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ISLAMABAD (ID NEWS) : China Media Group (CMG) on Friday released the official theme and logo for its 2025 Spring Festival Gala, marking the start of the Year of the Snake on the Chinese lunar calendar, coming in late January 2025. The theme of this year’s gala is “Year of the Snake, Keep Your Spirits Awake” (“巳巳如意，生生不息”), inviting global Chinese communities to join in the New Year’s Eve celebration. The Chinese lunar calendar divides time into 60-year-long cycles and represents each year with 10 “Tiangan” characters and 12 “Dizhi” characters. For the Year of the Snake, which roughly fits the year 2025, the…

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) kicked off the new trading week on a strong note, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index crossing the 102,000 points threshold for the first time in recent history. As of the morning session, the index surged by 835 points, reaching a fresh high of 102,192 points, with an intraday peak of 102,288 points. This upward trajectory marks a continuation of the PSX’s recent bullish performance, following a positive end to the previous week when the index closed at 101,357 points. The market’s rally has been fueled by growing investor optimism, bolstered by improving macroeconomic conditions, falling…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday approved the establishment of a 10-member Joint Task Force (JTF) aimed at identifying and prosecuting those responsible for spreading misinformation and inciting chaos following the recent protests in Islamabad. The formation of this task force comes in the wake of a series of violent protests organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in November 2024, which led to clashes between PTI supporters and security forces, and significant damage to the national economy. The JTF will be headed by the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and will include key figures from Pakistan’s top intelligence and…

Rebel forces in northwestern Syria have made significant advances, pushing towards the strategic city of Hama after capturing Aleppo in a rapid offensive that began last week. The opposition, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a prominent group formerly known as al-Nusra Front, has seized key locations in the area, including the military academy and Khanasir, a critical supply route. This sudden escalation has led to intense counterattacks by Syrian government forces, supported by Russian airstrikes. According to reports, Syrian and Russian warplanes have launched heavy bombardments on opposition-controlled areas, including Idlib and Aleppo, as they attempt to push back…

 US President Joe Biden has pardoned his son Hunter Biden ahead of his sentencing on charges related to tax evasion and firearms offenses. The presidential pardon, granted just weeks before Hunter Biden was set to face sentencing for felony convictions, marks a significant reversal from earlier statements made by the President. In June, Biden had publicly ruled out any plans to use his executive power to intervene in his son’s legal case, pledging to abide by the judicial process. However, on Sunday, Biden announced that his decision was based on what he described as “selective” and “unfair” prosecution due to…

Workers at German factories for carmaker Volkswagen were set to go on strike from Monday over plans to cut thousands of jobs, union IG Metall announced at the weekend. The union warned that the strike could become “the toughest collective bargaining battle Volkswagen has ever seen.” Volkswagen, which employs around 120,000 workers in Germany, had been in tense negotiations with unions since revealing in September that it might close several plants in the country. The company faced financial challenges due to high manufacturing costs, slow progress in the shift to electric vehicles, and intense competition in the Chinese market. Ahead…

Pakistan sealed the semi-final spot by beating Malaysia 4-1 in the ongoing Men’s Junior Hockey Asia Cup in Oman on Sunday. According to details, the Green Shirts continued their winning streak by outfoxing Malaysia. Muhamad Sufiyan Khan played a substantial role in the Men in Green’s triumph by scoring a hat trick. At the outset of the play, Sufiyan scored a penalty corner to ensure Pakistan dominated Malaysia on the way to go. Abdul Qayyum also netted a goal on the 51st minute. Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti and PHF Secretary General Olympian Mujahid Ali Khan…

The Khunjerab Pass, the sole land port between China and Pakistan, has transitioned to year-round operation, enhancing its role as a vital trade and cultural exchange gateway. Located in Xinjiang’s Taxkorgan County, a key area of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the port previously operated seasonally due to harsh weather. Since April, traffic has surged, with over 50,000 passenger trips, 11,000 vehicles, and 40,900 tons of goods processed by October, marking significant growth. The port facilitates trade in textiles, agricultural goods, and herbs and played a pivotal role in the Belt and Road Initiative, with full-year access expected to strengthen…

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir visited the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Pabbi, to observe the ongoing Pak-China Joint Exercise Warrior-VIII. He was briefed on the exercise, which focuses on counter-terrorism and began on November 19, 2024. During his visit, the COAS interacted with participants, commended their professionalism and high morale, and emphasized the significance of the annual bilateral exercise series. He was received at the NCTC by Commander Rawalpindi Corps.

The China-Russia joint strategic air patrol was carried out as part of the two militaries’ annual cooperation plan, which does not target any third party and has nothing to do with the current international and regional situations, a Chinese defense spokesperson said on Sunday. Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said that on November 29 and 30, the militaries of China and Russia conducted a joint strategic air patrol over the Sea of Japan and the western part of the Pacific Ocean. The strategic patrol jointly conducted by the two air forces effectively tested and enhanced the…