Published in AlJazeera, on May 9th, 2019, President’s move comes after Iran gave nuclear deal partners 60 days to protect it from US oil and banking sanctions. The United States announced harsh new sanctions on Iran as tensions surge between the decades-long rivals. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday to sanction Iran’s steel, aluminium, copper and iron sectors, which provide crucial foreign currency earnings for its crippled economy. Trump also threatened further action unless Tehran “fundamentally” changed its behaviour. The move came after Tehran earlier said it was quitting parts of the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers, which Washington abandoned in 2018 and…
Author: AdminPAGE
Published in Saudi Gazette, on May 8th, 2019, London — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in London on Wednesday on a delicate mission aimed at convincing Washington’s crucial European ally to back its stances on Iran and China. The former CIA chief flew into London after briefly aborting his tour of Europe — he was meant to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Tuesday — and paying an unannounced visit to Iraq. Pompeo said his change of plans was prompted by Iran’s intention to stage “imminent” attacks on US interests in the Middle East. US…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE Dubai DED issues 2,805 new licenses in April 2019 The Business Registration and Licensing (BRL) sector in the Department of Economic Development (DED) Dubai issued 2,805 new licenses during April 2019, a growth of 60 percent compared to April 2018. The new licenses created 8,375 jobs in the labor market. Among the new licenses issued, 49 percent were professional, 48.1 percent commercial, 2.3 percent related to tourism and 0.6 percent industry. The ‘Business Map’ digital platform of DED, which seeks to reflect the economic realities in Dubai by providing vital data on each license category…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Populist doles could lead to fiscal slippages Continuing to voice concerns over populist measures, the Reserve Bank Wednesday warned that income support schemes and farm loan waivers will lead to fiscal slippages for the states. The remarks were made during a meeting between the members of the 15th Finance Commission and the RBI brass, including governor Shaktikanta Das and the deputy governors, at the central bank headquarters. In its presentation, the RBI listed out specific factors that would drive fiscal slippages in the revised estimates of 2018-19, including “farm loan waivers and income support…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Bailout talks with IMF hit a new deadlock In a last minute hitch, talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a deadlock due to change in goalpost by the fund and the prime minister’s reservations over heavy taxation, resulting into extension in parleys. There were at least three main sticking points that led to inconclusive talks till the last day of the IMF visit, said sources in the Ministry of Finance. As of Thursday, the top management of the Ministry of Finance was hopeful to conclude the deal and the IMF team…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Telenor velocity is uplifting pakistani agri sector through technological intervention: Given its status as the economic backbone of Pakistan, the potential of the agriculture sector has been the subject of discussions on a multitude of platforms for decades. Yet, the hardships of this sector and associated communities persist due to a variety of reasons. Mobile technology has the answer to the longstanding woes of the local agri sector, therefore it is imperative to engage more digital solutions. Within the past decade, we have witnessed the power of mobile technology in terms of financial inclusion of the unbanked in…
IBA conducts a webinar on ‘Trade & Development Report 2018’ A webinar was organized at the IBA Karachi by Assistant Professor and Research Fellow (CBER) Dr. Aadil Nakhoda in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The representatives from the UN office discussed the findings of the Trade and Development Report 2018 focusing on the theme of Power, Platform and the Free Trade Delusion. The presentation explained the aftermath of the global financial crisis with the world having failed to address the important macroeconomic financial weaknesses that have been underlining our global economy. The uncertainty is…
Kibor rate is the average interest rate at which term deposits are offered between prime banks in the Pakistani wholesale money market or interbank market. KIBOR as a benchmark, to encourage transparency and improve management of the market risk undertaken by banks. [ads1] KIBOR RATES IN PAKISTAN TENOR BID OFFER 1 – Week 10.54 11.04 2 – Week 10.56 11.06 1 – Month 10.60 11.10 3 – Month 10.84 11.09 6 – Month 10.99 11.24 9 – Month 11.07 11.57 1 – Year 11.15 11.65 2 – Year 11.82 12.32 3- Year 11.92 12.48
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]SUBMITTED BY UZMA QURESH ON TUE, 05/07/2019[/box] This blog is part of a series that discusses findings from the Pakistan@100: Shaping the Future report, which identifies the changes necessary for Pakistan to become a strong upper middle-income country by the time it turns 100 years old in 2047. There is a broad consensus that no country can progress without the full participation of women in public life. Most of the positive attributes associated with development – rising productivity, growing personal freedom and mobility, and innovation – require increasing the participation of excluded groups. Pakistan stands near the bottom of women’s…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]SUBMITTED BY SIDDHARTH SHARMA ON TUE, 04/16/2019[/box] This blog is part of a series that discusses findings from the Pakistan@100: Shaping the Future report, which identifies the changes necessary for Pakistan to become a strong upper middle-income country by the time it turns 100 years old in 2047. Structural transformation is central to how countries grow rich. The movement of jobs from agriculture to manufacturing and service industries is the first stage of that transformation. Then, within industries, a process of creative destruction helps weed out unproductive firms and gives rise to more efficient and innovative ones. Of course, no…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]SUBMITTED BY MUHAMMAD WAHEED ON FRI, 04/19/2019 CO-AUTHORS: ADNAN ASHRAF GHUMMAN[/box] This blog is part of a series that discusses findings from the Pakistan@100: Shaping the Future report, which identifies the changes necessary for Pakistan to become a strong upper middle-income country by the time it turns 100 years old in 2047. Pakistan’s economy is unable to sustain high growth rates for extended periods. Every few years, the economy is faced with a balance of payments crisis as it tries to grow fast. This is unlike many other successful peer countries that are growing at higher rates for a longer…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Kira Luttrell-Roth, May 6, 2019[/box] Though the effects of the financial crisis in 2007-08 are still reverberating, banks are learning to live with their new environment. Allowing banks to look beyond profits and gain an insight into their overall image, the 19th annual Financial Times’ Bank Image Survey measures the standing and profile of international banks among senior financial decision makers of investment/corporate banking services. As the infographic below confirms, although JP Morgan leads in the ranking of trustworthy banks globally, they also are the top financial advisor to M&A transactions worth a total of $795 billion in 2018.