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China has added Indonesia to its 240-hour visa-free transit program, bringing the total number of countries eligible for the policy to 55, immigration authorities announced on Thursday. Effective Thursday, eligible Indonesian travelers can enter through any of the 60 ports across 24 provincial-level regions and stay up to 240 hours, or 10 days, without a visa before heading to a third destination, according to the National Immigration Administration.

China and Spain are ready to work together to further advance their comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said during a meeting in Madrid on Wednesday. Recalling Sanchez’s latest visit to China in April, the third in three years, Han said the two sides agreed to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, maintain the free trade order, and safeguard international fairness and justice, underscoring the vital significance of China-Spain relations in promoting global stability and prosperity. This year marks 20 years since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain. Han…

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met respectively with some African counterparts who came to China for the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province. These African foreign ministers include the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, Niger’s Bakary Yaou Sangare, Guinea-Bissau’s Carlos Pinto Pereira, Nigeria’s Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Burkina Faso’s Karamoko Jean-Marie Traore, and Ethiopia’s Gedion Timothewos. When meeting with Wagner, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called…

The 11th China (Shanghai) International Technology Fair opened on Wednesday in Shanghai, under the theme “Open Innovation for New Quality Productive Forces and Sustainable Development.” This year’s fair covers a record exhibition area of 35,000 square meters, featuring one themed pavilion, one regional pavilion, four specialized technology zones, and two functional areas. Nearly 1,000 enterprises from around 20 countries and regions – as well as 20 provincial-level regions across China – are showcasing their latest innovations, marking a new high in both scale and quality. Glasgow, United Kingdom, is this year’s Guest City of Honor from overseas, while Shenzhen has…

Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday defended the government’s limited relief to the salaried class in the newly unveiled budget for fiscal year 2025-26. Addressing a post-budget press conference in Islamabad, the finance minister said that while he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were keen to provide maximum relief to the salaried class, “we can only go further according to our capacity.” Aurangzeb acknowledged the increasing burden on the salaried class and said it had been divided into income slabs, with heavier taxes on higher earners. “We must walk within our financial limits. The direction has been set —…

The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) expressed on Wednesday disappointment over the federal budget, saying that it offers no relief for the agriculture sector or the business community. According to details, Pakistan Business Forum Chief Organiser Ahmed Jawad said: “The budget once again fails to support the agriculture sector, contradicting the prime minister’s stated vision. How does the government plan to achieve the 4.5% growth target for agriculture without any concrete measures?” He said that there were high expectations for a significant reduction in the super tax, but the relief provided was negligible—“akin to a pinch of salt in flour,” he…

West Indies batter Shai Hope is in line to play his first test in almost four years after being recalled to the squad for their home series against Australia, but veteran pacer Kemah Roach has been dropped. The three-test series, which begins in Barbados on June 25, marks the start of the team’s new World Test Championship cycle. Kevlon Anderson earned a first test call-up while Brandon King was also included in the squad to strengthen their batting order against World Test Champions Australia’s formidable pace attack. “Brandon King’s inclusion fits a role we have identified that needs special focus…

ISLAMABAD (DI NEWS) : In a major development for Pakistan’s higher education sector, Arizona State University (ASU), ranked among the top institutions in the United States, has partnered exclusively with the newly established National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Lahore. This milestone collaboration, formalized through the ASU-Cintana Alliance, marks ASU’s first official presence in Pakistan and a new era of globally integrated education. Scheduled to commence academic operations in October 2025, NIT has been granted its federal charter by the Government of Pakistan on January 25, 2025. With this, NIT becomes the country’s first institution to offer dual degree programs…

Faisalabad (DI NEWS): A group of Christian students participated in an impactful and insightful session held yesterday with Mr. Jan Gerald Krausser, First Secretary at the Embassy of Germany, and Ms. Mher, in a collaborative event organized at David Villa, Faisalabad, in partnership with the Peter John Foundation. The session aimed to foster mutual understanding, cultural dialogue, and to shed light on the educational and social challenges faced by underprivileged communities in Pakistan. Mr. Krausser and Ms. Mher engaged openly with the students, discussing Germany’s commitment to supporting education and community development in Pakistan, particularly for marginalized groups. The Peter…

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a historic surge on Wednesday, as investors gave a resounding vote of confidence to the newly announced federal budget for FY2025-26. The benchmark KSE-100 Index climbed over 1,600 points during early trading, crossing the 123,000 mark for the first time in history. By 9:40am, the index was recorded at 123,463.86 — a rise of 1,439.42 points or 1.18% — as across-the-board buying lifted sentiment on the first trading day after the budget presentation. The index opened at 123,415.60 with a gain of 1,391.16 points and recorded an intraday high of 123,723.20. The lowest level…