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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…

The Chinese government would like to see companies reach solutions that comply with Chinese laws and regulations and balance the interests of all parties, a commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday when asked about the hand-over of TikTok’s US operations. TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, last week signed binding agreements to hand control of the short video app’s U.S. operations to a group of investors, including Oracle, in a big step toward avoiding a U.S. ban and ending years of uncertainty. “It is hoped that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, earnestly fulfill its corresponding commitments,…

Nvidia (NVDA.O) has agreed to license chip technology from startup Groq and hire away its CEO, a veteran of Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google, Groq said in a blog post on Wednesday. The deal follows a familiar pattern in recent years where the world’s biggest technology firms pay large sums in deals with promising startups to take their technology and talent but stop short of formally acquiring the target. Groq specializes in what is known as inference, where artificial intelligence models that have already been trained respond to requests from users. While Nvidia dominates the market for training AI…

LAHORE : The outgoing year proved to be a landmark year for Pakistan in space research and exploration. The country made significant strides in satellite launches, astronaut programmes, and lunar exploration, marking a new chapter in its scientific achievements. Satellite success Pakistan’s national space agency, SUPARCO, successfully launched three major satellites this year. In January, the first satellite, an electro-optical platform, was sent into orbit from China. July saw the launch of another remote-sensing satellite from a Chinese launch centre, significantly enhancing Pakistan’s terrestrial observation capabilities. October brought another historic achievement, with SUPARCO deploying Pakistan’s first hyperspectral satellite, increasing the…

ISLAMABAD : State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry confirmed on Friday that the government has written to the UK government regarding “inciteful” statements and content circulating on social media involving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The minister highlighted a video circulating online that has raised concerns. The letter urges the UK to take action against individuals involved in inciting terrorism, violence, and instability in Pakistan from British soil. The Pakistani government has specifically raised concerns about social media accounts linked to PTI, which are spreading videos calling for the assassination of Pakistan’s army chief. The letter emphasised that such content is…

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…