Wednesday, December 31, 2025
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Federal Minister launches roadmap for quality education in FDE schools

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (APP):The Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, launched the FDE quality education and innovation roadmap based on five interconnected pillars.
Federal Secretary for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Nadeem Mahbub, Director General, Federal Directorate Education (FDE), Syed Junaid Akhlaq, along with senior officials and representatives of the Project Coordination Unit (PCU), were also present on the occasion, said a press release.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Secretary Nadeem Mahbub stated that the roadmap is aligned with the national vision of ensuring equity and quality in education.
He explained that the roadmap is structured around five interconnected pillars designed to ensure systemic and sustainable reforms. These pillars included Digital and Innovative Learning, Policy Formulation and Review, Enabling Learning Environment

Exclusive Interview | Dr. Sawera Parkash | Former MNA Candidate (PPP)

By
Amir Jamil
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AIOU launches comprehensive 2025–30 strategic plan to enhance distance learning

By
NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (APP): A launching ceremony for the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Strategic Plan for 2025–30 was held under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood.

The event was attended by Registrar Raja Umar Younus, Deans, Directors, faculty members and principal officers.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood stated that the Strategic Plan 2025–30 is a comprehensive and forward-looking document aimed at aligning the university with modern requirements, enhancing the quality of education, and promoting innovation in distance learning.

He said the plan focuses on the promotion of teaching and research, improvement of student facilities, effective use of digital technology and strengthening governance systems.

The Vice Chancellor emphasized that unless each one of us treats this document as our responsibility and implements it diligently, effective execution will not be possible.

This sense of responsibility, he noted, is the guarantee of the Strategic Plan’s success.

He urged all relevant departments to set clear objectives through mutual cooperation and achieve results through practical actions.

The Vice Chancellor also instructed the Director General of Regional Services to prepare a comprehensive plan for the regions and present department-level actionable strategies by January 15.

On this occasion, Convenor of the Strategic Plan Committee, Prof. Dr Irshad Ahmed Arshad along with Dr Muhammad Kamal Khan and Dr Rashida Imran highlighted the various stages of the plan’s preparation.

According to the speakers, this document has been prepared with consultation from all stakeholders, data-driven analysis and in light of international best practices. It includes clear objectives, measurable performance indicators (KPIs), and a robust monitoring and evaluation system.

Dar to visit Beijing to co-chair Pak-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue

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NNPS Desk
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ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will visit China to co-chair the 7th round of the Pakistan–China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue, scheduled to be held in Beijing on January 4, 2026.

The deputy prime minister will visit China at the invitation of Wang Yi, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister for Foreign Affairs of China,

The Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue is the highest consultative mechanism between Pakistan and China, providing a structured platform to review the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest.

During the Dialogue, the two foreign ministers will also announce a series of initiatives and commemorative activities to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China in 2026.

The visit forms an important part of the regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and reflects their shared determination to broaden and deepen the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, while reaffirming their mutual commitment to regional peace, stability, and sustainable development.

Doner, lahmacun, simit top Türkiye’s most popular food choices in 2025

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NNPS Desk
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0

ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Anadolu/APP): Doner, lahmacun, and simit topped the list of Türkiye’s most popular food choices in 2025, according to an analysis of nationwide ordering data that mapped consumer’s preferences across days, months, and product categories.
Data from the online food delivery app Yemeksepeti, compiled from millions of orders placed throughout the year, showed that doner, thinly sliced meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, retained its leading position among the country’s most preferred cuisines.
Lahmacun is a thin flatbread topped with minced meat and spices, and simit is a sesame-coated circular bread commonly eaten as a street snack in Türkiye.
Global options such as burgers and pizza, along with kebab, also ranked among the most frequently chosen foods, reflecting a balance between traditional tastes and international flavors.
While Turkish cuisine continued to maintain a strong presence with classic dishes, global flavors accounted for a significant share of daily consumption habits.
Data from major metropolitan areas indicated that in Istanbul and the western city of Izmir, classics such as lahmacun were often accompanied by complementary items, including lentil soup and ayran.
According to the data, the first food order placed in Türkiye in 2025 came from the southern province of Adana, featuring Adana kebab, the city’s signature dish.
In the market category, simit, mineral water, and chocolate emerged as the most preferred items. Drinking water, bakery products, and carbonated beverages were also frequently added to shopping baskets.
In 2025, consumers also gravitated toward unconventional choices, with gourmet items like pear pizza and sun-dried sweet pepper paste standing out in food orders, while non-food picks such as silicone chocolate molds and purple shampoo were among the most popular market basket items.
The data showed that Saturdays were the busiest day for orders across Türkiye in 2025, with May recording the highest volume, highlighting the strong impact of weekends and spring months on consumption patterns.

