Author: i2wtc

PUBLISHED November 16, 2025 In 2012, Sanya* joined an institute to learn MS Office. When the teacher was delivering a lecture, she noticed the girl sitting next to her was writing furiously. Her pen danced across the page like an Olympic sprinter on the track. “Wow, such fast English shorthand!” she thought. Later, curious to catch up on her missing notes, she borrowed her notepad. What she saw scrawled on it shocked Sanya quite a bit. The pages were filled with what looked like English words, but none of them made English structural sense. Confused, she asked her classmate: “What…

PUBLISHED November 16, 2025 US President Donald Trump’s decision to restart US nuclear weapons testing, after a three-decade hiatus, has left allies anxious, adversaries alert and arms-control experts warning that even a hint of renewed testing could unravel a decades-old global taboo. Announced via a Truth Social post, Trump claimed he had instructed the rechristened Department of War to begin testing “on an equal basis” with Russia and China. While it remains unclear what exactly the infamously ambiguous Republican leader meant by “nuclear testing”, analysts sensed he appeared to conflate missile tests — which the US already conducts without live…

PUBLISHED November 16, 2025 I never had a chance to meet Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra in person, yet I have always felt a deep and personal connection with her. It was in the early 1980s, during my years at the Oriental College, Punjab University—where I was pursuing my master’s in Urdu Literature—that I first heard her name from my revered teacher and literary guide, Dr Sajjad Baqar Rizvi. At that time, as I recall, Dr Zehra was in the United States. Baqar Sahib had taught thousands of students over the decades, yet there were only a handful whom he remembered…

PUBLISHED November 16, 2025 In the sweltering aftermath of Pakistan’s most devastating monsoon season in recent memory, the waters have receded, but the scars remain etched deep into the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable. The 2025 crisis unfolded with ferocious intensity. Torrential rains, swollen by climate change-fuelled anomalies, unleashed flash floods and accelerated glacial outbursts across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Punjab, and Sindh provinces. By mid-October, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) reported over 1,037 deaths and 6.9 million affected nationwide, with 3 million forced from their homes. The flood also caused extensive damage to infrastructure, with over 229,700 houses,…

This photo taken on Nov. 15, 2025 shows the awarding ceremony of the 38th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province. The 2025 China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival concluded Saturday evening in Xiamen. The best feature film award went to “Her Story,” and Song Jia won the best actress award for her performance in the film. Jackson Yee won the best actor award for his performance in the “Big World.” (Xinhua/Zhou Yi) This photo taken on Nov. 15, 2025 shows the awarding ceremony of the 38th Golden Rooster Awards in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province. The 2025 China…

Islamabad, Amman reject Palestinian displacement; PM, Jordan’s king vow to enhance relationsPresident Asif Ali Zardari and PM Shehbaz Sharif welcome Jordan’s King Abdullah II upon his arrival in Islamabad. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and First Lady Aseefa Bhutto also seen in the picture. Photo: Online ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Jordan on Saturday discussed further deepening bilateral relations as well as exploring avenues for enhanced cooperation in the economic, trade, investment, health, science and technology, education, as well as defence sectors. The issues were discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the visiting dignitary King Abdullah II at…

Eight people including children sustained injuries when quadcopter fired shells on a wedding party in Khyber DistrictKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi made a controversial statement during a media talk outside Adiala Jail. SCREENGRAB PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has announced financial assistance of Rs2.5 million for each person injured in the recent drone attack at a wedding party in Tirah, District Khyber. The announcement was made during the chief minister’s visit to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, where he reviewed the medical facilities and the quality of care being provided to the drone attack victims. CM Afridi instructed…

Defence czar says many judges step down to secure pensions, benefits after completing their service terms Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that cross-border attacks originating from Afghanistan continue to undermine Pakistan’s security, suggesting that a written pledge from the Afghan Taliban regime — backed by guarantees from friendly countries — could help establish a path toward stability. Speaking on the Express News programme Center Stage on Saturday, he highlighted contradictions in the Taliban regime’s statements, noting that while they claim Afghan territory has never been used against Pakistan, “evidence suggests otherwise.” Asif said Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed a clear position…

Federal officials confirmed Saturday that a surge of immigration enforcement in North Carolina’s largest city has begun, as agents were seen making arrests in multiple locations.”Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens hurting them, their families, or their neighbors,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “We are surging DHS law enforcement to Charlotte to ensure Americans are safe and public safety threats are removed.”Local officials including Mayor Vi Lyles criticized such actions, saying in a statement that they “are causing unnecessary fear and uncertainty.””We want people in Charlotte and Mecklenburg…

Children introduce their environmental protection-themed works during an event of the World Children’s Day in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 15, 2025. The World Children’s Day will fall on Nov. 20 this year. Various activities were held across the country to hail the arrival of the day. (Xinhua)Children try water quality testing during an event of the World Children’s Day in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Nov. 15, 2025. The World Children’s Day will fall on Nov. 20 this year. Various activities were held across the country to hail the arrival of the day. (Xinhua)Children and their…