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A compilation of excerpts from discourses by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on establishing and practicing a correct understanding of what it means to perform well has been published by the Central Party Literature Press. The book, featuring seven themes, contains 253 excerpts selected from more than 150 important documents, including reports, speeches, letters, instructions and directives by Xi from November 2012 to January 2026. Some of these excerpts are published for the first time. These discourses are of great significance for guiding CPC organizations and members to make solid achievements that…

China’s 2026 Spring Festival holiday – a record-long nine days – witnessed massive population movement alongside strong consumption, tourism, box office and retail sectors. The infographic below provides a comprehensive snapshot of the holiday surge, highlighting record-high domestic mobility, cross-border travel growth and booming box office revenue. According to data from the China State Railway Group, the railways handled about 121 million passenger trips during the holiday (February 15 to 23), with a daily average of 13.41 million trips, up 11.5 percent from last year. Notably, a record 18.73 million passenger trips were recorded on February 23, setting a new…

ISLAMABAD : In a major step toward a unified and digitally secure identity ecosystem, the Federal government has formally upgraded the National Identity Card (NIC) and Pakistan Origin Card (POC) frameworks under its vision of “One Nation – One Identity.” The amendments—issued through S.R.O. 330(I)/2026 and S.R.O. 331(I)/2026 and published in the Gazette on 24 February 2026—modernize Pakistan’s identity system with QR-based verification, enhanced biometric features, stronger fraud controls, and improved citizen facilitation. A key highlight is the legal introduction of the Quick Response (QR) code as a security and authentication feature across identity documents. The Rules now define the…

Qatar has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening economic cooperation with Pakistan, with a particular focus on enhancing private-sector collaboration and fostering stronger business-to-business ties. The development came during a high-level meeting between H.E. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of Qatar and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is on an official visit to Doha, on Tuesday, read a PMO statement. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral trade and economic cooperation and expressed satisfaction over the growing momentum in Pakistan–Qatar relations. Al-Sayed, who is also the chairman of the Pak-Qatar Joint Business Task Force, reiterated…

TEHRAN : An Iranian Army helicopter crashed into a fruit market in the central province of Isfahan on Tuesday, killing the pilot, co-pilot and two merchants, state media reported. The helicopter came down in the city of Dorcheh, causing a fire that was put out by emergency services, the reports added. Experts say Iran has a poor air safety record, with repeated crashes, many involving aircraft bought before the 1979 Islamic Revolution and lacking original spare parts for maintenance. Last week, a US-built F-4 fighter belonging to Iran’s regular air force crashed in the western province of Hamadan, killing one…

LONDON : Iran is close to a deal with China to purchase anti‑ship cruise missiles, according to six people with knowledge of the negotiations, just as the United States deploys a vast naval force near the Iranian coast ahead of possible strikes on the Islamic Republic. The deal for the Chinese‑made CM‑302 missiles is near completion, though no delivery date has been agreed, the people said. The supersonic missiles have a range of about 290 kilometres and are designed to evade shipborne defences by flying low and fast. Their deployment would significantly enhance Iran’s strike capabilities and pose a threat…

KYIV: Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to take over Ukraine when he invaded four years ago, but he failed to achieve this and other war goals, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday. In a video address marking the four-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Zelensky added that Ukraine was ready to do “everything” it could to secure a strong, lasting peace. “Putin has not achieved his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians. He did not win this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace – and to ensure there is justice,” Zelensky said.

MOSCOW : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visit to Russia from March 2 to 5 will reflect Pakistan’s practical strategy in the changing global landscape. The premier’s visit to Moscow is not merely a diplomatic engagement, it will add a new chapter in bilateral relations as the ongoing military operation in Ukraine has changed the global politics and raised new questions regarding energy, trade, and diplomatic balance. In such an environment, the growing engagement between Islamabad and Moscow has acquired extraordinary significance. Reaching the corridors of the Kremlin in Moscow is not easy, and the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin…

KOHAT : Five police personnel, including DSP Asad Mahmood Khan, were killed when terrorists attacked a police van in the Shakardara area on the outskirts of Kohat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday. According to police officials, the attack occurred while a team led by DSP Asad Mahmood Khan was transporting detainees for investigation. Militants opened sudden and indiscriminate fire on the vehicle. Those killed in the attack included DSP Asad Mahmood Khan, Inspector Anar Gul Khan, the DSP’s driver, the DSP’s reader Wahab Gul, Constable Mudassar, and police official Syed Amir Abbas, son of Syed Murtaza. Two detainees, Yousaf Khan, son of…

KARAK : Militants ambushed the ambulances near Ghole Banda Dam, Karak, transporting injured personnel of the Federal Constabulary (FC) to hospital, resulting in the martyrdom of wounded officials. According to reports, all FC personnel who lost their lives in the incident were residents of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The attackers allegedly recorded the incident and circulated the footage on social media in an apparent attempt to spread fear and panic among the public. The incident occurred on February 23, 2026, when militants carried out a quadcopter attack on a Federal Constabulary post in the Qila Shahidan area of Karak. Following the assault, two…