…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Katharina Buchholz, May 6, 2019[/box] Politics is no longer confined to parliaments. Social media services like Twitter play an increasingly important role for many world leaders. But some manage to attract significantly more followers than others. Many heads of state as well as their governments use the social network to promote themselves and their policies. As our chart shows, U.S. President Trump has the most followers, split between his two accounts @realdonaldtrump and @POTUS. While the first is the president’s private Twitter account, @POTUS is passed along from president to president. Only Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (75.9 million…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, May 3, 2019[/box] Considering how much our lives revolve around technology that has emerged over the past two decades, it can safely be argued that no other industry has shaped the 21st century like the tech sector did. And while countless tech startups have risen and, in some cases, disappeared again since the turn of the century, five companies in particular have shaped the digital economy as we know it today. Often referred to as GAFAM, Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are the figureheads of the tech industry, known around the world and used by billions…
Stocks decline, remain volatile on economic uncertainty over IMF negotiation Summary Finally the IMF started the talk on bailout package for Pakistan this week. There was a cloud of uncertainty among investors the way the negotiation commenced. The finance minister Asad Umar has to resign after meeting IMF team in Washington. Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had to join in place of Asad Umar as Advisor to PM on Finance and take charge of all affairs relating to bailout package. The PM Imran Khan had a meeting with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director IMF and also WB CEO on sidelines of Belt…
© The Associated Press Drake poses in the press room with his awards at the Billboard Music Awards on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) Published in Msn, on May 2nd, 2019, By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer Mother’s Day is in a couple weeks, but Drake gave his mom an early gift with a heartfelt speech at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards, where the rap star also broke Taylor Swift’s record for most wins. Drake turned up the love for his mom when he picked up top…
Published in Geo, on Apr 29th, 2019, LOS ANGELES: ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ the hugely anticipated series-ender from Disney and Marvel, set a new standard for Hollywood blockbusters this weekend with stunning hauls of $350 million in North America and $1.2 billion worldwide, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations estimated Sunday. To put the North American figure in perspective, that means the final chapter in the adventures of Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and company took in 43 times what the No. 2 film, Disney’s ‘Captain Marvel,’ earned for the three-day weekend: a more pedestrian $8.1 million. ‘Avengers’ looks likely to remain strong, having…
The former first couple signed the production deal last year Published in BBC, on May 1st, 2019, Barack and Michelle Obama have unveiled their first batch of projects in development with Netflix. The diverse seven-title run from the Obamas Higher Grounds Production company addresses social and political activism. It includes a film on early slavery abolitionist Frederick Douglass, adapted from David W. Blight’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. The former US president said he hoped to do more than “just entertain”. He said the productions “will educate, connect and inspire us all,” by “touching on issues of race and class, democracy…
Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is already an honorary life member of MCC and has sat on its world cricket committee for the past seven years. File photo. Published in Geo, on May 2nd, 2019, LONDON: Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has been appointed as the first non-British president of the Marylebone Cricket Club. The wicketkeeper-batsman, whose nomination was announced by current president Anthony Wreford on Wednesday, will begin his one-year tenure in October. The 41-year-old, who is already an honorary life member of MCC and has sat on its influential world cricket committee for the past…
Wimbledon prize money will total £38 million ($49 million) for this year’s championships, a rise of 11.8 percent, the All England Club announced on Tuesday. — Reuters/File Published in Dawn, on May 1st, 2019, LONDON: Wimbledon prize money will total £38 million ($49 million) for this year’s championships, a rise of 11.8 per cent, the All England Club announced on Tuesday. The men’s and women’s singles champions will receive £2.35 million each — 100,000 more than in 2018. Continuing a theme of recent years, organisers have again significantly raised the prize money for early-round losers. Prize money for qualifying…
Qatar will be the first Middle East nation to host the football World Cup [Al Jazeera] Published in AlJazeera, on Apr 27th, 2019, Football’s governing body is seeking to expand the event by adding one or more countries to host matches. FIFA will hold talks with human rights groups about issues associated with expanding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as football’s governing body seeks to find at least one more country in the region to cohost the tournament. Qatar is currently working on a 32-team tournament and is completing eight stadiums over a 48km radius, however, FIFA President Gianni Infantino is…
Liverpool’s Van Dijk wins England’s PFA Player of the Year award Published in ARY Sports, on Apr 29th, 2019,By Reuters Liverpool centre back Virgil van Dijk was named Player of the Year by England’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) on Sunday, becoming the fourth player from the Netherlands to win the award. The 27-year-old has transformed Liverpool’s defence since joining from Southampton in January last year for a world record fee of 75 million pounds for a defender. The Dutchman has helped the title-chasing Merseysiders keep 19 clean sheets in the Premier League and they have conceded the fewest goals in…
