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کراچی: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی کے چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کی وزیراعلی سندھ سید مراد علی شاہ کے ہمراہ ایران کے صدر سید ابراہیم رئیسی سے وزیراعلی ہاؤس میں ملاقات

Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu will carry out the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceflight mission, and Ye will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency ( ) announced at a press conference on Wednesday.

Ye Guangfu was a crew member of the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022. Li Cong and Li Guangsu, among the third batch of Chinese astronauts, are both newcomers to space.

All the three Shenzhou-18 astronauts are the post-1980s generation.

The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship will be launched at 8:59 p.m. Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

يهدف مسبار المريخ الذي طورته الصين إلى الكشف عن مورفولوجية المريخ وتربته وبيئته وغلافه الجوي وغيرها. #الحوار

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received the President of Iran, H.E. Dr. Syed Ebrahim Raisi at the Prime Minister House, today in Islamabad.

President of Iran, H.E. Dr. Syed Ebrahim Raisi inspected Guard of Honor at the Prime Minister House.

The Prime Minister and H.E. Dr. Syed Ebrahim Raisi also planted a tree in a the lawn of Prime Minister House

In the latest Pakistani elections, independents backed by the jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan emerged as frontrunners, securing the most seats and surpassing traditional political parties. The slow vote counting was attributed to the suspension of cell phone services for safety reasons on election day.

Out of 235 seats, Khan's supporters won 49, while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League party secured 42, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's party received 34. Now, Sharif must work to form a coalition government.

Ugandan judge Julia Sebutinde has been elected as vice-president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), serving along with Lebanese Judge Nawaf Salam, who was elected as president.

Sebutinde gained worldwide attention for her sole dissenting vote against all of the provisional measures in South Africa's case against Israel over alleged genocide in Gaza. While the ICJ acknowledged the plausibility of South Africa's allegations, it did not order Israel to cease military activity in Gaza.

Sebutinde argued that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is political, not under the jurisdiction of the ICJ and that South Africa failed to demonstrate genocidal intent by Israel. She also criticized the provisional measures as redundant with Israel's existing commitments under the genocide convention.

Polling ended in ’s general on Feb. 8, in a vote marred by internet blackouts and militant attacks that killed at least 12 people on election day and 30 people on election eve, according to authorities. The attacks on Feb. 8 appeared to be targeting the process in a country that has been plagued by surging militancy. Cellphone blackouts were unprecedented and intended to prevent flash protests and disruptions.

Following polls closing and the start of the ballot counting, Pakistan’s chief election commissioner said the results would be communicated to the oversight body by early Feb. 9, then the results will be released to the public. If none of the parties win a simple majority, whichever party wins first place will get the chance to form a coalition government.

Former Prime Minister Nawaz is considered the front-runner by many analysts. Sharif, a three-time prime minister, is the rival of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Meanwhile, Khan is barred from running and is currently in jail as he faces over 150 legal cases against him. He was pushed out of power by a no-confidence vote in 2022.

Russian opposition hopeful Boris Nadezhdin has been barred from participating in next month’s presidential election.

The Russian election commission on Thursday, Feb. 8, rejected his candidacy saying that 15% of the signatures he submitted were flawed. Nadezhdin said he would challenge the decision in Russia’s Supreme Court.

Nadezhdin has been critical of President Vladimir Putin and Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, promising to end the war on his first day as president.
He is not the first to be barred from the elections, in Dec. 2023, independent politician and former broadcast journalist Yekaterina Duntsova’s candidacy was also rejected by the election commission saying there were mistakes on her application. Duntsova also ran on an anti-war platform.

The electoral commission’s chairwoman said only four candidates would be on the ballot for the March election. These include President Putin, nationalist leader Leonid Slutsky, Parliament Deputy Speaker Vladislav Davankov and Communist Nikolai Kharitonov
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Dare to explore the unknown? Step foot on "Mars" in China's Gobi Desert!

The remote and expansive Gobi Desert in northwest China is increasingly accessible to the public thanks to the emergence of space-themed tourism, which has opened up new frontiers for adventurous travelers.

