Author: i2wtc
RIYADH: Holders Al Hilal will be banned from the 2026-27 Saudi Super Cup if they qualify after withdrawing from this season’s four-team competition, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation’s (SAFF) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee said on Tuesday. The decision came after Al Hilal pulled out of the Super Cup, scheduled to be played from Aug 19-23 in Hong Kong, citing player fatigue following their Club World Cup campaign. They lost 2-1 to Fluminense in the quarter-finals on July 4. “Al Hilal refused to participate in the Saudi Super Cup for the 2025-2026 season after the official schedule for the competition was…
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday called for a strategic overhaul to boost skilled labour exports. The DPM chaired a high-level meeting to review Pakistan’s Emigration, Overseas Employment, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Policy, with a focus on aligning the country’s workforce with global market demands, a DPM’s Office news release said. DPM Dar stressed the urgent need to invest in high-quality skill development, diversify into new employment sectors, and explore untapped international destinations for Pakistani workers. He highlighted the importance of aligning Pakistan’s human capital with international demand…
PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies have recalled all-rounder Romario Shepherd for the three-match One-day International series against Pakistan with coach Darren Sammy hoping that positive results will strengthen their case for an automatic spot at next year’s ODI World Cup. The squad retained the core of players who secured recent home series victories over England and Bangladesh at the end of 2024, as well as the tour of the United Kingdom earlier this year. The West Indies are aiming for a fourth consecutive home ODI series win Shepherd returning to the side — led by Shai Hope — for the…
Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., speaks at the SoftBank World event in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSoftBank Group on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter profit that topped expectations, driven by gains in its Vision Fund tech investment arm.The Japanese giant reported 421.8 billion yen ($2.87 billion) in the quarter ended June, versus 127.6 billion yen expected, according to LSEG consensus estimates. It is the second straight quarter of profit for SoftBank. The company reported a 174.28 billion yen loss in the same period last year.In the fiscal…
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution strongly condemning the unlawful acts of so-called honour killings. Moved by Shahida Rehmani, it emphasized zero tolerance for such acts and proposed the formation of an interprovincial task force for coordinated action to curb these crimes. The house also reaffirmed Pakistan’s historic and unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom, dignity and justice. The resolution, moved by PPP lawmaker Shazia Marri, expressed deep concern over the continuing and escalating Israeli military aggression in Gaza, which has resulted in the killing of civilians and widespread destruction of homes…
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Apple CEO Tim Cook in the Oval Office of the White House on August 6, 2025 in Washington, DC. Win Mcnamee | Getty ImagesAfter months of speculation, U.S. President Donald Trump has divulged more of his semiconductor tariff plans, but his latest threats might raise more questions than answers. On Wednesday, Trump said he will impose a 100% tariff on imports of semiconductors and chips, but not for companies that are “building in the United States.”As semiconductors represent an over $600 billion industry at the heart of the modern digital economy, any…
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump on Tuesday established a task force that he will lead on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a Democrat-run city that has frequently clashed with the Republican US president. The group will engage the federal government to “ensure the Games are safe, seamless and historically successful,” potentially offering Trump and his allies greater influence over the sporting event. Trump will serve as chairman and Vice President JD Vance will be vice-chair of the task force, which will encompass several other leaders in his administration. Other members include Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem…
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) patron-in-chief Imran Khan on Wednesday said no candidates would be fielded on the seats left vacant by disqualified party members, saying the disqualifications were carried out through “unlawful means”. This was revealed by Imran’s sister, Aleema Khan, who spoke to the media outside Adiala Jail. She said her sister Uzma Khan was allowed to meet Imran and her wife Bushra Bibi. Aleema quoted Imran as saying that he was pleased with the public turnout during the Aug 5 protests despite what he described as “state oppression and intimidation”. “He expressed gratitude to the people for standing…
Key PointsMeta is well-positioned to be a key player in AI across our devices as chatbots become more personalized and advanced, according to one fund manager.Access to data of 3.48 billion usesr across its family of apps such as Facebook and Instagram could be a key advantage.However, Meta doesn’t own an operating system like Google or Apple does, which could be a challenge.Apple and Alphabet ‘s Google are often seen as the potential big players in a world where people interact with advanced AI assistant on their phones and other devices — especially as the technology gets more personalized. But there’s another name that’s…
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday made it mandatory for tax officials to consult at least two representatives of the business community before initiating investigations that could lead to arrests in tax fraud cases, watering down any real chances of detaining accused individuals. In line with the understanding reached between the business community and the government, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a Sales Tax General Order outlining a lengthy procedure before traders or any businesspersons involved in alleged sales tax frauds can be arrested. The order states that, after concluding an inquiry in tax fraud cases, the…