor of Science in Forestry program at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) have been awarded fully funded split-degree scholarships under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) education cooperation framework, the university announced this week. The scholarships, which are […]

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Henan’s January-April foreign trade exceeds 270 billion yuan

Henan Daily Zhengzhou: Amid a complex and volatile global economic landscape, Henan’s foreign trade has maintained steady growth, underscoring its strong resilience and vitality. According to data released by Zhengzhou Customs on May 14, Henan’s total imports and exports reached 275.77 billion yuan in the first four months of the year, up 29.5% year-on-year, 27.1 […]

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