Hamas says discussed second phase of Gaza truce in Cairo

. Hamas officials, Khalil Al-Hayya and Osama Hamdan, attend a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, November 21, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS CAIRO: A delegation of senior Hamas leaders discussed the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement on Sunday with the head of Egyptian intelligence, the Palestinian militant group said. Led by Hamas chief negotiator Khalil … Read more

Crisis at the crown unfolding fast

miss jamaica gabrielle henry falls on stage during miss universe competition photo screengrab instagram

Miss Jamaica Gabrielle Henry falls on stage during Miss Universe competition. Photo: screengrab/instagram The Miss Universe 2025 pageant, long promoted as a celebration of beauty, ambition and global unity, is now mired in a storm of allegations, walkouts and spiralling backlash, culminating in Miss Mexico’s victory being publicly labelled a fake result while Miss Jamaica … Read more

Bosnian Serbs vote to replace banned firebrand leader

. BANJA LUKA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Polling stations closed on Sunday in Bosnia’s Serb-majority entity after elections to replace its banned firebrand president, Milorad Dodik, who was removed for defying Bosnia’s international peace envoy. Dodik was ejected from office in August following his conviction for ignoring rulings by the international appointee who oversees a peace … Read more

Why does our bureaucracy underperform?

[ Rapid rotations, lack of specialised training leave civil servants unprepared to deliver in era that demands expertise KARACHI: Not many would dispute that a variety of the problems Pakistan faces today, and indeed has faced in the past, stem from the underwhelming performance of our bureaucracy. The question that comes to mind is: why … Read more

Women safety pivotal to economy

[ Pakistan’s promise to protect women and drive economic growth remains unfulfilled ISLAMABAD: No economy can grow while half its population remains unsafe, unseen, or silenced. Women’s protection is not just a moral or legal concern; it is an economic necessity. Pakistan’s ongoing challenge in ensuring women’s dignity translates directly into lost productivity, declining labour … Read more

Reforms & governance: unlocking Pakistan’s growth potential

[ Stabilisation measures implemented since late 2024 have yielded undeniable results, though cost has been substantial Governments traditionally have a narrow window – typically the first two years of their term – to implement bold and transformative reforms. photo: file KARACHI: Pakistan’s economic trajectory in late 2025 is defined by a rigorous yet essential framework … Read more

Are Pakistan’s AI ambitions under threat?

[ Proposals to restrict high-end chips to cloud rental could leave AI use dependent on US servers ISLAMABAD: Though the recently released US-China Economic and Security Review Commission report offers interesting insights into the love-hate dynamics of the US-China relationship, it also highlights concerns that could affect Pakistan in the long run. The report acknowledges … Read more