Author: i2wtc

LAHORE: Punjab’s healthcare system has allegedly swung from universal coverage to widespread collapse within just seven years, according to a new white paper contrasting the reform-heavy tenure of the PTI with what it calls the regressive policies of the PML-N. Titled Healing Punjab: Healthcare Reforms, Reversals, and the Road to Recovery (2018-2025), the report — co-authored by former health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and researcher Shayan Bashir — is set to be unveiled on Monday. It argues that PTI’s 2018-22 reforms delivered Punjab’s strongest-ever public health system, while subsequent reversals since 2023 have left millions vulnerable, a collapse laid bare…

A humanoid robot plays the drum at the Internet Yuelu Summit 2025 in Xiangjiang New Area of Changsha, central China’s Hunan Province, Sept. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan)BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) — China’s top 500 enterprises posted steady increases in spending on research and development (R&D) last year, with average R&D intensity rising for an eighth consecutive year, according to a 2025 enterprise-ranking report published by the China Enterprise Confederation and the China Enterprise Directors Association on Monday.According to the annual list of the top 500 Chinese enterprises, the average R&D intensity of ranked companies hit a record high of 1.95…

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a high alert following the Meteorological Department’s forecast of intermittent rain, thunderstorms, and windstorms across the province from September 15 to 19, with heavy downpours expected in some areas. According to the PDMA advisory, from September 16 to 19, upper districts including Upper and Lower Dir, Upper and Lower Chitral, Swat, Upper and Lower Kohistan, Kolai-Palas, Shangla, Battagram, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Buner, Malakand, Bajaur, Mohmand, Kohat, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, Mardan, Swabi, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram, Hangu, Karak, and North and South Waziristan may experience heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and…

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against the match referee for yesterday’s Asia Cup game between Pakistan and India over his alleged violations of rules pertaining to the “Spirit of Cricket”, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said. “The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket,” Naqvi posted on X, referring to referee Andy Pycroft. “The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the match referee…

RAWALPINDI: With divorce rates climbing in Rawalpindi, the number of estranged children meeting their separated parents and relatives has risen sharply, creating pressure on the child meeting facility at the Judicial Complex. Where once such meetings occurred two to three times a week, they are now held daily. Each family judge sets aside specific “meeting days” for parents engaged in divorce proceedings. The Family Meeting Centre in charge said that between 38 and 70 families now use the facility every day. Some meet once a month, others twice, with sessions lasting 40 minutes to an hour. Up to 10 families…

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, testify during the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing titled “Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,” in Hart building on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty ImagesIn a sweeping interview last week, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed a plethora of moral and ethical questions regarding his company and the popular ChatGPT AI model.  “Look, I don’t sleep that well at night. There’s a lot of stuff that I feel a lot of weight on, but probably…

PESHAWAR: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has issued a condemnation of the decision of a Swabi jirga to expel all transgender persons from the district. It has noted such unconstitutional actions amount to incitement to violence against a marginalized community. The HRCP issued the statement on Sunday after reports emerged in the media that an 11-member committee of elders had declared that all transgender persons would be expelled from Swabi. In a statement issued on X, the HRCP said no citizen can be deprived of the right to reside, work or earn a livelihood anywhere in Pakistan on…

LAS VEGAS: Terence Crawford stunned Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to claim the undisputed super middleweight world boxing crown on Saturday, becoming the first man to win undisputed titles in three weight divisions. In a fight of razor-thin margins, Crawford poured it on in the closing rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory, improving his unblemished record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts. Crawford, 37, had jumped up two weight categories to vie for history, having already counted undisputed titles at super lightweight and welterweight among his titles in four — now five — weight classes. He silenced critics who claimed…

PESHAWAR: JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has claimed that efforts are underway to stop the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project — to serve foreign interests. He has warned that undermining CPEC will mean closing all economic avenues for Pakistan. “International powers are interfering in Pakistan’s politics and CPEC’s route is being obstructed to serve foreign interests,” the JUI-F chief said on Sunday while addressing his party’s provincial council in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) provincial capital. CPEC — comprising a network of road and rail links — is a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure development strategy adopted by…

China is one of Nvidia’s largest markets, particularly for data centers, gaming and artificial intelligence applications.Avishek Das | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesChina’s market regulator on Monday said that Nvidia violated the country’s anti-monopoly law, according to a preliminary probe, adding that Beijing would continue its investigation into the U.S. chip giant.Shares of Nvidia were down around 2% in premarket trading.Late last year, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) opened an investigation into Nvidia in relation to the acquisition of Mellanox and some agreements made during the acquisition. Nvidia acquired the Israeli technology company that creates network solutions for data…