Khabib Nurmagomedov, set to return to action in September, could be set to fight against American interim champion Dustin Poirier, following his surprise win against Max Holloway. Published in ArabianBusiness, on Apr 29th, 2019, By Neil Halligan UFC returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC 242 on September 7 – possibly featuring Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Dustin Poirier as headline UFC, the multi-billion dollar mixed martial arts organisation, has signed deal with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to bring UFC events to the emirate for the next five years. The first event is UFC 242 on Saturday,…
Published in ARY Sports, on Apr 30th, 2019, The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued a notification to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for appointing its chairman and Managing Director (MD), advocate Sheegan Ajaz said on Tuesday. According to Ajaz, the LHC have issued the notice due to the illegal appointment of MD Wasim Khan. “There is no clause defining the post of MD in PCB’s constitution,” he said. Ajaz said that according to the Supreme Court no higher post at government level should be offered to the person containing dual nationality or residing permanently in a foreign country. [ads1]…
FILE PHOTO: Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan (R) points to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford as they arrive to testify before a House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Defense – FY2020 Budget request on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 1, 2019. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas/File Photo Published in Reuters, on May 1st, 2019, by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Pentagon on Wednesday appeared to downplay any active preparations to directly intervene in Venezuela to topple President Nicolas Maduro, but acknowledged detailed contingency planning as political turmoil in the oil-rich nation…
Published in BBC, on May 1st, 2019, Theresa May has said she hopes the UK will leave the EU well before the new 31 October Brexit deadline. She told MPs there was no reason the UK could not leave in a matter of weeks once MPs backed an agreement, which they have so far rejected three times. She signalled she hoped to get Labour backing for any new customs proposal before putting it to Parliament again. She said their aims were “very similar” and “sometimes people use different terms to mean the same thing”. Labour wants the PM to…
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has called for massive protests [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera, on May 1st, 2019, by Elizabeth Melimopoulos Thousands march in Venezuela a day after opposition’s Guaido called for uprising as Maduro remained defiant. Thousands of opposition and pro-government supporters rallied in Venezuela on Wednesday, a day after opposition leader Juan Guaido called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro. “If the regime thought we had reached maximum pressure, they cannot even imagine,” Guaido told thousands of supporters in eastern Caracas. “We have to remain in the streets.” Maduro also called for his supporters to take…
FILE PHOTO: A Facebook panel is seen during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, in Cannes, France, June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard Published in Reuters, on May 1st, 2019, (Reuters) – Facebook Inc and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are negotiating a possible settlement that would require the company to create an independent privacy oversight committee and take other steps to safeguard users, Politico reported on Wednesday, citing a source. The steps would include appointing a federally-approved privacy official at the highest level of Facebook and creating a privacy oversight committee that may include Facebook board members, the…
Published in BBC, on May 2nd, 2019, MPs have approved a motion to declare an environment and climate emergency. This proposal, which demonstrates the will of the Commons on the issue but does not legally compel the government to act, was approved without a vote. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who tabled the motion, said it was “a huge step forward”. Environment Secretary Michael Gove acknowledged there was a climate “emergency” but did not back Labour’s demands to declare one. The declaration of an emergency was one of the key demands put to the government by environmental activist group Extinction…
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a rally in Iowa City, Iowa, on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. (Charlie Neibergall/AP) Published in The Washington Post, on May 1st, 2019, By Felicia Sonmez Former vice president Joe Biden on Wednesday dismissed the notion that the United States should be worried about China as a geopolitical competitor, prompting criticism from some congressional Republicans who argued that Biden is underestimating the world’s second-largest economy. The argument is one Biden has frequently made in speeches throughout the years, but it is drawing increased attention due to his status as the apparent front-runner among Democrats…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE Emaar malls records 7pc growth in q1 Emaar Malls, the shopping malls and retail business majority-owned by Emaar Properties, recorded an increase in net profit by 7 per cent to Dh584 million during the first quarter of 2019, compared to the net profit of Dh548 million, during the first-quarter of 2018. Revenue for the first three months of 2019 reported a growth of 4 per cent to Dh1.075 billion ($ 293 million), compared to Q1 2018 revenue of Dh1.038 billion. The growth of Emaar Malls was underlined by the strong performance of its shopping mall…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Trump says it slaps ‘big tariffs’ on American products US President Donald Trump has criticised India’s “big tariffs” on American paper products and the iconic Harley-Davidson bikes, saying the US has been losing billions of dollars to countries like India, China and Japan. Addressing a Republican political rally in Wisconsin state’s Green Bay city on Sunday, Trump alleged that every country has been ripping off America for years. The President has repeatedly claimed that India is a “tariff king” and imposes “tremendously high” tariffs on American products. “For so many decades we’ve been losing tens of…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN IDB expresses interest in funding hydroelectric energy projects The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has expressed keen interest in financing hydroelectric power projects in Pakistan as the country needs cheap and affordable electricity for all. The IDB expressed the interest in a meeting between its six-member delegation, headed by its President Dr Bandar MH Hajjar, and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Lieutenant General (Retired) Muzammil Hussain on Friday. They discussed potential support for the development of a programme that would facilitate construction of hydroelectric power projects in Pakistan. The IDB president, expressing keen interest in…
