REDMOND: Microsoft has announced plans to eliminate around 4,800 jobs worldwide, representing about 2.1% of its global workforce, as the technology giant restructures parts of its business, including its Xbox gaming division. The company confirmed the cuts on July 6, 2026. Microsoft said the changes would mainly affect its Commercial and Xbox organizations as it adjusts resources, roles and operations in response to a rapidly changing technology industry. Reuters reported that Microsoft’s gaming restructuring will involve around 3,200 Xbox job reductions, including approximately 1,600 roles eliminated immediately. Further reductions are expected during the current fiscal year. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma,…
Author: Web Desk2
KABUL: Former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran has died at the age of 38 after a prolonged illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. He died just one day before his 39th birthday. Zadran had been receiving treatment at a hospital in New Delhi, India, after suffering from a rare and severe immune system disorder. Reports identified the illness as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH. The Afghanistan Cricket Board expressed deep sorrow over his death and described him as one of the foundation-laying figures in the development of Afghan cricket. Zadran had been seriously ill for several…
ARLINGTON, Texas: Cristiano Ronaldo’s hopes of finally winning the FIFA World Cup ended in heartbreak after Portugal suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the last 16 of the 2026 tournament. Spain substitute Mikel Merino scored the decisive goal in the 91st minute at Dallas Stadium. His late strike sent Spain into the quarter-finals and ended Portugal’s campaign before the match could reach extra time. The result also brought an emotional end to Ronaldo’s World Cup journey. The 41-year-old captain left the tournament after confirming that he would not return for a seventh World Cup. Portugal and Spain remained level…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is playing a mediation role between Libya’s rival eastern and western factions in an effort to support a political settlement and reunification plan, according to a report by a British news agency citing two Pakistani sources. The report said that, if successful, the diplomatic initiative could further strengthen Pakistan’s international role. The mediation effort comes as the United States has also been seeking a diplomatic solution to Libya’s prolonged political crisis. Libya has remained divided between rival eastern and western administrations since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s government in 2011. According to the Pakistani sources cited in the…
ZIARAT: At least nine police officers were killed after terrorists attacked a police post in Ziarat district, Balochistan, while security forces later killed 15 terrorists during a clearance operation, according to local officials. The attack took place in the Kuch Mangi Phase Three area, where armed terrorists targeted a police post. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Ziarat, nine police personnel lost their lives in the assault. The bodies of the slain officers were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Ziarat. SP Ziarat Abdul Qudoos said that two Station House Officers were among the nine police personnel killed in…
GILGIT: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan will not compromise on the Indus River, accusing India of attempting to use the Indus Waters Treaty as a political and strategic weapon. Addressing the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Advocate, Bilawal said Pakistan was not prepared to make any deal over the Indus River. “We are not ready to bargain over the Indus. If we have to fight for it, we will fight,” he said, adding that there would be no compromise on the Indus Waters Treaty. Bilawal Bhutto said India was…
New Delhi: Questions have emerged over some foreign awards received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a report attributed to British newspaper The Guardian raised concerns about their origin, presentation and credibility. According to the report, an award presented to Modi in Seychelles was allegedly created only three days before the Indian prime minister’s arrival. The report also claimed that the certificate contained errors in the wording of “Republic of Seychelles,” prompting further questions about how the document was prepared. The report suggested that artificial intelligence, or AI, may have been used in preparing the certificate. However, this claim…
Afghan envoy Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb says tensions between Kabul and Islamabad are harmful for both sides and should be resolved through dialogue. ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, has said that the Afghan government wants to resolve all issues with Pakistan through talks. According to Afghan media, Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb said the current Afghan government’s policy is to settle all matters with Pakistan through dialogue. He said the issues between Kabul and Islamabad have affected both countries. He added that continued tension has had the greatest impact on people on both sides of the border. The Afghan envoy…
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with the Afghan Taliban authorities over the terrorist attack on a Pakistan Rangers facility in Karachi. According to the Foreign Office, the Afghan acting ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and issued a strong demarche over the attack. A similar protest was also conveyed by Pakistan’s Ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani to Afghan Foreign Ministry officials in Kabul. The protest was issued after Pakistani officials said Afghan nationals were involved in the Karachi attack. The Foreign Office said one of the attackers was captured alive, which Islamabad described as evidence that Afghan soil…
LAHORE: A 12-year-old madrassa student has died in Lahore after he was allegedly tortured by his Qari for not attending a Khatam Sharif gathering. According to the family, the deceased child, identified as Ali Haider, was a resident of Bahawalnagar and was studying at a madrassa in Lahore. The family alleged that Qari Ghulam Rasool subjected the child to severe torture after he failed to attend Khatam Sharif. They said Ali Haider remained in critical condition for eight days before passing away. The relatives further claimed that when the child’s condition became serious, the Qari placed him on a bus…
