Author: admin

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR on Thursday jointly held a seminar on Constitution Day, aimed at enhancing public understanding of the constitutional basis of the country and the HKSAR. Before the seminar, all participants stood and observed one minute of silence in memory of the victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which broke out last Wednesday. Speaking at the event, John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, first expressed deep condolences to the victims of the fire and offered sincere…

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday dismissed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s latest remarks on the Taiwan question as a repetition of her earlier erroneous position, calling her stance evasive and denouncing Japan for sidestepping its established commitments and obligations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks in response to a report that Takaichi had cited the 1972 Sino-Japanese Joint Statement in a December 3 upper house session and said she “understands and respects” China’s position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of its territory. Lin said the report was inaccurate, noting that Takaichi merely referred to Japan’s basic…

French aerospace giant Airbus inaugurated its second final assembly line for the A320 family aircraft in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin in October, set to contribute 20 percent of the family’s global capacity. The Tianjin project’s importance was highlighted in April 2023 when the framework agreement was formally signed in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s visit to China. Now, with Macron back in Beijing for his fourth state visit, Xi said on Thursday China and France should seize opportunities and expand the space of cooperation during talks with…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov held comprehensive bilateral and delegation-level meetings on Thursday, focusing on expanding cooperation in trade, energy, communications, and regional security. The visit marks the first by a Kyrgyz head of state in two decades and is being hailed as a major step toward revitalizing Pakistan–Kyrgyzstan relations. During the bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister House, both leaders exchanged views on deepening ties across trade, energy, communications, and various other sectors. Prime Minister Shehbaz called President Zhaparov’s visit “highly welcome,” saying it would prove extremely valuable in enhancing bilateral cooperation. The Kyrgyz president,…

Renowned Pakistani actress Beena Masroor has died at the age of 67, her son Paras Masroor confirmed on Instagram. A senior performer at Pakistan Television (PTV), Masroor was celebrated for her roles in acclaimed dramas such as ‘Dil Banjaara’, ‘Betiyaan’, ‘Tarap’, ‘Ishq Nahi Aasan’, ‘Aangan’, ‘Agar’ and ‘Jaan-e-Jahan’. Her performances left a lasting impression on audiences across the country. Masroor was the wife of Dr Bedil Masroor. Her son appealed to well-wishers to offer prayers for her soul. Colleagues and contemporaries have expressed deep sorrow at her passing.

Australia’s internet regulator said a teen social media ban would be the first domino to fall in a global push to rein in Big Tech, as Meta’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads began locking out hundreds of thousands of accounts ahead of a deadline next week. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she had initially expressed concern about the “blunt-force” approach of blocking under-16s from social media but she had come to embrace it after incremental regulatory changes were not effective enough. “We’ve reached a tipping point,” Inman Grant said on Thursday at the Sydney Dialogue, a cyber summit. “Our data…

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday for a discussion on Pak-UK relations, security cooperation, and the repatriation of Pakistanis living illegally in the UK. The meeting also focused heavily on Pakistan’s request for the immediate extradition of Shahzad Akbar and Adil Raja. During the meeting, both sides held a detailed conversation on strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing security cooperation. Matters of mutual interest, including countering misinformation and improving legal collaboration, were also discussed. Pakistan requests extradition of Shahzad Akbar, Adil Raja Mohsin Naqvi informed the British envoy that Pakistan has formally requested the UK…

Saudi Arabia rolled over its US$3 billion deposit for Pakistan after the Saudi Development Fund approved a one-year extension, according to details released on Thursday. According to details surfaced, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) currently holds the US$3 billion deposit. Saudi Arabia first provided the deposit in 2021 under an agreement intended to support Pakistan’s external account. Sources divulged that the Saudi Fund for Development Fund granted an additional year for the deposit, which would otherwise have matured on Thursday. It is pertinent to note that Saudi Arabia had also deferred on the repayment of a $3billion loan deposited…

Responding to a humanitarian appeal from the United Nations, the Pakistan government has decided to open the Torkham and Chaman trade crossings to facilitate urgent delivery of food, medicine, and essential relief supplies to Afghanistan, where shortages have intensified. The decision was taken on humanitarian grounds following a request from the UN. In consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce issued formal instructions to Member Customs, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Directorate General of Transit. Customs officials at Torkham have received the orders and preparations for relief cargo movement have begun. Phased clearance…

Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a series of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Thursday during the first official visit of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov to Pakistan in two decades. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to elevate bilateral ties and expand cooperation across numerous sectors. A formal reception was held at the Prime Minister House, where President Zhaparov was presented a Guard of Honour and welcomed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both leaders exchanged warm greetings, with Sharif introducing his federal ministers and Zhaparov presenting members of his delegation. The Kyrgyz president also planted a sapling…