BEIJING: China on Thursday passed a new law to counter foreign sanctions, as it looks to build its defences against rising US and EU pressure over trade and human rights. Beijing has accused the United States of “suppressing” Chinese firms and issued veiled threats of retaliation after President Joe Biden last week expanded a blacklist of companies in which Americans …

The dusty, rocky Martian surface and a Chinese rover and lander bearing small national flags were seen in photos released on Friday that the rover took on the red planet. The four pictures released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) also show the upper stage of the Zhurong rover and the view from the rover before it rolled off …

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Survey 2020-21 has revealed that the literacy rate in the country remains stagnant at 60 per cent and education-related expenditures witnessed a decrease of 29.6pc in the year 2019-20. “According to the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement (PSLSM) district level survey 2019-20, the literacy rate of population (10 years and above) is stagnant at 60 per …

KARACHI: An antiterrorism court has summoned the head of a joint investigation team which had grilled the accused persons charged with murdering Orangi Pilot Project head Perween Rahman for recording his testimony. Five accused — Abdul Raheem Swati, his son Mohammad Imran Swati and three co-accused: Ayaz Shamzai aka Swati, Amjad Hussain Khan and Ahmed Khan aka Ahmed Ali aka …

ISLAMABAD: Countries in the region are far ahead of Pakistan in terms of health indicators and even Afghanistan is ahead of it, according to the Economic Survey of Pakistan. It said the Covid-19 pandemic had tested the country’s health infrastructure and identified needs for more investment in the sector, especially to improve diagnostic facilities, disease surveillance, prevention and spread, training …

PESHAWAR: The land required for setting up New Balakot City was acquired and payment to 90 per cent landowners was made, a high level meeting was told here on Thursday. An official statement said that estimated cost of the project was about Rs15 billion. Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting, which attended by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman …

HYDERABAD: Sindh government has rejected the proposed programme of monitoring flows’ measurement at barrages of Sindh and Punjab without first initiating due process of consultation over it. The programme has been proposed by the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) amid heightening tension between the two sides over water distribution during periods of shortages. Official sources said that Sindh has stayed …

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday ordered the suspension of cattle export to Afghanistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and directed the deputy commissioners of the relevant districts to check cattle smuggling. A bench consisting of Chief Justice Qaiser Rashid Khan and Justice Ijaz Anwar observed that as Eidul Azha would be celebrated next month, drastic steps were needed to stop …

The world came to know about the acting talent powerhouse Sofia Vergara thanks to her convincing performance in the American sitcom Modern Family.  The audience loved the series so much that it ran for eleven seasons. However, there was one aspect of the filming of the most popular comedy series that the 48-year-old Colombian-American actress did not like. She rather abhorred …

GENEVA: An 18th-century manor house in the middle of a public park with lakeside views will host the summit between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva next week, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Genevas Parc de la Grange, which includes the Villa La Grange as its centerpiece structure, was shut for public access …