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Astana: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif delivers a National Statement at Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Kazakhstan.

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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addressed the National Emergencies Operation Center, today in Islamabad.

The Prime Minister also met the staff of the National Emergencies Operation Center.

Vice Governor Shaanxi Province, Mr. Chen Chunjiang receives the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif upon his arrival in Xi'an.

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Beijing: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets the President of People's Republic of China, H.E. Xi Jinping.

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Beijing: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz meets with Chairman of Standing Committee of National People's Congress of China, H.E. Zhao Leji.

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Beijing: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets with his Chinese counterpart, H.E. Li Qiang upon his arrival at the Great Hall of the People.

The Prime Minister was also presented with the Guard of honor at the Great Hall of the People.

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Beijing: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Visits Zhongguancun Science Park.

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Beijing: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses at Pakistan-China Friendship and Business Event.

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Beijing: Chairman of China North Industries Corporation calls on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

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Beijing: Chairman China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), Mr. Luo Zhaohui calls on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

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Beijing: Vice Foreign Minister of People's Republic of China, H.E. Sun Weidong receives Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Beijing Capital International Airport.

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Shenzhen: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was received by Chairman Huawei, Mr. Liang Hua upon his arrival at Huawei Headquarters.

The Prime Minister visited Huawei exhibition centre and met with the Chairman Huawei, Mr. Liang Hua, along with Pakistani delegation.

The Prime Minister also witnessed the signing of a framework agreement between the Ministry of Information Technology of the Government of Pakistan and Huawei.

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Shenzhen: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visits Nanshan One-Stop Services for Establishment of Enterprises and
Shenzhen Exhibition Museum.

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Shenzhen: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif addresses Pakistan-China Business Conference.

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Chairman and founder of Transsion Holdings, Zhu Zhaojiang calls on the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, today in Shenzhen.

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Shenzhen: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with Mr. Meng Fanli, Party Secretary of Shenzhen Municipal Committee, and Deputy Party Secretary of Guangdong Provincial Committee.

The Prime Minister also joined a group photo with the delegations.

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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Shenzhen, China on an official visit. Upon arrival he was welcomed by Vice Mayor of Shenzhen city of China, Mr. Luo Huanghao.

During his two-day stay in Shenzhen, the Prime Minister and his delegation will meet the leadership of the Guangdong Province and Shenzhen Municipal Government as well as leading Chinese companies in innovation and high-tech sectors. Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Pakistan-China Business Conference in line with his vision to support, promote and lead collaboration between the businessmen of the two countries. A business delegation of leading Pakistani businesspersons will attend the Conference for collaboration with the influential Chinese counterparts.

Shenzhen is the hub of China’s innovation, technology and research led companies and enterprises. The visit to Shenzhen aims to bolster economic cooperation in export-oriented innovation led, advanced technologies, high-tech development and ICT.

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: A city with infinite possibilities

Located in northern China, Tianjin is a thriving coastal metropolis on the shore of the Bohai Sea. As one of the four cities under the direct jurisdiction of the central government, Tianjin enjoys advantages in geography, function, industry, science, technology, and resources.

After years of construction, it has developed into an important cargo hub in northern China; it has become one of the most dynamic areas in the country where domestic and foreign capital gather. It is also the permanent host city of the Summer Davos Forum and the World Intelligence Conference.

As the "maritime gateway" to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Tianjin Port has been continuously advancing the construction of a smart port, boosting the coordinated development of the region with fresh impetus. Tianjin is a city full of infinite possibilities.

: A city highlighting China's openness, innovation and inclusiveness

Located at the delta where the Yangtze River meets the East China Sea, Shanghai is a pioneer in China in nearly all aspects and an important window for the world to peer into the country.

Shanghai's GDP reached 4.465 trillion yuan ($648 billion) in 2022, while its financial sector saw a growth in total financial markets transactions to nearly 3,000 trillion yuan ($435.3 trillion). Meanwhile, Shanghai is also China's technological and scientific hub. From space technology to electric vehicle manufacturing, from biomedicine to artificial intelligence, China's cutting-edge technology is developing at tremendous speed in the city.

Shanghai is also the cultural center of China. Take a stroll along the Bund or Waitan, you can enjoy the Lujiazui skyline and the most modern lifestyles in China. Or tour around Yu Garden and ancient towns surrounding the metropolis to take a sip of traditional Chinese culture and peaceful life. China and the West, tradition and modernity are perfectly-integrated in Shanghai. Dubbed the "City of Magic" for its inclusiveness, it attracts domestic and foreign talents like a magnet.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 "𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆" 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 "𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀"

Situated in the picturesque southwest of France, Toulouse is a mesmerizing city often referred to as "the pink city" due to its pinkish terracotta-brick architecture. As the fourth-largest city in France, Toulouse boasts exceptional heritage, featuring mansions from the Renaissance period and museums built within historical monuments or on former industrial sites.

Nestled in southwest China, Chongqing is the country's largest municipality and proudly holds the title of the "city of mountains." This thriving metropolis is characterized by towering skyscrapers, intricate overpasses, sprawling bridges and breathtaking landscapes, complemented by its renowned spicy cuisine.

𝗦𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟴𝟮:
The story of Toulouse and Chongqing began in December 1982 when the two dynamic cities officially became sister cities. Since then, a rich tapestry of cultural, academic and business exchanges has fostered a connection that transcends borders, celebrating the shared spirit of friendship between China and France.

Curious for more? Stay tuned as we continue to unveil the enduring bonds between China and France by introducing more twinned cities.

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."

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.