Author: i2wtc

CHENGDU: Pakistan’s top cueist, Muhammad Asif, began his World Games snooker challenge impressively, defeating China’s Liang Xiaolong 2-0 here at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China Tianfu Campus Gymnasium on Sunday. Asif, Pakistan’s most successful player with three IBSF titles and the nation’s sole representative at the multi-sport event, secured the Group ‘A’ victory convincingly. The 43-year-old Asif took the first frame against the home hope 79-50 and followed with a commanding 77-24 win in the second frame. “This win means a lot to me,” Asif said after the match. “I’m happy with my performance and hope to keep…

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the landmark peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, hailing the development as a historic turning point for the South Caucasus and a gateway to regional prosperity. The prime minister received a telephone call from President Aliyev in which the two leaders discussed the peace accord, bilateral relations, and regional connectivity prospects, his office said in an official handout. During the “warm and cordial” conversation, Shehbaz lauded Aliyev’s “visionary role” in ending the decades-long conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, describing it as “a mutually beneficial end to one of the…

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to safeguarding the rights, welfare and equal inclusion of minority communities in all spheres of national life. On the occasion of National Minorities Day, observed annually on August 11, both leaders paid tribute to the contributions of minorities in nation-building, stressing the principles of interfaith harmony, equality and mutual respect as envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari renewed the national resolve “to work for the empowerment and advancement of minority communities” and pledged to continue efforts to…

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan acknowledged a dilemma over the fifth bowler and said they would take a late decision on their team combination for Tuesday’s series decider following their defeat in the second one-day international on Sunday. Pakistan, who won the opening ODI by five wickets, posted a competitive 171-7 in 37 overs in a rain-truncated match but West Indies prevailed by five wickets to draw level in the three-match series. Pakistan’s part-time duo of Saim Ayub and Salman Agha conceded a combined 66 runs in seven wicketless overs as West Indies cruised home. “You could say our fifth bowler…

Listen to article QUETTA: A blast on a railway track in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Sunday derailed six bogies of the Jaffar Express, though no loss of life was reported, officials said. The explosion occurred near Spezant in Dasht Tehsil, targeting the passenger train and damaging its locomotive along with several coaches, officials confirmed. According to the Levies authorities, an explosive device planted on the track detonated as the train passed, forcing the engine and five bogies off the rails. The sudden jolt brought the Jaffar Express to an abrupt halt. Rescue teams and railway staff quickly arrived at the scene to…

Listen to article ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir praised US President Donald Trump on Sunday for his efforts to stop “many wars”, including brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May. The army chief, who is on an official visit to the United States, held high-level engagements with senior American political and military leadership as well as the Pakistani diaspora, according to a statement issued here by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Speaking to the Pakistani Americans, the army chief said that Pakistan achieved notable successes on the diplomatic front, while praising President Trump’s leadership…

KARACHI: Civil society activists, religious leaders, and community representatives staged a Minority Rights March in Karachi on Sunday to mark National Minorities Day, calling for constitutional reforms, legal safeguards, and equal rights for all citizens. The rally, which started from the YMCA Ground and culminated outside the Sindh Assembly building, was joined by members of the Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities, transgender persons, women’s groups, professionals, and rights activists. It was led by Pastor Ghazala Shafiq, Najma Maheshwari, Ram Singh, Bhevish Kumar, Janet Kumar, Lovek Victor, and Bindiya Rana. A decorated truck displaying the marchers’ demands accompanied the procession. Speakers…

KARACHI: Civil society activists, religious leaders, and community representatives staged a Minority Rights March in Karachi on Sunday to mark National Minorities Day, calling for constitutional reforms, legal safeguards, and equal rights for all citizens. The rally, which started from the YMCA Ground and culminated outside the Sindh Assembly building, was joined by members of the Christian, Hindu, and Sikh communities, transgender persons, women’s groups, professionals, and rights activists. It was led by Pastor Ghazala Shafiq, Najma Maheshwari, Ram Singh, Bhevish Kumar, Janet Kumar, Lovek Victor, and Bindiya Rana. A decorated truck displaying the marchers’ demands accompanied the procession. Speakers…

Listen to article President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, expressing deep appreciation for Pakistan’s steadfast support on the Karabakh issue, Radio Pakistan reported. The prime minister extended warm felicitations to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on their country’s historic peace agreement with Armenia. He commended Aliyev’s visionary leadership in resolving the three-decade-old conflict, calling it a pivotal step toward regional prosperity. Emphasising Pakistan’s duty to assist its Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, the premier said: “It is heartening that under President Aliyev’s bold leadership and statesmanship, peace has finally been established. Pakistan stands firmly…

Masayoshi Son, chairman and chief executive officer of SoftBank Group Corp., speaks at the SoftBank World event in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.Kiyoshi Ota | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesMasayoshi Son is making his biggest bet yet: that his brainchild SoftBank will be the center of a revolution driven by artificial intelligence.Son says artificial superintelligence (ASI) — AI that is 10,000 times smarter than humans — will be here in 10 years. It’s a bold call — but perhaps not surprising. He’s made a career out of big plays; notably, one was a $20 million investment into Chinese e-commerce…