Author: i2wtc

Supply of medicines, baby milk, and vaccines is likely to be affected by ongoing war in Gulf KARACHI: The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States has disrupted Pakistan’s imports of life-saving and essential medicines, raw materials for pharmaceutical production, baby formula, and various vaccines due to the suspension of international flights. If the war prolongs, importers warn that Pakistan could face severe shortages of medicines and vaccines, which may result in a dramatic increase in drug prices. Additionally, following a rise in petrol prices due to the conflict, prices of medicines and other essential goods have increased…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has finalised a phased national energy conservation action plan to reduce the demand for imported petroleum products and re-liquefied natural gas (RLNG) in view of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and fears of an energy crisis. An emergency meeting to review the plan in light of rising tensions in the Middle East will be held today (Monday) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the plan proposes reintroducing several austerity and energy-saving measures that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is also planning strict action against the hoarding…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a reward of Rs1.5 million for each player of the national hockey team following the team’s performance in the FIH Hockey World Cup qualifier, state-run Radio Pakistan reported. The announcement comes after the team secured a place in the upcoming hockey World Cup, marking their return to the tournament after an eight-year absence. It will be hosted jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands in August this year. Quoting a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Radio Pakistan said the team’s performance represented a “significant step towards promoting hockey in Pakistan”. The premier…

Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Ky.Source: U.S. ArmyThe Pentagon on Monday identified the seventh U.S. service member to have died in the Iran war as 26-year-old Army Sgt. Benjamin Pennington.Pennington, a resident of Glendale, Kentucky, was seriously wounded March 1 during an Iranian strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He died on Sunday from his wounds, according to the Defense Department.Read more U.S.-Iran war newsA satellite image shows planes at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia February 21, 2026. 2026.2026 Planet Labs Pbc | Via Reuters”I just want to say that if you…

A Zoox autonomous robotaxi in San Francisco, California, US, on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAmazon’s self-driving unit Zoox plans to start testing its autonomous vehicles in Dallas and Phoenix, the company announced Monday.To start, Zoox will deploy a “small number” of its retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs, with a human safety driver behind the wheel, to map the areas before it introduces its toaster-shaped robotaxis, the company said. Dallas and Phoenix will allow Zoox to expose its technology to diverse and challenging weather conditions, as well as more sprawling streets, compared to the dense…

Signs are seen at the Live Nation NYC headquarters on May 23, 2024 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty ImagesLive Nation Entertainment has reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over antitrust concerns surrounding its Ticketmaster platform, a senior DOJ official said Monday.The settlement would see Ticketmaster unwind some of its exclusivity agreements with musical artists and open up the ticketing industry to greater competition. It still needs approval by more than 20 states that had filed suit and by the court. As part of the settlement, Ticketmaster will offer a standalone third-party ticketing system for other…

U.S. President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth behind, speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on a flight from Dover, Delaware, to Miami, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2026. Kevin Lamarque | ReutersAnthropic filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday after the artificial intelligence startup was blacklisted and labeled a threat to U.S. national security. The company said in a complaint that these actions are “unprecedented and unlawful,” and that they are “harming Anthropic irreparably.” The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. “Anthropic’s contracts with the federal government are…

Price of jet fuel has surged from Rs188.93 per litre to Rs342.32 per litre, PSO sources say LAHORE: The ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, and Israel has driven up global petroleum prices, with a direct impact on aviation fuel costs and airfare expected to go up in the coming days. According to sources at Pakistan State Oil, the price of jet fuel has surged from ₨188.93 per litre to ₨342.32 per litre, marking an increase of ₨153.39 per litre following a ₨55 per litre rise in general petroleum products. The increase is expected to force domestic and…

TKO Group Holdings Inc. and Polymarket signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, US, on Thursday, Nov. 13,2025. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe Iran war has shone a light on what prediction markets regard as unacceptable subjects for betting, as they faced backlash when users placed hundreds of millions of wagers on everything from missile strikes to regime change.Polymarket last week archived markets that had allowed bets on the timing of a nuclear detonation, after the contracts attracted hundreds of thousands of dollars.Most of the contracts fell under a market titled…

RAWALPINDI: Prisoners brought from Adiala Central Jail to courts in Rawalpindi’s district judiciary for hearings have complained of severe overcrowding in the jail and described the Iftar food provided to inmates — including samosas, pakoras and dates — as extremely poor in quality. Speaking to reporters after appearing before the sessions courts, several accused persons said the wards where they are housed were designed to accommodate 70 to 80 inmates, yet between 130 and 140 prisoners are currently confined in a single ward. As a result, many inmates are forced to sleep in washrooms, while others must take turns resting…