IMF chief meets PM Shehbaz, pledges support for govt’s actions – Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his visit to the United Arab Emirates and assured him of the lender’s support for the government’s decisive actions regarding the programme, according to a statement released on Wednesday. In a post on X, she said, “Wonderful to meet […]
OpenAI ‘not for sale’, Altman snubs Musk after $97bn bid – World
PARIS: Artificial intelligence (AI) developer OpenAI is “not for sale”, chief executive Sam Altman said in Paris on Tuesday in response to a reported $97.4 billion bid from competitor Elon Musk. “OpenAI has a mission… of making AGI benefit all of humanity,” Altman told a tech business event on the sidelines of the Paris AI […]
Israel threatens to resume ‘intense fighting’ in Gaza if no prisoners released – World
• US president says ‘hell’ to break out if Israelis are not freed by Saturday• ‘Trump must remember there is an agreement that must be respected’: Hamas JERUSALEM: Israel threatened on Tuesday to resume “intense fighting” in Gaza if no prisoners were released this weekend, echoing a warning from US President Donald Trump that has […]
‘Project 2025’ comes out of the cold as Trump takes office – World
WASHINGTON: During his campaign, Donald Trump shunned Project 2025, a radical governing blueprint that envisioned a humbled federal bureaucracy bending the knee to a nearly omnipotent White House. Seeing the Heritage Foundation’s 922-page brainchild as toxic to his election prospects, the canny campaigner said he didn’t even plan to read it, much less endorse it. […]
NA panel expands scope of non-filer purchases in tax bill – Business
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue has expanded the scope of non-filers’ purchases, allowing them to buy rickshaws, motorcycles, tractors and cars up to 800cc. The decision was part of the committee’s approval of a sub-committee report recommending revisions to The Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at addressing stakeholder concerns […]
Land corruption inflicts Rs3tr loss in Karachi alone, says NAB chief – Pakistan
KARACHI: Expressing serious concerns about realty fraudulent practices across Sindh, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed Butt has disclosed that in Karachi alone documents for 7,500 acres have been falsified leading to corruption amounting to Rs3,000 billion, according to a press release of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD) on […]
US funding freeze ‘bombshell’ for humanitarian sector – World
PARIS: US President Donald Trump’s order to suspend most foreign aid has sent shock waves through the humanitarian sector, threatening to trigger mass layoffs at many NGOs and possibly destroy others altogether. Less than a week after he returned to power, the US Agency for International Development told NGOs they would have to cease operations […]
PM Shehbaz builds case for climate finance at UAE summit – Pakistan
• Premier says transition to clean energy requires $100bn, terms energy security and sustainability ‘a national priority’• Claims govt adopting eco-friendly agriculture, enhancing water conservation capacities• Meets rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, other world leaders ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday presented Pakistan’s case for climate finance at the World Governments Summit in […]
Judges’ transfer does not reset their rank, IHC CJ rules – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has justified lowering the ranks of judges in the revised seniority list, while relying upon previous judgements, including one handed down by the Indian Supreme Court, that distinguished transfers from appointments. A day earlier, Justice Farooq rejected the representation filed by five judges — […]
Ill omens – Newspaper – DAWN.COM
IT sometimes appears as if those struggling for an independent judiciary have needlessly burdened themselves with preserving the institution’s prestige. When the top judges of the country have few concerns about public perceptions, it seems futile to worry endlessly about institutional integrity. ‘Que sera, sera’, as they say. Ever since the 26th Amendment, matters seem […]