Author: i2wtc

Pakistan is weighing options for the future of its iconic Roosevelt Hotel in New York, including demolishing the century-old structure to build a skyscraper, as part of the government’s broader privatisation and reform commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), US outlet Bloomberg reported on Saturday. Muhammad Ali, the prime minister’s adviser on privatisation, confirmed to Bloomberg that multiple possibilities were under consideration. “The government is keen on a joint venture where Pakistan will contribute the land and the partner will bring in the equity,” he said in Islamabad. “The other option is to retain the hotel if it makes…

Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, attends the Viva Technology conference at the Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris on June 16, 2023.Gonzalo Fuentes | ReutersTesla posted a teaser video on X sparking speculation that the electric carmaker could be gearing up to release a new car.The first video posted on Sunday shows a spinning component which many online said could be an internal component of a vehicle. The video ends with the numbers “10/7,” indicating Tuesday’s date.A second video also posted on Sunday shows just the headlights of a car.The teasers have sparked conversation online and among…

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Finance Minister, Khurram Schehzad, on Sunday said that in a remarkable shift, Pakistan has emerged as one of the top-performing countries in terms of reducing its default risk, recording one of the sharpest declines globally. As per the latest data posted by Bloomberg, Pakistan stands out globally as the 2nd most improved economy in terms of reduction in sovereign default risk, as measured by CDS-implied default probability globally, he posted on social media site X. He said that Pakistan stood 2nd only to Turkey in Global Emerging Market (EM) Rankings in Default Risk Reduction, as the…

KARACHI: Under the banner of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), a massive solidarity march with Gaza drew millions to Shahrah-e-Faisal on Sunday to condemn Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza and to express unity with the people of Palestine and the resistance movement Hamas. Organisers said participants included men and women from across Karachi, representing diverse social, political and religious backgrounds, and the atmosphere rang with chants such as “Labbaik ya Aqsa” and “Labbaik ya Gaza”. Addressing the vast crowd, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman delivered a blistering speech denouncing what he characterised as “US-backed Israeli aggression” and calling for unequivocal support for…

ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers of eight Muslim countries — Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt — on Sunday welcomed the steps announced by Hamas in response to US President Donald Trump’s 20-point proposal to end the Gaza war. Hamas announced release of hostages and start of negotiations on a lasting peace arrangement. In a joint statement released by the Foreign Office here said they “welcomed the steps taken by Hamas” and “President Trump’s call on Israel to immediately stop the bombing and to begin implementation of the exchange agreement.” They expressed appreciation for Trump’s “commitment…

The Foreign Office, in a satement released on X, said that confirmation has been received via diplomatic sources in a friendly European country that former Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is safe and in the custody of the Israeli occupying forces. Mushtaq Ahmad Khan was arrested by Israeli forces while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, as confirmed on October 2. Ahmad was leading the five-member Pakistani delegation as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. “We have been further advised that, in accordance with local procedures, Ahmad will be presented before a court. Upon the issuance of deportation orders, his…

A federal judge in Oregon on Sunday temporarily blocked Donald Trump’s administration from sending some 200 federalized California National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, a setback for the president as he seeks to dispatch the military to cities over the objections of their Democratic leaders.The ruling by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut followed a joint lawsuit by California and Oregon seeking to block the extraordinary move that drew vehement criticism from both states’ governors. A day earlier, Immergut temporarily blocked Trump from deploying 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland, citing a lack of evidence that recent protests necessitated the move.”How could…

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Kuala Lumpur on an official visit to Malaysia. The visit has been extended by his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. The premier was received at Bunga Raya International Airport by Malaysia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, and members of the diplomatic staff. PM Shehbaz, on his arrival in Malaysia on Sunday, was accorded royal protocol and later escorted to his official residence, where he was personally greeted by PM Ibrahim. Also Read: AJK accord sets stage for sweeping reforms “I am delighted to be in…

ISLAMABAD: The federal government, in pursuance of the historic defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, has constituted an 18-member high-level committee. The task of the committee is to lead economic negotiations between the two nations under the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Economic Framework, the government notification said. As per the notification, the committee, formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, will supervise discussions aimed at expanding cooperation beyond defence and energy to include environmental protection and climate stability. The committee will be co-chaired by Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Musadik Masood Malik and Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) National Coordinator Lt.…

Winners Wang Chuqin (R)  and Wang Manyu pose during the award ceremony at 2025 World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash in Beijing, China, Oct. 5, 2025. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)BEIJING, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — World No. 1 Wang Chuqin and second-ranked Wang Manyu lifted the men’s and women’s singles trophies respectively on Sunday as China swept all five titles at the World Table Tennis (WTT) China Smash.Having already claimed the men’s and mixed doubles crowns, Wang Chuqin defeated France’s teenage penhold star Felix Lebrun 11-7, 11-2, 11-5, 11-7 in the final to complete a clean sweep – winning every possible title at…