Author: i2wtc

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to finance a joint initiative with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for paid maternity leave of “up to 12 months” for players on the women’s tennis circuit, it was announced on Thursday. The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program “will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players”, the association said in a statement. “WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits,” it read. Players will have to compete “in…

Ukrainian officials say Russian attacks hit the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, damaging buildings and vehicles.At least 14 people have been killed in overnight attacks on Ukraine’s eastern region. Ukraine’s emergency service said on Saturday that Russian forces hit the town of Dobropillia in the eastern Donetsk region on Friday night, killing 11 people and wounding 30. Emergency services added that eight five-storey apartment buildings, an administrative building, and 30 cars were damaged. At least three people were killed and seven injured after a Russian drone attack on a civilian building in Bogodukhiv, Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, the governor of Kharkiv,…

Sunil Chhetri returns to football at 40 – a year after retiring – to boost India’s Asia Cup qualification hopes.Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri will return to the national team aged 40 in an unexpected reversal of his decision to hang up his boots last year. The former captain, the fourth-highest men’s international goalscorer of all time, played his last match for India in June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier. Chhetri said last year that “instinct” told him the match against Kuwait should be his last and he bowed out in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata. But…

Listen to article The federal government has presented a proposal to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise electricity tariffs for solar panel owners using net metering. The plan includes purchasing surplus electricity generated by solar users at a significantly lower rate, reducing it from the current Rs27 per unit to approximately Rs10 per unit, Express News reported on Friday. The IMF has expressed concerns regarding the government’s approach to handling solar panel owners who remain off-grid. While no official commitment has been made, the global lender has warned that the increasing adoption of solar energy could impact the efficiency of the…

More than 250 people reportedly killed in Syria’s west as Alawite loyalists clash with security forces.Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has urged the Alawite minority to surrender after intense fighting with the Syrian security forces. Hasan Abdel-Ghani, spokesperson for the Syrian Defence Ministry, told Al Jazeera on Friday that fighters loyal to former President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday attacked security forces in several places in Latakia and Tartous governorates, home to the Alawite minority sect to which the al-Assad family belongs, killing “a number of security forces” in well-planned operations. On Friday night, al-Sharaa said in a speech broadcast on…

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Television (PTV) captain Amad Butt led his team to a thrilling three-wicket victory over State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I final here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. This triumph marked Amad’s second major title in recent months, having previously led Sialkot to Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 glory. PTV’s Muhammad Shahzad was named player-of-the-match for his outstanding performance, which included a first-innings haul of 5-29, featuring a hat-trick, and an unbeaten 125. Resuming their second innings at 69-1, requiring 84 runs to win, PTV lost six wickets but ultimately achieved the target in the…

Listen to article The portfolios of the newly inducted cabinet were announced on Friday with Hanif Abbasi appointed as the Federal Minister for Railways while Mustafa Kamal will head the health ministry. According to the the Cabinet Division notification, Khawaja Asif will continue to serve as the Defence Minister, while Azam Nazir Tarar has been assigned the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Human Rights. Abdul Aleem Khan will oversee the Ministry of Communications and Musadik Malik has been appointed as the Minister of Climate Change. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will oversee the Ministry of Education, while Chaudhry Salik has been given the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis. Rana…

ISLAMABAD: A 25-member Pakistan contingent on Friday reached Italian city of Turin to participate in the 16th World Winter Special Games commencing there on Saturday. Delegations from various countries, including Pakistan, have arrived in Turin to participate in the grand opening ceremony of the Games, said a press release. Earlier, the Special Olympics Italy officials welcomed the Pakistani contingent upon their arrival at Milan Airport. The World Games will take place from March 8 to 15 in Turin featuring over 1,500 athletes from more than 93 countries, along with 2,000 volunteers. Pakistan’s delegation includes 10 athletes (five male and as…

Listen to article The Punjab Interior Department has issued a list of banned organizations, urging citizens not to donate to these unregistered and prohibited charity groups. The move comes as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to curb terrorism financing and ensure that charitable donations do not support illegal activities. According to a statement released by the Punjab government, providing any form of support to these proscribed organizations is a violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 and punishable under the law. The statement also highlighted that individuals found aiding banned groups involved in terrorism and anti-state activities will face legal consequences.…

Officials warn residents to stay vigilant as ex-cyclone Alfred leaves more than 330,000 homes and businesses without power.Tropical Cyclone Alfred has weakened into a tropical low weather system but officials warned that the storm can still bring severe winds and flooding to the eastern coast of Australia. The cyclone, which weakened early on Saturday, crossed the islands off the coast of Queensland state overnight and is now heading towards the mainland, the Bureau of Meteorology said. “Heavy-to-locally intense rainfall leading to flash and riverine flooding now becomes the major concern as the ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves inland,” Bureau of Meteorology…