Author: i2wtc

A dramatic spat between the US and Ukrainian leaders raises concerns about continued US aid for Ukraine’s war effort.Uncertain and wary, Ukrainians have voiced their concerns over the possibility of the United States withdrawing its support for the war-torn country following a dramatic shouting match at the Oval Office between the presidents of the US and Ukraine. A global audience watched in shock as a news conference on Friday between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump shattered already fragile US-Ukrainian relationships. The two leaders and US Vice President JD Vance clashed over differing visions on how to end the three-year-old conflict…

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. Brian Snyder | ReutersPresident Donald Trump found the tone and body language of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksyy objectionable during an Oval Office meeting that exploded into a loud argument on Friday, the White House told CNBC.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said there was not a specific thing that Zelenskyy said in the Oval Office to Trump or Vice President JD Vance that the president objected to, but the tone and manner in which he said it.Leavitt said Friday that…

Listen to article The Trump administration has approved a major arms sale to Israel worth nearly $3 billion, bypassing the usual Congressional review process. The US State Department notified Congress on Friday that it had authorised the sale of more than 35,500 MK 84 and BLU-117 bombs, as well as 4,000 Predator warheads, valued at $2.04 billion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the decision, citing an emergency national security situation that required immediate action. The justification allowed the sale to proceed without Congressional oversight. Deliveries for these munitions are scheduled to begin next year. In addition to the large bomb sale,…

South Africa beat England by seven wickets in Lahore to reach Champions Trophy semifinals while eliminating Afghanistan.Rassie van der Dussen scored 72 not out off 87 balls to lead South Africa into the semifinals of the Champions Trophy by beating bottom-of-the-table England by seven wickets. Van der Dussen’s half-century highlighted South Africa’s clinical performance on Saturday as it finished atop Group B ahead of Australia in second and Afghanistan, who are now eliminated, in third. The Proteas finished with 181-3 in 29.1 overs in reply to England’s hapless effort of 179 all out (38.2 overs). This was after England –…

South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj said on Saturday that the team was “motivated” as they secured a spot in the Champions Trophy semi-final after a comfortable seven-wicket win over England. They top Group B and join Australia, India and New Zealand, with the fixture line-up to be confirmed when the latter two meet in Dubai on Sunday. The match was the last in charge for England captain Jos Buttler, who is to step down from his role after the side lost all three pool fixtures in the tournament. England were already out of the tournament going into the game and, after…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has met the International Monetary Fund (IMF) condition of increasing the maturity profile of its debt through retiring the short-term borrowing and the government also hopes to strike a $1 billion foreign commercial loan deal in April. The development came hot on the heels of some improvement in debt indicators, including the expected slowdown in the pace of debt accumulation to single digits after a long time. The debt office, which now directly reports to the finance secretary, has taken certain initiatives to reduce interest rate and debt refinancing risks. Against the IMF’s condition of increasing the…

Demonstrations have gathered momentum in Serbia since 15 people were killed in a railway station accident in November.Thousands stood in silence for fifteen minutes in the southern city of Nis in Serbia to commemorate those killed in a railway station disaster in November, in a student-led protest that has grown into the biggest threat yet to the country’s president’s grip on power. Mass demonstrations have gathered momentum in the country since 15 people were killed when a roof collapsed at a newly renovated train station in Serbia’s second-biggest city of Novi Sad. On Saturday, hundreds of students marched, ran or rode…

President Donald Trump’s plan to pull federal funding from institutions that provide gender-affirming care for transgender youth will remain blocked on a long-term basis under a federal judge’s ruling in Seattle late Friday.U.S. District Court Judge Lauren King previously granted a two-week restraining order after the Democratic attorneys general of Washington, Oregon and Minnesota sued the Trump administration — Colorado has since joined the case.King’s temporary order expired Friday, and she held arguments that day before issuing a preliminary injunction blocking most of Trump’s plan pending a final decision on the merits of the case. She rejected a portion of…

Listen to article Maulana Rashid ul-Haq has been appointed as the new deputy head of Darul Uloom Haqqania, following the martyrdom of his brother, Maulana Hamid ul-Haq. The decision was made during a gathering held at Darul Uloom Haqqania in Akora Khattak, which included thousands of scholars, political figures, and members of the public who attended the funeral of Maulana Hameed ul-Haq, Ex press News reported. Maulana Rashid ul-Haq’s appointment was announced by Maulana Irfan ul-Haq Haqqani, who spoke on behalf of the Haqqania family and the scholars of Darul Uloom Haqqania. The decision was made by unanimous consensus, with the gathering…

Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van der Dussen scored half-centuries as South Africa eased to a comfortable seven-wicket win over ailing England in Karachi on Saturday to book a semi-final place at the Champions Trophy. South Africa bowled England out for 179 in 38.2 overs after the latter had chosen to bat, before reaching their target with a huge 125 balls to spare following a 127-run third-wicket stand between Klaasen (64) and Van der Dussen (72 not out). They top Group B and join Australia, India and New Zealand in the semi-finals, with the fixture line-up to be confirmed when the…