Author: i2wtc

1. Trump’s talkUS President Donald Trump, right, and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, during a State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump touted his economic record during his State of the Union address last night, saying the U.S. economy is “roaring like never before” — despite polls that show many Americans are feeling the opposite. The speech clocked in at 107 minutes, the longest-ever State of the Union address. Here’s what to…

A steak sandwich and French onion soup from Panera Bread Co. arranged in the Queens borough of New York, US, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Bing Guan | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesPanera Bread is entering the so-called value wars with its new “Mix & Match” deals in a bid to win back price-conscious diners.The chain, known for its soups, salads and sandwiches, is in the early stages of a turnaround, with a focus on reinvesting in its business and reversing years of traffic declines. Once the top fast-casual brand in the U.S., Panera has fallen to No. 3, ceding the top…

Renderings of the project at Lahore railway station PHOTO: LAHORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LAHORE: Thousands of passengers traveling via Pakistan Railways can expect improved facilities at Lahore’s historic railway station, as work begins on a modern parking area and an adjoining park. The project, supported by the Punjab government, is expected to be completed later this year. Previously, passengers often faced long queues and traffic congestion when arriving at the station, with limited parking options. Once finished, the upgraded facilities will allow hundreds of vehicles to park efficiently, reducing travel delays from hours to minutes. Renderings of the project at Lahore…

Now available on your favorite food delivery app: restaurant reservations. The still-simmering reservation wars of the last decade could fully reignite this year, as a shifting tech landscape pits some of the biggest players against each other to capture businesses and users alike. Reservation incumbents, delivery app newcomers and premium credit card partnerships are all ramping up the fight for a shrinking pool of diners. Delivery giant DoorDash announced in June its $1.2 billion acquisition of SevenRooms, a reservation platform focused on direct bookings through a restaurant’s own website. Several months earlier, UberEats and Booking Holdings’ OpenTable announced a partnership…

PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha; Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are also present. Photo: Express ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held what he described as a “warm and productive” meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in Doha, with discussions spanning bilateral cooperation and the evolving regional situation. In a statement posted on X after the meeting, the prime minister said he had an “excellent meeting” with the Qatari leader and underscored the desire of both sides to transform their…

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration’s tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.Pool | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe U.S. and Iran are poised to hold further nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday, amid persistent fears about the prospect of military action in the oil-rich Middle East.The upcoming round of…

A child views an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)WUHAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — A silent aircraft with rotors tucked inside its fuselage lifted off in front of an auditorium in downtown Wuhan, capital of central China’s Hubei Province, drawing cheers from astonished onlookers who pulled out their phones to capture the spectacle of a machine that looked like it belonged on a sci-fi movie set.However, this display on Tuesday featuring four distinct electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles outside the Hongshan Auditorium was not a film…

Police officers walk past the Supreme Court of Pakistan building, in Islamabad, Pakistan April 6, 2022. REUTERS ISLAMABAD: Since its creation, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has consistently asserted its judicial supremacy over the Supreme Court of Pakistan. On Tuesday, FCC’s Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, while hearing a case, expressed displeasure at a lawyer for not giving priority to the FCC and choosing instead to appear before the SC. Justice Rizvi made it clear that the FCC is the apex court of the country. He also warned that if a lawyer fails to appear before the FCC, the case may…

Loans, rollovers reach 40% of annual target as reserves stay thin, bond plan stalls ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has received over $10 billion in foreign loans, half of it in fresh disbursements and the remainder in rollovers of existing debts, but the central bank has yet to announce the status of the $2 billion rollover by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to Ministry of Economic Affairs data, the federal government received $5.1 billion in fresh loans during the July-January period of the current fiscal year. In addition, Saudi Arabia, China and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) either disbursed funds or rolled…

A person holding a sign attends a rally in front of the Second Members’ Office Building of the House of Representatives in Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 24, 2026. A large crowd of Japanese people gathered Tuesday evening in Tokyo to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s dangerous push for policies including accelerating constitutional revision, expanding military capabilities and strengthening national intelligence functions, voicing concerns about the country’s future direction. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)TOKYO, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) — A large crowd of Japanese people gathered Tuesday evening in Tokyo to protest Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s dangerous push for policies including accelerating constitutional revision, expanding military…