PAKISTAN NEWS: PTA partners with telco franchises for easier mobile registration with DIRBS: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) launched the Device Identification Registration and Blocking Service (DIRBS) recently, making it mandatory for everyone to have an officially registered phone. For those who don’t know, your phone would be blacklisted and will not work in Pakistan anymore if it is not registered with the PTA. This includes all new devices being brought to the country via online shopping or in flight luggage. However, PTA has some good news for mobile phone buyers or anyone bringing along phones from abroad. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″…
Standard Chartered Saadiq holds stet Art Exhibition, ’Rhythms of Recurrence’, to raise funds for Futuremakers Building on our brand promise Here for good, Standard Chartered Saadiq organised ’Rhythms of Recurrence’ – an exclusive exhibition of contemporary works of art and selected artifacts based on the underlying grid in Islamic geometry, historically used in art, architecture and design. Standard Chartered Saadiq is the Islamic Banking proposition of Standard Chartered offering Shariah compliant financial products and services to meet client needs. Consistent with the Bank’s philosophy of understanding and celebrating local culture, Standard Chartered is committed to community based programmes and to…
Kibor rate is the average interest rate at which term deposits are offered between prime banks in the Pakistani wholesale money market or interbank market. KIBOR as a benchmark, to encourage transparency and improve management of the market risk undertaken by banks. [ads1] KIBOR RATES IN PAKISTAN TENOR BID OFFER 1 – Week 10.54 11.04 2 – Week 10.56 11.06 1 – Month 10.60 11.10 3 – Month 10.84 11.09 6 – Month 10.99 11.24 9 – Month 11.07 11.57 1 – Year 11.15 11.65 2 – Year 11.82 12.32 3- Year 11.92 12.48
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Heather Alberro, Nottingham Trent University[/box] The current climate and ecological crisis demands a radical redesign of how we live and organise our societies. Yet these urgent changes, though complex, are far from impossible. Some of them are simple, beautiful, and beneficial to all. By greening our cities with street trees, urban parks, and community and rooftop gardens, we can keep ourselves cool amid rising temperatures, reverse the steady erosion of the rich tapestry of life on Earth, and foster happiness and social connection in the process. It is widely known that greenery in urban spaces helps…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Howard Yu, IMD Business School[/box] Western fears of Chinese telcoms giant Huawei infiltrating their technological infrastructure are rooted in fears of China’s rise. Three of the “Five Eyes Network” of English-speaking states that share intelligence – the US, Australia and New Zealand – have blocked their local firms from using Huawei tech in building their 5G networks. The UK and Canada are under pressure to follow suit. But a lot of these fears are misplaced and cutting Huawei out of the picture could backfire in the long run. Not only would it limit Western access to…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Silvia Magnoni Head of Civil Society Communities , World Economic Forum Antony Declercq Research Consultant, Pact[/box] It is a time of transformation for the civil society sector – and it should be perceived as such by those civil society organizations who, amidst major geopolitical shifts, rising environmental challenges and ongoing social changes, are coming to understand – and experience – the impact of the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution. Building directly on the third digital revolution, which has connected billions of people through mobile devices and the internet, the technologies of our post-digital world are poised to…
Market recovers from its lows, merely down 0.4% wow as volatility persists Summary After the resignation of former finance minister Asad Umar last week, the air of uncertainty persisted in the market over the issues of IMF loan, its term and conditions, the incoming budget and the fate of Amnesty Scheme. The Advisor to PM on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh showed competency and acted promptly to dispel the impression of any discontinuity in the finance affairs vis-a-vis IMF loan and budget making process. During the week, the market traded in the 36,000 range, recovering to…
(L to R) Marco Graf as Pepe, Daniela Demesa as Sofi, Yalitza Aparicio as Cleo, Marina De Tavira as Sofia, Diego Cortina Autrey as Toño, Carlos Peralta Jacobson as Paco in Roma, written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Photo by Carlos Somonte Image Credit: Photo by Carlos Somonte Published in Gulf News, on Apr 25th, 2019, Campaigners have suggested that films made by streaming firms should not be eligible The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voted to not change its rule for a film’s Oscars eligibility, sparing Netflix after months of pressure to exclude the streaming titan. Campaigners…
Film earned rave reviews from critics and is expected to draw huge crowds as it debuts in the rest of the world this week. Photo: Reuters Published in Geo, on Apr 25th, 2019, Marvel superhero movie “Avengers: Endgame” set an opening-day record in China with an estimated $107.2 million in ticket sales, distributor Walt Disney Co said on Wednesday. “Endgame” is the final chapter of a story told across 22 Marvel films featuring popular characters such as Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow. The movie earned rave reviews from critics and is expected to draw huge crowds as it debuts…
Prabhas and Anushka Shetty in ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’. Image Credit: Supplied Published in Gulf News, on Apr 24th, 2019, Prabhas and Anushka Shetty in ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’.Image Credit: Supplied Bollywood films will command the spotlight as a two-day Indian film and food festival kicks off in Jeddah on April 25. Organised by the Consulate General of India, in association with the Saudi Indian Business Network (SIBN), the festival will screen top Bollywood blockbusters, including the Salman Khan-starrer ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, along with fantasy epic ‘Baahubali 2’ and the Alia Bhatt-led film ‘Raazi’. [ads1] The event will take…
Published in Geo, on Apr 26th, 2019, The International Cricket Council on Friday announced the match officials for the league phase of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. Among the 16 umpires and six match referees finalised for the 48-match tournament is Aleem Dar from Pakistan, and other prominent members of past World Cup-winning sides. Match Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Andy Pycroft, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Richie Richardson [ads1] Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Michael…
Published in Ary News, on Apr 25th, 2019, All ten teams have announced their 15-member squads for the Cricket’s mega event World Cup 2019. Teams can still make changes until May 23, after which time they will need approval from the ICC to make any adjustment. Here’s a look at the full squads of all 10 teams: Afghanistan: Gulbadin Naib (c), Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Afghan, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shinwari, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Dawlat Zadran, Aftab Alam, Hamid Hassan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Shaun…
