OTTAWA: Canada has ruled out any plans to sign a free trade agreement with China following a warning from US President Donald Trump, who threatened heavy tariffs on Canadian goods. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country has no intention of entering into a free trade deal with China. His statement came after Trump claimed on social media that China was increasing its influence over Canada. Trump warned that if Canada signed a free trade agreement with China, the United States would impose 100% tariffs on Canadian products. Clarifying the situation, Prime Minister Carney said that Canada’s recent understanding with…
Author: Web Desk2
KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday kept the policy rate unchanged at 10.5%. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held earlier in the day. SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad announced the decision at a press conference after the meeting. The central bank also decided to reduce the Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) for banks from 6% to 5%. According to the MPC, inflation stood at 5.6% in December, while core inflation remained at 7.4%. The committee said economic growth was better than expected, with GDP growth projected at 4.75% in fiscal year…
BANNU: Two militants were killed when police foiled an attack on a mobile patrol van in Bannu district, police said on Monday. The incident took place in the limits of Domel police station, where militants opened fire on a police patrol during routine movement on Company Road. Police returned fire immediately, triggering a gun battle that lasted around 20 minutes. As a result of the exchange, two militants were killed, while police recovered weapons from the scene. No police personnel were injured in the incident, officials confirmed. In a separate incident, terrorists blew up a link bridge in the Miryan…
Emotional Farewell Marks a Historic Shift in China–Japan Relations Tokyo: Panda diplomacy between Japan and China has effectively come to an end as Japan prepares to send back its last two giant pandas to China, amid worsening diplomatic ties between the two Asian powers. On Sunday, thousands of people gathered at a Tokyo zoo to bid an emotional farewell to the twin pandas Xiang Xiang (Shan Shan) and Lei Lei, who are scheduled to return to China on Tuesday. Long queues were seen outside the zoo, with some visitors waiting over three and a half hours for a final glimpse…
Pakistani TikToker and social media influencer Alina Aamir has finally spoken out after a series of videos, falsely attributed to her, went viral on social media. In a detailed video message shared on Instagram, Alina strongly rejected claims of a “leaked” or “private” video, stating that the circulating clips were AI-generated deepfake content and had no connection to reality. Over the past few days, several videos bearing her name spread rapidly online, with users alleging that her personal or inappropriate footage had been leaked. Addressing the issue, Alina described the incident as digital violence, saying her image and reputation were…
The Balochistan government has postponed Class 8 examinations across the province due to an intense cold wave, snowfall, and heavy rainfall, issuing a revised exam schedule to ensure student safety. According to official sources, the Balochistan Education Department announced the decision after severe weather conditions disrupted normal life in several districts. The move was made to protect students and provide relief to parents amid freezing temperatures. In a notification issued by the Director of Education, the department stated that the postponement was approved after requests from district education officers and parents. Authorities cited student safety and accessibility concerns as key…
San Francisco: Meta Platforms Inc is facing a fresh lawsuit in the United States over its claims that WhatsApp messages are fully private and protected by end-to-end encryption. According to a Bloomberg report, an international group of plaintiffs has filed the case in the US District Court in San Francisco, accusing Meta of misleading billions of users about the privacy of their WhatsApp communications. The plaintiffs include users from Australia, Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. The lawsuit challenges Meta’s long-standing claim that WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, a system that the company says ensures only the sender and receiver can…
Murree: Authorities have issued a travel advisory following a forecast of a snowstorm in Murree, urging tourists and residents to avoid traveling at night due to safety concerns. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Raza Tanveer Sapra, heavy snowfall is expected from this evening until tomorrow evening. He warned that falling temperatures could cause a hard, glass-like layer of ice to form on roads, making driving extremely dangerous. The DPO said that vehicle brakes do not function properly on snow-covered roads, and night-time travel could pose serious risks. He added that snow-clearing operations become highly difficult during darkness and…
Karachi: Gold prices witnessed a sharp surge in the local market, with the price of one tola rising by Rs10,900, while international gold prices crossed a historic milestone by surpassing $5,000 per ounce for the first time. According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association, the price of gold in Pakistan increased by Rs10,900 per tola, taking it to a record high of Rs532,062. The price of 10 grams of gold also hit a new peak, rising by Rs9,345 to cross Rs450,000 for the first time in the country’s history. Silver prices followed a similar upward trend. The…
Sports Desk: The T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in India, has come under serious threat following the spread of a deadly Nipah virus, raising fresh concerns over the mega event’s smooth organization. According to reports, the outbreak of a new strain of Nipah virus in India has cast uncertainty over the tournament, which is set to begin on February 7. The virus has started spreading just weeks before the start of the World Cup, prompting questions about player safety and event logistics. Health authorities in West Bengal have confirmed five cases, including two nurses and a doctor,…
