PARIS: Posturing, repression and a distaste for facts: the world’s strongman regimes have dealt with the Covid pandemic in much the same way they deal with everything else, analysts say. But the sometimes blatant disregard for the well-being of populations, coupled with sheer incompetence, has undermined whatever trust citizens have in such leaders, they say. “They all have a similar …

China and India said they had agreed to de-escalate renewed tensions on their contested Himalayan border and take steps to restore “peace and tranquillity” following a high-level diplomatic meeting in Moscow. Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met in Moscow on Thursday and reached a five-point consensus, including agreements the current border situation is not …

HANOI: Washington’s top diplomat urged Southeast Asian countries on Thursday to stand up to “maritime bullying” by China and to reassess business deals with its state firms, adding to heated exchanges between two powers jostling for influence. Speaking remotely to foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the region …

LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has warned of taking to the streets if police fail to arrest culprits of the gang rape on the motorway within next two days. In a statement on Thursday, JI emir Senator Sirajul Haq expressed anger and regret over the gang rape on the motorway, demanding the authorities arrest the rapists within 48 hours. Quoting the official …

KARACHI: A group of senior infectious diseases experts at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday supported the government decision to reopen schools in phases from Sept 15, nearly six months after the coronavirus pandemic forced the government to close down all educational institutions in the country. However, they called upon the government and school administrations …

KHYBER: Polio vaccination at Torkham border was restarted after six months of suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak. Health officials said that they also held a ‘face-to-face’ meeting with their Afghan counterparts after almost a year break on Thursday and discussed ways and means to help each other to eradicate poliovirus from the bordering regions of both the neighbouring countries. …

FAISALABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue’s Faisalabad chapter security staff put the additional block of the office on fire only to eliminate the evidence of stealing seized smuggled cigarettes. This was revealed during the police investigation and police will submit the challan against the suspects soon. The extreme fire erupted on May 23 last (Chand Raat) in the additional block …

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan on Thursday sought further arguments from the federal and provincial government’s law officers and the petitioner’s counsel on the maintainability of a petition challenging the premature transfers of the Punjab inspector general of police and Lahore capital city police officer. The chief justice took up the petition by PML-N MPA Malik …

UMERKOT: This flood is not a national but an international disaster, which has displaced a lot of people in Sindh, leaving them hungry and without shelter while inundating their crops and adding to their economic woes. This was stated by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari while addressing party workers and flood victims at a tent city here on …

On the 72nd death anniversary of the founder of the nation, President Arif Alvi reminded citizens that following the teachings of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was the only way to become a successful nation. People from different walks of life will visit the mausoleum today to lay floral wreaths on the Quaid’s grave, Radio Pakistan reported. Various programmes have also been planned …