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ISLAMABAD : President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has arrived in Pakistan today on a one-day official visit. As soon as the aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, Pakistan Air Force fighter jets escorted the UAE President’s plane and presented an aerial salute. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with federal ministers, received the President of the United Arab Emirates at Nur Khan Air Base. The UAE President was accorded a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin…

ISLAMABAD : Chinese and Pakistani officials signed a package of cooperation documents and launched joint programmes to advance vocational education in various disciplines this week, it is reported on Thursday, aiming to integrate the needs of various industries with skills training. The agreements were announced at the “Seminar on International Cooperation and Exchange: Integration of Industry and Education in Vocational Education between China and Pakistan” held in China’s capital Beijing this Tuesday. Twenty-one items were signed and five cooperation platforms were unveiled between the two sides, APP reported. These items and platforms covered professional standards, shared teaching resources, faculty and…

MELBOURNE: MELBOURNE: England were dismissed for just 110 on day one of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to trail Australia by 42. After the hosts were sent in and bowled out for 152, England fared even worse on a green wicket offering plenty of pace and movement for the bowlers. Harry Brook top-scored with 41 while Michael Neser took 4-45 and Scott Boland 3-30. Earlier in the day, England captain Ben Stokes won a key toss on a green track and his quicks feasted after sending in Australia under overcast skies at a packed…

Third-ranked Coco Gauff and sixth-ranked Taylor Fritz will team up again as the United States defends its championship at the United Cup next week in Australia. The only combined ATP and WTA team event will kick off the 2026 tennis season, beginning on Jan. 2 in Perth and Sydney. The tournament will give several of the world’s top players preparation matches ahead of the first major of the year, the Australian Open, which gets underway on Jan. 18 in Melbourne. Eighteen teams, comprised of one ATP and one WTA player, will compete for the title. The teams are grouped in…

ANKARA: Prosecutors ordered the detention of 29 more people in a probe into betting in professional Turkish soccer with a former Galatasaray executive among those detained, broadcaster NTV and other media said on Friday. Citing a statement from the prosecutor’s office NTV said 24 of the 29 suspects were detained, including former Galatasaray executive Erden Timur. Timur and Galatasaray were not immediately available for comment. Four others were sill being sought, while another suspect was already in jail, the statement added. NTV said 14 of the suspects were players in Turkish leagues, without naming them, while six were being sought for betting on a Super…

Steve Smith returns to action in the Boxing Day Test against England as Australia opted to include four fast bowlers in their 12-man squad, with spinner Todd Murphy, who was brought into the fold to replace Nathan Lyon, not finding a spot. Fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who has not played in the longest format since 2021, has been brought back after fine domestic form on his return from shoulder surgery. Brendan Doggett who played in the first two Tests, and Michael Neser, who was part of the pink-ball encounter, have also been included with Australia going for an all-pace attack.…

Talk show host Jimmy Kimmel took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump as he warned Thursday about the rise of fascism in an address to U.K. viewers dubbed “The Alternative Christmas Message.” The message, aired on Channel 4 on Christmas day, reflected on the impact from the second term in office for Trump, who Kimmel said acts like he’s a king. “From a fascism perspective, this has been a really great year,” he said. “Tyranny is booming over here.” The channel began a tradition of airing an alternative Christmas message in 1993, as a counterpart to the British monarch’s annual…

The four-day International Urdu Conference commenced on Friday at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, marking the beginning of one of the country’s most prominent literary gatherings. The opening ceremony was attended by Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori, along with writers, poets, students, and members of the public. The inaugural session of the 18th International Urdu Conference began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by the national anthem. A special showreel highlighting the journey and significance of the International Urdu Conference was also screened. Participants from various walks of life, including students and literature enthusiasts, attended the event in…

Thirty-one years have passed since the death of renowned Urdu poet Parveen Shakir, whose literary legacy continues to inspire readers across generations. Widely celebrated for her poetry collection Khushbu, Parveen Shakir remains one of the most influential voices in modern Urdu literature. Parveen Shakir passed away on December 24, 1994, in a tragic traffic accident in Islamabad. At the time of her death, she was only 42 years old, leaving behind a rich poetic legacy despite her short life. An alumnus of the University of Karachi, Parveen Shakir earned degrees in English literature and linguistics. In 1982, she cleared the…

BEIJING : China on Friday launched three venture capital funds to invest in “hard technology” areas, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The capital contribution plans for the funds have been finalised, each with more than 50 billion yuan ($7.14 billion), according to the report. The funds will primarily invest in early-stage startups and the targets should be valued at less than 500 million yuan, an official said on Friday, adding that no single investment would amount to more than 50 million yuan. The funds’ expected targets include firms focused on integrated circuits, quantum technology, biomedicine, brain-computer interfaces, aerospace and other key…