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LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Walt Disney Co.’s animated film “Moana 2” remained at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it brought in another record haul. The film added $52 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. That brings its domestic total to $300 million, surpassing the original, and its global tally to a staggering $600 million. The amount set a record gross for a movie on the weekend following Thanksgiving weekend, unseating “Frozen II,” which earned $35.2 million in the same time frame in 2019. The numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Originally…

China’s financial regulators have rolled out a series of measures this year to further open up the country’s financial markets, marking another significant step toward creating a more integrated, two-way financial system. A key component of the push is the steady internationalization of Chinese renminbi or RMB. To support the move, China’s financial regulators have optimized mechanisms such as the Bond Connect and the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, making it easier for foreign investors to access the Chinese markets and strengthening the RMB’s role in global trade and finance. Between January and August, the RMB payments accounted for 26.5 percent…

LAHORE– Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will leave for an eight-day official visit to China on Sunday (today). According to sources, special arrangements have been made for the official trip, and Maryam Nawaz will receive VIP protocol. She will be the first female chief minister to visit China at the invitation of the ruling party. Accompanying Maryam Nawaz will be a high-level delegation as part of the visit, which is at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). During her trip, she will visit Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. The visit will focus on exploring cooperation in the fields…

US federal appeals court upheld a law requiring Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell its popular short-video platform, TikTok, by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. The ruling intensifies scrutiny over TikTok, which has 170 million users in the United States, and signals a growing bipartisan resolve to counter perceived national security threats from China. The three-judge panel, comprising Sri Srinivasan, Neomi Rao, and Douglas Ginsburg, dismissed legal challenges filed by TikTok and its users, stating that the legislation aligns with constitutional provisions. They underscored the law as a result of bipartisan cooperation and a response to “a well-substantiated national…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday issued a public apology for his contentious attempt to impose martial law earlier this week but refused to resign, defying mounting calls for his departure, including from within his ruling party. Hours remain before lawmakers are set to vote on an impeachment motion against him. In a nationally televised address, President Yoon expressed remorse for declaring martial law, which drew comparisons to South Korea’s authoritarian past and marked the first such declaration since 1980. He described his decision as a measure of “desperation” aimed at countering what he called “anti-state forces” obstructing…

Lionel Messi was named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player for 2024 on Friday. He earned the accolade after leading Inter Miami to a record-breaking regular seasonThe Argentine forward contributed significantly to the team’s success, helping Miami achieve a record regular season points tally and secure its first-ever Supporters Shield. Messi finished the season with 36 goal contributions, including 20 goals and 16 assists, which led the league. Despite battling injuries and making only 19 appearances, Messi’s impact on the field was undeniable. The 37-year-old forward became the 10th South American player to win the MVP award, and the fifth…

A crocodile killed a woman on a palm oil plantation in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, police confirmed. The 44-year-old victim was working with a colleague when the crocodile attacked, biting her left hand and dragging her into a ditch. The incident occurred in the coastal district of Ketapang on Borneo island. The woman’s colleague attempted to save her but failed and immediately alerted the police. Local police chief Bagus Tri Baskoro stated that a search team found the victim’s body after 90 minutes. Her remains were still in the crocodile’s grip “not far” from the attack site. Rescuers managed to retrieve…

CHARSADDA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, has said that everyone left her alone at D-Chowk in Islamabad after authorities launched a crackdown on the protesters last month. As per reports, the PTI workers were frustrated with the ones leading the November 24 protest, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, after they retreated abruptly in the wee hours of November 27. The party leadership suspended the protest after the authorities launched a late-night crackdown on the protesters who had forced their way to D-Chowk, despite several hurdles along the way. Although she…

Bollywood’s beloved power couple, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, delighted fans with a rare public appearance on Thursday night, attending a wedding reception at Mumbai’s Sun-n-Sand Hotel. Joined by Aishwarya’s mother, Brinda Rai, the family radiated elegance and charm amidst swirling separation rumours. The couple, who have been married for 17 years and share a daughter, Aaradhya, posed for heartwarming photos shared by film producer Anu Ranjan. Captioned “So much love warmth,” the photos sparked positive reactions from fans, with many praising the couple’s togetherness. Another guest, actor Ayesha Jhulka, also shared pictures from the event. Aishwarya stunned…

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has officially inaugurated the CM Punjab Free Solar Panel Scheme aimed at providing permanent relief to the public from high electricity.  Under the initiative, 100,000 solar panel systems will be distributed free of cost across Punjab within the year. Speaking at the launch event, the chief minister emphasised that the scheme will utilise public resources to deliver relief and convenience to the people. “The aim of this scheme is to alleviate the financial strain of electricity bills and transition to renewable, sustainable energy sources,” she said. Key features of the scheme The provincial energy secretary…