Author: i2wtc

US envoy says a US-backed surgical operation captured Maduro and his wife as indicted fugitivesGuterres called on all Venezuelan actors to engage in inclusive and democratic dialogue. PHOTO: FILE United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns on Monday about growing instability in Venezuela following the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro, while the United States said it does not plan to occupy the Latin American country. The 15-member Security Council met at UN headquarters in New York just hours before Maduro was due to appear in a Manhattan federal court on drug charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy. Maduro has denied any…

With only 17% of Pakistanis aware of vaping, urban areas lead in knowledge, while rural regions lag behind A recent Gallup Pakistan survey reveals that while awareness of vaping and chewing tobacco products is growing, it remains relatively low among the general population, with urban areas exhibiting more knowledge compared to rural regions. According to the report, there are 1.2 million vape users across the country, though only 17% of Pakistanis have heard of electronic cigarettes or vaping, with awareness significantly higher in urban areas (26%) than in rural regions (12%). Out of those that said yes, 26% were classified…

Nvidia is building out an automotive tech business. Pictured here are its autonomous vehicle test cars at the company’s auto garage in Santa Clara, California, June 5, 2023.Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesNvidia on Monday unveiled plans to test a robotaxi service with a partner as soon as 2027, highlighting the chipmaker’s ambition to become a major player in the world of self-driving cars. The service would be offered with a partner, and would employ cars with “Level 4” driving, meaning they will be capable of driving without human intervention in pre-defined regions, Nvidia officials said at a self-driving demonstration in…

13-member body to hold formal negotiations aimed at easing tensions and restoring tradeTorkham Gate Pakistan. PHOTO: RP In a significant development aimed at reducing tensions and reviving trade activities, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to establish a 13-member joint committee to hold formal negotiations at the Torkham border. According to sources, the joint committee comprises six members from Pakistan and seven from Afghanistan. The Pakistani delegation will be led by Syed Jawad Hussain Kazmi, Adviser to the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), while the Afghan side will be headed by Mohammad Wali Amini.…

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a news conference at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles, June 12, 2025.Patrick T. Fallon | Afp | Getty ImagesThe Department of Homeland Security on Monday blasted Hilton Hotels, saying that DHS officers had a reservation abruptly canceled by a Minneapolis hotel because of their work on immigration enforcement.The price of Hilton shares dipped by around 2% after the criticism by DHS in a social media post.”NO ROOM AT THE INN!,” DHS said on its X social media account.”HiltonHotels has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to…

Political, social circles strongly condemn incident, calling it an attack on democratic forces and peace in region Terrorists carried out another act of violence in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, blowing up the hujra (community hall) of Awami National Party (ANP) District President Abdul Raziq Sunday night. According to police, the attackers used explosive material, completely destroying the structure and reducing all valuable items inside to rubble. Police officials said that Abdul Raziq’s palatial residence had previously been set ablaze by militants about two years ago. Due to the worsening law and order situation in the area, he had…

Mayor of San Jose, Matt Mahan, speaks during the NWSL Championship Welcome Reception at Rotunda at San Jose City Hall in San Jose, California, on Nov. 20, 2025.Eakin Howard | Nwsl | Getty ImagesThe Democratic mayor of San Jose, California, has come out against a proposed statewide ballot measure that would ask voters to approve a one-time 5% tax on billionaires’ net worth.Matt Mahan, who took office Silicon Valley’s biggest city in 2023, said in a series of X posts on Monday that the initiative would end up costing the majority of California residents. “We need a rising economic tide…

The future of Venezuela remains unclear after the U.S. launched a ground attack and ousted President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. But amid the uncertainty, some investors see the potential for lucrative, long-term opportunities in the South American nation that has long been closed to much international business.At least Charles Myers, chairman of the consulting firm Signum Global Advisors, thinks so.”This is a major infrastructure play, I think it could be as big as $500 billion over the next 10 years,” Myers said on Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” “I think people are being far too pessimistic. This is…

Vanguard is leaning away from artificial intelligence stocks and into bonds for 2026. “Flipping the formula” from a 60% stocks/40% fixed income to a 40/60 provides higher risk-adjusted returns over the next decade, said Roger Aliaga-Díaz, Vanguard’s global head of portfolio construction and chief economist, Americas. The model portfolio strategy uses a method called “time-varying asset allocation,” which is based on Vanguard’s 10-year forecasts for returns. “We see U.S. equity returns very subdued, or we expect them to be much [more] subdued than in the previous years,” he said. The average equity return was 15% per year over the last…

Maduro faces cocaine-trafficking charges linked to cartels, FARC rebels, and Tren de Aragua gangCaptured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is escorted, as he heads towards the Daniel Patrick Manhattan United States Courthouse for an initial appearance to face U.S. federal charges including narco-terrorism, conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and others in New York City, U.S., January 5, 2026. PHOTO:REUTERS Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of narco-terrorism after President Donald Trump’s stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to respond. Maduro, 63, pleaded not guilty in New York federal…