United States will now be able to play 36 ODIs in the next two and a half years. Photo: USA Cricket Twitter Published in Geo News, on Apr 25th, 2019, WINDHOEK: The United States on Wednesday sealed one-day international status for the first time with a third straight victory at the World Cricket League Division Two event in Namibia. The Americans, whose only previous experience of ODI cricket was at the 2004 Champions Trophy, thrashed Hong Kong by 84 runs to wrap up a top-four place in the six-team competition. There will be 20 ODI nations after the end of…
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was Akram’s and the rest of the Cornered Tigers’ captain during that unforgettable campaign, has been picked to lead Cricinfo’s fantasy line-up. Dawn/File Published in Dawn, on Apr 25th, 2019, With the 2019 Cricket World Cup a little over a month away, cricket publication ESPNcricinfo conducted a staff survey to find out its consensus all-time World Cup XI. Of the many greats featured, only Wasim Akram was a constant on every single one of the 22 individual lists, the publication said. The former left-arm pacer’s heroics in the 1992 World Cup, including his famous back-to-back dismissals of Allan…
Hundreds of youngsters were on the ground to witness Rush’s visit. Photo: Geo News Published in Geo News, on Apr 23rd, 2019, KARACHI: Lyari’s aspiring footballers were left spellbound on Tuesday when for the first time a top-level foreign footballer, Ian Rush, visited the football-mad locality of Karachi. The former Liverpool star visited the Captain Emad Football Academy, meeting its players and offering them hope of a better footballing future in the country. “If we want to develop football, we need to coach the coaches and that’s what we will hope to do,” said Rush, whose visit is expected to…
The meeting is Kim’s first face-to-face interaction with another head of state since returning from his Hanoi summit with US President Donald Trump [Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters] Published in AlJazeera, on Apr 25th, 2019, Putin is the first head of state the North Korean leader is meeting after the failed Hanoi summit with Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying the summit should help plan joint efforts to resolve a standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme. Speaking at the start of the talks on the Russky Island across a bridge from Vladivostok on Thursday, Putin voiced…
Jeremy Corbyn will say bus services have been “devastated” by nine years of austerity Published in BBC, on Apr 25th, 2019, Labour is pledging to spend £1.3bn a year to reverse cuts to 3,000 bus routes and fund the expansion of new services in England and Wales. During a visit to Nottingham later, Jeremy Corbyn will say services have been “devastated” by austerity. The Campaign for Better Transport said local authority bus budgets have been cut by 45% since 2010. But ministers said they spent £250m a year directly on services, including some that otherwise wouldn’t be viable. Labour said…
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Marines help to build a concertina wire barricade at the U.S. Mexico border in preparation for the arrival of a caravan of migrants at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego, California, U.S., November 13, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Published in Reuters, on Apr 25th, 2019, By Makini Brice WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday again threatened to close part of the southern border and send more “armed soldiers” to defend it if Mexico did not block a new caravan of migrants traveling toward the United States. “A very big Caravan of over 20,000…
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran was ready to negotiate with Washington on prisoner swaps [Richard Drew/AP] Published in AlJazeera, on Apr 25th, 2019, Foreign minister defiant over US move to stem Islamic Republic’s oil revenue stream by ending sanctions waivers. Iran will continue to find international buyers for its oil and use the Strait of Hormuz to transport it, the country’s foreign minister said, warning that if the United States tries to stop Tehran it should “be prepared for the consequences”. Speaking in New York City on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cautioned US President Donald Trump’s administration against taking the “crazy measure” of attempting to…
Published in BBC, on Apr 24th, 2019, Senior Tories have ruled out changing their rules to allow an early challenge to Theresa May’s leadership, but have asked for more clarity about how long she will remain in office. Under current rules, MPs cannot hold a new confidence vote in her leadership until December – 12 months on from last year’s vote which she won. The 1922 Committee rejected bringing forward this deadline at a meeting. But chair Graham Brady said MPs asked for a “clear roadmap” about her future. And amid signs of a growing grassroots revolt against Mrs May,…
Sri Lankan security personnel and police investigators look through debris outside Zion Church following an explosion in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019. Published in Arabian business, on Apr 24th, 2019, Sri Lankan police carried out fresh raids overnight and detained 18 more people in their hunt for those involved in the attacks The toll in a series of suicide bomb blasts on Easter Sunday targeting hotels and churches in Sri Lanka has risen to 359, police said Wednesday. The additional deaths were the result of the wounded dying of their injuries. At least 500 people were…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE Revealed: top 10 companies in UAE. do you work for one? Emirates airline is the top choice of the UAE residents to work for in 2019, reveals a new survey released on Wednesday. YouGov BrandIndex 2019 Workforce Rankings in the UAE revealed that the Dubai-based carrier was the top choice of UAE residents for second time in a row. Apple moves up two places from last year and stands at second, and iPhone remains in third this year as well. Dubai Mall, Samsung Galaxy and Almarai have all stepped up one place year-on-year, to seventh,…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT ‘Rich and powerful can’t run this court’, says supreme court on conspiracy against CJI The Supreme Court, at hearing on conspiracy against Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said that “the rich and powerful cannot run the court. The top court’s remarks came during a hearing on the affidavit by a lawyer claiming there was a conspiracy behind framing the Chief Justice in a sexual harassment case. “Don’t play with fire. We want to send a message to the people of the country, the rich and powerful that they cannot control or run this court,” a…
