Author: i2wtc

Field of wheat in central Kansas is nearly ready for harvest.Ricardo Reitmeyer | Getty ImagesBangladesh signed a deal on Sunday to import 700,000 metric tons of wheat annually from the United States over the next five years, in a move aimed at securing tariff relief from the Trump administration amid growing trade tensions, officials said.The agreement — formalized through a memorandum of understanding inked in Dhaka between the Ministry of Food and trade group U.S. Wheat Associates — comes at a critical moment, with Washington set to impose a 35% tariff on Bangladeshi exports from August 1.Officials in Dhaka hope…

Children from the Little Choir of Antoniano and the Hydrangea Children’s Choir perform together in Bologna, Italy, July 18, 2025. The Antoniano Institute in Bologna hosted a special joint performance on Friday, featuring children from the Little Choir of Antoniano from Italy and the Hydrangea Children’s Choir from China. The performance was a highlight of the Antoniano Summer Camp 2025, a ten-day cultural and musical exchange co-organized by the two choirs. Guided by Antoniano’s teachers, 22 children from China and their Italian peers connected through rehearsals, music games and hands-on activities. (Xinhua/Li Jing)ROME, July 19 (Xinhua) — At the Antoniano…

Listen to article LAHORE: Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan apparently put the matter of PTI disqualifications to rest on Saturday by ruling the disqualification applications against 26 suspended lawmakers as non-maintainable, but by passing the buck to the judiciary and election tribunal. The sword of litigation still dangles over the suspended lawmakers, with the speaker making it clear that while his doors were not closed, the petitioners must first knock on the right ones, by securing a declaration from a court of competent jurisdiction before revisiting his office. In a move seen as a political de-escalation, the speaker has dismissed…

In a clip that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) put out following Pakistan’s 3-0 sweep over Bangladesh last month, Mohammad Haris beamed as his captain Salman Ali Agha quipped that “it was probably the first time he had used his brain.” The comment was ironic because Haris is known by the moniker ‘Mr Google’ among his teammates, because of his cricketing intelligence. Such PR content is primarily used to display camaraderie among the players and to provide fans with wholesome moments to cherish. At times, it also provides a peek into the dressing room. Haris, that night, had become the…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD/LAHORE/KARACHI: A nationwide traders’ strike led to widespread partial and complete market closures across Pakistan on Saturday, with Islamabad remaining unaffected as businesses continued to operate in the federal capital, Express News reported. The strike, called in protest against expanded powers granted to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), divided traders into opposing camps. Major business centres in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Quetta, Peshawar, and several smaller cities observed shutdowns. In Karachi, markets such as Jodia Bazar, the electronics and mobile markets, the fruit and vegetable wholesale markets, and other business hubs remained closed. The All Pakistan Restaurants Association and…

A cricket match between Indian and Pakistani veteran players — part of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) — was called off after Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, refused to play against Pakistan, citing recent “geopolitical tensions” between the two nations, according to a statement issued by WCL on Sunday. The WCL is an international cricket league where retired, non-contracted international players return to competitive T20 cricket, according to the league’s website. The tournament commenced on July 18 and is being held in Birmingham, England. In a statement posted on X, WCL organisers announced that, “We have decided to call…

* Against the backdrop of mounting trade protectionism and rising global fragmentation, the event showcases China’s bid to champion openness, innovation and international cooperation in the face of growing headwinds.* China has consistently championed open, cooperative international trade as an anchor of stability, especially during times of worldwide economic volatility and geopolitical turbulence.* China’s economy beat expectations with robust 5.3 percent GDP growth in the first half of 2025 and is actively taking steps to maintain stability and sustain growth momentum in the months ahead.BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) — As tariff tensions and geopolitical uncertainties continue to rattle the global…

Listen to article WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday up to five jets were shot down during recent India-Pakistan hostilities that began after an April attack in India Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with the situation calming after a ceasefire in May. Trump, who made his remarks at a dinner with some Republican US lawmakers at the White House, did not specify which side’s jets he was referring to. “In fact, planes were being shot out of the air. Five, five, four or five, but I think five jets were shot down actually,” Trump said while talking about the India-Pakistan…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Salvation Movement, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, has paid glowing tribute to the historic legacy of Accession to Pakistan Day, calling it a reflection of the Kashmiri people’s enduring aspirations, identity, and deep-rooted ties with Pakistan. In a statement issued on Friday, Altaf Ahmed Bhat said, “The resolution passed on 19 July 1947 by the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference wasn’t just a political statement – it was the heartbeat of a nation choosing its natural destiny with Pakistan. That heartbeat still echoes in every Kashmiri…

DHAKA: Pakistan captain Salman Agha is confident his new-look side is shaping up well towards next year’s World Cup as they take on Bangladesh in a Twenty20 series starting in Dhaka from Sunday. Salman has been leading the short format side with star batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan out since last year. Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has been rested for the three-match series and seam bowlers Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim are also missing because of injuries. He said the missing players could still be considered for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka…