Author: i2wtc
Landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan coincides with US astronaut Donald Pettit’s 70th birthday.Russian astronauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Wagner have returned to Earth along with American Donald Pettit after a seven-month science mission on board the International Space Station (ISS). The Russian Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft carrying the trio touched down southeast of the town of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at 6:20am (01:20 GMT) on Sunday, the landing confirmed by the United States’s NASA and Russia’s Roscosmos space agency. The timing of their parachute-assisted return to Earth coincided with the US astronaut’s 70th birthday, NASA said on the social media platform X.…
Thousands of Christians gathered in the cavernous Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a centuries-old Holy Fire ceremony. Holding unlit candles, they packed into the sprawling 12th-century basilica built on the site where, according to tradition, Jesus was crucified and buried. In near-total darkness, the Greek patriarch entered the Holy Edicule and emerged with two lit candles. The flame was passed from one candle to the next, the light overcoming the darkness in the rotunda. The flame was later transferred to Orthodox communities in other countries on special flights. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe the light miraculously appears inside the Holy…
BARCELONA: La Liga leaders Barcelona fought back from two goals down to beat Celta Vigo 4-3 in a rollercoaster encounter on Saturday, with a stoppage-time penalty by Raphinha extending their lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table to seven points. The Catalans trailed 3-1 inside the final half-hour after a Borja Iglesias hat-trick for the visitors but Dani Olmo scored and then Raphinha struck to tie the score at 3-3. The game seemed to be heading for a draw when Dani Olmo won a penalty deep into added time and Raphinha stepped up to score and seal…
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: The Privatisation Commission (PC) board on Friday cancel the bidding process for the appointment of the financial adviser for the privatisation of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) because of a high number of bidders. The board, however, approved the establishment of a transaction committee for the ongoing process of private sector’s participation in three DISCOs – Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco); Gujranwala Electric Power Company Limited (Gepco) and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). The 233rd meeting of the PC board met here with its chairman and Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali in the chair. The board…
RAWALPINDI: Peshawar Zalmi rediscovered their mojo, despite skipper Babar Azam’s struggle for form in this HBL Pakistan Super League season, while it went from bad to worse for the Multan Sultans. Riding on hard-hitting batting from the top- and middle-order batters, Zalmi kick-started their campaign with a thumping 120–run victory over the Sultans here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. From 5-2 at the start of their innings, Zalmi showed incredible powers of recovery to post an imposing 227-7 after electing to bat thanks to superb knocks from Mohammad Haris (45), Tom Kohhler-Cadmore (52) and Hussain Talat (37) midway through their…
Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Saturday said around 160 people have been arrested after mobs carried out 20 separate attacks on an international fast-food chain, with one employee shot dead, which is both regrettable and unacceptable. The American-founded fast food chain has become a target of protest and boycott calls by religiopolitical parties since the start of the war in Gaza, linking the brand to US support for Israel. “A total of 20 incidents occurred across Pakistan with one fatality reported. The man was a staff member at the fast-food chain,” the state minister told…
On the morning of September 17, 1859, a “well-dressed and serious-looking man” walked into the offices of The San Francisco Evening Bulletin and – without explanation – handed over a document that he wished to see published. Intrigued, the paper’s editors carried a proclamation in that evening’s edition on page 3: “At the peremptory request and desire of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I, Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last 9 years and 10 months past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself Emperor of these…
EXPLAINEREveryone in world cricket is talking about Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the Indian player who made a dazzling IPL debut at just 14.Shy schoolboy Vaibhav Suryavanshi is in dreamland at just 14, becoming the youngest player in Indian Premier League history and marking the occasion with an audacious first-ball six. The fearless young left-hander is being touted as a superstar in the making after his instant impact opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, when he scored 34 off 20 balls in Jaipur with three sixes and two fours. He finished on the losing side but stole the limelight as, at…
LAHORE: It was so close yet so far for the battling West Indies women who missed the ICC World Cup qualification despite cruising to a six-wicket victory over Thailand under lights here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. Though the Hayley Matthews-inspired team in a blitz chased a modest 167 off just 10.5 overs — at a jaw-dropping run-rate of 15.50 — the effort fell short by a whisker. The Caribbean side required to reach the target off 10.1 overs in order to earn a better net run-rate than what the Bangladesh women achieved. Both West Indies and Bangladesh ended…
At 14 years and 23 days, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made an immediate impact for Rajasthan by scoring 34 runs, including three sixes, against Lucknow.Vaibhav Suryavanshi was thrust into the Indian Premier League (IPL) spotlight as its youngest debutant, and the 14-year-old announced himself in spectacular style with a massive six off the first ball he faced. The Rajasthan Royals left-hander came into the squad for the clash with the Lucknow Super Giants in place of captain Sanju Samson on Saturday and was an impact substitute during their chase of 181, where he started by smashing Shardul Thakur over extra cover. “My…