PAKISTAN’S ECONOMIC TIMES Prime minister presents proposals for expansion of China’s belt and road initiative Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged world leaders to undertake joint efforts to address impediments in the way of sustainable global growth. In his address at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on Friday, the prime minister presented five ways to further expand China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “Firstly, we must undertake joint efforts to mitigate climate change. In our Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, we successfully planted a billion trees. I suggest we launch a joint project to plant 100 billion trees over…
PAKISTAN NEWS: Supreme Court reinstates taxes on mobile phone cards: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reinstated all the previous taxes on mobile cards, local media reports claim. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa was hearing the case pertaining to taxes on mobile phone scratch cards. The bench also included Justice Azmat Saeed and Justice Qazi Faez Isa. According to reports, the top court has withdrawn its previous stay order issued on June 12, 2018 – which ordered to abolish all taxes on mobile top-ups. [divider style=”normal” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Zong 4G partners with PTCL for network…
Zong 4G partners with PTCL for Network Expansion in Remote areas of Pakistan Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and Zong 4G have entered into a strategic partnership for network expansion in remote and far-flung areas of Pakistan. The collaboration will ensure provision of VSAT services by PTCL to further support and expand the network coverage across the country. The agreement was signed by Saad Muzaffar Waraich, Chief Technology & Information Officer, PTCL, and Li Wenyu, Chief Financial Officer, ZONG 4G, during the ceremony held at Zong 4G Headquarters in the presence of the senior management and officials of respective companies.…
Kibor rate is the average interest rate at which term deposits are offered between prime banks in the Pakistani wholesale money market or interbank market. KIBOR as a benchmark, to encourage transparency and improve management of the market risk undertaken by banks. [ads1] KIBOR RATES IN PAKISTAN TENOR BID OFFER 1 – Week 10.54 11.04 2 – Week 10.56 11.06 1 – Month 10.60 11.10 3 – Month 10.84 11.09 6 – Month 10.99 11.24 9 – Month 11.07 11.57 1 – Year 11.15 11.65 2 – Year 11.82 12.32 3- Year 11.92 12.48
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Kirsten Salyer Media Relations Specialist, World Economic Forum[/box] Young people around the world are working to clean up a dirty fashion industry. The $2 trillion industry is responsible for 10% of the global carbon footprint, negative environmental effects including water pollution, the use of toxic chemicals and high levels of textile waste, and poor working conditions for millions of workers, primarily women. The World Economic Forum’s Global Shapers community is taking a grassroots approach to address these issues on local and regional levels while promoting a global dialogue about how to encourage sustainable transformations in the industry. “Fashion, as an overarching term for…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Chris Howard, UCL and Mitch Watts, UCL[/box] Some of the most famous scientific discoveries happened by accident. From Teflon and the microwave oven to penicillin, scientists trying to solve a problem sometimes find unexpected things. This is exactly how we created phosphorene nanoribbons – a material made from one of the universe’s basic building blocks, but that has the potential to revolutionise a wide range of technologies. We’d been trying to separate layers of phosphorus crystals into two-dimensional sheets. Instead, our technique created tiny, tagliatelle-like ribbons one single atom thick and only 100 or so atoms…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Adam Conner-Simons Communications Coordinator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology[/box] Every year trash companies sift through an estimated 68 million tons of recycling, which is the weight equivalent of more than 30 million cars. A key step in the process happens on fast-moving conveyor belts, where workers have to sort items into categories like paper, plastic and glass. Such jobs are dull, dirty, and often unsafe, especially in facilities where workers also have to remove normal trash from the mix. With that in mind, a team led by researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) has developed a…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Nikolaos Papageorgiadis, University of Liverpool[/box] Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover’s recent victory in a Chinese court was quite a turn up for the books. It defeated a Chinese rival in a case about intellectual property theft that related to the design of its Range Rover Evoque SUV. Jaguar successfully argued that Jiangling Motors Corp’s much cheaper Landwind X7 had copied various unique features on its vehicle, including the overall shape, lines on the side panelling and tail lights. The Beijing-based court ordered Jiangling to stop selling Landwind X7s in China and said it would have to…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]Amy Jordan Delivery Lead, Centre for Cybersecurity, World Economic Forum[/box] The internet is a vastly complicated patchwork of protocols, data and codes, which only a limited number of true tech geeks really understand. And yet it pervades our day-to-day lives on a scale no one could have envisaged when the world wide web was created only 30 years ago. New technologies and applications are arising at a dizzying speed, and it’s not only consumers who are trying to keep pace with the array of new offerings at their disposal. Security professionals are also trying to keep…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Niall McCarthy, Apr 23, 2019[/box] STEM jobs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are one of the driving forces behind the American economy. Often associated with computing, coding and Silicon Valley, STEM is vital for everything from manufacturing to food processing and healthcare. It is also crucial to maintaining a stable and growing economy. Given how important STEM is to guaranteeing future prosperity, it comes as little surprise that many of the country’s best-paying and most secure jobs are in the field. Website 24/7 Wall Street recently carried out an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find out the cities…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Sarah Feldman, Apr 18, 2019[/box] Netflix’s free cash flow deficit is expected to peak this year at $3.5 billion, with the company already operating at $460 million loss in the first quarter of this year. Free cash flow is the amount of money a company has at its disposal after it pays for its operating and capital expenses. At the end of last year, CEO Reed Hastings warned investors that Netflix is going to be burning through more cash this year before making improvements in 2020 by expanding its base, revenues, and operating margins. Stocks were still jolty despite the forewarned…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Martin Armstrong, Apr 18, 2019[/box] About 52 percent of all e-mails sent worldwide last year were unwanted ads or spam mails, according to securelist.com. China are the biggest source of spam, accounting for 12 percent of global spam traffic. The U.S. was in second place (9 percent) with Germany taking third place (7 percent). In good news though, the total spam traffic in 2018 was 4 percent lower than it was in 2017. [ads1] You will find more infographics at Statista
