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Pakistan and China are set to sign multiple MoUs to fast-track the second phase of the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, with Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal in China to attend the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting of the CPEC.  Pakistan, China begin JCC meeting in Beijing The 14th JCC meeting formally began in Beijing on Friday with senior officials, ministers, and sectoral experts from both sides in attendance. The session is being co-chaired by the planning ministers of Pakistan and China. Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that Pakistan and China are “iron brothers,” tied by trust and…

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, rejecting calls from some far-right politicians in Israel who want to extend sovereignty over the area and snuff out hopes for a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced some pressure from allies to annex the West Bank, prompting alarm among Arab leaders, some of whom met on Tuesday with Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to…

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday declaring that his plan to sell Chinese-owned TikTok’s US operations to US and global investors will address the national security requirements in a 2024 law. The new US company will be valued at around $14 billion, Vice President JD Vance said, putting a price tag on the popular short video app far below some analyst estimates. Trump on Thursday delayed until January 20 enforcement of the law that bans the app unless its Chinese owners sell it amid efforts to extract TikTok’s US assets from the global platform, line up…

BEIJING :  Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will usher in a new era of development, especially for the youth. Under the framework of the CPEC, the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting began in Beijing, attended by ministers, officials from line ministries, and experts from both countries. The meeting is being co-chaired by the planning ministers of Pakistan and China. Addressing the inaugural session, Iqbal said that Pakistan and China are “iron brothers” bound by trust and a shared destiny, and that CPEC Phase Two will bring about a new…

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed that every poor patient in the province should receive treatment at any hospital without paying any money. Chairing a special meeting on health sector reforms, she said that no cancer patient should be left untreated due to financial constraints. Major decisions on healthcare reforms The meeting, chaired by CM Maryam Nawaz, approved a new admission policy for public and private medical and dental colleges in Punjab. It was decided that passing the MDCAT test will be mandatory for admissions to government medical colleges. For the children of overseas Pakistanis, a $10,000 fee…

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) made history on Friday as the benchmark KSE-100 index crossed two major milestones — 160,000 and 161,000 points — for the very first time. The remarkable rally reflects renewed investor confidence and marks another record-setting day for the country’s financial markets. Record-breaking rally at PSX Trading opened on a strong note, and the index immediately surged past the long-awaited 160,000 level. At the start, the KSE-100 index jumped by 1,255 points, reaching 160,535 points — a record in itself. But the momentum did not stop there. The market continued to climb, and by the end…

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived at the White House on Thursday for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders, who share a long personal relationship, discussed bilateral ties, defense cooperation, trade, and pressing global conflicts including Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine. Warm welcome and personal praise President Trump personally welcomed President Erdogan upon his arrival at the White House. Speaking to the media, Trump described Erdogan as his “best friend” and a “very respected leader” not only in Turkiye but across Europe and the world. Seated in the Oval Office, Trump emphasized their strong personal bond,…

International Monetary Fund (IMF), presenting detailed data on tax collection, fiscal performance, and revenue shortfalls. The IMF expressed concern over Pakistan’s inability to meet the tax collection target set for the last fiscal year. Tax collection shortfall During the briefing, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) disclosed that it collected Rs11.74 trillion against the annual target of Rs12.97 trillion. Officials cited multiple reasons for the shortfall, including declining inflation, sluggish economic activity, devastating floods, and delays in court decisions on tax cases. More than Rs250 billion worth of tax cases remain pending in courts, further affecting revenue flows. The quarterly…

DI KHAN: Twelve members of a nomad family were killed and three others injured in a tragic road accident on Dana Sar Road of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police said on Friday. According to police, the accident occurred at Dana Sar when a mini-truck carrying the family from Khanuzai, Balochistan, plunged into a deep ravine after its brakes reportedly failed. The ill-fated family was travelling to DI Khan to settle for the winter when the incident took place. Police confirmed that the deceased included women, children, and three men. The three injured were given first aid at the scene…

A powerful earthquake shook parts of Pakistan on Friday morning, sending waves of panic across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Swat, and several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to seismologists, the earthquake measured 5.5 in magnitude with its epicentre in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region. Earthquake details The Meteorological Department confirmed that the earthquake struck at a depth of 195 kilometres. The tremors were widely felt in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, as well as in northern and western regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Tremors felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Strong jolts were reported in several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Residents of Peshawar,…