Istanbul’s airports set new passenger records in 2025

By
NNPS Desk
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ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Anadolu/APP): Air hubs in Türkiye’s megalopolis, namely the IGA Istanbul Airport and the Asian-side air gateway Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport, set new records in passenger count with a total of 132 million people served at the end of 2025, according to the State Airports Authority General Directorate (DHMI).
The IGA Istanbul Airport handled 80.4 million passengers last year, with that figure expected to rise to 84 million by the end of 2025, while the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport served 41.4 million last year and 48 million this year.
The two airports saw their highest-ever travel traffic this year.
By the end of 2025, the IGA Istanbul Airport would have operated approximately 547,000 flights, with 48% of passengers on long-haul transfers and 52% arriving and departing. Istanbul’s air hub connects the city to the rest of the world with over 330 destinations.
The IGA Istanbul Airport had the most flights in a single day on July 18 with 1,707 and the most daily passengers on August 2 with 282,835, according to IGA.
The air hub became Europe’s first airport to successfully implement triple independent runways on April 17.
The number of scheduled passenger airlines operating from this hub reached a historic high of 116, while the annual passenger target was set at 90 million for 2026.
Meanwhile, the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport hosted over 270,000 flights and over 48 million passengers throughout 2025, according to the air hub’s authority HEAS, a subsidiary of Türkiye’s Defense Industries Agency (SSB).
Some 56% of passengers were on international flights and 44% on domestic flights this year.
Germany was the most preferred international destination, while the most visited destination was the Ercan Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Antalya Airport was the most popular domestic destination this year.
On Sept. 7, the air hub broke its daily passenger and flight records, with 856 aircraft and 160,163 passengers.
The annual passenger traffic at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport increased by 6% on domestic routes and by more than 24% on international routes this year compared to 2024.
The air hub’s Terminal-1 renovation project put an additional terminal into service. The project aims to add an additional 5.5 million passengers per year to the airport’s capacity.
The completion of the 3,540-meter-long second runway, taxiways, cargo and aircraft aprons, control tower, and superstructure investment—all designed to accommodate wide-body passenger aircraft—significantly boosted the airport’s air traffic capacity.

Türkiye to use bats in fight against insect threatening country’s hazelnut harvest

By
NNPS Desk
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DUZCE / ISTANBUL, Dec 31 (Anadolu/APP): Türkiye will use bats in the fight against the brown marmorated stink bug, which threatens local agricultural products, especially hazelnuts, Semsettin Kulac, director of the Hazelnut Application and Research Center at Duzce University, told Anadolu.
Kulac said the insect, considered a “pandemic of agricultural plants,” does not have enough natural predators in the country, which is why the “pest” must be combated comprehensively.
He noted that it damages 300 agricultural products, including hazelnuts, which have the highest commercial value.
“It directly damages corn, pears, apples and many other products we can name. It is essential to combat it collectively,” he said.
Kulac said that experts from various universities across the country are continuing to identify bat species that eliminate the insect by feeding on it.
“This project will be unique not only in Türkiye, but also in the world,” he stressed, adding that some bat species have already been identified.
Kulac said that Türkiye currently combats the brown marmorated stink bug through agricultural spraying and the use of samurai wasps.
He added that the project aims to help Turkish farmers who produce hazelnuts and other agricultural products.

Xi, Putin exchange New Year greetings

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NNPS Desk
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BEIJING, Dec 31 (Xinhua/APP) : Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday exchanged New Year greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In his message, Xi extended his sincere congratulations and best wishes to Putin and the Russian people on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.
Noting that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China and Russia have solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Soviet Union’s Great Patriotic War and the World Anti-Fascist War, sending a powerful message that peace will prevail, justice will prevail, and the people will prevail.
Xi said the year 2025 also marks a concrete step in the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, recalling that they met in Beijing and Moscow respectively this year, where they exchanged in-depth views on major issues of mutual concern.
He added that the reciprocal visa-free policies between the two countries have been implemented, construction of the energy corridor is progressing steadily, and cooperation in emerging sectors is flourishing.
China and Russia have also supported each other within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, contributing their insights and efforts to improve global governance, Xi said.
Noting that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, Xi said 2026-2027 will be designated as the China-Russia Years of Education.
The Chinese leader also expressed readiness to maintain close exchanges with Putin to jointly push for continuous new progress in bilateral ties in the new era. Putin conveyed heartfelt New Year greetings to Xi, wishing the Chinese people happiness and well-being.
Russia and China have actively expanded economic and trade cooperation, with major collaborative projects progressing steadily, Putin said, adding that the mutual visa exemption between the two countries has greatly facilitated personnel exchanges.
In the coming year, the two nations will jointly launch the Russia-China Years of Education, Putin said, expressing his readiness to continue maintaining close communication with Xi on bilateral relations and major international issues.
Also on Wednesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang exchanged New Year greetings with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. Li said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has further advanced and deepened, adding that China stands ready to work with Russia to fully implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push for more results in practical cooperation.
Mishustin said that the two governments have created sound conditions for implementing promising cooperation projects, and he is convinced that the New Year will bring new opportunities for fully implementing the strategic plans of the two heads of state.

Govt employees stage protest rally in Abbottabad over unfulfilled demands

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ABBOTTABAD, Dec 31 (APP):The All Government Employees Grand Alliance (AGEGA) and the All Government Employees Coordination Council Abbottabad on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration lead by District Chairman and Provincial President of the SST Welfare Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Employees from various government departments, including teachers, participated in large numbers. Speakers criticized the provincial government for failing to honour its commitments regarding employees’ demands and warned against forcing more than 700,000 government employees across the province into protests.
They demanded benefits and incentives for KP government employees at par with those in other provinces and the federal government, and urged implementation of cabinet decisions.
Labour union leaders from education, health, clerical, paramedical, and other departments also addressed the gathering and expressed solidarity with the protest.

Kerb currency market

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
KARACHI, Dec 31 (APP):Following were the opening rates of foreign currencies in kerb market issued by the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), here on Wednesday.
F.C.                                               LOW RATE      HIGH RATE
(Inter Bank)                                    280.10                 280.15
USD                                              280.50                 281.15
EURO                                             329.00                 332.00
GBP                                                377.50                 380.50
JPY                                                    1.78                 1.88
AED                                                 76.70                  77.00
SAR                                                 74.85                   75.05
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