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Apr 18, 2019[/box] Pinterest priced its IPO at $19 a share on Wednesday, $2 above the $15 to $17 range previously set in an SEC filing on April 8. At this price, Pinterest is set to raise about $1.4 billion at a valuation of $10.1 billion excluding restricted stock and options, which would bring the valuation up to $12.7 billion according to media reports. The listing is the second biggest IPO in the United States so far this year, after ride-hailing company Lyft went public at a valuation of $24.3 billion in late March. Pinterest, which generated…
[box type=”info” align=”” class=”” width=””]by Felix Richter, Apr 18, 2019[/box] The National Bureau of Statistics of China released a slew of economic data on Wednesday, including the highly-anticipated official update on GDP growth for the first quarter of 2019. According to preliminary estimates, China’s economy grew by 6.4 percent in the first three months of the year, matching the previous quarter’s growth rate at the lowest level in nearly 30 years. While this doesn’t sound great, most analysts had expected worse from the announcement, which is why the stabilization of growth at last quarter’s level was actually received well by markets around the world.…
Volatile market turns positive on finance minister resignation and cabinet reshuffle Summary Asad Umar Finance Minister, decided not to be Yegor Gaidar and tendered his resignation on Thursday to Prime Minister Imran Khan. Many Russians believed Yegor Gaidar to be responsible for economic hardships and mass poverty in Russia in 1990s due to his reforms. Other major news which griped the market beside cabinet reshuffle were: IMF Mission to arrive any time soon before the end of April, postponement of Amnesty Scheme, government proposal to introduce the Treasury Single Account to shift deposits of various government departments and organization with…
Women walk past an advertising poster to promote the HBO American fantasy drama television series Game of Thrones outside the International Game of Thrones exhibition in Stockholm on March 11, 2015. Photo: AFP Published in Geo, on Apr 18th, 2019, LOS ANGELES: Some 17.4 million Americans watched the first episode of the final season of television’s Game of Thrones — a record audience for the medieval fantasy series, cable channel HBO said on Monday. HBO said Sunday’s live US television audience and viewers on its HBO GO and HBO NOW apps exceeded the previous series high of 16.9 million viewers for the…
FILE PHOTO: The iconic Hollywood sign is shown on a hillside above a neighborhood in Los Angeles California, U.S., February 1, 2019. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Image Credit: REUTERS Published in Gulf News, on Apr 18th, 2019, The plaintiffs are trying to establish that talent agency ‘packaging fees’ are illegal ‘The Wire’ creator David Simon, seven other writers, and the Writers Guild of America sued the four major Hollywood talent agencies for getting paid in such a way that the agencies’ financial interests prevail over those of their clients. The plaintiffs are trying to establish that talent agency “packaging fees,” in…
Published in Geo, on Apr 17th, 2019, Tanhaiyaan actor Asif Raza Mir has been roped in for HBO’s upcoming series Gangs of London. The news was confirmed by Mir’s wife on her Instagram. Mir is best known for his roles in television drama serials Darwaza, Samundar, Tansen, Choti Choti Baatein, Roshni and Ishq Gumshuda among others. Directed by Gareth Evans the visionary behind The Raid, Evans latest project will be set in present-day London which has been ripped apart by the destructive power struggles of international criminal organisations. [ads1] According to Den of Geek Evans has described Gangs of London as “a multicultural world of global crime as it intersects…
Published in BBC, on Apr 17th, 2019, Beyoncé’s Netflix documentary, Homecoming, has arrived with a surprise: A new Beyoncé album. The star, who perfected the art of stealth releases with a self-titled album in 2013, announced the new record just hours before Homecoming premiered. Both the film and the album capture her 2018 Coachella set – which celebrated black power and liberation. They include live versions of Crazy In Love and Drunk In Love, as well as her reunion with Destiny’s Child. Fans also get one new studio recording – a cover of Maze’s 1981 hit Before I Let Go,…
Published in Gulf News, on Apr 18th, 2019, English feature follows a man whose vow of silence is tested by a young girl and her mum A UAE-produced independent film titled ‘Louder’ is premiering at Roxy Cinemas in Dubai on April 28. The film follows self-made millionaire Killian, who takes a vow of silence after tragedy strikes. Killian’s resolve is tested by 12-year-old Zoe, who forces herself into his quiet world while struggling to find her OWN voice in the shadow of her mother’s fame. The romantic drama, which boasts the tagline ‘Love Has a Voice’, stars Casey Shannon in…
Egyptian star Mohamed Salah has called for change in the way women are treated across the Muslim world Published in Geo, on Apr 18th, 2019, LOS ANGELES: Egyptian football star Mohamed “Mo” Salah has called for change in the way women are treated in the Muslim world, in an interview with Time magazine published Wednesday. The 26-year-old Liverpool forward was named one of the US magazine´s 100 most influential figures of the year, alongside other athletes including Tiger Woods, LeBron James and Naomi Osaka. Salah told Time that while his attitudes towards gender equality had evolved over the years, he…
Published in ARY, on Apr 16th, 2019, By Reuters WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he would award Tiger Woods the Presidential Medal of Freedom after the golfer won the Masters for the fifth time on Sunday. “Spoke to @TigerWoods to congratulate him on the great victory he had in yesterday’s @TheMasters, & to inform him that because of his incredible Success & Comeback in Sports (Golf) and, more importantly, LIFE, I will be presenting him with the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM,” Trump tweeted. The victory on Sunday was one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, as the 43-year-old…
Five out of seven members of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) board of governors (BoG) on Wednesday presented a resolution declaring the appointment of Wasim Khan (pictured) as managing director as “null and void”. —Photo courtesy Leicestershire County Published in Dawn, on Apr 17th, 2019, By Abdul Ghaffar Five out of seven members of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) board of governors (BoG) on Wednesday presented a resolution declaring the appointment of Wasim Khan as managing director as “null and void” — a development that PCB Chairperson Ehsan Mani deemed “hugely” disappointing. “Appointment of managing director [Wasim Khan] along with the creation of…