Once a testing ground for space exploration robots, Mars Base 1, a simulated Martian habitat located in the city of Jinchang, Gansu Province has now become popular among tourists. By transforming tourists into taikonauts, it tasks participants with hiking through desert areas, finding water and overcoming other life-threatening challenges. Kids can get a taste of life on Mars with special science courses.

A Pakistani court convicted former Prime Minister and cricket superstar Imran Khan as well as one of his party deputies Shah Mahmoud Qureshi of revealing official secrets, handing both a 10-year sentence on Tuesday.

The cipher case, as it is known, accused Khan of exposing state secrets by waving a confidential document at a rally. The document is believed to be correspondence from the Pakistani ambassador of Washington to the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad. Khan claims that the document proves that his ouster from power in 2022 was a U.S. conspiracy executed by the Pakistani government and military.

This is only the latest in a series of legal cases targeting Imran Khan who is already serving a three year prison sentence.Despite his current legal troubles and being pushed away from politics he still has a wide support base. His supporters see the latest conviction as a ploy to sideline Khan and his PTI party from the upcoming February 8 parliamentary elections. After Khan’s arrest last year, Pakistan saw a wave of violent demonstrations which authorities cracked down on.

As such, the upcoming elections are coming at a sensitive time considering the man who replaced Khan, incumbent Shehbaz Sharif, has struggled to manage an ongoing economic crisis. Sharif opted for a bailout from the International Monetary Fund which meant agreeing to an increase in tariffs, gas and electricity which has led to an alarming price hike on essential goods, making him and his party unpopular.

in a cozy and quiet reading corner hidden in the downtown area of Haidian district in

in the City Library of Beijing, opened to public two weeks ago and attracted attention from the young people with its unique design and the largest number of collections among libraries in China

in a rusty industrial park where deserted steel furnace has been turned into a fancy futuristic center for creative industries

in the last 24h:

- The U.S. and its allies have launched strikes against targets in linked to rebels, the group that has targeted international shipping in the Red Sea since late last year. The military action was taken in coordination with the and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands.

- Thursday was the first day of hearings at the International Court of Justice ( ) regarding the South African case against . Israel is set to present its defence on Friday.

- After almost 100 days of war in , more than 10,000 children – or 1 percent of the total child population on the Strip – have been killed. At least 23,469 people have been killed and more than 59,604 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from the October 7 attack stands at 1,139.

- The exchange of fire between forces and escalated Tuesday on the Israel- border, with Israel claiming the killing of the Lebanese militant group's two senior commanders. The confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel have killed 212 people on the Lebanese side, including 157 Hezbollah members and 35 civilian.

International law requires countries, even when acting in self-defense, to abide by the rules of war, and on Friday, after two days of hearings, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) faces making its decision on whether Israel has been during its operation in Gaza.

South Africa has accused Israel at the ICJ of committing genocide against Palestinians in its military operation in Gaza that followed the October 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis. South Africa’s legal representatives on Thursday asked the ICJ to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations Gaza.

They argued that Israel’s offensive aimed for “the destruction of the population” of Gaza, and accused Israel’s political and military leaders as being among “the genocidal inciters”.

Israel’s high level representatives insisted on Friday that its actions in Gaza are a legitimate defense of its people, and accused Hamas militants of being guilty of genocide.

“Under the guise of the allegation against Israel of genocide,” Israeli legal advisor Tal Becker said “this court is asked to call for an end to operations against the ongoing attacks of an organization that pursues an actual genocidal agenda”.

Israel is fighting a “war it did not start and did not want,” Becker told the audience at the Palace of Peace in the Hague, Netherlands, arguing that the horrible suffering of civilians in war was not enough to level the charge of genocide.

It is one of the biggest cases ever to be heard before an international court.
The genocide claims, notoriously hard to prove, are expected to take years for the ICJ to resolve, if ever, but South Africa has also asked the ICJ to order nine ‘provisional measures,’ including the immediate suspension of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

ICJ President Joan Donaghue said the court would rule on the provisional measures “as soon as possible.” It is unclear if Israel would heed any such order from the UN’s top court.

The U.S. and the UK took aim at 60 targets in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen in overnight strikes, putting the Iran-backed rebels at the center of global concerns that the crisis in the Middle East will escalate.

