Author: i2wtc
People shop for clothing at a Costco store in Monterey Park, California on November 22, 2022. Frederic J. Brown | Afp | Getty ImagesPrices are rising across the fashion industry – with jackets and outerwear seeing the steepest year-over-year increases, according to a new report from consulting firm AlixPartners published Wednesday. The firm analyzed how much prices have climbed between 2024 and 2025 across nine categories, from swimsuits to dresses. Prices in all of the categories it tracked have risen by an average of $17 year-over-year. Jackets and outerwear saw the largest increase, with prices on average 24% higher, while swimwear saw…
Foreign buyers learn about audio products during the 138th edition of the China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)GUANGZHOU, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — Global enterprises and capital are showing strong confidence in south China’s Guangdong Province through substantial investments, the provincial government said Wednesday.From January to September, the province saw the establishment of 24,000 new foreign-funded enterprises, a year-on-year increase of 33.7 percent, highlighting its role as a top destination for international capital.Key data revealed a notable uptick, with actual utilized foreign capital reaching 78.13 billion yuan (about 11 billion U.S.…
Pakistan is moving to formalise its digital gaming sector, with the government announcing its first-ever national e-sports policy and the establishment of a dedicated e-sports federation. The announcement was made by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, during a ceremony in Islamabad on October 21, 2025. According to a press release, he said that around 60 million Pakistanis are directly or indirectly involved in e-Sports, and the new policy will also support game developers and digital innovators. Mashhood said the government, under PM Shehbaz Sharif’s guidance, is taking “concrete steps to create opportunities for youth” in this regard. Pakistani-based…
Marc Benioff, chief executive officer of Salesforce Inc., speaks during the 2025 Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. Michael Short | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesJPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs are harnessing it to employ fewer people. Ford CEO Jim Farley warned that it will “replace literally half of all white-collar workers.” Salesforce’s Marc Benioff claimed it’s already doing up to 50% of the company’s workload. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told The Wall Street Journal that it “is going to change literally every job.”The “it” that’s on corporate America’s lips is artificial intelligence.Less than three…
Russian President Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025.Alexander Zemlianichenko | Afp | Getty ImagesRussia scrambled on Wednesday to salvage the prospect of in-person talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin after they were unceremoniously put on hold.Trump said on Tuesday that he didn’t want “to have a wasted meeting” with Putin, which was set to take place in Hungary in the next few weeks, as it became clear that Russia opposes the idea of an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine.”I don’t want to have a waste of time — so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said following a…
Visitors are caught in the reflection of a store offering 50% off on all items on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica on July 16, 2024. Genaro Molina | Los Angeles Times | Getty ImagesA steady stream of promotions across the fashion industry has left consumers suffering from “discount burnout” ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, according to a new report from consulting firm AlixPartners released Wednesday. The firm surveyed over 9,000 U.S. consumers on their preferences and priorities across 140 retailers and nine fashion sectors. The report found shoppers see price increases as “inevitable,” and cost has become less…
Operation comes in coordination between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Spain, United States Naval assets Pakistan Navy Ship Yarmook has seized drugs worth more than $972 million in the Arabian Sea, reported Combined Maritime Forces on Tuesday. The seizure was supported by the Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of CMF, during CTF 150’s Focused Operation AL MASMAK. Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a 47-nation naval partnership promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing the world’s important shipping lanes. Read: Pakistan Navy’s deterrence: neutralising India’s signaling Pakistan Navy Achieves Record-Breaking Narcotics Seizure in Arabian Sea: United…
Chinese tech company Baidu announced Wednesday its Apollo Go robotaxi arm has entered a strategic partnership with PostBus in Switzerland.BaiduBEIJING — Chinese tech giant Baidu announced Wednesday that its robotaxi unit will start test drives in Switzerland in December, as firms race to get their vehicles on European roads. The company’s Apollo Go unit will work with Swiss public transit operator PostBus through a strategic partnership, Baidu said.By the first quarter of 2027, the companies aim to begin operating a public-facing fully driverless taxi service called “AmiGo” that uses Apollo Go’s RT6 electric vehicles, the press release said. Baidu added…
OGRA spokesperson says fuel distribution, supply across the country remain unaffected, with no disruptionsPeople wait for their turn to get fuel at a petrol station in Peshawar on January 30, 2023. Photo: Reuters/ File The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority clarified that there is no shortage of fuel in the country. The Authority dispelled the fears of a nationwide crisis triggered by a delay in the clearance of petroleum consignments at Karachi Port due to the imposition of a 1.8% Sindh Infrastructure Development cess by the provincial government. According to OGRA spokesperson Imran Ghaznavi, the clearance of consignments of imported…
Field Marshal Asim Munir. Photo: ISPR RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed on Tuesday that comprehensive measures were under way to eliminate terrorist elements and restore lasting peace and stability in Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. During an interaction with participants of the 17th National Workshop Balochistan at the General Headquarters (GHQ), Field Marshal Asim underscored that Indian-sponsored proxies were engaged in spreading anti-people and anti-development narratives to fuel violence. In a candid exchange and a vibrant question-and-answer session, the army chief reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and…