Published in ARY, on Apr 15th, 2019, FIFA in collaboration with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will send their delegation to Pakistan to assist the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s condition on April 28. FIFA’s delegation will hold talks with PFF’s parallel bodies to sort down the difference which is harming the image of football in Pakistan. The delegation will present the report over the conditions of the PFF within one month which will put Pakistan’s participation in 2022 World Cup qualifiers in danger. [ads1] It is pertinent to mention here that FIFA rejected the PFF’s fresh election of last year…
Infantino says he now believes there is only a 50 percent chance that the 2022 World Cup will expand to 48 teams [Marco Rosi/Getty Images] Published in AlJazeera, on Apr 15th, 2019, Gianni Infantino meets Kuwait’s emir before flying to Doha, as he pushes to expand Qatar 2022 tournament to 48 teams. FIFA President Gianni Infantino held talks in Kuwait on Sunday about the country staging 2022 World Cup matches as he pushes to expand the Qatar tournament from 32 to 48 teams. After meeting with the emir of Kuwait and football officials, Infantino flew to Doha to see Qatari leaders on Monday about the…
Published in Dawn, on Apr 17th, 2019, Prime Minister Imran Khan has been named among the ‘100 Most Influential People’ of 2019 by Time magazine. The list, unveiled on Wednesday, has chosen the “influential people” under four categories: leaders, pioneers, artists, icons and titans. Journalist Ahmed Rashid wrote the following regarding Prime Minister Khan for Time’s 100 most influential people issue. “Pakistan is at a critical crossroads, and the man in charge is the closest it has to a rock star. Imran Khan captained the team that won the 1992 Cricket World Cup, built a world-class cancer hospital in Lahore, then a top-notch university for…
Kim Jong-un attending a flight training of Korean People’s Army Air Force on April 16 Published in BBC, on Apr 18th, 2019, North Korea says it has test-fired a new “tactical guided weapon” with a “powerful warhead”, the first such test since talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un ended without agreement. State media gave few details, but analysts say this is unlikely to be a return to the long-range missile tests seen as a threat to the US. A similar test last November was viewed as an attempt to pressure the US. There has been little progress in nuclear talks…
Published in BBC, on Apr 17th, 2019, A government department responsible for data protection laws has shared the contact details of hundreds of journalists. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport emailed more than 300 recipients in a way that allowed their addresses to be seen by other people. The email – seen by the BBC – contained a press release about age-checks for adult websites. Digital Minister Margot James said the incident was “embarrassing”. She added: “It was an error and we’re evaluating at the moment whether that was a breach of data protection law.” In the email sent…
Public housing in New York City. A rule proposed on Wednesday would expand use of a verification program administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Published in The New York Times, on Apr 17th, 2019, By Annie Karni and Michael D. Shear WASHINGTON — The Trump administration proposed a rule on Wednesday night intended to prevent undocumented immigrants from receiving federal housing assistance, the latest step in its efforts to ramp up enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws. The proposal, according to an administration official, is intended to overturn what the official described as a Clinton-era loophole that allowed some undocumented immigrants to…
FILE PHOTO: A Cuban flag hangs outside a hotel in Havana, Cuba, April 20, 2018. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/File Photo Published in Reuters, on Apr 17th, 2019, By Lesley Wroughton, Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Trump administration is lifting a long-standing ban against U.S. citizens filing lawsuits against foreign companies that use properties seized by Cuba’s Communist government since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday. The major policy shift, which the State Department said could draw hundreds of thousands of legal claims worth tens of billion of dollars, is intended to intensify pressure on Havana at a…
Published in AlJazeera, on Apr 17th, 2019, Military arrests two of deposed ruler’s brothers as hundreds of doctors march in Khartoum for civilian-led transition. Sudan’s military rulers have arrested two brothers of deposed President Omar al-Bashir, as hundreds of people marched in the capital, Khartoum, calling for a swift handover of power to civilian leadership. Shams al-Din Kabashi, spokesman for the transitional military council, said on Wednesday that Abdullah al-Bashir and Alabas al-Bashir were taken into custody as part of a continuing campaign of arrests against “symbols and leaders of the previous regime”. The announcement came as sources said Sudanese authorities…
GULF STATES- ECONOMICS & FINANCE UAE president amends provisions in Abu Dhabi real estate law In his capacity as Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has issued a law amending provisions of Law No. 19 of 2005 concerning real estate sector in Abu Dhabi. The new law stipulates amendments to Articles 3 and 4 of the ‘Real Property Law’. Article 3 (i) stipulates the rights to own property are limited to three categories the first being Emirati citizens, natural or legal persons, the second includes public holding companies with ownership not exceeding…
INDIAN ECONOMY: OVERVIEW, GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT Jet Airways shares fall 10 percent Shares of Jet Airways plunged 10 percent in opening trade Thursday, a day after the ailing airline shuttered its operations temporarily. On the BSE, the scrip hit the lower circuit of Rs 217.70, a fall of 10 percent compared to the previous closing level. Similar trend was witnessed on the NSE too, where the share crashed to hit the lower price band of Rs 216.45. With lenders deciding not to extend any emergency funds, Jet Airways on Wednesday announced temporary suspension of operations. Meanwhile, in a statement early…
ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAKISTAN Asad’s exit may delay IMF bailout The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to consult the new economic czar of Pakistan before sending its mission to Islamabad to negotiate a bailout package, which has left little space for Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh to make his first but closely watched move. If the new adviser to the prime minister on finance takes longer than needed to decide calling the IMF mission, it could delay finalisation of the programme as well as the next budget. Former finance minister Asad Umar had promised to unveil the budget for fiscal…