Five Houthi fighters were killed and six injured, a spokesperson for the group said.

The Houthis seized the capital of Yemen in 2014, launching the country deeper into a catastrophic civil conflict that continues to this day. The group controls the country’s western coastline. Houthi fighters have been attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea since November.

The group originally said the attacks were aimed at Israel-affiliated vessels to avenge Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza, which so far has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians since early October.

Supporters of the Houthi movement gathered Friday in Sanaa to denounce the strikes. The airstrikes, ordered by U.S. President Biden without the consultation or authorization of Congress, focused on the Houthi’s command and control nodes, munitions storage and production centers, launching systems and air defense radar systems, the U.S. Air Force said.

A spokesperson for the Houthis, backed by Iran, warned of retaliation, further raising the prospect of escalation.

Russia requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday to discuss the strikes on Yemen, which it called ‘irresponsible.’ Russia, an ally of Iran, is mired in its own conflict in Ukraine, which the U.S. has called an ‘illegal war.’

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution Wednesday condemning the Houthi attacks on Red Sea commercial vessels in an 11-0 vote with four abstentions - Russia, China, Algeria and Mozambique.

Israel faced accusations brought by South Africa at the UN’s International Court of Justice on Friday. South Africa says that Israel’s military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide campaign aimed at wiping out the Palestinian population. The court is expected to rule on possible emergency measures later this month, but not on the genocide allegations - which could take years to address.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that “Israel is accused of genocide while it is fighting against genocide.”

In a televised address this week, Netanyahu said Israel’s goal is to “rid Gaza of Hamas terrorists and free our hostages. Once this is achieved Gaza can be demilitarized and deradicalized”. He said that “Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population.”

The Oct. 7, 2023 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis. Close to 130 hostages taken by Hamas are still being held in Gaza.

A Hamas spokesperson this week said the ‘enemy prisoners’ will not be returned alive to their families unless Israel meets its conditions, “the first of which is a comprehensive cessation of the aggression against Gaza.”

South Africa accused Israel of the crime of genocide this week at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Netherlands. On the second day of hearings, Israel defended its operation in Gaza, maintaining that its offensive against Hamas that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians falls under self-defense.

The ICJ is not expected to rule on the genocide accusations for some time, but it is considering South Africa’s request to order an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear on Saturday that any such ruling would not be complied with.

What is the ICJ?

Denmark has officially crowned Frederik X as its new king of the country, after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally stepped down, the first time a Danish ruler voluntarily abdicated in nine centuries.

Margrethe signed her abdication in a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, which houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Supreme Court.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik the new king in front of thousands of people outside of the royal palace. Frederik greeted the crowd, joined by the new Australian-born Queen Mary and their four children.

A staggering 50 million court cases are backlogged in India’s nationwide judiciary system.

It would take at least 300 years at the current pace to clear the docket.

A slew of issues, including the number of judges per population, lack of funding, and other institutional issues have created a lengthy number of court cases. Here’s a breakdown of why India’s courts are so backed up.

Bernardo Arevalo, Guatemala's new President was inaugurated on Monday. Arevalo, known for being a staunch anti-corruption and social justice advocate, was supposed to be inaugurated on Sunday but members of congress delayed it.

Pressure from protesters who clashed with riot police and an intentional outcry by the U.S. and the Organization of American States pushed the constitutional process forward.

Arevalo, considered the most progressive head of state in Guatemala since the 1980’s stunned the country’s political establishment through a comfortable victory in the polls last August.

Arevalo, a former academic turned politician is also son of a former president, Juan Jose Arevalo who was in power during the 1940-50’s and implemented key social reforms. Nevertheless, his plans for the country have already faced big resistance among the political elite of the most populous Central American country.

Having little support in Congress and a concoction of legal cases being thrown at him from the country’s Attorney General, Arevalo is set for a term full of tension and political infighting.

Severe cold swept through extensive areas of the Rockies, Great Plains, and Midwest on Tuesday, bringing wind chills plummeting below minus 30 degrees (minus 34.4 Celsius) across central parts of the U.S.

