Author: admin

Former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has secured a landmark deal with Sydney Sixers, becoming one of the highest-paid players in Big Bash League (BBL) history, ahead of the league’s 15th edition. The Sixers confirmed Azam’s signing on Friday, utilising the BBL provision that allows franchises to pre-sign one overseas player before the official draft. According to sources close to the development, Babar’s contract exceeds the Platinum category’s base price — estimated around PKR 7.75 crore — with his final salary reported to be nearly PKR 10 crore. This marks Babar Azam’s first appearance in Australia’s premier T20 competition and is…

OpenAI has enabled image generation through ChatGPT directly within WhatsApp, eliminating the need to switch between apps or websites. The feature, which became available in December 2024, was formally rolled out for all users on Monday, the company confirmed in a statement issued via its official handle on X (formerly Twitter). OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, said the new update allows users to generate AI images from within the WhatsApp chat interface by simply typing their instructions, marking a new step in the integration of generative AI tools into widely-used messaging platforms. “This feature is now accessible to everyone using…

KARACHI : Fire broke out at a shopping mall located in Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi on Tuesday night which spread quickly and engulfed a large portion of the building. At least 12 fire brigade vehicles and rescue teams reached the spot after being informed and started operation to bring the fire under control. According to rescue sources, the cause of fire is not yet known. Rescue sources also informed that no casualty was reported in the incident. Meanwhile, Fire brigade officials declared the blaze to be a second-degree fire. Fire brigade sources have expressed fear that the fire would spread…

ISLAMABAD : The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast mainly hot and dry weather across most parts of the country on Wednesday, with severe heat expected during the daytime, particularly in plain areas. Isolated rain-thunderstorms are, however, likely in Kashmir and adjoining hilly regions. The Met Office has issued a warning for very hot weather conditions in the plain areas of the country from June 18 to 21. Citizens, especially children, women, and the elderly, are urged to take precautionary measures. The authorities advise the public to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00am to 4:00pm, stay indoors as much as possible,…

ISLAMABAD : Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM), Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, on Tuesday received a telephone call from the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. During the telephonic conversation, both the leaders expressed deep concerns over the fast deteriorating regional security situation in the wake of Iran-Israel conflict. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister highlighted the serious threats to peace and stability in the region and beyond, stemming from Israel’s unjustified attacks on Iran, a DPM’s Office news release said. Both leaders stressed the need to defuse Iran-Israel tensions and prevent further escalation.

As the world is marking the Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, China has expressed its readiness to deepen cooperation in ecological and environmental protection with Central Asian countries and the rest of the world to jointly create more miracles of turning desert into oasis. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that China and Central Asian countries are working together to address the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea – a collaboration that brings green hope to the “dry tears” of Central Asia. The dried area of the Aral Sea basin in Uzbekistan, June 7, 2018. /VCG…

Championing the China-Central Asia Spirit For High-Quality Cooperation in the Region Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People’s Republic of China At the Second China-Central Asia Summit Astana, June 17, 2025 Your Excellency President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Distinguished Colleagues, Friends, I am delighted to join you at the second China-Central Asia Summit in the beautiful city of Astana. I’d like to thank President Tokayev and the government of Kazakhstan for the gracious hospitality and thoughtful arrangement. During our meeting in Xi’an two years ago, we jointly outlined the Xi’an Vision for China-Central Asia cooperation. The six pomegranate trees we…

In a historic first, the China-Central Asia Summit was hosted in a Central Asian country, as leaders of China and five Central Asian nations gathered on Tuesday in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, for the summit’s second edition. In a new landmark, the six countries signed the Treaty of Permanent Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation at the summit. The treaty is to enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship between the countries in the form of law, said Chinese President Xi Jinping in a keynote speech. “It is a milestone for today and a foundation for tomorrow,” Xi said while addressing the…

ASTANA  (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on China and Uzbekistan to introduce more measures to promote trade liberalization and facilitation. Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana. Xi noted that last year he and Mirziyoyev met twice, in Beijing and Astana respectively, and made strategic plans for the development of bilateral relations. Cooperation between the two countries in various fields has shown a favorable situation of full-scale expansion and vigorous development, he said. China, he added,…

ASTANA  (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to fully unlock the potential for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and win-win collaboration. Xi made the remarks in a meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov on the sidelines of the second China-Central Asia Summit in the Kazakh capital of Astana. Noting that China and Turkmenistan enjoy solid political mutual trust, a strong willingness for cooperation and highly complementary advantages, Xi said that China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to further increase the depth, breadth and scale of bilateral cooperation…