Prince William called 2024 the “hardest year” of his life in a preview for a rare television interview. 

The year saw William’s wife Katherine, Princess of Wales, and his father, King Charles, diagnosed with and treated for cancer. William and Kate, as she is commonly called, share three young children. The prince and his younger brother, Prince Harry, also remain distant. 

“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” William was shown telling “Schitt’s Creek” star Eugene Levy in a preview for an episode of Levy’s Apple TV+ show “The Reluctant Traveler.” 

The full episode will be aired on Oct. 3. One clip from the preview showed William giving Levy a tour of Windsor Castle. Another showed the two men sitting at a pub, sharing a pint. 

“Life is said to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are,” William said in the preview. 

Charles, 76, announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. It was discovered while he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace did not say what kind of cancer he had, but said it was not of the prostate. The king resumed public appearances in May 2024.

“Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,” Charles wrote in a booklet given to guests at Buckingham Palace event celebrating cancer charities in April 2025. “But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.”

Kate’s announcement that she had cancer came just six weeks after the king’s. Kate, 43, also did not say what kind of cancer she had, but said she had undergone chemotherapy to treat it. The announcement followed weeks of speculation about Kate’s wellbeing. In September 2024, the princess said she had completed chemotherapy and made a return to public duties. In January, she said she was in remission. 

While visiting a cancer support center in July 2025, Kate compared cancer recovery to “a roller coaster.” 

“You go through hard times,” the princess said. The difficulties continue even after treatment, she added. 

“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she said.

Sir Lewis Hamilton just revealed the sad phase of life he is going through.

The 40-year-old racing legend has revealed via social media that his dog, Roscoe, “caught pneumonia again” and currently, his little pooch is fighting for life and death.

Lewis – who is often seen with Roscoe during Formula One race weekends – wrote on Instagram: “Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts. I want to keep you all updated.”

“Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe. He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped. They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma. We don’t know whether he will wake from this. Tomorrow we’ll try to wake him up. I’m by his side and want to thank you all for your prayers and support,” he further mentioned.

Lewis has also previously expressed concern for Roscoe, which was back in May, when he admitted to feeling anxious about the health of his dog.

“He’s 12-and-a-half years old so he’s an old boy,” the sports man, who co-produced the Brad Pitt starrer, F1, said.

“He had pneumonia, but he’s fine now. But definitely this is a time where every time I get a text message from the lady who’s looking after him, my heart stops for a second. You know, what’s next?” Lewis further wrote at that time. 

• IPP payment issue still unresolved at JCC.
• ML-1, KKH realignment top Phase-II priorities.
• Updated long-term plan due within 90 days.

ISLAMABAD: The 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) wrapped up in Beijing on Friday without a breakthrough on long-pending capacity payments to Chinese independent power producers (IPPs), The News reported. 

Even so, the session marked a milestone, formally ushering the partnership into CPEC Phase-II. Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said: “Together, these priorities will transform CPEC into a corridor of industrialisation, technology, sustainability, and shared prosperity.”

These goals are anchored in the September 2025 action plan to build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

The plan maps a broad agenda spanning industrial cooperation, Special Economic Zones, agricultural modernisation, maritime development and mining, alongside flagship connectivity schemes including ML-1 railway modernisation, Karakoram Highway (KKH) realignment and continued development of Gwadar.

However, the sources said that the Chinese IPPs issue could not be resolved as Islamabad wished to extend the repayment period. On the partial financing of the ML-1, China asks Islamabad for a certain commitment before finalising the financing agreement in the context of the ongoing IMF programme.

The planning minister delivered the closing remarks, highlighting the shared vision, renewed determination, and ambitious roadmap that will shape the next stage of this transformative initiative. 

Addressing Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhou Haibing, Chinese hosts, and delegates, Minister Ahsan expressed heartfelt gratitude for the wisdom and commitment that have defined the deliberations of the JCC. 

He underscored that the 14th JCC was not just a review of past progress, but a reaffirmation of the collective resolve to deepen cooperation and build a future of shared prosperity. 

Highlighting the forward-looking agenda, the Minister noted that CPEC Phase-II will be driven by the five corridors of growth, innovation, green development, livelihood, and regional connectivity. 

These will be aligned with Pakistan’s URAAN 5Es framework of Exports, E-Pakistan, Energy & Environment, and Equity & Empowerment. Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the urgency of implementing ML-1 and KKH realignment, noting their strategic importance for uninterrupted connectivity between Pakistan and China. 

He stressed that early execution of these projects would yield far-reaching economic dividends for the entire region. To ensure sustained momentum, he proposed holding JCC meetings every six months and convening Joint Working Groups quarterly during the first three years of Phase-II. This institutional strengthening, he said, will guarantee effective coordination, timely decision-making, and results-oriented progress.

Acknowledging the geopolitical challenges and propaganda by anti-CPEC forces, the minister urged swift agreement on the JCC minutes to send a strong signal of unity and decisiveness. He announced that Pakistan and China had agreed to publish an updated CPEC long-term plan within 90 days, reflecting the convergence of Pakistan’s 5Es with the five corridors of CPEC 2.0. 

Reassuring Chinese partners, Ahsan Iqbal affirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the safety and security of all CPEC projects and every Chinese national working in Pakistan. He described CPEC not only as a development initiative but as a symbol of the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China, underpinned by trust, stability, and mutual respect.

“CPEC is about making China and Pakistan not only all-weather friends, but also partners in high-quality development and innovation for the 21st century,” he said. 

Concluding his remarks, the minister extended deep gratitude to the leadership of both countries, the NDRC, and all delegates for their invaluable contributions. With renewed determination, he expressed confidence that the next decade of CPEC would bring even greater transformation than the last. 

He proposed that the 15th JCC meeting be held in May 2026 in Islamabad, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, further cementing the historic ties between the two nations.