Author: i2wtc

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Wednesday passed the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2024, granting military and civil armed forces the authority to place individuals facing terrorism charges under preventive detention for up to three months. The bill was moved by Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry and sailed through clause-by-clause reading with a majority vote, rejecting amendments proposed by JUI-F’s Aliya Kamran while incorporating an amendment suggested by PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar. Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which allows preventive detention for questioning, was first inserted in 2014 after the Army Public School attack in…

A robot band performs at a themed restaurant in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)BEIJING, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) — As the doors swing open at Beijing’s new robot-themed restaurant, diners are greeted by humanoid waiters who nod and speak in lifelike gestures, while robotic servers glide between tables delivering dishes and a robot band plays drums and guitars, turning a meal into a futuristic spectacle.”The restaurant gives me a fresh sense of technology. It’s quite an amazing attempt,” said Ding Wenjun, a tourist from east China’s Jiangxi Province.”It is not only an immersive dining place integrating cuisine,…

ISLAMABAD: Moody’s on Wednesday upgraded Pakistan’s credit rating to the speculative grade of Caa1, lifting it from the brink of default, and noted that while debt affordability has improved, it remains the weakest among peers. The rating agency — one of the world’s top three — raised Pakistan’s standing for the first time in a year and assigned a “stable” outlook, citing overall improvements in the country’s external and fiscal positions. Pakistan had been at serious risk of default less than two years ago. The global credit rating agency has acknowledged the efforts that the government put in the past…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday renewed his call for national unity and invited all political parties, stakeholders and civil society to join Misaq-i-Istehkam-i-Pakistan, as the nation marked its 78th Independence Day alongside celebrations for the Marka-e-Haq victory. Addressing a grand ceremony in the federal capital, the prime minister announced the creation of the Army Rocket Force to strengthen the country’s combat capabilities. He also inaugurated the symbolic Bunyanum Marsous memorial. The special event, held at Islamabad’s Jinnah Sports Stadium, brought together the country’s top civil and military leadership, foreign dignitaries, and thousands of citizens. The high-profile gathering was…

Colonel General Karim Valiyev, First Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday. During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest, with a particular emphasis on the evolving global and regional security environment. The two leaders expressed a shared commitment to bolstering defence cooperation and fostering joint efforts aimed at promoting regional peace and stability. Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and reiterated the resolve…

A banner depicting the Washington, D.C., flag with a text reading “Free DC” hangs from an overpass with a view of the U.S. Capitol after U.S. President Donald Trump announced federal take over of the Metropolitan Police Department under the Home Rule Act to assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 12, 2025. Jonathan Ernst | ReutersPresident Donald Trump called Washington, D.C., a city overrun by “violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals” as he moved to federalize the city’s police force and deploy hundreds of National Guard members.His dire depiction of the nation’s capital is at…

An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2025 shows a view of a lotus pond scenic area in Xinghua City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. People enjoy their summer time by travelling around the country. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 12, 2025 shows a night market in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province. People enjoy their summer time by travelling around the country. (Photo by Zhang Ying/Xinhua)An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2025 shows a view of a lotus pond scenic area in Xinghua City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. People enjoy their summer time…

KARACHI: The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), after kicking off the new trading session on an upbeat note on Wednesday, gave up early optimism over profit-booking pressure. By the close of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a loss of 476 points, or 0.32%, at 146,529. In the morning, stocks showed impressive movement, which took the index to intra-day high of 147,892. However, at midday the market began to lose steam as traders grew increasingly risk averse. It resulted in a steady pullback, pushing the index to the day’s low at 146,418. The downturn was largely attributed to profit-booking. Arif Habib…

Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc., during a visit to the Google for Startups campus in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025. The EU has established a reputation globally for its aggressive regulation of major technology companies, including the likes of Apple and Google over antitrust concerns. Photographer: Damian Lemanski/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesDamian Lemanski | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesPerplexity AI’s bid on Tuesday to buy Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion represents a dramatic moment for the internet search giant, a week before it celebrates the 20th anniversary of its IPO.Even if analysts aren’t taking the offer…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all political parties, stakeholders, and civil society members to unite under a new national charter, Misaq-e-Istehkam-e-Pakistan (Charter for Stability of Pakistan), as the nation celebrates 78th Independence Day and military success against India in Marka-e-Haq. Addressing a ceremony in the federal capital on Wednesday, attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir as guests of honour, he said that the time had come to rise above political divisions, personal interests, and hollow slogans in pursuit of national unity. “On this historic day, I once again invite all political…