The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has dismissed recent reports that it has refused to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup, calling them “baseless.” Addressing the issue, PHF President Tariq Bugti stated there is no truth to the claims of Pakistan’s withdrawal from the tournament. He added that the federation has not been in communication with the Indian Hockey Federation, nor is it obligated to inform them of Pakistan’s internal decisions. Bugti clarified that the PHF remains in contact with the Asian Hockey Federation and that its participation in the Asia Cup is contingent upon governmental approval. Contradicting reports from Indian…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
As concerns grow over the effect of AI-generated search results on publishers’ revenue, Google has disputed claims that its AI features are responsible for a drop in website traffic. The tech giant maintains that despite a significant increase in AI usage and changes in user behavior, the overall click-through rates from its search engine have remained “relatively stable” over the past year. Google’s Vice President and Head of Search pushed back against numerous third-party studies and mounting criticism from media outlets that claim AI-powered search tools, including AI Overviews and conversational interfaces, are directing fewer users to external websites. Reid…
Freelance marketplace Upwork is making a significant push into the corporate staffing sector, announcing the acquisition of two firms to launch a new enterprise-focused division. This new entity will aim to provide solutions that go beyond traditional freelance talent. The company has acquired Bubty, a workforce management platform, and has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Ascen, a global compliance and employer of record (EOR) company. This move, revealed just before Upwork’s Q2 earnings call on August 6, reflects its strategy to address the rising needs of large organizations seeking more flexible and compliant staffing solutions. Upwork Moves Beyond…
Authorities have confirmed that an active shooter incident at the Fort Stewart U.S. Army base in Georgia has resulted in casualties, prompting a full lockdown of the installation. “The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and law enforcement is on the scene,” Fort Stewart stated in a Facebook post, adding that the event took place in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area and that casualties had been confirmed. No additional information was immediately released, including the number of casualties or the extent of their injuries. A spokesperson for the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office said the agency was providing…
President Donald Trump has stated there is a “very good prospect” of a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, following what he called “constructive” discussions between his envoy and the Kremlin. Donald Trump on Wednesday raised the possibility of a peace summit with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky after a high-level meeting in Moscow involving his representative, Steve Witkoff. The president, who had previously claimed he could end the conflict in a day, indicated that both parties had exchanged “constructive signals.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump mentioned that Russia had shown interest in further…
Gaza’s deteriorating healthcare infrastructure is now facing a severe blood deficit, as widespread malnutrition, a consequence of Israel’s ongoing blockade, prevents Palestinians from donating. With medical facilities under fire and aid restricted, officials are warning that the crisis is escalating uncontrollably. Hospitals throughout Gaza are raising alarms about a critical blood shortage as the humanitarian disaster deepens due to Israeli assaults and a hunger crisis. “We have witnessed people pleading to donate blood for their family members, only to be turned away,” said Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud from Gaza City. “They are too dehydrated and malnourished to give blood safely.”…
President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on semiconductor chips imported from countries that do not manufacture in the United States or have not committed to doing so, a move anticipated to intensify trade tensions and benefit U.S.-based production. In a push to accelerate domestic chip production, President Trump informed reporters on Wednesday that all semiconductor imports not associated with U.S. manufacturing will face a new 100% tariff. “The rule is straightforward,” Trump stated in the Oval Office. “If you don’t build in America or make a pledge to build here, your chips will be taxed—heavily.”…
A substantial earthquake struck off the eastern coastline of Taiwan on Thursday afternoon, causing structures to sway and sparking worry across several regions. The seismic event, which occurred at 3:45 pm local time, was widely felt, although there were no immediate reports of any destruction. Epicentre Located in the Pacific Ocean Near Yilan According to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration (CWA), the quake was measured at a magnitude of 6.2 and was situated 128.9 kilometres east-southeast of the Yilan County Hall, deep within the Pacific Ocean. Its depth was determined to be 88.1 kilometres, classifying it as a moderately deep geological…
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued its positive momentum on Thursday, closing at a new all-time high. This surge was fueled by strong investor confidence in improving economic conditions and positive corporate earnings. The benchmark KSE-100 Index settled at 145,647.13 points, marking a gain of 558.64 points, or 0.39%. During the day, the index reached an intraday high of 146,081.02 points. Ahfaz Mustafa, CEO of Ismail Iqbal Securities, noted that “continued optimism for improving macros and improving corporate results are driving sentiment.” Government Borrowing and Fixed Income Market In the fixed income market, the government raised Rs370 billion…
Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Jam Kamal Khan, informed the National Assembly on Thursday that Pakistan will not suffer a loss of $1 billion due to the United States’ imposition of a 19% tariff. In his response to the lower house of parliament, the minister stated that the US has actually reduced the tariff on Pakistani goods from 29% to 19%. Khan maintained that this reduction in tariff will boost the sale of Pakistani products in the US market and is likely to increase the country’s textile exports. This clarification comes as new higher tariff rates from US President Donald Trump, ranging…
