Author: i2wtc

In some states, your Amazon toilet paper order or your DoorDashed fried rice may have gotten a little pricier. And the hope is that you won’t notice. While consumers are used to companies tacking on sneaky fees, the newest generation of bill increases are coming from government taxation, generally local or state.For instance, in recent years, Minnesota and Colorado have implemented fees on all deliveries. In Colorado, the fee is 28 cents, and in Minnesota, it is 50 cents on orders over $100. Some derisively refer to these fees as “doorstep taxes.”Other states – some solidly red, others deep blue…

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Thursday that Pakistan would continue its fight against terrorism until the last terrorist was eliminated. Speaking in the National Assembly, he expressed solidarity with the Armed Forces and paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who laid down their lives in recent operations. He said the House had offered Fateha for the martyrs at the start of the session. He informed the House that the federal cabinet, in a unanimous decision, had also honoured the sacrifices of the Armed Forces and saluted those who gave their lives for…

Rocket Lab shares have added more than a quarter in value this week as the aerospace company inked new launch deals in the burgeoning space tech industry.The stock was flat on Friday, but has surged over 20% this week. Shares were up nearly 50% over the last two weeks and traded near fresh highs on Friday.The stock has nearly tripled since the start of the year.On Friday, the company said it secured two launches with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, scheduled for December and in 2026.Earlier in the week, Rocket Lab announced a multi-launch agreement with Japanese space start Q-shu…

U.S. and Chinese officials have been working to arrange a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming months, which will likely take place in Beijing, experts said.Dilara Irem Sancar | Anadolu | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump on Friday threatened to slap a “massive increase of Tariffs” on Chinese products imported into the United States because of export controls that China imposed on rare earths from that country.Trump also threatened in a social media post to cancel his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping because of the dispute.Stock markets dropped on Trump’s bellicose…

The Merlion statue in the central business district of Singapore, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.Lionel Ng | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA version of this article first appeared in CNBC’s Inside Wealth newsletter with Robert Frank, a weekly guide to the high-net-worth investor and consumer. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox.Moneyed entrepreneurs are looking to move, but not necessarily for the reasons you would expect, according to a new survey by HSBC.The bank polled 2,939 business owners with at least $2 million in investible assets or a total net worth of $20 million during April and May of this…

KARACHI: The future of PIA’s Roosevelt Hotel in the US remains uncertain as authorities continue to deliberate over various options regarding the fate of the historic property located in New York’s Manhattan. According to sources, PIA is considering multiple proposals for the site. One option under review is to demolish the existing structure and construct a large commercial plaza in its place. Another proposal suggests retaining the hotel and operating it for commercial purposes through a joint venture to generate profit. However, the government has yet to appoint a financial adviser for the project. Earlier, a US-based firm that had…

Invited visitors view an exhibit at the Palace Museum in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)BEIJING, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) — Wang Hao, a university student from north China’s Tianjin, queued for nearly five hours outside Beijing’s Palace Museum to see “Five Oxen,” the world’s oldest surviving Chinese paper painting by 8th-century artist Han Huang.The ancient painting, as well as other priceless cultural relics, has been on display at a special exhibition organized by the museum to mark its centenary on Friday.Wang was among a wave of visitors flocking to the museum, situated on the site of the…

ISLAMABAD: After days of a heated war of words, there appears to be thaw in the strained relationship between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached out to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. According to the PPP media cell, both leaders discussed the current political situation, the ongoing flood crisis, and matters related to foreign policy. The development follows a meeting in Nawabshah between President Asif Ali Zardari and a government delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. It was aimed at easing tensions between the…

Singapore authorities are investigating artificial intelligence computing firm Megaspeed, a customer of American AI chipmaker Nvidia, for allegedly helping Chinese companies evade curbs on U.S. chip exports.”The Singapore Police Force confirms that investigations are ongoing into Megaspeed for suspected breaches of our domestic laws,” the police told CNBC in an email.The probe comes as the New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. Commerce Department was also investigating whether Megaspeed skirted American export controls, citing anonymous officials and other people familiar with the matter.The twin investigations into Megaspeed could raise questions about Nvidia’s ability to track its chip exports effectively…

Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during practice and media availability as part of 2025 NBA Global Games China at Venetian Arena on October 9, 2025 in Macao, China. Ryan Stetz | National Basketball Association | Getty ImagesMACAO — The National Basketball Association returns to China for the first of two Macao games on Friday, and the impact extends beyond the preseason.The weekend marks a major milestone for the NBA, as years of rebuilding its relationship with its second-largest market culminate with the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets facing off in the Venetian Arena here.…