Author: i2wtc

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: A week after advertising to hire federal secretaries of economic ministries from the private sector, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday constituted a committee to further examine the induction of sectoral experts into more suitable tiers of the civil service. The ministerial committee includes Climate Change Minister Dr Musaddiq Malik, Power Minister Sardar Awais Laghari, Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul and FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial. It has been tasked with thoroughly deliberating the proposal. The committee’s findings will also be aligned with the work of two other committees led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal.…

The Trump Organization — U.S. President Donald Trump’s family business — will team up with Romanian real estate developer SDC Imobiliare to build a tower block with luxury apartments in the capital Bucharest, the companies said.A person walks past banners showing U.S. President Donald Trump and Marian Cucsa, candidate of Republican Party of Romania, on the day of Romanian presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, on May 4, 2025.Louisa Gouliamaki | Reuters”Trump Tower Bucharest will be developed in the heart of Romania’s capital, one of Europe’s most vibrant and dynamic emerging markets, bringing premium residences under the Trump brand to the…

This photo taken on July 12, 2025 shows the combination of the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies to China’s space station, and a Long March-7 carrier rocket being vertically transferred to the launch site in Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Wenchang, south China’s Hainan Province.The cargo spacecraft will be launched in the near future at an appropriate time, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).Currently, the facilities and equipment at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan are in good condition, and comprehensive functionality checks and joint tests are scheduled to proceed…

India has so far, refused to reconsider its decision to hold the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance but the fact is that it cannot completely stop the flow of rivers into Pakistan, given the current infrastructure that it has, according to a report on Al Jazeera channel website. But experts caution that even a small diversion or blockage could hurt Pakistan, if India were to manage to stop the flow of the Indus Basin rivers. They warn that any such move could set the stage for a full-fledged war between two countries. In April, India said it was walking…

The flags of the European Union fly in front of the European Parliament.Philipp von Ditfurth | dpa | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump said Saturday the U.S. will impose a 30% tariff on goods from the European Union and Mexico that will take effect on Aug. 1.Trump revealed the new rates in letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, which he posted on his social media site Truth Social.He said that if the EU or Mexico retaliates with higher tariffs, “then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will…

Listen to article LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has constituted an eight-member negotiation committee to address the issue of references filed against suspended Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members, Express News reported. The development follows an initial consultative meeting between Speaker Khan and 26 suspended MPAs of PTI over disqualification references filed against them. The committee includes chief whip Rana Arshad, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, Khawaja Salman Rafique, Samiullah Khan, and Ahmad Iqbal. Additional representation comes from allied parties with Ali Haider Gillani from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Chaudhry Shafay Hussain from the Pakistan Muslim League (Q),…

* China’s Xixia Imperial Tombs, first built nearly 1,000 years ago, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.* The site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions.* Xixia integrated Han Chinese traditions, Buddhist culture and distinct ethnic customs in its mausoleum system, exemplifying China’s pluralistic yet unified civilization.YINCHUAN, July 12 (Xinhua) — The Xixia Imperial Tombs, first built nearly 1,000 years ago, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List, highlighting their role in showcasing a multicultural civilization based on agro-pastoralism and trade in northwest China.The announcement was made on Friday during UNESCO’s…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), chaired by Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi, examined 24 complaints filed under Article 209 of the Constitution.19 complaints were dismissed unanimously, while five were deferred for future consideration. The council convened in Islamabad on Saturday to discuss several agenda items, including proposed administrative reforms and judicial complaints, according to an official release.  The council also approved the draft of the Supreme Judicial Council Secretariat Service Rules, 2025. However, further deliberation was recommended on proposed procedures for inquiries and amendments to the judicial Code of Conduct, which members said required legal and drafting review. Justice Syed…

LONDON: Jannik Sinner crushed Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday to set up the latest instalment of his gripping rivalry with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who earlier tamed Taylor Fritz to reach his third straight final at the All England Club. The showdown between the top two players in the world on Sunday will mark another chapter in a rivalry that has defined recent Grand Slam tournaments. Alcaraz and Sinner have now claimed the past six majors between them. World number one Sinner swept aside Djokovic in a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory on Centre Court to reach his…

Listen to article KARACHI/LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: As a persistent monsoon system continues to hover over Punjab and other parts of Pakistan, authorities on Friday issued a series of alerts warning of moderate to heavy rainfall, rising river flows and possible flash flooding in vulnerable regions. From urban centres like Lahore and Islamabad to flood-prone hill torrent zones in southern Punjab and Balochistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Punjab’s Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) urged residents to remain vigilant, prepare emergency kits and avoid low-lying and inundated routes. The alerts, effective until July 17, highlight the possible intensification of the monsoon due to…