Early Tuesday, over 120,000 homes and businesses in the U.S., primarily in Oregon, Texas, and Louisiana, faced power outages stemming from widespread disruptions that began on Saturday.

Portland General Electric cautioned that the risk of freezing rain on Tuesday might impede restoration efforts. Authorities advised against travel as icy roads were expected, posing a hazardous threat with the potential to burden trees and power lines, leading to collapses.

The impact of storms and icy temperatures rippled through various sectors, affecting air travel, NFL playoff games, and even Iowa's presidential caucuses. Tragically, the severe weather conditions contributed to several fatalities across the nation.

in a fancy bookstore within Daxing International Airport in southern , a perfect place for a short rest during travel

China's northernmost province Heilongjiang has recently emerged as a top star in the country's booming winter tourism. As the temperature here can drop to minus 20C and even lower in winter, it has also been endowed with picturesque ice and snow landscape, from all-white mountain forest to powder-dusted city roof tops. And thanks to its unique history, the place boasts a cornucopia of diverse cultures that surely would not disappoint you!

On Thursday, Jan. 18, Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, experienced a lockdown due to flaming barricades in several neighborhoods, compelling residents to seek shelter or return home amidst ongoing gang violence in the Caribbean nation.

Burning tires and rocks blocked streets, generating large columns of black smoke in different parts of the city, as reported by eyewitnesses to Reuters. Analysts suggest that violence has been intensifying over several months as rival gangs vie for control and attempt to exert influence on interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

This escalation is notably timed ahead of the February 7 expiration of a political accord that solidified Henry's authority.

in the last 24h:

- U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday it was still possible Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin could agree to some form of state, despite the latter publicly reiterating his opposition to a Palestinian state on Thursday.

- Almost 25,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in since October 7 last year, the majority women and children, Ajith Sunghay, an official with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said on Friday.

- The U.S. conducted fresh attacks on Houthi anti-ship missiles on Friday as the group pledged to continue preventing the passage of lsraeli and American ships heading to the occupied Palestinian ports despite a joint U.S.-UK attack on January 12.

- A military spokesman responded on Friday that the group's attacks "will continue until a in the Palestinian enclave of is imposed, and the siege is lifted."

The Republic of South Africa has formally accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people of Gaza, The case, which is being heard at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), demands that Israel immediately halt its military operation in Gaza, while also demanding justice for the victims harmed during the campaign.

During opening statements at the International Court of Justice, South African lawyers said the latest Gaza war is part of decades of Israeli oppression of Palestinians. South African lawyers urged for an immediate ceasefire and the suspension of hostilities. Israel will begin is rebuttal on Friday when its lawyers present their case to the tribunal.

Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has vehemently denied South Africa's allegations. As a sign of how seriously they regard the case, Israeli leaders have taken the rare step of engaging with the court to defend their international reputation.

in the last 24h:
- strike in kills at least seven people with another five reported to be killed north of Rafah.

-The International Court of Justice set to hear make case for urgent provisional measures on the first day of hearings on allegations is committing in .

- Secretary of State says Authority President Abbas prepared to reform the Palestinian Authority and take control of Gaza.

-At least 23,357 people have been killed and more than 59,410 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

PM Alexander De Croo has arrived in on an official visit. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the 2-day visit comes at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang. This is the 1st visit to by a European leader in 2024.

New York's Nassau County authorities responded on Thursday, Jan. 11, to a bomb threat at the home of Judge Arthur Engoron, the judicial official presiding over the civil trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

A court spokesperson confirmed that Engoron had been threatened and a Nassau County spokesperson confirmed that police had responded to a security incident at a residence at 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, without providing further details.

Security has been an issue throughout the months-long trial. Engoron's top staffer faced threats after Trump criticized her as politically biased, prompting the judge to issue a gag order barring him from disparaging court staff. Trump has been fined $15,000 for twice violating the order.

Most recently, Engoron on Wednesday denied Trump's bid to deliver his own closing arguments after the former president would not accept ground rules barring him from making a "campaign speech."

The Photography 4 Humanity exhibit, supported by United Nations Human Rights, showcases stories that bring to life the power of human rights through the lenses of photographers from around the world.

Check out some of this year’s winning and finalist photos. https://www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/photography-4-humanity-2023