Author: i2wtc

Both sides will meet again in Istanbul on October 25, where ‘detailed matters will be discussed’Saudi Arabia on Sunday welcomed the announcement of an immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Source: x.com/arabnews The Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed the ceasefire pact signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday. The truce was reached during negotiations held in Doha, mediated by Qatar and Turkey. In a post on X, the Saudi foreign ministry described the truce as a “vital step” toward enduring peace between the “brotherly peoples of Pakistan and Afghanistan”. It reaffirmed Riyadh’s support for regional and…

University of Peshawar. PHOTO: FILE PESHAWAR: Once considered the pride of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the University of Peshawar, one of the province’s oldest and largest higher education institutions, is now facing one of the worst admission crises in its history. Due to administrative inefficiency and the government’s neglect, admissions in several departments have dropped sharply this year, leaving the university’s finances in a dire condition. This year, a noticeable shift has occurred with a growing number of students choosing to enroll into private universities and government colleges rather than in the University of Peshawar. The primary reason, according to students and parents,…

Tensions freeze dealings between Pakistan, Afghanistan; thousands of trucks strandedTrucks loaded with refugees’ belongings queue at the Torkham border ahead of their return to Afghanistan. PHOTO: EXPRESS PESHAWAR: PESHAWAR Ongoing border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have brought all forms of bilateral and transit trade to a standstill since Sunday, October 12, causing severe economic losses on both sides and leaving thousands of trucks stranded along the main crossings. According to security sources, the suspension followed an exchange of fire late on the night between October 11 and 12, when Afghan forces allegedly opened unprovoked fire on Pakistani border troops.…

Pakistan’s fiscal policy is trapped between need to consolidate and political demand to spendSince July 22, numerous unauthorised exchange outlets have been closed after the military intelligence agency summoned currency dealers to address the rising dollar rate in the open market. photo: file ISLAMABAD: After a string of diplomatic successes, there is some good news for Pakistan on the economic front as well. Islamabad and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) to unlock about $1.2 billion-$1 billion under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and $200 million from the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF). Following the…

This photo taken on Oct. 16, 2025 shows a Musang King Durian in Raub of Pahang state, Malaysia. Raub in Pahang state, Malaysia is an important durian-producing region. Due to the unique tropical rainforest climate and soil conditions, premium durian varieties such as Musang King Durian from this area are known for their dense flesh and rich flavor.In past years, a significant portion of Raub durians were supplied to the Chinese market through cold chain logistics. With the continuous increase in air routes between the two countries, durians can now be delivered to Chinese consumers in as fast as 36…

Buyers negotiate with exhibitors at the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2025. The first phase of the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, concluded on Sunday. According to statistics from China Foreign Trade Center, about 157,900 overseas buyers from 222 countries and regions attended the event offline. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)Buyers talk with an exhibitor during the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 19, 2025. The first phase of the 138th…

KARACHI: Pakistan’s financial regulators face a growing challenge from the rapid spread of unregulated online investment and trading apps. These apps promise easy profits but often result in financial losses, data theft, and negative impacts on the economy. The proliferation of such platforms, many operating beyond the oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has raised serious concerns about investor protection and the integrity of the country’s financial system. “With the increasing penetration of broadband internet service and its users, cybercrimes are on the rise in Pakistan and worldwide, causing…

Centre and provinces to jointly procure around 6.2m tons of wheat as strategic reserves The federal government has approved the National Wheat Policy 2025–26, under which wheat will be purchased from farmers at Rs3,500 per maund to ensure fair compensation, strengthen strategic reserves, and stabilise the market, stated a release issued from the Prime Minister Office. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting was attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, a representative of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and…

A judge ordered that X and xAI’s lawsuit accusing Apple and OpenAI of trying to maintain monopolies in artificial intelligence markets must remain in federal court in Fort Worth, Texas, despite “at best minimal connections” to that geographic area by any of the companies.Judge Mark Pittman, in a sharply ironic four-page order on Thursday, encouraged the companies to relocate their headquarters to Fort Worth, given their preference for the antitrust lawsuit to be heard there.In a footnote, he even flagged the companies to the website of the Business Services unit of the City of Fort Worth “to get the process…

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 17, 2025. Jonathan Ernst | ReutersU.S. President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Russia’s terms for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine in a White House meeting on Friday, warning that President Vladimir Putin threatened to “destroy” Ukraine if it didn’t comply, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.During the meeting, Trump insisted Zelenskyy surrender the entire eastern Donbas region to Russia, repeatedly echoing talking points the Russian president had made in their call a day earlier, the newspaper…