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LAHORE : The Punjab government has announced that buses and rickshaws will operate free of charge in Lahore on February 6, 7, and 8 amid Basant celebrations. Provincial Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the decision aims to discourage the use of motorcycles and reduce road accidents during Basant. She added that the government is considering allowing limited kite-related manufacturing from December 30, but with strict conditions. The use of metallic strings, chemically treated thread, or any hazardous kite-flying material will remain strictly prohibited. All kite manufacturers, sellers, and suppliers will be required to register with the respective Deputy Commissioner. Any…

LAHORE : During the hearing of a petition challenging actions taken under the Property Ownership Act, Chief Justice Aalia Neelum of the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued strong remarks and ordered the immediate restoration of possession obtained through DRC (Dispute Resolution Committee) proceedings. The chief justice heard a petition filed by Muhammad Ali, during which the individual who had obtained possession under the Property Ownership Act also appeared before the court. During the hearing, the chief justice questioned the lawyer representing the party in possession, asking how he could defend an unlawful decision. The lawyer argued that committees formed under…

LAHORE : The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore has issued its written verdict in two cases related to the events of May 9, sentencing Mehmood ur Rashid to 33 years in prison, while Dr Yasmin Rashid, Ejaz Chaudhry, and Umar Cheema have each been sentenced to 10 years. The court awarded Rashid a cumulative sentence of 33 years’ imprisonment along with a fine of Rs600,000. Dr Yasmin Rashid, Omer Sarfraz Cheema, and Ijaz Chaudhry were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Mahmood Rashid received separate sentences under different sections of the law. The court acquitted 23 accused due to lack…

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that he would soon meet US leader Donald Trump, as part of efforts to end the Russian invasion. “We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level – with President Trump in the near future. A lot can be decided before the New Year,” Zelenskyy said on social media. The comments came after the latest round of negotiations between US and Ukrainian teams produced a 20-point plan to end the war, which has been sent to Moscow for feedback. The latest plan would freeze the frontline and remove a requirement for Kyiv to legally…

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates welcomes Saudi Arabian efforts to support security and stability in Yemen and remained committed to backing stability in the country, the UAE’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it remains hopeful that Yemen’s main southern separatist group will end an escalation that has given it broad control across the south.

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered officials to step up production of missiles and construct more factories to meet his military’s growing need for the projectiles, state media said Friday. Pyongyang has significantly increased missile testing in recent years – aimed, analysts say, at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States as well as South Korea, and testing weapons before exporting them to key ally Russia. In a visit to munitions factories accompanied by top officials, the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Kim had ordered the factories to prepare for a busy year ahead. The North Korean…

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak faces judgment on Friday for his alleged involvement in Malaysia’s 1MDB mega-graft scandal, with a guilty verdict likely to add years to a sentence already being served. The 72-year-old stands accused of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering linked to the plunder of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Southeast Asian nation’s 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, sparking probes in several countries. If found guilty, the man once seen as political royalty faces years more behind bars, already serving a six-year jail term after a conviction in a separate case…

China achieved new breakthroughs in fields including integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI) and basic software over the past five years, with over 700 generative AI large model products having completed filing procedures, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the total number of products equipped with HarmonyOS, an open-source operating system, exceeded 1.19 billion units, and embodied intelligence is gradually advancing toward industrial application, according to the CAC. China has seen remarkable improvement in its information technology application, with internet penetration rising from 70.4 percent to 79.7 percent during the period, the CAC…

As the New Year knocks at the door, are you preparing for a holiday getaway? In China, folk tourism is the latest trend! Whether it’s the vibrant Sending Off the King Boat ritual and colorful fish and dragon lantern dances or the grand Dong ethnic parade and the lively Mongolian Naadam Festival, the country’s rich folk culture invites travelers to immerse themselves in diverse ethnic traditions. Does your country or region have similar folk customs? Share with us in the comments!

China has set a world record in maglev technology by accelerating a ton-level test vehicle to 700 kilometers per hour (km/h) in just two seconds, China Media Group reported. A research team from the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) achieved the record speed on a 400-meter magnetic levitation test track. The superconducting electric maglev test vehicle also completed a safe stop. The test marks the fastest speed ever recorded on a platform of its kind worldwide. The test vehicle prepares to depart. /CMG The breakthrough is the result of a decade of sustained research, during which the team overcame…