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LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said on Wednesday that protecting human rights is the core vision and top priority of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In her message on International Human Rights Day, the chief minister said the first complete charter of human rights was delivered in the Farewell Sermon, adding that Islam is the greatest advocate of human rights. “The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) presented an extraordinary charter of human rights and gave humanity an eternal and universal message,” she stated. Maryam Nawaz said that December 10 is observed worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of…

LAHORE : Lahore has once again topped the global list of most polluted cities, as toxic smog and thick fog continue to engulf major parts of Punjab. According to an international air quality monitoring website, Lahore recorded an alarming 327 AQI, placing it at the top among the world’s most polluted cities. Karachi followed closely with 282 AQI, while data from the Punjab Environment Department showed that Kasur was the province’s most polluted city at 348 AQI. In other cities, Gujranwala recorded 341 AQI, and Sheikhupura registered 278 AQI, indicating hazardous air conditions across the region. Officials have warned that…

China launched a new communication technology test satellite on Tuesday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan. A Long March-3B rocket, carrying the Shiyan-22 satellite, blasted off at 11:08 p.m. Beijing Time, and sent the satellite into the preset orbit. The satellite will be mainly used for satellite communication, radio and television broadcast and data transmission, among other services. It will conduct relevant technical tests and validations as well. The launch marked the 615th flight mission of China’s Long March carrier rocket series. The Long March carrier rockets set a new record on Tuesday by successfully…

China’s consumer inflation picked up in November, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.7 percent year on year, according to the official data released Wednesday. The reading marks the highest level since March 2024 and represents a 0.5-percentage-point increase from October’s growth rate. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the wider year-on-year gain was primarily driven by food prices, which shifted from declines in previous months to an increase in November. Excluding food and energy categories, core CPI rose 1.2 percent, staying above 1 percent for the third consecutive month – an indication of gradually improving underlying demand.…

China’s Shenzhou-21 astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei completed the first series of extravehicular activities (EVAs) of their mission on Tuesday, donning newly delivered extravehicular spacesuits for their inaugural use in space. The mission marked the debut of the space station’s D and E extravehicular spacesuits, which were delivered by the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft on July 15 as part of the second-generation Feitian spacesuit series. While maintaining white as the primary color, one suit features a red trim and the other a blue trim. China’s new spacesuit with a blue trim. /CMSA “The EVAs fully demonstrated the critical role of human capabilities…

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy provides powerful intellectual tools and scientific guidance for Chinese diplomacy to forge ahead courageously. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing a symposium on the study and research of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy held in Beijing. Wang said that Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy is a constantly developing and open Marxist theory that always stays at the forefront of the times. General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally spearheaded a series of major…

ISLAMABAD : The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced the date for local government elections in Islamabad. According to the Election Commission, local government elections in Islamabad will be held on 15 February. Polling will take place from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Election Commission stated that Returning Officers will display the public notice for nomination papers on 19 December, while nomination papers can be submitted from 22 December to 27 December. Under the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will be held from 30 December to 3 January 2026. Appeals may be filed from 5 to 8…

SHIKARPUR : In a major police encounter in Shikarpur, nine armed dacoits were killed, while four police officers, including two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), were injured. According to the Shikarpur SSP, the clash took place in the Manchar Sheikh area on Tuesday. During the operation, DSP Garhi Yasin, Zahoor Soomro sustained injuries, and DSP City Pars Bakrani was shifted to a hospital for medical treatment. Police officials stated that the encounter is still ongoing, and a large contingent of police personnel remains deployed at the scene. Armored vehicles have also been deployed as part of the operation to ensure…

ISLAMABAD : Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar reaffirmed the enduring “iron brotherhood” between Pakistan and China at a donation ceremony organized by the China Chamber of Commerce in Pakistan (CCCPK) in Islamabad. He praised Chinese enterprises and individuals for contributing over Rs 34 million in flood-relief assistance and highlighted China’s consistent support during Pakistan’s crises, including major aid during the 2025 floods. Emphasizing Pakistan’s climate vulnerability despite its minimal carbon footprint, Tarar called for greater international cooperation. Chinese Minister Counsellor Yang Guangyuan noted China’s swift relief response and said the donations reflected the deep people-to-people bond. With…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday agreed to enhance bilateral trade, expand cooperation in health, agriculture, Information Technology, science, and education, and deepen coordination on regional and global issues, including Palestine. In a joint presser along with President Subiato at the PM House, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Indonesia were committed to boosting bilateral trade, which currently stood at US$4.5 billion, noting that over 90 percent of the total trade comprised of palm oil import from Indonesia to Pakistan. He assured the Indonesian president that Pakistan would work closely with Indonesia to achieve the decided…